RACING INDUSTRY ON NOTICE AS MARTIN INQUIRY IMPLEMENTATION MOVES AHEAD 
THE Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (The Commission) is implementing the recommendations from the Martin Inquiry into Animal Cruelty in the Management of Retired Thoroughbred and Standardbred Horses in Queensland and racing participants are on notice to ensure they comply with their obligations.
In January this year Judge Terry Martin handed down his report and made recommendations in response to the October 2019 ABC 7:30 Report program ‘The Final Race’ which highlighted the large scale treatment of retired race horses as disposable commodities at the end of their racing careers.
One of Judge Martin’s findings was that poor industry compliance with requirements to notify control bodies of the retirement or death of racing horses undermines all attempts to calculate the number of racing horses retiring each year that require aftercare and the true destination of those horses.
Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said the Commission was tasked with committing more resources to the active enforcement of retirement notifications including the auditing of ‘high-risk’ categories such as racing horses that have been ‘spelling’ for more than 12 months and horses that are still registered but have not had a race start in the last 12 months.
“In response, and as a result of extra Government funding the Commission has dedicated two Integrity Investigations Team (IIT) staff members and an audit is underway to address the registered horses that fall into the above category,” he said.
“Results so far confirm a large number of Queensland horses have been inactive for an extended period and accordingly there is an unacceptable number of Queensland horse trainers that have failed to comply with their obligations under the rules of racing.”
The Commission’s enforcement approach to these notifications strives to enhance animal welfare outcomes and at the same time deliver a process that more accurately reflects the current racing stock domiciled on Queensland properties.
Commissioner Barnett said as part of the Commission’s enforcement activity to implement the Martin Inquiry recommendations, those trainers identified as non-compliant may be subject to further investigation.
“In an amnesty period, held late in 2019, while the Martin Inquiry was in session and during a follow up audit of non-compliant trainers, more than 150 Queensland trainers were identified as not having fulfilled their obligations,” he said.
“Ongoing enforcement activities will soon commence and may include stable inspections and stock audits.
“The Commission’s last resort is to hand out penalties, we would prefer that participants worked within the rules at all times.
“Our goal is to nurture voluntary compliance with the rules through education and engagement with the industry.
“However, noncompliance or a failure to submit the relevant notifications within the prescribed time frame will be subject to penalty.
“The Martin Inquiry IIT Stewards are authorised to issue formal stewards’ directions, fines, referrals for further investigation and to act against a participant’s licence,” Mr Barnett said.
The Commission is also planning a targeted education program commencing with reminding the racing industry about the importance of keeping accurate lifecycle records including retirement, deregistration and death notifications.
Further education will also be provided by the Martin Inquiry IIT Stewards during stable inspections.
The Commission will keep the industry updated as the Martin Inquiry recommendations implementation continues.
THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE from VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS:
LOOKING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL WITH ‘GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS’ 
FORGET about ‘Joe Public’ or the ‘Mum and Dad’ Punter, there was never a chance the Queensland border wouldn’t be open in plenty of time to meet the needs of the Magic Millions Carnival and Sales.
One of the country’s richest men, Gerry Harvey, who stands to gain most, has too much influence with either side of politics and you didn’t need a crystal ball to read between the lines when MM recently spoke to the media.
Managing director Barry Bowditch told FAIRFAX MEDIA earlier this week that the Gold Coast would be open for business in January and ready to welcome Victorians, subject to the Queensland Government's COVID restrictions.
January's Magic Millions yearling sales will showcase the biggest catalogue ever offered, Bowditch said, in an strong show of support from Australia's breeders, while the gates will be open for the two feature race days on the Gold Coast subject to restrictions.
"From a sales and race day perspective it's business as usual," Bowditch said. "Obviously we started with Ballarat [on Saturday] and we'll work our race series towards our huge race in January and all on that side of the game is looking really promising.
Unlike current restrictions in Victoria, race meetings in Queensland are open to the general public under capacity guidelines but Bowditch has his fingers crossed that those restrictions might further ease by January.
Of course they will, when it comes to the Government (of any persuasion) in Queensland, what Gerry wants, Gerry gets. And you can bet odds-on the Premier and her new Racing Minister will be there for all the big social and racing events like ‘pigs in the trough’ promoting how the Magic Millions is a major tourist drawcard and injects tens of millions into the state’s coffers when what they really mean is after ‘Genial Gerry’ takes his big slice.
And the mainstream media will go along for the ride promoting the event like no other and forgetting that it is the height of the tourist season on the glitter strip but overlooking all the other attractions that draw families and crediting the big bucks spent to a big race day and a sale of yearlings set up largely for the rich and famous.
