It’s pleasing to see the slow but positive progress with improvement to the racing surface at our showcase venue, Eagle Farm. Obviously the weather will play a big part in the way the racing patterns develop over the coming year as the track consolidates, but at least it now seems to be heading in the right direction.
A major battle is looming on the horizon with our regulatory body, QRIC. This is in direct response to their proposal to introduce new lengthy minimum mandatory penalties - which will be the harshest for any racing state in Australia - for certain rule breaches occurring in Queensland. The ATA has strongly opposed these changes and formally advised QRIC (and Racing Australia) of our position. A copy of the letter to QRIC was emailed to members, if you didn’t get a copy please contact Cameron.
The next meeting of the Thoroughbred Advisory Panel is on 16th November. The ATA is an accredited Panel member, if you would like anything specific tabled at the next meeting please contact Cameron.
The Annual General Meeting and Federal Conference of the ATA will be held in early November, where national issues of note, together with local issues affecting the individual States, will be discussed. Both Pat Duff (Federal Executive Qld) and Cameron will attend; key resolutions from the meeting - including those that have particular relevance to our Queensland members - will be included in next months report.
THE 2017 WAYNE WILSON MEDAL
The 2017 Wayne Wilson Medal for the month of September has been won by Norm Stephens for his stable star RINGO'S A ROCKSTAR. This aptly named 3yo gelding by Drumbeats put together a hat-trick of wins, with the last 2 being Saturday Metropolitan QTIS 3yo races.
RINGO has the impressive record of 3 wins and 2 seconds from his 5 starts and nearly $155,000 in prize-money with plenty more to come. His first race start he ran second to The Virginian which has turned out to be a fair form-line.
Norm has been training well over 50 years, and has only this season decided to retire as a trainer. He was 84 when he trained RINGO to this success and certainly went out a winner.
Norm is now in the running for the 2017 Wayne Wilson Medal proudly supported by UBET.
The Wayne Wilson Medal - 2016/17 Monthly Winners
August : TREVOR ROWE winning 3 races at the Cairns Cup meeting including the Cup and Newmarket.
September : NORM STEPHENS for Ringo’s A Rockstar winning 2 Saturday Metropolitan races.
Communication is very important to the ATA, and here in Qld we do our best to ensure information is passed on as often as possible. Cameron sends regular emails and SMS with latest news and issues, if you are currently not receiving these emails or SMS please make us aware by contacting Cameron at the email or phone below.
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.
Call Cameron Partington on 0433-329-395 or email cam24.7@optusnet.com.au for further information about the Queensland Branch of the Australian Trainers Association.
