LGHR TAKING A BREAK SO DON’T BOTHER SENDING THE ‘HATE MAIL’ 

IT’S TIME TO TAKE AN ANNUAL BREAK SO NO STORIES WILL BE PUBLISHED FOR OVER A WEEK. APOLOGIES TO OUR REGULAR AND LOYAL READERS AND CONTRIBUTORS AND TO THOSE WHO ENJOY SENDING THE ‘HATE MAIL’ – WASTE OF TIME FOR A WHILE FOLKS.

REST ASSURED WE’LL BE BACK BETTER THAN EVER (THE WEBSITE WILL SOON HAVE A REVAMP & UPGRADE) KEEPING THE BASTARDS HONEST AND TRYING NOT TO UPSET OUR MEDIA COLLEAGUES.

 

MEDIA WATCH ARTICLE RAISES CONCERNS FOR RACING & THE MEDIA

LGHR prefers not to comment on the following apart from questioning where Freedom of the Press is if FAIRFAX pays the price for objective journalism by losing hundreds of thousands in revenue from Racing NSW for form guides.

Have a listen to this MEDIA WATCH episode below & you be the judge:

 

https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/racing/106585328

 

ROCKHAMPTON TRACK PROBLEMS BLAMED ON 20YO IRRIGATION SYSTEM THAT WAS REPORTEDLY REPLACED FOUR YEARS AGO  

A TALE of two CEO’s of the Rockhampton Jockey Club suggests someone should get their story straight when it comes to blaming irrigation problems for the embarrassing fiasco that dogged The Archer meeting.

Only a few years ago respected racing scribe Tony McMahon in his Racing Around column in the Rockhampton Bulletin, quoted RJC CEO of the time, Ian Mill, as saying:

‘Racing Queensland will fund $500,000 for the installation of a new irrigation system for the turf track at Callaghan Park. This has been badly needed to replace the current system which has been troublesome for some time.’

Mill went on to confirm that a complete overhaul of the supply of water for the irrigation system was also in the pipeline. Assuming that work was done, the excuses being put forward by current CEO David Aldred doon’t make sense.

After the last minute postponement of The Archer meeting on Sunday Aldred said the sprinkler malfunction was a completely different issue to the incident from three weeks ago, which was caused by a cracked valve. “We’re investigating it now but there looks to be a leak in the main ring of the irrigation.

“It’s a 20-year-old irrigation system – we can’t say with concrete evidence that that’s the issue but there’s something that’s causing a wet spot on the track. We’ve got a specialist coming out here in the morning on a public holiday to try and get to the bottom of it to ensure we get this race meeting going on Tuesday.”

HOW can the problem have been caused by a 20-year-old irrigation system that reportedly was replaced about four years ago? That needs to be part of the investigation promised by Racing Minister Tim Mander. This cannot be spearheaded by RQ CEO Lachlan Murray who arguably wouldn’t know an irrigation pipe from a bottle of pickles.

Can you imagine in the days of Bob Bentley as Chairman of RQ when – like him or not – he would have been front and centre demanding answers. Today we have a situation where the gentleman who the Racing Minister controversially appointed to do that job (Matt McGrath) hasn’t been sighted.

Bottom line is Kim Kelly, the QRIC Deputy Commissioner and a team of his choice should be given a free hand to get to the bottom of this on-going problem. And at the end of the day someone – not equipment failure – needs to be held to account and heads have to roll.

 

DID TOP JOCKEYS IN ROCKY WANT TO RIDE ON ARCHER DAY OR NOT? 

INTERESTING sideline to The Archer postponement was highlighted by top Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote on Melbourne radio on Tuesday.

Heathcote, who had great old star Rothfire engaged in The Archer, told Gareth Hall’s Giddy Up Show on RSN that the jockeys he spoke to on Sunday were prepared to ride.

That is in stark contrast to what Chief Steward Josh Adams told SKY on the day. His sentiments were that top jockeys in Rocky for the big race felt sections of the track at a vital stage in the straight were Heavy and unsafe. One of those he quoted was Sydney’s Tommy Berry.

Heathcote, emphasising that you can’t help bad luck or equipment problems, felt however that the first race should have been run to determine how bad the track problem was in the straight before postponing the meeting to Tuesday which cost plenty and saw a crowd of 3,000 from the Sunday reduced to a reported 300.

 

WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY SENDING INTERIM CEO AROUND THE STATE

LGHR – like a few others according to emails we received – didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when they listened to Michael Charge interview RQ CEO Lachlan Murray on SKY at The Archer meeting.

Michael is a good bloke but like many others at SKY seems to be terrified to ask any critical questions or be perceived to be in any way handling a controversial issue in a negative manner.

And why wouldn’t he be, considering some quality staff that SKY has shown the door simply because they tried to be objective or refused to toe the ‘political line’?

It’s a sad state of affairs when major media organisations like SKY & NEWS LTD refuse to criticise racing organisations and officialdom because of ‘sweetheart’ advertising deals.

Poor Michael praised Murray on his recent jaunt around the state which he said stakeholders were thankful for (must have been talking to different people to us).

He went on to ask when ‘Interim’ would be removed from the CEO role to which Murray replied: ‘It’s something I’ll have to chat to Chairman Matt McGrath about now that the Review has been completed.’ GOOD luck there mate – you will be lucky to find the bloke, no-one else in racing in Queensland seems to be able to.

With all due respects – here’s hoping ‘Chargie’ doesn’t join the ‘suck-up to survive’ crew at SKY – the questions that stakeholders would have liked the ‘bike rider’ to answer were:

How was the reception at Gregory Downs on Saturday when 11 horses had to be declared late scratchings because there were no available jockeys to ride them?

Where was the RQ Chairman (the boss who wants him to be his ‘Boy Friday’) while all this drama surrounding The Archer was being played out in Rockhampton?

Murray seemed very nervous during his SKY interview, lacking confidence as he told the story of his recent holiday in the States and his jaunt around the State since joking that he has been away so often ‘the dog nearly bit me when I got home’.

LGHR has no doubt he’s a nice blokes but nice blokes don’t make good CEO’S. He reminds us of Malcolm Tuttle, the one-time CEO of RQ, who came to Australia to play soccer and should have stuck to it. Neither of them would arguably possess in their whole bodies the talent that one-time RQ CEO Jeremy Turner had in his little toe.

But that’s what we’re stuck with as Racing in Queensland undertakes The Next Lap and a uncertain future apart from the fact that Integrity is on the backburner and any appointments will be ‘jobs for the boys’ or ‘appoint those to positions who lack less ability that you do’.

 

TIME STEWARDS STARTED QUESTIONING THESE ATTACKS ON FAVS 

PUNTERS are urging QRIC Stewards to start questioning riding tactics of jockeys who attack well backed runners in front which they claim is becoming a common occurrence.

Here’s an example of one of the emails that LGHR received which expresses the feelings of most who have expressed concerns:

‘When was the last time that Chief Steward Josh Adams and his team conducted a running and handling inquiry? My mates and I cannot remember one.

“We’re getting sick of backing horses we think will get an easy lead and be hard to beat only to see them diggerised by some bolter that drops right out and runs last.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: It might not have been a running and handling inquiry but for the record Eagle Farm Stewards on Saturday found apprentice Tahlia Fenlon guilty of a charge of  failing to fully ride her mount ICARIAN DREAM out  to the finish. They were satisfied from the official patrol footage that Fenlon failed to produce sufficient vigour over the concluding stages and imposed a fine of $500. In determining penalty, Stewards considered Fenlon’s record and that they could not be comfortably satisfied her actions had cost her mount a win in the event.

IN the same race punters who backed the last start impressive Rockhampton winner KOHLER KID were far from happy with the ride of Justin Stanley on the favourite which ran sixth. Stewards reported that when being restrained to obtain cover leaving the 1100m, Kohler Kid commenced to over-race for a number of strides. It continued to over-race in the middle stages then passing the 150m was obliged to shift out to improve into clear running and contacted Adorable Thought on a number of occasions.

 

HERE is the SECOND PART of what columnist MATT NICHOLLS would do if he was the CEO of Racing Queensland and after last week’s read there are plenty in the racing industry who believe that he would do a better job than LACHLAN MURRAY who seems destined to be ‘gifted’ the job with the support of the ‘invisible man’ new Board Chairman MATT McGRATH. The 'bike rider' is heading to the Beef Capital today - what can his presence possibly do to rectify the situation - talk about too little, too late? Here's a thought - how about Lachy replacing Dave as CEO of the RJC? 

TEN THINGS I WOULD DO AS CEO OF RACING QUEENSLAND (Part 2): 

I’VE got to admit, I’m a little flat writing Part 2 of this column after yet another debacle in Queensland racing on the weekend.

There is no sport like racing when it comes to cannibalising itself, and Queensland might just lead the way.

As I’ve already written, heads must roll at the Rockhampton Jockey Club following another track failure.

The reality is the track has been in poor condition for some time. That has been reflected in declining field sizes and the lack of consistent form coming out of one of the State’s major venues.

While Racing Queensland often wears the criticism, including from people like me, clubs also need to understand their responsibility to participants.

Tracks like Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba and Doomben/Eagle Farm are the backbone of the industry.

If racing struggles at any of those venues, the impact is felt across the entire State.

Plenty has already been said about Rockhampton, and I won’t labour the point. I just hope Racing Minister Tim Mander treats the review seriously and that accountability follows.

Anyway, here’s Part 2 of what I would do if I was handed the CEO role at Racing Queensland.

6. EXTEND APPRENTICE CLAIMS IN THE BUSH
AS it stands apprentices receive a 4kg claim in country racing for their first five wins.

I would double that to 10 wins, and extend the 3kg claim by another 10 wins, taking them to 30 wins in total before dropping further.

The goal is simple. Keep apprentices riding in the bush for longer.

There also needs to be a frank conversation with trainers who have apprentices that don't ride enough at race meetings.

I won’t name names, but there are trainers reluctant to send apprentices to the North West and Central West because of the trackwork they miss at home.

That points to a broader issue. There is a lack of ambition in parts of the industry, and not enough incentive to push apprentices towards higher levels.

Take riders like Bella Youngberry and Chloe Lowe. Both came through the bush and are now accomplished provincial apprentices.

Yet we barely see them in the metropolitan scene.

They are likely making a good living, but the question is whether the system is doing enough to help them become the next Angela Jones or Jamie Melham.

Queensland is producing plenty of apprentices, but too many stall before they make the jump to the city.

Some fresh thinking is needed, not only to keep apprentices in regional areas longer, but to fast track the best of them into stronger company.

One option would be a QTIS-style bonus for horses ridden by apprentices in three or four races on metropolitan Wednesday programs.

That is a simple way to encourage trainers and owners to take a chance.

7. REVAMP THE BATTLE OF THE BUSH

THE Toowoomba-based Peshwa was a narrow winner of last year's Battle of the Bush for trainer Lindsay Hatch and jockey Angela Jones. There's a concern in the industry that south-east based trainers have a major advantage in the $200,000 final.

ONE of the best initiatives in recent years has been the introduction of race series for country and provincial participants.

New South Wales set the benchmark with the Highway and Midway series, and Queensland has had solid success with the Battle of the Bush.

But the concept needs refinement.

At the moment, there are flaws that are starting to turn trainers and owners away from genuinely targeting the $200,000 Final on Tatts Tiara day.

Firstly, some provincial trainers in the south-east have found ways to qualify horses with minimal genuine country engagement, giving them a handful of runs in the bush purely to tick the box.

Secondly, winning a heat offers little incentive beyond qualification.

Heats should carry at least $20,000 in prizemoney and be promoted as regional feature races in their own right.

Thirdly, the Eagle Farm Final, while exciting, creates a disadvantage for participants travelling from the Far North and West.

It is a long trip, and it introduces unfamiliar racing conditions.

Horses accustomed to firm dirt surfaces can suddenly find themselves on rain-affected grass, while south-east-based runners are far more comfortable in those conditions.

There has been a suggestion, not mine, but one worth considering, to stage the final at Birdsville.

A $200,000 showpiece featuring trainers from across Queensland held in one of the most iconic racing locations in the country.

It would almost guarantee a firm surface and would likely boost participation across the entire carnival, with trainers bringing multiple horses.

Another option, despite recent issues, is Rockhampton.

It is geographically central and could be aligned with The Archer or the Rockhampton Cup Carnival.

Whatever the venue, the series needs adjustment.

Priority one for me is tightening eligibility, including postcode-based restrictions.

Priority two is increasing heat prizemoney to properly reward participation and investment.

8. LIFT PRIZEMONEY AND INTRODUCE STARTER SUBSIDIES

PRIZEMONEY in non-TAB racing is well overdue for an increase.

Racing Queensland’s financial position is precarious at best, but the reality is the industry cannot sustain itself in regional areas without better returns for participants.

At a minimum, there should be a Starter Subsidy. Even $200 for unplaced runners would help offset travel costs.

That would at least bring Queensland closer to New South Wales.

To put distances into perspective, the drive from Melbourne to Adelaide is shorter than the trip from Barcaldine to Mount Isa, a journey trainers like Bevan Johnson and Toni Schofield regularly undertake.

A trainer travelling from Flemington to Morphettville can earn around $1850 for running fifth.

In contrast, a trainer making the Barcaldine to Mount Isa trip receives nothing for finishing fifth and only $500 for fourth.

If lifting base prizemoney across the board is not feasible, there are still creative options.

One is to introduce a feature race on each program, perhaps a $16,000 Maiden or Class 3, giving trainers a target and an incentive to travel with multiple runners.

It is also time for clubs, particularly once-a-year clubs that benefit from the industry, yet do contribute very little, to contribute more.

Additional prizemoney and subsidies for jockeys and trainers need to become the norm.
Many already do, but there is room for improvement.

9. PARTNER WITH TOURISM QUEENSLAND TO PROMOTE RACING 

ONE of the most frustrating gaps in Queensland racing is the lack of co-ordinated promotion for country carnivals.

When was the last time you saw a billboard in Brisbane promoting the Cairns Amateurs or the Birdsville Carnival?

Radio, television and print coverage is minimal.

That is a missed opportunity.

Racing and tourism should be natural partners in Queensland.

Tourism and Events Queensland should be actively promoting marquee bush events and building travel packages around them.

Work with local governments. If Racing Queensland and TEQ approached councils like Diamantina Shire to jointly promote the desert circuit at Betoota, Birdsville and Bedourie, the response would be immediate and positive.

There is enormous potential to position racing as a core part of the Outback tourism experience.

If that means bringing in a high profile ambassador such as Peter Moody, so be it.

Clubs do a strong job promoting locally, particularly through social media.

At a State level, though, the industry is not doing enough to sell the bigger picture.

10. NEGOTIATE AIRFARE DEALS FOR THE INDUSTRY

THIS might seem minor in the broader scheme, but it is a practical way to reduce costs across the system.

Racing Queensland should be negotiating directly with airlines to secure better rates for jockeys, officials and staff.

While subsidies exist, the current system is inefficient.

RQ could operate, or outsource, a centralised travel service to manage bookings and secure better value.
The current challenge is around timing.

Jockeys often only confirm their engagements a week or two in advance, which drives up airfare costs.

A return flight between Brisbane and Mount Isa can approach $1000 at short notice.

A better model would be for Racing Queensland to negotiate a bulk deal with an airline like Qantas, committing to a set number of flexible fares annually at a fixed rate then allocating them as needed.
If a commercial sweetener is required, tie it into sponsorship.

There is a natural fit in places like Longreach and Winton, the spiritual home of Qantas, where naming rights to a regional racing series could form part of the agreement.

The same framework could also reduce costs associated with QRIC's travel across the State.

It is a small change on paper, but one that could deliver meaningful savings and efficiency gains over time.

 

 

CONSPIRACY THEORY AS CURTAIN FALLS ON ‘ROCKY HORROR SHOW’ 

LGHR does not believe in conspiracy theories but one doing the rounds that needs investigation is that the track debacle at Rockhampton in recent times is a victim of a behind-the-scenes war between the RJC and the Amateur Club that runs The Archer.

With all due respect to the hard-working officials trying to conduct racing which has been under a cloud in the Beef Capital for some time, it is no secret that one high profile RJC identity has been campaigning for his club to take over the Amateurs (not that we are accusing him of anything but that).

The Rockhampton Jockey Club (RJC) is the permanent operator of Callaghan Park while the Central Queensland Amateur Racing Club (CQARC) is a standalone club that holds a licence for The Archer effectively renting the track from the RJC specifically for the meeting.

LGHR is not suggesting for one minute that any official has been involved in what could have been a sabotage of the track in recent times but there are many disgruntled ex-employees of the RJC whose services were dispensed with and this is a situation that needs investigating.

The club that will suffer most from this latest debacle is the CQARC with officials warning this setback has the potential to bankrupt them which surprise, surprise, would see the RJC inherit their meetings, including The Archer which some claim they didn’t want until it proved to be so successful.

Only a moron would have left the sprinklers on for a second time after what happened three weeks ago. We don’t believe in coincidences. Perhaps the track was over-watered but if so why then was it posted as a Good 4 on the morning of The Archer meeting on Sunday?

LET’S USE KIM KELLY TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATION BEFORE HE LEAVES

RACING Minister Tim Mander, who was in Rocky for the $1mn race, was quick to advise participants that there would be a thorough investigation into the postponement. But he didn’t say who would be conducting that inquiry.

One hopes it is Deputy QRIC Commissioner Kim Kelly and his team – yep the man that the Minister and his bureaucratic side-kicks are content to see walk away because he is not happy with their plan to no longer separate administration and integrity in Queensland racing. What a joke!

Stakeholders are entitled to ask where has the ‘Invisible Man’, new RQ Board Chairman Matt McGrath been during this Rocky crisis. Hiding under some rock back in his home city of Sydney one suspects. The Minister was left to face the music.

We are told that on Saturday Matt’s ‘Boy Friday’ walked into  storm when he found his way to the Gregory Downs races only to discover that 11 starters had to be scratched because there were no jockeys to ride them. Stewards, in desperation, allowed one horse to start with a rider 4kg over.

It’s an absolute farce and now Lachlan Murray has witnessed it first-hand let’s see what he does about it. The tip is SFA. Chances are it wasn’t a topic high on the agenda when he did his Diploma of Corporate Bookmaker and his mentor M&M probably doesn’t know where Gregory Downs is and hasn’t even heard of it. Come on Minister Mander bit the bullet and appoint a CEO like Mary Collier who isn’t the lightweight that those in the industry who deal with the ‘Bike Rider’ are declaring him.

And on the subject of ‘there’s something about Mary’, story goes that even the two hundred grand plus she was paid to help the Government implement recommendations of the Racing Review would not have been anywhere near enough had she known the ‘poison chalice’ she was inheriting.

RJC CEO CAMPAIGING FOR SOME TIME FOR CLUB TO TAKEOVER QARC 

BUT back to the Rocky Horror Show and the bad blood between the RJC and the CQARC – LGHR can reveal that CEO David Aldred for some time has campaigned for his club to take over the Amateurs.

We have known David for some time and he has done more travelling in the racing industry than the Leyland Brothers successfully holding down jobs in more recent times in the greyhound industry in Sydney and with Racing Queensland before joining the RJC. Sadly, to say Aldred is the most disliked identity in Rockhampton racing would be an understatement. It comes with the job.

Tongue-in-cheek a critic of the RJC sent us an advertisement that the club is running seeking a 2IC to the Track Manager but suggesting they should be instead looking for a ‘sprinkler watchdog’.

The ad reads: ‘The RJC is seeking a talented, experienced Track 2IC to assist the Track Manager in delivering excellence in the management of racecourse track quality to provincial regional racing in Queensland.

‘Reporting to the Track Manager, this is a permanent full-time position. This is a hands-on manual role, assisting in the day to day requirements of maintaining the course proper and subsequent training areas.

This role requires intermediate knowledge of track composition, moisture management, equipment operation, fertilisation and pesticide management.’ (It forgot to mention an ability to ensure that sprinklers are not left on overnight by mistake).

WHY WAS THE ARCHER MEETING NOT MOVED TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY? 

THE question also needs to be answered why the logical move was not made to transfer The Archer meeting to today (Monday) which is a public holiday in Queensland for Labour Day. Instead, in their wisdom, the powers that be moved it to Tuesday.

No official reason given but the story goes it had something to do with SKY (fingers in the pie once too often again) because there were Ipswich gallops and Rockhampton greyhound meetings today (Monday).

LGHR understands the RJC maintained it needed more time to bring in experts to correct the problem with the track which they believe is caused by a leak caused by ageing irrigation pipes. That being the case, why wait until now to do something about it?

That doesn’t help high profile jockeys with engagements interstate, including the first day of the big Warrnambool Carnival in Victoria. Once again SKY farcically has too much say in the time-line of racing in Australia.

AMATEURS WELCOME RACING MINISTER’S INVESTIGATION PROMISE

CQARC members are fully supporting Racing Minister Tim Mander’s promised investigation.

“Another water problem for this club up here, it’s ridiculous,” CQARC Chairman Bill Reid told Racenet on Sunday. “We’ve had Tim Mander address the slot holders and he’s promised there’ll be a huge investigation. This will seriously nearly break us. There’ll be so much refunding.”

RJC CEO David Aldred said the sprinkler malfunction was a completely different issue to the incident from three weeks ago, which was caused by a cracked valve. “We’re investigating it now but there looks to be a leak in the main ring of the irrigation. It’s a 20-year-old irrigation system – we can’t say with concrete evidence that that’s the issue but there’s something that’s causing a wet spot on the track. We’ve got a specialist coming out here in the morning on a public holiday to try and get to the bottom of it to ensure we get this race meeting going on Tuesday.”

Critics of Aldred say this is a load of crap and an attempt at buck-passing when the responsibility for the Callaghan Park track to be presented in safe order (barring rain) rests with the club. Some are even calling for an Administrator to be brought in – the latest track debacles are not the only issues facing the club. There are calls for ex-employees to go ‘whistle blower’ on certain controversial issues.

Aldred told Racenet he understood the CQARC’s frustration and said the RJC was doing “everything within our power to make sure we run this meeting on Tuesday”.

“I’ve had discussions with the (Central Queensland) Amateur Turf Club, as I have with Racing Queensland and other people of importance. I can understand that they’re angry. If it was on the other foot, I’d be angry as well,” he said.

“We had dignitaries here today like the Racing Minister, Racing Queensland officials, several slot holders, the visiting trainers and jockeys.

“You don’t think lightning strikes twice but it has. Unfortunately for us it’s happened again on another very big race day, our highest prizemoney race day of the year, so certainly I can understand everybody being angry.”

The CQARC, RJC and Racing Queensland will share all costs for jockeys to return on Tuesday for the rescheduled meeting. By Sunday night, only star hoop Craig Williams had yet to confirm whether he could make the trip back.

For trainers who had trucked horses hundreds of kilometres and organised staff accommodation, the postponement represents what Brisbane’s leading trainer Tony Gollan described as a ‘logistical nightmare’.

The additional days mean extra costs for accommodation, feed and staff wages – expenses that mount quickly when horses and handlers are stranded far from home, not to mention the expense of lost betting turnover and refunds to the 2000-odd patrons who rocked up to Callaghan Park on Sunday. Then there is the cost to the industry of flying Chief Steward Josh Adams and his team to a front Rocky again. They could hardly stay on when there were no plans for an overnight stay.

There are mixed reports that also need investigating that are emanating from the riding ranks. Adams told SKY that the jockeys (headed by Tommy Berry0 had declared unsafe a section of the track in the straight after inspecting it. There is an unconfirmed report that the majority wre prepared to ride.

TIME HAS COME TO SACK RJC BOARD & REPLACE CEO & CURATOR 

LGHR could fill a book with comments we have received on this issue. Here is one from MATT NICHOLLS, our new weekly columnists, which hopefully expresses the feelings of most who contributed:

IT’S genuinely time to sack the Rockhampton Board and bring in a new CEO and possibly curator/superintendent. 

The Rocky track has been a basket case for a long time and the field sizes are often putrid, despite its location.

Plenty of trainers find it too hard or too inconsistent.

To have two major meetings impacted as a result of the condition of the track, which wasn't hampered by weather, is not acceptable.

This is a horrible look for racing in regional Queensland at a time it should be celebrated.

Those top jockeys won't come back, the people who travelled far and wide for The Archer won't return, and sponsors should rightly question if it’s worth supporting in the future.

I feel sorry for a good group of people who have worked to build The Archer. Sadly, they were let down by incompetence.

Also, to QRIC, how did it take so long for the meeting to be called off? It would appear that Stewarding in this State is in crisis!

 

HEADS MUST ROLL OVER ROCKY DEBACLE ARCHER NOW RUN TUESDAY

ANOTHER day, another disaster for Queensland racing – a repeat performance at Rockhampton where heads have to roll.

The $1mn The Archer meeting had to be postponed at the last minute today (Sunday) when a section of the track was declared unsafe for racing.

It was déjà vu after what happened at the same track recently but a different section of the surface was water-logged on this occasion.

When Stewards inspected the track late in the week if was fine. The surface was declared a Good 4 this morning but then it was discovered that three patches at a vital area in the straight were in the Heavy Range.

It is unclear whether someone left a sprinkler on again but there was no rain to cause the problem and some of the top jockeys who flew north for this big meeting were not prepared to ride. The area affected was too important when some runners would be tiring and others spinning their wheels trying to accelerate.

Once again racing in Rockhampton has been presented with a perfect opportunity to hold the meeting tomorrow which is the Labour Day Holiday in Queensland. But for some strange reason - one wonders if it just didn't suit SKY - the meeting was transferred to Tuesday where it clashes with the first day of the Warrnambool Carnival.

The bottom line is that RQ and its Stewards have to get to the bottom of what is causing this problem:

Has someone left sprinklers on again?

Could it possible be sabotage?

No doubt the blame game has already begun.

Whatever the cause the head honchos at RQ need to get off their behinds and the Racing Minister needs to order an immediate investigation. Heads must roll and someone must accept the responsibility for this debacle.

From a costs aspect Chief Steward Josh Adams and a panel flew from Brisbane to Rockhampton for the meeting. They did not take a change of clothes or necessities for an overnight stay (why would they?) which means if racing proceeds tomorrow they will need to come home and then return – a cost that the industry will face because of someone’s incompetence.

 

‘I KNOW NOTHING’ – INDUSTRY RESPONSE TO MURRAY’S ADDRESS TO THE PEASANTS – HUMBLE PIE ON MENU FOR VISIT TO GREGORY RACES 

IN his monthly ‘address to the peasants’, soon to be permanent Racing Queensland CEO Lachlan Murray has shown once again why the industry has no faith in him going forward.

Acknowledging 50,000 participants throughout the State – Murray or his ‘ghost’ writer – starts by telling them what they already knew – ‘It’s been a difficult start to the year on a number of fronts’.

Followed up with: ‘First and foremost we are aware and understand that rising fuel costs are creating an incredibly difficult situation throughout the State, including participants across all three codes.’

But instead of admitting that RQ is ‘close to broke’ and can’t introduce a Racing Fuel Subsidy like occurs in other States, Murray provides this gem:

“We are in constant dialogue with respective industry code bodies, as well as Government and other agencies to understand the on-going impacts and what can be done to support our participants across the State now and into the future.”

How reassuring to know that RQ is grappling to understand the situation. Participants are struggling financially you dills and they need some financial help not false promises to keep the industry moving. Instead we have clubs who are far worse off than RQ, putting their hands in their pockets to do the job that RQ should be.

As Archie Butterfly suggested on his subscriber-only website, peterprofit.com: “All you need to be is the Acting CEO of a well-managed and run Principal Racing Authority that has planned for the future and has money in the bank ready for a rainy day like PVL has done down south, and everything suddenly becomes easy and then you don’t have to ham it up uttering ridiculous platitudes that no-one believes and offering in tangible terms absolutely nothing.

