IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, reports on how head honchos from RQ, one in particular, was ambushed when they attended the AGM of the Townsville Turf Club.
Butts also reveals a story doing the rounds that UBET lost on ‘Fixed Odds’ betting on the Melbourne Cup despite the winner starting at $101. We would welcome a response from UBET on this one.
Here is the Butts’ column:
RQ HEAD HONCHO AGAIN OUT OF HIS DEPTH WHEN ASKED TOUGH QUESTIONS
THREE heavies from Racing Queensland invited themselves to the Townsville Turf Club AGM last week and it was a meeting that the chief, Declan Martschinke, is not likely to forget in a hurry.
The RQ Operations Manager was quite unprepared for a few questions that were thrown at him from the floor by concerned locals, most of them owners.
He was unable to tell one local breeder the future of QTIS for instance, and stammered that hopefully there would be more news ‘next week’.
He reportedly told one TTC member outside the meeting that the future of country racing as we know know it was in grave doubt – and, according to the committeeman, “he didn’t just mean the smaller provincial clubs either’, which has caused a bit of consternation around the ridges.
Martschinke was under fire from two-year-old owners who complained about the lack of races, particularly for maiden two-year-olds in the north and that it would seriously affect buying interest at the upcoming sales.
To his credit, next day a list of races and dates was transmitted to the TTC and while Townsville itself seems to be lacking, there are ample races programmed for Mackay and Cairns until June next year.
The trio of RQ head honchos also inspected the ‘unfinished’ work associated with the new track – and site of the proposed new stabling block which still remains a top priority for the club, and currently subject to finance arrangement that has been proposed by the TTC and is waiting approval.
OLIVER COULD TAKE A LEAF OUT OF WHYTE’S BOOK ON WHIP USE
DAMIEN Oliver and a few other disgruntled Aussie jockeys had a bit to say about the new whip rules last week – in fact they comprehensibly condemned them.
There is no doubt the changes will (and already have) caused some confusion not only among jockeys – but also stewards who have to enforce the new rules.
They will become counters – as will jockeys.
But maybe Oliver and his outspoken colleagues should listen to the words of South African Douglas Whyte. the world champion Hong Kong-based jockey who has ridden more winners than OIiver could dream of.
“I don't use the whip very often,” Whyte said.
“In all my14 years in Hong Kong I’ve had fights, endless talks and been abused for not using the whip enough or vigorously enough.
“I never gave up though, because I don't believe horses need to be whipped.
“Horses are athletes and enjoy running and if you can get them to run without imposing the whip, then you are that much better professional athlete – and a better horseman.”
So who do you believe?
The 14-times champion of Hong Kong – or the one best remembered for having $10,000 on the favourite (and eventual winner) of a race in which he rode the second favorite. And yet still has a license. And has the temerity to condemn the rules.
Amazing!
LAWYERS WILL BE THE BIG WINNERS IN THE LLOYD WILLIAMS’ CASE
THIS Supreme Court case in Melbourne involving leviathan owner Lloyd Williams, his $1.15 million horse Amrulah and a Ballarat veterinarian is interesting.
Williams and his co-owners filed a negligence suit against the vet Dr Anderson of BVT. claiming he caused them ‘catastrophic loss and harm’.
The outcome could have could have considerable influence on the future cortisone treatment of horses in this country.
Amralah was one of the favorites to win this year’s Melbourne Cup when he was withdrawn on October 31 – three days before the big race. He had a positive test to Dexafort – cortisone commonly used on horses.
According to an AAP report the owners filed a writ in the Victorian Supreme Court last week seeking damages claiming they missed out on ‘potential winnings in the millions due to having to withdraw the thoroughbred from the Melbourne Cup and the Emirates Stakes’.
On September 4, Dr Anderson injected Amralah with the long-acting cortisone and advised it would take 14 days to leave the horse’s system.
Amralah won the Listed Penang Trophy at Morphettville on September 19.
The horse subsequently won the Herbert Power Stakes to gain a start in the Melbourne Cup.
As part of the treatment process, the horse was given a second injection of Dexafort after his Herbert Power win.
However, on October 23, Racing SA stewards notified connections of the positive swab. Nine further drug tests conducted on Amralah all returned a positive to the same drug.
A similar situation occurred back in 1992 when Better Loosen Up was unable to defend his Australian Cup title.
Better Loosen Up was treated with cortisone to help overcome a back injury three weeks before the Australian Cup, but a test on the eve of the race revealed the substance wasn’t out of his system and he was scratched.
Vets were not blamed.
Dexafort, according to a prominent NQ horse vet, when asked to comment on the case, said ‘12 days is usually considered safe but some vets recommend longer depending on the animal.’
The owners allege the horse's value as a stallion will be reduced by his positive drug tests and say thousands in costs have been wasted.
Obviously it had some issues as Dexaforte is a drug not used haphazardly or without planning or method.
Yes, interesting – and no doubt another big win looming for the lawyers.
UBET GOES FROM BAD TO WORSE – DID THEY REALLY LOSE ON THE CUP?
THERE are still no wins for UBet which is rumored to remain in the sights for a takeover by TABCORP, which, if successful, would effectively provide a national tote.
A national pool would result in the merger of NSW, Victoria and Queensland totes which incorporate Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania.
Just the tool needed to combat the corporates, according to the experts. Yes, perhaps a case of the wish being the father of the thought.
But the dwindling UBet turnover must, or certainly should, be a concern to whoever is in charge of racing in this State (yes, good question ...who?).
While tote figures are available, there is no idea of the fixed price turnover or how in fact it performs financially.
There is that horrible rumor that UBet (fixed price) ‘lost’ on the Melbourne Cup. Surely that can’t be right ....and if it is?
CORORATE BOOKIES SAID TO BE POACHING PUNTERS FROM TAB AGENCIES
WE hear too that a complaint has been lodged against the outrageous new ploy of the big corporate bookmakers (two of the biggest in fact) using agents to brazenly recruit new clients from UBet agencies around the State.
Apparently these ‘grubs’ approach punters INSIDE the TAB and offer them free bets and credit betting.
And you thought the cane toads were confined to the cane fields.
Surely UBet or the Government can’t tolerate this practice.
And the mail is that turnover in some of the biggest and long established TABs in Brisbane and the Gold Coast have dropped markedly. Bad sign, while the bookies are said to be recording massive turnovers.
PIE IN THE SKY WHEN IT COMES TO SECOND RATE TREATMENT OF QLD RACING
YOU might also wonder why Queensland gets the raw end from SKY on race days.
The coverage of NSW racing gets all the air time by comparison.
Paddock previews of Doomben last Saturday were noticeably affected. Even Newcastle had preference.
You might ask if that policy might change if UBet is sold.
SKY is owned by both the Victorian and NSW totes. Perhaps that’s why Brisbane races are currently scheduled within five minutes of Sydney.
But SKY wouldn’t think like that.
Would they?
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..