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.
RALLY WILL ACHIEVE NOTHING IF IT DEGENERATES INTO LNP SHAM 
EDITOR'S NOTE: ONE questions the timing of a public and industry rally to protest the absence of an acceptable Board to run the three codes of racing plus the massive prizemoney cuts - perhaps a Saturday morning when more people would have been available might have been a better choice.
Nevertheless, the rally will no doubt send a strong protest message to the Government and new Racing Minister Grace Grace. Here's hoping it does not degenerate - as top trainer Rob Heathcote has warned against - into a political bashing of Labor by the LNP organizers of the rally.
It was fortunate to see Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk among the speakers. Maybe they should have organized Alan Jones as well. Quirk is arguably the most fair dinkum politician in Queensland, loves his racing and treats topics on their merit - not politically based - as an example his decision to march with the gay and lesbians despite resentment and pressure from some within his Party.
Quirk is a breath of fresh air compared to the blinkered political attitude of some of his Paty faithful, like the current LNP Racing Spokesperson Jann Stuckey who is blaming Labor for the current state of affairs in racing. She should take a good look in the mirror. One could argue that the excesses that have caused the current financial woes, not to mention the delay in the Eagle Farm redeveloment and a myriad of other issues lie squarely at the feet of the previous LNP Government and their little general, former RQ Chairman Kevin Dixon.
The LNP could do themselves a big favor and make Ray Stevens the Shadow Racing Minister. He knows more about the industry than most politicians from both parties will ever learn or forget for tht matter.
.
RESOLUTIONS WITH A DIFFERENCE THAT THE PUBLIC RALLY MIGHT CONSIDER 
BILL WHITEHOUSE, an owner who has moved his horses interstate and a regular contributor to this column on racing in Queensland, sent this interesting email concerning today’s community rally at Doomben:
‘I am attending (Wednesday’s) rally at Doomben and I am hoping that Kevin Dixon and Ian Hall will be there as well.
Dixon gets his best chance to explain how he allowed the industry to sink to an all-time low and Hall can explain why a rally is doing his job and the job of Racing Queensland.
You see because of the changes that Dixon and the LNP have put in place racing is joined at the hip with Government and we do not have a strong voice at Racing Queensland to press our point with Government.
Previously, racing was independent of Government and the industry at least had a vehicle through which it could address issues. However, as a result of the LNP - Dixon changes, Racing Queensland is essentially an extension of Government.
I will be consulting with several of my colleagues about putting forward resolutions from the floor if I can get reasonable support. I propose them in this order:
1. The racing industry commits to working with the Government of the day to find a solution to the prizemoney crisis,
2. Racing Queensland and the Government defer all prizemoney, and other similar decisions, until meaningful discussions are held,
3. The industry requests that, the Government and Racing Queensland, as part of the aforementioned discussions considers a bailout package, that can be paid off over time, for the industry,
4. That at the rally, we elect an interim Committee to take matters forward with the Government and Racing Queensland,
5. We commit to retain the Committee and in due course formalize it to be responsible for future communications with Government and Racing Queensland,
6. We call on the Government as part of its legislative changes, to amend legislation to once again allow Racing Queensland to stand on its own – apart from Government, and finally
7. We call on the Government to put on hold the Integrity reform proposed until our Committee is able to meet with Government to properly understand the financial implications of the proposed changes going forward.
These are all reasonably high level resolutions and if we can get these up we can meet immediately with new Racing Minister Grace Grace to discuss the new Board criteria and many other important matters.’
ANOTHER CHANCE TO BLAME LABOR, BILL & BOB FOR RACING’S WOES 
BARRY BAKER of the SUNSHINE COAST writes:
‘WHAT‘S the bet the Labor Government, Bill Ludwig and Bob Bentley get blamed for the woes now confronting the racing industry in Queensland when the LNP faithful lead the industry by the nose and paint the gloomiest possible picture for the future of racing at Doomben on Wednesday (today).
