MY CALL: IPSWICH FINALLY SET TO BE REWARDED AFTER SHOWING PATIENCE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME

By David Fowler | Tuesday, September 17, 2019

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

Ipswich Turf Club chairman will sleep well this Thursday night, the eve of the club’s AGM on Friday.

Not that he’s been worried in recent times by announcing the bottom line. It’s generally a modest profit courtesy of Ipswich Cup day.

Considering the magnitude of that day’s success, you can understand it must be tough going at all other times that only realises a figure slightly in the black.

Purely running midweek meetings all bar Cup day is not a shortcut to commercial success. Far from it.

But the club knows its lot and where it stands in the scheme of things. Never a club to overrate its own importance.

Like all of us, they just expect a fair go.

Disappointingly, a fair slice of a fair go has been in very short supply over more than a decade.

To quote Patch,” I have outlined on previous occasions how we have suffered through numerous missed opportunities from the procrastination of others. It is now time to move on and make the most of the new opportunities that have been presented to us.”

The era of broken promises from both sides of government and a range of previous racing administrations has ended. A chapter closed.

Patch will spring out of bed on Friday knowing he can inform his patient members of fact rather than fiction.

He will explain an exciting five month window between November and March where the racetrack will be renovated, new tie-up stalls established and a new car park attaching itself to the already built function centre that sits alongside the existing grandstand.

Not forgetting a spruced-up members lounge and the establishment of a seven day family restaurant.

The club is poised to piggyback a soaring trajectory of corporate marketability and offer an enhanced package for members.

But there’s also the brightening light at the end of the tunnel to develop the Brisbane Road frontage.

This has been the long-term strategic goal for the club. The goal that will secure the club’s long-term future. The goal that will provide valuable non race-day revenue.

Patch will also stress how his club will continue to work collaboratively with Racing Queensland and fellow clubs.

It’s worth remembering the Ipswich Turf Club has always been a team player.

Let’s face it, there’s been more than once they have had to “take one for the team”.

Good things come to those who wait.

Sleep well on Thursday night Wayne and look forward to this Friday.

To quote Jimmy Cliff’s song I Can See Clearly Now, “it’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day!”

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