Because of what I have perceived as an increased interest in residencies, I have undertaken a trip around the world to check out the home turf of some of the Sims top places to join with your stables. The trip is being sponsored by those lovely ladies at the BTB as they realize how much our readers will enjoy this inside look.

After a bout of the Flu and the Easter holiday, I am back at the the worldwide Residency trip. I was in California for the Cally Lock Race and decided that was as close as I was going to get to head for Australia. I am pretty excited as this is somewhere that I’ve always wanted to visit. So I drove to Los Angeles and took the fourteen and a half hour flight to Sydney. I decided to stay a day there as I has always wanted to visit this world renowned city. Flying in and seeing the harbor and the Opera House at six in the morning after flying all night was quite a thrill. Fortunately I was able to sleep on the plane as I had a full day planned in Sydney. Hopefully the jet lag wouldn’t kick for awhile!

After checking in to my hotel, I went to visit the Sydney Fish Market the largest working fish market in the southern hemisphere. The market has an incredible variety of fresh seafood – around 100 species are on offer daily – from the cleanest oceans in the world. Visitors can take an early morning tour of the markets before enjoying a lazy lunch overlooking the harbour. I was searching for a nice fat Lobster as Australia and New Zealand boast the best lobster tails in the world. The markets are incredible with a circus-like atmosphere of movement, aromas and colors. I found a tank full of lobsters that they offered to cook for me. I had to choose between a two and three pounder and envisioned Roys back at the BTB offices looking at my expense report. Hmmm…well you only live once! Of course I took the big one and it was terrific steamed with lemon and butter.

Fortunately for me, I had booked a climb on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This is one of the icons that says “I’ve arrived in Sydney”. There’s no better way to get fit and enjoy the 360 degree views from the top of the bridge than on a Bridge Climb. The climb is a three-and-a-half hour adventure, where climbers can experience the satisfaction and exhilaration of reaching the summit of this world famous icon. It was a great adventure and I was sure able to work off that Lobster!

That evening, I went down to one of Sydney’s hottest eating precincts at Woolloomooloo Wharf and had an incredible meal at one of the hot restaurants. I had been in Australia for over twelve hours now and I hadn’t seen even one Kangaroo, Koala or Vegemite Sandwich! I was beat though and had an early morning flight to Brisbane in Queensland so off to bed and dreaming about that lobster again.

After the short flight to Brisbane, I grabbed a rental and moved up the coast to the Queensland Races Residency. I pulled up to an extremely impressive resort-like building with beautiful landscaping and all the amenities of a world class organization. I walked into the lobby and was immediately met by a jovial and friendly SabaLou who is in charge of the Rez. I was a bit surprised that he was there so early in the morning but he looked ready to go.

We went into a nearby private dining room and SabaLou explained to me: “We are sure happy that you are here and we have a full day planned for you so I’m glad you were able to arrive so early. The mates at the Rez wanted you to get the full feel of Australia so they had lots of ideas for you today. It starts with this local breakfast of Oz Lemon pancakes with riberry confit & snow sugar.” He explained that Oz lemon is a lemon myrtle mix perfectly balanced for flavour with dried wild lime, lemon aspen and aniseed myrtle. It even makes a superb infusion either on its own or sprinkled over a good strong coffee. The other reason to drink Oz lemon as a tea is when you’ve been out screaming all night at a bar and the throat’s a bit raw. It’ll heal a sore throat in just a few sips. The Riberry’s are a rainforest fruit with an amazingly aromatic cinnamon and clove flavour. This was all served with an excellent espresso with a twist of lime.

PazJazz– I guess that from my other articles, you guys already figured out that the way to my good side is through my stomach!

I was really surprised next when SabaLou presented me with an autographed Rugby jersey from the Queensland Rugby League.

SabaLou– “When visiting dignitaries, movie stars and such visit from overseas, it is always a race for one of the local sports teams to present them with a “Jumper” or “Guernsey” of their team and make them an honorary club member. Since we have Aussie Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Soccer here, they decided that instead of having them fight over whose team gets to present their top, we are honoring you with this Queensland Rugby League Jersey and making you an honorary member. Now we are off the stadium for an afternoon game and to meet some of the folks from the Rez.

PazJazz– We went out to the beautiful stadium, where we met up with JackLad, MGPrice who had arranged the Jersey, and Dowelly. We had a great time, enjoying some Aussie Meat Pies with tomato sauce and icy cold “stubbies” of beer. The rugby was great and I even started to understand a little by the end as we watched the Wynnum Seagulls beat the Norths Devils 26-14. After the game we all headed back to the Rez where I grabbed a quick “jet lag” nap before we all gathered for a Barbeque on the back patio.

