THE ‘Gingerbread Man’ promised his mates – ‘I’ll Be Back’ and that has happened. Thanks to a ruling by QCAT – as predicted by LGHR weeks ago – racing’s labelled ‘bad boy’ Ben Currie is back in business. QCAT threw Currie a lifeline upholding his appeal against a QRIC decision not to renew his stablehand’s license. They preferred the legal argument that Currie had paid for past indiscretions rather than the QRIC one that he wasn’t a suitable person to even be a stablehand. Caught in the crossfire is Currie’s KC, Jim Murdoch, a hobby trainer who some of his

CHAMPION trainer TONY GOLLAN has provoked plenty of rage with his declaration that ‘whip protests are absurd’ and ‘should be dumped’. These are some of the questions sent to LGHR that critics say BEN DORRIES of the MURDOCH MEDIA failed to ask when he had his head in the ‘news feed bin’ at the Gollan stable. DOES Tony Gollan believe that Boomtown Boss would have beaten Royal Insignia in the G2 Aurie’s Star at Flemington last Saturday had Daniel Moor not ‘belted the crap’ out of it over the concluding stages? DOES he disagree that it looks hypocritical for the

MELBOURNE Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne will headline Saturday’s Townsville Cup as ticket sales hit record levels ahead of North Queensland’s premier race day. Ms Payne, who became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015 with Prince of Penzance, will make a special appearance at Cluden Park as part of the 2026 Winter Racing Carnival. NIKITA McGUIRE reports for the DAILY BULLETIN that Townsville Turf Club Chairman Geoff Weeks said welcoming the famed jockey to the track was one of the biggest announcements in the club’s history. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Michelle Payne to

LGHR recently learnt that one of Queensland most respected broadcasters for more than 30 years is just as popular in semi-retirement as when he was in his working heydey. GREY CARY, who quit radio in 2013 to focus on writing, hosted a current affairs program that was networked across Queensland and helped shape opinion on a variety of issues. For a decade, he was a regular member of the Sunrise program on the Seven Network where his friendly and considered approach to all subject matter drew a wide audience. His memoir, An Absence Of Certainty, sold well internationally and he

ONE of the most respected identities in racing, the one-time champion Sydney trainer Dr GEOFF CHAPMAN, has weighed into the debate surrounding a proposal by Racing Queensland that would see barriers drawn before acceptances. Whilst he agrees that nominations of 40 or more for lower class races, like Maidens, would present a logistical nightmare, Doc sees merit in looking to solutions to increasing field sizes and subsequently turnover. Here are his thoughts: ‘I have been promoting the Cut Away Rail for years now, with a limited response. However, in this ‘great country’, and in particular the Thoroughbred and Gambling Industries,

THE alarm bells are ringing about ‘who will keep the crooks honest’ following the departure of Kim Kelly from the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission. And it’s not only the punters who are voicing concerns. The chorus of protest has been loud since Racing Minister Tim Mander told the Estimates Hearing that ‘no-one was irreplacable’. Critics are saying if he feels that way, then way hasn’t a replacement for Kelly been named with concerns that some of those being tipped are unacceptable. LGHR was gob-smacked to receive the email below from one of the State’s leading trainers. There have been plenty