Inter Dominion to stay put

Harness racing’s Inter Dominion isn’t going anywhere, at least not for the next few years.

Speculation (or hope from many) next year’s Queensland Inter Dominion may be run in a very different time slot has run out of puff.

Insiders say you can lock-in the November/December time slot for Albion Park next year.

And do the same when the Inter Dominion hosting roster returns to NSW in 2024.

There is a raft of reasons why.

But there is hope for change beyond 2024, albeit really only in Queensland and possibly Victoria.

NSW is locked into the November/December timeslot.

They have zero interest in moving the Inter Dominion to be run off the back of their marquee Miracle Mile carnival.

“It’s too cold and it’s deep into the start of the NRL season,” one insider told me.

Victoria faces a similar dilemma. The only real option away from November/December is to go off the back of the Miracle Mile.

If you assume the horses would need a two to three weeks break after the Miracle Mile before embarking on a four-race Inter Dominion campaign, then you’re talking about a late March start and early to mid-April final.

It is better than deep winter, but still not ideal.

Queensland’s weather and drawing poor as a “destination” means an April/May series could work in future.

But insiders tell me there isn’t much appetite at Racing Queensland for change.

It’s a different story with the chiefs at Albion Park, who still want to explore a date change for next year.

They look to be pushing the proverbial uphill given the headwinds against them.

On a brighter note, it was awesome to learn the connections of NZ’s two best pacers – Self Assured and Copy That – are looking very seriously at the Victorian Inter Dominion series later this year.

No doubt the fact the pair are Aussie-owned is a factor, too.

If we could attract a couple of WA stars as well – namely Magnificent Storm and Minstrel for example – it would add another much-needed and exciting dimension to the Victorian series.

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a race (let alone a series) which is a true Australasian event.

The Victorian Inter Dominion now has that potential.

What a buzz the past few weeks have been in Queensland.

Sure, the Albion Park track hasn’t been ideal, but the quality of horses and spirited racing have been outstanding.

It points to a fantastic return to hosting the Inter Dominion for the Sunshine State next year.

The last time Queensland hosted the Inter Dominion was the drama-filled 2009 series, which was transferred from Albion Park to the now (sadly) extinct Gold Coast Parklands track.

Mr Feelgood overcame soundness issues to win an epic final in which Blacks A Fake was the greatest of certainties beaten after being “mauled” in front by an almost uncontrollable Auckland Reactor.

As I’ve already outlined, you can lock in the November/December time slot next year and I love the fact that ALL four nights will be run at the one track, Albion Park.

Having spent some time in Brisbane during this carnival, there is a real buzz back around harness racing.

And the enthusiasm interstate and Kiwi trainers have for getting to Brisbane to races their horses is a thing to behold.

The query is whether the pulling power of Queensland is quite as strong in summer as it is during winter, when the weather is a huge plus compared to NZ and most other parts of Australia.

by Adam Hamilton, for HRV