Justracing was born and raised as a bush kid - and hence he much prefers heading to the bush rather than the big smoke. Via going to the bush he doesn't have to put up with some of the "show pony" jockeys and trainers who have far too high an opinion of their own ability. So Justracing sponsored the entire Marburg harness meeting on Saturday afternoon and was the only photographer on course to see this young man 18YO man Mitchell Dawson drive his first winner - at his first race drive - and Mitchell is seen being interviewed by racecaller Dean Jones. Behind Mitchell is his proud mother Wynetta and next to her is Steve Green who along with Wynetta own the winner Maverick Jack. A stack more photos from Marburg will go up on the Brisbaneracing website on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

Doomben held a big nine race card last Saturday afternoon and the meeting bought the unbeaten winning streak of Toowoomba filly Bradbury Chocolate to an end, after she went like a crippled soldier crab when clocking in seventh of 12 at $1.75, after the whole world except Justracing – talked the filly up as some budding super star of the Australian turf following her previous Doomben win when she won by a wart 14 days earlier on a heavy 9 track. That heavy 9 track run – and having to come from last – probably pulled the stuffing out of her, as was suggested exclusively to this website’s Saturday Morning Mail clients who were advised to bet around the filly winning last Saturday. I fancy about $2.60 was the top fixed priced odds that were bet about the filly before the dills even lined up to take as short as $1.80 at the Doomben track last Saturday afternoon. It’s not big bookmakers fault that they are generally quite wealthy. They just have to turn up at the track looking reasonably intelligent – and even that is optional – and have a big white bag to take the mug punters money home yet again. And in fact they don’t even take it home – as security firms take it with them, as the springs on their trucks are bigger and are therefore able to carry more fifty and hundred dollar bills, than a car can.

Whilst Bradbury Chocolate went over at Doomben, up in Townsville Jabiru Dreaming went on his merry winning way by winning the feature sprint on the Townsville Turf Club calendar, the Cleveland Bay, when charging home down the extreme outside, under the urgings of former Sunshine Coast jockey Matthew Morris, then at Albion Park on Saturday night Majestic Mach stretched his winning sequence to nine in a row for trainer/driver Grant Dixon, when winning a $100,000 Group 1 feature, meaning he’s now won three Group 1’s and being a pacer, he doesn’t even turn three until 31 August. Racecaller Chris Barsby has written a terribly sad story today on the harness.org.au website regarding Grant Dixon being diagnosed with leukaemia late last week and that story by Chris can he read in full by clicking HERE.

On Wednesday and Thursday of last week I wrote that racing needed to have a much more concerted and constructive method of raising money for injured licensees and today on the www.brisbaneracing.com.au website there is a montage of photos showing how the proverbial could hit the fan across the thoroughbred and harness codes on Friday afternoon at Ipswich thoroughbreds and Saturday afternoon at the Marburg harness racing meeting - which merely highlighted yet again the extreme high risks associated with the racing industry.

I’ve had a few emails about the “exclusive” that went up here on Friday 20 July regarding a nasty incident that occurred at the Eagle Farm trackwork session on 19 July, but that one hasn’t come out publicly yet from Racing Queensland, so I’m hoping that there’s no cover-up happening in respect of it, as we wouldn’t want cover-ups happening in the incestuous thoroughbred industry, now would we?

In another exclusive, the educated drum around the traps is that Racing Queensland staffer Ross Dowd, who attended the greyhound industry public meeting with Racing Queensland Chairman Kevin Dixon at Albion Park just eight days ago, will be named as the new CEO of harness racing at Albion Park in coming days.

From the Doomben betting ring last Saturday, leading rails bookmaker Lindsay Gallagher reported:

Race 1 – Gold Shears $21.00, Transporter $6.00 and From London $5.00
The opening race at Doomben last Saturday was a poor betting affair as punters simply couldn’t warm to the race.
Opening second favourite From London had no admirers and he eased out to $5 at the jump.
Grafton visitor Landuncan was only specked around $4.20.
Dusty Gold was easy in the market to run at $4.40.
Gold Shears getting the money at 20/1 was basically a wasted result for bookmakers. I guess having the first race being run at 11.45am was a bit early for some people.