One thing’s for sure the gentlemen who need to shoulder most of the blame for the situation that racing now finds itself in will instead be painted as ‘saints’. I am referring of course to former RQ Chairman Kevin Dixon, former Treasurer Tim Nicholls and last, but surely not least, former Racing Minister Steve Dickson.
Another opportunity for the LNP to bag the Labor Government – knowing with a little help from their friends in the mainstream racing media they will get plenty of coverage – and racing will be front, back and inside for all the wrong reasons.
The fact remains the financial state of racing in Queensland when the Bentley Board departed was extremely healthy. Dixon, determined to be remembered as the best chairman ever, provided prizemoney increases that history soon proved were excessive and could not be afforded. He was just appeasing the words of the Minister of the Day that Queensland racing would finish ‘a furlong in front of NSW and Victoria’. What an idiot!
One could argue that had those responsible thrashed out a far better deal with UBET the prizemoney increases could have been afforded. Instead this 30-year ‘dud’ will get little mention at the rally while politics rule and all the wrong people get the blame for the financial woes now confronting the industry.
If the revenue isn’t being generated as expected then it won’t be UBET or the Government that suffers. Instead it will be the industry. If this contract – like the ridiculous one with Magic Millions cannot be altered – racing in Queensland will continue to go backwards.’
‘THEY’ CRY POOR – YET ‘THEY’ CAN AFFORD TO RUN FULL PAGE NEWSPAPER ADS
ALBERT WILLIAMS, a regular critic of racing in Queensland, sent this email: 
‘THEY’ whine and they bitch about these disgraceful prizemoney cuts yet ‘they’ can afford to take out a full page ad in Queensland’s biggest daily newspaper to promote a protest rally.
Just who are ‘they’?
One suspects ‘they’ are very closely aligned to the LNP and ‘they’ stand to gain the most if the minority Labor Government can be under-mined in the eyes of the racing industry and ‘they’ get who ‘they’ want to run the show. I call it ‘relevance deprivation’. ‘They’ would know what I mean.
History shows that no matter what political party is in power racing in Queensland degenerates into a crap fight – largely because of accusations of pork-barreling to certain clubs, stakeholder groups and individuals.
It goes back to the days when ‘Big Russ’ Hinze had control of the racing purse strings and more and more millions were thrown at that ‘dead duck’ harness racing. Not that the gallops missed out back then either – silent, dusty, broken down monuments to the Russ era still stand – if they haven’t already fallen over – as last legacies of the wastage that racing enjoyed at the expense of the taxpayer way back then.
Not much has changed. In more recent times Bob Bentley was accused of favoring clubs like the Sunshine Coast and Ipswich. Ironically, the former has been one of the Queensland racing success stories. Kevin Dixon was equally blamed for favoring the Brisbane Racing Club (of which he was a former chairman) and of course the greatest waste of racing money in recent times, the Clifford Park track in Toowoomba.
Through all the politics there have been some great survivors and none more than Gerry Harvey and his Magic Millions Bloodstock Company. Now, while the rest of the industry must suffer the pain of the excesses of that great little favorite, (former RQ Chairman Kevin Dixon), genial Gerry benefits from a $5 million a year deal for the next seven years.
And when they bring the ‘goat riders’ in by the bus load and the LNP faithful rise one after the other to blame Labor for all the woes now confronting racing, the poor old industry will once again be led like Judas goats to the slaughter at the hands of another political hoedown.’
UBET COMMENTS PROOF THAT ‘IAN HALL HAS OVER-STAYED HIS WELCOME’ 
ROD GOLDSWORTHY of BRISBANE writes:
‘IF ever there was a doubt that Ian Hall has over-stayed his welcome as Acting CEO of Racing Queensland it occurred last week.
Those of us who have been following the year-in year-out dramas – most of a political nature – that have dogged the industry in this state were left gob-smacked by the story that made headlines on the back page of The Courier-Mail.
Under the banner: ‘Punting Turf War’, turf writer Ben Dorries quoted Hall as ‘encouraging an explosive turf war’ UBET and corporate bookmaking giant Sportsbet.
