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.
MELBOURNE CUP CONSOLATION – A FITTING TRIBUTE TO BART CUMMINGS? 
JOHN STEVENS of MELBOURNE sent this email:
‘I was interested to read an article by Rod Nicholson in the Herald Sun where he suggested that the winning post at Flemington would be an appropriate place to erect a permanent tribute to the legendary Bart Cummings.
Nicholson wrote: ‘Flemington has made the winning post a centre piece in recent years. From an almost indiscernible pole a century ago, it now is festooned with flowers and brass, the pivotal point in every race run at the famous racecourse.
No matter the standard of race, the distance or the number of runners, every eye instinctively focuses on the winning post at the business end of a race.
Phar Lap, the equine equivalent of Bart, ran past it, as did all the champions of more than 150 years of racing in this nation.
How appropriate it would be if all future winners saluted The Bart, not merely the winning post.
Who knows, maybe being beaten at The Bart could become part of racing’s vernacular.
The powers that be at the Victoria Racing Club — along with Racing Victoria — could figure an appropriate way to immortalize Bart at the finishing line. Maybe a bust, or just The Bart in bold bronze above the place everyone wants to reach first.’
My mates and I had a chat about it over a pot or two at our local and whilst we all like the idea one came up with what might be a more fitting tribute and reminder of the 12 Melbourne Cups that Bart won and the passion he had for our racing icon to be free of the grip of the overseas stayers.
It’s an accepted fact that Bart will forever be the Cups King – that no trainer will ever emulate his winning record in the big race – and the reason for that is the increasing number of overseas raiders heading down under to plunder our great prizemoney and take home the Holy Grail.
Bart made his thoughts on the number of overseas horses allowed to contest the Cup and what he believed was far too lenient qualifying requirements for them to make the field. He felt it was a slight on the local trainers and the battle they had to get a runner in the race that stops the nation.
Flemington already hosts The Bart Cummings, a 2500m event where the winner is guaranteed a Melbourne Cup start. Why not go a step further and run another 3200m event on the first Tuesday in November as Bart’s Cup Consolation for those who fail to make the field for the big one. Perhaps officials might even include some of the international visitors in the field for it – let’s face it some of those shouldn’t be in the Cup itself but somehow make the field. Make this race worth big prizemoney and it would certainly boost a support program on Cup day which one could argue needs just that.’
THE TRUE MEASURE OF ANY LEGEND IN SPORT IS TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSTIY 
BARRY THOMAS of MELBOURNE telegraphs a warning to champion trainer PETER MOODY:
‘THE true measure of a legend in any sport is how he triumphs over adversity.
The late, great Bart Cummings had his share of ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ but it never affected his love for racing or how he treated the media.
He was a true champion and so is Peter Moody, albeit he will never be in the Cummings league.
I was once a great fan of Peter Moody and what he has achieved as a trainer but he has lost much of my respect with his ‘spit the dummy’ reaction to this cobalt situation.
Some would call it an over-reaction but I guess that depends where you sit. He is facing a serious charge that could end up in disqualification of his trainer’s license.
Whilst the future remains uncertain for he and other trainers, Moody needs to accept that is not the fault of racing, its administrators or the media who are simply reporting the news.
Thousands of trainers before him have faced similar situations. Why should he be treated any differently because of this new dirty word in racing – ‘cobalt’ – whether he has done anything wrong or not?
Implementing a media ban on race days and major racing awards nights is not winning sympathy for Moody. In fact his support base out there among the general racing public has been eroded by his behavior.
Moody lashed out at the racing industry on a Melbourne radio station recently declaring: “I’m either good for the game or bad for the game – get your splinters out of your arse and make your mind up is what I'm saying.”
Sorry Pete but the only one who needs a reality check in all of this IS YOU. The racing industry is bigger than the individual. Stop carrying on like a spoilt brat and fight to prove your innocence rather than continue to bleat and blame others for the predicament you find yourself in.’
