QLD RACING DODGED BULLET WHEN JPL MISSED RACING PORTFOLIO

LEST WE FORGET – how lucky the racing industry in Queensland was to dodge a bullet had John Paul Langbroek fulfilled his dream of becoming Racing Minister in the new LNP Government.

Fortunately, the Premier and others deciding the portfolios listened to the concerns of stakeholders and well informed identities but made the mistake of making him Education Minister. Arguably his performance has shown he isn't fit to be in the Cabinet and to think he was once a step away from becoming alternate Premier.

JPLL's latest refusal to discuss serious concerns over sexual assaults at child care centres shows not only what a boofhead he is but why the Premier should immediately consign him to the scrap heap.

This isn’t the first time that Langbroek has shown he is arguably out of his depth with a Ministerial portfolio hot on the heels of his Naplan disaster which saw the Premier reprimand him.

Here are excerpts from a story in THE COURIER-MAIL concerning JPL’s latest public relations disaster for the new Government which must have his colleagues wondering what he was thinking:

CHILD protection warrior Hetty Johnston has called for urgent change at childcare centres amid a rise in child-on-child sexual assaults, as the Queensland Education Minister is bizarrely staying silent on the issue.

It comes as The Courier-Mail can reveal that a second father has been left traumatised by an alleged sexual assault on his daughter at a Queensland childcare centre.

The revelation from the father of a four-year-old girl comes just one week after another dad told how his four-year-old son was left with an anal tear after an alleged assault by another four-year-old at a different centre.

Both distraught fathers claim their lives have been up-ended by the events, but they were cut off by the childcare centres involved and offered no support or transparency.

MINISTER HAD EVERY CHANCE TO RESPOND

NO COMMENT:  Emails between The Saturday Courier-Mail and Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek’s office showing our repeated attempts to get the minister to comment on reports of rising child-on-child sexual assaults

Q Would the Minister encourage all childcare staff to be transparent with parents over such serious allegations rather than cut contact? Parents are left at a dead end with no resolution as police cannot act with such young children.

Q What is the Minister’s reaction to these disturbing allegations within childcare centres?

A The Minister has politely declined the opportunity to comment.

Q ... On what we discussed on the phone about Hetty Johnston’s call for more training in this matter for childcare staff who are ill-equipped to deal with it, just checking will we still go with the response you sent?

A My email response on behalf of the Minister yesterday afternoon still stands. 

When Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek was asked for his reaction to the alleged assaults involving young children and the need for more transparency and support from centre staff, he “politely declined” to comment.

When The Courier-Mail made the minister aware of Ms Johnston’s calls for action, Mr Langbroek reiterated his original response.

Imagine what would have occurred if Langbroek – with some of his industry advisors – had got control of the Racing Portfolio. Queensland racing would have inherited the worst Racing Minister in its history and we have had some doozies. Wherever JPL winds up, he should have nothing to do with any code of racing – even if he continues to kick up for his mates at the Gold Coast Turf Club.

When the Premier eventually gets around to dumping this drongo, he should be relegated to the back bench or do the state a favour by taking an early retirement instead of continuing the suck on the public teat.

All those involved in the Queensland racing industry should be thankful we have a new Racing Minister like Tim Mander who at least answers questions when the going gets tough and has the interests of all stakeholders at heart.

 

ENJOY ANZAC DAY BUT SPARE A THOUGHT FOR THOSE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR US TO ENJOY A LIFE WE TAKE FOR GRANTED 

ANZAC DAY needs to be celebrated more than just another public holiday. Whatever you are doing – be it spending time with family and friends, enjoying sport (watching or with your kids playing) or having a punt – spare a thought for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. Life is tough these days but the freedom we still enjoy would not have been possible without them.      

LGHR lights a candle at dawn on this special day remembering my dad who served in New Guinea during the Second World War. As he grew older he would sit and watch the march each year on TV and comment 'there's not many of them left now.'

Eventually there weren't enough for his annual Battalion Reunion to continue at Kedron-Wavell Services Club. That was the one day each year he would really let his hair down. 

Dad refused to talk about the War but there was nothing he loved more than a cold beer and a bet. So that's what I'll be doing for him on this special occasion - my annual ritual. But there isn't a day I wish he was still here.

