Attractive venue to enjoy racing

AS we move into the warmer, and perhaps damper season, the Marburg venue is beginning to show its trademark lush colour.

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

TROT TACTICS

AS we move into the warmer, and perhaps damper season, the Marburg venue is beginning to show its trademark lush colour.

It is, without any doubt, one of the more attractive venues for harness racing in Australia.

The major players, the horses, are portrayed against a natural backdrop, the browns, greens and foliage of the paddock.

Tomorrow, for a very modest outlay, you can join us at the Showground, getting up close to the country harness action of an eight-race card on the 700 metre circuit.

Added to the visuals, is the mobile TAB van, our resident bookmaker, Stephen Anthony, a monster raffle, the ever popular "funny money" bookie, and the "pick the last six winners" jackpot, standing at $2000.

See the younger brigade show their skills in the last two rounds of the Garrards-Marburg Young Drivers Series.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for members and pensioners with a further $3 for that all-important Race book.

If you can't make it, watch us on Sky Channel. The picture will still be amazing.

Key questions

THE annual National Harness Racing Conference is upon us, scheduled for December 14 in Melbourne under the auspices of Harness Racing Australia.

The keynote address "Reinventing the Harness Racing Industry, the combined Track and Boardroom perspective", will be delivered by Jody Jamieson, world champion driver and Director of Standardbred Canada.

Jameson has raced in Australia at at least one World Driving Championship. This segment includes a Q&A session.

Perhaps they could start by referring to the subject activity as a sport.

It's a big step, I know, but perhaps the delegates might notice that the codes of football, cricket, basketball and netball, never make the mistake of referring to their product as anything other than a sport, and rely heavily on print media to get their message across to the populace at large.

From the next session, the last item, which is again Q&A: "Know your role, play your role".

What is the role of industry participants in Industry Development? That word gets two mentions before we start here, but the subject matter is intriguing.

Perhaps the first obligation on the participants is to play by the rules.

The second might be to be honest in all your dealings.

The third obligation must come from the control body, (they are paid participants, but participants just the same), to simplify and greatly reduce the number of rules which govern on and off track activities.

These are simple things, but they are at the core of any image re-building we might do.

We have repainted the facade of harness racing many times in the past 40 years, with each effort uglier than the last.

Restore the core and we are an excellent chance. Otherwise, save the paint.

Fair approach

THE QRIC has been the target of negative publicity since the day of its inception, with various shortcomings laid at its door.

The following indicates clearly, that, above all things, they are fair.

The licence of Cairns thoroughbred Trainer Alwyn Bailey has been reinstated at Internal Review.

Mr Bailey's licence to train was suspended by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission effective on 23 October 2018 based on a pending animal welfare criminal charge which allegedly breached a condition of his licence and his suitability as a licensee.

Mr Bailey sought an internal review of his suspension and the internal reviewer has found in his favour in the interests of procedural fairness and natural justice and set aside the decision to suspend his licence.

Handy tips

Selections for Albion Park tonight.

R1: E/w 2: Clintal Do (N Dawson).

R2: Quinella 1-2: Top Trio (B Woodsford) and Living Again (C Geary).

R3: Box trifecta 3-4-5: Bohdi Tree (L Cain)-Frankie Rocks (G Dixon)-Anna Bay Al (G Whitaker).

R4: E/w 10: Fioki D McGuigan).

R5: Quinella 5-7: Casino Tommy (B Barnes) and Lilac Flash (K Rasmussen).

R6: Quinella 7-10: Dance For Glory (N Dawson) and Maretti (Jayden Brewin).

R7: Box trifecta 1-2-8: Oppononis Bliss (P McMullen )-Ark Teamo (T Dixon)-Invite Only (D Graham).

R8: Quinella 2-10: Ted West (N Dawson) and Hosier Lane (Deni Roberts).

R9: Quinella 4-9: Our Major Day (N Dawson) and Colt Thiry One (G Dixon).

R10: Box trifecta 1-3-4: Alleluia (T Dixon)-Ohoka Punter (G Dixon)-Majestic Major (A Donohoe).

R11: First four 6-7-8-9: Iona Grinner (B Barnes)-Our Overannova (G Dixon)-Spud (D McGuigan)-Mister Gunsen (A Donohoe).

Honour board

Reality check this week with Pete McMullen rating 200 to be top driver from four wins including Mattgregor at Menangle. Close up on the home front were Narissa McMullen and Adam Richardson with rates of 150 from three wins apiece.

From the training barn, it was Chantal Turpin, out on her own with five winners including stable star Mattgregor.

Most pleasing was Ritchie Bee for Purga based owner, Steve Green. Prepared by Mitchell Dawson and steered by Leonard Cain. Ipswich factor: 21/42.

Redcliffe, November 16/11: Happy Feelings (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin); Northern Muscle (Denis Smith); Exceptional Mach (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin); Elliott Bromac (Adam Richardson for Kerry Smith); Im The Golden Child (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).

Redcliffe, November 17: My Ultimate Fella (Nathan Dawson for Donny Smith); Anna Bay Al (Gary Whitaker for Chris Monte); None Bettor (Matt Elkins for Donny Smith); Franco Totem (Adam Sanderson for Darrell Graham); Just Seduce Me (Narissa McMullen); Guts (Keith Durston for John McMullen).

Redcliffe, November 20: (Newmerella Sharkie (Brett Towns for Max Towns).

Redcliffe, November 21: Speedie McArdle (Adam Richardson for Steve Cini); Soldier Of Fortune (Danielle McMullen for Karen Schulz); Ritchie Bee (Leonard Cain for Mitchell Dawson); Montana Express (Gary Whitaker for Brett Cargill); Honey Please (James Herbertson for Ray Cross).

Redcliffe, November 22: Lets Dig It (Narissa McMullen for Chantal Turpin); Misteriodejaniero (Adam Richardson for Tayla Gillespie); Comply or Die (Narissa McMullen for Ron Sallis).

Originally published as Attractive venue to enjoy racing