IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, reveals how news of a scratching fee rise has finally filtered through to country trainers and he once again raises the issue of parity with their city cousins.

Butts also reports on the Queensland Trainers’ Association asking the new RQ Integrity Commissioner to investigate serious concerns that Racing Queensland is operating outside the Rules of Racing where apprentices are concerned.

Here is the Butt’s column:

 

‘MUTTABURRA’ JUST CATCHING UP ON THE BAD NEWS FOR TRAINERS

OLD ‘Muttaburra’ Dickson, one of the legends of racing in North Queensland, charged up to your scribe at the Cluden jump-outs last week and declared:

“They (RQ) have put the scratching fee up. It’s gone from 44 bucks to 71. How come? Get up ‘em. It’s bloody robbery.”

And he had a chorus of support from a group of trainers who heard the verbal exchange or demand!

So I had to inform ‘Mutta’, a trainer known for many years all over the dry and dusty west for his wit and bountiful charm, that it actually happened three months ago – albeit without a whimper from his colleagues – the trainers.

Seems, like Mutta, hadn’t heard until they got an invoice – or they just copped it on the chin – in spite of Racing Queensland’s totally misleading reasons for the sizeable increase that are published in the current RQ Calendar.

However, it is an increase that might just backfire. After the nomination fee was raised to $44 in 2013 there has been comparatively very few scratchings.

You can bet now trainers will only nominate when they are near certain to start – so that could impact on nomination fee revenue. Certainly won’t be a gain.

 

PARITY CLAIM IS JUST ANOTHER CASE OF RQ GETING THE FACTS WRONG  

RACING Queensland also states (quite wrongly) that the increase will be “commensurate with, and in most cases less than those charged in other jurisdictions.”

Well, for the record, there is no charge whatsoever in Victoria provincial and in country NSW the fee is $20.

Still on parity – horses scratched with a vet certificate do not incur a penalty in other states yet in Queensland owners are required to pay the $170 jockey’s fee if their horse, for instance, is injured on its way to the races, or kicked at the barrier by another runner, and scratched by the vet. That, you have to agree, is totally preposterous.

And there’s more. Horses that finish in the first four at Queensland TAB fixtures (usual winning prizemoney of $8,000) now have a starter’s fee of $190 deducted from their cheque. In metropolitan Brisbane, the engine room of racing here, the winning prize is $40,000 and a mere $247 is deducted.

Howzat for parity?

 

BRISBANE ‘ENGINE ROOM’ AS COUNTRY TRAINERS THROWN UNDER BUS

YES, who is the trainer who had the temerity to state at a meeting of the Queensland branch of the ATA that “Brisbane was the engine room of racing in the State”?

As a former London bus driver (that probably should read European tour guide) he might think he is qualified to utter such comment.

But just who does he think he is?

The engine room, mind you, is in pretty poor shape. It has lost considerable horsepower and clout and makes more noise these days than progress. And it is running on empty.

 

ISSUE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION STARTER’S SUBSIDY REARS ITS HEAD

WE also hear that some city trainers are renegotiating the old issue of the Workers’ Compensation Starter’s Subsidy.

In the Kevin Dixon era RQ was all set to slap a $25 subsidy on city runners with owners to foot the bill. Not everyone agreed and it actually led to the breakaway Trainers’ Association (QTA) being formed.

Well it has reared its head again – unofficially that is. Brisbane trainers (with ‘old double-decker’ perched right up the front no doubt) want owners all over the State to be levied a subsidy to start their horses on all tracks. The proceeds – believe it or not – to pay for Trainers’ Workers’ Comp.

Country trainers, many if not most of whom are float driver, farrier, vet,  stablehand and track work rider rolled into one, are naturally opposed.

Just when we thought the issue was put to bed....the Government changed...

Watch this space.INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER ASKED TO INVESTIGATE RQ ON APPRENTICES

THE contentious issue of Queensland apprentice jockeys is one matter that hasn’t been put to bed and is in fact causing nightmares down at the Deagon bunker.

Latest development is a direct request to the Integrity Commissioner from QTA President Ross Shannon to investigate RQ which is accuses of operating outside the Rules of Racing.

The letter states that “RQ has been operating with a five tier category of apprentice riding permits over a period of at least two years – full metropolitan, restricted metropolitan, full provincial, restricted provincial, country.

“RQ has made references to Australian Racing Rule 92 to support their case for this type of categorization’.

However Mr Shannon believes RQ has erred in the interpretation and application of AR92 and is actually operating in breach of the gazetted rules.

“AR92 seems to be quite clear in the way it defines three categories of license for apprentice claim allowances. The only categories referred to are metropolitan, provincial and country.

RQ actions have discriminated against some apprentices and restricted their opportunities to ply their trade in accordance with the gazetted Rules of Racing.

“At worst a case could be made that some apprentices may have been disadvantaged based on the postcode where they have been indentured,” Mr Shannon said.

Currently 90 per cent of apprentices are based in the south-east corner. Is that by design? Or is that the way the regime at RQ prefer it. Close and comfy to the engine room!

The Rockhampton Jockey Club for instance offered to take on the responsibility of indenturing an apprentice to be shared among trainers at Callaghan Park.

Apparently the gesture is in the ‘too hard’ basket down at Deagon.

There seems to be a lot of angst among the ranks at present and for too long the apprentice training has been in chaos. But just maybe things are going to change.

Maybe it’s time someone had a serious study of the acclaimed Apprentice Academy at Durban the nursery of Lloyd, Fradd, Schofield, White, Coetzee and so many.

Or is it just too late?

 

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..