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It's Marburg today..First trial..11.15am.First race..12.40pm..Bets,Beer,Burgers and good racing..There are winners there today.Go get'em..

Resultsville...Gold Coast 24/06..Eden Burst (Murray Sullivan)..Western Mail (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby)...Albion Park 25/06..Caesar Supreme (Darrel Graham)...Marburg 25/06..Of Liberty (Lola Weidemann for Ann Perrin)..Truckies Art (Lola Weidemann for John Edmunds)..Miniature Classic (Narissa for John McMullen)..Melton Big Gunna (Pete for John McMullen)..Melton Claus (Dan Russell for John McMullen)...Albion Park 27/06..Jennas Regret (Murray Sullivan)..Franco Henry (Pete McMullen for John Davis)...Albion Park 28/06..Runem Down (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby)...Redcliffe 29/06..El Charro (Pete McMullen for Shane Sanderson)..Gold Coast 30/06..Bud Fox (Chantal Turpin for Phil Mitchell)...

Selections for Albion Park tonight ..R 1: Trifecta 1-2-3: A Falcon Can (T.McCarthy)--Our White Knight (C.Petroff)--Garnet River (L.McCarthy)..R 2: E/w 7: Eden Burst (M.Sullivan)..R 3: No 7: Blacks A Fake (K.Rasmussen)..R 4: E/w 6: Ark Monroe (C.Saunders)..R 5: Quinella 2-6: Passthehataround (C.Cini) and Fighting Chance (M.Sullivan)..R 6: E/w 6: Lanercost (D.Graham)..R 7: E/w 4: Vertigal (D.Thorn)..R 8: E/w 7: Western Mail (G.Whitaker)...

Selections for Marburg today...R 1: E/w 4: Vinnies Rocket (A.Barnes)..R 2: E/w 4: Frosty Lord (G.Vernon)..R 3: E/w 3: Xavier (S.Storie)..R 4: E/w 3: Mister Attitude (R.Gordon)..R 5: E/w 2: Say Again (L.Weidemann)..

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"TROT TACTICS"..02/07/2011...

Yet another serious scare for horses and their owners and attendants surfaced last weekend when a case of Hendra virus was confirmed at Kerry near Beaudesert.A veterinarian attended a sick horse on Saturday and the animal was then transported to a second property where it died on Sunday.Both properties are currently under quarantine.Eight people known to have been exposed to the horse have commenced preliminary testing and treatment.This is the 15th known incident of Hendra virus since the disease was first detected in 1994.The symptoms in the horse are a rapid onset of fever and respiratory or neurological malfunction.This virus is deadly to humans.Four of the seven recorded cases in humans have resulted in death.Should any horse display Hendra type symptoms on property inhabited by fruit bats,the Bio-security number is 13 25 23 in business hours and the hotline is 1800 675 888..For possible people exposure ring Queensland Health on 13 43 2584..

Closer to home,but just as big a shock,was talented young driver Ray Law awakening last Tuesday morning to find most of his speech and a great deal of his co-ordination gone.Ray,in his early 20's,and a gym regular had suffered a minor stroke.After admission to the stroke unit at PA hospital it appeared that no permanent damage had been done and a full recovery would be sooner rather than later.Ray is back home and doing well to the delight of his fellow trot folk..

Some good news out of the Botra meeting last Monday night include the Courier-Mail's decision to resume its weekly harness racing column.Recent Pub-Tab surveys in Ipswich indicate that there is no such thing as too much news print coverage for racing.A short study by this writer in the mid 80's on race content in the Courier Mail and Sunday Mail,appeared to indicate that Tab turnover figures very closely approximated the area of print devoted to each of the codes.Joy of joys,Briz 31 will soon re-introduce a harness show titled "Blinkers Off".Time slot and start date are not yet finalised,but will be available in the next two weeks.

Things are looking up in South Australia."The growth and profitability of the South Australian Harness Racing Club is fundamental to the growth of harness racing in SA.Without a strong Globe Derby Park,we do not have a strong industry."So said John Lewis,joint CEO of both HRSA (control body) and SAHRC (Globe Derby),when prefacing an update on progress in the re-development of Globe Derby.The master plan now exists,and the first round of planning approval applications have been lodged.A detailed briefing on the re-development will be provided to participants in the sport/industry..Future news letters will appear on the website, as a "download file"..