‘HOUSE FULL’ SIGN FOR THE HUNTER & THE GONG IS ‘PIE IN THE SKY’ 
PETER V’LANDYS, the racing and rugby league genius from Sydney town, has been quick to praise the success of two new race days he was the architect of – the Hunter at Newcastle and Gong at Kembla Grange.
No-one questions the success stories of both that has taken the spotlight away from Sydney and onto the major centres of Newcastle and Wollongong.
But was V’landys drawing a long bow when forecasting: “You won’t be able to buy a ticket to get into these in 10 years’ time”.
V’landys told SKY SPORTS RADIO: “I have never seen queues trying to get into Kembla Grange like there were on Saturday and I have been going there for years”.
To be fair crowds were restricted to both The Hunter and The Gong meeting because of the pandemic but even in their inaugural year these meetings struggled to attract any more than 10,000 – so they will need an almighty crowd boost for the ‘house full’ sign to be posted in the next decade.
And as for the racing – the two million dollars races stood up – but the fields attracted for the support card, especially the one at Kembla Grange, was hardly up to Saturday standard.
So once again we have the situation where Racing NSW can continue to throw a truck-load of money at their feature races, when it comes to Carnival and feature race day crowds, Victoria will continue to blow their northern rival out of the water.
And let’s be honest – despite the urgings of the ‘spin doctors’ of the racing media in NSW, punters prefer to bet on Victoria racing – and that’s got a lot to do with how they feel about integrity of the product on the track.
ANOTHER NIGHTMARE FOR NASH AFTER ANOTHER FAVORITE BEATEN 
A veteran racing man from the GOLD COAST tried to have his say on the Nash Rawiller ride on Greek Hero at Kembla Grange on Saturday with punters.com but had his posted comments removed.
Here’s how he feels:
“People were commenting on Nash Rawiller – some calling for him to retire. Nash is a great rider but like many leading riders in Sydney can put in a ‘BAD’ one.
Stewards Van Gestel and Birch (don’t mention the war) arguably seem to lack the ability or desire to read a race.
James Macdonald got seven days for a ride that in times gone by would have incurred 12 months.
Maybe Nash will get eight days for his display on Greek Hero – about two years seems more appropriate.
By the way has he Sally Snow controversy conveniently disappeared to avoid another PR nightmare for the TAB and a further assault on their share price?”
‘WHY FOLLOW ‘FEATHER’S’ TIPS IF HE SEES THE NEED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE’? 
MY mates and I have been around racing for a long time but we struggle to understand how some high profile people in Queensland have been victims of a Punters’ Club scam.
According to The Sunday Mail former Brisbane Lord Mayors Graham Quirk and Jim Soorley, along with TV sports personality Pat Welsh, former Wallabies coash John Connolly; millionaire developer David Devine and race-caller David Fowler have had their betting account details stolen in an alleged multi-million dollar scam. The Punters’ Club worth $5 million roped in 150 investors.
Firstly, if The Sunday Mail was kind enough to reveal the identities of these supposed high profile ‘victims’ then they should have had the balls to name those behind the alleged scam.
Secondly, for years I have been following the racing tips of David Fowler on Radio TAB, believing he was a good judge (although in more recent years the winners have been few and far between). If Fowler has been looking elsewhere for tips, my mates and I feel duped and we will be writing a letter of concern to the TAB and Racing Radio TAB asking for an explanation.
WHICH SIDE TO SUPPORT IN THE ALLIGATOR BLOOD CAMP FALLOUT 
AS a long-time follower and lover of thoroughbred horse racing, deciding which side to support in the Alligator Blood fall-out came down to the lesser of two evils.
If it comes to a choice between trainer David Van Dyke and part-owner Allan Endresz, for me ‘Tricky Dicky’ wins hands-down.
Van Dyke has handled the situation with class – despite losing arguably the best horse he has ever trainer. On the other hand the situation was sunk into another controversial crap fight, courtesy of Endresz.
Alligator Blood should have a legion of fans but many have deserted the ship because of their dislike at the ‘poor loser’ attitude of Endresz who like Donald Trump doesn’t seem to be able to handle defeat.
Good luck to whoever takes over the training of Alligator Blood – and there are suggestions that several have already said ‘Thanks, but no thanks’. What’s the bet Chris Waller isn’t one of them?
EDITOR'S NOTE: It has actually been confirmed today that the Alligator is going to GAI WATERHOUSE & ADRIAN BOTT - so the circus goes on.
DON’T THINK ‘TOMMY TERRIFIC’ IS SOME ‘SUPER TIPSTER’ – HE’S NOT! 
LET’S not go painting little Tommy Terrific as some super tipster.
Waterhouse junior is far from that as anyone who can afford the outlandish subscription demanded would arguably testify.
Having seen his ‘tips’ for a period they are second rate. Tom trades on the Waterhouse name aided and abetted by the family’s friends in the racing media on the rare occasions he manages to select a well backed winner.