Whilst I must agree that competition is good for business does Hall not have an obligation to support to the hilt UBET considering they have a 30-year deal with RQ? Little wonder they are dirty, more so after reports (I am assuming these are correct) that KPMG has some business involvement with Sportsbet right now. I think that’s called a conflict of interest.
My friends and I are mystified why Sportsbet would want to make a major push into racing in Queensland – perhaps it’s summer and the spotlight focuses on the Sunshine State where Magic Millions Day is a license for the bookie boys to print money with ‘donkeys’ racing for obscene money around a goat track. Little wonder punters go broke.
The other aspect of the corporates being keen to bet on Queensland – or Brisbane racing especially – could be put down to the poor quality of the horse (which throws up plenty of upsets), tracks bias (you can hardly blame Doomben, the poor track will need rebuilding by the time Eagle Farm is finished) and should I mention it (certain things that happen on the track, the war between two stables at present which is going virtually unnoticed by stewards is a strong talking point).
But back to the state of play and you wouldn’t need to be any corporate bookmaking giant to make UBET look second rate. A half drunk, down on his luck, cashed out SP in a street corner pub would – in the minds of most punters – offer a better service and more value than this mob does. And he would probably have his Fixed Odds up quicker than that ‘big bloke’ they promote so heavily who never seems to tip a winner.’
FAN OF JIM RUNDLE BUT THE LAST THING RQ NEEDS IS ANOTHER INQUIRY 
BOB ANDREWS of NORTH QUEENSLAND sent this email:
‘JIM Rundle, president of the Queensland Trainers’ Association, is a breath of fresh air after what we have had to put up with from that other political fence-jumping mob.
There are plenty in the industry who would like to see him on the new Board (if that were possible) but his latest comment left me breathless.
Rundle is calling on the Queensland Government and new Racing Minister Grace Grace to conduct an independent review. Come on Jim. We’ve had enough Inquiries – sure they have all been politically motivated – but let’s face it. These have achieved nothing except to cost the industry millions and fill the pockets of lawyers.
Jim was a great supporter of Bill Byrne, whose term as Racing Minister was short-lived and I am told he is far from happy that one of Byrne’s first proposals was declared non-negotiable – that was separating the three codes – which is a shame because that way harness racing might have had to stand alone instead of being carried by the other two codes. It simply would not have survived.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE is a story by MATTI BROOKS from THE BULLETIN in Rockhampton that the above email obviously refers to:
JIM Rundle has been the president of the Queensland Trainers Association for the past three years.
And in that time the Rockhampton trainer has seen just as many Queensland Ministers of Racing.
The latest racing minister, Grace Grace, comes into the role as part of the Palaszczuk government's Cabinet reshuffle earlier this week.
And the new minister enters the job at a time when Racing Queensland (RQ) is at the crossroads.
Prior to her appointment, on Thursday, December 3, the then racing minister Bill Byrne announced $21million for country racing, the Queensland Country Racing Support Program.
The program has been designed to give country racing time to adjust to the cuts the industry faces in April next year. These cuts are detailed in the Transition to Sustainability report released by Mr Byrne on the same day.
The report was in response to the RQ recording a deficit of $28million last financial year
"There is a lot of fear, a lot of concern in the industry right now," Rundle said.
"There will be cuts to prize money as well as the number of races, by up to 50 race meetings. That is a lot of racing disappearing."
The Transition to Sustainability report was prepared by Queensland Treasury with a directive requiring RQ to return to profitability by July 1, 2016.
"Basically, they are saying no handouts," Rundle said.
"The industry has to stand on its own two feet. And the consequences of that is cuts; cuts to prize money and cuts to race meetings."
According to Rundle, the crisis the Queensland racing industry faces has not just appeared. It has developed over a number of years of mistakes and poor management.
One example he cites is a former government deciding to sell the Queensland TAB.