“Murray can’t offer anything, because RQ is on the bones of its arse and has no cash. It got $100 million from the legal settlement with Tabcorp not all that long ago, and has pissed six-eighths of that into the wind, and needs the remaining quarter to keep kicking and paying the bills and the salaries of Murray and his mates.”

LGHR echoes the sentiments of ‘The Butterfly’ and truth be known so does the majority of participants. We pose the question: Are the new Sydney-based Chairman of RQ and his ‘Boy Friday’ Murray more interested in their corporate bookmaking colleagues than owners, trainers and jockeys?

They were the ones – along with the Racing Minister – who wanted to 'gift' the corporates millions by reducing the Point of Consumption Tax until Cabinet stepped in. It’s time to get your priorities right guys and recognise that there are more deserving people in the industry and IF there is a role for the ‘bike rider’ at RQ, it most certainly isn’t as CEO.

 

MINISTER MANDER STRUGGLING TO TURN TIDE ON INDUSTRY CRITICISM 

RACING Minister Tim Mander is doing his best to turn the tide on criticism that his Government is failing to keep the industry informed on what plans it has for the future.

He is under fire with most participants believing all they have seen is a glossy brochure ‘The Next Lap’ which has promised plenty but to date delivered little.

Mander fired back this week with the announcement that RQ is set to unveil a new state-of-the-art racing education and high-performance training centre at the Gold Coast Turf Club.

The new centre will become the flagship site of ‘The Racing Institute’ – a hub for industry education, nationally recognised qualifications, non-accredited training initiatives and high-performance development.

It will also serve as the new home of the Queensland Apprentice Jockey Program, delivering structured education, mentoring and elite coaching to develop Queensland’s next generation of champion jockeys.

The program offers personalised coaching and mentoring delivered by professional jockey coaches and mentors, as well as support with physical conditioning, nutrition, and mental well-being.

The Racing Institute amenities will include:

• A high-performance gym tailored specifically to jockey athletic development;
• Mechanical horses for riding simulation and skill refinement;
• Interactive classroom technology;
• Three dedicated training classrooms;
• Coaching and mentoring spaces;
• Rehabilitation and recovery facilities; and
• Future on-site accommodation to support block training for regional participants.

 

IS THEIR LIGHT AT END OF TUNNEL FOR OVERDUE SALE OF DEAGON? 

WHAT the Racing Minister didn’t say as part of the Gold Coast initiative – but looks a little more obvious now – is that the Deagon training facility has no future.

The time has come to sell Deagon and help finance major developments, headed by the massive upgrade of Albion Park which ensures the dream of King Kev will become a reality. Next step should be a halt to training there and telling the Deagon-based trainers to move on to Eagle Farm and Doomben. And then the relocation to RQ HQ’s closer to the CBD, possibly the new-look Albion Park.

Mary Collier, who should be RQ CEO going forward, has led the development of this Next Plap Plan, in consultation with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission and the Department of Sport and Racing.

In early April she submitted a draft plan which LGHR understands contemplates:

• Considered sequencing for infrastructure delivery;
• Legislative change over the next nine to 12 months; and
• Ongoing consultation with industry.

WHAT has happened so far: 

A new RQ Board has been appointed (controversially headed by Matt McGrath who conducted the Racing Review and is Sydney-based, along with the Minister’s old school buddy Kym Daly who was McGrath’s First Lieutenant in conducting the Review). Sounds a bit smelly?

An initial $25 million investment from the Racing Infrastructure Fund has been provided for the first phase of a $100 million redevelopment of the John Power Stand at Eagle Farm. RQ is reportedly finalising a partnership with the Brisbane Racing Club in support of its commercial ventures, consistent with ensuring the Government is repaid the significant investment in a full and timely manner. 
 
The process to divest assets at Norwell and Bowen Hills has commenced but not a whimper yet on what is happening with the sale of Deagon. 
 
Work has also commenced on developing the annual feature race calendar, benchmarking the Queensland Off-The-Track program and developing a coordinated approach to night racing.

Outback and bush racing – still confronted by embarrassing problems with the non-availability of jockeys to ride horses at most meetings – needs a complete shakeup but those at RQ, including Murray, arguably lack knowledge of centres north of the south-east corner.

But surprise, surprise, the racing rumour mill is suggesting that Lachy will be a special guest at the Gregory Races this week. Here’s hoping ‘Humble Pie’ is on the menu when it comes to any discussion about a Fuel Subsidy.

And on the ‘co-ordinated approach to night racing’, can someone at RQ explain why the multi-million dollar investment in lights at the Gold Coast has hardly been justified with only six night meetings and a couple of twilights since early 2025?

There are only four night meetings scheduled at the tourist strip up until Christmas. So much for the extra wagering that RQ promised would deliver a massive financial boost to the industry.

But how is the new Board Chairman going to address this issue when he comes from Sydney were night racing plays a distant second to Victoria where the number of meetings under lights are to be increased substantially.  

Queensland now has the ability to race at night at Toowoomba (did the club ever get the new lights that were promised and are long overdue), the Sunshine Coast (where fields suffer when there is a Friday-Sunday double-header) and now the Gold Coast (where for some reason the lights seem to be more off than on when there is no better place for night racing).

 

YOU’RE NO BETTER THAN THE MINISTER GRACIE IN REFUSING TO DEMAND ANSWERS ON DIRECTION RACING IS HEADING IN QUEENSLAND 

ONCE again Grace Grace was front and centre with her snout in the trough at a major racing function which angered those stakeholders who insist the Shadow Racing Minister should be demanding answers from the Government on the direction the industry is heading in Queensland.

Not that Racing Minister Tim Mander escapes scrutiny either – and we are assured that despite reports to the contrary he was at the swanky launch of the Queensland Racing Carnival on the Sky Deck of The Star this week.

He again failed to use a prime opportunity to inform participants of the supposed ambitious plans the LNP Government has for the industry. Close to 18 months since they replaced Labor we are none the wiser.

And surprise, surprise, LGHR has received several emails from owners asking why the new RQ Board Chairman Matt McGrath wasn’t present for the Carnival launch. We understand he made the trip from his home base of Sydney for an RQ Board meeting yesterday (Wednesday) so why couldn’t he have arrived a day earlier to attend this important function?

Here’s hoping that his ‘Boy Friday’ – Lachlan Murray the Interim (but soon to be permanent) CEO of RQ sees fit to get the boss’s permission to inform the industry on what happened at the Board meeting. Don’t hold your breath!

IT would be nice to know:

• IF the ‘bike rider’s’ role at RQ has become permanent.
• WHAT is happening to the implementation of recommendations from the McGrath Review, a report on which was presented to the Minister a month ago by Mary Collier?
• WILL QRIC be scrapped and replaced by a ‘toothless integrity tiger’ answerable only to the Minister and his public service buffoons?
• DOES that mean QRIC Deputy Commissioner and one of the best and most experienced stewards in the world, Kim Kelly, will walk away because he is concerned about the separation of powers between RQ administration and integrity.
• WORSE still are reports correct that Wade Birch will be returning to the new role of Commissioner of Stewarding? Does he have the support of the Minister’s old school chum, former steward Kim Daly, who found his way onto the Board after the Review? And have the licensees already planned a party to coincide with Wade’s return?
• WHAT has happened to plans for the upgrade of Albion Park and how is it going to be financed? Story goes political pressure has seen the sale of Deagon scrapped which was not unexpected, knowing the history of Queensland racing and some of those who want it retained.
• HOW advanced are plans for the replacement of the condemned John Power Grandstand at Eagle Farm? Will the Brisbane Racing Club have to finance the huge amount owing after the grant from the Government? LGHR understands staff is moving out of the ailing stand. What can we expect during construction of a replacement – corporate tents during the Carnival?
• WHEN will the new RQ Chairman actually make an appearance at a major racing event in Queensland and meet with concerned stakeholders who want to talk with him rather than his ‘Boy Friday’ on a number of contentious issues?

(WE COULD GO ON & ON BUT THAT WILL DO FOR THE MOMENT. SO WHEN IS ‘TIN WHISTLE TIM’ or ‘More concerned about the CFMEU allegations’ GRACIE going to break their silence and inform the industry on plans for ‘THE NEXT LAP’ for racing in Queensland?).

 

‘NODDY’ HAD HIS SUCK-UP SUIT ON FOR QUEENSLAND THIS WEEK 

SOME of the ‘landed gentry’ invited to attend the swanky launch of the Queensland Carnival last Tuesday night at The Star in the Brisbane CBD report that there were plenty of ‘finger down the throat’ moments.

The ‘spin doctors’ from the Seven Network were doing their best, headed by Jason Richardson and his protégé Lizzy Jelfs who echoes Noddy’s every word. Some who knew that ‘Richo’ would be the host simply decided not to attend and who could blame them?

Here’s what one had to say:

‘I just wish when Richardson won that Stawell Gift many moons ago that he had kept running down the straight, out on to the road and that we never saw him again. His nodding of the head, continuous laughing and sucking up to officialdom to meet the occasion, whether it be in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney or Melbourne is sickening. And the least said about little Lizzie the better.

‘Of course as the face of Seven Sport he had to be front and centre. But it annoys me as well to see so much promotion of Ladbroke’s whether they are a sponsor of the BRC or not. Has racing in Queensland forgotten who contributes the most to their survival – it’s the TAB – but they seem to be forgotten whenever events are held these days with the good old corporate bookies to the fore? And don’t expect that to change with the team of McGrath and Murray (now running RQ) sympathetic to their cause.’

 

KENNY COPPING A BIGGER BAGGING THAN HE DELIVERED TO MATT

THE email from bush bookie KENNY ELLIOT bagging suggestions for the improvement of outback racing in Queensland by MATT NICHOLLS, attracted a quick response.

It would seem that Matt has many more supporters than Kenny, who one even suggested the bookmaker fratenity in the North West would be better off if he proceeded with his threat to throw his license in the bin.

For legal reasons we can’t publish some of the criticisms that Kenny copped but here are a couple of comments that we can:

‘THE way Kenny Elliot plies his trade is a disgrace to the bookmaking fraternity. Sadly there are times when he is the only one operating at meetings in the bush. The punters just accept that they are going to be robbed when it comes to prices and percentages.’

And this one:

‘When it comes to respect in outback racing Matt Nicholls leaves Kenny Elliot in a cloud of dust. Drag yourself into the next century Mr Elliot – Matt attracts more respect than you could hope to achieve in another lifetime.’

OUR attached photograph was taken a couple of years ago when Elliot was the only bookie operating at a Mt Isa meeting transferred from Cloncurry. One would hope it was pre-race and that the prices on Kenny’s board had not been set and that he certainly wasn’t in work-mode.

 

PANEL OF SENIOR STEWARDS REVIEWING START DEBACLE ON DOWNS

THE Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) has advised that a panel of Senior Stewards is currently conducting a Review into a decision made at the Toowoomba Turf Club meeting last Saturday relating to the start of Race 5 and whether a horse may have gained an unfair advantage.

Upon completion of the Review, a report outlining the findings will be submitted to Deputy Commissioner Kim Kelly for consideration.

A Media Release states that QRIC will not be making any further comment until this process has been finalised.

One wonders what this Review can recommend apart from a slap on the wrist for the Panel in charge of the meeting. It’s too late to scratch the winner. That should have happened on the night.

This sort of debacle is going to continue until Queensland can attract some experienced stewards. The current problems exist throughout the State, starting especially at Cairns where integrity under the current Chief Steward is regarded by punters and some stakeholders as a joke. It flows right through to ‘The Adams Family’ at headquarters where there is next to no confidence in ‘Josh and his crew’ and there never will be.

But if you think the situation is bad now. If Kim Kelly walks and Wade Birch, said to be the ‘chosen one’ of former steward Kym Daly who is now on the Board, gets the top Integrity job, don’t expect things to get any better.

 

ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR MINISTER TO BRIEF INDUSTRY

INSTEAD of using the launch on Tuesday of the Queensland Racing Carnival to inform stakeholders on ambitious plans his Government has for the industry, for Minister Tim Mander it was just another opportunity for more political propaganda.

 “The most recent Queensland Racing Carnival saw more than $21 million contributed directly to the State economy, and close to 29,000 visitor nights created,” Mander said.

“Not only is it one of Australia’s great racing carnivals, but our local champions continue to prove themselves among the nation’s best.”

RQ Acting CEO Lachlan Murray, fresh from his Tour De France holiday, joined the free-loaders on the SKY DECK at THE STAR, to remind us that the Winter Carnival remained a proven launching pad. “Every year we see current and future stars excel here and the last three Melbourne Cup winners all came through this carnival,” he said.

One wonders who wrote that for this ‘genius’ who boasts a Diploma in Corporate Bookmaking and if his mentor, newly-appointed RQ Board chairman Matt McGrath, ventured out of Sydney for this important event or if he, once again, went Missing In Action.

For the record the Queensland Racing Carnival will feature more than $28 million in prizemoney across 11 meetings from May 2 to July 4. Highlight will be the $6.5mn Stradbroke meeting headlined by the $3mn G1 Stradbroke, $1.2mn Group 2 Q22 nd $1mn J J Atkins.

A trio of million‑dollar sprints – the Doomben 10,000 (May 16), Kingsford Smith Cup (May 30) and the Stradbroke – headline the sprinting features, while the Queensland Derby (May 30), Doomben Cup (May 16) and Queensland Oaks (June 6) round out the Group 1 roster.

The carnival concludes on July 4 at the Sunshine Coast, where the Caloundra Cup receives a significant prizemoney boost to $500,000.

 

PUNTERS HAVEN’T HEARD LAST OF TOOWOOMBA RACE START BUNGLE 

LGHR understands that punters haven’t heard the last of the embarrassing situation in Toowoomba last Saturday night when Stewards declared a winner that broke through the barriers wasn’t afforded an unfair start.

Reports indicate that QRIC Commissioner of Stewarding Kim Kelly was quick to seek a please explain from the panel in charge of the meeting especially how Stewards claimed Drums of War only had his head through the gates when the video replay shows it was almost his entire body.

The Steward in Charge at Toowoomba on Saturday night was Brett Wright whose panel got it all ‘wrong’. Punters were left bewildered and bemused when Drums of War got a clear break through the barrier in Race 5. Correct weight was delayed to allow Stewards to review the start of the race.

After viewing the official footage, they found that just prior to the start being affected, Drums of War lunged forward, contacting its front gate, which opened marginally earlier prior to the gates of other runners.

After consideration of AR204(2), which deals with a horse obtaining an unfair advantage, Stewards were of the view that any advantage obtained was only a head margin when the gates of other runners commenced to open and it was not unfair. Therefore, Drums Of War was declared a starter and correct weight declared.

If this was the National Rugby League the referee would be stood down for several games after making a similar mistake. The Stewards in charge at Toowoomba should at least be ‘sin binned’ for their error of judgement. We will keep you informed.

 

LAST THING BOOKIE WANTS TO SEE IS LESS SATURDAY BUSH RACING 

KENNY ELLIOT is a bookmaker who doesn’t agree with the suggestion that bush venues should lose some Saturday meetings and race instead during the week. Here’s his take on the situation:

AFTER reading (LGHR columnist) Matt Nicholls’ North West Queensland story, I’m close to throwing my bookmaker’s licence in the rubbish bin.

Whoever thinks shifting bush race meetings from Saturday to Monday is a good idea clearly does not understand bush racing.

Saturday is the bush workers’ day. After six hard days earning a living, Saturday is when working men and women have their play day, support their local club, and enjoy country racing.

Monday to Friday is for making money—not standing at a race track.

Bush racing should not be bending over backwards to suit southern racing calendars when there are no big-name southern trainers or jockeys competing out here anyway.

The people making these decisions need to understand the economics of the bush:

A kangaroo shooter knocking over 60 big roos at $35 each can earn $2,100 in a night.

A shearer cutting 200 sheep at $4.30 each earns $870 in a day.

So tell me this—if my hold is only $300 at Longreach, and no better at Mount Isa, how is a bookmaker supposed to make a living?

Bush racing survives because bush people support it on Saturdays.

Take that away, and you take away the crowd, the turnover, and eventually the future of bush racing itself.

That is what happens when decisions about bush racing are made by people who do not live it, work it, or understand it.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Appreciate and understand your thoughts KENNY, but MATT NICHOLLS arguably knows more than most about outback and bush racing. His proposition was designed more as an answer to some of the problems confronting the regions these days.

 

‘ADELAIDE DOESN’T NEED SOME SKY 'BLOW-IN' TO MAKE OUR DAY’ 

JIMMY J of ADELAIDE writes:

‘MY local is the CREMORNE HOTEL and I love meeting my mates there on Saturdays for a drink and a punt.

Last weekend – for some reason – probably to coincide with the start of the Adelaide Carnival, we were treated to an interloper from SKY in Sydney – Dave Stanley.

Nothing against Dave, despite the fact my mates and I find it hard to believe he is hailed as some SKY ‘superstar’. Why fly him all the way from Sydney when we have some outstanding media and tipping talent in SA like John Kelton and Terry McAuliffe?

If SKY think flying blokes like Stanley all over the country to host a ‘special day’ at one of the top local pubs is going to make more people punt they have to be kidding. The only ‘strangers’ at the Cremorne on Saturday were there for the free food and bets, not to be graced by the ‘big boy's’ presence.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dave is actually a Queenslander, catapulted into the SKY Racing’s host chair in Sydney after they dispensed with the full-time services of the talented and popular Steve Hewlett. For those who enjoy his company, Stanley is hosting an Ambassador Travel trip to the Darwin Cup in August.

 

BITS & PIECES FROM THE LAST WEEK IN RACING 

CRITICS of racing and rugby league supremo Peter V’landys have been quick to pounce on his questionable closeness to the Murdoch Media during the release of JMac – the World’s Best Jockey.

LGHR is no fan of Rupert Murdoch but was impressed by the documentary film that delivers unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the life of one of the world’s most successful jockeys, offering a rare insight into his physical and mental demands.

The fact that PVL was rubbing shoulders with Lachlan Murdoch, JMac and Chris Waller at the premiere has to be taken into context when you learn this big screen production was directed by Kalan Murdoch, son of Lachlan. Sure he had daddy’s money and influence to help but Kalan still did a wonderful job on this venture and credit where credit is due.

THE retirement of star Queensland stayer ANTINO was the sad story of the week.

Mystery will continue to surround what happened to the Tony Gollan stable star at the last Spring Carnival after he went from being a Cox Plate winning chance to sub-standard performances in the space of two weeks.

LIKE all tipsters Victorian Dave Strehlau has his good and bad days.

His critics were quick to remind him of a below par performance at Flemington last Saturday when not one of his eight selections saluted. One was particularly angry: ‘The Sultan is a legend in his own lunch-time. Spare a thought mate for those who backed your best bet Bring Forth which you declared wouldn’t miss a place before it dropped out to run last’.

WHAT about the dill on social media who suggested KA YING RISING would need to perform well at Royal Ascot before being called a champion?

This bloke knows next to nothing about racing, had been on the sauce or was taking the Mickey.

 

RQ NEEDS A CEO WHO IS MORE THAN A PUPPET’ FOR 'MIA' CHAIRMAN

EDITOR'S OPINION:

IF the industry is stuck with a Sydney-based chairman for Racing Queensland who many claim created the job for himself in the process of the Review he conducted, then there is a desperate need for a CEO who is nothing more than a perceived ‘puppet’ for the ‘invisible man’.

Matt McGrath has endorsed Lachlan Murray, just back from his European vacation, as the CEO he wants. Racing Minister Tim Mander needs to question why ‘M&M’ does not want Mary Collier for the job despite her appointment by the Government to lead the implementation of the Review recommendations.

Are the stories true that the two are at odds over some of the implementations and that McGrath feels Murray will be easier to manage especially as the duo would prefer to see the Point of Consumption Tax reduced for corporate bookmakers which would have happened had some high profile MP’s not stepped in and brought the Mander plan to a halt.

There is no more popular identity in outback and country racing than Matt NICHOLLS, former publisher and editor of the North West Weekly, a victim of rising costs in the west. There are many – LGHR included – who believe Matt would make a more than capable CEO of RQ and certainly one with arguably more ability to drive the industry forward than Lachlan Murray.

Now a weekly columnist for this website, Nicholls provided us with the 10 things he would do as CEO. We publish the first five this week and the remainder next.

Here's this week's contribution. It was getting too long, so I'll do Part 2 next week. 

TEN THINGS I WOULD DO AS CEO OF RACING QUEENSLAND (Part 1)

By MATT NICHOLLS 

I grew up in country Victoria and developed an interest in horse racing as a teenager, but it wasn’t until I worked and lived in remote parts of Queensland that I truly fell in love with bush racing.

Sometimes I think Queensland forgets how good it has it.

This State has a vast, largely untapped market. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people attend race meetings in every corner of Queensland – from Cooktown to Caloundra, Birdsville to Brisbane, Cloncurry to Cunnamulla.

And yet, when you step back and assess the overall health of racing in this state, the picture is concerning. The trend is heading in the wrong direction.

While a decision is yet to be announced on the long-term CEO appointment, the smart money suggests acting boss Lachlan Murray has the inside running.

If there’s a smoky, former Racing Queensland Board member Brad Steele might be the bolter. Steele has just stepped down as CEO of Harness Racing New Zealand and is yet to announce his next move.

Regardless of who gets the job, here are 10 things I would do if I was handed the keys to Racing Queensland headquarters at Deagon.

1. CREATE A WORLD-LEADING RACING ACADEMY

THE world has changed. More people are living in cities, and fewer are growing up on the land.
As a result, the pool of people with animal husbandry skills – the backbone of the racing industry – is shrinking.

Racing Queensland should seriously consider establishing a dedicated Racing Academy, modelled on the once-popular agricultural colleges across the State.

Whether you want to be a trainer, jockey, farrier or equine vet, this Academy should provide a clear pathway.

There could be a primary base in the south-east, with satellite campuses in places like Townsville or even Mount Isa. Partner with James Cook University or another academic institution and build a world-class program that becomes the benchmark nationally.

In an ideal scenario, young people from all over Australia would relocate to Queensland to enrol.

Queensland already has a successful apprentice jockey program in the south-east, but too many trainers view apprentices purely as a way to reduce trackwork costs.

There is no reason Queensland can’t produce the next James McDonald or Damien Oliver, but it requires ambition, structure and incentives for trainers to genuinely develop talent.

2. SLASH THE NUMBER OF NON-TAB MEETINGS 

IF Queensland is serious about competing with New South Wales and Victoria, it must address the cost of running non-TAB meetings.

According to Racing Queensland’s latest Annual Report, there were 214 non-TAB meetings last season.

At a minimum of $10,000 per race across 1120 races, that’s more than $11.2 million in prizemoney alone.

That figure doesn’t include QRIC's cost of flying stewards to remote venues, accommodation, vehicle hire, jockey travel subsidies, or laboratory testing.

The more sustainable solution is to transition a significant portion of these meetings into TAB or broadcast-supported programs – whether via Sky Racing or digital platforms.

There is clear evidence this can work.

The Mount Isa Good Friday TAB meeting reportedly generated around $3 million in turnover, while Sky 2 meetings in Longreach have previously turned over $900,000.

If punters can bet remotely, these meetings have every chance of offsetting costs – if not turning a profit.
Right now, the alternative isn’t good enough.

On Saturday alone, there were four non-TAB meetings in Queensland. At three of them, punters were effectively punished by extreme betting percentages.

At Longreach: 182%, 180%, 191%, 190% and 185%.
At Cunnamulla: 177%, 175%, 192%, 189% and 171%.
At Wondai: 175%, 117% (four-horse field), 184%, 172% and 172%.
That’s grand larceny.

The only exception was Mount Isa, where Graeme Saunders and Denis Comerford bet at far more reasonable margins: 134%, 140%, 127%, 136% and 145%.

For context, metropolitan meetings at Eagle Farm and Randwick typically sit around 120%.

With the average age of country bookmakers now north of 60, Racing Queensland needs to start planning for what comes next.

Reducing reliance on non-TAB meetings is part of that future.

PHOTOGRAPH: BURKE Shire Mayor Ernie Camp and Councillor John Clarke at the GREGORY RACES.

3. LESS IS MORE: PROGRAM SMARTER

WITH fewer jockeys based in regional areas and an increasing reliance on fly-in participants and officials, programming needs to become more efficient.

This isn’t about cutting racing – it’s about delivering it better.

If there were 214 non-TAB meetings and 1120 races last season, the goal should be to reduce the number of meetings while maintaining – or even increasing – the number of races.

Five-race programs should be phased out in favour of six, seven or eight-race cards.

Take Mount Isa as an example. It hosts around 14 meetings a year, but only five or six days attract a crowd of more than 200 people. The rest are effectively “industry meetings” – necessary, but low-impact from a commercial standpoint.

If you removed two meetings from venues such as Mount Isa, Longreach, Barcaldine and Roma, and redistributed those races across stronger programs, you’d reduce costs and improve the product.

It’s far easier to attract participants to a seven-race meeting than a five-race one.

Last year’s Mount Isa Cup is a case in point – a strong crowd, but only five races. The final event was run by 4.45pm, before many attendees had even arrived.

Key meetings like that should be built up, not limited.

There will always be a need for smaller, industry-focused race days, but smarter scheduling and consolidation would deliver better outcomes across the board.

4. ELIMINATE THOROUGHBRED-FREE DAYS

SATURDAYS will always be the backbone of racing – that won’t change.

But Queensland needs to become far more flexible with when it stages meetings.

A quick look at the upcoming calendar shows nine days across June and July without a single thoroughbred meeting – all of them Mondays and Tuesdays.

That’s a lost opportunity.

Racing Queensland needs to take a firmer stance with clubs.

If a club hosts multiple meetings a year, it should be willing to stage at least one on a non-Saturday.

Some clubs already lead the way. Longreach and Mount Isa have been proactive, as have others.

Cloncurry’s Friday TAB program is a standout example – strong prizemoney, strong attendance, and no reliance on a public holiday.

There is no justification for completely blank days in the calendar, particularly when multiple non-TAB meetings are stacked onto Saturdays.

There is also an opportunity to trial more Friday afternoon and twilight meetings in the North West and Central West.

A 2.30pm start and 6pm finish would comfortably accommodate a six or seven-race program.
Even as a Sky 2 product, it would generate strong turnover – particularly with punters in pubs at the end of the working week.

It's even better when the southern states are an hour ahead of Queensland.
The window is there. It’s just not being used.

5. INVEST IN PERMANENT BROADCAST INFRASTRUCTURE

ONE of the smartest long-term investments Racing Queensland and its clubs could make is in permanent broadcasting infrastructure.

The benefits are twofold.

Firstly, it reduces the ongoing cost of sending production crews and equipment to remote venues.
Secondly, it creates flexibility.

If a Saturday meeting is abandoned elsewhere in the country, a regional club with the right infrastructure could step in at short notice.

The Queensland Government’s Gambling Community Benefit Fund is an obvious avenue to help finance these upgrades.

And the reality is, production doesn’t need to be perfect.

Some country meetings in Western Australia are broadcast with minimal equipment – but they get the job done.

In an era where punters can bet on races anywhere in the world and stream them via apps like Ladbrokes and Sportsbet, the priority should be access, not perfection.

Whether we like it or not, the days of every race being shown on a single, centralised channel are over.

Viewing habits have changed.

Racing Queensland needs to adapt – or risk falling even further behind.

Part 2 to come next week...

 

GOLLAN WINS FIVE & BLOWS PUNTERS OUT OF WATER IN PROCESS

AS per usual the mainstream racing media only wanted to focus on the positives out of Saturday racing at Eagle Farm and that was the domination of the powerful Tony Gollan stable.

They were quick to highlight how Gollan won five of the nine races but forgot to mention that in the process he managed to blow the poor old punters out of the water.

