Marburg tribute to war heroes

There is no better way to celebrate the centenary of Armistice Day than with our equine friends.

QT trot columnist and harness racer Denis Smith. Picture: David Nielsen

TROT TACTICS

IT'S all on tomorrow at "the burg' with a quality eight-race program, the first to go at 1.04pm and the lucky last at 4.57pm.

Horses were a great part of the "war to end all wars".

There is no better way to celebrate the centenary of Armistice Day than with our equine friends.

The Marburg venue is in first-class order thanks to the Skills Alliance team.

Gates open at 11am and all the Marburg features are available.

Pick the last six winners and share in $2000. Get your $500 "funny money" from the $3 race book and you're on the way to building a bank for the auction after the last race.

Budget priced quality food and beverage, a bookmaker, mini-trot races monster raffle and spectacular "close to the action" harness racing on the 700 metre circuit.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for members and pensioners, and it's free entry for kids under 16. Join us tomorrow.

Free microchipping

THE Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) has partnered with harness racing participants to deliver free microchipping to all Standardbred foals and the opportunity to have them vaccinated against the Hendra virus.

To assist Queensland harness racing participants to meet a new Harness Racing Australia rule mandating microchipping for all Standardbred foals from the 2017 crop and onwards, the Commission provided the service free of charge for all 270 foals born last season.

In addition as a trial, the Commission offered a free first injection of the Hendra vaccine for each of the foals.

QRIC commissioner Ross Barnett has announced that the QRIC initiative would continue this year.

But if a majority of racing participants receiving the service this year did not take up the Hendra vaccination offer, the program, including free microchipping, would not continue next year.

"The first year of this initiative has seen a positive animal welfare outcome for the harness racing code," he said.

"Last year's trial program led to 81 foals or 30 per cent of the 2017 foal crop receiving their first Hendra vaccine, and this was a huge increase from the number of foals previously vaccinated against the disease.

"Providing the veterinary resources and the first injection of the Hendra vaccine course free to the harness racing industry has ensured the future welfare of these foals.

"The Commission will provide microchipping free of charge and the first vaccination against Hendra with the expectation that owners will complete the full course of Hendra vaccinations," Barnett said.

Earlier this year, a ground-breaking QRIC funded study confirmed vaccination against the deadly Hendra virus does not affect the racing performance of thoroughbred horses and this Standardbred program has also seen no reports of adverse effects in vaccinated foals.

The above is all good news.

Handy tips

SELECTIONS for Redcliffe tonight.

R1: Quinella 1-6: Nerio (B Barnes) and Vettel (T Dawson).

R2: Box trifecta 3-4-6: Just Rokin (P Greig)- Novena Rose (A Sanderson)-Werelivinthedream (T Moffat).

R3: Box trifecta 2-3-7: Lynnsanity (D Graham)-Macheasy (T Dixon)-Beef City Blaze (T Moffat).

R4: E/w 3: Christian Torado (J. Cremin).

R5: Box trifecta in four 1-2-5-9: Sweet As (D Graham)-January (K Rasmussen)-Frankie Rocks (T Dixon)-Bohdi Tree (L Cain).

R6: Quinella 1-2: Mister Hart (D Graham) and Sir Julian (J Cremin).

R7: Box trifecta 2-4-8: Subtle Delight (L Cain)-The Ides Of March (R Maguire)-Lilac Flash (K Rasmussen).

R8: Quinella 5-6: Devil Dodger (A Sanderson) and Top Trio (T Dixon).

R9: Box trifecta 2-4-7: Spirit Walker (B Barnes)-Miracle Rising (J Cremin)- Our Overanova (T Dixon).

Honour board

Checking out the leader board this week reveals that Gary Whitaker has topped the list, rating 150 for his three wins. Close on his heels were Nathan Dawson, Narissa McMullen, Pete McMullen and Adam Richardson, all on two wins. Clear winner on the trainers' side was Chantal Turpin, tasting success at Redcliffe, and a Saturday night double at Menangle.

Most pleasing was Adam Richardson who had the steer on Turpins's southern victories. This was Richardson's third stint in Queensland from memory, and like ex-Kiwi Adam Sanderson, the tree of success is now bearing a bumper crop of fruit.

Redcliffe, November 2: Got The Goods (Trent Dawson); Novena Rose (Adam Sanderson).

Redcliffe, November 3: Sweet As (Brittany Graham for Darrell Graham); Somerosessomewhere (Gary Whitaker for Chris Monte); Vettel (Trent Dawson); Amajojo (Narissa McMullen for Tony Turpin); Just Seduce Me (Narissa McMullen); Blazing VC (Gary Whitaker for Bianca Hooper).

Menangle, November 3: Watch Pulp fiction (Adam Richardson for Chantal Turpin); Bull Market (Adam Richardson for Chantal Turpin).

Redcliffe, November 6: Illawong Dreamtime (Nathan Dawson for Doug Lee).

Redcliffe, November 7: Another Broadway (Darrell Graham); Living Grand (hayden Barnes for Steve Furey); Jax Navarro (Matt Elkins for Greg Elkins); Our Pepperjack (Nathan Dawson for Graham White); Happy Feelings (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin); Todays Hero (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).