THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE has a new look but won’t be dispensing with some of our old favorites and will continue to focus on THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY side of what has happened in racing over the past week. The Whinge will continue to provide an opportunity for The Cynics to Have Their Say. Thanks again for your support for the most read column on this website. Our popularity continues to grow despite the bagging it is copping from some officials who cannot cope with constructive criticism and insist that no-one reads it. We encourage readers to continue to contribute but plan to restrict the Whinge to only eight or at the most 10 items as well as stories you may have missed in the mainstream media. That is what you seem to want. Feedback suggests that unless there is a major issue that the column at times is too long.
ANGER, FRUSTRATION AND CLAIMS OF INJUSTICE FLOW FROM THIS CONTROVERSAIL INQUIRY 
WE lead the Wednesday Whinge this week with a lengthy email from owner Daryl Northfield, whose frustration at the handling of a Prednisone positive swab involving his horse, Perfectlyfearless, trained by Tony Bita, quickly becomes obvious.
The outcome of this inquiry – which has seen him and Bita walk away from the industry in Queensland – is indeed controversial and raised many questions as to why no action was taken against other trainers with positives to Prednisone.
This is an extremely thought-provoking email. Racing Queensland and its stewards are welcome to right of reply. The way things work at RQ we don’t expect to receive one which will only raise further doubt in the eyes of many about how this whole affair was handled and whether Bita or Northfield got a fair go.
Here is a story of anger, frustration and some might say injustice as told through the eyes of Daryl Northfield:
‘IT is my opinion that in the recent ‘Prednisone affair’ Racing Queensland stewards have lacked clarity, openness and transparency and adopted a ‘closed door’ policy on all information.
I believe that they breached the definition of Australian Racing Rule zero tolerance to the Prednisone and changed the level of Prednisone reading three times against trainer Tony Bita over a 15-month period.
I have been treated as ‘the enemy’ rather than in a friendly collaborative approach as I would expect after revealing a raft of issues and faults with their one-sided inquiry. I deal with many organizations professionally but I have never experienced an organization that seemed so hell-bent on protecting its own culture rather than trying to have a culture of self-improvement.
I had the false impression that RQ stewards were the guardians of racing integrity – not the protectionists of draconian behavior or faulty and out-dated drug tests and practices.
SIX TRAINERS HAD POSITIVES TO PREDNISONE BUT ONLY TWO WERE CHARGED
THE following is a tale of RQ stewards notifying six trainers that their horses had returned positives to Prednisone but only charging two for presenting a horse returning a positive to a non-endogenous material. (For people who speak English this means not naturally occurring).
I am (was) the part-owner of one of these horses, Purrfectlyfearless, trained by Tony Bita.
On further investigation:
I found Prednisone to be naturally occurring. Overseas racing authorities in Europe changed their rules in 2011 and I believe South Africa has changed its rules. I contacted Hong Kong and New Zealand racing authorities and they refused to comment stating it was a domestic matter implying they did not want to make their Australian cousins look silly. RQ stewards, despite their frequent jaunts to international racing seminars, had no knowledge of this, nor did they appear to contain the networking capabilities to check with their international colleagues (despite supposedly investigating this matter for nine months).
RQ changed the concentration determination three times during this investigation into Purrfectlyfearless. I have affidavits stating same – each contradicting the previous – but RQ refuses to explain any of their previous contradictions or why they can change concentration readings on previously performed tests.
After requests refusing to answer even the basic questions for fear of compromising the integrity of racing, they then admitted that RQ Laboratories had been failing in their ‘A’ sample tests against control ‘B’ samples sent interstate.
Stewards repeatedly stated that they believed Tony Bita did not administer any drugs to Purrfectlyfearless, accepted he had no knowledge of how the drug got administered into the horse’s system, and stated that they were happy with his:
Stable security;
Horses’ diet;
Treatments did not contain any illegal drugs. Tony presented a roll on that he had used some time before on Purrfectlyfearless in case it had some residual effect;
Horse husbandry practices in general;
Care to horses – including Tony even travelling in horse transport to the races.
Stewards advised me there was nothing further to current practices that Tony could have done to stop this reoccurring.
