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.
STORIES CIRCULATING ABOUT SECURITY OF SWABBING IN QLD NEED TO BE CLARIFIED 
ALBERT WILLIAMS of REDCLIFFE, a regular contributor on what is wrong with racing in Queensland, filed this extremely concerning email about security in swabbing:
‘SOMEONE in authority – be it the Racing Minister or the powers-that-be at Racing Queensland – needs to provide some clarification to support or silence stories circulating about the security of swabbing in this State.
Those who prefer to sweep controversy under the carpet will call these rumors, but reports doing the rounds in the industry in Queensland are both sad and stunning, even if they have lost nothing in the telling.
Those close to the action in the Deagon Bunker say those in the know are remaining tight-lipped on whether a very serious situation has been referred to the CCC (Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission). If these allegations prove to be correct, this will have an extremely detrimental effect on the integrity of racing in Queensland which, in the eyes of many, is already under a cloud.
Story goes that a prominent racing identity from interstate who is very close to a senior steward who would know asked him whether allegations involving a high profile person were correct. Rather than deny what is being said, he simply refused to comment. Not a good look you might say.
For too long Victorian and NSW racing was on the front foot while Queensland appeared to be dragging the chain when it came to pursuing certain individuals and stables rumored to be using illegal performance enhancing substances on their horses.
Those offering illegal substances to the industry were known to stewards (including their identity along with those allegedly buying these products, especially from a long-time harness figure) but nothing seems to be happening. Many in the industry want to know why.
There was also a report (confirmed by a now departed RQ heavy) surrounding the circumstances of a raid which netted a result (possession of a substance) only to be secretly dumped on supposed illegal search grounds, much to the annoyance of stewards who were involved. This case needs to be reopened.
Fears of legal reprisals prevent me from repeating some of the stories coming out of Deagon about internal arguments over integrity not to mention disagreements among those who were formerly running the show over the closeness of some identities to others.
If the main story doing the rounds – and it is one of the most talked about topics among stakeholders, some big punters and bookmakers – proves to be correct it will rock the foundations of the industry in Queensland.
They say when it comes to punting on a product that confidence lost, means everything lost, and that’s about the bottom line for racing here if this situation surfaces.
The best thing the Racing Minister can do at present is go public – even under Parliamentary privilege – and come clean as to whether the allegations involving a certain individual are true and if he has been referred to the CCC then provide an explanation as to why.
In the meantime it should be full steam ahead establishing this new independent Integrity Department and a new Head of Integrity and Stewarding Operations to replace Wade Birch now that he has been shown the door.
Questions need to be asked as well internally about the security of the swabbing operation within RQ. The main one is whether certain B Samples have disappeared after A Samples returned irregularities from a high profile stable.
Of course the industry would never know if there was a positive in an A Sample as the policy is to await confirmation before announcing it. If the B Sample never got to be tested then surely that needs to be made public.
This controversy – which is being aired in many areas of the State at present – could prove to have a more devastating affect than the ‘live baiting’ scandal did. And this time it won’t be the poor relation of the gallops – the greyhounds – that are caught in the cross fire. It will be the Big Kahuna code itself.’
PLUNGE WINNER SUBJECT OF INQUIRY & SOME CONTROVERSY AT MURWILLUMBAH 
THIS website has received several alarming emails concerning a race at Murwillumbah on Monday in which the winner, Wonderful Jester, landed a solid plunge.
Double figure odds were bet about Wonderful Jester, which hadn’t finished closer than ninth at its previous four starts, but after firming to $3 favourite duly saluted.
For legal reasons we cannot publish the contents of the emails sent to the Wednesday Whinge concerning this race but it has been suggested that a complaint was made to stewards by the connections of a rival horse to the winner.
The Stewards’ Report on the Murwillumbah meeting was finally published on the Racing NSW website late yesterday and in relation to this race it read:
Wonderful Jester – Stable representative Mr P. Rolfe advised that the gelding will be ridden with vigour in the early stages in an effort to establish a forward position. Slow to begin. Inclined to over-race approaching and rounding the first turn. An inquiry into the apparent improved performance of the gelding was opened and adjourned to a date to be fixed.
As this is the subject of an inquiry perhaps the matters being raised in connection with an incident allegedly witnessed in the parade area prior to the race will unfold during the hearing. One would hope so.
Stay tuned!
‘IT’S A BIT RICH LINING POCKETS OF MAGIC MILLIONS WHILE INDUSTRY SUFFERS’ 
‘NERVOUS OWNER’ from the NORTH sends this email:
‘MY family has been involved in country racing in Queensland all our lives and every time I read about another handout to Magic Millions my blood boils.
I doubt the next generation of our family will follow in our footsteps and support racing in the country – if it survives yet another financial crisis.
Every time there is a problem that threatens to affect the livelihood of the city slickers in this industry it seems the first place they look to cut costs is the country. We experienced that when Bob Bentley was running the show and many country clubs were closed.
Surely it is not going to happen again because Kevin Dixon left the industry in a financial hole. The country cannot afford to lose any more clubs and why should we?
