THIS web-site continues to listen to what our readers have to say and has introduced a ‘Wednesday Whinge’ where you can express your feelings on racing industry issues of the past week. Try to keep them objective. Just e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
THE e-mail box this week was largely dominated by controversial Queensland issues ranging from a response to concerns about the payout from RQ to the Toowoomba Turf Club to rumors of a resignation by a director of the Toowoomba Turf Club. There were also e-mails concerning the restructure of the Integrity Department of Racing Queensland, reports that a high profile steward will be returning to run the show in the north and a host of other topics, including another blast for big stable favorites being beaten in Sydney.
EDITOR'S NOTE: We are concerned to learn that some clubs are allegedly being told by the new RQL Board not to deal with the Wednesday Whinge. If that happens to be the case we are disappointed. It will only mean that one side of the story is told. As I told new RQ Chairman Kevin Dixon when he took on the role. He will get a fair go from letsgohorseracing but not to expect us to bear our backsides like some do in the mainstream racing media because they are his mates. We have a job to do and we plan to do it to the best of our ability regadless of the road-blocks.
Here is this week’s selection with apologies to the few who missed out:
AN EXPLANATION OF THE FUNDING PROVIDED TO TOOWOOMBA BY RQL BOARD
WE promised last week to ask Chairman Bob Frappell for a response to claims that the Toowoomba Turf Club had received special treatment in a reported financial handout from Racing Queensland.
We appreciate the opportunity to clear the air both from the perspective of the TTC but also the new Racing Queensland Board and its Chairman Kevin Dixon who have come under attack from several quarters on this issue.
Here is the Bob Frappell response:
‘I normally do not respond to e-mails signed by fictitious people. I will make an exception in this matter because it is not just me being maligned.
Cliff Greer (obviously a fake name) stated the TTC had received $300,000 from Racing Queensland. The amount is incorrect. It was substantially less.
The RQL Chairman (Kevin Dixon) was approached by the Committee of the TTC (at a recent
meeting) for some assistance with some expenses incurred as a result of some Workplace Health and Safety issues that had caused us to immediately embark on repairs to the stable complex at Clifford Park.
These repairs were above budget and not planned at this time.
The club would possibly have had to go into overdraft to fund these repairs and that was explained to the RQL Chair at the meeting.
Our financial position was caused because of the previous RQL administration making us pay some $800,000 for cushion track fees, including maintenance in the previous financial year.
RQL agreed to fund these repairs to assist the club and I have no doubt the members are extremely relieved that the new administration is approachable and prepared to assist clubs. I know the committee is.
So Mr Greer, or whatever you name is for Pete sake, all you have to do to find out the facts in future is call the club (which I suspect you are a member of.) That is just bread and butter common sense no matter how you look at it.’ – Bob Frappell, TTC Chairman.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We appreciate the effort made by Bob Frappell to clarify this matter whether the e-mail author signed a legitimate name or not. It was still an issue that was causing some discussion within the rank and file of the industry and better to put the facts on the table than to allow the scuttle-butt to continue.
REJECTION OF PLAN FOR RELOCATION OF TOOWOOMBA RACING FORCES RESIGNATION
RATHER than be accused of running another e-mail from Toowoomba without a legitimate signatory we have signed the following – ‘several concerned racing identities on the Downs’ – as the matter has been the subject of a number of e-mail and telephone queries during the week and we at letsgohorseracing are amazed the story hasn’t made the local media. In fact we believe it should be the subject of a Media Release from the TTC.
It seems that every time we run a contentious e-mail from the Downs the alleged authors are either a former club chairman; a former controversial committeeman or an outspoken bloodstock agent and media identity.
Below is the e-mail that has Downs racing abuzz at present.
‘WHAT is going on in the inner-sanctum of the Toowoomba Turf Club?
Stories are doing the rounds on the Downs that a prominent Board member has had a blow-up with the Chairman and has quit. Do you know if this is right?
If we are to believe the rumors it has something to do with the track.