 

RACING ROYALTY LAUNCH BROADSIDE AGAINST PETER V’LANDY’S LEADERSHIP IN NSW

SOME of the biggest names in Australian racing have penned a scathing letter about Racing NSW under the leadership of Peter V’landys, claiming there has been an ‘erosion of trust’ that threatens the future of the sport.

The AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW reports that the letter was sent to the NSW Racing and Gaming Minister, David Harris, who has begun a Review of the State’s Thoroughbred Racing Act that dictates the scope of Racing NSW and the powers it gives V’landys as Chief Executive.

Racing Hall of Fame inductee Gai Waterhouse, trainer of champion racehorse Winx, Chris Waller and Vin Cox, former chief of the Godolphin thoroughbred stable, are among the group calling for the Government to expedite the Review, and make sure it is ‘fully independent’ from Racing NSW.

“The future of racing cannot be built on fractured trust, opaque decision-making, or resistance to scrutiny,” reads the letter sent last week, seen by The Australian Financial Review. “We believe in the power of this industry to evolve and thrive – but only if the structures that govern it are reset with integrity, transparency, and fairness.”

The letter does not mention V’landys by name, and stresses “this is not about politics or personalities”. However, its criticisms are aimed squarely at Racing NSW’s governance. It cites the findings of the bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into the proposal to sell the Rosehill racecourse in western Sydney.

“[The inquiry] revealed an erosion of trust in the governance structures currently in place,” the letter claimed. “[And] a growing divide between the controlling body and those it exists to represent and serve.”

In 2023 the Australian Turf Club signed a memorandum of understanding with the NSW Government to buy the racecourse for more than $5 billion. The proposal is the centrepiece housing policy of NSW Premier Chris Minns, who wants to build 25,000 new homes on the site, less than 30 minutes’ drive from the CBD.

A spokesman for Racing NSW described the statements in the letter as “beat-ups and exaggerations” made by people against the sale of Rosehill “driving this agenda”.

“It is a shame that they have to resort to these sorts of measures,” he said. “Throughout the entire Rosehill inquiry there was not one piece of credible evidence presented that would stand up to any sort of scrutiny.”

Last year, the Rosehill inquiry received testimony from whistleblowers and anonymous allegations of illegality in the industry, leading the committee to recommend a separate inquiry into Racing NSW and review of the racing legislation.

On Monday, the Racing NSW spokesman said that the “grievances from participants” in the inquiry were made by people “dishonest or guilty of animal cruelty and who cannot get back into the industry”.

“Unfortunately, this group now look to weaponise the media to continue their attacks.”

V’landys has been CEO of Racing NSW for two decades, and he is also chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission. The dual role makes him one of the most influential figures in sport, with friends across media and politics, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and News Corp chief Lachlan Murdoch.

Under V’landys’ leadership of Racing NSW, the regulator has evolved into a sprawling commercial operator with immense financial resources.

Racing NSW made $28.8 million in revenue in 2004, V’landys’ first year as CEO. Last year, the body’s revenue totalled $417 million, driven by wagering fees that V’landys negotiated as part of the deregulation of the country’s gambling industry. Prizemoney for races in NSW has rocketed, including for The Everest, the annual sprint race conceived by V’landys with winners splitting $20 million.

But V’landys is facing growing resistance from some of racing’s most high-profile figures amid public clashes over governance matters, criticism over how Racing NSW funds the industry, and the proposal to sell the racecourse to the state government.

Waterhouse, who has emerged as one of the group’s leading voices, has been publicly critical of the leadership of Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club, which owns Rosehill.

Waterhouse and her husband, the veteran bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse, signed the letter to the State Government, along with Ron Finemore and John Cornish, both former chairmen of the Australian Jockey Club (later amalgamated into the Australian Turf Club), fellow trainers John O’Shea and Gary Portelli, Antony Thompson from the thoroughbred marketing body Aushorse, and Bob Charley, who was inaugural chairman of the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Board, which later became Racing NSW.

Also among the names is Waller, the elite trainer of world champion sprinter Nature Strip and mare Winx, which won a world record 25 races at Group 1 level. Waller has been a friend and long-time admirer of V’landys, but the pair’s relationship has been strained because the trainer has his stables headquartered at Rosehill

On Monday, Waller told the Financial Review that V’landys was the “greatest administrator we’ve ever seen in racing” and that his criticism of governance structures in the industry centred around how Racing NSW funds the industry and the Rosehill proposal.

