IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports that there is still no definite starting date for the track reconstruction in Townsville where the Turf Club does not seem to get the same treatment from the Government or RQ that Eagle Farm and Toowoomba received.
Butts also reports on buck-passing that has occurred over who was to blame for the track limit on the 1000m starts at the Ooralea meeting in Mackay last week which has angered stakeholders.
Here is the Butts’ column:
WHO DO TOWNSVILLE THINK THEY ARE – TOOWOOMBA – WHEN SEEKING A FAIR GO?
THERE is still no definite starting date for the desperately needed track reconstruction at Townsville’s Cluden Park.
Racing Queensland CEO, Darren Condon, says that the business plan had been lodged on August 8 but Government had still not issued its formal approval for the $7 million job.
There are a few with the jitters about the final outcome and the situation is exacerbated by the deafening silence from Deagon headquarters and George Street.
While the upgrade to a StrathAyr track is considered a fait accompli there are anxious stakeholders trying to make plans for alternate stabling etc during the track closure. A lot of people and families are affected.
But according to Condon it is simply ‘the way things happen with Government approvals.’
“Townsville thinks it should happen differently for them,” he said.
Ouch!
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE EAGLE FARM OR TOOWOOMBA TO GET GOVT APPROVAL?
TOWNSVILLE might retaliate with a question: How long did it take Eagle Farm and Toowoomba to get government approval after their business plans were presented?
Eagle Farm’s restoration wasn’t even mentioned when Townsville first made their bid.
And Toowoomba?
Well we all know what happened there. There was no QUEUE for Clifford Park. Just an obliging and all embracing RQ!
What is looking certain however is that the bulldozers won’t arrive at Cluden until late October.
That allows the TTC to host its Palleranda Stakes for two year olds on October 16 and the popular Coothalinga day on October 25 – Cox Plate Day.
It would seem therefore that Home Hill might have a Melbourne Cup day meeting on its own on the first Tuesday in November. Just like the former glory days.
Many will remember the 3200m restricted race (over the Melbourne Cup distance) that used to be run at the Home Hill meeting .They reckon at the winning post jockeys were just as tired as the horses – and giddy!.
But it was a good spectacle, and if not too late, might be worth a re-think.
TRAINERS HAVE SHUNNED SKY 2 PRIZEMONEY FOR TOWNSVILLE MEETINGS
THE meeting at Townsville on Wednesday went ahead by the skin of its teeth. It ended up a six race card and three with only six final acceptors.
But is it a sign of the times?
Trainers have shunned the Sky 2 meeting this time (5O acceptors from a nomination of 63) and there are fears they will do the same for the remaining 15 Sky 2 fixtures that carry no extra prizemoney.
Why race for $10,000 when you can wait a week and race for $13,000?
That is the general feeling among trainers.
Of course this meeting at Townsville clashes with the Cairns Amateurs and trainers have displayed a preference, no doubt t based on prizemoney.
But there is a genuine belief it could be a pointer to future Townsville Sky 2 meetings which get far less exposure and are only viewed by subscription and fall into the mix with dogs and trots.
Meanwhile, the North Queensland-based politicians are still ‘negotiating’ with the Racing Minister and hopefully his peers over what is regarded as an inequitable distribution of prizemoney in the north compared to southern clubs – most notably Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast.
A meeting was scheduled again this week and hopefully there will be a resolve to rectify the glaring preferential treatment to southern clubs.
I am assured the northern backlash has only just begun.
CLASSIC CASE OF BUCK-PASSING OVER REDUCED FIELD SIZE AT MACKAY
IT is a classic case of buck-passing.
Last Thursday at Mackay’s famous Ooralea racetrack – considered by many to have the best racing surface of any racecourse in the State – the field for the 1000m races were reduced to eight runners with emergencies.
It has variously been described as downright stupid, a disgrace and sacrilege by most members of the local racing community – but no one was taking the blame for declaring only eight horses could be accommodated from that start.
And it is all because of track maintenance. Someone decreed that it was time for track maintenance so the false rail had to be moved out 3m.
But what about the bad timing, the effect on all important tote turnover and the lack of opportunity for owners, jockeys and trainers to make an earn?
But according to leading local hoop David Simmons the false rail could be out 3m but in his opinion ‘it is still safe to run a field of at least 10 horses or even 12, comfortably and safely’.
MYSTERY OVER WHO RULED THERE MUST ONLY BE EIGHT STARTERS
SO who ruled there MUST be only eight starters?
