EYES ON BRIGHT FUTURE

Q Is there scope to increase the TAB meetings at Cannon Park? A Racing Queensland are investigating at this stage, after doing a feasibility study to bring a video link line in to the racecourse. That was costed at something like $100,000 or $120,000, that is viable to do if there is more Cairns greyhound meetings or more Cairns Jockey Club meetings that are TAB. On that basis, you would think we will have more TAB meetings. I am opened minded for us to race on Tuesdays to get more TAB days, on the basis we get more races for the trainers and slightly better prize money. We have our first Tuesday meeting in July. If we picked up those days, it is worthwhile for the industry. If we raced every fortnight on a Tuesday, horses get a decent break.

Q After almost 12 months in the role, are there still areas in your job you want to improve? A The key to it all for me is completing the drainage on the track. The second part of that, you need to get 90mm of sand to go over the top, that will take a year to phase in. It is not like you complete the drainage and then we are all done. There is a thin layer you need to spray over the track after every race day. At the end of that year, I feel we will have a very, very good track to race on at Cannon Park. Secondly, we need to achieve that structure to the racing calendar, where we race Saturday then Saturday and get a few Tuesdays in. The third is, we are renegotiating a sponsor for the Cairns Cup.