Austrotforum

"TROT TACTICS"...16/04/2011..

First things first,and the first thing that light harness participants should be deciding this morning is to attend tomorrow afternoon's meeting at Greenbank RSL.In an encouraging move,the Speaker of the House and State Member for Logan,The Honourable John Mickel has invited you and me to air our concerns over the manner in which Racing Queensland Ltd is handling the affairs of harness racing/trotting in the Sunshine State.Obviously,at least one high profile government figure has decided to hear our side of the story rather than accept RQL's somewhat mystifying policies,supposedly designed for our benefit,as the way forward.The Meeting Room at Greenbank RSL is at 54 Anzac Avenue,Hillcrest,and the meeting commences at 2.00pm sharp.Don't miss this..be there and be counted.The more we do now,the better our chances of survival.It really is that grim and 2014 is not far away.Bob Bentley must not have reason to apply "corporate reality" to the light harness balance sheet.

RQ Ltd got the first blow in this week with a media release advising all and sundry that harness would be losing the Monday meeting as from July 1st and two races from Saturday night plus one from Tuesday afternoon.That is some reduction in TAB racing opportunity as it costs the sport 11 races weekly leaving 40 races as opposed to 51.The total prize pie is to be cut as follows.Saturday night,seven races of $12,000 and one of $15,000.Friday nght,eight races at $6,000,Tuesday,eight races at $5,000,Thursday,eight races at $,4,000,Wednesday night,eight races at $3,001 and Saturday nonTAB,five races at $1,501.This particular exercise in robbing Peter to pay Paul has been done many times in the past by other administrations,none of which were anxious to publicise the fact that the pie contained the same amount of dollars as its predecessor and,under the dog eat dog principle,those owners who may have picked up cost defraying money in the eleven races not now run,would soon be starved out.Sadly,dog eat dog is an ongoing operation where the strong prey on the weaker players and soon there are only two left.For our own sakes,we must advise RQ Ltd that it is just not acceptable to remove 21% of our earning potential,and,at the same time dramatically raise our turnover figures.What,we might ask,does RQ Ltd propose to provide for us in the way of helpful advice and assistance to reach this target..You guessed it...nothing!!

Lauren jones will be home today,carrying tales of the experience of a sixteen year olds lifetime.Just imagine travelling to New Zealand to represent Queensland in a support pony race on the night of the Pacers and Trotters Inter-dominion Grand finals at Auckland's Alexandra Park.after the Christchurch quake put an end to the original Kidz Kartz series,only Lauren and NSW's Ben Lamb made the trip over to show the flag for their respective States.Kumeu Kidz Kartz suppled the ponies and Lauren was fortunate enough to draw the backmarker,Ruff Rufus.LJ followed the fence and was a fast closing third to Cambridge based Alicia Harrison,driving Ricki..With a long time family involvement in the light harness game,Lauren is about to bid farewell to the minis and chase a career in the full size sulky.Having held a strappers ticket for three seasons,,the concession drivers licence is the next step.With Mum and Dad, Jodie and Peter,right behind her,Lauren is every chance.

Resultsville...Gold Coast 08/04..Crackerofaparty (Ann Manwaring)..Cheque Again (Steven Doherty for Francis Weston)..Maywyns Storm (Pete for Shane Sanderson)..Maywyn Jasper (Pete for Shane Sanderson)..Melton Ned Calle (Pete for John McMullen)...Albion Park 09/04..Machomical (Pete for Shane Sanderson)..Maria Callas (Chantal for Tony Turpin)..I Am Terror (Ricky Gordon)...Marburg 09/04..Fake Romeo (Ken Burwell)..Melton Max Honey (Pete for John McMullen)..Roslea Hilda (Glenn Dawson)..Bundy Sunrise (Gary Whitaker for Denis Smith)..Say Again (Lola Weidemann for Brendan Sheehy)...Albion Park 11/04..Machomical (Pete for Shane Sanderson)..White Eye Markei (Darrel Graham)..Rollon Red Rocket (Darrel Graham)...Redcliffe 13/04..nil...Gold coast 14/04..Western Mail (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby)..Melton Rejection (Pete for John McMullen)...