DESPITE IT BEING A ZERO TOLERANCE DRUG FOUR INVESTIGATIONS DROPPED
ON December 24 2013 RQ dropped investigations against four trainers even though they returned positives. Remember this is a zero tolerance drug.
When I questioned Wade Birch (Chief Steward) he said that he could not explain why they had dropped the charges against four trainers when he knew they were over the ‘zero tolerance’ level stated in the racing rules and would get his legal advisers to explain his decision. My email folder is never full and neither is my voice mail. As per all promises from Wade Birch and Daniel Aurich to contact me with answers during this proceeding, no explanation was given.
Only one other trainer was charged. When he advised Daniel Aurich, who headed his inquiry, that correct swabbing procedures were not followed (the swabbing pan was removed from a sink immediately before swabbing), he was found guilty because RQ could not find their swabbing attendant to verify his statement. Yes, you need to read this statement a couple of times, as it is not a typo.
On investigation I found there have been 10 trainers who returned positives to Prednisone in ‘two batches’ in the last three years in Queensland, one in NSW and none in Victoria.
I have statutory declarations from all nine trainers (one charged twice) stating that they did not use Prednisone – three of these are long-term ‘clean skins’; 25, 35 and in Tony’s case, almost 50 years, unblemished records with regards having no drug issues/positives.
SEVEN CASES DROPED BECAUSE OF CONTAMINATION OR FAULTING TESTING RESULTS 
SEVEN of these cases (70%) were dropped because of contamination or faulty testing results.
Purrfectlyfearless won his next start at Sunshine Coast. The swabbing process was contaminated (the swabbing attendant dropped the lid in the dirt of a bottle, flicked it in the air to ‘get rid of the dirt’ and lodged the sample). I lodged a formal complaint. It took RQ, under the direction of Birch, four months to investigate this simple transgression. He admitted the sample was contaminated, procedures were not followed, but also said in the same statement he excluded documentation that could incur contamination as not to effect analytical process.
‘In response to your questions I can inform you that each Sample Collection Official is trained and holds an accreditation. During their training all Sample Collection Officials are instructed to note any unusual occurrence during the sampling process in their race guide provided to them at the commencement of each race meeting. Information of this nature is deliberately excluded from the documentation that accompanies the sample to the laboratory so as not to influence the analytical process in any way’. Birch, W 2013, pers. Comm. 8 Oct 13.
He refused to answer if this was documented in swabbing records. I suspect not.
I challenge the Birch statement that in all Prednisone cases stewards have visited each trainer’s stables to see if there is a common link. They never visited Tony Bita’s stable, which was only two blocks from the Deagon bunker.
I highlighted to Birch that Prednisone is a human drug not an equine drug – something he appeared to have no knowledge of. He promised to conduct an investigation into this – but apart from myself being told by Aurich (27th October 2013) that they asked the swabbing attendant ‘did she take Prednisone?’ that the results of their investigations were none of Tony’s or my business. In my opinion their apparent method of inquiry would fail any high school science experiment method.
I have tried five times through my local Parliamentarian, Jason Woodforth, to organize a meeting with the Racing Minister to discuss this situation. While in a meeting with Jason, as the ‘body builder’ Member of Parliament, he stated his personal interest due to the nature of the Prednisone positive never got any further response. Whether, if this is his apathy towards being a one term member for Nudgee and not looking after his constituents or the powers above him, I know (and now care) not.
Another stablemate won at the Sunshine Coast on 14 May 2014 and the correct swabbing procedures were not followed once again. For those not familiar with urine equine testing procedures (they fail any common sense or science test). It involves:
One urine sampling pan to be reused all day
To be sterilized by swishing a small amount of water over the urine pan (size of a wok) to sterilize it.
Collect urine sample: ie, follow a sweating excited racehorse for up to 30 minutes in a swabbing stall with saw dust flying to gather the urine sample.
Only a draconian racing steward sees this as an acceptable and sterile procedure. Mention this swabbing process and the possibility of contamination to anyone else and they think you are making it up. Sadly I am not. This is not how the base tests used by the racing authorities are performed.
THE BACKGROUND TO DARYL NORTHFIELD
MY involvement in racing is 20 years of part-owning about 25 horses (I have lost count).
