October
MayIt takes two
John Tutty (27/5) believes Brisbane should wave goodbye to one of the two city racetracks it has to make way for “commercial reality”. Well, if that’s such a good idea, why don’t we trial in Melbourne, where they have (ahem) four city tracks currently in operation?
With reference to the debacle that occurred in Brisbane last Saturday, I’m sure most would agree with the major track issues Queensland Racing (QR) now have in relation to the “upgraded” Eagle Farm track, reducing any city to just one track is a disaster just waiting to happen.
Because of the condition of the Eagle Farm circuit, the balance of the Brisbane winter carnival has been transferred to its second racetrack, namely Doomben, the very track that John T wants to see closed.
Under John’s proposal, should Doomben close, and a similar situation occur at the one and only remaining track in Brisbane, what then? No racing in Brisbane (for months, maybe even a year or more) until the problem is fixed again. The same situation would apply when general maintenance of a racetrack is required, where they close the gates for two to three months to carry out this essential work.
Do the Brisbane racegoing public just get used to commuting south to the Gold Coast or north to the Sunshine Coast while their one and only racetrack is closed for maintenance?
I don’t think so.
If John T believes his suggestion is a positive commercial move, why don’t we close one of the four Melbourne tracks and trial it there?
Presently, Melbourne has a population of 4.6 million while Brisbane has 2.3 million. So it stands to reason that while Melbourne houses four city racetracks, Brisbane, with half that population, is entitled to have the two tracks that now exist.
I say again, why don’t we close a Melbourne track, maybe Moonee Valley, and then we can move the Cox Plate to Flemington (where many believe it belongs anyway)? I’m sure John T, along with many Victorians, just fainted at that suggestion.
Leave our Queensland tracks alone. Let the Brisbane racegoers and Queensland punters alike enjoy the two tracks they have.
Now we can move on.
Townsville (Qld)