Now in its present, private form, UBET is struggling to generate revenue as it loses market share to the large, multinational bookmakers like William Hill and Ladbrokes.
This is the industry's main source of revenue, with 6.5% of UBET's wagering coming back as revenue.
"UBET must conduct market research and determine why punters are deserting in droves to bet with the corporate bookmakers," Rundle said. "They then need to act on this information and develop business strategies in order to compete effectively."
Meanwhile, the large corporate bookmakers only return 2% to RQ revenue.
But according to an argument put forward by the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association (TBQA), the corporate bookmakers haven't been audited in the last six months, since Labor came to power and sacked the previous RQ Board, so there are question marks surrounding how much they are actually contributing.
"The industry could be losing millions of dollars in revenue because the 'bookkeeping isn't being done by RQ," TBQA president Basil Nolan said.
Rundle says there are also deeper issues at play. But it is not all doom and gloom.
He has what he believes is a simple two-step plan to rescue the horse racing industry in Queensland.
And based on the success of the racing industry in the southern states, it would appear to be common sense.
"I am calling on the Queensland Government and the new racing minister to conduct an independent review," Rundle said.
"It must be independent of RQ and this review should consider a two-point plan."
The first component of Rundle's plan is make the Queensland thoroughbred industry a stand-alone sector.
Under the present system, RQ is responsible for horse racing, harness racing (trots) and greyhound racing (dogs).
"In NSW and Victoria they have moved horse racing to a stand-alone model and been very successful," Rundle explained.
"We want to do the same and want racing to be a stand-alone racing code. At the moment RQ is hobbled by the trots and the dogs."
Part of RQ's problems lie in the sheer geographical size of the state, with the concentration of infrastructure and powerful vested interests in the south-east corner.
"South-east Queensland wants all of it on its own," Rundle said. "They don't care about country racing. They want to slash and burn country racing because it costs money to run and they want all the money themselves."
The trots are a case in point. At one stage there were harness racing tracks right up the Queensland coast.
"They tried this with the trots," Rundle said.
"All the harness racing was centralised and concentrated in Brisbane. And it almost collapsed. There are very few country harness racing clubs left and the industry lost $7million last year."
Another problem with having the three codes under the one administrative body, Rundle said, is the cross subsidisation which takes place.
"When the trots lose money, that cost is shared by horse racing," Rundle said.
The second part of Rundle's plan he wants the government to consider is to move from the present TAB model back to the former provincial club model, which he calls a spoke and hub model.
"We have moved to a TAB model, where provincial races are held mid-week, set by RQ, and funded by betting," Rundle said.
"And the metro clubs race on most Saturdays.
BITS & PIECES FROM OFF THE BEATEN TRACK TO THE DEAGON BUNKER
FORMER RACING IDENTITY ‘WON TOO MUCH’ FOR THE CORPORATES 
BARRY BROWN of SUNSHINE COAST sent this email:
THE big story doing the rounds in racing in the past week has been about the former racing identity who has been banned by betting with one of the big corporate agencies.
It seems he was far more successful on the punt than some might suggest he had been at what he previously did in racing.
But there is a sting in the tail. It would seem – from sources close to the bookmaker – that his success has largely been associated with horses from a particular stable.
There are interesting theories - but that's racing.
THIS WASN’T A $64,000 QUESTION – IT WAS A $35 MILLION ANSWER WE WANTED 
DAN SEARLE of BRISBANE raises an interesting question:
‘THE Sunday Mail is my favorite newspaper and when I saw there was an interview with Gerry Harvey I was especially interested as it was written by one of my favorites in Robert Craddock.
Alas, on this occasion, you let me down ‘Crash’. It was interesting and well written as most of your articles are but you failed to ask the one question that just about everyone in racing wants answered.
‘HOW does Gerry Harvey feel about accepting $5 million a year for seven years at the expense of an industry that is on its knees especially when that massive amount of money is going into a private company?
No doubt Gerry would say that he and some partners of the past in ‘Singo’ and company did the hard yards, created an iconic racing event and contributed greatly to the economy of Queensland and that this is just reward.
