Ok, maybe I’m not a normal horse enthusiast/user of the Queensland Racing site, but I expect a certain standard of Web Site Development from industry peers, particularly from one with significant cash resources and one in which Marketing and Reputation has significant result driven performance and industry expectations.

So, I have decided to do a review, primarily from a website technical perspective, but because I am a racing enthusiast, not ignoring the every day user

Domain Name/Search

• the name has changed from queenslandracing to racingqueensland, and trots and greyhounds have been incorporated… but no metadata, keywords, descriptions, titles have changed – so search engines can’t find content, and therefore neither can the public
• so the content should be searchable-  titles, headings, and content important in indexing of information.. unfortunately content needs to be improved…or exist for top level navigation..http://www.racingqueensland.com.au/thoroughbreds.aspx – no content…http://www.racingqueensland.com.au/greyhounds.aspx – no content…http://www.racingqueensland.com.au/i-want-to.aspx – no content…http://www.racingqueensland.com.au/services.aspx – no content
• why is there no redirect from the old address, a simple implementation
• Greyhounds, harness and multiple pages have the description or keywords “horse, racing, betting, queensland”…excusable for a mum n dad homepage, for an industry website – incompetent
• Greyhounds home page – has no content – what, don’t they have any interesting  information??
• “I want to” as primary navigation…”I” want to never have to visit this site again…but yet again there is no content on this page???
• Services..for the industry…empty again.. quite appropriate given the rest of the site

Navigation

• never, ever in every site that I have visited, observed, used or reviewed when I clicked on side navigation was I given a secondary level of side navigation to click on again…in a day where jquery, mootoools, javascript and basic CSS allow interesting interactive side navigation, How Could This Possibly Occur!
• no user testing could possibly have been conducted on any aspect of the site

Design/Accessibility

• perhaps one of the most recognisable, professional industry standard aspects of the previous site…The Logo, has been removed and replaced with a scribble
• the top level navigation selected, red on black text fails color contrast…and as up to 20% of Australian users face some type of visual impairment or disability, this is unacceptable
• “pdf” is not an acceptable addition to a link, size of file should be included, PDF is the industry standard, and some attachments do not have any assistive information
• Partners, do not seem to exist as no links work, no coloured graphics exist, and grey seems the dominant colour
• a home link in the top right.. well that’s a first, possibly Queensland Racing think they can lead the industry in site navigation, and user expectation? possibly another mistake?

Links

• 1593 broken links, found by running an open source link check program…did anyone check anything??

Information/Content

• as the links indicate, finding content is quite a challenge, although to be fair, as multiple pages link to http://www.racingqueensland.com.au/annual-reports.aspx and the jquery file, and they are broken, then the links could quite easily be fixed
• in an industry where races, videos of these races are the core of the industry…where is the dynamic content
• the content of the site is written for print media, not the web…web content is meant to be able to be scanned, have links to important content, also haeheadings, interactive content and interesting features
• we are in the midst of a social networking revolution, and QR has not a single instance of current social networking or interactive content
• why are the youth not coming to the races, it is specifically because sites like this fail to interest or understand the youth market, and have no comprehension of the significance of Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr in the their daily lives

I initially did not set up to portray a negative perspective on an industry centre piece, but it disappointed at too many levels.

And finally, you know what really disappointed me, my final search for the Grey Flash…nothing, for Monashee Dancer…nothing(ok he only won 4 city races this year), but the great Apache Cat…nothing,  the legendary Takeover Target…nothing, Rough Habit…zip, Melbourne Cup winner Shocking…nope, the champ Campaign King…nothing…and as I attempted to give feedback http://www.racingqueensland.com.au/about-rql/contacts/complaints.aspx but it doesn’t exist!

On a fine day with drying wind and scorching heat, the fast time of Falvelina in the previous race, was identified by several of the owners as an opportunity for a fast click in the Open 1000m Handicap.  Finally fit after several hiccups in his campaign Monashee Dancer was backed from an $11 opening price to $7.50 second favourite at the jump.  In the ring his old attitude had returned, dragging his featherweight strapper around the ring, daring any others to come close enough for a double barrel, and swishing his tail in anticipation.  His full brother, Sir Monashee(Monashee Mountain/Tres Rapide) exemplified the fitness and attitude of the stable, bouncing on his toes around the ring.  Was big brother still king of the stable?

On jumping the Dancer easily led, with Azzaland taking a sit on his shoulder on settling.  On approaching the turn, the grey flash was low level flying, Azzaland a length off, and most of the field hard  ridden.  On straightening, Joe Bowdich allowed a little reign and the grey kicked 3 lengths clear at the 300m mark.  Under pressure, Azzaland dug deep at the urging of Stathi Katsidis, and at the 150m mark got to within a length.

Monashe Dancer 23 Jan 2010

Courageously Monashee Dancer kicked and went head to head with the Za-Im bred speedster before finally being overpowered in the last 40m.  The grey flash had returned, beating the best of the rest by 4 lengths, Azzaland breaking the 1000m track record in the process.

Blake was Back!  They say no one remembers 2nd, but for this group of owners, and the talented trainer Darren Bell and his wife Jane, this race will be remembered as one of the greatest performances of the grey flash Monashee Dancer – 56.18.