Other signatories include horse breeders such as Cox, Craig Rounsefell from the Australian Federation of Bloodstock Agents, Scott Darby from Darby Bloodstock, Harry and Arthur Mitchell from Yarraman Park Stud, Brian Nutt at Attunga Stud and Ollie Tait from Twin Hills Stud. Julia Ritchie, the former vice-chair of the Australian Turf Club, who is leading the Save Rosehill campaign, has also signed the letter.

The proposal to sell Rosehill will be voted on by the ATC’s 11,000 members at a meeting next month.

CALL ON MINISTER TO FAST-TRACK REVIEW OF RACING IN NSW

REGULAR contributor PETER MAIR of SYDNEY has called for the Racing Minister to fast-track the REVIEW of the RACING INDUSTRY in NSW:

‘IT is time to talk turkey about the review of the NSW racing industry as well as Australian racing more generally.

At some point political politeness has to give way to political reality.

One political reality is that, across the states,  ministers holding the racing portfolio tend to see their role as promotional and protective -- more as a minister-for-racing as distinct from the industry regulator as the racing minister.

As such there is not much point in asking a minister-for-racing to be the regulator of the racing industry. [That said, a minister personally aspiring to properly regulate the racing industry would be given short shrift -- as one NSW minister was some time back after thinking aloud outside his stable box.]

So those hoping to see some resolve and commitment about a review of racing industry policy in NSW might better put their concerns before the Premier and the Treasurer.

Anticipating this situation the attached letter was sent to the Premier and the Treasurer in January -- well ahead of the March 6 deadline for the government to respond to the report of a parliamentary inquiry.

There was no response bar the eventual dismissal via brief comment in March that the minister himself would review the racing legislation -- the suggestion that the treasury and premiers department take command of the process apparently fell on deaf ears.

.......... don't you believe it -- whatever happens (or not) will be decided at the top.’

THE LETTER that PETER MAIR refers to:

Dear Premier Minns & Treasurer Mookhey

REVIEWING RACING IN NSW

The Australian racing industry is disproportionately large and overdue for reform.

The present consensus on the business and funding model for the racing industry is  only exacerbating the problem. The problem will get bigger ahead of a tipping point and a shakeout that could be especially disruptive in rural areas.

Considering the government's comfortable majority, the opportunity is open to recognise the problem in some detail, to begin reining back the automatic funding entitlements at its heart and to put ongoing fiscal disciplines in place.

A convenient catalyst for the funding reforms is the drop-off in wagering turnover and the lower tax-take entitlements flowing to racing. There are risks in any delay. Letting the industry cut its cloth to fit might expose the problem soon enough. This would risk political pressure for a government bail-out with higher betting-taxes and entitlements. This risk could be compounded if, in the meantime an industry hoping to ride out the funding shortfall, digs the hole deeper.

Alarm bells should be ringing in the parliamentary corridors when this industry is looking to sell capital assets to cover prospective shortfalls of current revenue – to fund 'what?'. For standout nonsense it is hard to beat the plan for an already bloated NSW racing industry to  misuse the earnings from a trust fund of $-billions. Misused to prop-up an excess of rural racing that, already being run at a dead loss, has no commercial merit.

Issues canvassed in the attachment are not the stuff of idle chatter. Reforming racing in NSW will not be an easy political ride. Responsibility for both the review of racing in NSW, and the reforms, will sit most sensibly with the departments of the Premier and the Treasurer.

To conclude. At one level, needed reform is about public money being wasted funding racing that has no commercial merit. Beyond that,  flow-on corruption is now institutionalised in the administration of racing, albeit without anyone involved doing anything at their discretion that is beyond their brief.

It is the system now entrenched that is corrupt. It is broken. It needs to be fixed.

PS:  Do not read the foregoing to be against racing. Not so at all -- 'racing' is the writer's primary relaxation – has been since the mid-60s.

 

IT’S A LONGSHOT BUT IS THERE A CONTINGENCY PLAN TO MOVE THE  HOLLINDALE TO SUNNY COAST? WOULD PLEASE BIG NAME TRAINERS 

IS there a contingency plan to move the Hollindale Stakes Day – regarded as the launch pad of the Winter Carnival in Queensland – from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast.

It’s no secret that many trainers – including some from interstate are still far from happy at the racing surface on the new multi-million dollar track on the ‘glitter strip’.