Although we had been talking about the Rez, which they are all so passionate about all day, I was finally able to actually interview SabaLou over Steak, Sausages and Shrimp on the “Barbie” with plenty more stubbies of beer.

PazJazz So tell me about the theme of the Aussie Racing Residency?

SabaLou– Gosh, I never thought of a theme or region for the residency. But we do have a home track and that’s Queensland. We try to concentrate on highlighting Queensland but we span the entire world in our competitions. We always like to have Queensland emphasized though!

PazJazz How long has the Rez been around?

SabaLou– I am not quite sure but it’s at least 8 or 9 years. That’s a long, long time, eh? Haha.

PazJazz– How many members do you have and do you have any rules about how many stables you can have?

SabaLou– It seems like we have a ton of members but I’ve never really counted. However in the Barn’s area we have 450 plus individual stables. In the Residency Support area there are over 550 stables supporting Queensland.

We have no rules on number of stables nor are stables required to support Queensland but they certainly do so voluntarily. We happily accept residents year round as we have no limit on residency.

PazJazz– Do you have any Annual Race Days or Festivals for either the member or the Sim in general?

SabaLou– We don’t really have any races for the world but we try to run at least two to four races a month for the residency. Actually we aim for at least one per week. We also give a prize for each resident race won by the resident.

We do have Festivals where there are three to five races on a day and we have several Stakes for residents throughout the year. It seems like something is always going on here.

PazJazz– What kinds of contests do you offer? Anything new coming up?

SabaLou– Oh my! We have sooooo many competitions from punting to Premierships, they are really too numerous to mention. Of course that is mainly because at the moment, I don’t remember them all. LOL! Some of the residents run their own contests that they dream up and that is very much encouraged and appreciated! There are a ton of contests going on all of the time.

PazJazz– It was about that time that MGPrice brought me over my very first Vegemite Sandwich explaining that I had to try one on my trip.

PazJazz– I like just about everything but I must admit that this might be an aquired taste! I’m glad that I was able to try it though! LOL. Tell me, do you have a Message Board and a website where your members can communicate when they aren’t watching sports and drinking beer?

SabaLou– We have our own Queensland website located at Queensland Races Residency from this you can reach all of our pages including the message board. Sometimes it’s quiet and a lot of time it’s buzzzzzing!

PazJazz– The Equinics is coming up this year. Does your Residency compete in the Equinics? Any claims to fame in that regard or other Sim Wide contests?

SabaLou Yes, we have competed a number of years, the actual date may be when the Equinics started, my memory is not that good but that’s what I believe. I did have a hoss from my SABALOU stable by the name of PAN JAY that that ran in the Equinics in week 788.3705 the year was 2000 and it was the HADES HANDICAP 10 Furlongs Dirt. He ran 2nd that year with a 119 speed rating. He also had a couple of thirds in later Equinics. We had a winnnaaaar that year or the next Equinics but the name of the hoss escapes me right now.

We are really looking forward to competing this year as well.

PazJazz One thing that my editors always like me to ask is if you have any “Sim Famous” members of your Rez that our readers would recognize?

SabaLou– Absolutely but there are sooooo many I’m not gonna mention any off the top of my head because I’m sure to miss some and I wouldn’t wantto do that. We do have a couple of the more famous horses stabled here though… Queensland is home to the greatest broodmare in the Sim AMANDA JANE, she has foaled three Graded winners and another Stakes winner and has a promising three year old. We are also home to the amazing BOB THE COB still going strong at nine years of age with 91 races under his belt and has just recentlycompleted four straight wins. He has won 35 races including a whole bunch of Stakes and a Graded win. There may have never been a better horse for as long as he has run.

PazJazz– Other than the lingo here that is a bit tough to pick up, I really love this country and the Rez is fantastic. Is there anything else that you would like to add about the Rez?

SabaLou The residents are really helpful in picking Rez races, running their own contests, scorekeeping, and donating prizes and credits without which there would be no Queensland. We are really one big community working together to make a fantastic Residency.

As I got back to my room in the wee hours of the morning after way too many stubbies, I found a gift bag with a trio of Snow Globes to take back to the office. These guys really know how to throw a party and I’ve fallen in love with this county. I’m sure that I will find my way back here some time but I wish that it wasn’t so darn far away from Music City! I’m happy to be back on the residency trail and I’m on my way to the next Rez!

Looking forward to seeing you in your little corner of the world!