With the MPA’s 40th Anniversary meeting over, we at the Marburg Pacing Association will push forward with a number of Racing Queensland funded infrastructure projects, plus several of our own.
We have come a long way in 40 years, not in distance, as prior to the construction of the current track, all business was conducted of a Sunday on the hill behind the back straight.
The trialling was on a 530-metre circuit, with a decomposed granite surface.
With the advent of positive interest from the Queensland Harness Racing Board in the mid 90’s, under pressure from Trevor Perrin, came the “knack track”, and we moved from Show Racing to a non-TAB venue, but, we were racing.
Our facilities moved to their present site, and, due to a windfall related to the closure of the Ipswich Harness Racing Club, there was a bit of invested cash, underpinning the operation. More next week.
Meanwhile Marburg is racing in November on Sundays, 7th and 21st.
The Marburg Review
Sunday 24/10 - Overcast, hot, track good, fair crowd.
Val Consiglio & Bill & Dulcie Westaway Pace
Val Consiglio was MPA’s first Secretary, Bill Westaway constructed the ‘Battlers Bar’ which we still use today, and Dulcie ‘Country Cook Extrordinaire’ was the backbone of our first Canteen.
Race 1:
ROSEHILL MAGIC. (M Neilson). $3.70.
PAGEANTRY.
MOLLIGUANNA.
Mgns 5.5m x HFHD M/r 2:02.3.
George Crone Pace
George Crone was our second President and was on track Sunday to gauge our progress since his day.
Race 2: DOLLARBILL. ( A Garrard)). $3.70.
BONNIES CAM.
BUSTIN FEELS GOOD.
Mgns HD x 14.7m M/r 1:58.8.
Peter Mckay Pace
Peter, ex Victorian and long time Marburg resident, has been a great contributor to the MPA across the decades. Still very active with a nice team of pacers.
Race 3: WHERES TASCOTT. (L Cain). $3.10.
LIVING FREE.
JET FORCE.
Mgns 1.5m x 3.5m M/r 2:01.4.
Ron Knack Pace
One of those ‘natural’ engineers with a flair for track construction and maintenance. We are racing today on a “knack track”, and it’s a good one.
Race 4: SCHEU CREEK. (L Cain). $3.10.
LEFT IN THE WIND.
STRAYTOTHEPOOLROOM.
Mgns 4.6m x 1m M/r 2:01.0.
Ernie & Glenda Anforth with Campbell & Dawn Mcphee Pace
Two popular Presidents whose wives did the unsung tasks. Canteen and raffle sales. Fun people with it.
Race 5: OKANES DEVIL. (T Moffat).. $5.00.
LITTLE DEE.
CANNAN.
Mgns 3.5m x HFNK M/r 2:01.3.
Brendan Sheehy Pace
Our first President. An imposing figure, remembered for his ‘sermons on the mount’ delivered on the hill behind the back straight when the troops were getting out of hand.
Race 6: GOLDEN SAND. (J Stariha) $13.00.
NIGHT NINJA.
CIRCLE LINE.
Mgns HFNK x NK M/r 1:59.1.
Eddie Rootes & Stan Fritz Pace
Eddie, a kind, and thinking President, backed up by Stan Fritz, an incredibly reliable volunteer who did everything with a smile on his face.
Race 7: TEARAWAY DIAMOND. (J Elkins) $2.50.
JAY TEE TYRON.
LORIMER LADY.
Mgns 1.5m x NK M/r 2:00.7.
Bevan Dance Pace
A true ‘son of Marburg’ with strong family ties to the Show Society which smoothed the MPA’s progress in the early days. A shrewd and skilful, hobbyist harness owner trainer. Missed no corners - ever.
Race 8: BUKTHSYSTEM. (L Cain). $2.30.
WESTERN SHOWGIRL.
LA PISTOLA.
Mgns SHFHD x HD. M/r @:03.6.
Totem Pole
Up on the leader board in the driving department, Pete McMullen is still ‘top dog’. He only drove five winners this week, but that was enough to keep him clear of Narissa McMullen who finished on four successes, with Nathan Dawson and Trent Dawson each scoring on three occasions. In a strange turn of events, Chantal Turpin managed to train only one winner for the week, with the laurels resting on Trent Dawson, who also trained the three winners he drove.