My first winner was at Lismore on 2 December 1995 with an aptly named Digging for Gold. I had been ‘following’ horses for about 20 years prior to this.
I raced horses in northern NSW and SE Queensland country tracks until 2001 when Tony Bita started training some horses for me in my local area. I also became a licensed strapper as a bit of relaxation in helping Tony with his horses on Saturday mornings, barrier trials and race day.
My passion for the racing industry included a private racing blog for the last couple of years to about 60 friends and mostly non racing industry people.
Telling stories like the horse who liked swimming but hated water so always walked into the creek backwards; or the case of the missing horse – ‘the stallion’ who threw the trackwork rider on beach work one morning; the police somehow got involved and started weaving their way through the back streets of Sandgate asking people had they seen a loose runaway horse. The common response was ‘you mean Sid? He passed through a few minutes ago’, such was his notoriety and popularity with the walkers of Sandgate.
Also during this period of time the horses I part owned won five races (25/1, 2/1, 30/1; 70/1; 30/1) plus at one time six consecutive seconds – all at each-way odds – one was also 70/1. These are Betfair odds not discount odds offered by TABs or Corporates.
So the few stable blog followers who always had $5 on a runner are also disappointed that there is no more racing blog. It was my fun way of keeping people in the loop and interested in racing.
‘IF YOU WANT TO CRITICIZE IN RACING THEN HAVE A WORKABLE ALTERNATIVE’
I do not like the criticism of the racing industry or life in general. Criticism on its own is cheap. To criticize you must have a workable alternative – or shut up until you do.
As an example while many around the racetrack have long wished for more prize money in Queensland, I have long defended the level of prize money in Queensland given the current structure.
You only have to look at the RISA website and see that the number of non TAB meetings in the country in Queensland is greater than the rest of the country combined and understand the smaller demographics of Queensland compared to Victoria and NSW.
Until Queensland changes its business model long-term prize money increases will not happen. The current part catch-up from what I understand is the Government decreasing its takeout is not a mode for growth. But that is a topic for another day.
Just suffice this is written and researched by someone who had a long term passion and interest in the racing industry – until I met RQ Stewards Birch and Aurich. Their behavior and communications in the ‘Prednisone’ affair has forced me to no longer want to be associated with an industry that is controlled the way it currently is.
This not only refers to the current crop of ‘senior’ stewards but also many other basics that are mismanaged in the industry and these levels of perceived incompetence come directly from my (and other owners) pockets.
Two years ago I had four horses:
One was a five-year-old unraced gelding that I had hoped would be a ‘country’ Cups stayer [every owner has dreams]. On debut it ran a credible 5th beaten 3.5 lengths in Sunshine Coast Maiden. Quite hopeful – next start he put in foot in a hole on the way to the start at Sunshine Coast and twisted his hock and late scratching. Track was not rolled but as they say “that’s racing”. I say lost chances and two more failed preps in costs in the hope he would recover.
We took another horse to Kilcoy – flew home taking five lengths off the leader in the 80m home straight to be beaten in a photo in 1.09 for 1200m. Six weeks later took her back again and knew we were in trouble. Jockeys were coming back saying the track was very hard, and many holes in the back straight with loose sand and track had not been rolled. She broke down. I should be breeding from her – since we purchased her, her only two ‘cousins’ to race both won GROUP ONEs (a breeder’s dream). But after seeing other horses break down that day and Kilcoy lauded with more racing dates I am over RQ’s mismanagement of tracks.
Then last season we had a two-year-old which showed great signs as a staying type for this season. She won a 2YO QTIS/Brisbane racing bonus sale at Sunshine Coast by 3.5lens breaking the class record. We had great hopes for her – to the extent of racing her in listed and group races. While probably out of her depth we will never know. She slipped getting on a horse transport {horse Transport Company decided to cut costs and lengthen the slats on walkup and seal with bitumen}. She slipped and skinned about an eight inch gash on her leg. Tony took her to track for course vet to inspect and scratch. Guess what? Vets do not have to be on course until one hour before the first race. Starters for the first race MUST be on track at least two hours before the first race. Not that is should make any difference as care to all horses should be the same throughout the state. But this was the beginning of Brisbane racing carnival! So a few million dollars of thoroughbreds were on course with no on course vets to look after them – all in accordance with race club policy. Surely basics like this should have sorted out in 1920?
