Marburg's fine spectacle, proof it's worth pursuing

Marburg's first TAB/Sky Channel event was a blockbuster.

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

THE Easter Sunday race meeting was covered in the QT last Tuesday, but for those who missed that edition, Marburg's first TAB/Sky Channel event was a blockbuster.

The 1200 strong crowd that rolled in early and stayed to watch the Tug-o-War after the last race were proof positive that harness racing, properly promoted, can attract and hold a live audience.

The trick is to provide the spectacle and the amenities that were advertised.

The merry folk of the Marburg Pacing Association, with the help of local bodies such as the Show Society, the Marburg Residents Association, Rosewood Bendigo Community Bank and Ipswich City Councillors, notably from Division 10, managed to provide a great card of harness racing.

It was presented in the atmosphere that prevailed when harness had a higher profile than it enjoys today.

In its own way, the MPA has bought trotting back to the community, and by hard work, set a future benchmark.

Bizarre decision

IN contrast to the above, which is a basketful of goodies, we have the news that that the Yatala Harness Racing Club had withdrawn its proposal for the Kevin Seymour owned site.

The proposal included a gift from Kevin and Kay Seymour of land for the racing complex valued at $3 million. While it was envisaged that development of the remainder of Seymour land surrounding the YHRC block would, in due course, return non-core business of $8 million a year.

Harness and greyhounds are in need of complexes built on the template of the Gold Coast Parklands venue, which was callously destroyed to provide a site for a Commonwealth Games village.

As Gold Coast was recognised as the best harness track in Australia, it was a bizarre decision in the first place.

Meanwhile, that "land of many claimants", Albion Park, is in the news again.

Kevin Seymour, The Albion Park Harness Racing Club and Racing Queensland are squaring off to do battle in the law courts for vacant possession.

One thing is certain, should the matter go to court, some of us will be unhappy with the result. Yet again, the folly of combining three separate codes of animal racing under the one administration is evident.

Handy tips

SELECTIONS for Albion Park tonight.

R1: Quinella 1-8: Mafuta Vautin (D Graham) and Come Cullect (R Morris).

R2: E/w 9: Royal Counsel (D Graham).

R3: Quinella 1-8: Oceans Predator (N Dawson) and RocknRoll Music (P McMullen).

R4: Quinella 1-3: The Pacman (T Dixon) and Anychance (K Rasmussen).

R5: Quinella 2-8: Geronimo Beau (T Dawson) and Another Broadway (N Dawson).

R6: E/w 1: Our Quinn (R Morris).

R7: E/w 1: My Ajaye (H Barnes).

R8: E/w 5: Zenmach (P Matis).

R9: E/w 5: Grinvil (M Elkins).

R10: Box trifecta in four 2-6-7-8: Liava (I Ross)-Maybe To The Max (C Petroff)-Foursharesmorebeers (T Dixon)-Giacomo (G Dixon).

Honour board

Four trainer/drivers shared top spot on the leader board this week. In the sulky, Adam Richardson and Gary Whitaker scored on no less than five occasions, while Darrell Graham and Ron Sallis each led in three winners. Most pleasing efforts were the big money Oakwood Capital Final, going to Tim Gillespie and Nikki Chalk combining with Tess Neaves to land the Oakwood Capital Consolation. Equally pleasing was Kay Crone producing Oyster Stride to score twice in the week with Gary Whitaker in the cart. Ipswich factor was a healthy 35/52.

Redcliffe, March 29: Maestro Mac (Nathan Dawson for Ryan Veivers); Vanto Hanover (Nathan Dawson for Aileen Smith); Oyster Stride (Gary Whitaker for Kay Crone).. Midnight Bender (Kelli Dawson for John McMullen); Ruato Bay (Chris Petroff for Ron Sallis).

Albion Park, March 31: Ima Grumpy Possum (Narissa McMullen for Steve Cini); Oceans Predator (Nathan Dawson for Greg Elkins); Statement Made (Adam Sanderson for Shannon Price); Mafuta Vautin (Darrell Graham).

Marburg, April 1: Sugar Brichers (Adam Richardson for Steve Towns); Notmuchuptop (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby); Go Ahead Make My Day (Gary Whitaker for Brett Cargill); Leo The Lion (Nikki Chalk for Tess Neaves); Majordoit (Tim Gillespie); Blue Eyed Creation (Justin Elkins); Domestic Art (Hayden Barnes for Wayne Davis).

Albion Park, April 3: Needle (Gary Whitaker for Brad Connelly); Ruhtrebo (Matt Elkins for Donny Smith); That's Bettor (Adam Sanderson for Shannon Price); Jossie Jones (Adam Sanderson for Wayne Graham); Another Broadway for Darrell Graham).

Redcliffe, April 4: The Frame (Darrell Graham); Calcavado (Pete McMullen for Ron Sallis); Time Traveller (Darrell Graham); Major Tralee (Adam Richardson for Tayla Gillespie).