LGHR regards the chances of it being moved 100-1 but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Champion Queensland trainer Tony Gollan, who has a stable on the Gold Coast, made no secret of his thoughts when interviewed by Steve Hewlett on Racing TAB this week.

Talking about one of his stars, Antino heading to the Hollindale at the Gold Coast on May 10, Gollan conceded he would rather see the race run at the Sunshine Coast. He admitted some horses that should go to the Carnival opener would dodge it because of the way the new track was currently playing.

‘You know the track is going to be unreal down there in time. But it’s still just unsettled, very similar to what we had here in Brisbane for some period.’

That poses the question: IF the new Gold Coast track isn’t up to Carnival standard should Racing Queensland risk adverse publicity or take the safer option and move the Hollindale meeting to the Sunshine Coast?’

NO doubt this story will cop retaliation from GCTC officials who seem to get a burr in their saddles when LGHR mentions their precious new track.

We don’t believe this Carnival opener will be moved but the reality is  RQ will be walking a tightrope hoping it plays fairly which for ours is a ‘long-shot’ if recent meetings are any guide.

HOOFNOTE: RQ has confirmed that a back-up meetting has been programmed for the GOLD COAST on SATURDAY in the event the one planned for the TURF course is unable to proceed. That track is currently a SOFT 5. Is that 'smart thinking' or 'worrying signs'?

 

GOLLAN CERTAINLY NO FAN OF GOOD FRIDAY RACING BUT IT’S NOT UP TO HIM!

STEVE HEWLETT on RADIO TAB has also been canvassing the issue of Good Friday racing in Queensland which is going to happen sooner or later if the Sunshine State wants to keep pace.

Trainer Tony Gollan was strongly opposed to the proposition which is fine. He doesn’t have to start his horses there if he feels staff need a day off.

“I’m not a fan of it,” Gollan told Hewlett. “But I mean, each to their own. I think racing people don’t get a lot of time to spend with family and friends throughout the major holidays as it is, just the way that the nature of the industry is.

‘So I couldn’t care if we never raced on Good Friday and I certainly couldn’t care if we never raced on Christmas Day. That my personal opinion. I couldn’t care now many people were at the races in Western Australia on Good Friday.’

GOOD FRIDAY RACING has proved a major success in WA and Victoria where charities benefit big time from these meetings.

Innovation has been lacking for too long in Queensland racing – perhaps this would be an ideal timeslot for the King of the Mountain or The Archer, which is to be run on Sunday week (where Gollan has the early favorite) after being saved from the scrap heap this year.

 

NOW THEY CAN’T RUN STAWELL CUP AT ANOTHER DATE BECAUSE OF THE TRACK WHICH HAS TO BE REPAIRED

RACING VICTORIA has been apologetic and given assurances that steps will be taken to ensure there is no repeat of Sunday’s Stawell Gold Cup fiasco but have failed to find a new date for the main meeting of the year. They say it won't be run this year which is not good enough.

That’s extremely disappointing but the horse has bolted from the day it is traditionally run in conjunction with the Stawell Gift foot race and a question mark hangs over when the track will be fit enough to race on again.

What needs to be investigated is how the meeting was allowed to proceed when there were questions raised about its safety up to a fortnight before and a set of trials were abandoned there the previous week.

How Stewards allowed the meeting to proceed then jockeys had to declare it unsafe an hour before the first is a major embarrassment for racing in Victoria. Aerating of the track the day before sounds like a ‘Hail Mary’ solution to a problem that should have been addressed. Heads should roll but they won't.

New race days procedures have been promised to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Compensation of $550 per horse that failed to get a run on Cup Day has been agreed to by the Australian Trainers’ Association.

On the plus side, the nation’s newest athletics sensation Gout Gout fulfilled his promise to be trackside despite the abandonment of the meeting. That thrilled a legion of young kids and some big ones as well who got to meet him.

As one contributor wrote, very much tongue-in-cheek:

‘Matt Stewart was obviously overwhelmed by the presence of greatness in his interview on racing.com. It took him that long to free Gout Gout from an extended handshake that we wouldn’t be surprised if the ‘superstar’ was last seen running down the track and out the gate back to the Stawell Gift venue at lightning speed.’

 

WOMEN IN RACING PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE BUT TOO MANY ‘POMS’ ON TV COVERAGE?

LGHR was reluctant to comment on this topic knowing how important the role of women in racing is but the emails continue to arrive.