And the fourth horse was Purrfectlyfearless. A beautiful thing the joining of the internet and the bush mail combined. Tony could not understand the charge and wondered how he in isolation could return a positive to a drug he has NEVER used on any horse. When Tony’s charge was published on the RQ website he was contacted by the other trainers also protesting their innocence and the falsehood of the charges. Smelling something wrong in both the charges and the RQ Stewards attitude/ knowledge of the charge and the effect this was having on a number of trainers, I spent many hours researching and trying to find out what was wrong. And the list of questionable points grew and grew.
AN OWNER AND TRAINER WHO HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM THE INDUSTRY IN QLD 
I will no longer own horses in Queensland until there is a ‘modern’ shift in the way this industry is managed in so many levels.
Tony and I have given all the horses away to good homes as equestrian or pony clubbers. Tony has not renewed his license leaving the industry in disgust at the way the Prednisone affair has been inconsistently and poorly handled.
The reason for the delay in providing this information is the typical bullying approach used by RQ during this matter. On legal advice Tony appealed for a reduction in fine and this was reduced from $3000 to $2000.
It is very clearly stated in Section 100 of QCAT Act that each party must bear their own costs for the proceeding. Our legal adviser said that since the fine was reduced that was the end of their costs appeal. But no, Aurisch continued the heavy-handed approach of RQ, then appealed for costs for their counsel’s fees.
RQ continues to waste racing industry funds in many ways – this being another way. This was a reduction in penalty hearing. They employed a barrister who made three basic statements:
Submitted the transcript of original hearing;
Made a statement that perhaps the stable security could be improved (on what basis as this contradicted the transcript she just provided – and contradicts the statements of stewards many times subsequently);
Lodged a word document of recent charges and penalties. Unfortunately one of the first comparisons was a $4000 fine imposed on a level 1 licensed trainer for administering ‘ace’ during a barrier trial. All the legal eagles thought this was a fair comparison to non performance and contaminated Prednisone reading in minute volumes.
Her job, in my opinion, could have been done by any student (I mean high school legal studies not law student). And in the back room sat RQ’s ‘on the payroll’ solicitor.
And yet Aurich, on behalf of RQ, continued for a costs appeal. Maybe he should have employed the in-house legal team and saved the barrister for an actual charge hearing rather than sending in stewards such as in the recent ‘weighed in light’ charge that got thrown out.
The cost application was dismissed.
A SUMMARY OF THE DETAIL THAT MAKES THE CASE SO FRUSTRATING
ON February 2012 Purrfectlyfearless won a class 1 at Ipswich. A positive swab to Prednisone was returned and trainer Tony Bita was charged with presenting a horse returning a positive to a non-endogenous material. In his hearing at Deagon where RQ is the laboratory testing agent, prosecutor, witness, and jury he pleaded not guilty despite being told by stewards if he pleaded guilty they would take that into consideration in the penalty. He was found guilty and fined $3000.
Sounds simple enough and what you would expect to protect the integrity of the racing industry from ‘these drug cheating trainers’.
What RQ stewards would not reveal is that there was at least four other trainers notified (not charged) of the same offence at that time. There was another trainer notified about 12 months later. There may be other trainers but RQ refuses to provide a list of trainers notified despite several requests.
I find RQ’s closed shop investigations frustrating, both from receiving feedback and help with trying to understand the spate of Prednisone positives, and also frustrating for the image of racing. Such closed door approaches do nothing to attract new participants to the racing industry.
This equally applies to Tony’s initial hearing. The stewards were aware of other information that would have been more beneficial to a ‘truthful’ outcome (that there is a spate of prednisone positives) and they withheld this information; they withheld sending ‘contamination’ information from Purrfectlyfearless’s sample on 28 April 3013 “in case it effected the analytical process in any way” (Wade Birch). When an organization that is “both judge and jury” and it surreptitiously withholds information, it makes you question whether they are after a ‘conviction rate’ or after the truth.
