SOME will say the elephant in the room at Queensland racing is UBET.
For too long Unitab, UBET, call it what you like – has performed well below expectations - and against its opposition.
The quarterly report (and first since it was rebranded UBET) last week declared yet another downturn in wagering was no surprise.
UBET is way behind its competitors and scraped the bottom of the barrel recently when it imposed a $20 limit on all bets wagered at fixed price at the busy Broadbeach TAB.
Reports emerge daily of UBET refusing bets from those perceived as winning punters – a practice which surely should be against the law.
You can bet with UBET – but don’t back a winner seems to be the motto. But there is hope.
In a few weeks ASIC is set to announce its decision on the takeover of the Queensland TAB by the NSW and Victorian TABs - which would not only be a possible savior for Queensland but would provide Australia with a virtual National Tote. We can only hope that ASIC fully understands the advantage of that outcome.
UBET has made no attempt to compete with other TABS or betting agencies. UBET is usually last to display fixed price odds on most venues, and in provincial Queensland does not attempt to attract punters by providing prices often two days after their opposition working on Rocky, Mackay, Townsville or Cairns TAB fixtures.
There is no incentive for owners to support their horse with U bet – a potential market that has never been tested.
Two years ago, when RQ was operating on the front foot- and trying to stay abreast- suggested UBET should text owners after acceptances offering them fixed odds or best fluctuations.It is a PR exercise that some clubs use to notify owners of the race number, time and barrier draw of their horse etc after acceptances.
‘Why not offer them a price as well?’ was the suggestion to UBET.
It went into the too hard basket. UBET said they couldn’t handle it.
NOR could they handle a $500 bet from an owner at the recent Mackay TAB meeting. The well known local owner asked for $500 on his horse at the on course counter. UBET said he could have $186 on it. I kid you not.
And you wonder why the turnover is in reverse.
The message owners receive from UBET is: Support your local TAB. What a joke.
Well, hopefully ASIC will bring us change.Then perhaps a better deal for Queensland with SKY that is owned of course by the NSW tote will follow. And end the contemptuous treatment Queensland currently endures.
At least we can hope.
Townsville Turf Club chairman Malcolm Petrofski e-mailed members (and some stakeholders) last week informing them that Racing Queensland has lifted the somewhat controversial “Control Body Direction”.
This direction- that the club accepts a $400,000 grant that included a near $200,000 fee for an RQ appointed auditor - was the reason for the resignation of the entire previous committee and chairman in December.
No reason for RQ’s change of heart has been given but the TTC media release revealed:
Racing Queensland CEO, Eliot Forbes said he was “impressed by the commitment displayed by the committee, staff and industry participants at the Townsville Turf Club”.
“I am delighted with this outcome. I am confident that their plan will see a return to prosperity for the club and I will continue to work with them to ensure racing in the region remains not only sustainable but prosperous while providing a thrilling sport and social hub for the region,” the TTC media release stated.
ATHERTON based Peter James made some very interesting comparisons (letsgohorseracing.com ) last week of the inequity of prize money for QTIS registered and non QTIS horses. And many stakeholders (apart from breeders of course) totally agree.
Just take a look at the QTIS two year old at Mackay on Tuesday. Only eight accepted for a race that is worth $30,000 for fillies $24,000 for colts and if not registered the prize money is $12,000 - the same as the Open sprint.
Isn’t that just a bit over the top?
But that’s not all. Apparently the jockeys don’t wish more than seven starters in a 1050m race when the false rail is out 9 meters as is the case on Tuesday. An llth hour bid by the Van de Velde to Stewards has been able to change the thinking and eight runners will now face the starter providing each way wagering.
WHILE in Mackay, it seems all is well again and the club has dropped its crazy plan to charge trainers exorbitant fees to help pay of a $400,000 RQ debt. And, I must add, with the help of the Queensland Trainers’ Association whose involvement in the negotiations was not made known to this column until last week.
CEO Ross Shannon says he had been in consultation with the club’s CEO Ryan Van de velde, and Mackay based QTA members and his concerns were tabled at a recent MTC committee meeting.
“My advice is that the key controversial issues have been dropped.
“QTA feels it can achieve things better on a direct contact basis and don’t always ask the Press to back us up.”
He added however if “sanity had not prevailed at the MTC I can assure you it (QTA involvement) would have escalated.”
Through the Press… perhaps!
