Summer Harness Racing Season set for stellar return. -- ANOTHER MILLION JUMPS IN.
September 1, 2022 The TAB Queensland Summer Harness Racing Season returns in 2022 with seven action-packed meetings. Ahead of the 2022 Inter Dominion Championship commencing in Victoria in late November, Australasia’s best standardbreds will be given the opportunity to converge on the Sunshine State to chase some of Queensland’s biggest features, with 14 black-type events and more than $1 million in prize money on offer. The Season commences with two action-packed evenings at Albion Park, featuring eight Group races including The Be Good Johnny Sprint, the Queensland Cup and the Trotters Sprint. Announced earlier this month, the winners of both the Group 2 Queensland Cup and Group 2 Queensland Trotters Sprint on November 12 will receive a golden ticket for this year’s Inter Dominion, commencing on November 26 at Ballarat. One week prior, the popular Group 2 Peak Of The Creek also returns, providing horses with a National Rating from 55-70 the chance to compete in a $50,000 Final. The unique series will see heats contested two nights prior to the Final, with connections then able to select their own barrier based on individual horse times run in the heats. On the back of their incredibly successful standalone carnival day in the winter, Marburg will again take centre stage on Sunday, December 4, hosting a Summer Season meeting for the first time. Racing will then return to The Creek in the build up to the festive season, with the 2YO and 3YO QBRED for Life features on December 10, and APHRC Members Cup and Christmas Cups for both pacers and trotters on December 17. The Summer Season will then conclude on December 21 with the Redcliffe Christmas Cup, Trotters Christmas Cup and the Redcliffe Guineas. “Following on from last year’s success, we’re looking forward to another exciting Summer Season,” RQ Executive General Manager Operations Adam Wallish said. “On the back of the TAB Queensland Constellations, and with the Inter Dominion on the near horizon, the Summer Season is positioned to provide the perfect platform for horses to fine-tune their preparations whilst chasing Group racing glory. “Finally, we welcome the fantastic initiative from Harness Racing Victoria to give Queensland’s best pacers an exclusive opportunity to contest in the 2022 Inter Dominion, with the two golden ticket races adding another exciting dimension to our Summer Season.
Stewards in Queensland and Victoria were busy over the weekend when an unusually large number of well fancied runners appeared to either choke down or fibrillate. Are we trying to go too fast, is it a virus, or just a coincidence?. Comparison with previous performances, and rigorous analysis of swab samples will tell us something, or perhaps nothing. What ever the findings, they must be well publicised. Currently, it is not “a good look”.
Another week with the top driver in the double figure department, Pete McMullen reaching the magical ten yet again. Only others close were Taleah McMullen and Matthew Neilson scoring four apiece. Chantal Turpin again most successful trainer getting the bikkies no less than five times, with John McMullen in hot pursuit, taking four winners back to the home barn. Most pleasing ,Clint Sneddon steering two to victory for Matt Wright, while Amanda Payne was successful at Marburg with Geldof for Ryan Veivers. Purga based Steve Coombs scored with Whata Challenge at Redcliffe, Angus Garrard had the steer. Ipswich Factor 38/55.
Comments