TWO OLD WAR HORSES OF BOOKMAKING TRADE BLOWS IN THE CAR PARK 
THIS is the result of several emails sent from the north of the state:
AN interesting story is emerging from the north after a country Cup meeting last weekend.
It involves two long-time mates and bookmakers who apparently traded blows in the car park.
This has been a long-running feud involving the rights of bookmakers to field at country meetings in the north and one that needs addressing by the powers-that-be at Racing Queensland.
It seems one mate was dirty on the other claiming he stopped him from fielding at Home Hill and then the other equally so over a similar incident apparently occurring at Charters Towers.
It all boiled over in Ingham but there could be only one winner when fists were raised. One old mate was considerably bigger and stronger and the other, we are told, lost his hearing aid during the fisticuffs.
BIGGER DOESN’T NECESSARILY MEAN A BETTER QLD WINTER CARNIVAL 
MAL LOCKWOOD of SUNSHINE COAST writes:
‘IT looks like we’re back to a ‘war and peace’ winter carnival in Queensland next year. When will one of these dunderheads making important decisions learn that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better?
One of the few things that the Kevin Dixon Board got right in the eyes of many was the reduction in size of the carnival. And, in hindsight, there weren’t too many things they got right.
It was too long. But guess what? The old Board was no sooner shown the door than the carnival goes back to its long, drawn out size.
Some will say Doomben Cup deserves a stand-alone day. Others will argue there should be more Super Saturdays in a condensed carnival.
Whether Toowoomba deserves a permanent primary carnival Saturday and the Sunshine Coast two feature days is debatable.
At the end of the day as long as the Stradbroke and major Group Ones of the Brisbane Racing Club return to Eagle Farm, along with the Tattersalll’s Tiara, the majority of stakeholders – and more importantly the punters – will be delighted. They’ve had a gutful of racing at Doomben every Saturday.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: It seems that one of Brisbane’s leading sports and turf writers agrees with you Mal. Here is what BEN DORRIES wrote in THE COURIER-MAIL on the longer carnival plans:
THERE is an old adage in sport — a fast game is a good game.
It’s not always true, but it certainly is in the case of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.
Racing Queensland bosses are barking up the wrong tree with a proposal to lengthen the state’s showcase racing carnival from nine to 12 weeks.
Let’s face it, the Queensland carnival is not the Sydney autumn or Melbourne spring carnival.
It doesn’t attract nearly the same calibre of horseflesh, partly because it falls at a time when the blue-chip gallopers are in the paddock getting ready for the spring.
Many of the horses that raced during the carnival this year were second-stringers from the big southern stables with only a couple of promising types (such as Pornichet) emerging.
That’s not to knock the Queensland carnival because it certainly commands its own place in the racing calendar, especially with increased prizemoney in recent seasons.
But it must be punchy, vibrant, engaging, headline-grabbing and jam-packed with wall-to-wall racing action.
It can’t be like a milkshake with too much milk and not enough flavouring.
But the draft racing schedule for the 2016 Queensland carnival would see the event run from April 16 to July 2.
It would have a similar look to past years when there was always heavy criticism it meandered on for too long. That was before a shake-up this year which seemed to work just fine.
But a three-month Queensland winter carnival is simply far too long to maintain the rage for local horse racing fans — let alone southerners.
‘JUST ANOTHER FORM REVERSAL IN BRISBANE RACING AND NOTHING SAID’ 
ALBERT WILLIAMS of REDCLIFFE, a regular contributor, writes:
‘I enjoy reading the ‘Silks & Saddles’ column but have to take the author to task about his description of the Cairns-owned Hot Saga as ‘ever consistent’.
Might I suggest Terry that its win on Saturday was close to a major form reversal? At its previous start over the same track and distance the horse couldn’t pick its feet up and questions were raised whether it ran out the trip.
Kaypers might be a bit of a non-winner but when it clashed with Hot Saga in this race was narrowly beaten by Shotover River. Hot Saga finished nearly five lengths behind them and appeared to have every chance.
