First off, on behalf of all Queenslanders, let me congratulate the good folk of South Australia.
You won the Black Caviar battle. She’ll be breaking records in your backyard this afternoon, instead of ours.
What an experience to savour. Maybe even your greatest racing moment. Something to tell the kids, and the grandkids. Like we did up here last year.
Yep, they’ll be celebrating into the night down there. The pubs might even allow one last beer after 9pm. Wild times.
So where did we go wrong? Why is the Mighty Mare thrilling the southerners, instead of dazzling Doomben again?
It’s clear that we need a plan, to make sure it doesn’t happen again. To do that, we need the sharpest and most innovative minds in the game.
Sadly, they’re all either asleep or trying to make bail at the time of writing. So the job has been left in my less than capable hands.
And that’s a good thing. Because I have a simple solution, that will only cost a few million.
It’s time we appointed Queensland Racing ambassadors. Some superstars to get us noticed from boardrooms to bush tracks. And I have just the cattle.
Ambassador #1 .. Peter Moody.
Yes, the bloke who’s in Adelaide today. If Australian Racing had a Board of Directors, Moods would be my chairman.
They don’t, so we can pinch him.
Moody is constantly promoting the industry. Taking the best mare ever all over the nation, so everyone can experience racing at its finest.
He wants to attract people back to the races. And knows the best way to it. Show them a superstar.
It doesn’t hurt that he’s a Charleville boy. Proud Queenslander. And he’d come cheap. Give him free XXXX Gold at every pub in Brisbane, and he’d never go home.
Ambassador #2 .. John Singleton.
My mate Singo is another who can’t help but promote racing. It’s his passion. And he cares more for the bloke in shorts at the bar than anyone in the Members.
He might be a Blue, but he’s at war with NSW Racing officials. Perfect time to make him an honourary Queenslander.
Whack on a big money race for More Joyous at Eagle Farm, and he’d be ours. Believe me, having Singo in our corner would be a huge asset.
Ambassador #3 .. Alan Jones.
As much as I love the boys on 4TAB, we need some added punch down south. Selling our story, to get the horses, jockeys and fans spending their cash north of the border.
Alan is our man. Another Queenslander, living in enemy territory. It’s now law in Sydney to listen to his breakfast show. He’ll spread the message far and wide.
The radio legend gets back to his home state whenever he can. Let’s make it official.
Ambassador #4 .. Miranda Kerr.
The world’s most famous model went to school in Brisbane. With some creative story-telling, we’ll tell her fans overseas that she was a trackwork rider for Rob Heathcote in her early days. I’m pretty sure she weights less than Chris Munce.
The international interest would be enormous, if we could have Miranda and her Hollywood boyfriend in a photo shoot inside the new Eagle Farm enclosure.
She has other friends too, that she could invite to the Winter Carnival. Make no mistake, there can never be enough Supermodels at the racetrack.
So there we have it. A foolproof plan, to put the national and international spotlight on Queensland racing. The four of them will be our version of The Avengers.
They can have caps with a catchy slogan. “Queensland Racing Ahead”. Get them and their horses/partners/fans on board, and we won’t be able to fit the crowds onto the course.
I’ve done the hard work. The officials can take it from here. Please send my cheque to the Hold All Tickets office. And one of those fancy caps.
Hold All Tickets 