Race 2 – Daad’s Overtime $17.00, Rambling On $5.50 and Eureka Jack $3.70
Roughie Daad’s Overtime won the second race on the programme and there was no money for him during betting.
Opening favourite Eureka Jack was hard to lay during betting, as was the second favourite Rambling On.
The best two backed runners were Contract Caterer and River Perfume and money arrived for both those horses on the phones.
It was a winning race.

Race 3 – Harlequin’s Gold $5.00, Headless $6.00 and Modern Warfare $7.00
Grafton Carnival winner Harlequin’s Gold was always solid around the $5 mark and got the right run in transit.
Headless was specked at $6.50 as was Modern Warfare at $7.
The favourite Lita was an easing favourite and blew from $3.00 to run at $3.50 at the jump.
It was a race you could have won or lost on.

Race 4 – I’m Cool $4.20, Gypsy Pearl $7.00 and Cuddlesome $301.00
This winning gelding I’m Cool got out to $4.40 at the jump, even though his SP is $4.20 and he got the right run and he was too strong at the end.
There was a little bit of money for Divine City who ran fifth.
Confident Star was backed on the phones. He led them up but went out too quick and compounded.
War Charm was one of the best backed runners in the race but they left their money in again.
Top Of The Rock had some specking, but never fired a shot.
Again it was a race you could have won or lost on.

Race 5 – Solebid $51.00, Dr Ichi $19.00 and Aldini $7.00
I laid this winner Solebid for cash money at 50/1.
Aldini was specked at $8.
Money arrived for the topweight Bradbury Chocolate at $1.80 during betting in what wasn’t a big betting race.

Race 6 – Norocos $5.50, Koranovsky $11.00 and Mossriver $3.60
Another Grafton Carnival winner Norocos had cash money arrive for him at $6.50 before he started at $5.50.
Mossriver was the best backed runner in the race and plenty of money arrived on the phones for her during betting.
Confident which settled last was extremely well backed and firmed from $11 to $7, before easing out late again, but she ran a fair race.
Zamboni was hard to lay.
It was another race you could have won or lost on.

Race 7 – Miss Orielle $8.00 Magic Shuffle $12.00 and Beggin $7.00

This winner Miss Orielle came from a mile back to win Race 7 beating Magic Shuffle and I thought the second horse was deserving of a win, as it was one of Munce’s better rides, even though she got beaten, as she had a wide alley but he got her over and got a good run and gave her every chance.
Beggin was specked at $8 and she covered ground and is racing well.
Faverock met with specking during betting but never featured.

Race 8 – Bold Glance $4.80, River Lad $9.00 and Signified $4.20
The $5 offered about Bold Glance was taken and you could lay him late at $4.80, so when he dived through a gap late to get the money it was a losing race for us.
Signified was well backed, particularly early in betting and I laid a large bet on the Significant Hill gelding at $4.60. During betting he got in as short as $4 before easing to $4.20 late.
I chased Prost to lay him, but when he missed the start by three lengths that took him out of play.
Cash money arrived for Taree trained Youthful Jack.

Race 9 – D’Jet $12.00, Golden Cash $3.40 and Shafeeq $6.50
There was no money about the ring for this last race winner D’Jet.
Golden Cash was very short on the totes all the way through and money did arrive on track for him.
Eventual third placegetter Shafeeq was my worst result. I laid him well at $6.50.
Taken was backed on the phones at $8 but they left it in again, so between their stable runners of War Charm, Faverock and Taken, they had a bad day at the office.
The last race win of D’Jet gave us a good result and we had a winning day overall.

Lindsay will be fielding back at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, Ipswich on Friday, then he’s off to Doomben on Saturday and the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

Don’t forget if you would like to visit Lindsay on the web you can do that by going to www.thevipclub.com.au.