In two of those wins second string stablemates upstaged heavily-backed runners. BUNDELLA made it four straight in Race 2 but at the expense of DAGGERS $1.65 whose defeat Gollan blamed on the deteriorating track.

One race later and GIVE GIGGLES, which firmed into $5.5 from nice odds, nailed heavily-backed stablemate MOULIN MISS $2.5 on the line. Give Giggles was resuming and had good fresh form.

The Gollan-trained BOOMELLI $6.5 proved too strong in the Listed Calway Gal where ESPERANZA continued the run of flops from favourites in Brisbane on successive Saturdays.  Only two of the nine were successful at the weekend, one of those (SAVAGERY VIGE $3) from the stable of the leading trainer in the first.

Gollan saved the final nail in the coffin for punters in the last when KRONENBOURG at $91 turned in a massive form reversal to beat the heavily-backed COTE ATLANTIQUE $2.5. Kronenbourgh had finished last of 15 when resuming to MISS JOELINE, one of his rivals again on Saturday that could manage only fifth. The winner’s massive improvement was attributed to blinkers, a tongue tie and the wet track.

One-time stable star Antino ran an encouraging fourth at his first run since a mystery form loss at the Victorian Spring Carnival. But can you imagine Kronenbourg being competitive against the likes of Via Sistina, Sir Delius and Mr Brightside and starting second favourite in a Cox Plate?

WHAT THE STEWARDS SAW

HERE are some excerpts from the STEWARDS’ REPORT at EAGLE FARM which shows how on the ball ‘The Adams Family’ was on Saturday:

DAGGERS: Began awkwardly. Approaching the 900m had to be restrained to avoid the heels of BEAUX RUMBLE, which was carried in by LET'SFACETHEMUSIC. Gary Geran, rider of LET'SFACETHEMUSIC, pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to AR 131(a) for careless riding, the particulars being that leaving the 900m, he allowed his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of BEAUX RUMBLE and as a result, BEAUX RUMBLE was carried in and across the running line of DAGGERS, resulting in DAGGERS having to be restrained to avoid heels. Jockey Geran’s license to ride in races was suspended for a period of 10 days, commencing midnight 28th April and concluding midnight 5th May 2026.

ESPERANZA: Over-raced in the early stages. Leaving the 900m raced in restricted room for a short distance after becoming awkwardly placed at the heels of THE AUTUMN AFFAIR. When asked to comment on performance, Jockey Angela Jones reported that when placed under pressure, ESPERANZA failed to respond to her riding which she attributed to the heavy track conditions. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery and a minor laceration to its off foreleg. Trainer Rex Lipp was advised to report back to Stewards on the condition of the filly in the subsequent days.
 

CLOUDLAND: When asked to comment on the seemingly (it was a form reversal) improved performance, trainer Kris Lees stated that the gelding had excuses for its performances for the first two runs of this preparation (it ran 10^th and 11^th at Randwick and Rosehill) and with the conditions to suit on Saturday, was confident of a forward showing.

KRONENBOURG: When questioned regarding the seemingly (this was a massive form reversal) improved performance, Trainer Tony Gollan stated that with the addition of blinkers and tongue tie and having conditions to suit, KRONENBOURG was able to take up a favourable leading position from a wide barrier. He further added that given Saturday’s pattern of horses failing to make ground, also may have contributed to the performance. COP THAT ONE UP THE ARSE PUNTERS!

 

 

QUEENSLAND SHOWS IT HAS THE WORST STEWARDS IN THE LAND 

ONCE again racing in Queensland has been embarrassed by a Stewards’ Panel failing to do their jobs efficiently at the weekend and allowing a winner to gained an unfair advantage by breaking through the barriers.

The Steward in Charge at Toowoomba on Saturday night was Brett Wright whose panel got it all ‘wrong’. The first thing Brett should be doing on Monday morning is explaining to Kim Kelly, Commissioner of Stewarding for QRIC, why he saw no problem when a winner got an unfair start at Clifford Park.

Punters were left bewildered and bemused when Drums of War got a clear break through the barrier in Race 5. Correct weight was delayed to allow Stewards to review the start of the race.

After viewing the official footage, Stewards found that just prior to the start being affected, Drums of War lunged forward, contacting its front gate, which opened marginally earlier prior to the gates of other runners.

After consideration of AR204(2), which deals with a horse obtaining an unfair advantage, Stewards were of the view that any advantage obtained was only a head margin when the gates of other runners commenced to open and it was not unfair. Therefore, Drums Of War was declared a starter and correct weight declared.

They had to be kidding – the photo above clearly shows almost the entire body of the horse to be out of the barriers while those of the remaining runners were still closed. It most certainly gained an unfair advantage and should have been declared a non-runner.
 
Drums of War won the race by less than a length, almost a similar margin (.84 of a length, according to Stewards) to the early advantage he gained. Only in Queensland!

According to the Toowoomba panel in charge of the meeting, the gelding’s gates only opened ‘marginally’ earlier. They need to visit Specsavers after declaring the advantage gained was only a head.

Punter Leigh Jones said on X, the situation is ‘absolute embarrassing for the industry.’

Most would agree with him – apart from those who backed the winner. It shows again just how useless the panel in Queensland is under the worst Chief Steward in the land, Josh Adams. His inability has a domino effect down the line from Toowoomba to Cairns.

And to think we now have a former respected Steward in Kym Daly (that good school buddy of the Racing Minister) appointed to the new RQ Board. Wonder what he thought about this fiasco?

LABOR MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO DEMAND MINISTERIAL ANSWERS

THE Labor Opposition showed how little they care about racing in Queensland when they preferred to use valuable Parliamentary time to take Minister Tim Mander to task over his personal life rather than demand answers on important industry issues.

Labor, aided and abetted by our major metropolitan newspaper, got their priorities wrong in targeting the private life of Tim Mander, his partnership with Ministerial colleague Amanda Camm and what electorate he is enrolled in.

From an industry perspective, Shadow Racing Minister Grace Grace and Brisbane’s leading fish and chips wrapper went MIA preferring not to demand answers from the Government and ‘Tin Whistle Tim’ on pressing industry issues.

Instead of worrying about whether Mander is not living at the address registered with the State’s Electoral Commission, here are some of the questions that Labor, Grace Grace and The Courier-Mail seem reluctant to ask:

• WHEN will the report by Mary Collyer on implementation of recommendations of the Racing Review be publicly released?
• HOW can the Minister justify the appointment of Matt McGrath as Chairman and his old school buddy Kym Daly to a newlook RQ Board established on recommendations of the Review that this duo conducted? There is a perception – rightly or wrongly – that they created these jobs for themselves at the behest of the Minister.
• Is it true that Racing Queensland is close to broke and that is the main reason that the Sunshine State does not have a Fuel Assistance Subsidy for participants as has occurred in NSW, Victoria and South Australia?
• Are reports that Matt McGrath and his sidekick Kym Daly want Wade Birch (with a few skeletons in his closet) brought in to replace Kim Kelly as Commissioner of Stewarding in Queensland?
• Was there a fall-out between Mary Collyer and Matt McGrath over differences in the implementation of recommendations of the Racing Review and has this led to Collyer being overlooked for the important role of CEO of RQ with Lachlan Murray preferred by the new RQ Chairman despite his lack of experience.

 

'POOR EXCUSE’ FOR A MAJOR NEWSPAPER HAS GONE MIA AS WELL 

IF for some strange reason Shadow Minister Grace Grace does not want to do her job and demand answers on behalf of the industry then our poor excuse for a major metropolitan newspaper should be doing so.

But apparently because of some ‘sweetheart’ deal involving form guides, the Murdoch Media refuse to criticize Racing Queensland.

So much for protecting the interests of the public and an industry that pours millions into Government coffers. The CM seems more interested in boosting the bank balance of the Big & Little Kahuna.

The CM can’t get its story priorities right and perhaps that’s why its circulation continues to plummet downhill faster than an out-of-control roller-coaster.

With news now available 24/7 on radio and TV, unless the print media finds a new direction the chances of newspapers surviving for another 10 years are 100-1.

This week Brisbane’s fish and chips wrapper decided to once again target the personal life of Racing, Olympics and Sports Minister Tim Mander rather than the job he is doing as a politician.

Instead of questioning why Mander nor the LNP Government has provided a Fuel Subsidy Package for the racing industry like other States, the CM probed whether he had complied with the rules “at every occasion” after it was revealed he was not currently living at the Brisbane address registered with the State’s Electoral Commission.

It seems Mander is enrolled to vote at the same Arana Hills home as his Electorate Officer, but does not currently live there. Heaven forbid, ‘Tin Whistle Tim’ has purchased a home with his lovely partner, Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm, in Hamilton – 30 minutes away from his electorate.

Both declared their relationship last July after Mander separated from his wife a few months earlier which was really no-one’s business except their own.    

The CM reported this week that following pressure, Mander provided a short statement and allowed only two questions from journalists before heading into a Party meeting. That was subsequently played out in Parliament.

Mander said he had updated the Electoral Commission Queensland with his correct details every time his circumstances changed. “I’m currently enrolled at my residential address and I have complied with all the requirements of the ECQ at every occasion,” he said.

He did not confirm whether he lived at the Arana Hills home but reiterated that he notified ECQ with his correct details every time and registered appropriately.

That should be the end of the story. It’s time for the CM to leave the personal lives of two of our Government Ministers alone and start doing their job and focussing on what Tim Mander should be addressing in his Olympic and Racing roles.

Other than why we haven’t followed the lead of other States in providing a Petrol Subsidy for Racing (it’s apparently because RQ is broke) or explaining how he could possibly allow two of the key people who conducted the Racing Review to be catapulted onto a newlook Board that they recommended. It’s not a good look Tim!

From integrity to administration and the concerns by stakeholders that the new Board Chairman is rarely seen in Queensland, racing in the Sunshine State is becoming an increasing embarrassment.

 

‘HOW ABOUT SOME BALANCE, STOP SPIN DOCTORING WALLEY WORLD’

‘BILL from BREAKFAST CREEK’ – an owner of horses – weighs in with an interesting contribution concerning a leading columnist in the Sydney racing media:

‘I simply cannot ignore what I read recently on Racenet.

I have a couple of questions for the ‘dodgy’ horse trader. Is there really not a thing that Sydney’s leading trainer can do wrong?

Once again we stomach this lack of objectivity in what is supposed to be a column giving at least a modicum of balance. He seems to be a PVL once removed.

Firstly bagging the Australian Cup, then the Caulfield track, when God knows how tracks are going to be one week from the next (Sydney’s included), and the Australian Cup turned out to be an unforgettable race, in the peak of preps for both the winner and Jenni. Let the Vics live in your head for sure, but this is racing, it happens in all states, not just yours.

Mr Waller by his own admission (and credit to him), got it wrong with Autumn Glow. He doesn’t need defending, it just didn’t work.

And now for a comment through my kick – I liked River of Stars, so I plonked a bit on it in the “Group One” Sydney Cup (another Saturday handicap by a different name).

The world’s best jockey took off way too early, gave his horse no chance and it, of course, dropped out. The ‘dodgy’ horse trader’s assessment: “It was left to James McDonald to make the first move” and so on.  Give me a break!

Add on Aeliana, Craig’s ride (the only thing that won the QE for Sir Delius according to the ‘dodgy’ horse trader), and you have the backbone of yet another worshipping contribution to the weekly suck-up page.

If you really want to review Sydney racing as it is, ask why there have been Group level races in the last two months where only two stables have participated. Is that good for racing?

There is no point having contributors who have a private or pre-determined agenda. My humble little syndicate was not able to compete at all in Sydney with our horses, so that part of the journey is over. Reasons are well known in the industry. If you know, you know.

How about being objective? We might, just might, have some balance.’

 

THIS LOOKS LIKE A GOOD JOB FOR LGHR OR ARCHIE BUTTERFLY 

AN interesting advertisement from the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has attracted the attention of both LGHR and Archie Butterfly from peterprofit.com.

QRIS is seeking ‘a passionate and dynamic senior steward’ to join their thoroughbred panel but have strangely listed their ad under the occupational classification of ‘journalism and writing’.

We didn’t realise that senior racing integrity roles in Queensland were designed for racing scribes. We did know that one former high profile Turf Editor ran messages from the jockeys’ room to the bookies’ ring way back when right under the noses of the then Stewards.

Archie suggests that: ‘Given recent events that demonstrate that your current incumbents in the job don’t know what day of the week it is, and don’t seem able to write and enter embargoes on the QRIC computer system, I understand where you are coming from.”

Tongue in cheek ‘The Butterfly’ writes: “Obviously you have written the job for me. I will take it. As long as I can work in the bunker from Port Douglas like the NRL officials do, and you pay me a couple of hundred grand a year.”

The same applies to LGHR. We our supremely confident our combined talents could do a better job than the ‘Adams Family’. We are arguably more ‘passion and dynamic’ than the current team and unlike the ‘Everywhere Man of the Stewards’ Panel in Queensland’ we can at least write our names.

There is a proviso that, although the terms of employment didn’t list same, we aren’t required to take for granted that:

• We don’t rock the boat by conducting running and handling inquiries into any favorite that misses the start and runs up the arse of his or her rivals, doesn’t sit three and four wide from inside barriers and is ridden to win the race to the first corner and not the finish line.
• We also would not be prepared to turn a blind eye to runners from certain leading stables that the punters regard as 'protected species'. Sadly, we see them every week in Brisbane and south-east Queensland while ‘The Adams Family’ goes MIA.
• And finally, we would insist on separation of powers and not be prepared to take our ‘orders’ from the Racing Minister or some of the bureaucratic bums that he prefers to run integrity once the services of Kim Kelly and QRIC are dispensed with.

 

RACING INDUSTRY STEPS UP TO HELP THE McGOVERN FAMILY

Weekly column by our new weekly voluntary contributor MATT NICHOLLS

ONE of the things I’ve always loved about racing is the sense of community within the industry.

There will always be the odd stoush – and trust me, I know of plenty – but when it really matters, racing people look after their own.

So it has come as no surprise to see the support that has rallied around injured jockey Shane McGovern and his wife Kim following the horrific incident in Charters Towers earlier this month.

For those unaware, a horse collapsed on Shane while he was riding trackwork. He was trapped underneath it for several hours before help arrived.

He was eventually transported to Townsville Hospital in a critical condition and remains in an induced coma. Doctors last week amputated one of his legs just below the knee after both legs were crushed in the accident.

The response from the industry has been immense.

A convoy travelled to Charters Towers to collect the McGoverns’ horses and pack up their caravan before relocating everything to Townsville so Kim could be closer to Shane.

Another trainer has taken on the responsibility of caring for all 12 of the McGoverns’ horses while they are away, as well as their cats and dogs.

The fund-raising effort has also been outstanding.

There have been several private donations made directly to Kim’s bank account, while Mount Isa Race Club helped kick things off with a $1,000 donation and raffles at Saturday’s meeting.

The Queensland Jockeys’ Association launched a GoFundMe campaign for the McGoverns over the weekend and, at the time of writing, $70,000 had been raised. Racing Queensland also deserves credit for contributing $50,000 to get the campaign moving.

You can donate to the Shane McGovern fundraiser here: https://gofund.me/7cc211e51

Looking through the list of donors, most are industry people, many of them from North Queensland. It has also been great to see southern jockeys chipping in – even Chris Waller threw in $500.

While there will likely be workers’ compensation for McGovern, it certainly won’t cover the loss of income or the career-ending injuries he has suffered.

I can’t tell you a lot of personal anecdotes about Shane, except to say that he and Kim are simple people who live a fairly basic and nomadic lifestyle. They are genuine bush racing battlers who have devoted a lifetime to the industry.

One of my favourite memories of Shane came at McKinlay – home of the Walkabout Creek Hotel – in 2024.

Shane dead-heated a race aboard Tiger For Life in a fairly modest 0-55 Handicap over 1500m.

To him, it was like he’d won a Cleveland Bay. He had a grin from ear to ear and was on the phone the next day asking for my photos.

Sadly, he’ll never ride again. And at 67 years of age, life will never quite be the same.

COULD THERE BE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE INDUSTRY? 

ALARM bells are ringing at Deagon following the accident involving Shane McGovern.

And it appears bush clubs could soon find themselves dealing with more red tape as a result.

Most country tracks don’t currently have a designated trackwork supervisor, but the mail out of Racing Queensland is that this may soon need to change.

Clubs and trainers are already on notice regarding the use of vehicles when training horses on registered tracks, and it seems further restrictions could be on the way.

There is also talk that QRIC and/or Racing Queensland are eager to shut down training in the dark, which would be a significant blow to country trainers at clubs without track lighting.

For now, it’s a wait-and-see situation.

But trainers in the bush are already under enough pressure without further restrictions being placed on them. I'd like to see more consultation and more common sense measures applied.

BATTLE OF THE BUSH HEATS COMMENCE 

WHILE the $200,000 Battle of the Bush Final at Eagle Farm is still a couple of months away, the first qualifiers were held on Saturday.

At Goondiwindi, Toowoomba trainer Nick Beck and jockey Jess Emmerson combined with Ready And Mabel to win the $18,500 heat.

The three-year-old filly slipped in with just 53kg and Emmerson made the most of the featherweight ride.

Sent straight to the front in the 1200m event, Ready And Mabel controlled the race from start to finish to score by half a length.

With a guaranteed start in the $200,000 final on Tattersall’s Tiara Day on June 27, Beck now has several options up his sleeve with the talented filly, which should gain a start on the minimum weight.

Further north at Thangool, Bundaberg-based hobby trainer Gary Clem claimed the $12,500 qualifier with Corkscrew in a thrilling finish.

The lightly raced seven-year-old gelding – now a winner of five races from 27 starts – made it back-to-back victories with jockey Adam Spinks in the saddle.

Corkscrew had to be tough to get the job done, sitting outside the leader Palatial Prince before edging him out by a half-head on the line.

In total, there will be 16 Battle of the Bush qualifiers before the final.

 

WALLER WINS FOUR – TWO GROUP 1’s – BUT JMAC HAS BIG FAT ZERO  

IT remains a mystery how champion trainer Chris Waller can provide four winners at Randwick on Saturday – two of those in Group 1’s – yet No1 stable jockey James Macdonald didn’t ride a single one of them.

Either the stable hasn’t got a clue which of its runners should be ridden by the best jockey in the world or whoever is advising JMac on his rides needs to stop selecting them with a pin.

Waller saddled up the trifecta in the $1.5mn G1 All Aged Stakes, where the winner, Beiwacht, led throughout for Nash Rawiller. Macdonald got lost on the favourite Angel Capital which was never a hope finishing sixth.

In the $1mn G1 Champagne Stakes, Waller second-string Fireball, ridden by Tim Clark, upstaged heavily-backed Sires winner Campione D’Italia, $2.15 favorite, ridden by JMac in a close finish.

In the G3 JRA Plate, the Waller-trained roughie, Asterix $16, ridden by Jason Collett scored a surprise win with Macdonald on stablemate and favorite Travolta finishing an unlucky third.

In the last of the day Captain Furai provided Waller with his quartet of winners. It ran favorite but was ridden by Kerrin McEvoy while JMac was aboard Lord Penman which fared worse of the stable’s trio of runners in the race.

 

PUNTERS WHO BET ON JOCKEYS' CHALLENGE WALK THE TIGHTROPE 

MACDONALD was again a beaten short priced favorite to win the JOCKEYS’ CHALLENGE but despite riding for the top stable which had four winners, including two Group 1’s, he failed to deliver.

Perhaps it’s time for the Stewards to investigate this inexplicable run of failures by JMac when – at times – at almost unbackable odds to be the best performing jockeys on the day, both Saturdays and Midweeks.

Among his beaten runners on the final day of the Sydney Carnival, there were excuses but as expected the SKY ‘experts’ were only keen on highlighting what a great trainer Waller is – no argument there – and providing alibis for his beaten favorites – especially those beaten by second-string stable runners which happens far too often in Sydney.

Here’s what the Stewards saw:

PROVIDENCE, which ran 2^nd in the G3 Frank Packer Plate: HAD difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the straight.

TRAVOLTA, 3^rd in the G3 JRA PLATE: When questioned, James McDonald stated that he was instructed to ride the horse, which was dropping back in distance from 2600m, near midfield from a favourable barrier. He said after beginning satisfactorily he gave Travolta the opportunity to settle handy however when several runners to his inside were being ridden positively to obtain a forward position, he steadied the gelding as he felt he would have had to make too much use of the horse to cross those runners.

He added that Travolta consequently settled towards the rear of the field. He stated further that when following Encoder which came under pressure from the 600m, he was unable to shift out to improve when positioned inside the heels of Portland. He said that when unable to identify a clear run in the early part home straight Travolta remained held-up until approaching the 150m where he took a tight run between Just Fine and Encoder.

Travolta’s winning stablemate AXTRIX had not raced since December and had been placed only once from five previous runs when resuming.

CAMPIONE D’ITALIA, close 2^nd to stablemate FIREBALL in the G1 Champagne: On jumping made contact with Southend. A short distance later made contact with the hindquarter of Zambales, resulting in that runner being turned out, which in turn resulted in Campione D’Italia being steadied when crowded between Zambales and Southend. Near the 800m, when over-racing, was checked from the heels of Zambales when the pace slowed. Following this incident, continued to over-race and took some time to settle.

ANGEL CAPITAL: Was badly held-up from the 400m and near the 200m was disappointed for a run between Royal Patronage and Lazzura, which shifted in. Angel Capital remained held-up and was unable to be tested until passing the 50m.

LET’S just say lady luck wasn’t on JMac’s side on Saturday but for Waller the consolation prize – as so often happens –was that he had a second-string stablemate on hand to do the job and it ended up a big day for the star trainer to cap off a great carnival.

As for the punters – well it was another JMac and Waller carrot up the hind-quarters card. That’s what happens when you bet in Sydney but don’t expect any sympathy from SKY where it’s wall-to-wall WALLER, WALLER, WALLER.

 

RUN OF BEATEN FAVORITES CONTINUES IN BRISBANE –  UMMMM! 

THE incredible run of beaten favorites continued in Brisbane on Saturday when only one of the nine was successful at Eagle Farm.

The Tony Gollan-Angela Jones combo did punters no favours when two odds-on favorites were beaten – BALANCE THE BOOKS and NOW IS THE HOUR.

It was left to Emily Lang to salvage something from the Gollan wreckage on TEN DEEP, which was a certainty beaten over the track and distance when heavily-backed at her previous start.

Stewards reported:

BALANCE THE BOOKS: Became fractious in the barriers prior to the start being affected and as a result was slow to begin. Jockey Angela Jones reported that Balance The Books failed to travel throughout and proved disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery. Trainer’s representative advised that they would report back on the condition in the days subsequent.
 

NOW IS THE HOUR: Shifted in on jumping away. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery. Jockey Angela Jones reported that her mount travelled well throughout the event but weakened over the final 100m. She added that being first-up, the gelding would derive benefit from the run. (LGHR received a couple of emails from punters who backed the horse claiming the pace set in front by Jones gave the horse no hope).

 

SHOULD THERE HAVE BEEN INQUIRY INTO RIDE ON WALLER RUNNER?

THERE was an eye-catcher from the Chris Waller stable which rather than comment on we will repeat a story published today by Archie Butterfly on peterprofit.com under the headline: ‘A Very Strange Ride Indeed’, which explains how LGHR felt. It reads, in part:

CAPTAIN MAVERICK at $71 was an outsider in race five at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Notwithstanding the price, it was a very odd ride by Kyle Wilson-Taylor, and had he taken the right option instead of the wrong, the Waller-trained horse would just about have won the race.

The video shows that in the straight there seemed to be a gap on Captain Maverick’s outside but KWT went back inside where there was no run at all.

What was he doing? Trying to channel Moses and part the Red Sea?

It didn’t make sense. Call me a cynic but I didn’t like the ride at all.

NOR did LGHR – but as so often happens with Waller horses it caused only a small blip on the stewards’ radar and in Queensland ‘The Adams Family’ seems to possess one that belongs back when Bernborough was racing.

They reported that CAPTAIN MAVERICK was disappointed for a run leaving the 300m and became awkwardly placed on the heels of AMUSEANTES and was obliged to shift out to improve into clear running.

No reason to invite KWT in and asked about the ride.  You can't help bad luck.

Think it’s bad now? If the news is right about forthcoming changes, don’t expect things to get any better in racing integrity in Queensland.     

 

RUDDERLESS, BROKE & AN INVISIBLE CHAIRMAN – THE NEWLOOK RQ 

MANY stakeholders fear that Racing Queensland is rudderless, broke and has a new Chairman that they call the ‘invisible man’.

No doubt ‘Tin Whistle Timmy’ and his chosen one, ‘M & M Matt’, will be front and centre when the Queensland carnival gets underway in a few weeks’ time. And no doubt their ‘water boy’, the Minister’s old school buddy, will be hot on their heels.

But will the industry be any closer to learning what Mary Collier has suggested after studying the recommendations of the Racing Review, which of these will be implemented and when (no doubt dependent on costs) or whether the industry will continue to spiral downhill like an out-of-control roller-coaster?

By then the bike riding Interim CEO should be back from his Tour De France, freshened and ready to be at the beckon call of his new boss, ‘M & M Matt’, who sees a future in this bloke that few others in the industry do.

It seems that McGrath doesn’t agree ‘there’s something about Mary’ as a good fit for the job she should fill as CEO – critics say too much knowledge about racing for his liking – and not the same Degree in Corporate Bookmaking that ‘Lachy’ boasts.

As part of the replacement of QRIC as we know it, a senior wagering role will be established to ensure appropriate oversight of betting activity. The Review claims this elevated position will strengthen the ability to identify and address potential breaches and ensure confidence in wagering systems.

That sounds perfect for Lachlan Murray – not out of his depth like he is as Interim CEO – and the added bonus would be he could protect the interests of his mates (and those of Chairman Matt) in the corporate bookmaking community. There the ones M & M had the Minister’s support to reduce Point of Consumption Tax for until Mander’s Ministerial colleagues stepped in and said ‘enough is enough’.

With big changes ahead for these slimy, slippery corporates, the Federal Government has announced big changes to gambling advertising. From next January, gambling ads in stadiums, on jerseys, during commentary, on the radio around school pick-up and drop-off time and online will be banned to protect underage Australians.

TV advertising will be restricted. Adults will be able to opt-out of online ads and the use of celebrities and sports stars to promote gambling will be banned. 

Evidence shows that advertising encourages people to bet for the first time, bet more than usual, and engage in riskier betting. Surveys by sporting codes have consistently found that the vast majority of Aussies want gambling advertising in sport restricted.

The sooner we get a National Tote in Australia the better because if the Government isn’t able to control the growth of corporate bookies – let alone ban them altogether – the punters will continue to be robbed blind and the industry will lose hundreds of millions to these parasites.

 

IS BRAD STEELE BEING CONSIDERED AS THE NEW CEO OF RQ? 

IF Mary Collier has been relegated to the reject bin as a prospective CEO of Racing Queensland, here’s hoping the rumours about Brad Steele, who has just resigned as CEO of NZ Harness Racing to take up a job back in Oz, are right.

As a former popular RQ Board Director, who resigned alongside his mate Barry Taylor, in protest at a perceived ‘dud’ TAB deal that then Chairman Kevin Dixon pushed through, Steele would make an ideal CEO and has more background in business, harness racing and gallops than the interim Lachlan Murray could arguably ever hope to have.

Some say Steele would be subservient to King Kev Seymour but is that a bad thing? After all isn’t that what pollies of both parties have been for years?

Of course Seymour wants to protect his interests as the biggest stakeholder in the Queensland TAB especially with positive moves toward a National Tote which is desperately needed to battle unscrupulous corporate bookmakers.

Who would blame him?

 

HERE’S HOW ONE OF OUR CONTRIBUTORS SUMS UP RQ SITUATION

ONE of our regular contributors recently wrote: 

'WHEN do we see what Mary Collier has produced (from the Racing Review recommendations)?