Wade Birch has instructed me in his email 8 October: ‘Racing Queensland does not intend to enter into any further correspondence with respect to this matter.’
Birch, W 2013., pers. comm. 3 Oct 13: ‘If RQ had an open door policy of communication then the court’s time may not have been wasted given the overseas research that has came to light since the above instruction.’
So this begs the question, what information is RQ not disclosing in this appeal?
The scales of lady justice need to remain balanced.
Due to the lack of any evidence to the contrary showing concentration levels, it would appear Tony Bita has been found guilty of presenting Purrfectlyfearless at Ipswich races with an endogenous low level concentration of Prednisone and Prednisolone (based on Italian research is probably around 1 nanogram per ml of urine).
Australian Rules of Racing for zero tolerance are outdated and inconsistent with other countries which have introduced screening limits. European countries have already adopted screening limit tests on Prednisolone. Australian Racing in October 2012 changed to screening limits on therapeutic drugs.
Due to the rules of Australian Racing being outdated on this matter, and the perceived ignorance of RQ, they will not accept the evidence or science of Marco Fidani. He is the chief of Racing Labs in Italy, a recognized and published scientist and sits on European Racing Board. But because our esteemed stewards think you can ‘make up anything from the internet’ this is not recognized. How stupid and arrogant is this process?
As such I had to pay a local expert to verify the results (even though Europe had changed its rules). Wonderful thing google – you can find almost anything. Once this happened then RQ delayed Tony’s appeal again and changed their concentration reading now saying they now applied a screening limit (previously they stated it was zero tolerance and said this many times). They would not disclose the level of screening limit (to protect the integrity of racing) but it was later found to be 10g except they were testing for 5ng. Did I mention that their testing systems were developed in house 15 years ago and are apparently beyond question?
Then in February, after delaying the hearing four times, RQ suddenly advised they could provide a concentration reading from the same sample that stewards Birch and Aurich had been stating for over 12 months was not technically available.
Despite requests they refused to state where the concentration reading came from or how/when it was derived (despite numerous requests from us for balance of sample to conduct our own independent tests overseas).
Even though many agree that his whole episode is unacceptable, legal advice to Tony suggests that under the Rules of Racing he was considered guilty unless he could prove contamination or that someone else did it.
The comment was if this was a murder case charges would not proceed or be thrown out in the first session. But this is a charge of a minute amount of non performance enhancing drug Prednisone. Under AR Rule 178 you are guilty unless you can prove you are innocent.
The concentration level of 37 ng Prednisone and 11 ng Prednisone was magically produced by RQ after stewards stating this was not technically possible for 12 months.
Further there is NO EQUINE DRUG that provides a higher reading than Prednisone. For this reading to occur the result MUST be contaminated (or Purrfectlyfearless was administered with human or feline based Prednisone).
How ridiculous is that?’
EDITOR’S NOTE: RQ or its STEWARDS’ PANEL, headed by WADE BIRCH, are welcome to unedited right of reply to the above claims. In fact, from an industry viewpoint, there needs to be some clarification on just where trainers stand with Prednisone.
IS ONE OF QUEENSLAND TOP RACING WRITERS UNDER A BAN FROM THE CONTROL BODY? 
ALBERT WILLIAMS of REDCLIFFE, a long-time contributor to the Wednesday Whinge, sent this interesting and thought-provoking email:
‘AS someone who has been a keen follower of the industry in south-east Queensland – more particularly the racing media – for many years, I cannot believe the new set of rules that seem to have been implemented by the current hierarchy.
It would seem there is no room for criticism, constructive or otherwise, under what I will call the ‘new set of rules’. And one has to question whether this is a deliberate attempt to control what is spoken or written and silence any form of criticism – constructive or otherwise.
It’s a bit rich coming from the same people and their supporters who totally backed the media bashing that the Bob Bentley Board copped from sections of the racing media over many years, spearheaded by the then Courier-Mail Racing Editor Bart Sinclair.
I felt it necessary to pen this email to you because I know that only letsgohorseracing or justracing will run anything of a critical nature that might upset the powers-that-be at Racing Queensland.