It’s just a pity the stake-holders and members weren’t being kept informed. We don’t like hearing things on the racing grapevine that are important to the club and the industry in this region.’ – ‘Several concerned racing identities on the Downs.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: It is my understanding that prominent local businessman Gregg Wagner has resigned from the Board of the Toowoomba Turf Club after a proposal that he put forward concerning the relocation of the racing complex from Clifford Park was rejected by committee. The project, which I believe could cost in the region of $50 million, is seen as a means of overcoming the cushion track situation and taking racing on the Downs to a new level. The proposal was discussed with RQL Chairman Kevin Dixon by Gregg Wagner and Bob Frappell but it is understood the TTC Chairman was not prepared to back such a costly project in the current financial climate. Mr Wagner may not entirely be lost to the TTC as it is understood he is pressing ahead with a feasibility plan on the relocation proposal. It would be hard for Kevin Dixon to support such a costly plan considering the criticism his predecessor Bob Bentley copped over a number of what were referred to as ‘pie in the sky’ racetrack development projects. The Toowoomba proposal, in my opinion, is not however without some merit.
FORMER DIRECTOR BACK ON WAR FOOTING WITH THE TOOWOOMBA TURF CLUB BOARD
THIS is a letter we have been asked to run concerning the Toowoomba Turf Club written by former controversial director Anthony Burke to the chairman and committee:
Dear Sir,
I wish to complain that the following has occurred and as a member wish for the Chairman and the committee to correct this issue for the members of the Toowoomba Turf Club.
Kent Woodford as a current committee member was illegally elected and verified as eligible by the secretary Mr Aaron Clancy as the secretary of the Toowoomba Turf Club on 15/09/2011.
Under the rules of the TTC; Rule 18 states that a member must have:
(a) Been a "member" of TTC for at least three continuous years to be eligible to be a member of the management committee (Rule 18(1);
On the 20th September 2012, Mr Jamie Orchard, after a request by a TTC Member, to look at the eligibility of the new committee member reported in official correspondence the following;
Paragraph 2 states; I have reviewed the nomination forms in respect of each of those nominees and can confirm that each nominated in writing and were proposed by three members and certified as being financial and eligible by the Secretary.
Paragraph 5 states; ultimately, it seems the club has complied strictly with the requirements of the constitution in advertising and filling the vacancies on the committee.
Evidence now with RQL verifies this is not true as the minutes of the TTC clearly states that Kent Woodford was only a new member of the TTC, and thus not eligible as per Rule 18 (a)
Minutes of the TTC with RQL show;
Kent Woodford was only accepted as a member of the TTC on 21st October 2010.
This clearly shows that the TTC has misled the RQL investigation.
The question has to be asked, “Who at the Toowoomba Turf Club has fabricated this documentation, when it was shown to Mr Orchard in September 2011?”
I am sure as the Chairman Mr Frappell; you will ensure good corporate governance is followed in this matter.
The racing office and the new racing minister are also in receipt of this evidence.
The breaches of the Racing Rules additional to the breach of the criminal code under the Association Incorporations Act are;
AR.7. A Principal Racing Authority shall penalise
(ii) Any licensed person or official whose conduct or negligence in the Performance of his duties has led, or have led, to a breach of the Rules.
AR.175. The Committee of any Club or the Stewards may penalise;
(g) Any person who gives at any inquiry or appeal any evidence which in their opinion is false or misleading in any particular.
(gg) Any person who makes any false or misleading statement or declaration in respect of any matter in Connection with the administration or control of racing
(l) Any person who attempts to commit, or conspires with any other person to commit, or any person who Connives at or is a party to another committing any breach of the Rules
Yours in racing
Anthony Burke Member of the Toowoomba Turf Club
EDITOR’S NOTE: THERE are allegations doing the rounds in the racing industry in Toowoomba that complaints by Anthony Burke were being investiged by members of the Integrity Department who have since been sacked or made redundant by RQ. I am not saying this is the case but it needs to be clarified as do a number of other issues relating to Integrity at RQ. We aren’t holding our breath for a Media Release. You are not going to read anything controversial about racing in Queensland where it affects the new Board in the mainstream racing media but the Wednesday Whinge gives an undertaking to keep all stake-holders informed even if some clubs and officials are told not to deal with us. This is one area of the Queensland racing media where any attempts at censorship are a waste of time and will only make us more determined.
SURELY THIS CAN’T BE RIGHT – NO RESTRUCTURE OF RQ INTEGRITY DEPARTAMENT
‘THOSE in the know in the new-look Racing Queensland are suggesting that there will be no restructured Integrity Department as promised.
Yet another casualty of the new regime emerged when Investigations and Operations Manager Wayne King was apparently sacked (or as the RQ staff was told ‘made redundant’) by the new Board late last week.
The Integrity Department proved a disaster under Jamie Orchard (remember him, the bloke who got that inflated payout along with three of his colleagues). They have been dropping like flies since he left.
