September 16, 2016
Australia has a cultural tradition of county racing being run by not-for-profit organisations.
Across the nation, small bands of local volunteers in various communities have taken on the responsibilities of running country racing with zeal and dedication for more than 150 years.
From time to time there have been some supportive government schemes, such as Racecourse Development Funds that have assisted with a variety of infrastructure provisions.
But those days have essentially gone, so it is wonderful to see the Nanango Heritage Bank’s involvement in Lee Park.
The group’s grants for various amenities have done a great deal to furnish improvements at the racecourse, and have also boosted morale.
So it is pleasing to see that the Heritage Bank race day at Nanango this Saturday will be an absolute beauty.
There were 25 acceptors for the BM 55 Handicap.
It is little wonder that Racing Queensland opted to divide the race and create a six event card.
As it is there are a number of reserves that will end up staying at home.
Although the roll-up of horses is partly explained by the fact that the Nanango program is the only non-TAB grass track affair south of Springsure on Saturday, the massive number of contenders is testimony to the importance of these cards in the south-east where the population of folk and gallopers is most concentrated.
In short, many large stables have the slower conveyances that need opportunities to return something on the investment.
Take these away and the incentive to breed or buy is reduced and the industry will regress further.
There will be a stack of South Burnett representation at Nanango on Saturday, with most trainers in the district set to saddle up their hopefuls.
Down south, Winx is in action again so there is another reason to attend the Lee Park fixture.
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Interesting Differences A Hemisphere Away
I’ve been on holidays in Canada the last two weeks, and last Sunday I had the chance to go racing at Vancouver.
Given the previous day at Hastings Park featured British Columbia’s Derby, the crowd was probably on par with Brisbane on a run-of-the mill Saturday.
The circuit was short and tight. The field for the 2200 metre (one and three eighths of a mile) contest passed the post three times.
Some other items of note were:
- Saddlecloth numbers indicate barrier draw. Handicapped weight is irrelevant. Greyhound racing’s concept of rug colour matching the starting box was in use via the jockey’s cap and saddlecloth. For example, the runners that jumped from the inside gate had a red motif. The cap also incorporates a numeral which must assist the judges. The silks listed in the race book do not refer to the cap colour. That will always be determined by the gate number. It also helps television viewers. North Americans generally cheer for a number and not a horse by name. Of course, field sizes are smaller across the Pacific. It is difficult seeing the system applying to two dozen sprinters coming down the straight at Flemington.
- Riders do NOT weigh in post-race. The all clear was given before the winning jockey had dismounted. The victor comes back for the photos and his valet takes the saddle and whip back to the jockeys room. Seemingly, the only wait is to check if there any objections, and they are usually lodged by the stewards.
- Track safety practices are easier than here. In one of the races that jumped from the top of the home straight, starting personnel stood inside the course proper’s outside fence on a track that was much narrower than Queensland’s.
- There was a casino with slot machines in the somewhat large but old grandstand. Most punters used vending machines to place their bets. There was a smorgasbord of away tracks coming through on simulcast. Whereas Australians have Sky’s wall-to-wall snippet approach to contend with, each venue on show in Vancouver had its own dedicated screens. There are small desk cubicles that racegoers can occupy and, say, concentrate on the one track such as Belmont in New York. There was a thirty minute turn around at Hastings Park. Runners went on to the course proper some ten minutes before post time. There was plenty of opportunity for away-track bettors to run their eye over the horseflesh.
Anyway, I look forward to the excitement of thoroughbred action that, unlike North America, is free of Lasix medication at Nanango on Saturday.
The track was rated a soft 5 early on Friday morning but should in superb nick after Thursday’s rain. Every competitor will get its chance.
