IN his widely-read column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on a challenge to the Closed Betting Ring at Oak Park by a leading North Queensland bookmaker that could have far reaching consequences for the industry statewide.

Butts also reports on the sad case of ‘Nippy’ Seymour the suspended trainer who continues to keep the Hughenden track in good order but has been treated so inconsistently and badly by the authorities after a terrible accident which resulted in the death of a jockey.

Here is the Butts column:

TOP NQ BOOKIE CHALLENGES CLOSED RING WITH OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING

NORTH Queensland’s best known bookie Brian Jorgenson has made a formal complaint to the Office of Fair Trading over the century old Oak Park Turf Club policy to operate with a closed betting ring.

Jorgenson, without doubt the biggest fielder in the north and far north, a reputation he has held for many years, is somewhat miffed that he is continually refused a license to work at arguably one of the biggest bush meetings in Queensland which is virtually at his doorstep.

He describes the current situation, where there are four bookies – one operating alone on southern events – and three working the locals as ‘Robbery Park.’

One of the four, Octogenarian Ron Murphy, drives from Winton to the meeting each year. He is widely considered the oldest bookie in the country, an old marvel in fact, but these days not known for his ‘derring do.’

LETTER OF COMPLAINT DESCRIBES THE PERCENTAGES BET AS ‘HIGHWAY ROBBERY’

IN his letter of complaint to the Office of Fair Trading, Jorgenson has enclosed the official results of last month’s two-day annual meeting complete with the starting price of each runner.

The percentage that bookies bet over the two days was an average of 177 per cent and he compared the figure with the normal TAB operation which works on 117 per cent.

“In casino terms this equates to having 27 zeros on a roulette wheel,” was Jorgenson’s graphic description of what he described in the letter as ‘highway robbery.’

Betting percentage is based on the amount wagered to give a return (stake included) to return $100.

For instance, even money is 50 per cent and 3/1 is 25 per cent ($25 at 3/1 returns a win of $75 plus the stake which equals $100).

The percentage of each horse is added to derive the percentage bookmakers bet on a race.

The official result of the last race at Oak Park was: (in finishing order) with SP and percentage:

$2.50 Eq Fav In a Jam (40%)

$4.40 Manhattan Lad (23%)

$2.50 Eq Fav Houfo (40%)

$3.00 Mr Gifford (33%)

$3.70 Gilt Prince (26%)

$3.50 Angel Within (28%)

A TOTAL OF 190 PER CENT!

 

JORGENSON CLAIMS RIVALS OFFERED CLUB LARGE DONATION TO KEEP HIM OUT

BRIAN Jorgenson wrote to the Oak Park Club last February seeking to work at this year’s meeting.

“It is in the interest of owners and punters to have more bookies to provide some competition. To get more realistic and fairer odds,” he wrote.

The request was declined by letter a fortnight later from Club secretary Debbie Woodhouse who stated: “We believe the four bookmakers here adequately cover the needs of the betting public.”

Jorgenson told the Office of Fair Trading that the closed ring has ‘brought about a lack of competition’ and alleged that the small number of bookies was able to collude to bring about a set of market prices that he described as ‘highway robbery.’

He said before the closed ring, up to 10 bookies had worked at Oak Park offering competitive prices.

“I believe the four current bookies offered the club a fairly large donation to keep the other bookies out,” Jorgenson said in his complaint.

He added: “With over $100,000 in prize-money the meeting attracts good fields and a huge patronage and is one of the great bush meetings.

“A closed ring should not be permitted in this day and age when other bookies are denied the opportunity to conduct their trade.”

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, results from this complaint. It could change the whole complexion of bookmaking in Queensland.

Many hope it will.

NOTE: Efforts to contact the Oak Park racing secretary over the weekend for a response were not successful.

 

‘NIPPY’ HAS BEEN TREATED HARSHLY BUT STILL WORKS ON THE HUGHENDEN TRACK

LAST Sunday he was a lone figure sitting in a tractor putting Hughenden racecourse under the harrows.

It was a tedious all-day job but an essential part of getting the old track ready for a race meeting in a fortnight.

Nippy Seymour has been doing it for years.

He might be in disgrace with the racing stewards in this State but remains a legend out west, particularly around Hughenden and recent events haven’t tarnished his name nor reputation.

They might have even boosted it to a higher level in fact.

