Already one month into the new racing season and as usual nothing stands still. Congratulations to the winners of our Training Premierships throughout Queensland. We wish all trainers success in the season ahead.
It was pleasing to see that the recent issue with the closure of Doomben as a training venue has had a satisfactory resolution. The ATA had communication with all parties and is comfortable that our member’s views were considered and a fair compromise was reached by the Brisbane Racing Club.
When you think of Queensland racing, it is not just horses like Bernborough and Falvelon, and races like the Stradbroke and the Doomben 10,000 that spring to mind, but also the sound of Wayne Wilson’s voice. Whether it was at Charleville during the E.I period or a Brisbane Cup, his enthusiasm and raw love of the game could be heard in every call. To say his calling will be missed is a given, taking nothing away from his past and current peers, and that of his future successors. But it will be his friendship and loyalty to the industry that the Queensland Trainers will miss most in his retirement.
Wayne would call every race with the same degree of accuracy and commitment to detail, with the listener always at the forefront of his mind. It was often the things not said that earned him the respect and admiration of trainers and jockeys alike. Wayne Wilson, without even trying, will continue to be a great ambassador for Queensland Racing. His good friends the trainers from throughout Queensland wish him good health and many enjoyable days at the races in his retirement.
The ATA has recently appointed Cameron Partington as our coordinator for Queensland. The role will assist the current board as well as further develop and enhance the value to its Queensland members. I have known Cameron for over 20 years, and being able to obtain his services for our members is going to be of major benefit. His business background combined with his experience in our industry from both sides of the fence, offers us great opportunities into the future.
Cameron, as well as working in the industry, has strong family links to racing with one of his uncles being the former top jockey Sid Curran, and another being Linsley Thorpe who was Chairman of the Toowoomba Turf Club for many years until his recent passing. Motor-racing is Cameron’s other passion, where he raced with many of the current stars of Australian Motorsport like Mark Webber, Craig Lowndes and Marcos Ambrose. You may have heard Cameron’s regular Motorsport segment on the TattsBet Sports Breakfast Show on Radio TAB.
As a member of the ATA, you can look forward to a higher level of communication and a variety of new initiatives for the 2010/11 season. One of these we can announce now is a relationship with the recently refurbished Hamilton Hotel. They are providing an excellent venue with V.I.P. hospitality for our future meetings, as well as offering ATA members a 10% discount off the total bill when dining in their restaurant. If you’re not already an ATA member, now is a great time to join.