Perhaps the new RQ Chairman would like to distribute a Media Release letting the industry know just what is happening with Integrity. Surely reports that it will not exist in future are incorrect.
Failure or not under Orchard and disaster as it was when established for Bob Mason, there needs to be an independent conduit between the stewards and the RQ administration and there also needs to be (as ordered by two inquiries) a separation of powers.
But if there is no Integrity Department and no investigators with powers similar to police then Heaven help racing in Queensland. It is already going backwards under a stewards’ panel that struggles to make charges stick at appeals level and has no confidence whatsoever from the punting public.
Come on Mr Dixon and the new Board, how about delivering on a few racing promises that were made by your mates in the LNP Government prior to the election?’ Miles Johnson, Brisbane.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If the situation has changed and there is no longer a plan to have a restructured Integrity Department at RQ, then the new Racing Minister obviously doesn’t know anything about it. Steve Dickson told State Parliament last week: “We will create an Integrity function and that will come back under the control of the Government, unlike the Labor Government.” One would imagine if there was going to be some sudden change the Racing Minister wouldn’t be making those type of statements.
WILL A FORMER HIGH PROFILE STEWARD RETURN TO QUEENSLAND TO RUN THE SHOW?
‘THOSE claiming to be ‘in the know’ with the Dixon Racing Board are adamant a former high profile steward will return to Queensland to run the show.
His appointment will be welcomed by the industry largely because he represents a stewarding regime that the licensees respect because he rarely fires a serious shot which is an absolute disaster from a punting perspective.
There are also strong stories doing the rounds that a prominent racing media identity with influence kyboshed the appointment of one of Australia’s best stewards who wanted the job in Queensland.
This guy allegedly feels more comfortable with a steward in charge that he can handle. If this means a return to those days when certain media had the run of the jockeys’ room and could run messages to certain unsavory characters then the industry in Queensland is heading back to a dark era that should never be revisited.
With racing in the north getting further behind, the carnival nothing short of an absolute joke and punters lacking in confidence to bet on the Saturday meetings in Brisbane, the last thing Queensland needs is a ‘soft cock’ steward at the helm.
What we have at present is a combination of ‘Play School’ and ‘Dad’s Army’, along with rejects from the minor codes. There is a strong belief that the current Chief Steward is having far too much influence with the Board concerning whom he wants to work with and who will be the new boss to replace the Integrity Department.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I have heard the strong rumors doing the rounds about Alan Reardon returning to Queensland and agree it would be welcomed by the racing industry. There is an urgent need to add some experience and strength to the top of the stewarding ranks. After the disgraceful way Alan was shown the door when the two ‘Bobs’ were calling the shots, his return would be some quiet justice. He should never have left.
WAS ONE OF THE BEST STEWARDS IN AUSTRALIA OVERLOOKED FOR THE TOP ROLE AT RQ?
‘THERE are some amazing stories doing the rounds about one of the best stewards in Australia being rejected as the new boss of a restructured Integrity Department of Racing Queensland.
Depending on who you want to believe there are some in power who consider him too tough and others who were listening to a prominent racing writer who was pushing for an old mate to get the job instead.
If these rumors are anywhere near right – along with suggestions that the current Integrity Department has been dismantled and won’t be replaced – then the industry needs to be asking some questions of the new Board.
Whether you supported the job they did or not surely the Orchard Integrity Department was not dismantled because they refused to drop serious cases involving several licensees?
And if there isn’t going to be an Integrity Department then what happened to the racing policy promise from the LNP?’ – Brian Turner, Brisbane.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I think we’ve covered the suggestion of no Integrity Department above. As for the top Australian steward being overlooked for the role, I think it more so came down to a question of money. As the old saying goes if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. These are certainly sad times if we miss out on a desperately needed ‘top gun’ for the Integrity or top stewarding role for financial reasons considering four key executives were given a golden handshake two days after the election by the Bentley Board. And by the way whatever did happen to that inquiry the new Government ordered into those payouts and the audit that was supposed to be conducted into RQ finances? Or like a lot of things is it still in the pipeline?
THE NATIVES ARE GETTING RESTLESS IN TOWNSVILLE PENDING A MEETING WITH NEW RQ BOSS
‘THE racing industry in Townsville was expecting a much better deal from the new Kevin Dixon Board than it received when Bob Bentley and his boys were running the show.
But some in the north are starting to question whether that will happen.