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Download file

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The format for these trials will be as outlined in option (1)..The mobile starter is operated and owned by the club on a registered track and they allow horses to train behind the starter at certain times per week.This activity would be fully covered for any liability resulting from the starter or the track.The driver to driver liability would not be covered as it is not an official race or trial.the liability of the trainer is covered if this is approved training under the control of the club and is on a registered track..

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A CLASSIC OF WOODCRAFT!!

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"TROT TACTICS"..25/06/2011..

Before you get too comfortable with the light harness picture for this week,put a circle round this Monday night,7.30pm and be at Rocklea for an urgent industry meeting.Botra's request for a review of Racing Queensland Ltd's prizemoney distribution structure has met with a flat refusal to negotiate on any point.If you went to none of the industry meetings leading up to this point,make the effort to get to Rocklea.It's your sport/industry,and you must act to protect it!!!

Several months back,this column pre-empted the production of a new race sulky,here in the Ipswich area.The prototype is now a reality and has been checked out by some local trainers in the work situation.Several minor design bugs were identified and will be modified in the two sulkies required by the official testing agency.The all stainless sulky will be available in two grades of finish,standard and mirror and is possibly 4kilograms heavier than the regular roundback cart.All fittings which come with a regular sulky will be there and the extra weight is in the wall thickness of the tubing used.The sulky will be marketed under the brand name,"AUSSIE ECLIPSE" and will be very competitive in price.It is not a new design,it is just the best adaption of the latest style of speed sulkies and is aimed full on at Australasian race conditions.It will look better for longer,and the builder's motto is,"ECLIPSE" first,and the rest nowhere!!!Gavin Crone and Steven Doyle are the guys to see..

There's a new "claim" driver in town in the person of ex-kiwi,Adam Sanderson..22 year old Sanderson hails from Invercargill in New Zealands's Southland and is on the staff of the Lord Mayor of Fernvale,Darrel Graham..AS came into the world of spinning wheels and flying heels some five years back,scoring a job with highly respected Southland horseman,Kirk Larsen. Larsen usually works a team of 25 to 30 year round,with the winter months of rain,frosts,snow and bulk mud spent on bringing the 2 and 3yos up to scratch for the spring to come.Three years in the sulky and only averaging two maybe three drives per week has seen Adam run up a healthy 27 victories.He confesses to a bit of culture shock at the opportunity available in Queensland with the frequency of meetings.The best horse Adam Sanderson has driven is Robins Cullen but he might be downgraded a bit as Adam booted Franco Emerger home at Albion Park last Saturday.We can only wish him well.Best of British luck..

It's Marburg day today..The first of three trials at 11.20am,first race at 12.40pm and the last at 3.00pm.A good program.So,for Betting,Burgers,Beer and the Best of Country Trotting head out to Marburg..It's fun in the sun!!

Resultsville..Gold Coast 17/06..Western Mail (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby)...Albion Park 18/06..Franco Emerger (Adam Sanderson for Darrel Graham)..Lanercost (Darrel Graham)..Melton Rejection (Pete for John McMullen)...Albion Park 20/06..Suite Living (Vic Pascoe)..Allstar Art (Trent for Geoff Dawson)..Melton Bon Baron (Pete for John McMullen)..Heez An Ace (Dean Belford for Doug Lyon)..Le Brique (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby)...Albion Park 21/06..Cheque Again (Graeme Harris for Francis Weston)..Vinnies Adventure (Cassie Saunders for Al Barnes)..Caesar Supreme (Darrel Graham)...Redcliffe 22/06..Gifted Red (Lola Weidemann for Ricky Gordon)...Gold Coast 23/06..nil...

Selections for Albion Park tonight..R 1: Quinella 1-2: A Falcon Can (T.McCarthy) and Paleface Jasper (C.Cini)..R 2: E/w 1: Cullen Hanover (G.Dixon)..R 3: E/w 5: Harmony Prince (M.Neilson)..R 4: E/w 3: Northern Gem (G.Dixon)..R 5: E/w 2: Place Your Bet (L.Weidemann)..R 6: Trifecta 2-4-6: Our Archangel (N.Scott)--Dougs Place (P.McMullen)--The Seventh Son (J.McCarthy)..R 7: E/w 2: Goodaz Promised (P.McMullen)..R 8: No 5: Torque In Motion (S.Graham)..R 9: Quinella 1-3: Connor Patrick (D.Graham) and Nickys Falcon (T.McCarthy)...R 10: E/w 5: Jacks Falcon (J.McCarthy)..