Here is the story that is doing the rounds and I hope you might attempt to clarify if it is correct (I am confident it is), as it is unlikely to get an airing at Queensland Newspapers when you consider the individuals involved.
Rumors emanating from the racing media in south-east Queensland suggest that top scribe Brad Davidson, who writes for the Gold Coast Bulletin, has been banned from receiving media releases from RQ.
Now considering the stories that Davidson has broken in recent months – some of which have been embarrassing for RQ and pre-empted major media releases from the control body, the following questions have been raised:
Why would RQ want to stop Davidson from receiving media releases when most in the racing industry regard his ‘scoops’ as spot on?
Have the stories he has been leaked been in any way embarrassing to RQ and would they prefer that these had been written with a different slant by Nathan Exelby, the Racing Editor of The Courier-Mail?
I am advised on good authority by sources close to Racing Queensland and the Racing Media Association that Davidson has been under extreme pressure from officialdom and some of his colleagues because of the ‘exclusive’ racing stories that he has been writing.
Some of the privileged information that he has been ‘leaked’ has been the subject of an internal investigation at RQ. The finger of blame was being pointed at an official from a major club. I am told the Chairman and CEO of RQ were determined to put an end to this and a decision was made that something had to be done about the embarrassing Davidson ‘exclusives’.
One would have thought that cutting him off from major media releases only deprives readers of the Gold Coast Bulletin and Davidson personally – there are a legion of them as he is by far the most popular racing writer in Queensland and is respected for his objectivity something that some of his colleagues lack, not to mention backbone when it comes to challenging officialdom.
Understandably Davidson didn’t cop the ‘media release ban’ too well and immediately – as you would expect – took the matter up (or so I am reliably informed) with the chairman of the Racing Media Association (who just happens to be his close colleague Nathan Exelby).
Davidson has told racing media mates that his call for help fell on deaf ears. ‘You’re on your own,’ was allegedly the response he got from the racing journalist who many in the industry believe is too close to the RQ hierarchy.
The story goes that Exelby hand-balled the problem to another official of the Racing Media Association – race-caller David Fowler – and he reportedly wrote a letter to RQ on behalf of Davidson trying to have the ‘media release ban’ overturned.
One wonders whether the powers-that-be at Queensland Newspapers are aware of the Exelby stance (and his closeness to RQ) considering Davidson is a highly respected and valued member of the turf staff constantly breaking top news stories on racing that are used in both The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail.
Ironically the last racing writer who did a job anywhere near as objective as Davidson was Daniel Meers (also from the Gold Coast) and I am told that his working life become ‘unsustainable’ with RQ and some of his colleagues. He is now in a better place, as a political writer in Canberra, where his talents are being truly recognized.
The state of play within the racing media probably means next to nothing to the average punter or racing stakeholder for that matter, depending on where he or she stands in the scheme of things politically in the Queensland scene.
They grew used to the Bart Sinclair ‘bias’ – for the want of a better word – when it came to all things QTC . His long term support for the old guard and continued attacks on the Bentley Board was common place. In retirement he found a nice consultancy with the Brisbane Racing Club and his closeness to the Kevin Dixon Board has some suggesting he has a foot in the door at Deagon as well. Good luck to him.
What gets right up my nose – and I would imagine wouldn’t sit too well with the operators of websites who dare to be different – is that there has simply been no place for any form of criticism (from the media or the stakeholders for that matter) since Kevin Dixon got his feet under the desk at RQ.
This situation has reached the ridiculous stage and it is time the industry knew the lengths that RQ and some of its supporters seem to be prepared to go to halt any form of criticism.
You either shape up and support the team running the show or you are ostracized. Whatever happened to freedom of speech or constructive criticism?
And they reckon it was my way or the highway when Bob Bentley was running the show.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: I spoke to RQ CEO Darren Condon concerning this matter and he insists that there is no ban on Davidson but admits for personal reasons he does not take inquiries from this particular racing writer. Condon says he has no knowledge of any complaint from the Racing Media Association on behalf of Davidson. I asked if Davidson was receiving Media Releases and Condon said he was. I then asked if letsgohorseracing or Terry Butts from the NQ Register were receiving RQ Media Releases and he replied in the affirmative. I told him we weren’t and hadn’t for some time to which Condon replied: “I thought I got this sorted out.’ If Brad Davidson is being singled out for special attention – and it is no secret that he is far from flavor of the month with some RQ heavies and some of his colleagues in the racing media – then that situation needs to be rectified. Condon also asked me to point out to some of his critics that he is now on holidays and is paying his own way to Hong Kong for the International meeting, not putting his ‘nose in the RQ trough again’ as some are apparently suggesting.
