As most of the followers of the site would know I’m not one who gets involved in the politics of racing and pretty much leave that alone for those involved, but enough is enough when it comes to the war, spat, arm wrestle, disagreement, whatever the hell you want to call it between the Brisbane Racing Club and Racing Queensland!
This has been going on for years and years and guess who’s losing out because of it? EVERYONE! Owners, trainers, punters the lot! It is so petty and I’m sure a lot of it has to do with egos, but guess what guys, IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU! It is about the whole racing industry in our state and we are becoming a joke to the rest of Australia. For instance, on the weekend I wrote something similar on twitter and got responses from around Australia from many different people and most were saying that we are now the laughing stock of the industry. Is that not embarrassing enough for the BRC and Racing QLD to pull their heads and egos in and get to work fixing this shemozzle?
For those out there wondering why is he blowing up? Thought you were about promoting racing in QLD Gibbo? I am, and that’s what I’m trying to do here. I want what’s best for the participants. I have said it 1000 times, but when Sydney start racing for $100,000 and Melbourne for $80,000 each race of a Saturday there will be a traffic jam on the pacific highway with QLD owners travelling south to be racing for the better prize money!
The two biggest issues for me at the moment are the ‘goat track’ Eagle Farm which they are doing their best to keep together and the fact prize money is stagnant, yet the costs for owners and trainers continues to rise. Bob Bentley admitted in Sunday mail (11th March 2012) that Eagle Farm needed digging up but the BRC had never asked. Fair dinkum, what sort of joint are we running? Put the petty stuff to the side and talk to each other. We are talking about the premier track in QLD and one of our biggest assets. Whether it’s Bob who goes to BRC and says let’s fix it, or if it’s the BRC who asks him for his help, who cares just do it. I don’t care where the money comes from, put a building of for a few years, but fix the track! My two infant daughters seem more chance to fix a 1000 piece puzzle than these blokes do of ever giving up their vendetta.
Trevor Bailey has left his Gold Coast set up and moved south. The rumour mill is about and there is a feeling that a few more will follow. If we are not careful this could lead us down a very bad path. Think of all the major trainers like Hawkes and a few other who had stables up here, it’s no surprise they pulled the pin when they did.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Racing Queensland or BRC hater, I think they both do some great things for the industry and the QTIS scheme is the thing that is probably keeping us afloat, but imagine what we could have if they joined together for the industry?
I will finish by saying we have been very lucky in the fact our winter carnival hasn’t been hit by the really bad weather because if it does the flaws at Eagle Farm will be there for everyone to see on the biggest stage. It would be very embarrassing and disappointing to see major days called off with minimal rain and the track be unsafe for racing. Let’s hope common sense prevails and some decisions are made that keep us in the game, because if they aren’t it is a pretty ordinary place that we may end up in!
