THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE has a new look but won’t be dispensing with the theme and focus on the THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY side of what is happening in racing. 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 and one of the most read on racing websites in the country. Our popularity continues to grow despite the bagging it cops from some high profile officials, especially in Queensland, who cannot cope with constructive criticism of any kind. We encourage supporters – and critics – to continue to contribute but plan to restrict the Whinge to less than 10 of the best items each week. Our message to those who continually bag us is simple: IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT YOU READ, THEN DON’T REVISIT THE WHINGE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE CHANGE BUT WE NEED THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT JOBS 
EDITOR’S NOTE: WE have had dozens of emails from various people about the decision of the Premier and Racing Minister to sack the RQ Boards and the calls we made for that to happen. We are delighted that this has occurred and believe that the services of Kevin Dixon should have been dispensed with long ago. Of course those who stand to lose most by his departure will be protesting the loudest. As expected his 'spin doctor' at The Courier-Mail went into bat immediately, concerned where his 'racing exclusives' are now going to come from.
But we are not celebrating the demise of the Dixon era despite the fact we are pleased to some him go. What we want to see are some questions asked about the TAB deal and answers to how many millions are going to the company of the same name in a sweetheart deal with the current RQ Board. We also want to see some action in the area of Cobalt investigation with stewards on the front foot instead of treading water. We also hope that under the new leadership there is a level playing field where the media is concerned and that not only the Nathan Exelby’s and David Fowler’s of this racing world get some start because they, in the eyes of many, refuse to exercise objective criticism.
Our hope is that the right people are appointed to lead Queensland racing out of the quicksand it is currently in and that racing, harness racing and greyhounds thrive (the latter should never be closed down as there are too many good people involved). Gallops should get off their greyhound blame game horse - the same with harness - neither entities should be throwing stones considering the skeletons in their closets.
A new Integrity Department is long overdue and high profile stewards like Wade Birch need to be sacked because nothing has been achieved during his term and there have been allegations of interference and stewards being answerable to the wrong people.
The new RQ needs to appoint the right people in administration and integrity - not based on politics or vested interests. They are out there and available. It’s just a matter of convincing them that Queensland is a place to come to regardless of the problems that have existed in the past. Media mates can gloss over the negatives all they like. Things have to change.
Imagine a Racing Queensland with the likes of Scott Whiteman (currently Country Racing Victoria boss and formerly GCTC CEO) running the show or Terry Bailey (the present RVL Chief Steward) seconded to Queensland. It sounds like a racing Eutopia and it could happen.
HAS THERE EVER BEEN A REPORT MORE SCATHING OF RQ THAN THIS ONE? 
PERCY SMITH of BRISBANE heads a list of emails selected to run on the fallout from the greyhound scandal that has seen four Boards sacked:
‘AFTER a lifetime involvement in racing in Queensland – across all the codes before my retirement – I doubt I have ever read a report so scathing of an operation and its executives than that produced by Greyhound Inquiry commissioner Alan MacSporran.
I felt it was worded in such a way that those who received the ‘rough end of the pineapple’ treatment would have been pleased with themselves.
Experience over the years has shown me that a lot of folk are promoted up the ranks and arguably beyond their capabilities in racing because they have the right connections. I would argue that has been the case with a couple of high profile figures associated with the latest RQ Board to bite the dust.
It seems to me that there is little doubt Darren Condon (suspended RQ CEO) and Wade Birch (on leave RQ Head of Integrity) are two such people. No surprise to see Mr Condon provided with a ‘show cause’ why he should keep his job. And as for Mr Birch who is holidaying at the most important part of the Winter Carnival, I would be surprised if RQ sees him again.
Finally, I would like to comment on the Media Release which now makes the ATA (trainers), TBQA (Breeders) and Magic Millions (Vin Cox) look a laughing stock. Singing the praises of RQ a couple of days before that Board is shown the door suggests to me the RQ keenels need spraying for fleas.’
HERE’S HOPING THE CLEAN SLATE DOESN’T DEVELOP INTO GROUNDHOG DAY 
HARRY JOHNSON of BRISBANE writes:
‘STARTING with a ‘clean slate’ is nothing new for racing in Queensland – but how many chances does an industry need to get before it works.
