Bruce TeagueALBION PARKA LITMUS TESTFOR RACING’SFUTUREHere’s an odd mixture. At a time whengreyhound sires change h<strong>and</strong>s for a milliondollars <strong>and</strong> first prizes have hit the $150,000mark, we’ve got some trainers claiming theyneed more petrol money to stay in the businesswhile others are getting out altogether(particularly in NSW) or rapidly approachingretirement age.The breeding figure is a fairly “sound” onebecause it’s set by normal market forces. Wecan’t be sure about the other two numbersbecause they are fixed arbitrarily bymanagement. Plucked out of the air, youmight say.Good trainers are worth encouragingbecause they are the lynchpin of this business.Also, the evidence shows we could usemore good dogs everywhere except Victoria.However, even more critically, we need moregenuine customers. So, how did we get intothis predicament? Here are the main suspects.First, racing’s management structure isoverdue for reform.Uniquely in today’s society, <strong>and</strong> asidefrom the relatively new greyhound state ofWestern Australia, it has remained unchangedfor over 50 years now - from the time whenbusiness was local <strong>and</strong> not national <strong>and</strong> whentelevision, computers, TABs <strong>and</strong> bettingexchanges were not even in our dreams.Second, the current SKY/TVN fiasco <strong>and</strong>the resultant fall in TAB turnover points upthe financial fragility of the entire racingindustry <strong>and</strong> the risks thatcome <strong>with</strong> having a singleincome source - amonopoly source at that.Third, in recent timesthe three majorgreyhound states have allThe Good OilBruce Teague canbe contacted athcoast@idl.net.auflagged seriouschallenges for the longterm - primarily the difficulty in paying forthe replacement of aging assets.Queensl<strong>and</strong> has been active inrationalising raceclubs like Lawnton,Toowoomba (sadly) <strong>and</strong> Beenleigh so it’s infair shape for the moment. Even so, theBrisbane region has yet to work out what todo <strong>with</strong> racetracks in all three codes.NSW has talked a lot but failed to act. Ontop of that, the number of races is shortly toYOU’RE ON A WINNER . . .<strong>with</strong> theWHISTLERElectronic Dog Teaser - Finger ControlPlease forward me...............................................WHISTLER DOG TEASERS ............................... I enclose cheque/money order for $............................... Please debit my credit card as follows Name: ............................................................................. Card No:.............................................Exp. Date ............ Address: ......................................................................................................................................................................Post code: ................................Phone No: .........................• Movement-activated$115.50• H<strong>and</strong>-held $104.50(incl. GST & postage)TO ORDER:Send cheque/moneyto Jack KozaczynskiPO Box 11, Jesmond2299Ph: Mobile(0418) 250 001(02) 4950 0466 (A.H.)Fax: (02) 4951 8704BY CHEQUE ORCREDIT CARDrise again when The Gardens track atNewcastle comes on stream.Then Victoria <strong>and</strong> South Australia haverecently added to the thinning-field problemby each introducing yet another weekly(morning) meeting to an already crowdedcalendar, allegedly to cater for dem<strong>and</strong>.But what dem<strong>and</strong>?That’s the fourth thing. We’ve seen along-term squeeze betweena static dog population <strong>and</strong>an ever-increasing numberof weekly races. Theproportion of higher-graderaces has fallen <strong>and</strong> theaverage field now comparespoorly <strong>with</strong> that of only adecade ago.One of many indications of depthproblems came on State of Origin nightrecently when Bulli, a major TAB-track <strong>and</strong>h<strong>and</strong>y to town, offered its usual 10-race card.Only two races started <strong>with</strong> full fields. Fourhad seven runners, two had six runners <strong>and</strong>the other two managed four only. Apart fromthe two smallest fields, quality varied fromordinary to awful.In other words, once you put a bit ofpressure on the system it struggles. The backupis just not there. If you were a footballteam that’s a sure bet you would have no hopeof winning the premiership. You would startre-organising <strong>and</strong> looking for new players.The more evidence that comes to light themore it is apparent the old order - the existingrange of raceclubs <strong>and</strong> the existingorganisational structure - is maintained forpolitical reasons.It is dominated by bureaucracies, it doesnot pay on results, it cannot maintain productquality st<strong>and</strong>ards, it tends to avoid hardcommercial decisions <strong>and</strong> ignore customerneeds.Notably, reforms implemented by othermajor sports have bypassed the racingindustry.DuplicationLet me offer just a few basic illustrationsof how the Australian industry’s thinking hasbecome muddied.