This follows suggestions that a trainer close to a high profile member of the new RQ Board apparently told one of his close training mates in the north to move south because Townsville would not be getting what had been promised.
The news, although clouded by some uncertainty after it was announced, that Cairns would receive a couple of million did not go down well with officialdom in Townsville which as a far more important TAB club was seen as a more deserving beneficiary of early funds.
We keep hearing how every club has to put forward its case before funds are forthcoming. That, of course, wasn’t the case with the Brisbane Racing Club or the Toowoomba Turf Club, two venues with close ties to the new RQ Chairman.
Beaudesert is up in arms at its treatment and now Townsville has apparently asked for an urgent meeting with RQ to set the record straight.
The Dixon Board hardly has their feet under the table and already the storm clouds are rolling in.
They can hold all the hoedowns they like at Brisbane race days and entertain race club chairmen in the presence of Premier ‘Can Do,’ his Treasurer and the BRC’s good mate Tim Nicholls and the de facto Racing Minister Steve Dickson but unless there is some action at the station soon some in the country are ready to mutiny.
Even in the city there is some anxiety with reports about who is going to be running the Government Racing Department (one suggestion of a Labor turn-coat can’t possibly be right).
We are still waiting for this Ministerial Advisory Committee that was promised days after the election to be named. There are still two members of the Bentley Board on the new one. When will they be dumped?
Not to mention how parlous the state of prize-money is. It’s not good enough just to blame everything on the mismanagement of the Bentley Board. How about some policies and plans to right the ship instead of silence and excuses?’ – Albert Williams, Redcliffe.
EDITOR’S NOTE: There is certainly some dissent in the ranks in Townsville with one prominent official and owners said to be considering quitting racing in Queensland in disgust. Townsville deserves to get better treatment than Cairns where they host only a couple of TAB meetings a year. As for the trainer close to an RQ Board member giving advice to colleagues in the north, it is ridiculous to even suggest he would have an insight into the confidential workings of the Board. As I have said before let’s give the new Board time to get the ball rolling before being too critical of their performance.
NOTHING MUCH HAS CHANGED IN NQ – IT’S STILL ONE BIG INTEGRITY NIGHTMARE
‘THOUGHT your readers would like to hear a couple of little gems from North Queensland where the chances of Patrick Cooper returning to provide some confidence in the stewarding ranks are now at despised outsiders’ odds.
A heavily-pregnant trainer, taking a little more time to get one of her horses through the water walker at Cluden, copped a gob-full for holding up one of her not so nice male colleagues.
He allegedly called her a ‘big fat ugly mole’ and suggested she should get out of his way and take her horse home.
The trainer, understandably upset considering her condition, apparently complained to the stewards but to her surprise they have taken no action concerning the matter.
Then we have the situation of a prominent steward in the north doing a radio program where he is attempting to tip winners.
Surely if jockeys aren’t allowed to tip then it has to be out-of-bounds for stewards. Then again this is the north – the same place where a steward recently requested that the trials be postponed because he wanted to sleep in.
Perhaps it’s time the Chief Steward in Brisbane got off his backside and addressed some of these internal issues rather than worrying about who is going to be his new boss in the overhaul of the Integrity Department.’ – Vince Grogan, Townsville.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I had a similar report by telephone about the insulting behavior toward one of the nicest people in the training ranks in the north in Olivia Cairns. If the stewards aren’t prepared to do anything about this complaint she should take it to an independent discrimination body. As for the steward tipping, if the results of his stint are any indication then ‘Foxy’ should stick to football calling.
QUEENSLAND EVENTS FUNDING PROJECT HARDLY A MAJOR CARNIVAL DRAWCARD
‘REMEMBER the bigger than Quo Vadis announcement about the massive funding from Queensland Events to ensure more Group 1 winners contested the Winter Carnival.
What was the offer again that was heavily applauded by the racing media? All expenses paid for the winners of a heap of Group 1 races in Australia and New Zealand if they made the trip to Queensland.
It would be interesting to know just how many took up the offer and how much of that money was spent.
Miss Artistic, the New Zealand Oaks winner who flopped badly on the wet track in the Queensland classic, was one of them. But my friends and I are struggling to recall any others.
Let’s face it the Winter Carnival this year has been an absolute disaster. There has been no star, the fans have stayed away in droves and the turnover doesn’t appear to have been too great either.