There are already ripples of ‘will it be groundhog day’ all over again with just a new list of appointments and eventually the same old result.
Barrister Alan MacSporran QC has tried to dodge that scenario with his recommendation that the Board of seven that will control the three codes has to include four independents but even that has drawn some early flak.
The wording of his suggestion concerning eligibility has been misunderstood. My reading of it is that Mr MacSporran isn’t recommending with no racing experience. He just wants those chosen to have the right business credentials but no relevant connection to the industry through ownership of racehorses or greyhounds or membership of race clubs or organisations connected with racing for a period of at least two years.
Vested interests and political interference have dogged racing board appointments in Queensland for years if not decades. Something different has to be tried to overcome this situation.
Full marks to the Labor Government, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and new Racing Minister Bill Byrne for moving immediately to resolve the greyhound crisis. They had no choice but to dispense with the Boards, especially the All Codes and Greyhound bodies, who did next to nothing before the 4Corners expose of the ‘live baiting’ scandal.
Greyhound racing should thank its lucky stars that the Government has allowed it to survive. Pressure is growing for the sport to be outlawed in Queensland like it has in many states of America. There is a school of thought this could happen in NSW in the wake of a Commission of Inquiry in that State.
This overhaul of the racing industry wouldn’t have happened while the LNP Government was running the show but it was long overdue.’
NOT TOO MANY LOSING SLEEP OVER LITTLE KING KEV’S DEPARTURE
HERE’S a few smaller comments sent to the Whinge on the sacking of the Boards of Racing Queensland:
STEVE J of BRISBANE wrote:
Little King Kev will have plenty of spare time on his hands now.
Perhaps he and another little 'my way or the highway man', ‘Can Do Campbell’, can spend some time together smelling the roses and working out where it all went so wrong.
Too bad, so sad!
CARL D of GOLD COAST wrote:
‘MY friends and I had a quiet chortle at the comment by Kevin Dixon after the Commission of Inquiry recommendations into the regulation of the greyhound industry were handed down.
Dixon said: “We (his RQ Board) look forward to working closely with the State Government to implement its actions.”
Who was he kidding?
Considering the report blamed his Board’s inaction largely for the ‘live baiting’ being allowed to continue that was never going to happen.
How could that mob ever work closely to implement moves to combat the problem?’
STU W of TOOWOOMBA sent this email:
‘JUST thought you might like to know that the flags at the Toowoomba Turf Club were flying at half mast today (Tuesday).
And it wasn’t for the passing of punting legend, racehorse owner and controversial local racing character known as ‘The Jeweller’.
Cowboy Bob was mourning the loss of his great buddy, Little King Kev, who was shown the door at RQ in the wake of the recommendations of the Greyhound Commission of Inquiry.
As one former director of the club commented: “Who is the TTC going to head to for handouts now? Here’s hoping the local Turf Club Chairman follows Dixon’s lead and heads off to greener pastures as well.”
‘MAJORITY OF BREEDERS NOT CONSULTED ON SUPPORT FOR DIXON BOARD’ 
GLEN JACKSON of the DARLING DOWNS sent this email:
‘AS someone who has close friends in the breeding industry in south-east Queensland I can assure you that the majority of breeders knew nothing about it and many breeders were not consulted on this TBQA support for Kevin Dixon and the RQ Board.
In fact there have been calls for Basil Nolan, the boss of the TBQA, to produce proof that members were consulted before the organisation joined forces with the Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers’ Association and the Magic Millions on this important issue.
Most of us want to steer clear of the politics in racing but it would seem to us that Mr Nolan, in conjunction with his buddy Bob Frappell, who, of course, is a close friend of Kevin Dixon, decided to go off on a tangent on their own.
If that was the case they should not have made this a blanket vote of confidence from the Breeders, many of whom do not wish to support Kevin Dixon and his Board in view of the events of more recent times.
As Terry Butts pointed out in his column our fearless leader at the Breeders tends to swing like a pendulum at times and this can be embarrassing from some members. We would rather he just look after the interests of members and stayed out of the political battles being waged within the industry in Queensland.