That’s when the ‘spin doctors’ label him a genius but forget to mention how subscribers to his tips are headed for the poor-house.
Saturday was a good example when he was credited with the mail behind the plonk on Goldsborough at the Sunshine Coast. That was another dud declared by Tommy Terrific.
Such was the gravity of his selections on Saturday that he offered clients a week free – hardly the actions of some genius when it comes to racing. Like the rest of us when it comes to finding the winners Waterhouse junior is a mere mortal.
The same can’t be said for his dad – but the mail he gets is closer to the mark for obvious reasons. It’s the old story when it comes to tipping winners: Those who tell don’t know and those who know don’t tell!
A SNEAK PREVIEW OF SOME CONTROVERSIAL PIECES BY ARCHIE
BITS & PIECES from ARCHIE BUTTERFLY of his subscriber only website peterprofit.com:
HUGE winds are swirling around the far north of Queensland in the wake of the decision by Chief Steward Clayton Warren to allow apprentice jockey Krysten Swaffer to take a 3kg claim as the replacement jockey on a horse 20 minutes prior to it winning Race 2 at Innisfail last Saturday.
Warren is being accused of snubbing his nose at QRIC’S own directives ignoring a brace of senior riders sitting in the room in hand-picking apprentice Swaffer to replace one of the region’s top jockeys who could not make the weight. The 3kg claim gave the horse a huge weight advantage which is not allowed under the Rules.
Did the bookmaking son of a prominent Cairns hotelier and fellow satchel swinger really stand the second placed hot favourite for plenty or are his protestations on social media about the matter just hot air?
Are the stewards going to call on the betting sheets to clarify the matter and is QRIC going to investigate how the minimum riding weight of Swaffer was allegedly altered overnight on the RQ data base?
- ARCHIE BUTTERFLY also reports on his website about an internal row brewing between QRIC stewards raising questions surrounding the death of a former colleague. We aren’t prepared to detail the circumstances but you can read all about it at peterprofit.com. It’s only $20 a month to subscribe to read what the mainstream racing media doesn’t report.
- AND another controversial story headed: Sex on the Creek – Why the Albion Park Harness Racing Club leaders should stand down or be Dismissed is a ‘must read’ for anyone who follows the ‘red hots’.
DON’T THINK ‘TOMMY TERRIFIC’ IS SOME ‘SUPER TIPSTER’ – HE’S NOT!
LET’S not go painting little Tommy Terrific as some super tipster.
Waterhouse junior is far from that as anyone who can afford the outlandish subscription demanded would arguably testify.
Having seen his ‘tips’ for a period they are second rate. Tom trades on the Waterhouse name aided and abetted by the family’s friends in the racing media on the rare occasions he manages to select a well backed winner.
That’s when the ‘spin doctors’ label him a genius but forget to mention how subscribers to his tips are headed for the poor-house.
Saturday was a good example when he was credited with the mail behind the plonk on Goldsborough at the Sunshine Coast. That was another dud declared by Tommy Terrific.
Such was the gravity of his selections on Saturday that he offered clients a week free – hardly the actions of some genius when it comes to racing. Like the rest of us when it comes to finding the winners Waterhouse junior is a mere mortal.
The same can’t be said for his dad – but the mail he gets is closer to the mark for obvious reasons. It’s the old story when it comes to tipping winners: Those who tell don’t know and those who know don’t tell!
A SNEAK PREVIEW OF SOME CONTROVERSIAL PIECES BY ARCHIE
BITS & PIECES from ARCHIE BUTTERFLY of his subscriber only website peterprofit.com:
HUGE winds are swirling around the far north of Queensland in the wake of the decision by Chief Steward Clayton Warren to allow apprentice jockey K Swiffer to take a 3kg claim as the replacement jockey on a horse 20 minutes prior to it winning Race 2 at Innisfail last Saturday.
Warren is being accused of snubbing his nose at QRIC’S own directives ignoring a brace of senior riders sitting in the room in hand-picking apprentice Swiffer to replace one of the region’s top jockeys who could not make the weight. The 3kg claim gave the horse a huge weight advantage which is not allowed under the Rules.
Did the bookmaking son of a prominent Cairns hotelier and fellow satchel swinger really stand the second placed hot favourite for plenty or are his protestations on social media about the matter just hot air?
Are the stewards going to call on the betting sheets to clarify the matter and is QRIC going to investigate how the minimum riding weight of Swiffer was allegedly changed that night on the RQ data base?
- ARCHIE BUTTERFLY also reports on his website about an internal row brewing between QRIC stewards raising questions surrounding the death of a former colleague. We aren’t prepared to detail the circumstances but you can read all about it at peterprofit.com. It’s only $20 a month to subscribe to read what the mainstream racing media doesn’t report.
