Originally Posted by
Showgrounds
You're right, Kev, that he is a new boy and it is a crying shame the industry has been run by successive boards that have put all its eggs into Melton. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during the decision making processes that resulted in (a) a 5 furlong track when industry participants pleaded for larger; (b) the track being positioned so that participants and spectators at premier meetings in summer months get a great view of the sun - and not much else - when looking up the main straight; (c) a not-so grandstand without a roof, oh never mind - that is compensated by wet southerlies pounding in during the wetter months; (d) not building the much promised training complex; (e) building the whole hog at a location not served by pubic transport; and (f) saving a heap on steel by building a stable complex with a roof about a metre lower than it should have been. In other words, they built a hot box when the horsemen needed an Esky.
In hindsight, HRV could have just taken over Beckley Park at Geelong, spent a few million and been none the worse for the experience. At Melton, it seems accountant-types and marketing-types got their way over engineering nous and horse sense. And every industry participant will be worse off in the long run. NSW, by contrast, continue to develop a classy racing and training facility at Menangle. Melton locals at least have a spacious pokies venue to spin their money on.
Yes, getting to West Gippsland venues - Cranbourne and Warragul is much more tedious now than it was a decade and a half ago. Warragul, not so much being a day club as you travel against the traffic both ways. Cranbourne is principally a night club these days which gives its own set of challenges. I'd be interested to know what galloping participants think getting to night racing at Cranbourne and Pakenham.
Of course, Cranbourne and Warragul are only moot points these days as our "headquarters" should have been at Keysborough. Unfortunately, the knockers of that project got their way and sold of the land the board had purchased under guidance and foresight of the late Graeme Cochran.
Boy oh boy, do we need a dozen Graeme Cochrans now. Urgently!
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