“BORDER TROTS” 18/07/2022..
Now that the “Future Of Albion Park” cat is well and truly out of the bag, every participant in Queensland Harness, be they owners, breeder’s, trainers, drivers, hobbyists or wealthy elite professionals, have been thrown into the one pond. The water is now very deep and very cold, with the rumour mill suggesting that these values are due to plummet even further. This is a golden opportunity for Racing Queensland to take harness’ problems, administrative or on track, perceived or actual, by the neck. Eradicate them once and for all, and rebuild what was for many years a wonderful and vibrant sport for so many people. The ball is in RQ’s court. Do they hit a winner, or go out over the baseline?
Clint Sneddons’ two wins for the week, and his true contribution to the future of harness in the Sunshine State, make this a battler’s story. Lockyer waters based reinsman, Clint Sneddon had a good week just past, combining with currently sidelined, veteran trainer, John Stariha, to land a pair of winners, Firstly, Our Friend from the Western Star/Naidoc meeting at Marburg on the 10th and later with Magicol Ideal at the Redcliffe Thursday meeting. CS, whose stats, gathered over the last 20 years in the sulky, run to 2929 drives for 188 wins and 457 placings, with overall earnings of $647,175.
Clint, at 37 years of age, is one of Queensland’s regular Show race competitors, one of a dedicated handful of harness folk, who take racing to the currently neglected potential fans and punters who are not betting on, or watching harness on a regular basis. One of the greatest errors made by Northern Administrators, in the not too distant past, was to turn their backs on ”show trotting “ for whatever reason. Not only did it remove a significant amount of income on the show circuits, ($96,000 in the Ipswich area alone .. a lot of purchasing power at that time), but the actual events had done what their description indicated. They had “shown” trotting to vast numbers of people of all ages, not in a sterile 30 second TV commercial to an already converted audience, but, as the real “up close and sweaty” experience on the smaller tracks. Even better, it was free, as the Show Societies provided the prizemoney, and millions in visual, live publicity, “burnt into the memory”.
Over the last few years, there has been a move back to Shows, and the Clint Sneddons, Ricky Gordons, Dallas Wilkins’ and Matt Wrights etc will, in August, get dizzy going round at the “EKKA” over the ten days duration. Racing Queensland Harness will gain a heap more friends and the families will see a blood stirring spectacle. Our Leaders have to capitalise on any renewed interest, with an all out drive to encourage new participants into the sport. Encourage more “Show Racing”, as it is one of the more reliable ways forward—not a “quick fix”—but perhaps a more enduring one!!
To re-inforce the above. This writer went to interview the now late Champion reinsman Des Weeks, after he had driven SCIENTIFIC, trained by, you guessed it, JOHN STARIHA to win the first Inter-dominion Heat won by a Queensland based pacer in Queensland. The natural question was..”Surely this is the greatest thrill of your career in the sulky”? “ Not even close” was the reply. Having unearthed a heretic, the next was “what then”?.. “Winning any heat or Final at the “EKKA”. Twenty five thousand people, screaming at the top of their voices not six feet away from you. Now that is an experience that cannot be beaten”... You don’t argue with those blokes. They have done it..
With the southern hurricane shredding our prize money reserves, only the top liners got a look in this week. In the driver’s seat, only Pete McMullen, Nathan Dawson and Taleah McMullen really stood out. Scoring on six, five and thee occasions respectively. Chantal Turpin dominant trainer, leading home five winners. Most pleasing ,Clint Sneddon and John Stariha, getting there with Magicol Ideal.. Ipswich Factor 20/50..
Resultsville.. Albion Park.. 12/07..Squire (Nathan Dawson for Greg Franklin).. Uncle Shank (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. For Real Life (Trent Dawson)..King Of The North (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. Redcliffe 13/07.. Roses Are Sweet (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. Explanation Noted (Matthew Neilson for Grant Dixon)..Dancing With My Ex (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. Swift Change (Nathan Dawson for Darrell Graham)..Korloff Noir (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).. Redcliffe 14/07..Doolittle Dexter (Brendan Barnes for Darren Ebert).. Studleigh Mark (Talleah McMullen for John McMullen).. Who Stole My Pigeon (Narissa McMullen for Ben Battle)..Magicol Ideal (Clint Sneddon for John Stariha).. Melton Insulted (Taleah McMullen for John McMullen).. Albion Park 15/07.. The Reaper (Nathan Dawson for Terry Hancock).. Bella Bronski (Pete McMullen for Richie Williams).. Wild About Town (Nathan Dawson for Melissa Kendall).. Arthur Lowe (Narissa McMullen for Ron Sallis).. Albion Park 16/07.. Crime Writer (Taleah McMullen for M Craven).. Sumomentsomewhere (Adam Sanderson for Shannon Price).
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