Perhaps so but there are so many other alternate arguments – like: It would only work this well on the Gold Coast (which they found out in the past); it’s rather arrogant to suggest that Magic Millions is responsible for the tourist crowds that flock to the sun and surf at holiday time; and just how much of this $35 million contribution will return to racing in Queensland?
To make matters worse I almost threw up when I read the quote where Gerry felt Kevin Dixon was the ‘best bloke’ he had seen in the job (as RQ Chairman). Might be wrong but I kind of remember him saying that about Bob Bentley at one stage to. Guess if someone gifts or orchestrates $5 million a year to your company, you would tend to feel the same way too.
Sorry Gerry – it’s as big a joke as the 30-year UBET deal that ‘the best bloke’ was responsible for. Sorry Crash – you’re a better journalist than that and the question about the multi millions headed to Harvey was one of the first questions you should have asked of the former vacuum cleaner salesman.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: PERHAPS we should point out that the drop in prizemoney does not take effect until April. Could that possibly be the case with Magic Millions after this big one in January or are they like UBET protected by a contract that some might say should never have been signed for such a lengthy period to start with?
THEY COULDN’T TIP A WINNER RUNNING FORM GUIDE OF PREVIOUS WEEK 
MERV the MAD PUNTER from ROCKHAMPTON has a bleat about the local fish and chips wrapper:
THE poor old Rockhampton Bulletin is owned by an Irishman and has been the subject of a series of Irish jokes in the past week.
We all make mistakes and the APN publication was responsible for a classic last week when on Friday they mistakenly ran the Race Guide for the previous week.
As one wag suggested: ‘Even a week after the races were run they still couldn’t tip the winners’.
Full marks to Editor Frazer Pearce for coping the mistake on the chin and putting a positive slant on the faux pas when he wrote in part:
“I’d like to thank all the readers who rang me on Friday to let me know about the racing guide mistake in The Morning Bulletin.
The first calls came in about 6.30am advising we had repeated the previous week’s guide – and it was a steady flow from then on.
But what struck me was the polite manner in which the readers delivered their messasge.
While all these people were disappointed, there was not anger to their voices, just a desire to let me know about the mistake and to find out if we would be printing the correct guide in the Weekend edition.
Some callers even joked about it, although I found it hard to share their humor.’
HERE’S A CONTRIBUTOR THAT WANTS A STATUE OF BILL LUDWIG ERECTED 
‘BRETT WINTEC’ is back with a suggestion that will no doubt provoke mixed emotions:
'I have followed racing in Queensland for a while ow and without being directly involved believe tht some wonderful highlights have been achieved and not recognised.
Just as rugby league recognizes its great players of the past with statues, I suggest that a statue of Bill Ludwig should be erected at the gates of the revamped Eagle Farm.
Unless I am mistaken, Bill Ludwig, through his connections and persuasive argument, arranged for a contribution of about $100 million for infrastructure from the Labor Government, a commitment that was honored by the next Government.
Would there be any former Board member at Club, or Principal Club level, in the history of racing in Queensland or Australia, that has done anything more meaningful for the industry.
The measure is relatively simple. Has anyone negotiated a contribution to the industry of more than $100 million from an entity or organization that didn’t have any obligation to contribute?
I personally think that the industry needs to get over the politics associated with it and genuinely recognize these sorts of achievements.
A statue of Bill Ludwig would be a great initiative of (new Racing Minister) Grace Grace.’
HOW RICH IS THIS – RQ WERE EVEN PAYING BOOKIES TO TURN UP AND FIELD?
DON JENSEN of GOLD COAST raises an interesting issue:
‘I have been around racing for a long time and as a punter subscribed to the theory that standing as a bookmaker was a ‘license to print money’.
Now I realize that times have changed – due to the Government and industry allowing these parasite corporate bookmakers to operate in this country – but I couldn’t believe this little gem on Page 85 (and other sections) of the RQ Tracking Towards Sustainability report:
It reads:
On-Course Fielding Incentive Scheme
Historically bookmakers paid clubs a fee for the privilege of standing on course to take bets.