• I now  have significant search results in Google for Pete Wildermuth
• When Web 2.0 is added, all article on the page are ones that I have written over the semester
• When Enterprise 2.0 is added, all articles are mine, or ones that are linked to mine
• after 12 weeks I now have a significant search presence

I think it is only a matter of time before searching for brisbane Enterprise 2.0 that I will start appearing in search, as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Life’s Good (my blog name) are all interconnecting an creating critical mass.

More importantly, I have a network of comments in the blogosphere, I have bloggers including content from my articles and have a multitude of comments out on the net.  I have guest blogged on Digital Orgs and added a list of great blogs to the Digital Orgs Wiki.   I have evaluated lots of new platforms, and developed an Enterprise 2.0 strategy fo Drinx Hotel Group.  It will be interesting to see the evolution of my recommendations and whether their online businesses continue to remain competitive.  I have enjoyed providing feedback to undergrads, and assisting with simple tasks such as using the WordPress platform.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the subject, and now feel capable of taking my skills into the Workplace.  Finally, the image on this blog is of the great Cox Plate winner Better Loosen Up.  One of my all time favourite race horses, and a winner of the Cox Plate, my destination this weekend for a few celebratory drinks

Scintilating around the track in a class record time of 57.92 the grey flash smashed his second class record at Doomben in 3 weeks. It was also his 3^rd win from his previous 4 starts and his second in 3 weeks over 1010m.  The only recent blemish, a half head second, coming on the questionable inside running at Eagle Farm the week previously.

In his second serious campaign Monashee Dancer has quickly established himself as the fastest beginner of recent times.  His ability to lead from barrier 11 against established sprinters carrying top weight was truly outstanding.  In 13 of 14 previous starts he has led the field, and on 6 occassions proving impossible to run down.  Rated in front by Tony Patillo, Monashee Dancer kicked 3 lengths clear at the home turn and was courageously pursued by Kelly, who filled the minor placings for the third consecutive start.  It was a remarkable training performance by Darren Bell, who has established himself as one of the most talented sprinter trainers in Brisbane.

The Dancer is a full brother to Magic Millions sprint winner Sir Monashee, and will be spelled now to target this race in the new year.  If he shows the same improvement then as he has in this campaign then the Lightning down the Fleminton straight in Melbourne is definitely not out of the equation.  Exciting times for Darren and his loyal owners, Stephen Edwards, the Garbutt twins and Pete Wildermuth.  Hopefully print journalists will acknowledge his brilliance soon, but with the bookies following this lead, we wont mind if they don’t!

But about the Juice.  Jason mentioned it in his first lecture, and I love the term.  A few years ago I egotistically Googled myself “Pete Wildermuth” to find a customs officer and a student in the states.  Fail to the Pete Wildermuth brand.  Today after I had established my own url www.petewildermuth.com and blogged a bit I had another look.

Juice, Google Juice I have!  I am not the Numero Uno Peter Wildermuth as yet, but I am on the charts – WOO HOO!

“Life’s Good” my Blog of 2 weeks ago is 2^nd on the list, my Twitter account established approximately 6 months ago is 4^th on the list, my linkedin profile 5^th and Wiki account personal profile 6^th.  Then the other imposters commence Zooming, Plaxing and Facebooking where Pete Wildermuth, Brisbane, Australia has yet to influence and cross pollinate.

How am I taking this? Quite well actually, as I never even expected to be on the home page of Google Search anyway.

What’s my strategy to improve my Web 2.0 image/sphere of influence/ranking/online profile ?

• Establish my blog with some relevant, sticky, interesting content
• Continue to Tweet, primarily on subjects with work relevance (Web Developer) and once I am happy with my blog promote through this avenue
• Continue to use Facebook, primarily on social subjects and cross pollinate with Twitter and Life’s Good
• Establish a sphere of contacts and associates on linkedin and link to Twitter, Facebook and Life’s Good
• Investigate Plaxo, zoominfor, meetup and the other listed Peter Wildermuth’s to see what they are doing to get Juice
• Lock in openId and Facebook usernames for petewildermuth

So that will start the journey, 13 weeks down the track I will revisit, hopefully with an increased favourable online presence.  Category Wine, Web 2.0, Surf and Thoroughbred Racing, because that’s what I enjoy!

If my readers agree that Life’s Good, then we are half way there!

A 10-1 shot Monashee Dancer (Monashee Mountain/Tres Rapide) was taken on in the lead after jumping by favourite Pub Torque.   The powerful grey eventually gained the inside running and approached the home turn with a 2 length lead on the favourite, with Kelly and Acquired handily positioned.

Upon straightening jockey Tony Patillo let the Dancer some reign and the expanding 4 length lead proved impossible to run down.

The closing sectional of 33.14 was the fastest of the day and offered the backmarkers no chance.  Acquired ran on well for a commendable 1/2 length second while Kelly finished a further length away in third place.

Raced by twins Ian and Stu Garbutt, Pete Wildermuth and Stephan Edwards, Monashee Dancer’s fifth win was the first city salute for these loyal clients of trainer Darren Bell.

Inheriting his Dam’s grey colouring, the standout gelding is a full brother to Magic Millions winner Sir Monashee, and will be aimed at this sprint in January.  For the owners, they continue to celebrate their greatest triumph, and for one his first Blogpost!