The industry can’t wait to see the proposed plan (for the industry) that is supposed to take us all forward.

Will it fix the scratchings issue, jockey shortages, costs and racing outside of SE Queensland. We need a National Tote and to get rid of most of the 150-plus corporate 'thiefs' who are costing the industry too much money under Point of Consumption Tax.

We do not need someone too close to corporate bookies running Racing Queensland. ENTAIN has been smart positioning key people in different parts of the industry but this has been allowed to happen by the Government and RQ Board.

The industry doesn’t need more people on Boards etc – it just needs the right people and good process around decision making.

All Queensland racing has seen in over 18 months since the new Minister arrived is a glossy booklet and a promise to the Brisbane Racing Club of help funding a new grandstand when no-one goes to the races outside Carnival time. Remember the day that Black Caviar attracted 25,000 fans?

We need to modernize the product around reality. We have had many other reports over a decade that really mirrored the current one. Little has resulted, so it must be too hard.'

 

WHO'S RUNNING RQ IN THE ABSENCE OF THOSE WHO SHOULD?

WHO is running racing in Queensland in the absence of the Interim CEO (overseas until the end of the month) and a new Sydney-based Chairman who stakeholders say has rarely been sighted in the north since his appointment?

The story goes that RQ is broke – that’s the reason we haven’t seen a Petrol Subsidy for stakeholders – like has happened in other States. Brisbane has had eight and nine races at the main Saturday meeting in recent weeks while the southern States and even Adelaide have boasted 10.

Only a few weeks out from the Carnival launch and the major metropolitan meeting in Queensland has resembled a midweek one. Even the head honchos of the BRC were absent last Saturday - in Sydney to watch the Chairman’s horse score a Group 1 upset in the Sydney Cup and who could blame them?

 

INSTEAD OF SPIN-DOCTORING FIASCO, APPOINT AN ADMINISTRATOR 

THE ‘spin doctoring’ of the fiasco that caused the big Rockhampton Capricornia Sales meeting to be transferred from last Saturday to Sunday has won few friends in the industry.

Someone at the club was telling big ‘porkies’ to QRIC when they suggested the track was a Good 4 on Saturday morning. When the Stewards arrived a few hours later a section at the top of the straight was so Heavy it was too dangerous to race on.

Those at the Rockhampton Jockey Club who suggested no sprinklers were left on overnight to damage that section of the track were quickly found out when a photograph (attached courtesy of peterprofit.com) was produced, taken the night before at the Calcutta which clearly showed the sprinklers full blast in the background.

Then they tried to alibi the ‘lies’ by suggesting the problem was caused by a damaged piece of equipment – that looked like it had been produced from Noah’s Arc.

Full marks to those who moved heaven and earth to stage the meeting on the Sunday – albeit an early start and rapid racing – but it still enabled the big prizemoney to be distributed and the sales to proceed later. Pity the corporates didn't jump aboard refusing to post prices until a half hour before the first. 

What didn’t sit well with critics was the continued spin-doctoring of the situation. Here’s what one contributor had to say:

‘We are told that Brolga and the Bike Rider are good drinking buddies. The race caller’s defence of what happened that caused the meeting to be postponed was finger down the throat stuff.’

So many things continue to happen in racing in Rockhampton that any Board worth its salt would appoint an Administrator to investigate.

But we’re talking about RQ where the show is run by an ‘invisible’ Sydneysider and one of the Racing Minister’s old school buddies.

God help us!

  

NICHOLLS JOINS LGHR ON VOLUNTARY BASIS WITH WEEKLY COLUMN

WONDERFUL NEWS for readers of LGHR. MATT NICHOLLS, best known for his stories in the North-West Weekly, has offered to write a weekly article or column for OUR WEBSITE on a voluntary basis. We are more than delighted as this will allow MATT to continue his love affair with bush racing in Queensland. Here is his first contribution:

SYDNEY SUBURBAN GIRL TRAINING WINNERS IN QUEENSLAND DUST 

WHEN Monique Gavin saddled up her first winner in 2022 – more than 600km from her training base in Cunnamulla – the moment meant everything. Looking back now, she admits she can hardly believe it happened.

“I look back at myself and wonder how I got that win, if I was to be completely honest,” the 30-year-old trainer said of her debut victory with The Sabbath at Barcaldine on October 29, 2022.

Gavin (pictured after her winning double at Noorama last Saturday) said her early days in racing were heavily influenced by traditional training methods she learned while working under veteran horseman Tim Higgins.

“I got taught a lot of things from a very old school trainer, and he was very old school in making his own feeds and didn't really use many supplements and didn't use certain vitamins and electrolytes,” she said.

Since then, Gavin has adapted her approach as she’s gained more experience and access to modern feeding and training methods.

“Today you can literally buy everything you need in a premade feed, and there're so many options out there,” she said.

Looking back at those early days, she said her program now looks very different.

“I still look back at myself when I first started and I shake my head and think, how did I manage to get those winners considering I was doing hardly anything to what I'm doing now,” she said.

“Now it's fast work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and gallops on Saturdays if we're not racing.”

Four years into her career, Gavin is steadily building a stable in one of the most remote pockets of Queensland.

She's a long way from home.

“I literally come from Sydney; I grew up in the suburbs,” she said. “So there were no horses around me. I didn't have any association with horses before coming out here.”

Gavin first arrived in Cunnamulla through a family connection with no intention of staying long-term. But a chance opportunity with Higgins changed everything.

“He asked me one day if I could come and give him a hand with some foals that he had bred, and pretty much from there on, he said, ‘If I teach you how to ride, can you come and help me?’”

She spent five years working as a stable-hand before Higgins encouraged her to take the next step. “He said, ‘I've had enough now. If you want to train, you'll have to get your own licence.’”

Starting from scratch, Gavin built her operation piece by piece. While renting, she constructed portable stables and began with just three horses – two racehorses and her old pony club horse. Eventually, she purchased a home on a one-acre block in Cunnamulla to expand her setup.

“I ended up building six stables and I'm currently in the middle of building another four,” she said.

Gavin now has a dozen horses in work – a significant achievement given she is the only trainer within a 200km radius. While facilities are basic, she utilises a sand track at Higgins’ property nearby.

“That sand is all I know, really,” she said. “I’ve learned that the best way to get them fit is in that sand.”

The results are starting to follow. Gavin has now trained close to 30 winners, recently celebrating a standout day with two winners and multiple placings at Noorama, located 100km from her base.

(Photograph shows part of the crowd of around 300 who attended last Saturday's Noorama meeting, which was good considering that diesel is in excess of $3.50/litre out west and most travelled long distances to be there).

“It's cloud nine,” Gavin said of being named trainer-of-the-day.

“You have a bit of pressure on yourself, knowing there's a lot of people watching… but getting trainer of the day was really one of those highlights. It makes them realise that a lot of blood, sweat and tears go into it. It's not just a hobby, it's actually a lifestyle.”

Operating in such isolation requires extreme resourcefulness. Her partner, Pete, even learned how to shoe horses to reduce reliance on visiting farriers.

“He saw what we were paying the farrier, and he went, ‘I think I can give this a go,’” she said. “Tim Higgins taught Pete how to do it, and now he does an absolutely brilliant job.”

Access to veterinary services remains a hurdle, with the nearest specialists hours away.

“The closest vet is Charleville, and they're not equine vets either,” she said. “We've either had to rush them down to Toowoomba or across to Roma… you've got to learn everything yourself. I think I've got every supply you could possibly think of for first aid.”

THE RISING COST OF THE ROAD

THE biggest pressure facing bush trainers right now is the cost of travel, particularly with soaring fuel prices.

“The other day, we went to Roma... we took four horses over. None of them ran a place, and that day ended up costing $850,” Monique said. “And we got nothing back for that.”

Gavin believes the situation is stark when compared with the New South Wales border. Aside from Noorama and Charleville, the next closest track is Bourke in Outback NSW, about 250km away. Gavin noted that Racing NSW initiatives, such as appearance fees and travel subsidies, highlight the difference in support.

"They pay down to eighth and they also pay you an appearance fee,” she said. “If you take 10 horses and all of them run dead last, you're still walking away with $1,500 just for showing up.”

Additionally, NSW trainers travelling significant distances now receive a $200 fuel initiative. For those in remote regions, Gavin said those measures would take the pressure off.

Despite the financial strain, the young trainer remains committed to bush race meetings because of their community importance.

“It's a huge event for people in town because it gives them something to do,” she said. “It gives them a reason to dress up and have a bit of fun. Without us going to the meetings, these meetings won't happen. They need us as much as we need them.”

Beyond the racing, Gavin emphasises the social value.

“It's a big thing for mental health as well. Living in these small towns, it can get a bit depressing. At the races, everyone just seems to be getting on with everyone. It'd be such a shame to see them go.”

DREAMING OF CITY WINS

WHILE Cunnamulla is home, Gavin still harbours ambitions for the provincial and metropolitan circuits.

“Oh, 100 per cent,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the cost of things... I would love to be somewhere like Toowoomba or even Warwick – somewhere still a bit rural, but with access to the metros.”

For now, the affordability of the Outback keeps her grounded. “I bought a three-bedroom house here on an acre for $150,000,” she said. “You're not going to find that anywhere else.”

Gavin believes the steady growth of her stable will eventually open new doors.

“I’m slowly building and getting more owners and some nice horses,” she said.

“Even just a winner at Toowoomba would be my next on the to-do list.”

 

KELLY TO BE REPLACED BY BIRCH – THEY HAVE TO BE KIDDING! 

THE mail is strong that one of the best stewards in the world, KIM KELLY, will soon be shown the door as DEPUTY COMMISSIONER of the QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION which is set to be dismantled by the LNP Government.

Story goes the new role of COMMISSIONER of STEWARDING will see WADE BIRCH, who reportedly now works outside the racing industry, make a controversial comeback to Queensland Racing.

If this is correct – and our mail comes from a well-informed Government source – then Birch will have completed the full circle having seen his services as Chief Steward controversially dispensed with when he was thrown under the bus in the wake of the greyhound live baiting fiasco of 2016.

The question being asked by those hearing these reports is: How could any Racing Minister of any political party who was remotely interested in integrity dispense with the services of an internationally renowned steward with the CV of Kelly?

Perhaps Kelly doesn't like the way they would want him to do the job and the lack of separation of powers under the new Governnance model. 

Critics of Birch say there is no comparison between experience and ability when comparing him to Kelly. They are also highlighting the ‘baggage’ that Birch would bring to the job – headed by his close association with Steve Fletcher, one of Australia’s biggest punters who, in 2017, was charged with a string of fraud offences over his alleged use of police officers’ betting accounts to hide his gambling activities.

LGHR would never put Birch in the same league as Kelly when it comes to stewarding but we still believe he is a lost talent to racing. The problem is the last time he was Chairman of Stewards in Queensland the then Chairman Kevin Dixon spent too much of his time at RQ HQ’s in Birch’s office. The then CEO Darren Condon, a popular figure in the industry, tried to counsel Dixon that it wasn’t a good look. Condon was another thrown under the bus before Dixon and his entire Board were sacked by the then Government in the wake of the 2105 live baiting controversy.

 

'UGLY’ FEEDBACK FROM THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD THE RUMOURS

Here are some of the comments we have received as the news of a Birch revival has started to filter to the industry:

‘There will be plenty of trainers and jockeys throwing a party when they learn that the steward they admire most, Wade Birch, will be returning. Who can forget the days when he was working his way to Chairman and fraternised on a regular basis with licensees in the north and on the Sunshine Coast?’

‘Even under Kim Kelly there is an alarming situation re-emerging where a certain person involved with a prominent stable is being credited with its massively improving success rate. What odds that bloke will soon have his trainer’s license back with rumours that he has a strong supporter on the new-look Board.’

‘Punters have no faith in the current Chief Steward Josh Adams. We understand Kim Kelly is doing his best to ensure Adams lifts his game when it comes to Integrity. Just imagine how bad the policing of racing in Queensland will be with Kelly gone and Birch in charge. Why don’t they just employ big punter Steve Fletcher as Betting Advisor?’

‘Kelly being replaced by Birch – they have to be kidding. Who’s advising this out-of-touch Racing Minister Mander. It’s obvious he doesn’t have a clue when it comes to Integrity of Racing. Story goes there are bureacrats working at QRIC who have done a hatchet job on Kelly and want to see the public servant ‘click’ in control of Integrity and stewards under the new-look Board. Please tell us one of them isn’t an ex-copper.’

Readers are probably sick of hearing this story but LGHR once tried to broker a deal on behalf of three high profile Victorians (a highly respect Chief Steward, the then Head of Integrity and a prominent fence jumper causing mayhem for trainers) but the in-coming Chairman of Stewards (who is now said to be a consultant to the current Racing Minister) rejected the proposal on advice of all the wrong people.

What’s the score now – 17 successive Saturday favorites have been beaten – you can’t help bad luck or bad stewarding? And let’s not talk about the ‘circus’ in policing racing in the Far North where the worst steward in the land is the laughing stock of the industry.

Come on Minister Mander – in rugby league you were once one of the most respected whistle-blowers in the land. Lift your act and convert that standing to racing before it is too late.

 

THOSE WHO LOVE RACING LEFT TO REMEMBER THE ‘GOOD OLD DAYS’ 

INTERESTING contribution from our old mate, GARRY GORRIE, the former top NQ bookies, who now follows racing closely from his new abode in Phuket, Thailand:

EASTER has just come and gone and it’s not the same.

In the ‘good old days’ Oakbank had the Hurdles and Steeple jumps, the famous ‘Fallen Log’ and you could go to Sydney for the Royal Easter Show, the Doncaster Saturday and Sydney Cup Monday.

These meetings drew the public to the tracks all over Australia and we had meetings in just about all major towns and no shortage of horses or Jockeys.

My favourite was to go to Townsville to play in the North Queensland Squash Championships and field at Cluden on the Saturday. (I got a favoured squash draw to do this but the trouble was LGHR always proved too classy for me on the field and the punt) and on Easter Monday on the way home I would field at the iconic meeting Bowen River.

One Monday there I liked a horse in the Maiden and  you could get on in Vanuatu (the Number 1 betting shop SP with 3/1 limit and to win $2000 maximum). I had $600 on it. At the course the Steward said he was short staffed and could I keep the SPs for him. The horse started 7/2 and ran second. He came down to me, got the SPs and I said to him did you see the winner knock them all down when they jumped? He said he had. I got to the owner and said put in a protest. Protest upheld but next year tried to bet on Bowen River (Number 1 betting shop said everywhere except there).

May is coming up and the famous Mingela Meeting used to have a train run from Townsville to service it. What a meeting that was but it was closed down like so many other country meetings that were so successful. Bill Moss and Alan Cooper ran the NQ Racing Association on a pittance compared to what it costs now at head office in Brisbane and we had no shortages of horses or jockeys then. (LGHR cut his teeth at Mingela. That’s where I first saw this young kid David Fowler call the races standing on a butter box).

Now the City Slickers run Racing Queensland from Brisbane (it was supposed to save money) but now it only employ cast-offs from the Corporate Bookies who have no idea what to do so Tin Whistle Timmy has invited his mate M&M Matt from Sydney to come up and take over.

Bit of an insult to Queenslanders saying no one here is smart enough to do the job. M&M had such wonderful credentials running Sydney racing in recent years that now they have to sell Rosehill to pay the debt run up.

With him in charge I wonder which course they will have to sell – my tip is Doomben .  Guess no Labour Day Cup there anymore and no one will care maybe with the Olympics coming up that might be excuse enough to fold the track then.

I started fielding as a Bookie in 1972 in Mackay and we had a ring of 26 bookmakers. Crowds were 800/1200 most Saturdays, we held good money and racing was strong.

An old Bookie Jim Molloy said to me then: ‘Take out your kids and show them a Bookie and a Mud Crab because when they grow up both will be extinct’. Bookies sadly are gone. The Mud Crabs are still around but you can’t afford to buy one they are so expensive.

Sadly Jim was right.

EDITOR’S NOTE: SINCE he was appointed stakeholders say they haven’t sighted ‘M&M’ Matt. If the new Board has met it would be nice to hear a report of proceedings. LGHR is reliably informed that the reason there is no Petrol Subsidy for stakeholders (especially those in the bush who need it most) in Queensland is because RQ is broke. It would be nice to hear their plan for the future but the industry is still waiting.

 

NO FAVORITES SUCCESSFUL ON SUCCESSIVE BRISBANE SATURDAYS 

IN Sydney, Melbourne and even Adelaide the focus from the weekend racing has been positively on the impressive Black Type winners.

But in Brisbane, where racing is going downhill faster than an out of control roller-coaster, it has been entirely on the number of favourites that continue to get beaten.

For two successive Saturday not one fancied runner has saluted at the main meeting of the week – that’s a total of 17 in succession.

It seems they can’t attract sufficient horses to run 10 race cards these Saturdays in Brisbane – with nine a fortnight ago and only eight on Saturday. And to think the opening days of the carnival are only weeks away.

The rot set in at the April 4 meeting at Eagle Farm when the Munce-trained duo Bodmin Moor and Naughty Neil – best backed in the Two-Year-Old Opener – trailed the field home.

As the day continued, it didn’t improve for the punters. Among the bad losers were the heavily-backed Lovey Dovey (no surprise there, it’s from the Waller stable), Bunker Hut (for Michael Freedman), the Maher-trained Scampi and Facundo (which went woeful for Schweida). Gollan had the final favorites Ten Deep and Spanish Treasure which were at least placed.

The most significant reports by Stewards relating to beaten favorites from that Eagle Farm meeting were:

Jockey Andrew Mallyon reported at scale, that in his opinion LOVEY DOVEY was not suited to the moderate tempo in the middle stages of the event and added that the mare raced flat. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainers’ representative Brett Killion advised that LOVEY DOVEY would now be sent for a spell.  (That’s the norm for many of the Waller beaten favorites).

When asked to comment on the performance of BUNKER HUT, Apprentice Jace McMurray reported that the gelding did not let down in the home straight as expected and proved disappointing. (That was obvious. Why didn’t the Stewards order the horse to trial before starting again?).

Trainer K. Schweda advised Stewards that in light of FACUNDO over-racing, it was likely that he would remove the blinkers next start. He further added that it was his intention to send the gelding for a spell. (Guess those blinkers are being added after the spell).  

IN the case of the Gollan pair, TEN DEEP, was held-up and should have won while Andrew Mallyon dropped his whip on SPANISH TREASURE which had no luck in the straight. (Genuine excuses).

ONE WEEK LATER & FOR THE PUNTERS SAME OLD STORY AT DOOMBEN

MOVING on to last SATURDAY at DOOMBEN, and the odds-on RAMP IT UP went woefully in the second while PHENOM might not have been suited by the tempo in the third but was still disappointing, still performed below his best.

ICARIAN DREAM was never going to beat SMEXY in the fifth; WITHOUT PARALLEL ran 4^th but never looked like winning the 7^th and CASTILLIAN worked too hard from a bad barrier when 5^th in the last.

IN the case of the most disappointing runner on the DOOMBEN card (RAMP IT UP), STEWARDS didn’t even bother asking trainer Lindsay Gough for an explanation of the poor run.

All they reported was that the odds-on favorite over-raced in the middle stages. Once again ‘the Adams family’ has shown it is simply not up to the task of policing a major Saturday metropolitan meeting.

When it came to PHENOM they woke from their early slumber and reported: When asked to comment on the performance, Jockey Damien Thornton could offer no explanation for the disappointing performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer Todd Pollard was advised to report back on the condition of PHENOM in the subsequent days. (At least they did something. Have to earn that afternoon tea courtesy of the BRC).

FIRST MISSION wasn’t favorite but one of the beaten fancied runners in the seventh. Stewards asked jockey Ryan Maloney to comment on the performance and he reported that the gelding failed to improve when asked for an effort and proved disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer Kelly Schweida was advised to report back on the condition of the gelding in the subsequent days. (Again no requirement to trial before racing again).

In the case of beaten favorite in the last, Stewards reported: Trainer Tony Gollan’s representative Brett Cavanaugh (at least get the spelling of his name right guys) was fined $100 pursuant to AR 106(1) for presenting CASTILLIAN (NZ) to the mounting yard without blinkers. (It was a long day for CAV and he was obviously thinking of that first coldie at Gallopers which was only an hour or two away).  

The last couldn’t come quick enough for those punters who like backing a favorite in Brisbane with SKY hosts Michael Maxworthy simply doing their jobs and constantly remind them of what was happening with comments like: That’s 15^th and 16^th favorite in a row that has been beaten on a Saturday in the past two weeks.

Sure some of the winners were second favorites and others struck bad luck but it’s not a good look. What odds the favorites start to flow next weekend?

HOOFNOTE: FOR what it's worth the GRAND NATIONAL was run at AINTREE at the weekend and was won by the FAVORITE I AM MAXIMUS which the first horse since Red Rum to defend his title. There were 36 starts & 16 completed the arduos jumps journey.

 

MINISTERIAL UPDATE ON IMPLEMENTING NEXT LAP FOR QLD RACING

‘I’M pleased to provide an update on the implementation of The Next Lap: a plan for the future of Queensland racing, including progress across key priority areas. 

Mary Collier has led the development of the Implementation Plan, in consultation with Racing Queensland (RQ), the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) and the Department of Sport and Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games (DSROPG). Ms Collier has now submitted a draft plan which contemplates:  

• Considered sequencing for infrastructure delivery;
• Legislative change over the next 9-12 months; and
• On-going consultation with industry.

Work has already commenced on delivering the sweeping reforms outlined in The Next Lap.  

A modernised RQ Board has been appointed to oversee the implementation, which includes broader representation across the industry. 

Earlier this year I announced an initial $25 million investment from the Racing Infrastructure Fund for the first phase of a $100 million redevelopment of the John Power Stand at Eagle Farm. We are currently finalising a partnership with the Brisbane Racing Club in support of its commercial ventures, consistent with ensuring the government is repaid the significant investment in a full and timely manner.  

The process to divest assets at Norwell and Bowen Hills has commenced, and work is also underway to deliver a high-quality grass to sand conversion at Bundaberg Greyhounds.   

Work has also commenced on developing the annual feature race calendar, benchmarking the Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) program and developing a coordinated approach to night racing.  

We are advocating for Queensland to receive a greater share of voice within Racing Australia, and I recently met with Racing Ministers from New South Wales, Victoria, Northern Territory and Western Australia to commence these discussions. 

Work already completed includes a review and update to RQ’s Whistleblower Policy, updates to greyhound race day gaps and a jurisdictional analysis of wagering integrity systems. 

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration. I look forward to providing further updates as this wide-ranging program of work progresses.’ 

Kind regards, 
Hon. Tim Mander MP

(ILLUSTRATION courtesy of GETTY IMAGES).

 

‘A POT CALLING A KETTLE BLACK IN RACING IN NSW’  

ANOTHER  CONTRIBUTION from SYDNEY regular PETER MAIR on NSW RACING:

‘TONY Harris... an exemplary Auditor General in NSW, has weighed in on 'discretionary decisions' funding racing in NSW.

A story in the SMH, paraphrased for readability, said: 

.... "The Audit Office’s follow-the-money powers to examine the grants program, showed the need for greater financial transparency"............"the auditor-general is prohibited by law from unilaterally auditing it and I don’t know why” ..

Dr Saranne Cooke (Chair of RacingNSW) took aim at Tony Harris, claiming he had been “commissioned by agitators against Racing NSW” and calling him “naive and uninformed” because the regulator was an independent body.

Can anyone imagine that such a remark -- about anyone at RNSW -- would not have pressaged an investigation, at The Hague perhaps, for scurrilous imputations about the character and competence of an 'accused'?

..............but 'who' would fund the legal costs of an appealing person so accused!

Let us have an independent audit of RNSW.’

PS: Probably behind a pay-wall:

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/racing-nsw-yet-to-complete-significantly-delayed-covid-era-stimulus-projects-20260409-p5zmj7.html

 

TRIBUTE TO LONGREACH PRESIDENT ANDREW WATTS WHO IS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE AS CHAIR OF COUNTRY RACING ADVISORY PANEL 

By MATT NICHOLLS who we hope has the time to become a REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR to LGHR

I’D like to draw attention to the achievements of Longreach Jockey Club president Andrew Watts and his passion for racing in the bush.

Most readers will know Wattsy as the voice of Outback Queensland racing. He regularly calls meetings for Sky Racing at places such as Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Barcaldine and Longreach. He’s a very good caller and continues to improve with each season.

But there are a few other things that deserve recognition.

Firstly, Wattsy works tirelessly behind the scenes as a champion of the industry. He is constantly fielding calls from trainers, jockeys and club officials, acting as a sounding board and often relaying concerns back to Deagon headquarters – where, too often, they fall on deaf ears. Wattsy probably thinks a lot like I do, but he’s far more diplomatic, which is probably a good thing.

Secondly, he travels far and wide to support the industry. In the space of nine days, starting at Mount Isa on Good Friday, Wattsy will have called meetings at four different venues, travelling more than 4000 kilometres – yes, FOUR THOUSAND – to ensure those clubs have quality racecalling.

His nine-day schedule includes Longreach to Mount Isa (return), Longreach to Barcaldine (return), Longreach to Augathella (return) and it finishes this weekend with Longreach to Noorama (return).

No doubt he’ll enjoy calling the TAB races from his own patch on Monday.

Which brings me to my final point. The man who grew up in northern NSW has been a breath of fresh air for bush racing. Like Mount Isa Race Club president Jay Morris, Wattsy isn’t afraid to think differently – including shifting meetings away from the traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot if it benefits the industry.

On Monday, the Longreach Jockey Club committee will stage a $27,000 maiden in honour of the late, great Kate Deane, which has helped attract almost 100 nominations for its TAB meeting.

By adding an additional $12,000 of club funds to the race, Longreach has drawn trainers from far and wide, who in turn bring other horses for the program. It’s exactly this kind of initiative and leadership that should have seen Wattsy appointed to the Racing Queensland board.

And if the Country Racing Advisory Panel is ever revived – boasting an acronym that probably summed up how little it achieved – Wattsy should at the very least be chairing it.

To Andrew Watts, a genuine achiever for bush racing. 

 

RQ TRAVELS AT SNAIL’S PACE – FIRST LAP IS MORE LIKE A MARATHON

QUESTION: WHEN does the First Lap take an Olympic Marathon to complete, no matter what speed you’re travelling?

ANSWER: When it involves Racing Queensland and its go-slow CEO, Board and Racing Minister. We’re still waiting to see what they plan to do in implementing a Fuel Rescue Package for the local industry more than a month after stakeholders in NSW received theirs.  

A different issue has embarrassingly raised its ugly head yet again and it is one that the LNP Government, the Racing Minister and the RQ Board is moving at snail’s pace to implement.

We’re not suggesting for one minute it won’t happen but all parties seem to be travelling at snail’s pace to fulfil a promise. If this is what we can expect from the new Chairman and his favoured First Lieutenant, God help Queensland Racing.

When the Government-ordered multi-million dollar Racing Review surveyed stakeholders, one of the many contentious issues it promised to correct was the release of minutes from Annual General Meetings of clubs.

Most would remember the hullabaloo involved when concerned Member Wally Gleeson tried to obtain Minutes of the 2024 AGM of the Brisbane Racing Club. The dust hadn’t settled nor the buck-passing stopped when the Review offered a compromise which promised to correct the situation.

But it seems like so many things in racing in Queensland, the more these change, the more these stay the same. Despite all the promises, Gleeson has once again been unsuccessful in obtaining the AGM Minutes, this time from the latest 2025 meeting of the BRC.

He wrote to RQ Acting CEO Lachlan Murray in early January as follows:

Dear Lachlan,

I write as a Member of the Brisbane Racing Club in relation to the implementation of the Queensland Racing Review recommendations, specifically Item 11 – Public Availability of AGM and EGM Minutes, which the Queensland Government has accepted.

