You won’t find many people more passionate about QLD racing than myself. Sometimes when I mention something I feel can be better, people can take it the wrong way. I’m not bagging QLD, I’m simply wanting to be as good as the other states. Too often I feel we have missed the opportunity to improve.
I’ve promoted QLD racing for 8 years through this site and got nearly a million page hits a year. If I didn’t like the state I wouldn’t keep promoting it.
*I’ve just been thinking about a few things we’ve got right and a few that we’ve got wrong (in my opinion).
TICKS/POSITIVES
*Many are still torn on the Eagle Farm track as they feel it is too firm. The massive positive in my mind is the fact most of our Winter carnival will be run on this track and we will never lose a meeting because of wet tracks. That has been an issue over the years, not with this track. As for the firmness on dry days, I wouldn’t be the least surprised to see the track watered race morning to keep trainers and connections happy. Overall this track is a heck of a lot better than the one that got ripped up obviously.
*The WAVE race day. We all know what other states have done throwing multi millions at single races with different conditions etc. I love the fact we’ve gone for a new race day with THE WAVE a week before the Magic Millions. Not just The Wave, but 2x $250k Class 4 races as well as the two feature 2yr old races. It’s a great race day and a brilliant lead up to the Millions a week later.
CROSSES/NEGATIVES
*I have no idea why we are recording jumpouts in Brisbane and putting them on the RQ website with no colours or horses names? It is said to be for trainers/owners etc. I am dumbfounded, I actually can’t understand the thinking. In this day and age where everything is about trying to drive turnover, we are filming jumpouts and giving punters no idea as to what the horses are. Victoria film the jumpouts, racing.com have footage of a heap of jumpouts with details, why can’t we? And that’s a serious question, I can’t find out off anyone.
*There have been a heap of chatter between punters in recent times about stewards reports. More about what hasn’t been mentioned in them, not what has been in them. The chatter is all around the country, not just within QLD. I hate hearing it so i’m sure those in charge aren’t over the moon about it either.
*Our prices. Now RQ can’t help this, it’s on the bookies but it is a negative about QLD racing. Away from our Saturday meeting the prices for QLD racing are about the last to go up anywhere in Australia. We have a case again this week where our 2nd biggest meeting of the week (Thursday Metropolitan) fields are out. The prices for Tamworth, yep, Tamworth (country TAB meeting) are out nearly 24 hours before the markets for Doomben are out.
THE BIG QUERY:
The TV rights? What happens here? SKY vs RACING.COM. A big decision for those in charge. Many say SKY have always and will always favour NSW racing. On the other hand people say RACING.COM already have VIC and SA on board so they will favour those states over QLD. Whatever side you are on it’s probably the biggest call in the last decade so let’s hope the right call is made and QLD is in the best possible decision.
***These are just my opinion and like bums, we all have one. It doesn’t mean i’m right. I’m keen to know how you feel QLD racing is tracking at present and what you feel are any positives or negatives at the moment. Feel free to respond on social media or via email. Have a great week***
