Harness racing code needs to do more

The first inklings of the immediate future of the animal racing codes of Queensland has been revealed in the proposed "Tracking to Sustainability'' plan released by the Office of Racing.

Before we go into orbit at the prospect of prizemoney cuts, the following schedule will provide for a level of stakes some 3.4% above that paid out in the 2013/14 racing season.

Effectively, what this provides, is breathing space and opportunity for harness racing clubs to put a great deal more effort into ensuring that they are providing fans and punters with the product they want.

We all, from Racing Queensland down the line, have to try harder to increase turnover to a point where we can hold our heads up.

Whingeing, screaming for assistance and interviewing ex-pat trainer/drivers who only return here to plunder our feature races, or quoting locals who are planning to shift camp to the south to chase the larger stakes on offer there, does no good at all.

Bob Bentley's famous statement to Derek Payne (the former financial director of Clive Palmer's horse interests) that harness would receive "corporate reality'' is now with us.

Sadly, so are a raft of corporate bookmakers competing with our major source of operating revenue, UBET, a company to which we are contractually tied for the next 29 years.

We must work with what we have and we must make it succeed.

We will only do it with a much simplified racing format for the punters to do their own reliable form and iron-tight integrity.

Nothing less will provide a reliable starting point.

The following is the short version of the proposed prize- money structure from January 1.

Harness racing: Reduction of $2.9 million in prizemoney levels overall. Feature prizemoney to be reduced by $515,000. QBred scheme set to receive a $990,000 reduction.

Albion Park Friday: Prizemoney levels to be reduced to eight races at $4000 and one race at $3501.

Albion Park Saturday: Prizemoney levels to be reduced to one race at $13,000, five races at $11,000 and four races at $7500.

Albion Park Tuesday: Prizemoney levels to be reduced to seven races at $5000 and two races at $3501.

Redcliffe Wednesday: to remain at $3,501 for eight races.

Marburg Saturday (non TAB): to remain at $1501 for five races.

Grass TAB meetings on various Sundays: $2,500 for three to eight races.

The following illustrates clearly that harness has by no means been singled out or ill treated.

Brad Davidson reports for News Limited that thoroughbred racing will cop most of the reduction with $8.5 million to be cut from non-country racing prizemoney and $4.6 million cut from country racing prizemoney.

However, the $4.6 million cut to country racing is expected to be fully compensated in a $21 million package set to be released from the State Government, which will see funding to the country sector remain similar over the next four years.

Prizemoney for harness racing will be reduced by $2.9 million next financial year, which will leave the code 1.3 per cent worse off than the levels before increases were announced late last year.

Greyhound racing will face a $2.64 million reduction in prizemoney next financial year with the average prizemoney a race set to decrease by two per cent to $1863 next financial year.

The local breeding schemes for thoroughbred (QTIS) and harness (QBred) racing will also be reduced by $1.56 million and $990,000 respectively next financial year.

Christmas Ducks salute

THERE used to be an old saying when I was a boy, which surfaced every year at the festive season.

Anyone who enjoyed a bit of luck or success in the matter of money at this time was greeted by friends with the salutation: "Christmas Ducks''.

The ducks went in the bag for the extended family of Beryl (Nanna) Dawson on Tuesday at Albion Park.

First up on the winner board was grandson Nathan who piloted Betonthebay to victory in race one for Redcliffe trainer Donny Smith.

Then, perhaps the most pleasing result, was the win of Danny Cool for John McMullen.

In a sport noted for the longevity of many active participants, John noticeably concentrated on training some years to make way for offspring Pete and Narissa who benefited greatly from the additional time in the sulky on race day.

The win on Danny Cool was JMcM's first for five years, and he was suitably chuffed.

Race 3 then went to Lively Hero, trained and driven by grand daughter, Melissa Gillies for herself and husband Keith.

There was nothing new in the fourth leg of this family quadrella with star driver and grandson Pete chasing home Feel The Courage, trained by his better half Chantal in race six.

The ducks are in the freezer or the bank waiting for the oven or conversion to other less traditional delicacies on Christmas Day.

Great gift idea

IF you are looking for a gift for a "horsey'' person, the December issue of Horses and People Magazine is worth a look.

It includes top articles on hoof care for the older horse and how to avoid transport induced problems in the horse.

Handy tips

SELECTIONS for Albion Park tonight.

R1: E/w 2: Always Prompt (G. Dixon). R2: Quinella 1-8: Regal Point (M. Neilson) and Withalotofluck (N. McMullen).

R3: Quinella1-8: Buy Chevron Direct (P. McMullen) and Bennys Ace (M. Neilson). R4: Quinella 1-2: Billy Badlands (N. Dawson) and A Passion for Aces (G. Dixon).

R5: E/w 4: Artzone (T. Dawson).

R6: No 1: Joys A Babe (G. Dixon).

R7: Quinella 5-10: American Legend (B. Cockburn) and Caesars Folly (M. Neilson).

R8: E/w 1: Corey ODonohue (H. Barnes). R9: Quinella 1-3: Lady Royal Sue (N. Dawson) and Jewel Lehigh (D. Weeks).

R10: Quinella 1-8: Releven Dream (M. Neilson) and Goldstar Invasion (S. Graham).

Honour board

PETE McMullen leading the way again, driving six winners for the week. His other half Chantal was equally outstanding training five winners in the same timeframe.

Gold Coast at Albion Park, December 4: My Precious Fling (Pete for Chantal Turpin-McMullen); Withalotofluck (Narissa McMullen for Steve Cini); Attacovita (Brittany Graham for Debbie Rodney); Lady Royal Sue (Narissa for John McMullen); Cee Uin LA (Rob Gorman).

Albion Park, December 5: Buy Chevron Direct (Pete for Chantal Turpin-McMullen); Five Card Draw (Adam Sanderson for Darrell Graham); Morethanmeetstheye (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby); Duke of The Moment (Pete for Chantal Turpin-McMullen).

Albion Park, December 8: Betonthebay (Nathan Dawson for Donny Smith); Danny Cool (John McMullen); Lively Hero (Melissa Gillies); Feel The Courage (Pete for Chantal Turpin-McMullen).

Redcliffe, December 9: Bee Jays Abundance (Steven Burke); Sookie Go goes (Nathan Dawson for Steve Benham); Maybe Cruising (Matt Elkins for Greg Elkins); Oozing Confidence (Pete for Darren Hooper); Gold Affair (Gary Litzow for Wendy Smart).

Gold Coast at Redcliffe, December 10: King Of Spin Lombo (Trent Moffat for Matt Wright); Sweet as Candy (Gary Whitaker for Vic Frost); Blue Eyed Suzie (Pete for Chantal Turpin-McMullen); Annika Magic (Gary Whitaker for Kerry Smith).

QT trotting columnist Denis Smith

Reprinted with permission of the qt.com.au site