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MARK STRIDE and trainer/driver BRAD COWEN racking up their first Albion Park Saturday night win as the base harness racing unit.The ever watchful CINDY snapped the occasion...Harnesspix@aol.com or phone 3861 9019..
This is one for the main page,and one for the collector of the unusual in "trot shots".
CINDY or NOEL has grabbed this one from ground level at the top of the straight on the run to the 2138m start.Harnesspix@aol.com or phone 3861 9019.
It can't all be horses,there must also be a portion of people in the trotting mix.JANE GROENENDYK,JANET AINSCOW and JACK GROENENDYK make up the Saturday night swab team at Albion Park.
"DRUG FREE" racing is a cornerstone in the public perception of TROTTING/HARNESS RACING as a good sport to be associated with.This trio is the first link in the drug surveillance chain...CONTROLLED SAMPLING..
This is called afterglow.TRENT DAWSON,KARINA VEIVERS,NATALIE RASMUSSEN and JOHN McCARTHY,captured by Cindy at Saturday night's reception ,dual hosted by APHRC and QHRB.
We went for the red for two reasons.(1)a sensational color for an all-round sensational performance,and,(2) we just think KARINA might like it.It's a great shot,and Cindy has it at Harnesspix@aol.com or phone 3861 9019..
There can be no doubt that there is one species of game in this country for which there is no closed season.That is of course,"THE TROTTING/HARNESS RACING OWNER".
News that it cost $5K to run in the INTER-DOMINION,while it does not surprise,certainly sickens.It is just another example of the full scale assault on the pocket of any person who wishes to indulge his or her passion for the light harness sport.In the "GOLDEN AGE" of trotting,the pay-up fee was half of one percent of the prizemoney,and,inthe case of the "Inter" travel subsidies were paid.If a horse receiving a subsidy earned prizemoney,this was retained until the subsidy was recovered.
The only subsidies which exist now, are those levied on the owners through extra-ordinary commissions for sales related events and long term sustaining payments for other so-called feature series and age or breed related races.
It is high time we applied a "SEPARATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES" to trotting/harness racing.This might see the OWNERS responsible for purchase or breeding of the animal and its upkeep,and the ADMINISTRATORS responsible for the FINANCIAL HEALTH AND INTEGRITY OF THE SPORT....Comment suitable for publication,(ie,constructive) is invited for publication...email austrot@hotmail.com..anonymous is not considered constructive..,/font>
Deception Bay trainer,MARK McNEE,was reeling in the cash at the "BAY CITY" track last night.Six starters for 3 wins a 2nd a 3rd and a 4th is satisfying to say the least.Winners were TOP SPEED (John Cremin),HECANHIKE (Mathew Neilson) and KING GALVINATOR (John Cremin).Placed were MATTYS BEST (John Cremin),THE TINGHA TERRA (Scotty Greig) and SAMOS (Mathew Neilson).Cheques for everyone to a total of $9,679.00..
CONGRATULATIONS,MARK....THIS IS A TOP EFFORT!!
DARTH INVADER (Luke McCarthy) taking the trot at Albion Park in easy fashion last Saurday.A Cindypic from Harnesspix@aol.com or phone 3861 9019..
Just before "BLACKIE" minced up the opposition in the main event at Globe Derby,another Queensland horse and driver team cleaned up big time.It was on a slightly smaller scale,but KARINA VEIVERS combined with INATIK and LLABERIF to make a clean sweep of the pony features.This is the girl who was only going in the hope of gaining experience.To KARINA,and all her support team,BEV,BILL,LEONE,and family who made the trip,one word covers it...FANTASTIC!!
LEONE"s archive had this shot of INATIK and KARINA till we get the big night images..
The "biggest of the big ones" has been run and won.For the second year in succession BLACKS A FAKE and NATALIE RASMUSSEN have captured the INTER-DOMINION PACERS GRAND FINAL.
TOO BIG,TOO FAST,TOO STRONG.That is the only way too describe the demolition of the best available.No luck in running stories here.Just the performance of a CHAMPION.If Natalie Rasmussen can serve him up sound and fit in March next year he can do it all again.
This Cindypic.is the Winter Cup at Albion Park...a taste of things to come Harnesspix@aol.com or phone 38619019..
Our "Roving Reporter" SHAUN GILLESPIE",first puts on his main hat as President of the Queensland Square Trotters Association,to congratulate TONY TURPIN on his first trotting winner.(WILLYGOBYE).He is now waiting for TONY to rack up a win with BRAD GILBERT as well.Read on for the GLOBE DERBY doings..
BLOWN BUDGET is back on song thanks to treatment for a liver problem.(caused by not eating after the Melbourne --Adelaide trip.Feed,water and some beach therapy have all done their bit and we are looking for improvement.With Ray Cross reporting similar circumstances for KATE AU PENNY,a Queensland quinella in the finale to the Carnival is not a pipe dream.