- AND another controversial story headed: Sex on the Creek – Why the Albion Park Harness Racing Club leaders should stand down or be Dismissed is a ‘must read’ for anyone who follows the ‘red hots’.
TIME FOR AN EXPLANATION WHEN ALL 10 FAVORITES BITE THE DUST 
By GODFREY SMITH (Monday I have Friday on My Mind)
WHEN every favourite at a major meeting like Ballarat Cup Day bites the dust then stewards are entitled to conduct a post mortem over and above their normal duties.
How could the market framers, the punters and the expert form analysts get it so wrong – normally they don’t?
Corporate bookies, with their bags full to the brim, felt so sorry for the poor old punters that they were quick to offer all sorts of bonuses to help put something back in those empty accounts.
One innovation was a QUADDIE RESCUE. Those who got knocked out in the first leg on Ballarat Cup Day were offered their investment back in BONUS BETS.
It’s easy to say ‘that’s racing’ but normally it’s never that bad. But when ‘expert tipsters’ like Dean Lester and David Gately wind up with zero and only one winner from the 10 on-top selections something is horribly wrong.
So let’s take a look first at those favourites that were expected to win and the first was The Gauch in the Ballarat opener which was the best bet for many. It drifted from ‘red’ to ‘black’ odds and beat one home – the second favourite Rock Prophet.
STEWARDS’ REPORT: THE GAUCH pulled up LAME.
Trainer Cairon Maher told RSN Racing Radio on Saturday morning that WAHINE TOA (in the second) was his stable’s BEST of the DAY. It drifted from $2.5 to $3.1 and ran 4th. It had to be eased rounding the home turn but the effort was still disappointing.
SHELBY COBRA, shortest priced FAV of the day, drifted from $1.45 to $1.6 and ran last after an impressive win in Listed company at its previous start at Flemington.
STEWARDS’ REPORT: Jockey Mark Zahra reported the gelding may have come to the end of its preparation and trainer Mike Moroney said it would be spelled. That was little comfort for punters who took the shorts.
BETTER BLONDE was sent out favourite in the MM Clockwise 2YO Classic and went like a busted beating one home after easing from $3.8 to $4.6. Craig Williams said his mount was ‘disappointing’ – an understatement. STEWARDS ordered a vet certificate before it raced again because of lacerations to the off foreleg.
HI STRANGER $4 to $3.6 was beaten by EXCESS FUNDS in about the only race on the day where they ran to form. STEWARDS reported the FAVORITE was slow to begin.
LUNAKORN ran an easing $6 favourite in an OPEN race won by the $12 chance SNAPDANCER which had some followers. The mare got onto heels at the 600m and was shuffled back to near last before finishing on for 8th.
RIGHT YOU ARE drifted from odds-on to $2.2 and ran well below expectations when 8th in the McKellar mile which was won by the $20 shot SKIDDAW. Jockey Mark Zahra reported the gelding did not feel right in his action. Stewards will follow up with the Price-Kent jnr stable.
AFFAIR TO REMEMBER was regarded by some good judges as unlucky when 2nd to the $18 shot IRISH FLAME in the Cup. Stewards reported she struck some early trouble. IRISH FLAME raced wide without cover from a bad draw and continued his great winning run although some regard him more as a wet-tracker.
The final nail in the coffin lid for punters was the defeat of THE ASTROLOGIST in the last after drifting from ‘red’ to ‘black’ odds. He failed to run down the speedy SISSTAR. Rider Craig Williams told stewards that he was given no specific instructions and had decided to try to ride the gelding just off the speed with cover, keeping in mind that the horse was coming back in distance and with good speed. He added that the gelding balanced up a little further back than he anticipated but was content to be following Hawker Hurricane. It was a nice plan by ‘Willo’ but it didn’t work.
The only common denominator about the beaten favourites was that most drifted in price but after the incredible run they were having why wouldn’t bookies taken them on?
Punters’ luck wasn’t any better when the $1 million feature race THE GONG was run at Kembla Grange. It was won in an upset by the $18 chance ARCHEDEMUS which nailed DAWN PASSAGE on the line after the favourite arguably didn’t run out the mile as strongly as the winner.
The downside to the post mortem on The Gong was the mixed messages coming from Team Hawkes. The tip from the Melbourne arm of the stable pre-race was that stablemate Rock would be hard to beat after his Group 1 third in The Cantala at Flemington then the post-race declaration from the Sydney wing of the stable that Archedemus had been set for the race.
When asked by stewards about the disappointing performance of The Rock, rider Tom Berry said that in his view the horse raced flat. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Co-trainer Michael Hawkes agreed with Berry that the gelding raced flat and he undertook to report back in the days subsequent on the post-race condition and immediate race plans for Rock.