Here is an example and we don’t necessarily agree with some of the thoughts expressed:

BARRY J of MELBOURNE writes:

‘MY mates and I have had a gutful of these ‘Pommy’ women hosts on both racing.com and SKY broadcasts.

We can’t cop Lizzy Jelfs, whose star continues to rise with her involvement now with the Seven Network (it’s a toss-up who's the worse though listening to her and Jason Richardson who should stick to athletics and football).

What an embarrassment for one of the great broadcasters, Bruce McAvaney, having to work alongside this pair with his unquestionable knowledge and background in horse racing.

It seems every time we tune to SKY and now racing.com, we have a host or interviewer (a woman) speaking with a ‘plum’ in her mouth.

We have nothing against women in racing but how about more of the Aussie girls who we don’t struggle to understand. Kate Watts and Ally Mosley are two perfect examples of who the punters want.

Just imagine the guys in the local watching the races on a Friday night and on comes some ‘Pommy’ sheila hosting the show or doing the trackside interviews.

Instead of a six pack and sausage rolls the boys feel more like they should be enjoying English Tea and cucumber sangers’.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I hope you’re not including Francesca Cumani, who we adore as a racing presenter, in your list. If so any future contributions are banned.  

 

 

BIG BEN UPSTAGING BETTER RIDING HALF SINCE THEY TIED THE KNOT? 

HAS Ben Melham stolen the riding honours from his new wife Jamie Kah since they were married?

It might sound like a silly question but since Melham returned to his best, Kah (now riding under her hubbie’s name) has arguably struggled to match his results.

On the season’s tally, Jamie had a big lead over Ben before their nuptials but he is quickly closing the gap. Mrs Melham now has 38 wins from 256 rides for the season while Mr Melham has 35 wins from 209 rides. Their combined prizemoney earnings are in excess of $15mn (those percentages should pay a few bills).

While Jamie has ridden two from her last 17 rides, Ben has netted six winners from his last 16. His tally was boosted with a double at Mornington on Saturday which included South Australian Oaks-bound filly Movin Out in the Guineas and the heavily-backed Vestas for the Clinton Macdonald stable.

Jamie ventured to Day Three of The Championships at Randwick where she won the Group 3 Hallmark Stakes on the Joe Pride-trained Mazu. Both she and Ben will no doubt head to her hometown on Adelaide for the big up-coming carnival races.

 

SHOULD ‘RAZOR’ BE EMPLOYED AS WALLER STABLE ‘SPIN DOCTOR’?

IT was one of those rare days in Sydney on Saturday when the Chris Waller stable didn’t saddle up a feature winner but that didn’t stop Telegraph Turf Editor Ray Thomas from finding a reason to write yet another story on the Hall of Famer.

The Thomas spin-doctoring wasn’t missed by some of his critics in the punting brigade prompting one to write: “Rather than focus on the great wins of Jimmysstar in the All Aged and Nepotism in the Champagne, Razor wasted no time reminding us that Waller prepared seven Group 1 winners during the Autumn carnival and next weekend is poised to set a new all-time record for most Group 1 wins in a season. Great effort but how about devoting some space to his successful carnival rivals?

If you keep heading down this track Razor, there will be little room for both you and big Richie where the Waller sun doesn’t shine!’

 

GOLLAN & SKY COP A BACKHANDER FROM THE PUNTING FRATERNITY 

CHAMPION trainer Tony Gollan dominated in the Winter Carnival appetiser at Eagle Farm on Saturday but that drew flak from some of his punting critics and for the SKY Channel Coverage.

One keen follower of Queensland racing wrote: ‘So Gollan wins another feature race and Bernadette Cooper burns rubber to interview the trainer with whom she has had an association ownership-wise.

What about the great effort of Michael Nolan in producing Exotique Miss for a comeback win? Why didn’t he rate an interview?

(EDITOR’S NOTE: It was probably because timing of interstate races restricted Brisbane to interviews for only the feature races which is not good enough but you can’t blame Bernie for that. SKY will continue their second rate treatment of Queensland coverage while local officialdom is not prepared to offend PVL).

And this backhander for GOLLAN from a well-known punter who wants to remain nameless:

‘YOUR website continually bashes Chris Waller when he has multiple runners and one barring the favourite wins. How about focussing on Gollan in Queensland where it is happening all the time and the stewards don’t even see the need to question disappointing runs or form reversals?

