DEVONPORT'S new $11 million synthetic racecourse was officially opened in September and was seen as a godsend to some in racing.
The world class track is able to be used in all weather conditions.
Its construction ended years of frustration caused by the old and worn out turf track which formerly occupied Spreyton Park and was seen as an alternative venue whenever race meetings at Elwick or Mowbray were in jeopardy.
Why then wasn't Spreyton Park considered as an alternative after Sunday's race meeting at Elwick had to be abandoned?
In an embarrassing turn of events the abandoned meeting was then planned to be run on the course proper at Elwick last Tuesday but then had to be postponed again when the track was considered not suitable for racing.
When the question was asked about switching the meeting to Spreyton Park the answer was ``it is not considered viable''.
On the eve of the Hobart Cup carnival and with two of its key personnel presently away on leave Tasracing is in dire need of a public relations injection.
Switching the meeting to Spreyton Park would at least have pacified angry trainers, owners and other industry participants who presently hold Tasracing in very low esteem.
Medal replacement
AFL Tasmania has corrected one of the wrongs from last year's State League grand final.
The quality of the medal presented to Launceston ruckman Nathan O'Donoghue was roundly criticised at the time.
The medal, not much bigger than the size of a 20c piece, didn't justify the reputation of St Kilda and Tasmanian great Darrel Baldock, who it was named after.
AFL Tasmania has now notified the Launceston Football Club of an upgraded medal bearing suitable inscriptions and it will be passed on to O'Donoghue at a suitable time.
The original medal was a letdown for the O'Donoghue family, who started a close friendship with Baldock when he coached New Norfolk in the 1970s.
Supporting Saints
The St Kilda Football Club has decided to embrace all its supporter groups from around Australia.
Under the guidance of new coach Watters the Saints have adopted a more open policy in communicating with its members and supporters.
The supporter groups have been invited to the club's new headquarters at Seaford on Friday where they will meet the coaching panel and players.
Five members from the Launceston-based group including president Robert Anderson will be making the trip along with North-West president and secretary Tim and Robin Howell.
Cup champions
Rewind's exciting win in last week's Devonport Cup prompted North-West Greyhound Racing Club chairman Gary Sutton to suggest the term champion should be attributed to him.
Sutton said the same handle should be attributed to the group of nine committeemen and volunteers who made sure the Devonport Greyhound Cup went ahead.
Sutton explained that a new running rail to carry the lure at the Devonport Showgrounds had continually broken down putting the Devonport Cup in doubt.
``They worked every day with the exception of Christmas Day repairing the rail and the success of the cup meeting belongs to them,'' he said.
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