The ROVING REPORTER is now our "Adelaide based tipster",with selections as follows.
Pacers Grand Final: WINFORU (David Butcher).
Trotters Grand Final: A TOUCH OF FLAIR (Daryl Douglas).
Pacers Consolation: KARLOO MICK (Barry Lew).
In summing up,our man says it has been an unforgettable experience and a four star learning curve,picking up many pointers from just watching the likes of Chris Lang and Lance Justice work their horses.The dry humour dispensed by Barry Lew has added a large dash of hope when despair might have been about to raise its' head.I'm sure this is not our last communique.There will be life after Saturday..
Queensland INTER-DOMINION hopes,BE GOOD JOHNNY and BLACKS A FAKE have fared badly in the GRAND FINAL barrier draw.If emergency entrant,KARLOO MICK,fails to gain a start,BLACKS A FAKE will start from the 1 alley on the second line with BE GOOD JOHNNY hard alongside.Both are in the Champion department,however,and can not be dismissed.GREAT HORSES DO GREAT THINGS.
Meanwhile,our trotting reps,BLOWN BUDGET AND KATE AU PENNY will go round in the last event of the Carnival,the "TOOHEYS NEW TROT".Both handicapped on 10 metres,they get their chance to defray costs and be right in the excitement.Fingers toes and eyes crossed for all the Queensland runners..
Just imagine,three rounds to go and you're in front on points in the main support bout to ALI versus FRAZIER.In boxing terms,that just about sums up TRENT DAWSON in Adelaide..
With six races decided in the AYDC series,Queensland rep,TRENT DAWSON is on 59 points with Victorian GREG SUGARS on 55 and Tasmanian JAMES AUSTIN third on 50.DAWSON'S score comes from 3 winners,SURGERY (Port Pirie),YOU WANT SAUCE (Globe Derby) and MISSOURI DIAMOND (Globe Derby).As in all such series there is a little bit of luck as far as horse quality and barriers go and TRENT will be very much on his mettle to hold his lead.With approximately 135 winners lifetime,starting with SMOKEY DEE at Gold Coast when not long past his 16th birthday,TRENT DAWSON rates MAXIMILLION as the best he has sat behind.Apart from "life being tough at the top"the trip has been fantastic to date and his fellow drivers a great bunch.One downer only...the long (to a South East Queenslander) distances to Port Pirie and Victor Harbour.."Are we there yet".
TRENT DAWSON celebrates his 21st Birthday one week after the GRAND FINAL this Saturday.What if he had a double header...FINGERS CROSSED...IT COULD BE THE STUFF OF DREAMS..
Roving reporter,SHAUN GILLESPIE,sends us the latest on our mini-trotter reps at the INTER-DOMINION.While Queensland has no full size trotters in the GRAND FINAL,KARINA VEIVERS has qualified INATIK (he of the big finish) for the pony equivalent.LLABERIFF ,also driven by KARINA will contest the Consolation.This will be run at 5.00 pm with the BIG ONE at 5.20 pm.KARINA is super excited to just be there,so any sort of a placing will just be icing on the cake.All our fingers are crossed.Toes as well.Sponsors included Albion Park,QHRB,Rocklea,and SHANE GRAHAM'S driving fees for a Thursday meeting.(We could be talking serious bucks here).Shane obviously can remember his mini-trotter days,and good on him.Good on Bill and Bev,who have carted these two ponies a long way to compete.It's GREAT STUFF..
Natasha Day seen at her best landing POLO PRINCE the easiest of winners inthe opening event at Albion Park.Cindy didn't even have to be quick to snap this one.....Harnesspix@aol.com or phone 3861 9019..
SHAUN reports that the trip from Melbourne to Adelaide was blighted by a kangaroo incident only 10 minutes into the journey.BLOWN BUDGET,never the greatest of travellers is just a bit off his game
Following a near rollover,BB is not eating or drinking the best,and did not handle the testing home turn at GLOBE DERBY when worked along there.Shaun is hopeful that chiropractic attention will settle any problems picked up in the float incident.
On the up-side,BB has drawn the 1 alley again,but,however,he has to contend with GLENBOGLE and A TOUCH OF FLAIR.The clash will occur in Race 4.As I said before,it is trotting,and anything can happen.The home turn will be there for the best of them.KATE AU PENNY and Ray Cross have drawn well in the "less strong" heat,(THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A WEAK INTER-DOMINION HEAT) at barrier 2 in Race 7.Lets hope that the mare gets away clean this time.
Just as a point of interest,BE GOOD JOHNNY ran his last 400m in 26.6 on Wednesday night.That would have provided one of those"warm fuzzy" feelings for TEAM McCARTHY,particularly with a possible USA trip on the distant horizon.FINGERS CROSSED FOR ALL THE QUEENSLANDERS ON SATURDAY NIGHT..