Last Saturday Hot Saga met Kaypers a kilo better, went past the favorite like it was tied to the ground to improve on his previous effort by six lengths. And we might mention they didn’t forget to back it.
That is hardly ever consistent despite the fact Hot Saga has won three of his last four starts – the previous two by the way were in the wet at the Sunshine Coast.
But the hard-working and ever-efficient Brisbane stewards saw nothing wrong with the form reversal either. Their only comment about Hot Saga was that it shifted out near the 600m to avoid heels.
Fortunately they had well and truly settled into the job by race seven when Mishani Di Caprio turned in the biggest form reversal of the day – and probably the month – with his $41 win.
Their report on the race read: When questioned as to the seemingly improved peformance trainer Less Ross stated that the gelding had performed poorly at its first two runs this campaign due to the heavy weights it had been handicapped. Mr Ross added that with the step up in distance the gelding was able to lead and dictate terms.
If we accept that, an apprentice’s claim can make one hell of a difference. It enabled Mishani Di Caprio to grow a leg on his 10th of 12 at the Gold Coast and sixth of seven at the Gold Coast.
If us punters are silly enough to bet on Brisbane racing then we get what we deserve – served up week in, week out. The roughies just continue to salute – with no form to justify their improvements – and many of the favorites which look like good things perform like mules.’
EDITOR'S NOTE: The only comment I would make after examining the excellent Sectional Times report compiled by Phil Purser of justracing is that the slower pace may have contributed to the performance of Hot Sage at his previous start. Add that to the fact that the trip sees Kaypers out and there wasn't much to beat last Saturday.
THE SOONER SEVEN COVERAGE BECOMES PART OF FOXTEL THE BETTER 
DON JAMES of SYDNEY sent this email:
‘MOST stay-at-home punters can’t wait for this new Channel 7 racing station to be included in the Foxtel package.
They can then dispense with the remote control which has become too big a part of their afternoon watching the races.
Channel 78 is panels in front of Sky Channel but switching from one to the other is a bit too tedious for those who just want to leave their racing on the one station now that the Melbourne races are again available on Sky.
The difference occurs for those of us who like watching on other days of the week, apart from Saturday. A good example is Sunday when what you get is wall-to-wall NSW racing with their Dad and Dave commentary teams commanding far too much air time for bush venues which are of no interest whatsoever to those of us from outside NSW.
We even had a dill hosting one of the NSW meetings on Sunday telling us continually why racing in that state is so great and so much better than the rest. It was finger down the throat stuff.’
WATCHING RACING REFORM UNFOLD – YET AGAIN – IN QUEENSLAND 
JOHN THE FIREMAN, a regular BRISBANE contributor, gives us an update on his thoughts on the future of racing in Queensland:
‘I’VE been watching things unfold and have been reading various comments and looked at the racing reform survey.
It is a sad situation that the industry finds itself in caused by people at the top that if they had a true passion for the sport/industry should not have let this happen but obviously self-interest/egos seem to have reined.
I have a concern that the past is being forgotten too quickly and not being considered enough for the future plans for the industry. There has to be lessons learned from the past. Why business processes allowed things to continue on with the checks and balances not being brought under control, alarm bells should have rang loud.
Examples: ‘Industry Boards’ removed but did they fail because the system was wrong or the wrong people were appointed? Perhaps it was one person ruling everything. Having seen what was required to apply for these positions you would have thought the successful people could have done the job.
Is the new approach/set-up a proven model for a modern day industry wanting to go forward?
We have had previous industry reports done and if we accept their findings as relevant then these need to be picked up in the new model for racing going forward.
Asset sales/debt - Deagon/Albion Park: Well before anything is done let’s get all the facts for all to see before rash decisions are made regards possible short term fixes to the debt problem.
It appears that needed prizemoney increases weren’t covered by the 30-year TAB deal, so what can the deal really deliver now and in the future? How short of funds are we to maintain current levels which all will want to be maintained?
Some of the arguments regards both facilities become annoying and really should come down to what is needed and what a sale will achieve for a new racing industry model.
