Look, I’m the first to admit there are issues with the way suspension/appeals are sorted in QLD and the recent events have really highlighted that but I can’t help but feel some of the reports in recent days are all a bit over the top.
It’s extremely frustrating to see charges dragged out over a year, they do need to be sorted one way or the other a hell of a lot quicker, I completely get that.
Also frustrating that we have the highest Point Of Consumption Tax in Australia and as Nathan Exelby penned in the Courier Mail- Racing Qld are now going to raise product fees to bookmakers, at the end of the day there may or may not be more money for racing Qld there but it’s another kick in the cods for punters (where those funds will come from). Nobody wants RQ to get money more than myself but it does look like a bit of a piss take on top of the POC (Government grab not RQ),
On the other hand the new Eagle Farm track is up and running and performing well going into the winter carnival, prize money is good (partially because of the POC but 15% still too much). Doomben has had a freshen up and will also be in good shape.
There are a lot of positives and this carnival shapes as one of the best in a long time and even though a couple of big players have said they won’t be coming the show will roll on and other trainers will pick up the blacktype for their fillies and mares. (It is an amazing stance when you look at some of the things that have been found in other states in recent years and I wouldn’t be surprised if things changed and they ended up here anyway). We will get a lot of kiwis this year because of EF being back on line and the derby should be an excellent race because of that..
At the end of the day, away from a couple of issues that have been frustrating the state is actually going ok. We just need to fix the appeals system to have things dealt with more quickly so everybody can move on and focus on things that need to be focused on. (Like the right horses running in races and posting the right numbers before correct weight)
