October
MayHistory lesson
Unlike Rex Walsh (13/5), I have no objection in principle to Queensland Racing’s decision to reshuffle its carnival. If facilities are superior at Eagle Farm, it makes sense to extend the portion of the carnival conducted at that track.
Whether the overhaul could have been delayed by a year, to give the maligned Eagle Farm track time to consolidate, is another question.
I can also see that Queensland Racing and the BRC would not want to lose a name as iconic as that of the Doomben 10,000, and that it makes sense to retain that name for the earlier race over 1200 metres.
However, it’s my opinion that for the sake of continuity the race now called the Doomben 10,000 should inherit the “history” of the BTC Cup, while the Doomben 10,000 honour roll to 2016 should be transferred to the race (over 1300 metres) now known as the Kingsford-Smith Cup.
While still slightly confusing, this appeals as the superior solution.
Precedents exist with the Flemington spring carnival, where similar switches of names and/or conditions have occurred with both the main open-age sprint races and the Emirates/Mackinnon.
Sans Souci (NSW)