In April this year, Justracing put up photos of areas of Twin Towns being gutted for expansion. I can exclusively report that their new ground floor TAB is state-of-the-art and is well worth visiting. I even had the privilege of putting the last betting ticket through their original first floor TAB on Tuesday night.

During the course of this week Justracing can exclusively advise that one of Australia’s biggest and most popular clubs – Twin Towns on the Queensland/New South Wales border - had a huge change take place when their TAB was relocated from the first floor into a huge new area on the ground level.

Justracing was fortunate to be there on Tuesday night when the first floor TAB was closed and created a bit of history by making sure he put the last ever betting ticket through the terminals in the “old TAB”, which was a thrill, given many millions of TAB tickets have gone through those first floor terminals over the many years.

There was a glitch on the Wednesday however when the new TAB and associated bar and sports area – which was to open at 10am – couldn’t as Council approval wasn’t actually forthcoming until 2.30pm that afternoon.

Justracing visited the new TAB Wednesday evening, soon after the public first got to see it - and I can report it’s terrific. About 14 screens in a sunken lounge/bar area means that punters can watch races and all sorts of sport whilst having a drink, or they can walk next door into the TAB, which is operated by the New South Wales TAB, into an area that has an incredible 38 TAB screens and four Sportsbet screens. The Twin Towns TAB is now also run as an agency - by the man who was the former TAB agent down the road, at a nearby Tweed Heads hotel. In another interesting twist, one now doesn’t have to be a member of Twin Towns to walk into the Twin Towns TAB, as it has street access for the general public. I can assure you that it is well worth seeing if you are visiting the area, just to see what a state-of-the art modern day TAB looks like.

Racing Queensland Handicapper Andrew Whitehead has sent the scaled weights through for Doomben tomorrow and they read: Race 1 + 1 kg, Race 4 + 2 kgs, Race 5 + 2 kgs, Race 6 + 1 kg, Race 7 + 3.5 kgs, Race 8 – 1.5 kgs and Race 9 + 1.5 kgs.

Brisbane Racing Club Track Manager Bill Shuck advises the website late today that the Doomben track is currently a slow 6. Bill said they’d “put a couple of horses over it in the morning and hopefully by then it will be back to a dead 5, and that will be about its mark for the day”.

Brad Tamer from Tattsbet advises there are five $10,000+ jackpots happening tomorrow with that entity and they are:

The apprentice jockey weights for Doomben tomorrow should be:

* Dan Costello spoke to Alex Hearn today at Ipswich races where incidentally Alex rode his 50^th career winner and Alex advised Dan that 51 kgs is his riding weight. Alex also added he has already ridden one metropolitan winner in Perth.

Today on www.brisbaneracing.com.au I preview the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield, on www.sydneyracing.com.au I preview Warwick Farm Race 6, whilst on www.melbourneracing.com.au Matt Nicholls looks at Caulfield.

This is the latest Media Release from BOTRA on badly injured John Tabone - and in full it reads:

Well the Harness Racing family has displayed absolutely enormous support for John.

Incredibly the Victorian authority is going to run a series of events to raise funds.

NSW authority will be making a cash contribution.

The Australian Harness Racing Council will be providing support.

Never before has the entire industry displayed such loyalty and support for someone who has been injured whilst participating in our sport.

There is ongoing raffles, sale of goods, and other fundraising activities.

Pledges are being received daily accompanied with best wishes for John.

John has not made any significant progress.  He seems to be improving, albeit slowly, but the family waits with some anxiety until the sedation is reduced so the damage to his brain and face can be further analysed.

John’s wife Josephine, daughter Vanessa and son-in-law Michael are touched by the industry’s kindness and well wishes.

They are encouraged by the ongoing support from the industry.

We have more fundraising activities at Albion Park this Saturday night - Burwood Stud have donated a service fee to Cammibest for a silent auction please find a tender form and details attached. We wish to thank the Denning family for their generous support.

Thank you all for your support

Kind regards

Marg Reynolds

B.O.T.R.A. Secretary