The Inter Dominion history is littered with superstars and great stories.
Another chapter starts at Newcastle on Friday night and, yes, the stars are missing, but trust the brand, and have faith the great series can produce the stories.
Before you groan, we have a perfect and very recent case in point – this year’s Melbourne Cup.
It was without a doubt one of the worst Melbourne Cup fields in recent memory, made even thinner when stunning Cox Plate winner Via Sistina pulled-out a week or so before it.
But history will show it’s a Cup that will long be remembered fondly.
Why? Because of the story it created. Sheila Laxon won her second Cup, with just her second starter, and 23 years after the first.
And how could anyone not love Robbie Dolan, the singing jockey with an infectious personality who gave hope to every fringe jockey in the land.
That’s what we need this year on Grand Finals night at Menangle on December 14 … a great narrative or two.
In many ways this is bridging Inter Dominion, between the old and new.
Remember the date October 29, 2024.
That could be the day the Inter Dominion – harness racing’s biggest and most iconic brand – was given a much-needed lifeline.
It’s the day news broke that Queensland, or specifically Albion Park, would host the Inter Dominion for three consecutive years from 2025.
Crucially, Albion Park and Racing Queensland also committed to significantly reviving the once great event with prize money boosts ($500,000 up to $1 million for the pacing final and $150,000 up to $400,000 for the trotting version).
The money matters a lot, but so too does the new timeslot.
The Inter Dominion was floating in limbo in December, a legacy of when it worked in Perth quite a few years back, but never translated to the eastern seaboard.
Why? Because it was far too early in the season and the dangling carrot of dollars simply wasn’t enough incentive.
Too many stars skipped it. The Kiwis basically stopped coming, so too did the best from the west.
It became a series for Victorian, NSW and Queensland horses.
The other sticking point – especially in that December timeslot was the traditional four runs in a fortnight format.
Our breed has changed a lot. They are much faster, but more fragile.
A series of “last horse standing” was great in its day, but that day has passed if we want the best taking on the best from all around Australia and NZ.
Again, Queensland has addressed this by scrapping the middle rounds of heats. It’s hard letting go of tradition, but it’s more important protecting the future.
The other plus with Queensland is the attraction of the comparative weather at that time of year. It could and should be a destination event.
July also falls in a much more attractive timeslot for the Kiwis to re-engage and new HRNZ CEO Brad Steele is committed to driving that.
In contrast, the horses will still have to compete in three rounds of heats before the final in this NSW series.
The horses have on average a four-hour return trip to Newcastle on night one then another six-hour or so return road trip to Bathurst on night two (Wednesday week). The last round of heats and finals are at Menangle.
I can see the rationale. Taking the sport to the people and maintaining the passion in our regional areas is pivotal.
But, in this case, it has hurt the series.
For varying reasons, Leap To Fame, Swayzee and Better Eclipse (the first three home in last December’s Brisbane final) won’t return. The latter two by choice.
In the trotters, great interest was on Just Believe’s quest to become the first three-time Inter Dominion trotting champion.
Even that wasn’t enough of a lure for Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars to bring him back from NZ for the series.
Instead, he’ll be across the ditch when this year’s final is run at Menangle on December 14.
I love the Inter Dominion and, regardless of the worrying list of stars missing, I’ll watch every moment and immerse myself in it.
I’ll be there trackside on finals, hoping the great event produces those stories we love and need, like the Melbourne Cup did this year.
But the reality is the stars are what draw wider interest, what helps stir those outside the bubble.
Queensland looks to have nailed some key points to at least try and resurrect the Inter Dominion.
Thankfully, it’s only eight months away.
The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.