Deagon is a good training facility if maintained and houses RQ headquarters. Arguments over local properties are no different to people that train at Eagle Farm and Doomben who have/had local real estate.
What is RQ cost for office space (per square metre) under the current arrangement compared to what it would cost at the BRC?
Where would Deagon horses be trained? Eagle Farm has its trainers/horses and Doomben has been only a temporary facility in plans for the future.
Albion Park: This is the hard one for me as I see it as the jewel in the crown for the industry currently but particularly for the harness and greyhound codes to move forward in this state. If you accept the facility isn’t up to standard anymore and that past issues/promises have yet to reach satisfactory outcomes (that being the closure of Parklands and the long awaited upgrades of Albion Park for those who may have memory loss). Reality is the current race track numbers for both codes isn’t going to increase now or in the future. So if you did SELL it, let’s have a brave look at what may be able to be achieved.
1. An opportunity to create a multi-purpose facility for both codes that delivers better track designs and meets RQ goals.
2. Most importantly an opportunity to address and improve the products for both codes. This needs to be done to get people betting again and to improve turnover. Link a world’s best practice integrity system and confidence may return for punting on these codes.
3. Do nothing and continue to die a slow death.
4. Money left over should be put to industry projects that can generate extra income and that money should be split between the codes.
The thoroughbred industry needs to come together and develop a racing model that works for this state and allows all to participate to some degree. That appears to be what people want.
Breaking things down to the day to day product; metropolitan, provincial and country racing;TAB/Non TAB; Integrity; Infrastructure and multipurpose facilities; and the breeding industry with QTIS remaining – overall a plan that allows those who can to achieve other income streams.
Some poor decisions need correcting to get some money back to meet budget. For example a $2 million Stradbroke/never made sense; Magic Millions day should be at best large money for 2yo/3yo millions races but the rest of card attract metropolitan money.
The future
Hopefully greyhound and harness facilities that meet the product needs to develop into the future, make punters happy and confident to bet on the racing;
A thoroughbred industry that gets the day to day grass roots racing on a firm base that can grow in all ways;
An overall industry that has best practice that installs confidence in the punting public to bet on our products – because we do have a good product.
I’m hopeful that consultation with all industry stakeholders will lead to good things happening.’
STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED IN THE MAINSTREAM RACING MEDIA
VICTORIA TO BOOST NIGHT RACING – A BY-PRODUCT OF NEW TELEVISION DEAL 
VICTORIA will embark on extensive Thursday and Friday night racing as a by-product of the new television deal with Channel Seven.
ROD NICHOLSON reports that RV chairman David Moodie, in an exclusive interview with the HERALD SUN, said he expected Moonee Valley, Cranbourne and Pakenham’s Racing.com. Park would host 27 Thursday night meetings, with 33 on Friday nights.
That would increase night racing to 11.4 per cent of all Victorian meetings, an increase from 31 meetings in 2013/14 to 60 in 2016/17.
“Thursday nights offer a bigger audience on television, as well as a potentially bigger attendance, than daytime racing. Now we have lights going up at Pakenham Racing.com Park, to be completed in March, we will have three centres capable of night racing.
“That opens an opportunity to race at night in non-winter months, and a couple of times a week. That should make for good television viewing, good for people to attend after work, and good for increased wagering,” he said.
Moodie, who took over the chair of Racing Victoria in May, said the industry was enjoying an unprecedented surge and would continue to be innovative.
He cited the “courageous decision” to partner Channel 7 in new media rights, an exceptional turnaround in RV’s finances, the boost in prizemoney and the additional synthetic track at Pakenham as examples of RV’s improved position.
Moodie said the hook-up with Channel 7, which began broadcasts on Saturday, was a significant break from tradition and hopefully would be seen in coming years as a critical moment in local racing history.
“It was a courageous decision by the board of Racing Victoria. We decided to take a different road to the historic link with SkyChannel. Fortunately (Channel 7 chairman) Kerry Stokes rang us and said he would back us all the way,” Moodie said.
