IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reveals how the controversial directive on vaccination of horses racing in Cairns continues to cause embarrassment for Racing Queensland.
He also reveals how a Brazilian jockey, rated among the best in the north, could be deported because the Immigration Department reckon his English isn’t up to standard.
Here is the Butts’ column:
CONTROVERSIAL DIRECTIVE CONTINUES TO CAUSE EMBARRASSMENT FOR RQ
RACING Queensland has again distanced itself from a controversial directive sent by the Cairns Jockey Club CEO to trainers that prohibits horses from racing at Cannon Park if they have not been vaccinated against Hendra Virus by December 1.
The email caused great consternation all the way down the coast as far as Gympie, the domain of much travelled and highly successful Craiglee master Stan Johnstone. There was considerable concern too, for the Tableland trainers.
But it was a false alarm.
It was only for horses stabled on the Cannon Park track.
How the CEO could issue a directive for all horses in far north Queensland still remains a mystery.
Next day Racing Queensland issued an email stating that it was NOT a mandatory ban on all horses.
Then last Thursday the RQ CEO Darren Condon sent another email to all trainers:
“Racing Queensland wish to advise that Dr Martin Lenz acted without authority in implementing a mandatory vaccination procedure for all horses in the region (far north Queensland).
“It is only for horses stabled at Cannon Park.
The CEO then apologised for any inconvenience caused and said “RQ had addressed the issue to prevent future confusion”.
So there!
YET ANOTHER CONUNDRUM FOR THE RACING INDUSTRY IN QLD
MIND you many in the industry believe it will become mandatory down the track and that raises the question of: Who Pays?
If Racing Queensland enforces the rule owners are already on the record demanding they must be subsidised.
Remember the EI debacle?
As it stands the cost to vaccinate a horse is around $440 in the first 12 months and horses must get a booster every year ($110)
The vets are caught in a catch 22 as apparently they have no insurance cover if they were to treat a horse that hadn’t been vaccinated.
But as one trainer pointed out: “There is still no guarantee of the effectiveness of the vaccine after six months”.
Yet another conundrum for the racing industry – no doubt – and we will certainly be hearing more.
THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN’T UNDERSAND D’AVILA IS THE IMMIGATION DEPT
WE should be hearing more too on the Wanderson d’Avila case.
The Brazilian jockey, now based on the Tablelands as stable jockey for the powerful Roy Chillemi stable, is under threat of deportation (or having his visa cancelled) because….wait for it…Australian Immigration reckon his English isn’t good enough.
Just last week Wanderson was subjected to a 250 word written test and was told later he failed. He is in great fear of being deported.
What a joke!
North Queensland Chief Steward Sam Woolaston was gobsmacked at the news.
“I have no trouble at all understanding him – and nor do my colleagues – or any other jockeys when we conduct inquiries.
“And he understands everything we say.
“I can’t believe it,” said the stipe.
Wanderson has ridden the winner of every major race (except the Townsville Cup) in North Queensland since he arrived about four years ago. He has been at the forefront of jockeys standings every year and is much sought after.
Most of all he is renowned for his work ethic and he says he has spent around $10,000 on English lessons.
“English very hard especially at my age,” he so rightly exclaims.
One has to wonder why he is subjected to such threats by the Australian Government.
He has been told to go banging on the door of Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch- and anything Racing Queensland can do – should be done as a matter of urgency.
There is already a severe scarcity of jockeys in country Queensland.
Jockeys should be encouraged to come here from overseas – not given the treatment Wanderson d’Avila has been subjected to by Immigration.
This bloke is not a bludger – he is not on the dole – and he is certainly no threat to security of the country.
But…
TRACEY O’HARA CONSIDERS HER OPTIONS AS THE MYSTERY DEEPENS
ROCKHAMPTON jockey Tracey O’Hara is considering her options after being fined and outed for a month by stewards last week over an incident at Callaghan Park track work.
Tracey has had a roller coaster few weeks. She was the very best friend of Carly Mae Pye – is still grieving – and said she ‘snapped’ after a verbal stoush with rival jockey Dale Evans at the track.
The feud between the two had been simmering for several weeks (months) and the content of their exchange of emails would make old Billy Cokebottle blush.
Tracey said she ‘lost it’ after Evans attacked her (verbally) again at the track so she ‘attacked’ him – with her whip and according to ringsiders ‘gave him a decent lashing’.
It was she herself who notified stewards who at the subsequent hearing ‘could not be satisfied that Jockey D Evans was in breach of any Rule and took no action against him’.
But they gave her a month and a $1,000 fine.
Evidence was taken from both parties and Trackwork Rider L. Wehmeier, who was a witness to the incident.
Did stewards have access to the emails – especially those forwarded by Evans?
We can only wonder, as there has been no response to two phone calls to Chief Stipe Luke Collins, one by mobile and another to his office.
We also wonder if there was any evidence of harassment, aggressive pressure or intimidation – or was she simply the bully who without any semblance of provocation decided to belt him with her whip.
Jockey O’Hara pleaded guilty to a charge of improper conduct.
“She conducted herself improperly by striking Jockey D Evans with her whip and making physical contact with him by grabbing his riding vest”, the report states.
Stewards were mindful that Jockey O’Hara:
· Had reported this matter at the first available opportunity;
· Had offered honest evidence at the inquiry;
· It was her first offence for a breach of this Rule
· Her guilty plea, accepting her breach of the Rule. · .
Tracey’s licence was suspended from November 23 up to and including 23 December. She was also fined $1000 and suspended for 12 months.
Both parties were placed on notice to conduct themselves professionally and appropriately at all times.
One of Tracey’s options would be to seek an AVO against Evans, which would really put a spanner in the works. And according to legal advice she has sound and valid grounds, given the circumstances of the case, the alleged abuse and vile emails that have been directed to her.
Such an order, if successful, would prevent them from riding track work at the same venue or riding in races at the same venue.
Interesting!
TALK about sunshine and shadow.
When she is not riding and holding her own on racetracks from Dingo to Doomben, Tracey is competing successfully against some of the best dressed fillies in the fashion stakes.
She won this year’s title at the Rockhampton Cup day meeting and last month took off to Bendigo for Cup day and the fashions of the field. She came home with the sash for the best dressed lady and also best hat.
No, she didn’t contest the whip cracking comp. that day!
Because there wasn’t one!
STILL NO NEWS ON WHICH CLUBS WILL PICK UP TOWNSVILLE DATES
THERE is still no news on which clubs will pick up the Townsville race dates when the Cluden track shuts down in late December.
There have been indications from RQ that Cairns will get a third of the dates and Mackay will get the remainder.
However, we understand some of the more progressive non TAB clubs in the far north are keen to share some of the dates and they have the support for the FNQ trainers who don’t wish to travel (without rebate) all the way to Mackay.
One possible solution would be to allow the bigger non TAB clubs to pick up the SKY 2 meetings allocated to Townsville. None of the TAB clubs want the SKY 2 meetings because they don’t attract turnover – but as the prizemoney ($10,000 per race) is already allocated the participants based in the far north should be considered – and giving them the SKY 2 dates for their non-TAB meetings makes a lot of sense.
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..