* Most of our capital city regions <strong>and</strong>many country regions run two or more lightlyused tracks <strong>with</strong> two or more separateraceclubs, something banks, post offices <strong>and</strong>movie theatres have long since found theycan’t do. The outcome is that promotionalefforts, if any, are ineffective, availableresources are spread too thinly <strong>and</strong> the publicremains in the dark.* Race broadcasters <strong>and</strong> other media areprone to push what they call a “timehonoured”heat <strong>and</strong> final series as an excitingprospect in the coming week or month. Often,what they are talking about are addedprizemoney events which include maiden or“auction” dogs. These may be honoured bytrainers <strong>with</strong> promising youngsters but forserious punters who keep the industrysupplied <strong>with</strong> funds they are a great yawn.They strain the industry’s credibility.* Not counting daily papers <strong>and</strong> TABs,10 different organisations in Australiaproduce formguides. Confusingly, every oneof them comes out in different formats <strong>with</strong>different codes <strong>and</strong> different inclusions <strong>and</strong>exclusions. One <strong>with</strong> around 2000 dailycirculation is a carbon copy of a thoroughbredsystem <strong>and</strong> can therefore seriously misleadthe customers. Dogs ain’t horses.A st<strong>and</strong>ard response to these points is thatthe extra races are bringing in good money.But no-one knows who is investing whator whether a better approach will bring inmore money. No-one can tell you how muchis being diverted to illegal channels, or why.No part of the system encourages cashedupnewcomers to study greyhound racing <strong>and</strong>bet big. On the contrary, the points I mention,together <strong>with</strong> faulty tracks, the absence of anational form database <strong>and</strong> the failure toimplement a national betting pool are a hugeturnoff for potential customers (mine too, Iconfess).The Ipswich Olympics?Coming back to Queensl<strong>and</strong>, the status ofAlbion Park is nebulous <strong>and</strong> has been so forsome years. But what’s coming through is thatthe club wants to maintain its spot regardless.That’s underst<strong>and</strong>able but it may not be right.Although he may have been flying a kiteat the time, the Racing Minister made a greatdeal of sense recently when he suggestedselling Albion Park <strong>and</strong> re-developingIpswich as a state-of-the-art greyhoundcomplex.Why not?Albion Park attracts relatively fewpatrons, they can’t see the races properlywhen they do get there <strong>and</strong> technically thetrack is far from ideal. It produces too many“6-second races”, according to an earlierJournal correspondent.Anyway, its former CEO, Bob Lambert,claimed the old Gabba operation, despite itsstrange layout, was far more efficient <strong>and</strong>effective.So why not sell it off <strong>and</strong> create amarvellous new flagship at Ipswich,something modern, diverse <strong>and</strong> much moreintimate?You might start off a project like that <strong>with</strong>this assumption: 99% of people either don’tlike greyhounds, don’t care much one way orthe other, or, if they gamble, would be just ashappy doing it on racing frogs.Design everything for that 99% <strong>and</strong> whenthat’s done, tack on a dog track.In other words - in Brisbane or anywhereelse - the first aim must be to enhancecustomer satisfaction. The money will quicklyfollow.We’re not at death’s door, of course. Sowhile we are holding our own, there will neverbe a better time to recognise that the oldsystem is failing. Not just for greyhounds butfor the gallops, too.The business model is seriously out ofwhack.We can then wipe the slate clean <strong>and</strong> geton <strong>with</strong> designing <strong>and</strong> building a new <strong>and</strong>better industry. We have some terrific assetsto work <strong>with</strong>: good dogs, skilled trainers, toptechnical support <strong>and</strong> many willing workers.We just need to do them justice.The (September, 2005) Journal Page 32