Darren Ebert, Ben Battle and Narissa McMullen bringing home the bacon twice each.
Most pleasing Northview Hustler, back in winning form for Alistair Barnes. Hayden Barnes in the sulky. Ipswich Factor 35/57.
Resultsville
Albion Park 22/10..
Majestic Harry (Brittany Graham for Darrell Graham).. Scotts Rain (Taleah McMullen for JB Stephens).. Albion Park 23/10.. Major Fernco (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. The Ideal Dancer (Nathan Dawson for Steve Cini).. Northview Hustler (Hayden Barnes for Alistair Barnes).. Kiwis Are Flying (Narissa McMullen).. The Hummer (Alan Donohoe for Peter Donohoe).. Replaced Eye (Trent Dawson).. Lavazza (Hayden Barnes)..
Albion Park 26/10..
Jeremes Gotta Go (Matthew Neilson for Jason Carkeet).. Heavy Hitter (Peter Greig).. Le Tissier (Narissa McMullen).. One Last Roll (Narissa McMullen for Mark Rees).. Itz Cherokee Jack (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. Barika (Trent Dawson).. Betting Origin (Trent Dawson)..
Redcliffe 27/10..
Harps (Justin Elkins for Graham Dwyer).. She Owns The Day (Pete McMullen for Graham Dwyer).. Butcher Feel Good (Matt Elkins for Dan Russell) .. Valkyrie Hanover (Nathan Dawson for Lacey Hinze).. All Before Him (Leonard Cain for Nikki Chalk)..
Redcliffe 28/10..
Illawong Kim (Ben Battle).. Skatie (Leonard Cain for Warren Hinze).. Whateley (Pete McMullen for Darren Ebert).. Chump Chop (Leonard Cain for Darren Ebert).. Katacha Man (Nathan Dawson for Donny Smith).. Brilliant Art (David McKenzie).. Whostolemypigeon (Ben Battle).. Westar Sam (Narissa McMullen for Ron Sallis)..
Inter-Dominion surprise
In what seems to be a surprising move, Harness Racing New Zealand has reluctantly handed up its place on the Inter-Dominion calendar until at least 2025.
With typical Kiwi openness, the reason is announced as due to a lack of cash, and a lack of top line horses. It may go deeper than that, given the level of domination by the ‘All Stars’ stable, taking the great majority of feature races in recent memory.
In any sport category, new faces are needed on the podium, especially where betting is concerned. Old hands will remember when HRNZ ordered the Purdon family, then based in Auckland, to split, in order to break their stranglehold on the premier events.
A stranglehold which was forcing high grade trainers to shrink their operations, and the smaller guys to get out.
Harness racing, like all animal sport, is built on dreams, and the likelihood of that dream coming true. Owners, trainers and drivers get out not long after they realise that the dream is not there, and the only achievable end is a nightmare. No people, no new people, and a falling pool of horses equates to less overall income for the sport, and definitely nothing to spare to fund Inter-Dominions.
Hence the following from IDEC:
Queensland will replace New Zealand in the Inter-Dominion rotation after Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) formally advised the Inter-Dominion Event Committee (IDEC) and co-Host Partners, Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW), Club Menangle and Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) that they were unable to fulfil their hosting commitments beyond this year’s event in New South Wales.
IDEC Chair, Ken Spicer, who is also a former Board Member of HRNZ, confirmed the news, citing financial uncertainty and a lack of Open Class horses in the country.
“It is disappointing to withdraw from the time-honoured event after one rotation,” Spicer said.
“But with Racing Queensland expressing their interest to join the rotation at the first opportunity, it provided a reprieve to exchange positions for the 2023 Championships.
“We are indebted to the team in Queensland for their enthusiasm and support for such a smooth transition, which also provides an opportunity for HRNZ to re-join the Hosting rotation post-2025 should circumstances improve.”
Following this year’s event in NSW, the Inter Dominion will remain showcased on the eastern seaboard of Australia with the Host rotations set in order of Victoria (2022), Queensland (2023) and NSW (2024).