From the Callers Box – December 2024

Here’s something to consider.

And it’s vitally important.

Moving forward, what is the best night for harness racing?

As it stands, our main metropolitan meeting has always been in the Saturday evening timeslot, pride of place.

But is that the best spot?

Do we remain locked into the Saturday evening timeslot or start looking elsewhere?

Is Friday night better or even Thursday evening?

Over the past six months, the amount of Queensland harness events broadcast on the secondary SKY Channel is quite staggering and alarming.

And it’s steadily creeping into the Saturday evening timeslot.

And there’s more to come.

There’s clear proof that having races broadcast on the secondary channel compared to SKY1 is worlds apart and turnover is a clear indicator.

We’re an industry dependent on turnover.

Quite simply, no turnover equals no industry.

With the Gold Coast Turf Coast switching on their new lights later this month for the first time and joining the likes of Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba Turf Clubs also having lights plus the new Ipswich greyhound complex keen to have their Saturday night meeting fixtures switched across from the secondary channel to SKY1, the pressure continues to build.

Harness is being squeezed out.

The schedule is getting busier and more compact, and we keep hearing that harness events take up too much time – so what’s the back-up plan or other line of thinking?

Have officials considered the alternatives?

Do they fight to remain locked into the Saturday evening timeslot on SKY1 or yield?

Every turnover dollar is crucial.

And with the Greyhounds leaving Albion Park early in the new year, do we start experimenting immediately?

Suddenly, there will be a lot more flexibility with staging meetings at the famed Breakfast Creek oval and all timeslots should be explored.

Until next time.