Many breeders felt the show of strength of the three major bodies was a shade embarrassing. Everyone knows that Nolan’s confidante, Frappell, would stand on his head in the corner for a week if Kevin Dixon asked him to. They also know that the ATA QLD are regarded by many as lap dogs for the current hierarchy and that the Magic Millions have just got a huge earn out of the industry – a figure said to be in the millions that RQ won’t reveal when it is our money that is being spent on a private enterprise company.
So why would you want to be party to supporting a group that largely is on the outer – regardless of what the Government decides to do in the wake of the Greyhound Commission of Inquiry?’
EDITOR’S NOTE: FOR those who missed it here is what TERRY BUTTS wrote in his ‘SILKS & SADDLES’ column for the North Queensland Register this week that the above email refers to:
THREE major representative bodies of the thoroughbred industry last week called on the Government to provide certainty for its future, by confirming the on-going leadership of the Kevin Dixon management team.
The ATA QLD, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Queensland Association (TBQA) and Magic Millions joined forces to show their firm support for the existing Racing Queensland Board, which is no surprise, though the Commission of Inquiry findings suggest their efforts might be in vain.
Breeders’ Association chairman Basil Nolan went on the front foot: “It is exceptionally frustrating to think that the very administrators who have been responsible for the complete rebirth of confidence within the thoroughbred industry in Queensland over the last 12 months are now being dragged down into the gutter as a result of a greyhound practice that has seemingly been going on for decades.
“We realise it is not possible to please all of the people all of the time, however it is very important to understand that contrary to what is regularly reported, there is an enormous amount of positivity across all sectors of the thoroughbred industry in this State.
“There is no question that optimism is directly attributable to the current Racing Queensland leadership team and the strong future they have provided for us.”
Is this the same Basil Nolan who only last year hotly criticised Government, the Racing Minister and anyone else involved with racing administration with a comment?
“They promised us (Breeders) the world and gave us an Atlas”?
His tune changed after Government and Racing Queensland provided substantial benefits to QTIS that some claim is discriminatory.
Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox is predictably dancing to the same beat.
“The incredible improvements to QTIS, the substantial increases in prizemoney, a wonderfully revamped Winter Racing Carnival and a game-changing partnership with Magic Millions to host the richest race day in Australia are just some of the reasons why the optimism within Queensland is at an all-time high,” Cox said.
“We have had a great relationship with Racing Queensland and it is one we are looking forward to continuing with in the future.”
BUT the future is in grave doubt. In fact it appears to be ‘game over’ for Racing Queensland as we now know it.
The only hope now is that the Government will not allow some its past high profile members to meddle with the affairs of racing, as is the popular rumour. Those gentlemen had their day – and failed dismally. They lost the confidence of the racing community of all political persuasions state-wide. They should not be allowed within coo-ee of any decision making for this Government.
That should be the domain and responsibility of newly appointed Racing Minister Bill Byrne who must be able to choose his own advisors without any pressure from those poor performed power-brokers of the past.
LABELLING BARRY BALDWIN PRESIDENT OF THE QTA A MISCHIEF MAKING EXERCISE? 
JOHN McLEAN of ROCKHAMPTON writes:
‘IS it plain mischief-making or are the people writing racing stories and putting out media releases doing this deliberately?
Barry Baldwin is not the president of the Queensland Trainers’ Association. He is president of the Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers’ Association.
The QTA is a newly-formed organization with far more members than the ATA QLD. Its president Jim Rundle is far more respected in industry and political circles. And with change in the air hopefully the QTA will receive the recognition that is overdue from Racing Queensland.
Everyone is aware of the good old hoedowns started when Pat Duff was running the ATA QLD where Kevin Dixon would go along and spend some ‘quality’ time with his mates from the training ranks in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. That has apparently continued since Baldwin stepped into the presidency.
Sadly, it is accepted by most in the know in the industry that they would genuflect and grovel to Dixon and tell him what a great job he was doing and in turn he would make sure the trainers in the south-east corner were happy.
As for the rest of the trainers in the country well they were treated like second rate citizens by the Dixon hierarchy. That was until Jim Rundle and a few others said ‘enough is enough’ and stepped up the pressure, forming the QTA and providing a much stronger voice.
