The exciting lifeline for Albion Park is a massive win for harness racing full stop, not just in Queensland.
It is also sure to reignite talks, hopes or even “prayers” in some quarters that a return to Moonee Valley is still a chance for Victorian harness fans.
As we watch the updates of the Moonee Valley demolition, it’s hard not to let your mind wander about two things … the golden days of harness racing at the Valley and IF – and it remains very much an if – there is any chance of a harness track inside the new galloping circuit.
All I know is that the Valley still has some sort of pulse – just how strong that is, only those in the inner sanctum would know.
But let’s get back to Albion Park, or “The Creek” as it’s now known.
Just hours before the Queensland government (finally) released an independent report into racing in the state, media reports were growing that Albion Park was gone. It was such a valuable asset in a prime location, the best value for racing (and the government) was to sell it off.
It’s not the first time we’ve heard that.
Just a few years back, it seemed The Creek was doomed and that land at Norwell – about halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast – would be used to become not just the new home of Queensland harness racing but also a state-of-the-art training complex.
There were pros and cons to that, but just when the industry was getting its head around it, the idea was quashed.
It was hoped that meant a secure future for Albion Park.
But the murmurs have been growing. The trots will move to be inside the Doomben gallops track or – disturbingly – there was genuine push for the inside of the Toowoomba gallops track to become the state’s major harness track.
But, hopefully, this latest report has ended the nonsense.
Albion Park is old and tired. It needs a lot of love.
And, according to this report, it’s going to get it with a massive redevelopment including apartments, a new grandstand and so much more.
If it’s done properly, it will be a showpiece for harness racing in the world, not just Brisbane or Australia.
And it’s right in the heart of the city.
As harness racing’s profile has diminished for a myriad of reasons, headed by competition from so many other sports, it has effectively been forced out of the mainstream in many ways, including the locations of the major tracks.
First Harold Park became Menangle and then Moonee Valley became Melton.
Talk has raged for years about whether or not WA should keep Gloucester Park and I’ve already outlined the Albion Park situation in recent times.
Wherever possible, the sport needs to be on the main dancefloor. Granted it is way harder in mega cities like Sydney or Melbourne, but as an industry, if Perth and Brisbane were to lose their “metro” tracks, it would be a massive blow to the game.
There’s always been this feeling from some that the single thing that matters is the health of the harness racing in their patch.
Of course, there’s a lot of truth to that.
But what’s actually vital is a strong, vibrant and relevant national industry.
Holding an Inter Dominion, Blacks A Fake, Nullarbor or WA Pacing Cup at a city track matters.
It’s a statement.
Ask anyone who’s been as a participant or just a fan and they’ll agree some of the very best Inter Dominions of the modern era have been in Brisbane and Perth.
Brisbane holds the second of three in July next year.
It’ll still be at the current old Albion Park track, but now there’s genuine excitement for what the future holds.
The opinions expressed in this article 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.
