Time to solve Albion Park battle

IT was great news for the Ipswich Turf Club securing a $13 million grant to enable vital reconstruction to the racing surface and provide upgrades to the infrastructure.

Completion of the proposed projects should put the ITC on the highway to self sufficiency for the foreseeable future.

The Gold Coast Turf Club is also said to be in the pipeline for major funding, with a view to a similar happy conclusion.

Meanwhile, in the world of harness, a battle rages between rival interests as to the future of Albion Park.

On one side, we have self made property and share tycoon Mr Kevin Seymour considered a "demi-god" by some harness participants, and something rather different by others, taking up the cudgels on the part of Albion Park Harness Racing Club. He is treasurer.

In the other corner is Racing Queensland, currently holding a healthy $63 million of infrastructure funding to be applied to the immediate needs of harness and greyhounds.

Both contestants, we are told, are seeking the same end result as the two gallops clubs mentioned above.

Unfortunately, the battle can not be decided in one encounter as it is somewhat complex in nature.

At this point in time, we must not consider the greyhounds. They have considerable and genuine claims to a large slab of the $63 million as they are the only racing code in profit and expanding steadily.

Their presence in the Albion Park debate would only muddy the waters.

It seems there will be some form of development on the site.

Seymour proposes that the development consist of a world class racing facility supported by a housing development and a "Racino" (gaming machines, bars and a return of Silks restaurant, which vanished when WATPAC demolished the main grandstand at the venue seven years ago).

Racing Queensland favours a commercial, residential and retail development aimed at maximising non-racing revenue.

The first matter to be decided however is who owns Albion Park.

Seymour claims that "harness racing has the moral high ground because it owned the venue until the merger of the three codes in 2010".

It is time that the Minister and the Premier became involved in this.

They should call for all the documents relating to transfers of the title of Albion Park over the past 30 years, and make a determination of ownership based solely on that documentation.

A time frame of one week should be sufficient for that process.

Starting from any other point guarantees failure of the enterprise and a waste of valuable dollars.

Marburg place to be

TODAY'S Marburg trot meeting offers a great afternoon's racing to escape the hustle bustle of daily life.

The action starts about 11am with trials, where racegoers can grab a burger and coffee or a beer and kick back to enjoy harness racing on the up-close and visual 700 metre Marburg Showground circuit.

Racing begins at noon with seven races to be run.

A lucky gate prize of a $100 bet is on offer on the local trots, with multiple prize raffles and a Fast Work Horse Supplies "pick the card'' competition with $1050 for someone clever enough, or lucky enough to pick the card.

Entry is $5, with pensioners and students in for $3.

The magic race book for $3 contains the pick the card entry.

Everyone is welcome.

Handy tips

SELECTIONS for Albion Park tonight.

R1: E/w 1: Our Millwood Maizie (M. Neilson).

R2: Quinella 1-2: A Good Chance (C. Petroff) and My Master Craftsman) A. Sanderson).

R3: Quinella 1-3: Deano Robyn (G. Dixon) and Gallymont Sport (T. Dawson).

R4: Quinella 1- 2: Remember Ruby (G. Dixon) and War Dan Appollo (T. Moffat).

R5: E/w 2: Border Cross (S. Graham).

R6: E/w 3: Rory Mach (D. Graham).

R7: E/w 4: Waste Of Time (D. McMullen).

R8: Quinella 4-12: Fire One (G. Dixon) and The Charging Moa (S. Graham).

R9: E/w 3: Cheers Kathy (D. Graham).

R10: Box trifecta in four 1-4-8-10: Dr Hook (T. Gillespie)-Four Shares More Beers (G. Dixon)-Melpark Royal Son (J. Cremin)-Our Dainty Lady (D. Graham).

Marburg selections for today: Race 1 – 2-8-1.

Race 2: 7-2-3.

Race 3: 1-3-4.

Race 4: 1-2-3.

Race 5: 1-6-3.

Race 6: 1-2-3.

Race 7: 3-4-5.

Honour board

Narissa McMullen scored on four occasions in the sulky this week. Chantal Turpin led in a trio of winners for the barn at Patrick Estate.

Redcliffe, June 2: The Shady One (Trevor Lambourn); Hokonui Ben (Chris Petroff for Trevor Lambourn); Sicilian Slumber Narissa McMullen for Chantal Turpin).

Albion Park, June 3: Lancelot Bromac (Danielle McMullen for Stewie Dickson); Timmo Time (Adam Sanderson for Shawn Grimsey); Our Leonardo (Kelli Dawson for Ray Law); Supaliner (Darrell Graham); Village Switch (Narissa McMullen for Steve Cini); Our Dainty Lady (Darrell Graham).

Albion Park, June 6: El Swavo (Clint Sneddon for Frank Bennett); Well Disguised (Narissa McMullen for Steve Cini); Bull Market (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin).

Redcliffe, June 7: Stayintowntonight (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby); Havetogetawaymore (Al Barnes); Precious M (Lachie Manzelmann for Ron Sallis).

Redcliffe, June 8: Riene Des Gitans (Pete McMullen for Chantal Turpin); Flashing Good Time (Narissa McMullen for John McMullen); Phantom Rockstar (Gary Whitaker for Kevin Joiner).

TROT TACTICS with Denis Smith

Reprinted with permission of The Queensland Times.