Now we all know that the ATA hasn’t handled the rise from obscurity of the QTA too well. And the story goes that they have complained about the use of the name Queensland Trainers’ Association. Could that be why we continually see Barry Baldwin wrongly referred to as president of the QTA? Is there some mischief-making going on? If so it needs to stop.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: THERE used to be a QTA presided over by Des Mullins and they co-existed with the ATA QLD branch, so why should things be different today? Here is a Media Release relating to the above from the newly formed QTA:
Jim Rundle, President of the Queensland Trainers’ Association, recently had meetings with the Queensland Racing Minister, the Honourable Bill Byrne to discuss the future direction of thoroughbred racing across the state.
Jim came away from these meetings with a view that the Minister has a very good understanding of his portfolio and the key challenges facing the racing industry as a whole.
“When Bill Byrne was in opposition he took a genuine interest in racing matters, particularly the needs and concerns of all participants across metropolitan, regional and country areas alike,” said Jim.
Mr Byrne was welcomed into his new ministerial portfolio after the recent change of Government with a ‘baptism of fire’ generated by explosive revelations relating to cruelty in the greyhound racing industry.
Jim Rundle believes that the Minister has shown a great deal of acumen in how he has handled this pressure and arranged for an independent inquiry to investigate and report back on a raft of issues.
“There are always an array of individual agendas that are driven by various interest groups in our industry,” said Jim, “but I believe that Bill Byrne has the skills to work though these and help ensure that the right people are in place to drive strategies that will benefit all participants not just a select few”.
Mr Byrne has indicated that like within any corporate entity there may be changes required to ensure that Racing Queensland has the complete skills set to deal with an ever changing environment of modern sports management.
He will take appropriate advice on this and will implement changes if necessary.
He has reiterated that he wants the racing industry in Queensland to remain strong in all areas and will not just implement change for the sake of change. “There will be sound financial, welfare and logistical reasons which will drive change not just a political whim”, he indicated to Jim.
The Queensland Trainers Association membership looks forward to working closely with Mr Byrne, and providing any relevant advice and information when called upon which will assist him to work with the challenges ahead.
“We want the whole industry across Queensland to prosper,” said Jim, “from Mt Isa to Goondiwindi, Cairns to the Gold Coast and everywhere in between. “Bill Byrne also understands the importance of this holistic approach.”
WHY WOULDN’T NSW RACING CODES WANT INTEGRITY TO BE INDEPENDENT? 
ANDY WILSON of MELBOURNE sent this email:
‘ONE has to question why the Racing NSW hierarchy would oppose the appointment of an independent integrity body to ensure there was no interference in that arm of the industry.
Then again it comes as no surprise when you consider how influential John Messara and Peter V’landys like to believe they are in all aspects of racing.
It has been suggested for some time that V’landys in particular interferes too much in rule making and how the stewards do their jobs.
And on the subject of what has happened in Queensland in the wake of the Greyhound Commission of Inquiry, now that Kevin Dixon no longer has an official capacity at RQ is he not ineligible to sit on the Australian Racing Board?’
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE is part of a story by ADAM PENGILLY in the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD that the above email obviously refers to:
NSW's racing codes are lining up to oppose any move to implement an independent regulatory authority in the state after an inquiry into the embattled Queensland greyhound racing industry recommended a similar model.
Thoroughbred racing and harness racing officials are understood to be reluctant to consider such a template after the Queensland greyhound racing inquiry's commissioner Alan MacSporran, QC, was scathing in his criticism of Racing Queensland in the wake of the live baiting scandal.
He has lobbied for an independent integrity model to be adopted north of the border.
Fairfax Media understands the state government-triggered review into the NSW greyhound racing industry has discussed a similar framework to merge the integrity operations of all three jurisdictions under one umbrella.
It potentially shapes as a back-to-the-future scenario in NSW after the harness racing and greyhound racing stewards worked under a failed government-controlled framework until its demerger in 2009.
And thoroughbred racing and harness racing powerbrokers have just recently tabled strategic plans into their respective sports, with Harness Racing NSW only lodging their blueprint on Monday.
Racing NSW published theirs late last year.
They are believed to prefer the current system where NSW's thoroughbred, harness racing and greyhound racing control bodies are individually responsible for their own commercial and integrity units.
But the prospect of the integrity arm of each being included under one independent organisation could gather pace when retired High Court judge Michael McHugh - whose investigation into the greyhound racing industry stretches back to February - opens a Special Commission of Inquiry into the sport in NSW next week.
