The calendar year has almost ticked over once more but the Queensland racing season is just warming up. There is plenty of exciting racing coming up with our 2yo’s fighting for Magic Millions and QTIS 600 rewards and as usual plenty of quality racing throughout the State.
THE AMBASSADOR TRAVEL RACETREE WAYNE WILSON MEDAL
The Ambassador Travel Racetree Wayne Wilson Medal has been won for the month of November by Norm Hilton for his fantastic result in winning the Group 3 Chatham Stakes. After running 3rd to More Joyous at Caulfield in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, POOR JUDGE upset the locals by winning at Flemington on Derby Day. Norm has been in the industry for over 20 years and the Toowoomba based trainer puts this result by POOR JUDGE on top of his list of achievements to date. Norm is stabled on course at Clifford Park and has a team of about 20 in work.
The 12 monthly winners will be in the running to win the inaugural Wayne Wilson Medal for the 2010-11 racing season. The Medal is proudly promoted by the ATA and sponsored by Ambassador Travel and Racetree, with the winner at the end of the racing season receiving an all inclusive trip for two to the 2011 Cox Plate along with a magnificent perpetual trophy, and of course the Wayne Wilson Medal. Thanks once again to our sponsors www.ambassadortravel.com.au and www.racetree.com.au
The Ambassador Travel Racetree Wayne Wilson Medal 2010-11
August : Trevor Thomas, JEDI STARFIGHTER's win at Eagle Farm at 200-1
September : Ben Currie, ROTHERA winning 5th race from 7 starts
October : Roger Milne, CAPTAIN SONADOR winning the Epsom Handicap
November : Norm Hilton, POOR JUDGE winning the Chatham Handicap
MEETING WITH RACING QUEENSLAND
After the very successful presentation by Racing Queensland at our last meeting, the follow-up to this was the commencement of a working party between both groups. Designed to ensure decisions being made effecting trainers will have our views and concerns considered is a major step forward.
Representing the ATA were Pat Duff, Alan Bailey, Kelly Schweida and Barry Baldwin at a meeting held at RQ Deagon with the Handicapping Panel and Paul Brennan. Some of the outcomes from the meeting were :
> Ongoing discussion on handicapping policies e.g. penalties given and decrease in ratings.
> Review the need to have greater consistency in programming Set-Weight Class events
> Review the set-weight balloting clause to see if there is a fairer outcome
> RQL will trial changing Saturday metropolitan acceptance deadline to Wednesday and include a revised fee structure to incorporate the impact on trainers
> Consider amending Friday acceptance times so that Sunshine Coast Night meetings will close after Ipswich > Look at the introduction during the Winter Carnival of benchmark races at a higher level to replace races such as those restricted to the amount of wins in the last year.
> RQL will also trial greater emergencies in the provincial meetings e.g. we now have 5 emergencies we will look to increase that number to seven or eight.
Overall the meeting was very successful and both parties look forward to a more direct involvement with each other in the future.
BECOME AN ATA MEMBER TODAY
One of the major benefits of being a member of the ATA is having a support network to go to if you have problems or concerns. We can’t solve them all, but we will take your issue on board and try and negotiate on your behalf where we can. Whatever the problem contact us and we will at the least, point you in the right direction. If you are not a member yet, now is the right time to join.