‘BRETT WINTEC’ DEFENDS HIS ANONYMITY AND LABELS HIS CRITICS HYPOCRITICAL 
BRETT WINTEC, a regular critic of RQ, sends this email and provides an insight to the reasons he prefers anonymity:
‘I find it intriguing that certain individuals, who write on blog sites under fictitious names, are concerned by the validity of my name!
To me this seems a bit hypocritical considering they take aim at entities and individuals whenever the urge arises, under their blog names.
Despite what these faceless individuals say, I understand that some of the powers to be at Racing Queensland are extremely vindictive and plenty of comments flow throughout the Deagon hallways in regards to those who dare to question their decisions.
From my perspective I am the first to admit that my name is not Brett Wintec! I am an individual who has shares in horses (albeit small) in Queensland and interstate. I receive feedback from my trainers and ownership partners relevant to the state of racing in Queensland and other states, and I have no problem sharing these issues with your website in the hope that they will be acknowledged and considered by the powers to be.
I should highlight that in the first instance I did try and liaise directly with Racing Queensland regarding my issues, but after a lack of response I have taken the decision that your website is more widely considered by Racing Queensland than my direct phone calls and correspondence to this entity.
From my perspective I utilize a fictitious name for two reasons.
1. I attend the races regularly and do not wish to be accosted by many of those supporters of the Chairman of Racing Queensland, who see it as their duty to protect this little fellow.
2. A lot of the information I write emanates from my dialog with my trainer and I do not want this person victimized by Racing Queensland for my comments.
As mentioned, I have tried going in the front door at Racing Queensland to voice my concerns, unfortunately this approach has not proven fruitful.
My current issue is the lack of information flowing from Racing Queensland regarding the Eagle Farm upgrade, and whether this track will be completed in time to enable the conduct of the Stradbroke. This is particularly relevant to me as we have a young horse that has been earmarked for this race and the difference in venue between Eagle Farm, Doomben and the Sunshine Coast will dictate whether we participate.
Eagle Farm is our preferred track as our horse isn’t suited to Doomben and we will not take the risk in preparing a horse for a Stradbroke to be run at the Sunshine Coast as this track is disastrous at that time of year, with it producing nothing better than slow tracks at Stradbroke time for the past four years.
The problem is if Eagle Farm isn’t ready and we don’t target the Stradbroke, then we need to be preparing for the Sydney carnival now, not waiting until late January to return from the spelling paddock.
In fairness to all owners and trainers, Racing Queensland needs to make a decision on the Stradbroke immediately as I suspect there are many people in our position who need to know the venue it will be conducted at before determining whether to proceed with a Stradbroke preparation.
Our trainer has confirmed that unless an announcement is made by the 15th of December we will be bringing our horse immediately back into work and preparing him for the Sydney carnival.
This is a terrible shame as this will be the first $2 million Stradbroke, something which I think is one of the best initiatives implemented by Racing Queensland in years.'
IS BART BEING REWARDED FOR YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE TO THE OLD BOYS NETWORK? 
BARRY BLACK of DARLING DOWNS writes:
‘FORMER turf editor for The Courier-Mail, Bart Sinclair, is certainly being rewarded in retirement for his years of loyal service to the good ‘old boys’ of the racing industry in Queensland.
No sooner had the door closed on his career as a racing journalist than Sinclair was employed as a consultant to the Brisbane Racing Club. Not that this came as a surprise, especially after decades of support for what was formerly the QTC.
Now there are stories doing the rounds that his services are being used by Racing Queensland and that he is consulted on many areas of policy by the powers that be as playing a role behind the scenes in the appointment process.
During the week Sinclair was the ‘facilitator’ of a meeting in Cairns between RQ and disgruntled stakeholders. Was there no-one with sufficient ability to do the job in the far north that they had to fly him all the way from Brisbane?