If Racing Queensland is so financially embarrassed in the wake of the Dixon era and the industry cannot afford to fund Awards Nights then how in the hell can the powers that be justify this multi-million dollar contribution to Magic Millions for the next five years?
Surely Gerry Harvey has enough money – and is making enough money out of racing and the Magic Millions – without needing a handout from a struggling industry.
While other states are surging ahead (an additional $16.5 million in prizemoney in Victoria this season) with across the board stakes increases, all we seem to be doing in Queensland is going backwards except for this boast of conducting the richest race day in the country for the MM next January.
And where will this extra prizemoney go? One thing’s for sure it won’t be into the pockets of Queensland owners but more likely to clients of the big interstate stables who will head north to plunder the riches.
As for Gerry Harvey needing an extra $5 million a year from industry funds to host this extravaganza – well that’s an absurd embarrassment – shame, shame, shame Racing Queensland.
It’s like the new TAB deal – all piss and wind – and nothing to show for the razzamatazz that surrounded the big announcement. Now we are saddled with this ‘dud’ for 30 years unless a new-look RQ grows some balls and starts reversing a few decisions – the MM and Tatts contracts would be an ideal place to start.’
‘QLD RACING CAN ILL-AFFORD TO LOSE A TRAINER OF GOLLAN’S TALENTS’ 
MAX MORRIS of BRISBANE writes:
‘IT will be a devastating blow for the racing industry in Queensland if ‘young gun’ premier trainer, Tony Gollan, moves his stable interstate.
I read a story (by Mark Oberhardt of AAP) where Gollan said a move interstate, whether permanently or with a satellite stable, had been at the back of his mind for some time.
One would assume that he would still retain a Brisbane stable because many of his horses would not be up to the standard required in Sydney or Melbourne. Then again there are even more opportunities at the provincials down there for a great deal more prizemoney.
Gollan has admitted he has some concerns about the future of racing in Queensland and whether stakes levels will take a cut after the financial disaster that was apparently left when the Kevin Dixon Board departed. There aren’t too many involved in the industry here who don’t share Gollan’s concerns about the future.
I have no doubt that Gollan would hold his own with the best trainers interstate – he has already shown that a carnival times. But I wonder if he is also firing a shot across the bows of the bean counters now running RQ who have not ruled out prizemoney cuts. The question is: Will his warning fall on deaf ears?
For some there would be a touch of irony if Gollan was to go – not long after his old school mate Wade Birch departed the scene. Two ‘young guns’ who have played such important roles in racing in Queensland – here today, gone tomorrow – but I guess that’s racing!’
‘SHOULD SKELETONS OF THE PAST BE ENLISTED TO INTERIM RQ BOARD?’ 
‘MR PARKER’ of the SUNSHINE COAST, an occasional contributor, sent this email:
‘THE Courier-Mail's alert on the danger to the racing industry of a horse death at Atherton having an impact on the Ekka, reminded me that this month is the anniversary of the Equine Influenza outbreak, which could have destroyed the Queensland thoroughbred industry if not for the prompt action taken by the Control Body and the Racing Office.
It may come as a surprise that the Dixon Board-funded White Commission of Inquiry into Racing Queensland praised the Bentley Board and the Racing Office for their actions (Page 168 of the Inquiry reads): The response to the Equine Influenza outbreak......... earned widespread praise for all concerned .......it demonstrates that in the integrity and animal welfare aspects of its role, oversight was sufficient and appropriate.
The industry could be forgiven for wondering how much expertise could be brought to bear in the event of a similar crisis. Many industry observers believe one more crisis on top of the greyhound integrity and thoroughbred cobalt doping could have a terminal effect on the industry.
Peter Cameron recently reported in The Sunday Mail that an Interim Board was likely to be appointed. Many people in the industry are demanding that Bob Bentley be brought back for a limited time to impose some order and bring back the reality to an industry increasingly on the edge of extinction.
It is increasingly clear that the removal of the Bentley Board and replacement by the Dixon Board was a case of replacing what worked with what sounded good!’
‘THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHETHER TRAINERS TOOK HORSES TO TRACK ON COBALT’ 
DES MARTIN of MELBOURNE made this contribution on the cobalt controversy:
‘I am no legal expert – just another battling punter who does his best to find a winner most weekends – but I fail to see what the hullabaloo is all about in these cobalt cases.
My mates and I have spoken about it over a few drinks and to us it’s pretty simple. At the end of the day it’s all about whether a trainer started a horse that was swabbed and found to have raced after being administered with an illegal substance.
We don’t see where all this argument over whether cobalt is legal or not carries any substance. Cobalt, under the Rules of Racing in Australia, has a permitted threshold and swabs have shown these horses in question from the top stables to have been above that limit. End of story.
Whether the trainer administered the drug or not he was the one responsible for starting the horse in the race with an illegal substance in its system. To us, it’s as simple as that.
They can argue from now until Christmas over the affects that Cobalt has on a horse’s performance – here or in Timbuktu.