Unless something is done to improve the standard – and the prizemoney – for the Queensland Winter Carnival it is going to degenerate into the joke of Australian racing and more races face the prospect of being delisted.’ – Alan Young, Sunshine Coast.
EDITOR’S NOTE: It certainly hasn’t been a carnival to write home about and the Stradbroke risks being one of the most forgettable in years. Ironically, had RQ been able to convince Peter Moody to return Black Caviar to Queensland for a couple of winter assignments it would probably be recalled as one of the best ever. They certainly need to conduct a big think tank about ways of improving the carnival standard from next year.
THE DISMAL RUN OF HOT FAVORITES FROM THE BIG STABLES IN SYDNEY JUST CONTINUES
‘DOES a weekend ever pass in Sydney racing when a hot favorite from one of the major stables doesn’t perform like a dromedary?
It was once again the turn of the Waterhouse stable to produce the monumental flop from the meeting at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
Betrayal, after leading and bolting in at Canterbury, was heavily-backed and the first horse beaten. It was left to some stable underling to try and explain the failure.
Stewards did about as much as they could – ordered the horse to trial before it runs again but that will have little effect as Betrayal is heading to the spelling paddock.
In contrast to the weak-hearted Betrayal effort out came stablemate Reuben Percival and raced through brick-walls and the time barrier to win the feature event on the day.
Punters are a brave bunch continuing to back up week in week out on these top fancies from the leading stables that continue to perform like mules in Sydney racing.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The form reversals and flops from the big Sydney stables are becoming diabolical. Here’s what Ken Callander had to say about the situation in his column in the Sydney Telegraph:
BETRAYAL became another of Gai Waterhouse's long odds-on favourites to perform dismally when he finished second last, almost nine lengths from the winner, as a $1.50 favourite at Warwick Farm on Saturday and the situation must be or should be worrying for both Gai and the stewards.
It is certainly worrying the punters and comes hot on the heels of last month's flops, Landing, beaten 11 lengths at $1.45, and Fast Clip, 8.6 lengths at $2.40.
The wet could not be blamed for Betrayal's loss as the race was run at before the rain came. A post race veterinary examination of Betrayal did not reveal any abnormalities.
CONCURRENT DISQUALIFICATION WAS HARDLY A DETERRENT FOR HARNESS TRAINER
‘I would like to draw attention to another, of the strange and terribly hard to understand, decisions of Racing Queensland stewards.
This time the blunder has been made by the harness stewards with the assistance of the thoroughbred hiearchy.
The matter I am speaking of is regarding current disqualified NSW Harness trainer Darryl Thomas, who was allegedly found to not only be present at a Queensland trainer’s stable but was also handling horses.
This is obviously a clear contravention of the disabilities imposed upon a disqualified person. The stewards, after taking evidence, dealt with the matter. This is where the problem arises.
The stewards saw fit to disqualify Darryl Thomas for a further 12 months (good decision) and fined him $2,000 for giving false and misleading evidence (good decision). The problem is they ordered that the term of disqualification be served concurrently (at the same time) with the term imposed in NSW. At the bottom of the report posted on the RQ website, the stewards state and I quote:
“When considering penalty stewards took into account the seriousness of the matter and the need for a penalty to serve as a deterrent to Mr Thomas and the Harness Racing Industry that breaching a disqualification will not be tolerated.”
Well I am no steward, but where is the deterrent factor in ordering a disqualification to be served concurrently with the one already being served, where although being involved in the industry while disqualified, Mr Thomas will not serve any further time.
This decision is just another example of (a) whether the stewards have the intestinal fortitude to make the hard decision, or (b) just how out of their depth some of the people making these decisions must be. I think it may be a combination of the both.’ - Industry Participant Southport
EDITOR’S NOTE: I couldn’t agree more with your sentiments. It is hardly a deterrent to make the disqualification concurrent. Nothing the stewards in Queensland do would surprise me at present. They desperately need an injection of experience in the ranks. Punters aren’t the only ones losing confidence, so are some of the stake-holders. And while the embarrassment continues a top steward like Patrick Cooper continues to stack groceries in a supermarket all because his colleagues – including those at the top – feel intimidated by his presence. What a farcical situation!
HERE'S HOW SOME IN THE GREYHOUND INDUSTRY FEEL ABOUT THE NEW-LOOK RQL
'AS a long-time follower of the sport of greyhound racing I was wondering if you would consider running an article written by Bruce Teague, a contributor to Australian Greyhound Racing which I think might interest some of your readers from the other codes.