Item 11 of the Government’s consolidated response states that meeting minutes are to be published online within 30 days post sign-off to support member transparency. The original recommendation of the Reviewer, Mr Matt McGrath, also contemplated that such minutes would be made publicly available, including via Racing Queensland’s website.

Following the Brisbane Racing Club AGM held on 15 October 2025, I requested a copy of the AGM minutes. The Club has advised that:

• Minutes may be inspected in person at its offices; and
• Copies will not be provided to members until shortly before the next meeting of members, which may be many months later.

While the Club asserts that this practice aligns with its constitution and historic processes, I am concerned that it does not align with the Government-accepted intent of Item 11 nor with contemporary expectations of transparency outlined in the Racing Review.

In particular:

• Requiring physical inspection at club offices does not constitute public or online availability.
• Delaying provision of minutes well beyond sign-off undermines the objective of timely transparency; and
• Inconsistent implementation across clubs risks diluting the reform intent of the Review.

I respectfully seek Racing Queensland’s guidance on:

1. How Item 11 is intended to be implemented in practice by licensed race clubs.
2. Whether clubs are expected to publish AGM and EGM minutes online within 30 days of sign-off; and
3. Whether Racing Queensland intends to host or link such minutes on its website, consistent with the Reviewer’s recommendation.

This request is made constructively and in support of the governance reform agenda endorsed by Government. I am not seeking intervention in a specific dispute, but clarity on the standards Racing Queensland expects clubs to meet going forward.

Thank you for your consideration.

Regards
Wally Gleeson

 

QUICK TO RESPOND BUT SLOW TO ACT – WALLY JUST HAS TO WAIT

LACHLAN Murray responded almost immediately (back in January) stating:

Dear Wally

Thanks for your note.

Following the release of Government’s response (The Next Lap: A plan for the future of Queensland racing), the Minister has tasked Racing Queensland to lead the delivery of an implementation program, to be provided to the Minister ahead of the 2026 Easter Break.

Late last month, I established an implementation team to focus on creating the program prior to Easter.

Recommendation 11 – Public Availability of Race Club AGM and EGM minutes is one of 105/110 recommendations that were either accepted or accepted in principle by the Queensland Government.  Delivery specifics of this recommendation, along with the other recommendations will be set out in the implementation program.

I can’t provide specific answers to your three questions below just yet, however, will be in a better position in the coming months as to how recommendation 11 will be delivered.

Lachlan Murray

 

GLEESON WAITED FOR EASTER BUT GOT AN OUT-OF-OFFICE RESPONSE

TRYING not to create any further drama WALLY GLEESON waited until the end of the recent Easter Weekend before again seeking what he felt the Review had ensured him that Members were entitled to and again raised the issue with RQ. He wrote:

Dear Mr Murray,

I refer to your email (in January) regarding the availability of AGM minutes for Race clubs as a recommendation of the First Lap implementation program.

As I am eager to obtain, as soon as possible, the AGM minutes of the BRC AGM held in October 2025 could you please advise me of the status quo?

Yours sincerely

Wally GLeeson

WHAT he received was an OUT-OF-HOURS RESPONSE that Acting CEO Murray would be absent from RQ Headquarters from April 1 until April 28 to which Gleeson sent this message to RQ:

To Whom It May Concern

It would be appreciated if my request for BRC October AGM minutes could be accessed as soon as possible.

Mr Murray’s (latest) email indicates that these minutes will be available after Easter as the implementation program of the First Lap recommendations roll out.

Regards

Wally Gleeson

 

MURRAY TO ATTEND TO GLEESON ISSUE WHEN HE GETS AROUND TO IT 

LGHR understands the hard working heir apparent to the permanent CEO role is taking a well-earned overseas holiday (little chance he’s looking for another job) and won’t return until the end of the month.

God only knows where the ‘invisible man’, his greatest supporter, new RQ Chairman Matt McGrath (he’s bloke who wound up with the biggest job after he conducted the Review that delivered it).

Sydney-based Matt seems to have gone MIA since his controversial appointment and stakeholders in Queensland are still waiting to receive a Fuel Rescue Package that other states are enjoying since Racing NSW introduced it over a month ago.

But Murray, who cynics suggest is cycling his trusty Malvern Star over the route of the Tour De France, took time out for the last word to RQ’s old sparring partner Gleeson which promised:  

‘I will respond to any urgent matters as soon as possible and will attend to all other enquiries upon my return. Thank you for your understanding.’

Well yippee, just like ‘Matt the Magnificent’ (hope he was able to put his snout in the trough at The Championships at Randwick last Saturday), it appears that until his ‘Boy Friday’ returns from holidays neither of them are doing anything about pressing issues confronting RQ like the fuel crisis. And where does Racing Minister Tim Mander stand on all this. Is he on holidays too?   

Come on Wally you should have read between the lines in one of Lachy’s earlier replies to you: He failed to confirm after what Easter he would be actioning the Review implementations.

We’ve gone in Queensland from one idiot Racing Minister way back when promising the State would be a furlong in front of NSW and Victoria within a year to the present day where the Next Lap looks like turning into an Olympic Marathon – hope something gets done before the Brisbane Games arrive because some are saying that even 2032 is looking in some doubt for them.

 

'MOODS’ RUFFLES FEATHERS OF RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING PROMOTERS 

ONLY the most popular trainer in the land, Peter Moody, could get away with a small but unintentional faux pas that has ruffled the feathers of those promoting responsible gambling.

Asked about the chances of his hot favourite Sheza Alibi after she drew badly for the $4mn Doncaster, Moody replied: ‘Just back her. If you haven’t got the money then borrow it.’

His advice, unlike that of another Hall Of Fame trainer when it comes to tipping winners, proved spot on. The Queensland-owned filly had the racing world reaching for superlatives after she cantered home in the Doncaster Mile recording the biggest winning margin in the history of the big race.

It set the scene for a match-race with the unbeaten Autumn Glow with Chris Waller conceding his stable star would have been tested giving weight to Sheza Alibi last Saturday and admitting he made the right choice heading to the $5mn Queen Elizabeth Stakes next Saturday.

For those in racing perturbed by the buying spree of Chinese billionaire Zhang Yuesheng of Yulong Investments whenever a new star emerges, it is thankful that Central Queensland grazier Fred Noffke isn’t interested in selling Sheza Alibi. He paid only $10,000 for her online but isn’t short of cash.

Not since the days of the legendary Black Caviar, unbeaten is 25 starts, has Moody been so taken by the win of one of his stars, now co-trained by Katherine Coleman. Like many others he was lost for superlatives after the Doncaster Mile win.

"I've been blessed to train one of the greatest we've ever seen in Black Caviar and this filly is just amazing," Moody said. "I'm not saying she's Black Caviar but that was just so good.

"It's pretty emotional, just a special horse. “Where's the ceiling? You don't know."

Jamie Melham, proving once again that she’s the best lady jockey in the world, was in awe of the performance of the filly. "I'd go starving and hungry every week to sit on a horse like that," she said after getting down to 49kg for the ride.

"We know she's good but she had to do it today in that ground. I was back further than I wanted to be and back wider than I wanted to be as well. But in the end though it didn't matter, in two or three strides I was going to win by half the length of the straight.

"That was just incredible.  I know she's a good horse but what she did then, I've never sat on a horse that's given me a feel like that and I've sat on some good ones. She's a freak. I've got goose bumps.”

 

‘BOYS FROM THE BUSH WERE BACK IN TOWN’ CELEBRATING BIG TIME 

‘MOODS’ was especially interested in highlighting the success on the first day of The Championships when two ‘boys from the bush’ were back in town.

‘Can you believe it,’ Moody questioned? ‘Two kids who grew up together in Charleville winning two of the feature races on this big day.’

He was referring to his long-time mate Brett Cavanough who won the $1mn Country Championship with Chidiac, in his first season of training with daughter, Georgie.

"I've got to try and hold it together a bit. It’s very special today to do it with Georgie," he said. “She tipped her all week, she had faith in her.

"She's never let us down, you feel for the guys at Quirindi in a Maiden and Armidale in a Class 1 that bumped into that sort of horse in the country, but that's country racing."

Hong Kong-based superstar Zac Purton, who cut his teeth as a rider in the NSW north coast town of Coffs Harbour, was worth his weight in gold aboard the winner.

And if you didn’t read the ‘exclusive’ by ‘Big Ben’, Zac is returning to ride at the Queensland Winter Carnival. Give us a break you goose, that’s no ‘exclusive’, the racing world already knew he was coming.

How about asking a few questions of your newfound mate and spin doctor his reply to why Queensland racing stakeholders don't have a Fuel Subsidy like other states? 

Back to Saturday and what are the odds though that Georgie was the designated driver on Saturday night after ‘Moods’ and ‘Cavs’ had a quiet celebration of their double, painting the town red in Sydney?

 

PUNTERS HAVE LABELLED WALLER THE ‘PINOCCHIO’ OF RACE TIPSTERS

WHILE Peter Moody was doing his best to help the struggling punters, declaring Sheza Alibi ‘couldn’t get beaten’ in the Doncaster Mile, Chris Waller was once again proving that as a champion trainer he’s a ‘dud’ tipster.

Interviewed by Gareth Hall on his Giddy Up Show, broadcast on RSN radio & TV on Easter Monday, Waller was asked if he could help the punters out with a winner that day at Rosehill.

For some reason he chose a race where he had the three top chances and declared Aladdin’s Girl his best of the day. It’s history now that stablemate and debutante Blitzgal landed the biggest plunge on the card - $10 to $2.5 favoritism and not only won but bolted in.

His two other runners Eynesbury (slaughtered by Tommy Berry) ran fifth and his top tip Aladdin’s Girl sixth (after a strange ride by James Macdonald).

Waller and his first lieutenant Sir Charles Duckworth continue to prove bad judges – more often than not tipping favored stable runners that are beaten by second strings which someone didn’t forget to back.

There is no way in the world that Waller wasn’t aware of the ability of Blitzgal. And why didn’t JMac ride her, doesn’t he get the pick of the stable runners in races?

More often than not he’s on the easing favorites in these restricted races where the betting is more important than the winning it seems. And more often than not he’s beaten – like on Easter Monday – by a stablemate that lands some big bets. Wakey, Wakey, Stewardies! 

Punters are being treated like mugs by the Waller stable. The mainstream racing media are so far up his arse that they won’t say anything or highlight the situation.

And for some strange reason the stewards are so reluctant to take any action that punters are referring to the Waller stable as a protected species. Now LGHR would never suggest that of a racing venue as honest as Sydney! 

Waller is a great trainer but when it comes to tipping winners the punters have labelled him Pinocchio. Time for the stewards to step in and tell Walleyworld and Sir Charles if they can’t do better in their Previews they should give it away.

HOOFNOTE: STEVE Railton, one of the best and most respected stewards in the land, was in charge of the Rosehill meeting, so if he saw nothing wrong with the Macdonald ride on Aladdin’s Girl then LGHR – along with a legion of punters – must be wrong.

 

IT’S TIME FOR McGRATH TO PROVE HE'S NOT A 'USELESS' APPOINTMENT 

IN the eyes of the industry new Racing Queensland Chairman Matt McGrath – a controversial appointment – faces his biggest test.

At this stage McGrath has gone MIA as stakeholders anxiously wait for Queensland to follow the lead of NSW, Victoria and now South Australia in providing a Fuel Relief Package.

They want to know what is going on and have posed the question: Surely the Government is not simply going to rely on their Federal counterpart who this week reduced the excess on fuel nationwide.

We are told times are going to get tougher and just how honest the Prime Minister has been with the people remains to be seen. Countries with far more petrol stocks than Australia are already rationing supplies.

The Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers’ Association has finally awoken from its slumber and is preparing a submission urging the Racing Minister to introduce a similar package to other States. It’s not too little but it’s far too late.

Racing in the country and the bush has always been protected by the LNP. What’s the difference now? Doesn’t the Premier want to protect an industry that employs tens of thousands and delivers hundreds of millions in revenue to the state?

His dickhead deputy seems more concerned about ensuring that rowing at the 2032 Olympics is held on the Fitzroy River at Rockhampton despite just about everyone, including the national team coach declaring it can’t be.

If you think it’s safe and force it to go ahead there Mr Deputy Dog, then swim alongside the boats each day and see if there is a hungry croc that feels you might make a good meal.

On a more serious note WTF is the Labor Opposition doing about Queensland not providing a Relief Package to the racing industry?

It was always the belief that now Shadow Minister Grace Grace cared more about clubs like the BRC and GCTC than the country or bush when her Party was in power. LGHR doesn’t believe that. Prove us right Gracie, get off your behind and start lighting a fire under the LNP.

 

IN DESPERATION STAKEHOLDERS LOOKING TO HANSON FOR HELP 

SOME racing stakeholders are talking about sending a desperate SOS to Pauline Hanson.

For those who might not be aware Hanson still has an axe to grind with racing in Queensland and both sides of politics over an incident that happened way back when.

Peter Bredhauer, who doesn’t mind shooting from the hip no matter who’s the target, recalls what happened when he was a Director of the Brisbane Turf Club at the time.

‘Pauline was very much in the news and our Board thought she would make an interesting guest speaker at a regular luncheon we held. But when both sides of politics found out they turned the screws.

‘The Racing Minister and the Opposition threatened all sorts of things against the BTC if we went ahead at the time. Our Chairman, faced with the prospect of having his office precious bar bridge removed, quickly relented.

‘Authorities at the time were more interested in shutting down an honest politician that taking action to stop a dishonest racing scribe who was running messages from the jockeys’ room to the bookies ring but that’s another story.’

History shows that Hanson was so feared by both the major Queensland political parties at the time that the momentum of One Nation was brought to a standstill when she was disgracefully jailed – something that should never have happened whether you supported her cause or not.

Well Hanson is back with a real bee in her bonnet. And as much as she despises Labor, she dislikes the LNP and one of her targets on the fuel crisis is one of their golden boys in Queensland in Matt Canavan.

If racing can enlist her support on this latest crisis, then several other prominent LNP pollies can count on joining that Hanson ‘hit list’ unless they change their tune. Hope your listening Mr Premier.

 

IT’S TIME FOR DAVE TO TELL TIM TO GET MATT OFF HIS BACKSIDE 

THAT means telling the Racing Minister to instruct his useless appointment Matt McGrath to earn his keep. Since he was controversially catapulted into the RQ Chairman role, some say set up by the Review that he conducted, McGrath has become the ‘invisible man’.

Instead of flying business class to Brisbane from his base in Sydney for the next Board meeting, perhaps McGrath should try driving and encounter how the fuel cost hits the hip pocket for those taking horses to and from the track. Then again he wouldn’t have to pay and would probably need a GPS to find the place.

LGHR hasn’t lost faith in Tim Mander yet despite his foolish appointment of McGrath and old school chum Kym Daly to the RQ Board. But unless the Minister and McGrath do something about providing a Fuel Relief  Package ASAP, they will always be remembered for that failure. For heaven’s sake even South Australia has followed the NSW lead.

The puzzling thing is that Peter V’landys who was the first to take action on this issue, is said to be the man the Minister admires most in racing and rugby league. Well why not follow his lead?

And on the issue of the McGrath Racing Review wasn’t the deadline for the report on the implementation of its recommendations due this month. Perhaps the stories that Mary Collyer, appointed to do that job, has been under pressure from all the wrong people are correct.

If so the chances of this highly competent racing lady, who was the first woman to chair a major race club in Australia (the BTC), are next to none of taking over as CEO of Racing Queensland. If so McGrath’s mate, Lachlan Murray (what’s that story about surrounding yourself with people who know less about the business than yourself?), then he’s a shoe in!

We would have asked what Murray was doing about a Fuel Subsidy for the Racing Industry in the absence of his Chairman but some say he’s been too busy organising a fleet of Malvern Stars to replace the cars currently used by key staff.

If the eyes of many RQ is dead in the water under the leadership of McGrath so here’s his chance to prove the critics wrong at least on one subject.

There’s no point whoever leaves the building last at Deagon HQ’s turning out the lights. It’s been dark there for years. But that’s Queensland Racing.

Over to you Mr Minister! And come on my old mate Ray Stevens MP. You keep telling me how suited Tim Mander is to the job. Being from the bush you must recognise how serious the situation is and how bad your LNP Government is looking at the moment.

HOOFNOTE: The major fish & chips wrapper has been conspicuously silent on this issue. So much for protecting the interests of its deteriorating readership. Come on 'Big Ben' - you're the self-appointed 'spin doctor' for the new RQ Chairman. How about providing us with one of your 'soft cock' excuses for why he isn't doing his job?

 

WHAT WILL STEWARDS DO IF BARNAVARA TURNS IN FORM REVERSAL?

BEFORE Group 1 winning French mare Barnavara made her Australian debut at Rosehill on Saturday, the Chris Waller stable and their champion jockey James Macdonald were declaring her ‘the next Via Sistina’.

But after the $10mn purchase by Yulong Investments ran an inglorious last at $1.7 to second string stablemate Wootton Verni in the Group 2 Neville Sellwood Stakes they found excuses for her flop.

This was JMac’s assessment before the race: “She feels really, really good, and I’d expect a huge performance from her this Saturday in the Neville Sellwood, that’s for sure.”

After the four lengths fourth to Wootoon Verni, which turned in a form reversal and they didn’t forget to back at $5.5, here’s what the champion hoop told Steward questioning her defeat: ‘She got stirred up pre-race, had only been in Australia a short period without an official trial or jump-out, travelled too keenly and was one-paced, unable to close the race off.’

Did the Stewards bother to question the vast difference in what Macdonald had to say before the race to after it? No. Did they require the horse to trial before she starts again? No.

More importantly, what will they do if Barnavara comes out next start and produces her best European form and brains them? Next to nothing of course! And the mainstream racing media will put it down to the brilliant training of Waller.

 

FORM REVERSAL BY WOOTTON VERNI PAR FOR COURSE FOR WALLER 

LITTLE wonder punters have had a gutful of trying to follow the form of horses from the leading stable in Sydney. Just take a look at the winner Wootton Verni – he was heavily-backed and performed poorly when 5^th in the G3 Sky High prompting Waller to declare in his Preview Show:

“I was disappointed with the run in the Sky High. We were planning to start in the G1 Tancred and accepted for that but felt the G3 would be an easier assignment.”

But listening to the assessment of both Waller and his first lieutenant, 'Sir Charles' Duckworth, they rated stable newcomer Barnavara a ‘good thing’.

Owner Chinese billionaire, Yeusheng Zhang, was on course to see his hopeful successor to Via Sistina make her Australian debut. Nobody in the media bothered to ask him about his $10mn investment after the run.

Waller felt Wootton Verni's race experience Down Under proved vital and while he was understandably disappointed with the run of Barnavara, he felt she had genuine excuses.

"Wootton Verni has been here a while now and he found some great form in the spring,'' Waller said, referring to the gelding's wins in the Coongy Cup and Rosehill Gold Cup.

"Certainly, he's a talented horse and with a bit of give in the ground and being rock-hard fit, he showed the others up."

"Barnavara's pattern of racing in Europe was to settle on speed but she didn't do herself any favours when she missed the kick at her Australian debut.

"The plan was to go forward, to be second, third or fourth, but she dwelt at the start,'' Waller said. “I think rather than fire her up, Australian horses just find their positions so quickly, whereas if you fire her up first Australian start I guess James (McDonald) would have thought you could of set her alight, which is what we didn't want.

"Then when they went slow, it was very hard from back there. They controlled it from the front and made it hard to finish off.''

So there you have it – another double-whammy from the Waller stable with a second-string upstaging a stable star. The poor old punters when now have to grin and bear it when Barnavara more than likely bounces back to win at her next start and the Stewards just put it down to ‘one of those things in racing’.

 

OHOPE WINS BUT LOSES AT OZ DEBUT, EXPECT ANOTHER FORM REVERSAL

BARNAVARA wasn’t the only ‘big name’ flop for Waller last Saturday – the Kiwi star Ohope Wins, making her much-awaited debut for the stable, also let the punters down.

An outstanding winner of the NZ Oaks at her previous start in February when trained by the O’Sullivan - Scott camp, Ohope Wins finished fourth to another Kiwi Belle Cheval which was marginally favorite ahead of her.

Waller’s prediction on how Ohope wins would perform in the Group 1 Vinery Stakes for the three-year-old fillies: ‘She draws wide but she has class. Most of her runs in New Zealand she has drawn wide and unleashed an amazing sprint.’

Jockey James Macdonld’s opinion of Ohope wins prior to the race: ‘She feels special.’ It wasn’t as though she flopped in the Vinery but she was still a shade below her best. Expect her to improve sharply next start.

 

MAHER SPOT-ON WITH HIS ASSESSMENT OF AUSTRALIAN CUP CHANCES

ONCE again when it came to tipping winners, the Ciaron Maher stable overshadowed Team Waller.

Prior to the running of the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington, Maher told a TV audience that Light Infantry Man was way over the odds because he loved the Heavy conditions but added that he expected Pride Of Jenni to go close.

It’s history that his stablemates ran the quinella with Light Infantry Man at $21 beating a gallant Pride of Jenni at $11 in close finish. It was so close that the star mare’s owner Tony Ottobre to ask to see the official photo image.

Ottobre wears his heart on his sleeve where ‘Jenni’ is concerned. Despite agreeing with the judge’s decision, he stormed from the mounting yard with a look of disgust on his face – as The Age reported ‘like a man who had been robbed’.

It was the second time in three years that Pride Of Jenni had been pipped on the line in the Australian Cup – a race that Ottobre so desperately wants to win. She finished a narrow second to Cascadian in 2024.

Ottobre is not a man who takes losing lightly. But there was no one to blame on Saturday except for technology and the finish line. The true winner of the photo finish was Ciaron Maher. “I don’t know who I’m more proud of, the winner or the second horse,” he said after the race.

“It’s such a shame for Jenni to run second again. I know for Tony, it’s a race he holds very dear to his heart. He strapped back in the day a horse for (Colin) Hayes.

“It still eludes her, but she’s racing in great heart, and you never know, we may be back here with her next year. She was phenomenal.”

The Australian Cup was a disappointment for Waller who saddled up the favorite Birdman which ran fifth and the well-backed Leica Lucy (sixth).

Before the race Waller suggested: ‘Birdman loves Flemington. He is racing with confident and will be hard to beat. Leica Lucy will be suited with Pride of Jenni setting a good pace. It will be a strong 2000m, a distance over which she won impressively in New Zealand.’

GREAT INITIATIVE BY RACING NSW – TIME TO GET ON YOUR BIKE RQ! 

WHILE Racing NSW is on the front foot addressing the fuel crisis with a stakeholders rescue package, those in the north are asking: What is officialdom in Queensland doing?

At this stage it seems like next to nothing but with those in the country suffering the most one would expect the LNP Government to be planning something – things just move slower in the north.

One cynic suggested (tongue in cheek) that the new RQ Chairman’s ‘chosen one’ for the CEO job, Lachlan Murray, is looking at replacing the control body car fleet with bicycles. The story goes that Murray prefers to ride a bike in his spare time.

Here has been the early response to the Racing NSW initiative:

Our colleague MATT NICHOLLS wrote:

‘A great initiative by Racing NSW and a shame Queensland's response was not as comprehensive.

I feel sorry for the participants and clubs trying to operate in these times (as well as all people in the bush who are hit hardest by the current fuel situation).’

ARCHIE BUTTERFLY on www.peterprofit.com used it as another opportunity to pump up the tyres of the man he admires most in racing, Racing NSW CEO Peter V’Landys.

‘Those who knock PVL are imbeciles in my opinion and I mean that with the greatest respect. Just look at what he has done here.

The price of fuel is going through the roof, trainers can’t sleep at night worried that they are f**ked, owners are thinking to themselves ‘Sh*t, how am I gunna to pay?’, and the whole world has gone crazy, every which way but loose.’

 

RACING NSW MEDIA RELEASE EXPLAINING FUEL RELIEF PACKAGE

HERE’S a MEDIA RELEASE that explains the situation:

RACING NSW has announced a $1.5 million fuel relief package to ease the financial pressure on NSW trainers, owners and jockeys.

Developed with the NSW Trainers, Jockeys and Owners Associations, the package directly responds to the rising cost of fuel, including surcharges from suppliers which has been hitting the industry hard.

The package, fully funded by Racing NSW, includes:

- $100 per race starter payment, for all horses travelling less than 150km each way to a race meeting
- $200 per race starter payment, for all horses travelling more than 150km each way to a race meeting
- A jockey travel allowance increase, the travel component of the minimum ride fee raised to $100 per meeting

All measures start immediately and run until 31 May 2026, when they’ll be reviewed based on conditions at that time. It is estimated that a total of $1.5 million will be distributed to participants during this period.

The starter payments will be credited to the trainer’s Stakes Payment account with 50% retained by the trainer and 50% credited to the owner’s account for training fees.

Racing NSW Chief Executive Peter V’landys AM said: “We know costs across the board have surged, not just fuel prices, but the levy surcharges on top of them. People in this industry are doing it tough and we want to help.”

“This package puts real money back in people’s pockets straight away. We’ll keep watching conditions and increase the funding if needed,” Mr V’landys AM added.

 

SHOULD THERE BE A LEVY ON GROUP RACES TO BOOST FUEL SUBSIDY?

IT hasn’t taken long for the critics of the powerful Chris Waller stable and his band of big money owners to suggest that the fuel crisis won’t worry them financially and perhaps a levy should be imposed on prizemoney paid for all Group Races.

PETROL PETE from SYDNEY had this suggestion:

‘If Racing NSW imposed a levy on owners, trainers and jockeys winning Group races and added this to their Fuel Package, it seems like a popular initiative – Robin Hood style, taking from the rich to help the poor.

If you take a close look at the domination of the Waller stable this weekend, one wonders if eventually racing in NSW in particular will rely on his horses to run a race meeting. Owners are entitled to have a trainer of their choosing but unless something is done to reduce his stable numbers, Sydney in particular will reach a ‘joke’ stage if it hasn’t already.

Take the situation on Saturday, Waller has the favorites for the two Group 1’s in Sydney – the Vinery Stud Stakes (Ohope Wins) & Tancred (Aeliana) and the G1 in Melbourne – the Australian Cup (Birdman).

This bloke is so greedy that it’s a wonder he hasn’t got a starter in the Muswellbrook Gold Cup or the King of the Mountain in Toowoomba on Friday. It’s got that one-side in Sydney of a Saturday that many of Waller’s main rivals are now headed to the bush to dodge him.

And the situation is showing no signs of easing with Waller having inherited Vinery favorite Ohope Wins and costly import Barnavara, odds-on to win at his OZ debut in the G2 Neville Sellwood.

Ohope Wins conquered all before her in New Zealand this season when trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, highlight by the G1 NZ Oaks. She makes her Australia debut for Waller on Saturday.

Barnavara, like Ohope Wins is owned by Yu Long Investments which seem to have endless pockets, perhaps they’d like to make a donation to help racing’s fuel crisis.

A Group 1 winner in France Ohope Wins sold for close to $10mn – a readymade superstar delivered into the hands of the Waller stable. At $1.70 to win at her Australian debut in the G2 Neville Sellwood at Rosehill on Saturday, the star filly looks a class above her rivals. She has won fresh and is unbeaten at the distance.

Surely we won’t see a form reversal from stablemate Wootton Verni which flopped when heavily-backed in the G3 Sky High at his last start. It’s par for the course with Waller – that’s why punters throw up when SKY and his main spin doctor big Richie suffer verbal diarrhea every time they mention the Hall Of Famer.’

 

 

THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE – HAVE YOUR SAY ON ALL THINGS RACING

SHOULD MARK HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO HAND STABLE REINS TO BEN? 

