IN his widely-read column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports exclusively on the snub from Racing Queensland officialdom for the biggest meeting in the state this weekend – the Townsville Cup.
He questions why a big team can shadow the Racing Minister to St George but no-one can find the time to make it to Townsville – not that some officials there could care less. They have found the money – unlike other clubs – and with no help from RQ the Townsville track will be in first class order for Saturday’s big meeting.
Butts raises industry questions about why RQ would waste money flying a junior steward from Brisbane to run last Saturday’s Cluden meeting when they have a highly experienced chief in Townsville. He also reports on the mysterious circumstances surrounding the ‘sacking’ of an experienced Integrity investigator at RQ and questions whether he was ‘knifed in the back’ by someone he trusted.
Here is the Butts column:
TOWNSVILLE CUP DAY SNUB BY RACING QUEENSLAND HEAVIES HAS OFFICIALS MYSTIFIED
THE racing industry in the north is wondering who will be in Townsville representing the Racing Queensland Board on Saturday for Cup Day.
This is the biggest race – stakes wise in Queensland this weekend – but despite a big entourage from RQL to St George to hang off the Racing Minister’s coat-tails last Saturday, it seems Townsville will cop the ‘right royal snub’ from the new powers-that-be.
The Townsville Turf Club tell us that this stage it seems there will be no one here to fly the flag the RQ flag and quite frankly some officials couldn’t care less and would prefer if they didn’t come.
So, really what has changed?
EXTRAVAGANCE OF SENDING A JUNIOR STEWARD TO TOWNSVILLE NEEDS EXPLAINING
LAST Saturday for some unfathomable reason RQ sent a current Brisbane-based junior stipe to Townsville to act as Chairman. This was a steward, mind you, with far less experience than the local chief Mark Hill.
You just have to wonder why a Board crying poor and reportedly sacking staff to accommodate a retirement-age new recruit, could possibly afford the extravagance.
And that’s exactly what it is.
INSIDERS SUGGEST HIGHLY RESPECTED RQ INVESTIGATOR WAS ‘KNIFED IN BACK’
AND talking about senior staff, we hear that Paul McIlveen, the highly respected and experienced investigator attached to Integrity, has appealed against his sudden and unexpected dismissal. But you won’t read but it on the RQL website.
All we know is that not long after he was told his job was safe – by someone he thought he could trust – out came the knife.
We don’t know why!
But I am sure we will. And then, so will you.
And that’s in spite of the ‘hush’ campaign that RQL is trying to impose or enforce, on the remaining rank and file at Deagon headquarters.
You have to ask: Why the secrecy?
WHO WAS THE TOP TRAINER WHO WANTED TOWNSVILLE CUP CARNIVAL MOVED?
WHO was the high profile trainer who requested a change of venue for the Townsville Cup carnival?
He apparently felt it was not up to scratch and wanted it relocated – but to where?
That’s the question the Townsville Turf Club would love answered.
The only information club CEO Michael Charge has is that this ‘very high profile’ trainer made a complaint/request/demand to Racing Queensland to have the venue changed.
“We don’t know if he wanted Cairns or the meeting switched to Mackay.
“If that question was answered it would narrow down the suspects immensely,” said the CEO who by the way it not impressed by the complaint.
The club has its suspicions.
RQ DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE ONE CENT TOWARD TRACK MAINTENANCE AT CLUDEN
IMAGINE the glee when Warren Williams, the RQ track supervisor rang and congratulated TTC CEIO Michael Charge on the way the Cluden track played last Tuesday after a horror run with weather and several complaints from local licensees.
More than one jockey rated it the worst they had ever seen Cluden course proper just a week before the 10-race program last Tuesday.
But due to a welcome change of weather and some devoted hard-working Turf Club employees the course proper at Cluden is as good as you will get for cup day on Saturday.
Particularly for a track that is raced on every week, sometimes twice, and used for barrier trials or jump outs almost every week.
And remember, with not a single cent for maintenance neither offered nor provided by Racing Queensland, which continues to spend up largely in the south-east corner.
You know- that closeted area just south of Noosa
And we can only hope that the rumor circulating about the re-grassing of Toowoomba is just that – a rumor.
Surely a turf track for Clifford Park would be way, way down the list considering the RQ financial situation that is being painted by the new Board.
But is it?
ATHERTON HAS DROPPED CLOSED RING AFTER COMPLAINT ABOUT OAK PARK
LAST WEEK we wrote about bookie prominent North Queensland bookmaker, Brian Jorgenson, and his complaint to the Office of Fair Trading about the closed betting ring at Oak Park.
Cairns bookie Jeff Down responded hastily claiming there is a closed ring at Atherton that prevents him from working there - and says that Jorgensen is one of the four who keep him out.
Well, whether it has anything to do with the publicity last week, we can happily advise that there is no longer a closed ring on the popular Tablelands track and it seems Mr Down can rightly swing the bag henceforth at Atherton race meetings.
As he should!
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