To use the premise that select northern based trainers are disadvantaged by having to travel to the Gold coast on Thursday’s is flawed!
THIS IS THE TYPE OF RESPONSE WHICH LEADS TO INFORMED AND CONSTRUCTIVE DEBATE..LET THERE BE MORE OF IT..Denis.
If you consider that the north side (of town) conducts 3 meetings per week (Redcliffe & Albion Park) compared with 2 on the south side (Gold Coast –excluding the Rocklea meeting), then there is clearly no basis for a change. In fact, if half of Thursday meetings were to be transferred to Redcliffe then it would be 3½ meetings (or 70%) for the north side and 1½ for the south side (30%) –further adding to the imbalance.
One could put up the argument that trainers based at Fernvale, Marburg, Amberley, etc and all points further west, are severely disadvantaged because they have to “travel” irrespective of where the meeting is held! With rising costs, in particular fuel costs, then surely this demographic would be worse off. Surely, a case for a travel / fuel subsidy if there ever was one! By applying Mr Fowlers ‘logic’ there appears to be a watertight case for a meeting to be conducted in the Ipswich / Marburg region, rather than on the north side?
In saying that however, all is not lost! I do support Mr Fowler in his call for changes, albeit via a ‘different” process.
Since moving to Queensland more than 25 years ago, I have always questioned the “traditional / historical” right of Club’s (with the exception of the Principal Club) to conduct meetings on a ‘set’ day / night / timeslot. I believe that (like a Driver’s licence) it should be a ‘privilege”, not a right!
I have always believed that the ‘secondary’ Clubs, here in Queensland, should be allocated race dates as follows:
Firstly, the Club conducting any feature race or carnival (Derby, Cup, Oaks, Breeders, etc.) should automatically get the prime time slot to showcase its’ product. Toowoomba, if still operational, would have been included in this format.
Secondly, no club should have more than 30 meetings in any given time slot. Clubs that put in the extra effort and resources for the industry should be rewarded by allocating them more meetings in their preferred time slot. Subsequently, those Clubs that do not measure up should have meetings deducted. Club performances to be reviewed each season by the Board and allocations adjusted accordingly.
The only drawback I see would be the Sky channel contracts. It is a pity the QHRB did not control this facet, as they would only have to confirm the time-slot’s with Sky. This would allow the Board to assign a Club to any particular time slot and future changes could be made without repercussions!
Brian Ferguson
Camira..
The "sorting out" process upon which the INTER-DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP is predicated,is up and running in true fashion in Adelaide.
With two rounds of heats decided,the "TOUGH" have got going ,and are building points to ensure that they are running for the big bucks on Grand Final Night.This resulted in the 1800 metre track record being broken twice and now stands at an impressive 1.54.7,run by BE GOOD JOHNNY as he got home by 3 metres from fellow Queenslander,BLACKS A FAKE.If the Grand Final field was being viewed as a "probables versus possibles" scenario,the "probables" would,realistically,be the following.
[Points in ( ) ] TRIBUTE (28)--ROBIN HOOD (25)--TOE TAPER (25)--WINFORU (23)--BE GOOD JOHNNY (20)--KARLOO MICK (20)--BLACKS A FAKE (17)--DEE DEES DREAM (16)--SMOOTH CRUZA (16)--FLAMING ROADSTAR (16)--FOREAL (15)--REBA RAJAH (14).
The above process is what the INTER-DOMINION is all about.It does not require any tampering with its' format,it requires only promotion identical to the major galloping events.What this means,is that there must be bulk coverage in the media which reaches JOE and JOANNE AVERAGE-CITIZEN.This has not happened for many years,and, until such time as it does happen,we will not only struggle,we will struggle while still going backwards.
I have been involved in trotting for 45 years now,and,I believe that the INTER-DOMINION process has never produced anything but a CHAMPION,and there has never been a "weak year".WHAT IT HAS BRED IS COMPLACENCY,AND A DEFEATIST ATTITUDE---THIS MUST CHANGE..Denis..
It's all happening tonight,Wednesday January 3 at Globe Derby.
After a first round,chock full of surprises,(some would say "horrors")at Moonee Valley last Friday,the action shifts to Adelaide tonight.The shorter course,and,in the main,inconclusive barrier draws,keeps the element of chance well to the fore.Of last Friday's beaten brigade,BE GOOD JOHNNY is the only horse to be drawn favourably,at barrier 4 in his heat.It is said that some of the higher rated horses will have to earn maximum points to be sure of a berth in the final.This means ACTION.Wait up for the last and have something each-way on KATE AU PENNY's travelling companion,DECKED IN OIL."D.I.O."is a capable horse,and Ray Cross will be looking for him to assist in defraying costs for the trip..