Currently RQ pays a portion of this fee on behalf of bookmakers, which in FY15 amounted toapproximately $727,000.
This scheme was introduced as the decline in volume of betting on course made it less attractive for bookmakers to stand.
Due to the significantly changed wagering landscape, RQ deems it appropriate that bookmakers and clubs come to their own arrangements regarding on course standing fees.
It is anticipated that this will provide a cost saving of $783,000k against the FY16 budget.
Who was it that said – punters walk off the course with the bums out of their pants and the bookies drive home in their Mercedes?
WHEN WILL THE NEW RQ BOARD BE NAMED – SOON OR AFTER EASTER? 
FOR obvious reasons we cannot reveal the identity of this applicant for an RQ Board position:
WE have received a couple of emails and calls from among the 200-odd candidates for positions on the new Racing Queensland Board. They are confused after reading new Racing Minister Grace Grace’s assurance that the Government was ‘right now in the process of installing a new Board’.
According to this letter written recently, which we reproduce with the applicant’s permission below, that’s not quite the situation and the appointing situation has also changed – or so it would seem. It reads:
Dear ****
I am writing to advise you of changes that have been made to the recruitment process for the Racing Advisory Board and inform you of actions you will need to take to ensure your interest in a position on the board can continue to be considered.
Following the recent tabling of the Racing Integrity Bill 2015 and the release of the Tracking Towards Sustainability report, the decision has been made to not proceed with an interim Racing Advisory Board and revisit the opportunity for possible candidates to apply for membership of the permanent Racing Queensland Board.
Progressing directly to appointment of the permanent Racing Queensland Board will provide greater assurance of security and certainty for the industry and drive a renewed focus on the regeneration of the racing industry to be an economically sustainable and prosperous sector for the State.
If you would still like to be considered in the selection process for the Racing Queensland Board, you will need to complete a Form 17 Consent and authority for information form and return it to Justine Eden, mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 4th January 2016. Once this form is received, your application will be transferred into the new pool of applicants. You can find a copy of the form on the Office of Racing’s website at: http://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/racing/forms.html.
Please feel free to also provide any additional information that you wish to be considered in support of your original application.
On behalf of our client, we thank you for your continued patience during this critical recruitment process.
If you have any queries about the changes in this EOI, please contact us on (07) 3230 0033.
Regards
Justine Eden
Director, Eden Ritchie Recruitment
PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND GETS SOME TIMELY ADVICE FROM ALAN JONES 
THERE are privacy issues in relation to mail sent between two people but when they are as high profile as this duo and the message concerned is of such great public interest we have decided to give it a run – with all due respects to the parties involved. We might as well as the letter below is doing the rounds – big time – in racing circles:
FROM ALAN JONES – respected radio commentator, successful horse racing enthusiast and one of the most influential men in the country:
26 June 2015
Dear Annastacia,
Re Queensland racing
Sorry to burden you, but as you know I’m off for two weeks. Annastacia, I’m here to help. You can’t proceed the way you’re being advised on restructuring the racing. I know this scene inside out. I own racehorses. I breed racehorses. I know everybody in the game. And there are a lot of good people. I understand there are some crook ones.
But following the dismissal of the Queensland Racing Board, the state of Queensland racing now is deeply alarming. Now the direct number of people employed in racing in Queensland is about 50,000. The indirect number is closer to 150, employed in every industry you can think about. Now with the demise of mining, racing and breeding are back to their former status as one of Queensland’s biggest industries. Its influence touches every walk of life.
The most important and most critical issue is the redevelopment of Eagle Farm racetrack. Now as you most probably know, the carnival was a bit of a shambles this year because it was forced to be run at Doomben and smaller fields meant that in one case, the favourite for the Stradbroke looked as if it would not even be able to make the field. These are the issues, Annastacia, and I can get you very, very, good people, objective, decent, honest and wanting the best outcomes to advise you. But the following must be considered.