“Not us,” said the stewards.
“We had no input – ask the club,” was their response.
So we did.
And the new CEO, Ben Michelmore, defended the MTC claiming it was Racing Queensland (who of course employs the stewards).
Trainers were up in arms, to put it mildly.
“They (RQ) are just forcing the club to close down.
“Fancy stopping horses from racing when many other clubs are begging for runners,” was the cry of one local licensee.
And, so it seems everyone on track agreed – certainly no one disagreed – and emotions were high.
BUT Queensland Racing CEO Darren Condon said all that is needed is a request for a review of the safety regulations.
“If it is felt more horses can be accommodated safely then it is up to our stewards to instigate a change.”
“That simple,” he said.
CONTROVERSY CONTINUES TO RIDE SHOTGUN WITH RACING IN MACKAY
MACKAY seems to be forever bogged down in controversy. The club, once the most financial in country Queensland, is struggling to recover from the last administration.
According to one reliable source, the Mackay Turf Club has gone from $990,000 in the black to a debt or almost half a million.
It is now virtually run by Racing Queensland.
“We don’t have much say at all these days”, said MTC chairman Lou Kinsey
You might wonder how a club could suddenly lose so much money without explanation.
Well it seems the CMC is on the job to find out exactly why.
At the moment Mackay has the best racetrack, a large modern function facility but that’s about all. The rest of Ooralea looks more like bombed out Beirut.
And where, oh where, are those majestic big Moreton Bay fig trees that once ordained the track and provided much needed shade and decor?
It’s just another example of poor decision making by the former regime.
Talk about sacrilege. The demolition of those trees is outrageous.
WEHLOW PULLED RIGHT REIN TREKKING TO MACKAY FROM TABELANDS
IT was somewhat of a surprise to see the Tablelands-based Greg Wehlow make the long trek down from Atherton with four runners at Mackay – a 1400km round trip – especially when he has the Cairns Amateurs on his doorstep this weekend.
But his decision was proven spot on when he bagged three winners including Sergeant Shriver who crashed to the turf injuring jockey Mark Pegus in a race on Cairns Cup weekend.
“I came here because I don’t like racing on the Cairns track. Just look at the stewards’ report from last meeting.
“There was trouble in the same spot in every race – it’s a mess,” said the outspoken trainer.
“This is the best track in Queensland. That’s why I came and I’m glad I did,” said the man who is rated one of the best in country Queensland (and beyond).
THE track in Cairns must have also been a concern for RQ stewards as state track manager Warren Williams has been busy at Cannon Park in recent days preparing it for the upcoming Amateurs.
“Warren has been working on a problem up there and reports it is all fixed and the track is ready for this weekend,” said CEO Condon.
HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB STANCE ON RICH TAPESTRY IN US QUITE AMAZING
HONG KONG-trained sprinter Rich Tapestry will contest the US Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 1, but amazingly the Hong Kong Jockey Club has banned the horse from receiving Lasix.
Furosemide, more commonly known as Lasix, is used to assist horses that bleed and is quite legal in North America – and don’t worry – has been used extensively in Australia, and probably still is.
Rich Tapestry apparently has a history of bleeding in Hong Kong and Bill Nader, head of racing for the HKJC, told the South China Morning Post its stance on drugs is not negotiable.
“Hong Kong's horses race free of medication – and is not negotiable, so (trainer) Michael Chang and Rich Tapestry's owner have agreed that he will not have Lasix for either of his races at Santa Anita,” Nader said.
“It is unfortunate for the sport that European-based horses go year after year to the States, and especially the Breeders' Cup, and the majority of them do use Lasix on the basis they will be under a disadvantage if they don't.”
But Santa Anita is not Sha Tin and Nader has absolutely no jurisdiction. It has nothing to do with him.
Besides does he really think that the connections of the Hong Kong horse won’t be at least tempted?
Has Nader ever heard of a level playing field? Or do in Rome as Romans do?
“It would certainly be better for the sport as a whole if those who don't allow Lasix in their home countries took a position, wherever they raced, and refused to use it. Unfortunately they don't, but in Hong Kong's case there is no room for compromise.”
Is this bloke for real?
Gee, it doesn’t seem that long ago when a person I knew used to wait on Shan Kwong Road as the horses walked down to the Happy Valley race track. He had a carrot, laced with caffeine. For a selected horse on selected days.
And that was in Hong Kong.
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