Then we saw the appointment of his former boss (CM sports editor) and good mate, Brian Burke, to the Harness Racing Board, ensuring another appointment that one would assume won’t rock the Kevin Dixon boat.
The Sinclair influence – which still figures strongly in the racing media where some would say his replacement at The Courier-Mail doesn’t fart without asking Bart first – still means there is no room for criticism of those at the top (unless you happen to be part of the former Bentley Board or the Labor Government).
Fortunately appointments like Governments come to an end and hopefully so will the influence and involvement of Bart Sinclair. In the meantime all his critics can do is grin and bear it – or continue to bleat.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: I would rather not comment on Bart Sinclair. My thoughts on how he operates and expects members of the racing media to do their jobs are well documented. I witnessed it first hand for many years. It’s probably about time Bart was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame, alongside his old sparring partner Bob Bentley – that’s how things work in racing in Queensland – look after those making the political decisions and they’ll look after you. I have asked RQ CEO Darren Condon to clarify the Sinclair involvement in the Cairns workshop and he told me that had nothing to do with RQ but Bart’s services were secured for the event by the Cairns Jockey Club (which comes as no surprise considering how that much maligned entity operates). As for the Brian Burke appointment to the Harness Board, I think that is a terrific initiative and fully support it. ‘Bomber’ has probably forgotten more about harness racing and the gallops than some appointees will ever learn. Sure, he’s an old mate of Bart and one can assume won’t rock the Kevin Dixon boat, but harness racing needs some fresh blood and I’m confident appointments like Brian Burke to the Board can only help ensure the start of a desperately needed resurgence of the sport in Queensland.
WILL THE WALLER BOUTIQUE OWNERS BE PROVIDING WITH AN ‘ASSURANCE’? 
JOE ALEXANDER of MELBOURNE writes:
‘I was just wondering if this new boutique service for owners that trainer Chris Waller plans to introduce will provide an assurance that their horses will not be beaten by second string stable runners.
Have a look at the statistics and you will find that more than half of the races contested by multiple Waller runners are not won by the one that is most fancied in the betting.
Of course you won’t see this highlighted by sections of the racing media that are close to Waller or have horses with him. They are too busy making excuses for his form reversal winners.
In all seriousness one would have thought that every owner – big or small – was entitled to equal treatment from the champion trainer. To suggest that some will get a better deal if they pay more is nothing short of unacceptable.
But that’s racing Sydney style at present and I guess as Waller spreads his wings to Melbourne we can expect more of the same down there. Little wonder I give a quiet cheer every time a starter from a battling stable knocks one of his off.
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE’S a story by CHRISTIAN NICOLUSSI in the DAILY TELEGRAPH that the above email refers to:
IN what could be an Australian racing first, man-of-the-moment Chris Waller is considering offering a boutique service for owners, which will come at an extra cost.
Waller proved his worth yet again (last) weekend when Moriarty provided him with his eighth Group 1 this season in Perth’s Kingston Town Stakes.
He will saddle up three decent hopes in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) on Saturday, including Strawberry Boy, I’m Imposing and Multilateral, the import he said “could be the next Moriarty”.
Waller is clearly in demand with 300 horses on his books — but now he could also become the most expensive for any interested owner with a smart horse.
He only got the idea after he visited Coolmore in Ireland last week, and saw first-hand the results trainer Aidan O’Brien was able to achieve when around-the-clock service was available to a horse.
In Australia, such a service was only realistic at a price, said Waller.
“I charge $115 a day at the moment, a fee which has won us 10 Group 1s this year,” Waller said.
“But if an owner wants that extra service, there would be more expenses, but it wouldn’t be ridiculous,” Waller told The Daily Telegraph.
“It’s a bit like going to a football game and buying basic seats, or buying premium seats, or buying a standard car, or one with the extras.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in the above e-mails should not be interpreted as those of JOHN LINGARD, the owner-editor of the letsgohorseracing web-site. That is why he has added an ‘EDITOR’S NOTE’. Every endeavor is made to verify the authenticity of contributors. We welcome any reasonable and constructive responses from parties or individuals.