 OPINIONS are divided over whether retiring trainer Mark Currie should have been allowed to hand the stable reins to his son, Ben.

As there are still no positive signs that Racing Queensland will again grant Ben a trainer’s licence, Mark decided to sell his operation to Sunshine Coast trainer Billy Healey.

It’s no Fool’s Day Joke that from April 1 Healey will launch a ‘super stable’ of around 90 horses with Ben Currie as his Racing Operations Manager.

The news has prompted mixed reaction from the racing fraternity. One Toowoomba trainer who has worked alongside Mark and Ben Currie for years suggested:

“Every time Healey trains a winner everyone from the punters to the stakeholders will be crediting it to the ‘Hand of Ben’. He’s the one with the Sports Science Degree attributed to making horses go faster.’

And this one from a Sunshine Coast-based trainer:

“Ever since Ben started operating a satellite stable for his old man up here, trainers have been celebrating. They were sick and tired of the domination of Stu Kendrick. He’s already looking over his shoulder and now it will still be at Currie but under the pseudonym of Healey.’

And another:

‘AS a trainer of a reasonably long standing and relatively successful stable in south-east Queensland, I was unaware that the Rules permitted me to ‘sell’ my operation.

That being the case, was the deal between Mark Currie and Billy Healey overseen by QRIC and, if so, how much is the going price for a successful stable these days? No doubt the answer will be that’s commercial in confidence.”

And finally:

“THE word was strong that Ben Currie would finally get his trainer’s licence back once the new RQ Board was in place. It is no secret that he has a big fan in one of those newly elected to the Control Body.

Perhaps they want to wait a few months. It’s just a matter of time before the name Currie is back in the winner’s circle in south-east Queensland.”

Healey, at 28, welcomes the concept of a young, energetic team conceding ‘Ben’s analytics’ will be their ‘secret weapon’. “We’re a young team and I guess we want to make our presence really felt in Queensland over the next five to 10 years and I think this was the way of moving forward,” Healey told Racenet.

Convincing a cynical industry that Ben won’t have a stable in his own right well before five to 10 years is a difficult task. And why shouldn’t he fulfil his racing dream?

That’s the downside of the story  for Healey – he might be a capable trainer in his own right with 155 winners in a brief career – but who will get the credit when a member of the new ‘super stable’ wins?

How quickly we forget the role that Healey played in the rejuvenation of the career of star galloper Alligator Blood. He was responsible for the rehabilitation and recovery of the horse from a serious ‘kissing spine’ operation after it left the stable of David Van Dyke.

If you’re a punter who has followed the success story of Mark Currie down a rocky road at times, take a tip. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and we’re predicting even more winners for son Ben, even if they are delivered under the name of Healey.

 

‘HANDS UP’ ANY JOCKEY WHO PREFERS MICK TO HEAR THEIR APPEAL

THIS was one of the interesting ‘whinges’ received this week:

‘IF you decide to publish my thoughts on the appointment of former champion jockey Mick Dittman to the Racing Appeals Panel in Queensland, please refer to me as a gallops steward of some years standing rather than use my name.

There is no doubting that Mick Dittman has better credentials than most jockeys to join the Racing Appeals Panel.

My argument is not with his ‘wealth of expertise’ but moreso that if I were a jockey appealing a decision of stewards I would be hoping and praying that Mick was on the Panel.

How could he possibly rule in penalties relating to over-use of the whip given the amount of times he was guilty of this offence? Has anyone forgotten the thrashing he gave Gurners Lane in the Melbourne Cup?

No-one would question Mick’s ability to identify a ‘goer’ to a ‘dead one’ or should I be more politically correct and say a jockey who fails to give his or her mount every possible chance of winning a race?

It’s hard enough for Stewards to make charges stick these days with the amount of legal expertise available to appellants. Is my argument valid that it becomes even harder when one of those on the Panel is a former jockey who some would see more as an apologists for the ones facing the music?’

 

‘BUSH BEAT IS BACK – OR IS IT?’ – QLD ON OUTER WITH SKY RADIO

THE news that was delivered on Facebook – not from SKY Racing Radio – suggested that one of the most popular programs on the now defunct 4TAB would make a return to the air waves.

Fans welcomed the news: ‘Bush Beat Is Back’ hosted by Dave Stanley and Wattsy with the first episode on Tuesday, March 24, at 8am.

One of those please to hear this was our regular Gold Coast contributor Greg Blanchard but he was soon to be disappointed: ‘Tuned into Radio 1008 to listen to the new Bush Beat but it wasn’t on. Was I listening to the wrong station? What’s going on?”

LGHR has received similar gripes from others Greg. We don’t listen to SKY Radio but prefer RSN in Victoria. Like many others we can’t cop Dave Stanley and regard him as a clown. He seems to have quickly forgotten that he is a Queenslander.

So much for the promise that the north wouldn’t be forgotten when SKY took over. At least there is a segment once a week when Steve Hewlett, the former host of 4TAB Racing Radio, provides plenty of exclusives. Hewlett has forgotten more than Stanley or SKY’s supposed newsman in the north, Ben Dorries, will ever learn.

Instead of hearing more from Hewlett, who still has his contacts and finger on the pulse of all things racing in the Sunshine State, what we get is the opinions of Stanley and his favorite side-kick Big Richie on everything happening in Sydney. This week it was why the crowd was so bad at the Golden Slipper.

In case you’re interested – apart from his informative weekly spot on SKY, Hewlett recently hosted an Ambassador Travel tour to the Adelaide Cup (big Dave is doing a similar one to Darwin, now won’t that be fun?). He’s also been doing some part-time work as a deckhand with a local cruise company and proving an instant hit.

 

JMAC STAR OF SHOW ON DAY WHEN ZAHRA WAS SEEN AT HIS WORST

ON another day of Australian feature racing when champion jockey James MacDonald was the ‘star of the show’, some of his high profile rivals performed well below their best.

Punters can be cruel and they didn’t miss some below standard rides by Mark Zahra, Craig Williams and Damien Lane, the latter by his own admission missing the boat in the Golden Slipper.

The spotlight was firmly focussed on JMac’s century of Group 1 winners in Australia but once the dust had settled it shifted mainly to the sub-standard rides of Zahra on two heavily-backed feature race favorites at Caulfield.

Some have called Zahra a victim of circumstances on Jimmysstar in the G1 William Reid Stakes and Planet Red in the G2 Alister Clark Stakes but others have not been as kind.

Jimmysstar ran what some might rate an inglorious seventh at his comeback. The Ciaron Maher stable preferred to call it bad luck and highlighted how he was only beaten less than 2.3 lengths behind in-form Jigsaw.

The punters, however, were questioning if this was the same horse that chased home Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising in The Everest or the sort of ride they had come to expect from Zahra.

 

PUNTERS FUMING AS STEWARDS QUERY ZAHRA TACTICS ON HOT FAV

THE tactics adopted by Mark Zahra on Planet Red, an odds-on favorite that finished sixth, could best be described as a slaughter job.

Co-trainer Mick Price stopped short of declaring it that in a post-race interview when he said: ‘Mark is an absolute champion rider but….’ He struggled to disguise his disappointment at the ride.

Price highlighted how Planet Red covered so much ground that it was impossible to assess how well the $1.75 favorite had performed and the stable had decided now to spell him.

Zahra was caught in no-man’s land from barrier seven – elected to drift back out wide – then never had Planet Red in a position where he was afforded any chance of winning the race. It was a sad scenario as the rising star had been chasing Observer home at his most recent starts.

Stewards queried the ride with Zahra explaining that Planet Red raced keenly through the early and middle stages. He said that after beginning well, he initially endeavoured to find a position further forward. However as he felt he would have to make his mount work too hard to cross, he eased and settled worse than midfield.

Zahra added that the gelding raced keenly, was inclined to hang out from the 1600m and after initially failing to run on, when balanced in the straight then made some ground over the final 100m. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any significant findings.

Stewards had also asked for a please explain after his earlier ride on Jimmysstar. The top jockey blamed drawing barrier 1 for the failure. He said the gelding had been obliged to race inside runners throughout which did not suit him. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any significant findings. Stewards will follow up with the stable.

 

ZAHRA TO MISS T J RIDE – DOESN’T GET SUSPENSION CUT LIKE JMAC

ADDING insult to injury for Mark Zahra on a forgettable Group 1 day at Caulfield he was fined and suspended for over-use of the whip after the upset win of Meridius in the fifth at Caulfield

Zahra pleaded guilty to a charge that he used his whip four times more than permitted prior to the 100m on $12 chance Meridius which beat the $2.2 favorite Verdoux in a photo finish again raising questions whether he should have been stripped on the win. Had Zahra not broken the whip rules would he still have won?

Regardless, he was suspended for seven meetings commencing Wednesday, April 1 and expiring Monday, April 6. He was also fined $700. In assessing penalty stewards took into account Zahra’s guilty plea, his excellent record, totality of whip strikes and that his mount won the race.

This means the two-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey will miss the opening day of The Championships on April 4 and the chance to win another Group 1 on star colt Tentyris, the $3.5 early favorite for the T J Smith. Unlike JMac, who on appeal recently, managed not to miss a major Saturday with his suspension reduced.

Zahra missed the early part of the Autumn Carnival after suffering a fractured leg which cost him the Lightning Stakes win aboard Tentyris where he was replaced by Damian Lane.

 

SHOULD CAMPIONE D’ITALIA HAVE WON SLIPPER OR BEEN PLACED?

THOSE who have watched replays of Saturday’s Golden Slipper closely are adamant that Damien Lane cost himself at least a place on the Chris Waller-trained Campione D’Italia which was beaten two lengths into fourth place.

Stewards reported that Campione D’Italia was slow to begin and when endeavouring to improve between Warwoven and Chayan became awkwardly placed on the heels of Warwoven when that runner was taken out and as a consequence was severely hampered and shifted out.

Lane was the first to admit making a tactical mistake in the straight that cost Campion D’Italia a place in the Slipper. The Snitzel colt, which has had only three starts, is now favorite for the Sires Produce Stakes on April 4 at $4 after $101 had been bet early.

Some good judges have suggested that Lane’s Victorian colleague Craig Williams was not seen at his brilliant best on Slipper Day.

Their opinion is largely based on his ride on Victoria Derby and Australian Guineas winner Observer which ran $2.10 FAV in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas when he finished third to Autumn Boy $2.45.

It wasn’t as though James Macdonald outride him on Autumn Boy but moreso that Williams didn’t allow Observer to run along but fought him when the pace was slow.

Williams ran eighth in the Slipper on favorite Chayan (which he reported raced flat), third on Observer in the Guineas and third on Juka Kibo behind Mr Monaco in the Manion Cup.    

 

HONKERS DERBY RIDE ON FAV BELOW PAR BUT DID IT RUN THE TRIP 

THE rides that disappointed favorite backers the most were not restricted to home shores.

Punters who backed Little Paradise in the Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin have accused jockey Vincent Ho of giving it next to no hope from the wide barrier. It finished ninth behind Invincible Ibis – another major win for the Aussie duo of Mark Newnham and Hugh Bowman.

When questioned by Stewards concerning his ride, Ho stated that his mount settled back in the field from its wide barrier. He said from the 650m he was obliged to make a wide run sooner than what he would have liked when Emblazon commenced to give ground. He added that in the home straight LITTLE PARADISE finished the race off only fairly and, in his opinion, may not have run out a strong 2000m. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.  

 

 

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE RACES THAT LONGREACH PREFERS TO FORGET 

RACE FOUR at LONGREACH on SATURDAY was one of those races that just about everyone – from the owners, to the trainers and jockeys – prefer to forget.

It started with another black eye for Racing Queensland four runners – Nassau County, Ishotthedeputy, Armstrong Bay and Final Mission – had to be scratched because there were no available jockeys to ride them.

Stewards then reported that the start of the race was delayed when jockeys Robbie Faehr (Yes Larry) and John Rudd (Valiant Joan) were dislodged from their mounts on the way to the barriers.

Yes Larry bolted and was declared a late scratching. Rudd was cleared to ride Valiant Joan which strangely was cleared by the Club Vet to run but subsequently ordered to trial before racing again.

When the race finally got underway, the field had travelled only 100m when Parues started to buck with jockey Anna Bakos suffering a heavy fall requiring hospitalisation. Parues will need to trial twice to the satisfaction of stewards before racing again.

Ya Love Her, which had to be severely checked to avoid the heels of the bucking Parues, dislodged jockey Natalie Morton, who also had to be transferred to hospital for further treatment.

There was however, a happy ending for punters, with jockey Nikki Olzard dodging trouble to win on the $3 favorite All Too Lucky.

 

HAVE LACHIE & HIS TEAM ANY IDEA OF HOW TO RUN RACING? 

LGHR keeps trying to get a message across for concerned stakeholders that there needs to be some administrative tree lopping at Racing Queensland, starting with the Acting CEO.

Sydney’s interloping new Chairman of the RQ Board, Matthew McGrath, wants Lachlan Murray to be appointed full-time – perhaps it’s because they share a liking for corporate bookies – but he’s about the only one.

Archie Butterfly, on his subscriber-only website, peterprofit.com, highlighted another inefficiency of the current RQ in a story today which suggests the Murray-led team have no idea what they are doing.

The Butterfly’s story reads:

RACING Queensland confirms that a back-up race meeting has been programmed for the Polytrack at Sunshine Coast Turf Club on Sunday, March 22, in the event the club’s race meeting on the course proper on the day is unable to proceed.

In the event there is a deluge of rain which causes the course proper to become unsuitable for racing, a back-up meeting on the Polytrack will be introduced. This transfer, if required, would need to take place prior to 3pm Saturday, March 21.

As you can see there was a reserve meeting scheduled for the Polytrack at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, but they abandoned it, electing to race on the course proper instead.

Only they didn’t.

It was too wet to race on the turf course, so they abandoned that meeting too, leaving no races anywhere in Queensland on Sunday.

Just as it was with the late cancellation of the Cairns meeting on the weekend, it seems that someone in the halls of racing power can’t read the weather map.

What a very bad call.

LGHR EDITOR’S NOTE: RQ will no doubt blame the cancellation of both on bad timing. Not as bad as the timing will be if the Racing Minister and new RQ Board don’t fire the Acting CEO and some of his first lieutenants out of a cannon ASAP.   

 

LACK OF RESPECT FOR GRAFTERBURNERS HAS QLDERS SMARTING 

A START in the $1million Galaxy at Rosehill on Saturday just wasn’t meant to be for talented Queensland colt Grafterburners.

Despite the three-year-old missing vital lead-up trials at home because of the wet, trainer Kelly Schweida was confident Grafterburners was close enough to his best to test a classy field.

But he reared over in the barriers and had to be scratched with a required trial before starting again which was a sad end to a frustrating start to a new campaign for the colt.

The Sydney ‘knockers’ helped Grafterburners be disposed of favouritism. But it was the ‘legend in his own lunchtime’ among the Victorian ‘experts’ who most upset his fans in the north when he declared ‘How could they install a Queensland horse favorite for a Group 1 in Sydney’?

Grafterburners has won 6 of 12 starts, all four last campaign including one in Listed company at Eagle Farm and when he proves you wrong, the Bananabenders will be the first to let you know mate.  

 

PATRICK & MICHELLE PAYNE DISSOLVE TRAINING PARTNERSHIP

FAIRFAX MEDIA reports that decorated racing siblings Michelle and Patrick Payne have dissolved their training partnership.

The pair announced the mutual parting of ways via a statement days after truck driver Peter Butler and three of the Paynes’ horses were killed in a road crash at Meredith south of Ballarat last Monday.

“Michelle will be stepping back from the larger training operation to focus on a smaller team at home, working closer to her father and retaining a few horses in Ballarat,” the statement revealed.

“Patrick Payne Racing will continue as a full training operation. Patrick will remain in control of the horses at his current training property. “Our priority is to make this transition as smooth as possible.” 

 

SUPPORT PACKAGE WELCOMED BUT COULD BE MORE COMPREHENSIVE

MATT NICHOLLS has responded to his letter of concern to Racing Queensland Interim CEO Lachlan Murray earlier this week. His email reads:

JUST a quick note to congratulate Racing Queensland and Minister Tim Mander for responding to concerns in the bush with a support package.

While it's not as comprehensive as many would like, it's better than nothing and should provide some relief to the soaring cost of feed and fuel.

Personally, I would have liked prizemoney increases or at least $100 for all unplaced horses at non-TAB meetings to promote bigger fields and encourage participation, but that's a fight for another day.

Also, congratulations to Mount Isa Race Club president Jay Morris and his team for convincing Racing Queensland to stage the state's first Good Friday TAB thoroughbred meeting.

With Boulia unable to race on Easter Saturday, Mount Isa has once again saved the industry a race meeting. Knowing jockeys would be hard to come by, Morris lobbied hard to get the meeting on Good Friday, allowing hoops to ride at Barcaldine on Easter Saturday.

Based on the initial response, I think there will be a good crowd at Buchanan Park on Good Friday, considering it'll be the only place open in the mining city. The club is already planning an Easter Egg hunt and other kids' activities.

A good couple of days for the bush!

 

LGHR has received a couple of interesting emails from well-informed SYDNEY contributor PETER MAIR which read:

QUESTION FOR NSW RACING: IS ROSEHILL STILL FOR SALE? 

‘FEW words speak more clearly than 'silence'.

One 'silence' being clearly heard is the decision of the NSW Government to 'say nothing' about the ongoing dispute about the power of RacingNSW to put an administrator in charge of the Australian Turf Club.

A reasonable expectation, at the outset of a very public dispute, was for the NSW Government to head-off an expensive court case (paid for with punter's money). It could have said it would 'review and clarify' legislation governing racing and the racing industry in NSW. It did not say that – the court case went ahead.

When the court decided, last week, that RNSW did not have the power to substitute an administrator for the ATC Board, the court implied that any lingering confusion in the legislation would best be clarified.

This politely judicial invitation for the NSW Government to speak up was, apparently, not accepted – the issues are left hanging in the air.

What is now known is that RNSW appealed the decision precluding its appointment of an administrator to the ATC.

Taken together, collectively, the unexpected (inexplicable?) sounds-of-silence are open to a view that the NSW Government agrees with RNSW – that the RNSW appointment of an administrator at ATC accords with its interpretation of the legislation (and its preferred outcome).

Prospectively, is the sale of Rosehill back in play?’

 

AND THIS ONE:

CRACKDOWN ON CASH BETTING ON AUSTRALIAN RACING 

‘AUSTRAC is reported to be cracking-down on cash gambling activity – requiring a punter's ID to bet, or collect $5,000, in cash. How this regulatory intent will unfold is yet to be made clear.

The racing industry should be a special focal point for cash-betting with money-laundering and gambling regulators – this is for a special reason.

The special problem with the racing industry arises in the entitlement of corporate bookmakers to refuse to accept bets from account customers and deny paying out on 'bowler' bets funded anonymously but using a third-party account.

In the wash up these arrangements encourage the 'bets denied' by licensed bookmakers to be placed instead, with cash, into the TAB tote pools – with the probability of those TAB pools being unfairly 'plundered' by the smarter, professional punters.

Now it is hardly beyond the wit of gambling regulators to consider applying 'minimum-bet-laws' to licence conditions for corporate bookmakers, a requirement for corporate bookmakers to accept bets the advertised odds up to a 'loss' of $1000.

Such an initiative would likely improve the integrity of racing gambling – smart-money, demanding acceptance, would see the pre-post market odds revised to better reflect probable race outcomes.

Of course this happens to some extent anyway – a smart bookmaker would let an astute punter on, grateful for the 'warning' that a particular runner 'may run well'. As well, the racing media is alert to late-money coming for a runner – but by then it is 'too-late' for most.

Racing authorities have a responsibility to promote and protect the fairness of racing gambling.’

 

RQ TO PROVIDE $1mn IN FLOOD RELIEF THROUGH ASSISTANCE FUND 

CREDIT where credit is due. This is an important issue where the authorities have moved quickly to provide assistance to those in need.

Racing Queensland is set to provide $1 million in flood relief through the Training Assistance Fund across the state.

It’s estimated participants located within more than 50 Local Government Areas will face additional costs including transport, food, forage and bedding for animals as a result of floods throughout the state.

The fund will provide an opening round of payments to eligible trainers of $500 or $1,000 depending on their respective activity levels. 

Minister for Racing Tim Mander said his thoughts went out to those in the industry whose livelihoods have been impacted by the recent floods across Queensland.

“Queensland racing participants are renowned for their resilience but this has been a particularly tough time and we want you to know there is help available,” Minister Mander said. 

“I encourage all eligible stakeholders to apply for Training Assistance Fund relief. 

“I also encourage impacted race clubs to apply for the Crisafulli Government’s Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program (SRDRP), which offers grants of up to $5,000 for eligible organisations to assist with clean-up efforts.”

As per the 2022 SEQ floods, Racing Queensland will oversee and administer the fund to ensure that the pressure is alleviated on affected participants as quickly as possible.

To be eligible, trainers must be licensed Queensland, have been impacted on or after December 1, 2025, and meet either of the following criteria:

• Reside/stable their horses in one of the LGAs listed in the table below; or
• If outside the LGAs listed, demonstrate an impact on their racing activity as a result of the floods.

“The resilience of the Queensland racing industry – particularly in the Central and North West – has been tested during recent flooding events,” RQ Acting CEO Lachlan Murray said.

“We’re mindful that the weeks and months may be difficult for many of our participants and that includes the prospect of financial and emotional hardship. 

“The activation of the Training Assistance Fund will ensure there is immediate financial relief for those who need it, with the welfare of our animals and participants the number one priority.”

RQ is also working with clubs and the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission to ensure normal racing operations are restored as soon as possible with races rescheduled or relocated where possible.

Trainers unable to apply online are encouraged to call Racing Queensland on 07 3869 9777 to make an application.

Click here for further information on the RQ Training Assistance Fund. 

Click here for further information on the Sport & Recreation Disaster Recovery Program funding.

 

 

FULL MARKS FOR TRANSPARENCY - HOW RQ SPENT A LAZY $54mn 

WHEN it comes to transparency Racing Queensland provides freedom of information that isn’t available in the major states and reading through the details one can understand the lack of objectivity from some media organizations.

The Labor Government introduced this measure in 2017 and it is the only one of its kind in Australia. Because RQ is a statutory body, it must comply with the Queensland Procurement Policy, which sets out disclosure requirements.

The industry in the north can now access details of payments made by the control body for important projects undertaken in a given year. And there have been quite a few handouts to what some might call ‘pigs in the trough’ when it comes to distribution of industry money.

The transparency measure reveals there were 268 individual contracts worth more than $10,000 detailed in the 2025 Racing Queensland Contract Disclosure Report which RQ is now required to disclose. These came at a cost to the industry of more than $54 million.

Some of the major ones included:

The largest cost involved contracts worth $20 million for AON Risk Services for insurance purposes.

SKY Channel outside broadcasts cost $4.8mn and the RQ partnership with News Corp $2.75mn (little wonder the control body receives no adverse publicity from either entity).

Evergreen Turf Australia received $440,000 to repair track damage caused in the lead-up to the 2025 Magic Millions race day (little wonder the GCTC was keen to blame it on sabotage).

An amount of $1.86mn was paid to the Brisbane Racing Club for maintenance of the Deagon training facilities.

RQ paid $1.75mn for service from Co.Gency, a media agency specializing in strategy, creative, digital and above-the-line media planning and buying. (We would be interested to know more information on this company).

Mary Collier, who was appointed by the LNP Government to lead the implementation of recommendations of the Queensland Racing Review, has a contract worth $220,000. And she’s worth every cent of it – not to mention her work should earn a role as CEO to the new-look RQ Board.

RQ also paid over $54,000 in electricity costs for lights at the Gold Coast Turf Club (one wonders if the same privilege is afforded Clifford Park at Toowoomba).

The Queensland Thoroughbred Awards cost the industry $75,000 – surely their marketing team could have found a sponsor like the TAB or one of these big parasite corporate bookmakers who earn more than they deserve out of racing.

From the perspective of people running websites, The Straight is a subscriber-only outfit now but received $11,000 in 2025 in an advertising partnership with RQ. One questions why the hosts of other websites that provide a service to racing aren’t paid the same. LGHR wouldn’t want it because we believe such payment would risk our objectivity. Who knows how much Racenet receives as part of the Murdoch Media deal with RQ.

 

GOOD, BAD & UGLY SIDE OF NEW-LOOK RQ BOARD APPOINTMENTS 

TO say the announcement of a Sydneysider to Chair the new-look Racing Board does not sit well with the majority of stakeholders in Queensland would be an understatement.

Here is an example of some of the feedback LGHR has received:

‘YOU highlighted how Graham Quirk was a glimmer of hope on the new Board but forgot to mention that he should be Chairman. If he doesn’t have better credentials than Matt McGrath – especially being a local – then I’ll give up’.

‘IF the Racing Review ordered by the new LNP Government was independent, how did a ‘school boy’ mate of the Racing Minister manage to secure a key role as thoroughbred consultant to the Chairman. And heaven forbid he has now found his way onto the new Board.’

‘APART from a Degree in Corporate Bookmaking can someone inform stakeholders what credentials Lachlan Murray has to be CEO of RQ? We’ve struggled to find talent in this role in the past, but his appointment takes the cake. Surely Murray will not be hoisted into the full-time role purely because Matt McGrath likes him. What’s that old saying: ‘Surround yourself with ….?’

‘There’s not much transparency in the new-look RQ if the stories are true that Government appointee Mary Collier (to implement the recommendations of the Review) and Kim Kelly (with international stewarding experience) will be shown the door because they can’t see eye-to-eye with Mr McGrath.’

‘Plenty of people were hoping to catch up with the new RQ Chairman at the big Gold Coast race day last weekend but came away disappointed. One wag reckoned after hearing that Wally Gleeson was lurking in the stands, McGrath and his sidekick Murray were last seen high-tailing it down the road toward Surfers riding tandem on a push bike’.

‘We arguably have the best pacer and trotter in the world then why is the code in Queensland struggling? Perhaps it’s got something to do with what ‘King Kev’ wants ‘King Kev’ gets.’

‘One has to question the appointment process for the new RQ Board. Was it done LNP-style, without any recommendations from those involved in the industry or human resources oversight? Even when Labor appointed Bill Ludwig to the RQ Board way back when, the proper process was followed.’

‘How does the Government plan to pay for recommendations of the Review to be implemented – especially the Albion Park upgrade – if Deagon isn’t sold? And the word is strong that they’ve hit a hurdle there.’

‘In late January RQ listed a change of status of Non-TAB meetings to be granted TAB status but curiously these meetings have remained at Non-TAB prizemoney levels. I am sure that I am not the only one scratching my head over this and I am at a loss to explain why someone hasn’t raised this query already. There is hopefully an explanation for this and I would be pleased if you can find out what it is.’

 

‘MR WHIMPEY’ ONE OF THE TOP DOGS APPOINTED THE RUN THE STAR

AND we finish the day on a lighter note:

REMEMBER former Brisbane Racing Club CEO Dave Whimpey? Well he’s back in the news again.

Whimpey has been named Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO of The Star Brisbane as part of the leadership changes following the opening of the Queen’s Wharf resort in the CBD.

Since his departure from the BRC, ‘Mr Whimpey’ as he became known in racing circles, has been boss of Surf Lifesaving Queensland.

Story emanating from SKY Channel suggests that during a meeting to discuss promotion of a Brisbane Winter Carnival, Whimpey asked how they got the horses to Stradbroke for the big race.

Now LGHR does not believe that for one minute – certainly not from a gentleman with 25 years’  experience in gaming, hospitality and tourism, including senior roles at Tabcorp.