It involves the changing face of racing and its administration in Queensland and I think he makes a couple of very interesting points.’ – Jack Lloyd, Gold C oast.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Here’s the article as you requested Jack.
Queensland is out looking for answers but it does not seem to have worked out the questions yet.
Kevin Dixon, the pro-tem boss of Racing Queensland, comes from a racing family and was recently chairman of the Brisbane Racing Club. He has promised a completely different approach to that of his predecessor (Bob Bentley), and wants greyhound participants to be able to come to the governing body with a problem. That’s nice but what does it mean and how will it help?
A further confusion arises as the new structure is to comprise statutory bodies controlling each of the codes under one Board of Directors. That’s four organizations replacing one, which replaced three. Sounds both expensive and messy. Time will tell.
But consider some of Dixon’s policy promises. His statements to the public and to prominent greyhound journalist David Brasch include these three:
We are trying to find out just what the industry wants.
This is a direct reference to the views of owners and trainers and how the new board would then apply control and regulation. No doubt consultation like this important and worthwhile but it has little or nothing to do with the state of the industry today, only to how races are run.
Even then, the recent go-around with the finish-on lure proved an abortive example of that consultation. All the hard evidence said it was a good thing, injuries were lower, chasing was harder in both Queensland and SA but enough trainers protested to cause the authority to revert to the old system. So who is in charge?
Anyway, nuts and bolts are one thing, corporate strategy quite another.
Dixon sees greyhound, and other codes, selecting the new boards that would control their industry.
This is the big one. It implies that participants would choose board members who are attuned to their needs, ones who support whatever views they have expressed. In other words, what has gone on during past decades. Yet those decades have failed to make a mark, let alone produce growth and prosperity. In fact, Queensland is a basket case by comparison with other states, judging by the number and quality of their dogs. Both have been in decline for years now. Previous administrations, whether the old QGRA or the composite Racing Queensland group, have not only failed to make their presence felt but have not taken any action to reverse the slide. The band has been playing while the ship goes down.
On top of that, such a selection process has been condemned by Queensland government consultants KPMG, by the Australian Institute of Sport, and even by former racing chief, Bob Bentley, who termed it madness. It runs counter to other greyhound administrations in Australia and to common practice amongst successful companies which demand a fair degree of independence.
Mr Dixon reportedly wants dog punters to increase the size of their bets. This wish has all the hallmarks of a kid fronting up to Santa Claus. It is also impracticable. Queensland punters are burdened with Tatts, the smallest of the three main TAB operators in Australia.
While greyhound betting pools are often worryingly small down south, they are far more dismal in Queensland (or SA). Consequently, any local punter wanting to double or triple his bet would be crazy to use Tatts and thereby chop his dividend to bits. He would obviously go to the Victorian or NSW pools or to NT bookies, or all three. Dixon clearly does not understand the issue. What he should be doing is making a case for a national betting pool which would then give Queenslanders something realistic to use.
Betting aside, Dixon makes no mention at all of what the industry’s customers are doing or how they regard the product on offer. There is no indication that he will be asking them anything, let alone conducting some serious research to check out their habits and motivations, or the prospect of gaining new customers.
However, while he is on his circuit, Dixon might well ask some leading participants what they think about Queensland tracks. Half a dozen top trainers have already gone on record about the unsatisfactory nature of both Albion Park and Ipswich tracks (interviewed in the Greyhound Recorder two years ago). Both have significant design problems, particularly for young dogs starting out, matters which some trainers claim have forced them over to northern NSW tracks.
In turn, what does that promise for the design of the upcoming new complex at Logan (however that emerges from the new government’s economy campaign)? Surely that’s worth some serious advance study, too? No word from Dixon there.
The Dixon approach, so far, has a lot of commonality with the way the tennis club down the road is run. But that is just a sport for the locals. Racing is a first and foremost serious business. It has long since stopped being just a sport as it was when Dixon first experienced dog racing at Orange many years ago.
Unless things change radically, the outlook for Queensland is more of the same, or maybe less. It needs an independent approach from someone who can analyse the challenges, pull in customers and devise a winning strategy. I wonder if Mal Meninga is too busy to take it on?
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in the above e-mails should not be interpreted as those of JOHN LINGARD, the owner of the letsgohorseracing web-site. That is why he has added an ‘EDITOR’S NOTE’. Every endeavor is made to verify the authenticity of contributors. We welcome any reasonable and constructive responses from parties or individuals.