Whilst it is ‘illegal over a certain threshold’ under the Rules, whether it affects a horse or not in the opinion of so-called experts should have no bearing on the outcome of these inquiries – or at least that’s how we see it. Then again we aren’t lawyers being paid a King’s Ransom to get these blokes off.
And the sooner those responsible for hearing these inquiries – and those lawyers who are pussy-footing around putting their defense together – get off their backsides, the sooner the whole thing will get sorted out.
At the end of the day whatever happens to the likes of Kavanagh, Kavanagh junior, O’Brien and Moody, the show will go on. There will still be a Spring Carnival. There will still be record crowds. There will still be record turnover. All the supposedly bad publicity and controversy will not make any difference at all.’
‘EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL THREATS BLIGHT ON SOME IN GREYHOUND INDUSTRY’ 
VINCE HUDDY of GOLD COAST writes:
‘ONE questions the ethics and wonders how low some sections of the greyhound industry are prepared to go with their emotional blackmail threats of mass euthanasia in the wake of the ‘live baiting’ scandal.
It has been left to Animal Liberation Queensland to condemn the Townsville Greyhound Club over an intimidatory threat if repairs are not carried out at the club.
Imagine if every club in the three codes that needs some infrastructure work carried out adopted a similar philosophy to the TGC.
RQ should use the powers it has to charge officials of the Townsville Greyhound Club with bringing the racing industry – as a whole – into disrepute for making this threat.
Another solution to the financial woes facing RQ would be to close some of these struggling clubs down and free up prizemoney where it can be utilized better.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE is a story from brisbanetimes.com.au which the above email no doubt refers to:
THE organization that helped uncover shocking footage that kicked off the live-baiting scandal has accused a greyhound club of emotional blackmail over warnings of mass euthanasia.
The Townsville Greyhound Racing Club on Sunday warned many of the 2-300 dogs involved were at risk of being put down if it couldn't find $180,000 for repairs.
Animal Liberation Queensland president Chay Neal said the comments were another example of why the industry should not be allowed to continue.
“It sounds like the Townsville Greyhound Racing Club is attempting to emotionally blackmail Racing Queensland for further funding, threatening the lives of 300 healthy greyhounds,” he said in a statement on Monday night.
The club has abandoned races at two meetings this year because of a faulty lure and is at risk of folding if it cannot make repairs.
Track manager Michael Fusco said Racing Queensland would suspend meetings until the problem was properly fixed if the track suffers another breakdown.
President Gary Heath told News Corp it was an animal welfare issue.
“If they decide to close it, at a guess, I'd say we've got 200 to 300 greyhounds up here,” he said.
“We'd like to think we could find homes for them all but, being realistic, I think a lot of them would have to be put down.”
Mr Neal said the industry didn't see the value in a dog unless it was racing.
“Of course, our concern right now is for the future of these 300 dogs in Townsville,” he said.
“But an end to the industry there would be a positive move, and would spare many future generations of dogs an uncertain fate once they outlive their financial usefulness.”
The track's closure would place further strain on re-homing organizations, already at capacity in the region.
The RSPCA operates a re-homing program, working alongside charities and the national Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) to find owners for retired race dogs.
“It would be difficult for the rescue and re-homing organization with the numbers involved ... Townsville is totally full,” RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said.
“We'd definitely do our best to assist but the task would simply be too big.
“The GAP program needs to be 10 times the size they are now.”
The Greyhound commission of inquiry found the program was re-homing less than 100 animals in Queensland every year and almost two-thirds of ex-races were put down.
The Townsville club says it needs to upgrade its lure system to a more reliable cable model.
It has carried out temporary maintenance itself but its appeals to the state's governing body for funding have been unsuccessful.
RQ says it is satisfied with the condition of the track following the club's maintenance program.
‘WILL MINISTER PROVIDE SMALL CHANGE TO KEEP TOWNSVILLE DOGS ALIVE’? 
And there was also this email about the same northern Greyhound Cub from COLIN GARNET of TOWNSVILLE:
A big test is looming for the State’s new Racing Minister. Bill Byrne.
The Townsville Greyhound Club, which has a TAB meeting every week, has had troubles in the past months with its lure system. It’s very old and run down and needs an injection of about $180,000 for a new system.
This club is crucial in the overall picture of greyhound racing in this State. Apart from providing TAB revenue to the Government, it also supports a strong patronage from local greyhound owners, trainers and breeders. It’s also vital for placing mediocre dogs which don’t make the grade on the city tracks.
There is a predicament fronting Minister Byrne as the lease on the grounds where the club races is due to expire at the end of 2016, about 16 months away.
Given that Minister Byrne has recently supported the private company Magic Millions receiving an annual handout of $5 million, the $180,000 needed for this club in the north is a mere drop in the ocean.
His predecessor ‘Furlong in Front’ Steve Dickson also plunged about $7 million on the horse track in Toowoomba before his demise. So now it’s going to be a test for My Byrne.
Does he prop up an ailing and desperately needed greyhound club in the country for a mere $180,000, small change when you see what he has done for Mr Harvey, or let Townsville drop off the map and with it about 300 racing greyhounds plus their owners and trainers?’
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.