Cannon’sCornerLocal trainer Greg Cannon has compileda list of trial times for Queensl<strong>and</strong>, northernNSW <strong>and</strong> interstate tracks.ALBION PARKWednesday: 9am to 11.30am (bookings from8.30am on Tuesday <strong>with</strong> club 38621744; tickets soldfrom 8.45am in BBQ area on trial day)Friday (after twilight race meeting) bookings fromnoon Wed before. Last tickets 8.30pm (7.30pm duringdaylight saving). Tickets from 6.30pm to 8.30pm atBBA area.BUNDABERGTrials are held at the discretion of the committee<strong>and</strong> lure driver. The following dates have beenconfirmed:Sunday morning circle trials September 4Tuesday night circle trials August 30Straight track trials Tuesdays 3pm to 5pm,Thursdays 3pm to 5pm - must book on (07) 41517420CAIRNSTuesday 6.30pm. Trainers requested to contact clubprior to travelling to trials.CAPALABAWinter: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday 7am to 10amSummer (from September 11) Sunday, Tuesday,Thursday 6am to 9amTrainers racing at Capalaba on a Saturday <strong>and</strong>travelling from afar can, by prior arrangement only <strong>with</strong>the Club secretary/manager, arrange to trial before thefirst race if kennel space, dog numbers <strong>and</strong> race numberspermit on that day.GOLD COASTTuesday night public trials 30 minutes after theconclusion of the race meeting over 373m, 429m <strong>and</strong>622m.Friday morning public, solo <strong>and</strong> box trials starting7am over 401m, 457, <strong>and</strong> 650m. Private trials afternormal trials. Last ticket sold 8.15am.Answering service at club (24/7) for race fields,trials <strong>and</strong> message bank (07) 55322611.IPSWICHThursday: Solos from 6.30am. Booked trials from6pm. Field trials from approx 7.20pm.MACKAYThursday: Privates from 6pm, publics from 6.30pm.ROCKHAMPTONMonday from 6.30pmThursday night before races from 6.30pmSaturday afternoon before races from 4.30pmTOWNSVILLEMonday from 6.45pmNorthern Rivers <strong>and</strong> interstate city tracksCASINOMonday: 7am to 8am; 6pm to finishFriday: After race meeting (approx 4pm start)LISMOREWednesday 6pm Public Trials Field & SoloFriday Private Trials from 8amBookings Ph (02) 6621 4106Tuesdays after the last race four dog open trials onlyTWEED HEADSTuesday: Public 7.30am to 8.30am. Private 8.30amto 9.30amSaturday: After last race <strong>and</strong> only if trainer racingon the day.Daylight saving timesTuesday: Public 8am to 9am. Private 9am to 10amTHE MEADOWSMonday 5pm to finish (last ticket sold 6.30pm)Friday 7am to 8.30am (last ticket sold at 8.30am)Wednesday (after race meeting) tickets sold duringrace meeting <strong>and</strong> up to 30 minutes after last race.SANDOWNSaturday: Tickets 6.45am to 9.30am. Normal trials7am to 8.45am. Arm trials 8.45am to 9am.Wednesday:When Racing: Tickets available 8.30am in officeuntil last race, then available at ticket box in Kennelblock for 30 minutes after last race.Trials start after the last raceWhen not racing: Tickets available 8.30am to 4pmin office, then from the ticket box from 4pm to 5.30pm.Trials start 4pm. No telephone booking.Cost of Trials: $7.WENTWORTH PARKTuesday: Ordinary trials 7.30am to 8.15am. Ticketspurchased by 6.30pm (at the 520m boxes). Arm Trials(booked) from 8.15am to 9am. For bookings please call(02) 9649 7166.Thursday: Ordinary trials 5.30pm to 7pm. Ticketspurchased by 6.30pm (at the 520m boxes). Arm Trials(booked) from 7pm to 8pm.Kirsty O'BrienGAP CalendarGAP NewsThe calendar is dedicated to the wonderful volunteers <strong>and</strong> valued sponsors of thevarious <strong>Greyhound</strong> Adoption Programs across Australia. It is packed <strong>with</strong> beautifulAustralian greyhound photos, makes a great gift <strong>and</strong> sells quickly, so get in early!$22 (includes postage) Payment to: GAP, c/o GRAQ, PO Box 250, Albion, 4010This Month's SpecialRetirementfor RockyBeds may be hard to find in nursinghomes, but former Albion Park winner GreatAttitude (Bobniak-Smart Attitude) has had nodifficulty finding one.He has become the latest resident to movein to the Guardian Aged Care facility atBurpengary, north of Brisbane.The four-year-old red fawn dog known asRocky (pictured left) has become popular<strong>with</strong> residents at the aged care facility.Lifestyle co-ordinator for the GuardianAged Care facility, Brigitte Lennox, says agreyhound was chosen for the facility afterstudying the suitability of various dog breeds.The Aged Care facility is looking to createa “human habitat for our residents to live,where meaningful relationships areencouraged to develop <strong>and</strong> grow, <strong>and</strong> toprovide a caring environment where residentscan give love <strong>and</strong> care to animals”.Rocky, who moved in on August 5, spendshis day having free run in the Grevillea wingof the facility, which is home to 12 residents.He has a bed in the lounge room, sunroom<strong>and</strong> courtyard.The garden area is also home to severalchickens <strong>and</strong> birds.Lounging <strong>with</strong> residents in the Grevilleawing, he is also taken to other areas of thefacility on lead to visit residents, some bedridden, who wish to have a dog visit them.Rocky was selected as the preferred dogto go into the aged care facility, due to hisgentle, laid-back nature.Buy 1kg of Vit 3 (Vit A, B Group <strong>and</strong> C) get 1kg Electrolytes FREEWe have moved to Unit 5/6, 3 Jacques Court, LawntonThe (September, 2005) Journal Page 33
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