 

LIMERICKS FROM ‘LARRY THE LOSER’ AFTER ANOTHER BAD DAY 

‘LARRY the LOSER’ found himself out of funds and with some time on his hands after backing a couple of beaten fancies from the Chris Waller stable on Saturday so he decided to pen a couple of limericks. Here’s what he came up with:

THERE’S a famous trainer named Chris, 

Whose stable is rarely remiss. 

His backed favorites fall flat, 

But not the longshots—fancy that! 

Fair go, that's just taking the piss.

He enters a trio or more, 

And the outsider evens the score. 

A last-start disaster, 

But now suddenly faster. 

And the stewards just look at the floor!

 

THE stewards all sit in a row, 

Watching Chris put on quite the show. 

While the longshot improves, 

They don't bother checking the moves, 

Just nod as they say, "Didn't you know?"

They've got binoculars glued to their eyes, 

Yet they miss every massive surprise. 

No questions are asked, 

The trainer's not tasked, 

And the punter just sits there and cries.

 

 QUIRK A LIGHT AT END OF TUNNEL FOR CRITICS OF NEW RQ BOARD 

CONFIRMATION that former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk would remain on the new-look Racing Queensland Board has been greeted with much relief, especially in the outback.

That is where stakeholders have felt let down by the LNP Government. Having a previous RQ Chairman who was based in the south-east and they rarely saw in the country was bad enough. Appointing a Sydney-based Chairman made them feel even more disenfranchised.

There was speculation that Quirk had become disenchanted with the direction RQ was heading under the previous Labor-appointed Board that new Racing Minister Tim Mander left there for far too long. In the eyes of many, his decision to stay, will ensure thoroughbred racing through the State of a voice on this new look Board not to mention ‘keep the newbies honest’.

LGHR received this email from a high profile Chairman of a Race Club outside the south-east corner who asked not to be identified fearing repercussions for expressing his opinion at the Minister’s decision to appoint Sydneysider Matt McGrath to head the new Board. This is what he had to say:

‘Whatever happened to the LNP protecting the interests of country racing, especially those living in the outback? They appoint a lady lawyer from Townsville that most have never heard of to represent us. When was the last time she attended a race meeting in Longreach, Mount Isa or Cooktown? Has she any idea of the problems confronting us?

‘When Mr McGrath conducted his Review, it was a whistle-stop tour of the outback. Most stakeholders got the impression he couldn’t depart the region quick enough. How can someone from Sydney possibly understand the concerns of racing in the bush? Has he got any idea that at some meetings up to 20 or more horses have to be scratched because there is no jockey to ride them? God help us under his leadership which will no doubt focus almost entirely on the city and the south east corner.’

If the LNP Government and Racing Minister Mander were serious about protecting the interests and providing a future for racing in country and outback Queensland they would have appointed someone who understood our problems – like former trainer Craig Smith not some lady lawyer from Townsville that no-one has ever heard of.’

 

CONCERNS ABOUT QLD BUSH RACING FROM SOMONEONE WHO CARES 

LGHR believes that MATT NICHOLLS, former Editor of the North-West Weekly and a long-time supporter and fighter for the rights of country and bush racing, would have been a worthy choice as Country Representative on the new-look Board.

The Review was well aware of his credentials and ideas – they spoke with Matt – but perhaps he was too keen to criticize for their liking. Here’s an open letter that Nicholls has written to the Acting CEO of Racing Queensland, Lachlan Murray, who the new Chairman has anointed for the full-time job which shows how out of touch he is with what stakeholders in the north really want.

Matt writes:

Dear Mr Murray,

I’m writing because I am deeply concerned about the current outlook for country racing in Queensland, particularly across the western parts of our state.

My greatest concern is the welfare of participants – especially trainers – who are the heart and soul of racing in the bush.

Last week, one of Queensland’s most prominent country stables was forced to evacuate all of its horses as floodwater inundated their property. Barcaldine trainer Bevan “Billy” Johnson and his wife Mel were unable to attend either the Mount Isa or Charleville meetings on Saturday because they were desperately trying to save their home and stables from rising water.

I have attached a video posted by Mel Johnson for your reference. 

When I contacted Mel on Monday morning, she confirmed there had been no contact from Racing Queensland to check on their welfare. 

Frankly, that is disappointing.

Late last year, you were quick to visit Warwick – with journalist Ben Dorries in tow – after the club was hit by a severe storm. Yet in the face of widespread flooding and disruption across western Queensland, there appears to have been no similar effort to rush to visit participants in the bush to see firsthand how they are coping.

Even along the coast, from Cairns to Bundaberg, racing has been battered by severe weather this year. The obvious question from participants is simple: what has been the response from Deagon?

So far, we have seen very little.

With fuel prices soaring, what assistance has been offered to race clubs and participants to ensure meetings can continue?

Prizemoney in the bush has been stagnant for years, meaning trainers and owners are effectively going backwards as inflation and cost-of-living pressures bite.

Richmond trainer Shryn Royes had to drive through floodwater on the Flinders Highway just to reach Mount Isa for Saturday’s meeting. She didn’t arrive home until today (Monday) after the road between Julia Creek and Richmond was closed, forcing to camp up in Julia Creek with her horses.

Royes said rising fuel prices now mean she will have to pick and choose which meetings she attends, with freight costs also driving up her weekly feed bill.

Kim and Shane McGovern believed they had a genuine winning chance at Sunday’s Townsville meeting. But with the highway closed, they were forced to take the long way around from Mount Isa to get there.

In searching for cheaper fuel, the McGoverns misjudged the closing time of a service station and were forced to camp overnight until it reopened, ultimately running out of time to reach Townsville, resulting in the scratching of both horses.

Meanwhile, race meetings are dropping like flies.

Cloncurry had to shift its meeting to Mount Isa. Winton will not race at the end of this month. Boulia has cancelled its Easter meeting. One can only imagine the concern at clubs like Einasleigh about whether their annual meetings will survive.

Last week, the Laura Amateur Turf Club in Far North Queensland was completely inundated, putting extreme pressure on the volunteer committee to get prepared for its monster June program.

Which leads to the obvious question: as the head of Racing Queensland, what are you doing to help?

I understand you are scheduled to attend a Rural Racing Roadshow in Longreach this Sunday. I sincerely hope you arrive with practical solutions and meaningful support to help participants through what is clearly an incredibly difficult period.

Because the people of the bush are not looking for more talk.

They are looking for leadership, support and action from an organisation that many feel has lost touch with participants outside the south-east corner of the state.

A travel subsidy for horses would be a start.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss any of these issues with you. But these days I’m just a concerned citizen. The people you really need to listen to are the trainers, owners, jockeys and volunteers who keep country racing alive.

Kind regards,

Matt Nicholls
 

IF McGRATH APPOINTS UNDER-PERFORMING MURRAY TO CEO ROLE IT SHOWS A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE OBVIOUS - MARY COLLIER 

WHAT a disgrace – LACHLAN MURRAY is the bloke that new Board Chairman Matt McGrath regards as the most suitable to fill the shoes of the CEO at RQ.

It poses the question from many in the outback: ‘Does RQ or Lachlan Murray care about us? Does he know the plight we are facing? Why then have we not heard from him?’

Of course, Ben Dorries, emerging as the ‘spin doctor’ for the new RQ Chairman, has been conspicuous by his silence as well. Not a word written by him in The Courier-Mail or Racenet – unlike his big-noting visit to Warwick last year on the coat-tails of his ‘mate’, Murray. (That was until this morning when our story hit a nerve and he did his job which we praise him for).   

Racing knows Dorries for what he is. Big Ben wasted no time defending McGrath from the critics who are suggesting he did the Review with the hope of landing a top job and it worked. When it comes to an opportunity to build Brownie Points with officialdom, Dorries is front and centre. No doubt he’ll win another Award for services to ‘suck-up’ to those in charge of racing in Queensland.

His defensive story of Matt McGrath’s appointment as RQ Chairman was ‘finger down the throat stuff’ to most stakeholders. What Dorries failed to mention is that two of the best people in key roles in RQ are likely to be lost to the industry because they cannot see eye-to-eye with McGrath and his Racing Review recommendations.

We’re talking about QRIC Deputy Commissioner, steward extraordinaire Kim Kelly, who LGHR understands finds some of the integrity recommendations of the McGrath Review impossible to implement.

And, believe it or not, after being appointed to lead the implementation of reforms of the McGrath Review, we understand Mary Collier is hitting more hurdles than she can cope with. One wonders if this is because she would make a far better CEO of RQ than Lachlan Murray who McGrath has basically admits he wants in the job.

They have one thing in common – a desire to see the Point of Consumption Tax reduced for their mates in the corporate bookmaking industry. This would have happened but for high profile MP’s putting a road-block in front of the Racing Minister’s plans. Are McGrath and Murray the duo racing in Queensland needs? Certainly not, but like it or not, we’re stuck with both of them – or so it seems.

McGrath told his new ‘spin doctor’ Dorries: "I didn't do the Review to get a role at the end of it. I will spend a week-and-a-half in Queensland every month. I'm not going to try to win people's trust, I will make sure I earn it and that's the most important thing for me."

In the eyes of many it wouldn’t matter whether he moved to Queensland full-time. There were plenty hoping to catch up with him at the QTIS Jewel Day on the Gold Coast last Saturday.

If Matt was there they say he proved to be the ‘invisible man’. Many are asking why SKY hosts Bernadette Cooper and Paul Joice did the presentations for the feature races. Where was the new RQ Chairman and his golden boy Lachie from RQ?

 

WALLER SHOULD STICK TO TRAINING WINNERS, MAHER NO 1 TIPSTER

THERE’S a reason bread and butter punters prefer to follows tips from the Ciaron Maher stable to those from rival Chris Waller.

In his Preview Show, Waller and first lieutenant Sir Charles Duckworth tend to talk in riddles and when they do declare one it seems to get beaten.

On the contrary when Jack Turnbull, the tipster for Maher, declares one, it more often than not salutes.

The last two Saturdays the big tips from the Waller stable have been long-time loser Militarize and Buckaroo despite a setback. Militarize has now failed two weeks in a row and hasn’t won for 550 days.

It is history now that Buckaroo, who missed an important start with a cough a week earlier , had not recovered fully when he was beaten out of sight by heavily-backed stablemate Birdman in the G2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield.

‘Wallyworld’ didn’t suggest Birdman couldn’t win – in fact the stable scratched the Australian Cup hopeful from Rosehill to stay in Melbourne. But they were quick to highlight the fact that Buckaroo was the better horse based on his close second to Via Sistina in the Cox Plate.

It was a bit rich though when the little Petal representing the Waller stable in Melbourne told RSN in a post-race interview that Buckaroo ‘raced very well’ when it went like a ‘busted bum’. She must have been watching a different race.

Of the big team that Maher had racing on Saturday, Jack Turnbull didn’t hesitate to declare Salty Pearl the best of the day. The grey was heavily backed and duly saluted.

That’s the difference between tips from the Waller stable and those from Maher. The latter are reliable – the former rarely win and when they do punters have to decipher what Chris and Charlie really mean as they continue to talk in riddles.

 

BUCKAROO PULLING UP WITH A COUGH WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH

UNLIKE their counterparts in Sydney, the Victorian Stewards arguably treated the Waller stable differently following the failure of Buckaroo but did they go far enough?

There’s a general belief – from the punting fraternity right through to rival trainers – that Waller gets too much start in Sydney because of his domination of racing there. The mainstream media is terrified to question form reversals from stable runners and upset wins by stablemates of drifting favorites.

Racing Victoria Stewards were quick to pounce after Buckaroo performed poorly in the G2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday won by his heavily-backed stablemate Birdman, which was beautifully ridden by Ben Melham.

Rival jockey Jye McNeil reported that Buckaroo travelled well in the early and middle stages, however, did not run on as expected and tired over the latter stages. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a throat condition. A veterinary clearance is required prior to being permitted to race again. 

Waller made no secret that Buckaroo had been scratched from the Group 1 All Star Mile at Flemington the previous week because of a throat condition. Despite being placed in G1 company at four of his last five start, the seven-year-old has not won now for 550 days.

Surely there was some requirement that the stable be certain Buckaroo was over the throat condition before allowing him to start on Saturday. Nevertheless, he wasn’t as vets reported after the Peter Young.

Rather than reporting that they would follow up with the stable, should the RV Stewards not hit Waller with a please explain or even a charge considering Buckaroo started when he still obviously had a problem.

That most certainly wouldn’t have happened in Sydney where without the Waller stable numbers, one wonders where racing would be. Just look at the farcical situation in the G2 Sky High Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday where Waller had seven of the nine original acceptors (the other two were from the Waterhouse-Bott barn).

After scratching Birdman to race at Caulfield and Trinity College, Waller had five of the seven. The Preview Show suggested he couldn’t separate Soul Of Spain $3.8 which ran second and Wootten Verni, the $2.6 favorite, which dropped out to beat two home.

The race was won by Vauban, having his first start since finishing sixth in the Melbourne Cup which, incidentally, co-trainer Adrian Bott told Melbourne Radio on Saturday morning was the stable’s best of the day. It seems that even he is a better judge than Waller.

 

RACING ROYALTY TURNED OUT AT RANDWICK - TERRIFIC INITIATIVE 

AND on a positive note, we received this contribution from SYDNEYSIDER PETER MAIR:

THE Australian racing industry, at its grass roots, welcomes all comers – that sense of a fraternity of equals was on open display at Randwick on Sunday afternoon.

Billed as an opportunity to meet the ‘royalty’ of Sydney racing –  barbequed food, free of charge, washed down with $5 beers – the couple of hundred that came were not disappointed.

On the contrary, including world-class players, trainers and jockeys turned out in remarkable numbers. Seemingly all of them were there and happy to be there -- willing to meet the people, enjoyably posing for selfies and responding to questions. What other major industry, or political party, puts on a comparable open-day for all-comers?

Apart from a very few welcoming words from the CEO of the ATC, there were no formalities. Not needed perhaps – these days, with modern media coverage, punters know the faces and personalities of most player participants. Even so, their being there in-person adds a special dimension.

Hopefully, what was a first time on Sunday becomes a next-time next year and the concept is built into the Sydney racing calendar.’

 

THE WORST KEPT SECRET IN QUEENSLAND RACING IS OUT – BUT PROVOKES A MIXED REACTION - THIS IS NO 'EXCLUSIVE' YOU GOOSE!

DESPITE the daily ‘fish and chips’ wrapper calling it an ‘exclusive’, the appointments of Review Chairman Matt McGrath and his First Lieutenant Kim Daly to the new-look RQ Board was the worst kept secret in Queensland racing.

The industry has waited 18 months for the new LNP Government to replace the control body appointed by Labor and there has been not unexpectedly mixed reaction to the announcement.

The biggest criticism is that McGrath and Daly are among the major beneficiaries of their own Review recommendations. It’s not only a ‘bit rich’ but sounds like ‘jobs for the boys’.

It was supposedly an independent Review but the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission – established on the recommendation of the McSporran Report in the wake of the disgraceful live-baiting expose in the greyhound industry – was a casualty the new Government always wanted.

Lost in the process has been one of the best appointments racing Queensland has every enjoyed – albeit too briefly – in super popular QRIC Chairman Catherine Clarke and one of the most experienced stewards in the world in Kim Kelly (although we are reliably informed that Racing Minister Tim Mander did his best to retain Kim’s services but there were disagreements especially over the need for a separation of powers between administration and integrity).

Sadly, the loss of Kelly (although it has yet to be confirmed) will create criticism of Kim Daly that he arguably doesn’t deserve. Sure Daly’s experience as a Steward (he has been appointed Integrity representative on the new Board) is infinitesimal compared to Kelly but Kim deserves better than simply being declared an appointee because he was an ‘old school mate of the Minister). Perhaps Mander should consider offering Kim a consultancy, similar to what he enjoys with the HKJC and NZ Racing.

Whether the McGrath appointment was the worst-kept secret in Queensland Racing or not, LGHR believes it should not have been an ‘exclusive’ to the CM, which has a circulation that has reached the embarrassing stage. What about radio, TV and other racing media outlets. Only Ben Dorries would declare such a story an ‘exclusive’. What odds he now ‘spin doctors’ the Government’s appointments?        

 

REASONS CRITICS DIDN’T WANT MATT McGRATH TO BECOME THE NEW RQ CHAIRMAN - IS HE A MAJOR BENEFICIARY OF HIS OWN REVIEW? 

THERE are many who believe the appointment of Sydneysider Matt McGrath as Chairman of the new Board is an insult to the many highly experienced and equally competent people who are Queensland-based.

For the record the appointment of an interstate person to the RQ Board is nothing new. LGHR was front and centre at Deagon when Sydney-based Michael Lambert was on the Bob Bentley Board and without a doubt believe he was one of the best appointments ever made.

Lambert was back then Managing Director of ABN-AMRO Australia, part of the ABN-AMRO global investment bank and a former head of the NSW Treasury. His areas of focus and responsibility were Government, transport and the gaming and gambling sectors. He had a background with the Queensland racing industry, having been an adviser to the Government on strategic options for TABQ and the Queensland racing industry and on the reform and sale of TABQ.

One could argue that McGrath’s credentials pale into insignificance in comparison but as Chairman of the Board that he helped create Matt now gets the chance to implement the recommendations of the Review that he conducted.

Archie Butterfly (peterprofit.com) wrote a story on McGrath which best sums up the thoughts of his detractors. It involves statements made by McGrath in a submission to the recent Parliamentary Inquiry into the Sale of Rosehill. It is worth taking a closer look at these:

MM: AS ATC Chairman from 2018-2022, the ATC in unison from Racing NSW had an excellent period where we elevated Sydney racing to the pinnacle world-wide on all KPIs.

THAT is a huge claim that the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Royal Ascot Racing Club, the VRC and the Turf Club that holds the Kentucky Derby would dispute.

MM: AT the conclusion of my four-year tenure, the financial results and the health of the club sat alone whilst all other Australia metropolitan clubs recorded losses on their racing operations.

WHILE that claim may be strictly correct, it is somewhat of a misrepresentation of the actual state of affairs. Both the Melbourne Racing Club and Moonee Valley Racing Club returned profits in 2022, the last of McGrath’s four years in the top job at the ATC, as did the Brisbane Racing Club. That the earnings of these clubs were supplemented by gaming revenue is more of a testament to their foresight in diversifying sources of income than it is a reason to deride their returns as being non-racing derived.

MM: THE ATC in my fours amassed $66mn EBITDA:

EBITDA: Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization is a narrow way for a racing cub or administrator to measure success, as it ignores both the wear and tear to assets such as grandstands, buildings, plant and equipment which will need to be upgraded or replaced, and the cost of interest payments on loans, both of which were substantial under McGrath’s leadership, eg:

2018-19 (-$9.1mn); 2019-20 (+$6.9mn), 2020-21 (+$12.5mn) & 2021-22 (+$7mn). TOTAL profit: $3.3mn.

Pictures don’t look right without frames though, so let’s look at the real picture when you add in all the MONEY THAT THE ATC BORROWED under McGrath’s watch.

At 31 July 2022, the last full financial year under McGrath as Chairman, the current liabilities of the ATC (HOW MUCH IT OWED) exceeded the club’s current assets (HOW MUCH IT HAD IN CASH) by $31,335 million. In other words, the ATC was $31.3mn in the red, cash v debt.

When McGrath inherited the Chairmanship of the club from his predecessor Laurie Macri the ATC’s current assets exceeded its current liabilities by almost $22.15mn. This means that the ATC’s cash-debut position declined by $53.4mn under his leadership.

MM: AND in the FY22 Report, the ATC had a record $38mn in cash at bank

THIS is the most laughable McGrath boast of all.

What he failed to disclose is that $24.9mn came from a Racing NSW loan that he left the ATC to pay off after he was long gone and another $10mn that was borrowed from the bank.

The cash from both of these loans landed in the ATC accounts in McGrath’s last year in charge. Without this borrowed money the ATC would have had just $3.1mn in the bank, a record low.

It is also interesting to note that the ATC’s debts to lenders grew almost $24mn in the period that McGrath was Chairman of the Club, rising from $42.6mn to $66.5mn.

LGHR respectfully suggests that Matt McGrath is a great self-promoter who has been anointed by Racing Minister Mander on the recommendation of the ‘man he admires most in racing and rugby league’ Peter V’landys. Here’s hoping RQ doesn’t now become just another notch in the belt of PVL.

As for what sort of debts a newlook McGrath-led RQ Racing Board will accrue, only time will tell.

 

EARLY REACTION TO MINISTER’S NEW BOARD HAS NOT BEEN POSITIVE 

IT hasn’t taken long for the news of the Board appointments to filter through. The LGHR phone, text and email service has been running hot and sadly the reaction has not been positive.

HERE’S what MATT NICHOLLS, one-timed Editor of the North West Weekly newspaper and a long-time follower of racing in outback Queensland had to say:

‘YOU may not have seen this yet – the news has only been reported in News Corp outlets so far – but Racing Minister Tim Mander will today announce a new-look Racing Queensland board.

Leading the charge will be NSW-based Matt McGrath, who chaired last year’s review into racing in Queensland. Almost none of his recommendations have been implemented since it was handed to Mander, while several of the key proposals were quickly rejected.

Despite that, McGrath – who lives in Sydney – will now be installed as chair of Racing Queensland.

Also joining the board is Mander’s former schoolmate Kym Daly, a former steward who was also involved in the review. Daly is expected to fill the integrity role.

But perhaps the most baffling appointment is Michelle Morton, who – according to reporting by Ben Dorries – will represent regional and country racing.

Morton is Townsville-based, but I’ve been covering racing in North Queensland for more than a decade and her name has never crossed my desk.

A quick Google search shows she’s a lawyer and sits on the board of the Townsville Hospital and Health Service.

A few messages to North Queensland participants this morning confirmed the same thing: she’s virtually unknown in local racing circles.

So how exactly is she now the champion for country racing on the Racing Queensland board?

Others to join the board include Gary Cunningham as an owners' advocate, former Liberal politician Jane Prentice (no surprises there) and professional spin doctor/consultant Sally Branson.

Taken together, these six appointments send a pretty clear message – that the minister and the decision-makers in south-east Queensland have little understanding of, or interest in, the realities of country racing.

Participants in regional areas should be furious.

If Mander truly cared about bush racing, the Country Racing Panel would have been retained – and given real authority – with one of its members sitting on the Racing Queensland board.

Instead, country racing gets a lawyer with seemingly no connection to it.’

   

BATTLE BETWEEN BRC & GLEESON FAMILY TRAVELS THE FULL CIRCLE 

LGHR continues to receive requests for an update on the behind-the-scenes battle involving the Gleeson family and their concerns over alleged integrity issues relating to the Board of the Brisbane Racing Club.

What we can report is that the matter has now turned the full circle and been hand-passed from Racing Queensland to the Racing Minister, at their advice onto the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission who say they don’t have the power to act and now to ASIC (the Australian Securities and Investment Commission) where it started over a year ago and they have done next to nothing.

You may remember that LGHR reported that a complaint to the QCCC was being investigated. Technically that was wrong despite us possessing the knowledge that a complaint had been made and an assurance from an insider at the Parliamentary CCC (which oversees the QCCC) that any legitimate concerns by an industry stakeholder (a la Wally Gleeson or his son Simon, who resigned as a director of the BRC) would be fully investigated. We assumed this was happening.

It wasn’t but not because the QCCC ruled the complaint had or didn't have any substance. Their decision was that they did not possess the powers to investigate this issue because the BRC is not considered to be a Unit of Public Administration.

(Under the Crime & Corruption Act 2001 the QCCC can only deal with conduct that occurs in, or affects, the Queensland public sector which generally includes Government Departments, the Queensland Police Service, Councils, public hospitals and health services and publicly funded universities).

The QCCC advised that the complaint related to the conduct of employees at the Brisbane Racing Club, which has been determined not to be part of the Queensland public sector, that is, it is not considered to be a Unit of Public Administration. For that reason, the CCC has no authority to investigate it.

 

HAS RQ OR RACING MINISTER ANY IDEA OF HOW THE QCCC WORKS? 

THIS outcome raises more questions than answers. It seems that even the lawyers are confused.

Apparently, Racing Minister Tim Mander and former Racing Queensland Chairman Steve Wilson were wrong in advising the Gleeson’s to take their concerns to the QCCC? 

Some are asking if the Act in NSW mirrors that in Queensland, how is it possible for Racing NSW to currently conduct an investigation into the Australian Turf Club (Supreme Court decision pending today) when RQ are unable to do so involving the Brisbane Racing Club?

Supporters of the Gleeson’s have posed an interesting question: “If the CCC doesn’t have the powers to investigate allegations against the BRC, why then isn’t the CCC investigating Racing Queensland (as a Unit of Public Administration) for not doing the job they can’t?

Wally Gleeson now wants a ‘please explain’ from Minister Mander who for some inexplicable reason is not prepared to meet with him face to face - stop hiding behind a rock Minister and do your job.

Have you forgotten Wally's lifetime involvement with the industry as a Corinthian winning jockey, owner and prominent breeder, not to mention a Member of the LNP who worked hard to see his local MP Kerri-Ann Dooley elected in Redcliffe at the last election.

Ms Dooley requested a meeting on behalf of Wally and his wife Jill with the Minister but received this 'weak-kneed' response from his Office which read in part:

‘Thank you for your email of 23 February 2026 regarding the request from your constituents Mr Wally and Ms Jill Gleeson for a meeting to discuss allegations of corruption against the Racing Queensland Board.

‘Corrupt conduct is serious as it undermines public trust, the integrity of decision making and confidence in public administration. I encourage anybody with allegations of corrupt conduct, in any context to provide details of their claims to the appropriate investigative agency, ensuring independence, accountability and legislative compliance matters are handled correctly.

I can confirm that the Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games has been in contact with Mr Wally and Ms Jill Gleeson to discuss this matter.’

Gleeson explained that he rejected an offer to meet with ‘with a Department lackey (apparently Michael Duff, son of the late training great Pat, good luck to plans to sell Deagon if he has any influence on the decision). ‘I want to meet with the butcher – not the block,’ Wally said.

The wording of the Mander letter that ‘details of any allegations should be provided to the appropriate investigative agency’ suggests he is referring to the QCCC. It’s time the Minister or his advisors were made aware that the QCCC’s supposed inability to address the issue. 

In the light of the unexpected stance of the QCCC and the ‘bad advice’ from the Racing Minister and Racing Queensland, the matter has been referred again to ASIC – but no-one’s holding their breath for action at the station there.

A complaint was lodged with ASIC a month ago but no response has been received. ASIC hasn’t even asked for details which are required when submissions are first made. Gleeson supporters are questioning now whether this is a ‘closed shop’ as well.

TIME WILL TELL!

 

HERE’S HOW LADBROKES TREATS PUNTERS WHO DARE TO WIN 

THERE is yet another complaint concerning a CORPORATE BOOKMAKER – when will it ever end? To make matters worse, it’s one of the biggest that you would expect better of:

MY name is MICHAEL HAY and I am writing to formally raise a complaint regarding Ladbrokes withholding payment of a winning bet placed on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

Firstly, I would like to state that I am simply a social punter. I do not bet professionally or regularly, but when I do have a bet, I back my judgement and have a proper wager.

On Sunday 8 March, I backed Spies On – Race 2, Number 10 at Sunshine Coast. The horse had caught my attention at its prior start. Due to heavy rain, I was stuck at home on my property near Longreach and could not get into town.

When the original fields first went up for that meeting, I had intended to have around $2,000–$3,000 on the horse, either each-way or to win depending on the price. However, the meeting was abandoned and I shelved the idea and thought nothing more of it.

Then on Sunday the same horse Spies On was running again, this time on the poly track at Sunshine Coast. Early in the morning I looked at the markets and saw the price around $1.45–$1.50, which didn’t really seem worth having that sort of money on.

Later in the morning, about 30 minutes before the race, I revisited the market and started looking at margin betting, something only a handful of bookmakers offer. Historically I’m what you would call a mug punter and usually bet small, but I had liked the horse’s first-up run.  After some deliberation I decided to have a good bet.