Justice McHugh will table his final report on September 30.
MacSporran slammed Racing Queensland's failure to heed warning signs of the live baiting scandal, which he said were an "almost terminal blow" to the public's confidence in the sport.
He recommended RQ, which is responsible for both the commercial and integrity operations for all three codes, be stripped of its regulatory powers and concentrate solely on racing's commercial interests.
MacSporran lobbied for the introduction of a full-time commissioner for the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission after describing the effort of RQ's under-resourced integrity team to inspect only 31 kennels out of the state's 941 licensed trainers last year as worse than the "woefully inadequate" number of visits recorded in 2010-11.
"[RQ was] compromised by the conflict of interest inherent in having oversight and control of the commercial and integrity aspects of the business," he wrote.
FEELINGS RUNNING HIGH OVER APPEALS SYSTEM ‘FAVORITISM’ FOR TARRANT 
GREG QUIRK of SYDNEY writes:
‘FEELINGS are running high over the appeals system in Queensland which is set to allow Luke Tarrant to ride during the big races of the carnival despite receiving a six week ban for reckless riding.
Insiders say had the same situation occurred in Melbourne the appeal would have been heard and decided before it got to the stage like it has in Queensland where the matter could drag on for the remainder of the carnival.
Leading Sydney jockeys Hugh Bowman and James McDonald described the incident involving Tarrant as ‘some of the most reckless riding’ they had seen.
The story is now doing the rounds that Tarrant has been granted a stay of proceedings allowing him to ride at Saturday’s Stradbroke meeting because the Appeals Body has allowed him to change his plea – another issue that is being highly debated.’
STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN THE MAINSTREAM RACING MEDIA
NEW RULE REQUIRES LICENSEES TO REPORT ANY CORRUPT APPROACHES 
LICENSED racing participants are now obliged to report any corrupt or dishonest approaches under a change to the Australian Rules of Racing which came into effect from Monday, June 1.
RACING.COM reports that the new obligation is part of a raft of changes to Australian Rules of Racing which have now come into effect. Other changes include tighter control over the social media conduct of participants as well specific rulings surrounding vilification.
Additional changes to the Victorian Local Rules of Racing also further strengthen the power of stewards and formalise changes to the protest hearings procedure which were announced as part of a trial in January.
Having identified that the Rules of Racing do not oblige participants to report any corrupt approaches or invitations, Racing Australia approved a change to AR175AA at its quarterly meeting in April.
It puts an obligation on those involved in the sport to report any approaches to engage in any corrupt or dishonest behaviour or any conduct which could constitute an act of cruelty.
The ‘corrupt approach’ changes brings racing into line with most other sports, who specifically have a conduct clause for their participants in this area.
The other significant change sees the addition of Rules 175 (qq) and (z), allowing stewards to penalise licensed participants for detrimental comments or actions they may make on social media or elsewhere about others in the sport.
The rule brings together the policies currently in operation in various states and allows stewards to penalise:
(qq) Any person who in their opinion, is guilty of engaging in the publishing or posting on any social media platform or channel any material, content or comment that is obscene, offensive, defamatory, racist, threatening, harassing, discriminating or abusive to any other person or entity involved in the racing industry.
and
(z) Any person who engages in any conduct which threatens, disparages, vilifies or insults another person (the ‘other person’) on any basis, including but not limited to, a person’s race, religion, colour, descent, and/or national or ethnic origin, special ability/disability or sexual orientation, preference or identity, while the other person is acting in the course of his or her duties in the racing industry
The second rule is also modelled on those in other sports, in particular the anti-vilification rule in play in the AFL.
June 1 also sees the implementation of changes to specifically deal with the cases of a participant substitute or altering a sample.
As was announced in January as part of a trial, trainers and owners will no longer freely provide evidence during protest hearings in Victoria. This process has now been formally adopted.
Previously a trainer or managing owner could provide evidence and cross-examine other witnesses during a protest hearing, but will now only be able to speak if given specific approval by Stewards.
Riders will also only be able to make statements and answer questions directly from the Stewards, when previously to the trial they have been able to cross-examine other parties.
The decision was made in order to shorten protest hearings and allow a more efficient process, with Stewards relying more heavily on technology in order to make their decision.
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.
