MOST stakeholders and the punting public are trying to come to terms with how Racing Minister Tim Mander has allowed the Queensland industry to lose one of the best stewards in the world. Of more concern are the reasons behind why Kelly quit at a time when the new LNP Government Review into Racing promised that any changes would not reflect on how the three codes are policed. Kelly has ‘walked’ because he disagrees with recommendations of the Review that will see the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission virtually abolished when its operation is transferred to Racing Queensland at a corporate

MATT NICHOLLS, whose short-lived stint as a columnist for LETSGOHORSERACING ends today, is so disenchanted with the state of play in the local industry heading forward that he has decided to move on. We thank him for his contribution and encourage RQ to head-hunt his talents. THE definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Hence, this will be my last racing column for the foreseeable future. Refreshed after a month-long journey around Europe, I write this from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris as I wait for my flight back to Brisbane.

THE same time that racing in Queensland was welcoming back Minister Tim Mander it has to say goodbye to the most experienced steward it could hope to have in Kim Kelly who today announced his resignation as Deputy Commissioner with the QRIC amid concerns the body will soon lose its independence. “My time with Queensland racing is done,” Kelly told LGHR. “I have concerns about the direction integrity is heading. It’s a coincidence that it coincides with the return of Tim Mander as Minister. “Under the new model planned following the Racing Review,  the regulatory body QRIC will have a

THE racing industry in Queensland is breathing a collective sigh of relief with the overnight news that Tim Mander has been reinstated as Racing Minister. Even those who were critical that the industry was not moving forward fast enough under the Mander implementation plans were concerned that it was going nowhere – in quicksand – under caretaker Minister Tim Powell. The good news from Premier David Crisafulli is that there will be no Cabinet reshuffle with Mander immediately back at his desk and resuming the enormous porfolio duties involved Olympics, Paralympics, Sport and Racing. The bottom line to this unfortunate

OUR regular SYDNEY contributor PETER MAIR fires from the hip when questioning how good it is for ROSEHILL GARDENS to have capacity fields plus emergencies this weekend. He writes: ‘RACING NSW has a promotion for tomorrow’s (Saturday) races on its website. A capacity field in the Black Type feature of the day at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday continues Sydney racing’s recent run of big numbers across the 10-race program. The …….Forklifts Winter Challenge sees 18 runners and an emergency clash on a card which has attracted 159 entries. Five of the 10 races have capacity fields plus emergencies – including

THE SYDNEY racing media prefers to focus on the positive stories – like the amazing success of trainer Chris Waller and jockey James Mcdonald, how more advanced the sport in NSW is to Victoria and the role that their CEO Peter V’landys played in establishing a long overdue National Tote. But when it comes to a negative story involving a battling racing community in the Northern Rivers, they neglect to write about a situation that has gone on for too long, needs addressing and threatens to destroy a once thriving centre. It was left to the COFFS COAST NEWS to