Selections for Marburg today..R 1: E/w 4: Brother Ken (T.Hodges)..R 2: E/w 3: Bettor Be Magic (P.McMullen)..R 3: E/w 4: Mallee Boy (R.Sallis)..R 4: E/w 2: Watchandwonder (D.Chalk)..R 5: E/w 4: Melton Claus (P.McMullen)..

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"TROT TACTICS"..18/06/2011...

The Winter Carnival is coming,and Albion Park is having a serious whack at reviving some real interest on the light harness scene.Already three buses are working the City to Viginia run up Sandgate Road with a colourful image of young drivers on the back end.The campaign,called "The Young Guns of Harness Racing" is the brainchild of recently appointed Albion Park Manager,Nathan Hand,and the visual bit is aimed squarely at the 18 to 30 year age bracket.A bill board on busy Hudson Road at Bowen Hills will be the next structure to recieve the the "back of a bus" treatment.To trap the older market,there will be a four week saturation of ads on 4BC,Radio Tab,and much larger than usual newspaper exposure.

A different move will be two "meet and greet" sessions scheduled for the Brekkie Creek Hotel tomorrow,19/06 between 1 and 2pm and the following Sunday,26/06 in the same time frame.Both sessions will be hosted by David Fowler,and the first will feature Chantal Turpin,Kelli Dawson,Pete McMullen,Dean Belford,Todd McCarthy and harness education officer,Neale Scott,himself an accomplished trainer/driver,who will tell you how to get a start in the game.The second session brings on the movers and shakers of Queensland trotting,and includes John McCarthy,Darrel Graham,Peter Greig and Natalie Rasmussen.Come along and meet the superstars,off the track,off TV and in the flesh.None of them bite!!

The future of light harness in Queensland is on the knife edge yet again."Fate of Albion Park rests on judge's finding on one conversation in 2009".So wrote Mark Oberhardt in the Courier Mail last Thursday.What is currently at issue here is whether or not,on December 23,2009 Mr Robert Bentley(RQLtd) made representations to Mr Bob Lette(HRQ) to the effect that,"the sale of Albion Park had never been discussed at at any meeting of Queensland Racing(gallops control body prior to the amalgamation that became RQLtd),and that he,R.G.Bentley was prepared to confirm to the Minister that there was no agenda to sell Albion Park..Mr Justice Applegarth,in the Supreme Court of Brisbane is looking for suitable trial date to determine whether a court order to prevent the sale of Albion Park should be applied.The sad part of this whole scenario is that there is no mention of a record of this meeting (Dec 23) in the form of minutes or tape.It is shocking to think that the future of light harness in Queensland could be discussed in such cavalier fashion.It is time to call on the Premier and the Minister for Racing to disolve the amalgamated body which is RQLtd,appoint new control boards for each code,and,after a 12 month moratorium,put the amalgamation proposition again,but this time to the participants,not their leaders!!

Resultsville...Redcliffe 10/06..nil...Albion Park 11/06..Viniboy (Al Barnes)..Big Of Hurry (Clint Petroff for Brett Cargill)..Hitemup (Darrel Graham)..Supper Waltz Wilson(Steven Doherty for Francis Weston)...Albion Park 13/06..Krilich (Pete McMullen for Phil Mitchell)..Sumoneuptherliksme (Ken Belford)...Albion Park 14/06..Couragious Annie (Darrel Graham)..Ima Thrill Seeker (Chantal for Tony Turpin)..On The Ledge (Melissa Gillies)...Gold Coast 15/06..Gifted Red (Lola Weidemann for Ricky Gordon)...Gold Coast 16/06..Able Jasper (Ricky Gordon)..Whata Shaw Thing (Pete for John McMullen)...

