Granny was a punter and on most Saturday mornings would strap her significant self into a bra resembling a parachute harness, slip on her favourite frock and sensible black walking shoes and with me in one hand and a handbag the size of a suitcase in the other, head out to the racetrack.

It was my introduction to horse racing and it seemed that even seen from my perspective, waist high to Granny and lacking any appreciation of money, that she gave the bookies more than they gave her.

Still, it was one of her few indulgences as a pensioner and the couple of dollars she wagered returned her enjoyment and entertainment beyond measure, win or lose.

The Supertrack, then, would have had her reaching for her corset and form guide and heading out the door.

It was a trait, however, that she failed to pass on to me. The racing gene went as far as my father, who loves a bet, but got no further and while I've been known to toss $20 notes around with shameful excess after belting down one too many tumblers of sauvignon blanc in an Eagle Farm or Doomben corporate marquee, I'm not what you could call a man of the turf.

Accordingly, my reaction to news of the Supertrack proposal was more sanguine than the heel-clicking and cries of "Each way the favourite!" with which it would have been greeted by Granny.

Still, our political masters know best and if they say that we need to sell up to five existing racecourses to raise the $350 million to build the Supertrack, then this is what must be done.

We've got Superfooty at Suncorp so it follows that what we need is Supertrack. Football and horse racing - two of the things that make this state great.

Those few wankers who don't actually enjoy gambling and who may just wonder what's in it for them obviously can't be true Queenslanders. Probably interstate drop-ins who don't appreciate the great joy there is to be had from doing your trousers at the races.

What could possibly compare with the pure adrenalin to be had when, after failing to back a winner all day, you put your last $50 on a 10-1 shot in the last race and watch it plod home 20 lengths behind the first placegetter?

There may even be the odd wowser out there who would wonder why, when the Government tut-tuts at the social damage inflicted by the pokies, it promotes the punt as being good for Queensland.

Such people are to be pitied as the simpleminded fools that they are, for they are confusing gambling with horseracing, two entirely different things.

At the races, you wear a suit or a nice frock - something more stylish than Granny ever worse, it must be said - and a hideous hat, and consume drinks provided by somebody else. Well, not everyone does, but a significant proportion of your better class of Queenslanders does.

Politicians also have been known to grace the corporate boxes and members' enclaves at the races and, I must confess, as one who has enjoyed all that the sport's hospitality has to offer, that there are certainly worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon.

So now you understand why standing in your board shorts, singlet and thongs in an ill-lit, beer-sodden gaming lounge is gambling, while cheering home the winner of the Brisbane Cup in between sips of Bolly is not.

The State Government isn't encouraging and glorifying gambling. Heaven's no! It's encouraging the racing industry, which is another matter altogether.

Concurrent with the construction of the Supertrack will be the building of a Superhospital.

This also will cost around $350 million and be a place of respite where there will be no waiting lists for surgery and where everyone presenting to the emergency department will be treated within 30 minutes by a doctor who hasn't been working for 80 hours straight.

The government also, I've no doubt, will be writing out another cheque for $350 million for the construction of Superschools, these being places of learning for our young people, those of tender years and not yet old enough to place a bet, places which will be air-conditioned and have up-to-date computer equipment.