“Well, if I didn’t do it – it wouldn’t get done. Simple as that,” said Nippy, the battling old trainer at the centre of one of the most talked about racing inquiries in recent times.

Seymour recently lost his appeal against a suspension imposed by Racing Queensland stewards for negligence that involved the bandaging of a horse.

The bandage, according to stewards, was not taped and moved while the horse was in an unofficial trial after the last race at Julia Creek last November.

Nippy’s horse fell and jockey Corey Gilby was fatally injured.

Seymour (and his strapper) say they were told by the rider of the other horse in the gallop that he thought the horse clipped heels and came down.

The jockey has since changed his story.

 

NO SYMPATHY FOR SEYMOUR FROM STEWARDS – BUT HE’S JUST A BATTLER

NIPPY Seymour, who has held a license since 1969, has the sympathy of the entire west but obviously not the stewards.

The incident has shattered the man and he is far from over it.

So he hardly needs the treatment he has received since the appeal was lost.

The day after his appeal he gave his racehorses to Wondai-based Norma King to train.

She completed a stable return, as required, and with half an hour of it being lodged, Nippy said stewards were on the phone to her demanding to know how the horses could be moved so quickly to Wondai from Hughenden.

“Because I have been camping at Hughenden for the past eight weeks,’’ was her alleged reply.

Many expected old Nip, after he was charged, to simply walk away from a game that for 40-odd years he has been so passionately involved in.

But instead he appealed, at great expense, and during the intervening period he and his close mate, Wayne Corney, erected the inside and outside running rails around the Hughenden track.

 

SEYMOUR CANNOT EVEN FEED HORSES ON HIS OWN PROPERTY – WHAT ABOUT THEIR WELFARE?

UNDER the terms of his suspension he can attend a race meeting but must not have anything to do with horses.

He can drive his truck to a race meeting with horses on board for other trainers, as he did recently to Stamford and Oak Park.

But he must not assist with the loading or unloading of them. These are the rules that can be enforced.

But this is what really hurts.

Nippy has had horses on his property for 40-odd years and now he says he has been told he can’t touch them – and that includes feeding them.

“What can I do?” he pleaded.

“The RSPCA will be on to me next.”

 

SEYMOUR CASE COULD GO TO A HIGHER COURT – THE PENALTY IS INCONSISTENT

LAWYERS for the trainer are considering taking the matter to a higher court.

Many in the industry pose the question: Why couldn’t stewards have treated him the same way as other trainers who have breached the no-tape rule.

They say a $50 fine was imposed on a Charters Towers trainer shortly after the Julia Creek episode for the same thing. But the problem was detected in the mounting yard before the race.

Horses work on training tracks every day all over Australia, city and country, without tape-secured bandages.

Ironically, there was a time when the use of electric tape was barred. Now its use is enforced.

And why didn’t the steward in charge at Julia Creek that day pick it up?

Did he inspect the horses before the trial? Not that he really had to, but veteran stewards never missed a thing like that on a race day. It was their job.

 

SPECIAL HOME-COMING TO TOWNSVILLE FOR TAKEOVER TARGET OWNER-TRAINER

TOWNSVILLE Cup day at Cluden next weekend and it will be a special homecoming for Joe Janiak of Takeover Target fame.

Joe, one of the best known characters of Australian racing who went from taxi driver at Queenbyean to shaking hands with the Queen in top hat and tails at  Royal Ascot.  He is hoping to renew old acquaintances with a few old punters and former colleagues.

Joe worked at Yabulu (about 40 years ago) and was a regular at Cluden and at the Showgrounds trots

“We never missed a meeting” said Joe, who confessed he didn’t mind a bet way back then.  His memory of Cluden is an old tin shed for a bar.

Now a resident of Coff’s Harbour where he trains a few horses, Joe will be in Townsville for the re vamped calcutta on Thursday July 26 at Cluden and will be special guest of the club on Cup day.

He is looking forward to it immensely to returning to his old tramping ground town and “hopefully catch a fish or six”

After an outstanding success last year, the club is making a concerted effort to make this year’s Calcutta one of the biggest ever.  For years the Townsville Cup Calcutta went off the boil but there is renewed interest, and tickets are already on sale.  The calcutta will be held in the upstairs members lounge and the bar opens at 5pm. 

 

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..