October
AprilGorged on gambling
We must not let Rob Hines’s call for a weekly race-free day in Victoria "die a natural death" as John Nott (More Say 31/3) suggests it will.
It is an essential initiative for the many good reasons already mooted, for trainers, jockeys and other industry participants, but surely the greatest reason is that we are becoming thoroughly jaded.
So typically Australian in attitude, we have overindulged ourselves and have become gorged on the oversupply of gambling options.
If racing had a day off across all codes on say Tuesday every week, those in "the industry", such as it is, would soon get used to the good idea and other states would surely follow suit.
Rob Hines should at least be able to trial it for a season. The breeding industry have shown opposition (how on earth would their lives change?) but precious few other concerned bodies have opposed the idea.
In terms of initiatives, we are also falling behind on another issue which requires urgent attention.
Whilst totalisator interests have been sold off in every state, unfortunately at roughly the price of what will soon be a year’s potential earnings, an opportunity undoubtedly now arises for shareholdings to be proportionately merged and for a national tote to thrive.
We cannot indulge corporate bookmakers with their opportunity to offer "best of three totes" and pool merging will allow for dividend irregularities to be smoothed out. We do not want to wait a generation for this particularly essential move to become a reality. It needs to be attended to very soon.
Bendigo (Vic)