1 The racing industry is completely shocked to be told that the 12 million dollar funding for the final stage of the development of Eagle Farm, which is to put tunnels under the track for horses and cars, has been allocated but is still sitting in Treasury. Nothing has happened.
2 The urgency is that the tunnels need to go in as fast as possible to give them time to regrow a safe new grass surface over the top. The rest of the track has been regressed and looks fabulous, but if this project is delayed any longer they’ll have trouble having the track and the rather delicate, must be safe surfaces ready for the winter carnival next year.
3 The importance of Eagle Farm to Queensland racing is that it has the highest, by a country mile, TAB turnover of all tracks in Queensland.
4 Because Eagle Farm is out of action it’s causing massive wear and tear on the five other tracks, Doomben, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba, to accommodate all the missing meetings. These tracks can’t get enough “spell time” to properly maintain the grass surfaces.
5 A number of Brisbane’s leading trainers are now so rattled by the massive shock waves sent through the industry with the sacking of the Board that they’re actively looking for boxes in Sydney. They see no future left for them in Queensland, particularly if prize money is cut and that is a rumour that is everywhere.
6 The State cannot afford to lose its leading trainers. This will turn the industry into a complete laughing stock.
7 It’s not a criticism of you when everyone is saying you have no interest and no idea about racing, nor should you have. But the concern is that because of this others have now manoeuvred themselves in close and cosy to manipulate your decisions and, as usual, they’re using racing as little more than a vicious political football.
8 Now Annastacia, this might be unpalatable. But I’m told that Ludwig is exerting his influence on the wish list along with Terry McEnroth, Tim Mulherin, Neville Stewart and Barry Taylor from Townsville.
9 It’s the view being expressed to me that the Queensland Racing Minister Bill Byrne has tabled a paper calling for Board for the three separate codes with an Integrity Board that is separate and independent to sit above the codes as a watchdog.
10 I’m told that you’re planning to bring in “four independent people” who know nothing about racing and then you’ll allocate one “industry person” for each code.
11 The industry feels that this is clearly not a workable solution. They would be happier with the proposal put forward by Minister Byrne. Right now this is shaping up as pie in the sky stuff that makes the greenies happy and continues to use racing as the punching bag for politics in the State. As someone pointed out to me today, the vast majority of industry participants and workers would be Labor voters anyway which slams the notion that it’s a rich boys’ Tory stronghold.
12 I would respectfully suggest, Annastacia, that you speak to someone like John Messara who has forgotten more than anyone knows. He’s a man of impeccable integrity. He is recognised worldwide. He’s the head of Racing New South Wales and you could meet him in absolute confidence and he would help you reformulate Queensland racing in the best interests of your Government and the industry. I could easily act as a go-between here. No one would know. We could involve Peter Wellington who understands the importance of the racing industry.
13 Finally, Annastacia, a massive disaster is looming which will seriously damage your Government and make you appear like a stupid lame duck person without a clue about racing. Now as I said to you from the outset, I’m here to help. We want this industry as strong and as competitive as New South Wales and Victorian racing are. We need to act with absolute urgency and resolve the matter. You need to get the tunnel signed off and moving and then do nothing until we can get the right people to advise you and the Minister to shape the right decisions for the future. And rest assured, Annastacia, I do know who those people are.
This is very critical. I’ll send this e-mail and give you a call.
With best wishes,
Alan (Jones)
EDITOR’S NOTE: HOW lucky is racing in Queensland to have a media identity and public figure of the calibre of Alan Jones even interested in what is happening with racing here? IF either party – or any of those mentioned above – feel we have breached confidentiality in running this private letter for that we apologize. But these are high profile public figures, this is an extremely hot topic at present and I am sure racing stakeholders and followers, not only in Queensland but all over the country, will be keen to read the views of a person as highly respected as Alan Jones not to mention welcome his weighing into the fight over the financial future of an industry as important to the Government as 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.