“We had to accumulate the rights from the three major race clubs — the Victoria Racing Club, Melbourne Racing Club and Moonee Valley Racing Club — as well as Country Racing Victoria. We paid a lot of money for that.
“The real priority now is to bed that down, to capitalise on all that it offers. We will focus on taking our product to the people, looking for greater participation and greater wagering involvement. It should be a bonus to everyone, including the TAB.”
Moodie said Victoria had an outstanding joint venture with TabCorp on a wagering front, but also was critical of aspects of the wagering giant’s operations.
“It can be argued that the arrival of the corporate bookmakers provided the jolt the TAB needed and they haven’t been as quick as a gazelle to respond,” he said.
“The sponsorship of the Racing.com deal with Channel 7 was up for tender. We kind of thought that TabCorp would have been more enthusiastic. They did put up their hand, but CrownBet and Ladbrokes offered so much more to become the premier and associate sponsors respectively.
“As far as the media rights go, we have come to an agreement with Sky. However I want to strengthen our arrangements with Tabcorp and become closer with a better alignment (of our aims).”
Moodie said RV’s finances had been turned on their head in the past few years.
“Four years ago we had a debt of $40 million and they were worrying times. But we now have paid that off completely,” he said.
“The product fees (from corporate bookmakers) have been very favourable to us. And the joint venture with TABCorp has helped. It has provided a good set of circumstances during the past 24 months.”
He said that was reflected in revenue streams and boosts to prizemoney, which increased $16.5 million for this season.
“Our revenue has increased by about $100 million in the past six years, and we’ve increased our contribution to prizemoney from $114 million in that time to $164 million this season — and that’s without the top up from the clubs themselves (taking it to $174.2m) or VOBIS bonuses,” Moodie said.
“We also have significantly lifted our investment in infrastructure which will pay dividends for decades to come.”
Moodie said he was confident Victorian racing would flourish.
“We see Victorian races as the No. 1 in the nation and believe it has been for a long time. We intend to keep it that way.”
And he believes that RV has the backing of the Minister for Racing, Martin Pakula.
“Racing is the only sport with its own ministry, and I think we are blessed to have one of the most senior ministers appointed Minister for Racing. Martin Pakula also is the Attorney-General, and he gets racing. He knows what it’s about, what we are about, and you can’t ask for more than that.”
HKJC PROMOTES ANOTHER ONE THAT GOT AWAY FROM RACING QUEENSLAND 
THE Hong Kong Jockey Club has announced the promotion of Andrew Harding to the position of Executive Director, Racing Authority with effect from 1 September 2015.
Harding joined the Club in 2012 as Director of Racing Development. In his new capacity as Executive Director, Racing Authority, Harding will be responsible for the Club’s role in controlling and supervising horse racing in Hong Kong to ensure the Club maintains public confidence in Hong Kong racing and that the standard of regulation is world best in positioning the Club as an international leader in the sport.
The operational responsibilities of the Racing Authority Division include overseeing areas relating to racing registry, racing control, racing laboratory, and veterinary regulation, as well as quarantine policies and protocol, licensing, the Racing Development Board, and equestrian affairs. In addition to these, the division will also drive the improvement in international standards for intellectual property rights protection, drug control, movement of horses, black type races, quality control, harmonized rules of racing, and other matters which impact the Club’s growth opportunities. Harding will also be the Club’s dedicated resource in supporting the development of the racing regulatory framework for China.
In assuming this expanded role, Harding will continue as the Club’s ambassador at the international level with his roles as Secretary General of the Asian Racing Federation, Special Counsellor to the President of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), Chairman of the IFHA Technical Advisory Committee, and Co-Secretary General of the International Horse Sports Confederation.
Harding is an Australian qualified lawyer and he holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics degrees from the University of Queensland. Before joining the Club, he was Chief Executive of the Australian Racing Board and Deputy CE & Counsel of Queensland Racing.
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.