Selections for Albion Park tonight...R 1: E/w 10: Eden Burst (M.Sullivan)..R 2: E/w 2: Powerful Tycoon (S.Burrows)..R 3: Quinella 1-8: Goodness (T.Dawson) and Our Sand Fly (B.Towns)..R 4: Quinella 1-2: Rose Of Jeremy (E.Bailley) and Hitemup (D.Graham)..R 5: E/w 7: Fighting Chance (M.Sullivan)..R 6: No 3: Lanercost (D.Graham)..R 7: Quinella 5-6: Be Good Johnny (J.McCarthy) and Perfect Shot (N.Scott)..R 8: Quinella 4-8: Hidden Gem (R.Martin) and Auchenflower Rose (M.Formosa)...

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Top Swiss lady. Amateur driver,Laurence Kindler at St Moritz,with Haumon Jim in the sulky.

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EVOLUTION OF THE SULKY (3)....COLONIAL INGENUITY..

By the time my Grandfather had called it a day at the ripe old age of 20 in 1908 the drivers had descended from their lofty perches,and were situated at approximately the level that they occupy today.However,their feet were even further forward ,now being nearly level with the horse's stifles.Two or three factors now had their impact on this situation,and it will be up to you to decide which was the prime mover to the long shafted,narrow race sulky which has served us so well for nearly the last century.Tracks in the US,Europe and New Zealand were generally wide and never shorter than 800 metres in circumference,and field sizes seldom more than 15 runners.The bulk of tracks in Australia were constructed on showgrounds owned by local government or Show Societies on Lands Department "peppercorn" leases,and,due to the space occupied by exhibits of produce and animals plus other horse events,the racetrack seldom exceeded 600m and was more likely to be 4 to 500m,and seldom more than 12m wide.This,coupled with field sizes often exceeding 20 runners,was a recipe for tight racing..

Here is also where the method of starting races and handicapping the various runners began to exert an influence on design.Early handicapping was either on distance or time.The distance method was ridiculously hard with penalties up to 800m being dished out with monotonous regularity on the basis one lifetime win.It did not last,and neither should it have.Next up was time,with seconds behind the scratch horse being the impostFor example,No1..GO..No2...3 4 5..GO..No3...8 9 10..GO etc.Not quite as hopeless as 800m behind but given to confusion and,if the starter happened to be a punter,you could guess who was going to get the fly.Melbourne tote operator,proprietary trot and pony track owner,John Wren,is credited with the introduction of the standing start with 12 yard handicapping increments that took trotting all the way to its golden age under lights.The starting mechanism of bungee and straight out cord with release pins,wire cable pulleys and start lever was the invention of one Sutton McMillan,a top class trainer who stabled two streets from Harold Park.The combination of bungee and cord was fixed to the inside or outside running rail,with the release pins and cable attached to the starting lever or pedal inside the starters platform.The attachment points were from the front,(or "scratch" as it was known) and went back at 12 yard intervals to at least 120 yards behind.I saw trotters start from 120 at Harold Park and a respectable number start and win from 108.Legal Raider was one of these.At Londonderry (Richmond) 156 yards was not able to stop Attract or Golden Moments from getting the cash and a good whack from the betting ring.For the start to be effected,the starter would call the runners up to their respective marks,and,when they were standing to his satisfaction,he would pull the lever or depress the pedal and the field would be away.The system was a simple,fair and efficient method of starting a race,and,if maintained on a meeting to meeting basis,was failure proof.The long shafts on the sulky are required here as a safety issue because many fit and keyed up horses have a tendency to rear up when required to stand for much more than a couple of seconds.With a short sulky when the horse rears the sulky moves forward and may contact the hindquarters of the horse which might continue to then go up and over backwards,and crush the driver if he has not managed to get clear.It all happens quickly..Further with the long shafts,the wheels of the sulky(which is now narrow due to the large field sizes,small tracks and tight turns) are now back behind the travel of the hind feet to prevent the horse from hitting the wheels.Wheel hitting generally panics the horse,may cause it to break gait or or grab the bit and go regardless of a sulky and driver in front of it.It's the old story,"horses for courses" or "sulkies for tracks and starting methods".We went long and narrow,the Yanks just got wider..

Bibliography..Max Agnew,Greg Brown...The bulk of it,personal observations..conversations with old blokes...

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