Approximately five minutes before the race, I successfully deposited $3,000 in my Ladbrokes’ account. I had two successfully placed margin bets on Spies On.  To my excitement and joy, the horse won comfortably by more than three lengths.

After being stuck out on my property near Longreach, I was obviously pleased with the result and went to withdraw my funds. However, my account was immediately locked by Ladbrokes, and I was informed that they would not release the funds unless I provided further identity documents.

They requested bank statements, identification and a selfie photo, which in my opinion is quite an invasion of privacy for a recreational punter who has simply placed a winning bet.

Nonetheless, I complied and supplied everything requested:

• Bank statement• Photo identification• Selfie verification photo all within a 24 hour period of their request.

Despite providing everything requested, my winnings are still being withheld. This is despite being told via phone conversation with a Ladbrokes’ customer support that once my identity documents were received the monies would be able to be withdrawn right away.  

What makes this situation even more frustrating is that there is currently a Federal Court case involving bookmakers and Ladbrokes’ parent company Entain, where millions of dollars lost by a gambler are being challenged because bookmakers allegedly failed to check where the money was coming from. In that case, a former financial planner was reportedly able to gamble tens of millions of dollars despite earning around $130,000 a year, raising questions about whether bookmakers ignored obvious warning signs about the source of funds.

Yet here I am, a social punter who has simply had a winning bet, being asked to provide bank statements and personal documents before I can be paid. It seems that when someone is losing large sums of money, bookmakers are happy not to ask too many questions, but when a punter wins, suddenly the checks begin.

This behaviour is extremely concerning. In Australia the understanding has always been simple — you place a bet and if you win, you get paid. I find it unacceptable that bookmakers can accept a wager and then delay or withhold payment after the result.

I am asking that the appropriate racing and wagering authorities investigate this matter and step in if necessary, as this type of conduct undermines confidence in the wagering industry.

I respectfully request that my winnings be paid immediately.

As Australians, we grow up believing that when you have a bet and your horse wins, you get paid. I am simply asking for that basic principle to be honoured.

COMPETITIVE PERSPECTIVES ON THE FUNDING OF RACING IN NSW 

ANOTHER contribution from SYDNEYSIDER PETER MAIR makes for interesting reading:

‘RacingNSW is presenting itself as, in essence, a successful public company. A business going from strength to strength, even more so in comparison with 'public-companies' running racing in other states.

As the Chairman of RNSW says:

NSW racing is strong. It is financially secure. And right now, it is delivering record returns to the people who give this sport its heart and soul. One of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of a public company is the dividends it pays to its shareholders. In the racing industry, the equivalent KPI is the total returns paid to participants. These figures represent far more than statistics. They reflect real income supporting thousands of owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff, breeders and industry participants whose livelihoods depend on a strong and growing racing industry.

From a broader community perspective, purloining the concept of 'company dividends' may be misleading. Guardians of the public purse could recast the allocation of public funds to RacingNSW as a bi-partisan agreement unfairly favouring a racing gambling community comprising ten per-cent of the adult population.  It is no wonder that the funds distributed by RacingNSW are at record levels – ear-marked funds given to racing from the public purse are also at record levels.

The racing funding model is a simple one – the higher the racing tax-take and the more money gambled on racing (and sports), the more money flows automatically to fund racing. And that is the rub: considering the interests of the other 90 per-cent, is funding racing with 'off budget' entitlements the best use of these public funds in the general public interest.

In the event the limited scope of the current inquiry into the NSW racing legislation is under pressure to be extended to include the very critical issues expressly excluded – the independence of RacingNSW and funding arrangements for the NSW racing industry.

Let the mind wander to the prospect of parliamentary scrutiny of the allocation and distribution of public funds by RacingNSW -- perhaps following a performance-audit of RNSW by the NSW Auditor General. AG's reports are "tabled" in Parliament, making them public documents that the media and the community can access immediately.’

 

 

WHEN WILL RACING IN QUEENSLAND SEE A RETURN ON MILLIONS SPENT ON USELESS REVIEW? ANOTHER PLEASE EXPLAIN FOR MINISTER!

THE controversial Queensland Racing Review identified many problems the industry already knew existed but stakeholders are now questioning whether they will see a reasonable return on their multi-million dollar investment.

The reason for that is the Review hand-passed most issues to the Government to find a solution which saw one-time Brisbane Turf Club Chairman Mary Collyer appointed to sort out this basket case. They felt – and rightly so – when it comes to racing, there’s ‘something about Mary’.

Problem is some stakeholders are becoming increasingly impatient and why wouldn’t they be? Take racing in Mount Isa for example which one could argue is suffering second-rate treatment at the hands of a Racing Minister and Government that promised to look after the industry outside the south-east corner.

Could you imagine a major TAB club being allowed to suffer the fate that has befallen racing in the north-west in recent times? Hot on the heels of losing two consecutive meetings to the ‘big wet’, when they finally raced last Saturday owners and trainers were faced with an unbelievable situation where 23 acceptors could not run because no jockeys were available to ride them.

 

THE UNWINNABLE FIGHT THAT RQ CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO ACT ON

GREG BLANCHARD of the Gold Coast, a regular contributor to LGHR, has been fighting an unwinnable battle to secure more jockeys for the bush for as long as he can remember. Here’s his take on the latest unacceptable situation:

‘LAST year I said I was done writing about this but just this once I'll do a Melba.

Mount Isa had 23 horses scratched on Saturday with no riders available. This occurred after having meetings called off due to flooding the two previous weeks.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a friend about an overseas jockey wanting to come to Australia.

I told him about the Mount Isa situation and even sent him a video so that he was able to understand the region. He was fine with that.

I had an encouraging response from officialdom a few weeks ago when I sent his resume but nothing has happened since.

I think of the promises over last 11 years I've written about this made by many about getting overseas jockeys and kids into our Apprentice School. This could help the problem but still nothing on that front.

Surely to goodness with the huge money spent on some tracks over the last decade etc, funding coul.d be provided to get overseas riders here to the bush.’

 

DID THE REVIEW TAKE THE PROBLEM OF LACK OF BUSH JOCKEYS SERIOUSLY ENOUGH? SHOW YOU CARE ABOUT THIS MR MINISTER!

ONE has to ask the question – and it was raised by many with chief thoroughbred consultant Kim Daly – did the Review take the on-going problem of a lack of jockeys in the bush seriously enough.

Looking through the recommendations in their report, many don’t believe they did. But it's not too late or is it?

When you ask who is to blame for this long-running problem, the buck stops with Racing Queensland and the Government of the day.

A succession of CEO’s at RQ has done next to nothing about it. To be fair, Jason Scott tried. Before him Brendan ‘Pins’ Parnell swept it under the carpet and since him Lachlan Murray seems more focused on retaining his role and critics say protecting the interests of his ‘mates’ in the corporate bookmaking fraternity.

Murray is unbelievable odds-on to be CEO of the new body and in the opinion of many, if that happens, RQ will continue to tread water.

He has apparently won favour with the Sydney interloper Matt McGrath, a mate of Racing Minister Tim Mander, who conducted the supposed independent Racing Review and is favoured to be Chairman of the new RQ control body – another joke!      

While the Review recommended expansion of the Battle of the Bush Series along with enhancement of Country Cups and Town Plates what's the point if horses can’t qualify because there aren’t enough jockeys to ride them?

It seems the Review only identified problems the industry knew it already had. There was no suggestion of a solution.

The Government looks certain to put many of these issues in the ‘too hard’ basket and the Minister seems intent on saving money by dismantling QRIS and establishing a new control body where there will be no separation of powers between administration and integrity.

BUT the industry will be run by a ‘jobs for the boys Board’ – not one appointed on ability. It's back to the good old days of the LNP where integrity in Queensland racing was the joke of the country.

 

GOLLAN'S TOUGHEST CHALLENGE OF TRAINING CAREER WITH ANTINO

TONY GOLLAN is arguably confronted by the toughest challenge of his illustrious training career.

On the eve of the last Cox Plate, his stable star Antino was rated one of the best weight-for-age stayers in the land. In the space of a week he suffered a major slump in form and has been unable to regain it.

Mystery surrounds what happened to Antino from the day he sat three wide and ran second to Sir Delius in the G1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in October.

The seven-year-old beat home Via Sistina in that race and there were plenty of good judges prepared to back him to deny the Waller-trained superstar a second Cox Plate win.

But for some inexplicable reason the wheels fell off or in racing parlance Antino ‘lost a leg’. The winner of more than $3.5mn in stakes dropped out to run last in the Cox Plate.

Victorian Stewards asked for an explanation for the flop which Gollan would have been happy to supply but he was as surprised as them. There were reports that Blake Shinn, who rode the horse in the Cox Plate and subsequent work, thought he was sore.

Gollan decided to call it quits and hope that after a spell Antino would return to his brilliant best. After a plain first-up 8^th in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick, the trainer whose opinion is highly respected told the media he was convinced Antino would reproduce his best in Saturday’s All Star Mile at Flemington.

Alas, after missing the start as he so often does, Antino went woefully finishing over 11 lengths behind the winner, Tom Kitten. Jockey Jamie Melham told Stewards that the horse appeared to resent racing inside horses and failed to respond when put under pressure.

Melham added that she had advised connections that in her opinion Antino may now be better suited racing without the blinkers. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a laceration to the near fore fetlock and a clearance will be required prior to racing again.

But there’s no point racing again while Antino is in his current form. He is simply non-competitive. All the ‘experts’ have their opinions – one is that the horse never recovered from that gut-buster in the Turnbull. Another is that the reason he jumps slowly is that he is feeling some soreness which the vets can’t detect.

LGHR doesn’t pretend to have any veterinary advice and our suggestion probably won’t sit too well with the Gollan stable. But we think he should ‘bit the bullet’ and transfer the horse to his good mate, Ciaron Maher.

No reflection on Tony’s expertise as a trainer but a change of surroundings and a different approach might just do the trick.

The other option of course is to retire him – but that would be giving up, something that isn’t in the Gollan repertoire.

 

FUNERAL OF GOLD COAST BOOKIE NOEL SMITH

THE FUNERAL OF POPULAR GOLD COAST BOOKIE NOEL SMITH will be held tomorrow, MONDAY, MARCH 9, at 12.30 at SOMERVILLE FUNERALS, 129 NERANG-BORADBEACH ROAD to be followed by a WAKE. 

 

WHAT A MESS MINISTER MANDER – NOW WE’RE TOLD THE RQ ACTING CHAIRMAN FEELS 'ISOLATED' & HAS DECIDED TO RESIGN HER POST

IT seems that Racing Minister Tim Mander has managed to loose yet another high profile figure in Queensland Racing.

If the mail LGHR has received is right – and we’re sure it is – the highly respected acting Chairman of RQ, Jane Seawright, has (or will) resign today.

We have not spoken to Ms Seawright, who took over as chair after Steve Wilson bailed. But it is our understanding from those close to the lady that she feels isolated as the new wave prepares to take over the control body.

The LNP Government conducted an important Women In Sport event on Wednesday which unbelievably she was not invited to as Chairman of RQ.

Adding insult to injury Mary Collyer, who is close to the Minister and tipped to be on the new Board (maybe even Chairman) was invited along with Jodie Jones, the harness representative on the RQ Board.

Some of the blame for the ‘demise’ of Ms Seawright, an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer and governance advisor, has been placed at the feet of the RQ CEO Lachlan Murray who many stakeholders cannot believe is now odds-on to retain his position in the new look control body.

So who becomes the new Chairman of the RQ Board that was appointed by the Labor Government? It has taken Minister Mander 18 months to replace it but the body is now in its ‘death throes’.

That will probably be hand-passed to former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, the man who should be Chairman of the new Board or the thoroughbred representative on it, but unfortunately won’t be.

What an incredible situation the racing industry under Mander and the LNP is confronted with. Get rid of all the good people – or force them out – then replace those with a guy who was appointed to conduct a supposedly independent Review but many believe delivered just what the Minister wanted, not to mention the top job for himself.

And if we head back to the days reminiscent of when the two gentlemen racing stakeholders named the ‘two Dick’s’ then God help us. Then Racing Minister Steve Dixon made the ridiculous statement at the time that in 12 months the industry in Queensland would be ‘a furlong in front of Sydney and Melbourne’.

The less said about his RQ Chairman at the time (we're saving a special story for him if he bobs up on the new Board) then the LNP has learnt nothing when it comes to racing and it's just a matter of 'jobs for the boys'.

HAVE YOU THE SLIGHTEST IDEA WHAT DIRECTION THE RACING INDUSTRY SHOULD BE HEADING MR MANDER?

 

THE LNP HAS A PLAN TO ENSURE THE WORLD THAT QUEENSLAND IS THE HOME OF OZ SPORT - THIS TRIP TO VEGAS WAS NO 'JUNKET' 

RACING, Sport & Olympics Minister TIM MANDER has explained in Parliament how his recent visit to the States was not a junket solely associated with the opening of the National Rugby League season.

Tim wasn’t just there to rub shoulders with the man he admires most in ‘racing and rugby league’ Peter V’landys nor was it a chance to learn how much technology has changed since his days as a ‘whistle blower’.

Mander told State Parliament on Wednesday:

‘THERE is no doubt that Queensland is the home of Australian sport and last week I shared that message in the United States as part of our commitment to deliver the Games Queensland deserves in 2032.

Los Angeles is currently preparing for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as being the host city for this year’s FIFA World Cup.

In Los Angeles we did not just meet with executives; we went into the engine room of the 2028 Games. From the LA28 headquarters to the offices of Los Angeles city deputy mayors, our focus was razor sharp: logistics and legacy.

We are not interested in the vanity projects of the former Labor Government. We are learning how LA is utilising 50 venues to deliver a Games that is fiscally disciplined and community focused.

I also sat down with Aecom’s Executive Vice President, Bill Hanway, to discuss the technical blueprint for venue delivery.

At the G’day USA round table my message was clear: The world will be watching Queensland so come over and partner with us. Unlike those opposite, the Crisafulli Government has a plan to ensure that the world knows that Queensland is the home of Australian sport.

Queenslanders love all sport and the popularity of American football is continuing on an upward spiral, particularly with younger sports fans. At a meeting with the NFL Commissioner we had the first of what promises to be many discussions about growing the sport’s presence in Queensland. Who knows? Maybe one day we will host an NFL fixture.

When you build infrastructure such as a stadium that can seat 63,000 people, those are the types of events that you can attract.

I am particularly proud to tell the House that, after decades of absence, Australia House is coming back as a centre for Australian athletes, supporters and local Americans. We found the perfect stage by securing a footprint at Venice Beach.

We have created a permanent billboard for Queensland on the global stage. Venice Beach will be our launching pad to showcase our lifestyle, our trade and our 2032 vision to the world’s most influential market.

After 1,200 days of Games chaos and confusion under the former Labor Government, this Government is restoring Queensland’s global reputation.

 

WHAT A SHAME THE MINISTER COULDN’T SAY THE SAME ABOUT HORSE RACING IN QUEENSLAND - BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR 

SOUNDS really exciting, ‘Tim the Toolman’s’ Olympic dream has Queenslanders on the edge of their seats in anticipation. Pity we can't say the same about his plans for horse racing.

After 18 months in Government, racing in Queensland still has the same control body (minus those including the former Chairman) who have jumped ship.

We’ve had this wonderful supposedly independent Review conducted by an interloper from interstate with one of the Minister’s old school buddies as his main consultant when it came to the thoroughbreds.

The only good thing to emerge after months of waiting is the news that Mary Collyer, a former Brisbane Turf Club Chairman, is heavily-involved in processing the recommendations of the Review. Who knows Mary might even wind up being the Chairman of a newlook RQ?

That’s if there’s room for her after the Racing Minister finds enough spots for ‘mates of the LNP', one of whom is being strongly pushed by a Minister with a ‘racing flavor’ who should be more worried about how badly his portfolio is travelling.

Yes, if the mail from the coalface is correct, it’s going to be ‘jobs for the boys’ and a ‘return to the bad old days of policing racing in Queensland’ when Tim’s job is done.

Many stakeholders and punters believe the LNP Government plans to dismantle the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission is an insult to the McSporren Report which recommended its establishment after the embarrassing and disgusting live-baiting expose in the greyhound industry.

To ride on a platform of integrity and transparency in one hand then undo all the good work that McSporren did is an absolute insult mixed with more than a touch of hypocrisy when the Government and the Minister then say their plans for the industry are based on animal welfare and integrity etc.

Standby for a return to the 'bad' old days of Russ Hinze, the Fine Cotton ring-in, the caffeine crisis – all under the umbrella of an LNP Government.

You shoot the QRIC Commissioner and her Deputies, one of the best stewards in the world, out of a cannon and replace the latter with one of your old school buddies whose claim to fame was he drove at the ‘red hots’ and was member of a Stewards’ Panel which critics claim did next to nothing.

The Government couldn’t send a stronger message if they tried to every crook in the land when it comes to racing: Get ready to move to Queensland. If you think the current Chief Steward is bordering on ‘useless’, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

 

THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE – HAVE YOU SAY ON ALL THINGS RACING 

PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ROLES ON NEW CONTROL BODY - TIME FOR LNP TO BURY  'JOBS FOR THE BOYS'

IF racing in Queensland is to enjoy the ‘fresh start’ that the independent Review promised, stakeholders are calling on Racing Minister Tim Mander to give an assurance that previous Board members will be ineligible for appointment to the newlook Control Body.

Their concerns follow rumours emanating from the coalface that a long-serving Ministerial MP, with close ties to the racing industry, has been kicking up for a comeback by one of his ‘mates,’ a former Chairman whose Board was sacked.

Whilst there is no suggestion that the gentleman in question doesn’t have the right credentials, many stakeholders are adamant their needs to be new younger blood on the Board and not yesterday’s men with some skeletons in the closet who qualify under the LNP ‘jobs for the boys’ policy.

The Racing Minister has come under fire for what some in racing are describing as a ‘junket’ in Las Vegas last weekend for the rugby league season-opener. Critics are suggesting he was keen to rub shoulders with ‘racing and football guru’ Peter V’landys who they claims is having too much influence on what is likely to happen in the newlook Racing Queensland.

One assumes this applies to suggestions that Matt McGrath, who conducted the supposedly Independent Review, may even be Chairman of the new RQ Board despite being based in Sydney. If this occurs it will be seen as an insult to the many Queenslanders with as much, if not more racing background and knowledge, who would have been overlooked for the job.

 

URGENT STEPS NEEDED TO CORRECT GOLD COAST TRACK PROBLEMS

MANY trainers and jockeys are far from happy with the state of the Gold Coast track at present.

Clods can be seen flying at recent meetings on the relatively new track and the problem was accentuated last Saturday when Stewards reported that apprentice Leah Martyn needed ambulance attention after copping a big one in the face during the running of a race.

It was a HEAVY 8 track but there has been a problem at the Gold Coast for some time now. Clods are flying whether it is wet or dry. Perhaps the rocket-scientists at Racing Queensland should be investigating whether this is bordering on ‘dangerous’. (They tell us the acting CEO will get the gig full-time under the newlook Board. To say that is going over well with many in the industry would be the joke of the century).

Story goes efforts of the Track Manager to correct the problem are being frustrated by interference from the GCTC and RQ. This was the reason for a high profile curator returning to Sydney in the past.

With the Gold Coast to host the major Saturday meeting in Queensland on March 14 urgent action needs to be taken to ensure the high profile Jewel feature are destined to degenerate into another Racing Queensland joke (come on bike rider, do your job and kick a few bums to ensure this track is ready to go in 10 days time).

 

RACING CAN’T RELY ON WHAT WORKED 20 YEARS AGO – RACING QLD DOESN’T NEED CARETAKERS LOOKING FOR A FREE LUNCH, IT NEEDS DECISION-MAKERS PREPARED TO TAKE CALCULATED RISKS 

MATT NICHOLLS built a huge following in outback Queensland as Editor of the NORTH WEST WEEKLY. But, after shifting to a digital-only format in August 2025, the independent newspaper announced its final closure in early December 2025 due to unsustainable economic conditions.

Matt is far more than a fine journalist, communications and media specialist, he loves thoroughbred and harness racing and has been a great supporter of the gallops in the bush, especially north-west Queensland.

Like many others Matt is concerned about the direction racing in the Sunshine State is heading and has written this thought-provoking opinion piece which contains some excellent suggestions that Racing Minister Tim Mander and the newlook Racing Queensland Board should consider.

Here is the MATT NICHOLLS piece:

RIGHT from the start, I want to make one thing clear: I’m not someone who thinks racing is about to fall over tomorrow.

I’m not interested in cheap scare tactics or blaming activists, politicians or any one administrator.

But after spending most of the past two decades in Queensland – particularly in regional areas – I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about where we’re heading as a racing industry.

My concern is about demographics, habits and whether we’re prepared to adapt.

I often think about what’s happened to rugby union in Australia and how that could relate to racing.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Wallabies were the pride of the country. As world champions, they hosted that unforgettable 2003 World Cup final, famously decided by the boot of Jonny Wilkinson.
Back then, rugby union looked bulletproof.

Fast forward 20 years and the sport is fighting for relevance in Australia. That didn’t happen overnight. It happened slowly, while other sports moved quicker, were marketed better and connected more effectively with younger audiences.

Racing shouldn’t assume it’s immune from the same drift. The wagering landscape has changed more in the past 20 years than it did in the previous 50. Racing has always relied on turnover. That’s just reality. But the way people gamble now is completely different.

When I was growing up, you went to the races, the TAB, or you rang an operator to place a bet. Now you can do it in three seconds on your phone while sitting on the couch.

Sports betting has filled a space that racing once occupied. For younger punters in particular, the multi has become the new quadrella. Racing has adapted to that in some ways. The old “odds-on, look-on” mentality is gone. A $1.70 favourite is no longer poison; it’s an anchor leg. That’s a positive for racing in many ways, as short-priced pops no longer kill turnover.

But at the same time sports betting is the major competition for the gambling dollar and I don’t think we can pretend we’re winning that battle. We might be holding our ground in parts, but we’re certainly not dominating attention the way we once did.

Where I really start to worry is around accessibility and pathways. How does a kid in Nanango or Home Hill get involved in racing if they don’t already have family ties to it? How do they become a jockey, a trainer, a strapper, or a harness driver?

Do you now need to be born into it, or be financially secure before you even start?

Queensland’s geography makes it even harder. If you’re based in Cloncurry and dream of training at Eagle Farm one day, the gap feels enormous. It’s not just talent, it’s infrastructure, travel, staff, accommodation and capital.

In North Queensland plenty of trainers supplement their income outside racing because racing once or twice a week simply isn’t enough to sustain a business. The same goes for jockeys.

People criticise the lack of riders in the west or the rise of FIFO jockeys, but if you were a young hoop trying to make a living, would you base yourself somewhere that races twice a week, or somewhere where you can ride trackwork and get to four or five meetings within a couple of hours? These aren’t moral failings. They’re economic realities.

I also think we need to have an honest conversation about the amount of product we’re producing versus the quality of what we’re showcasing.

Queensland's Saturdays can feel overcrowded – Brisbane, Gold Coast, a regional meeting, Toowoomba at night – and in trying to service everything, we sometimes fail to elevate the best of what we have.

Most racing people know who Tony Gollan and Rob Heathcote are. They know leading jockeys like Angela Jones. But outside our own bubble, those names don’t carry the weight they probably should.
If we want racing to feel mainstream again, we need to put faces and personalities on a pedestal, not just fill race fields.

Then there’s the broader ecosystem.

I grew up loving harness racing. It’s been hard to watch its decline. Albion Park now stands alone as the only capital city harness venue on the eastern seaboard. Participants in that code have to accept some responsibility for where things sit, but we also can’t ignore the role harness and greyhounds play in the overall wagering cycle.

With multiple racing channels to feed, there is a constant need for content. What happens in the gaps between thoroughbred meetings? Harness and greyhounds keep punters engaged and keep screens alive.

If those codes weaken further, thoroughbred racing will feel it. At the same time, greyhound turnover might be strong, but crowds are thin.

Again, the question comes back to pathways. How does someone with no connection get involved? How do they become an owner or trainer without already being inside the tent?

Leadership matters here.

I’m not suggesting there’s a magic fix, and I don’t doubt that many people within Racing Queensland care deeply about the sport.

But I do think we need a Board and executive prepared to think beyond the next set of prizemoney announcements.

That means being willing to trial different time slots, rethink programming and genuinely engage with participants outside south-east Queensland.

For example, why couldn’t Mount Isa or Longreach become defined Friday afternoon TAB hubs for the North West and Central West? A six-race meeting leading into the weekend could create a wagering niche and tie in with pub trade after work.

Being so far west is an advantage when it comes to staging late afternoon meetings – something the south-east can't offer.

That’s not a silver bullet, but it’s the kind of thinking we need to at least explore.

If there’s one area where I think we need to be braver, it’s at the Board level.

Racing Queensland doesn’t need caretakers looking for a free lunch. It needs decision-makers who are prepared to take calculated risks and wear the criticism that comes with it.

You can’t future-proof an industry by trying not to upset anyone. At some point, you have to back your judgement – whether that’s reshaping the race calendar, trialling different wagering windows, consolidating meetings to strengthen quality, or investing in infrastructure outside the traditional comfort zones.

Doing nothing might feel safe in the short term, but it’s the riskiest strategy of all over 10 or 20 years.

The Board needs to be more visible and more connected to participants right across the State. Racing in Queensland is not just Eagle Farm and Doomben; it’s Cairns, Mackay, Bedourie and Thangool.

If you’re making decisions that affect those communities, you should be regularly hearing from them – not just through reports, but face to face.

Strong leadership isn’t about protecting the status quo; it’s about setting a clear direction, explaining it honestly and bringing people with you, even if the road there involves a few uncomfortable conversations.

One area that left me particularly flat was the recent Racing Queensland Review commissioned by Minister Tim Mander and led by Matthew McGrath.

On paper, it was an opportunity to reset the agenda and genuinely map out a long-term future for the industry, especially for regional and country racing. There was goodwill around it. People were prepared to engage.

But from what I saw – particularly during McGrath's brief visit to the west – it felt like a missed opportunity. The consultation appeared surface-level when it needed to be searching and, at times, uncomfortable.

Participants in places like Mount Isa and the Central West were hoping for hard questions and bold thinking. Instead, many walked away feeling as though the exercise skimmed over the structural challenges and avoided grappling with the deeper issues around sustainability, programming and governance.

Reviews should set direction and provide clarity. This one, in my view, stopped short of that.

At a time when racing needs decisive leadership and a clear roadmap, the industry was handed something that felt cautious and incremental, when what was really required was courage and vision.
As an industry, we also need to think long-term about revenue and infrastructure.

Whatever your view on Peter V'landys, he has shown through Racing NSW that diversifying income streams can help future-proof a code.

Queensland has to ask similar questions about land, assets and how we sustain ourselves beyond wagering growth. If we continue to drift, we'll eventually get lost.

The eventual demise of racing as we know and love it won't happen overnight. It'll happen bit by bit.

It’s losing one volunteer president in the bush and not replacing them. It’s one less trainer packing it in because they can't get a jockey. It’s fewer apprentices coming through because the pathway looks too hard.

Racing is more than a betting product. In places like Gregory, Blackall, Roma and Cooktown, it’s a social anchor and an economic contributor.

If that weakens too far, it won’t just be the industry that feels it.

I’m writing this because I care about the sport and the people in it. Racing in Queensland still has enormous strengths – passionate participants, strong carnivals, good infrastructure in parts – but it can’t just rely on what worked 20 years ago.

If we’re prepared to adapt, open the doors wider and make some brave decisions, there’s no reason we can’t have a thriving statewide industry in another 20 years.

If we’re not, we may look back and wonder when we missed the moment.