Take Saturday at Eagle Farm for example. Gollan saddled up almost half the field (five runners) in the Listed Ascot Handicap – hardly a healthy situation leading into the Carnival. Few would argue that Zarastro had a class edge on his rivals but he blew like a gale and ran accordingly first-up. The race was won by stablemate King Kapa which had a fitness edge and they didn’t forget to back. When Zarastro comes out and wins next start they will say it needed the run when resuming.(EDITOR’S NOTE: To be fair ZARASTRO had won one of seven 1^st-up before Saturday but four minor placings which did include a close second in the Bribie at his previous fresh run).

It would be nice to know if Stewards actually spoke to Gollan about the somewhat plain effort of Zarastro, whether there was a reason for it and if that was the reason for the drift in the betting. Sadly, as of Easter Monday night, Josh Adams and his crew had still not posted a report. Punters probably had better luck with the Easter Bunny arriving. Yet the panel at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday managed to file theirs. What’s going on?’

 

BOUQUETS TO SYDNEY STEWARDS FOR FIRING SHOTS ACROSS BOW

THE SYDNEY stewards were on the ball on Day Three of The Championships questioning the change of riding tactics on a well-backed favourite and the riding tactics on another. Here are their reports:

SWIFTFALCON (beaten favorite in the Frank Packer Plate:

When questioned regarding Swiftfalcon settling in a forward position, Tyler Schiller stated that he was not issued any specific instructions, although it was anticipated that Swiftfalcon, which was stepping back up to 2000m, might be able to obtain a position round midfield from barrier 5. He said that he anticipated the pace would develop from the three runners drawn to his outside and he felt there may have been an opportunity to cross the runners to his inside to obtain a more-prominent position. He said, however, when the inside runners held their positions in the early stages, he decided to press on to cross Sigiriya Rock and those runners to its inside rather than restrain to settle back in the field. He said he was able to cross Sigiriya Rock and Firm Agreement after passing the 1600m where Swiftfalcon travelled comfortably. Schiller advised further that he felt the horse’s finishing effort was disappointing, which indicated to him that Swiftfalcon may have come to the end of its current preparation. Co-trainer Mr W. Hawkes confirmed that Schiller had not been issued any specific instructions to be positioned near the lead, although the stable had hoped that Swiftfalcon could obtain a more-forward position than it did at its last start near midfield. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.

AND the run of EXCELLADUS in the FIFTH:

WHEN questioned regarding his riding in the home straight, Nash Rawiller advised that his instructions were to ride Excelladus, which was resuming, from back in the field, given that the gelding had drawn a wide barrier and 1200m is short of its best distance. He said that when the pace quickened from the 500m Excelladus was left flatfooted and not able to immediately make ground until after straightening where he commenced to ride the gelding along. He said that he allowed the horse to build momentum, with Excelladus commencing to close off well and approaching the 200m he identified an opportunity to improve to the inside of Countyourblessings. He said, however, that after commencing to ride his mount along and before being able to establish this run, Excelladus commenced to lay out, which prompted him then to shift to the outside of the heels of Countyourblessings. He said that with Excelladus continuing to lay out and proving difficult to ride, he allowed the gelding to drift out further but was unable to obtain completely clear running and, as a consequence, the horse was not able to be ridden out to the finish of the race. Rawiller was advised that Stewards accepted the horse’s racing manners had compromised his ability to fully test Excelladus over the final 200m. However, he was advised further that the manner in which he had ridden the horse in the early part of the home straight had come under notice and in future he must ensure he tests his mounts so that his riding is not open to query. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.

     

RACING VICTORIA IN DAMAGE CONTROL OVER STAWELL CUP FIASCO 

RACING VICTORIA is in damage control after the controversial postponement of their signature Easter Sunday meeting featuring the Stawell Gold Cup.

Questions that stakeholders want answered are:

WHY was a decision taken to aerate the track on the Friday before the club’s biggest race day of the year?

WHY was it left to jockeys to raise concerns about track safety at the 11^th hour and did the stewards have no idea there was a problem after inspecting the track earlier?

WILL Racing Victoria reprogram this important Cup fixture despite the fact that it is annually programmed to coincide with the Stawell Gift foot race?

WILL heads roll over this embarrassment - someone has to take the blame - the Track Ranger or the Chief Steward?

Stewards responsible for Stawell Gold Cup Day have blamed the problem on aerating of the track on the Friday.

They say this loosened up some sections of the surface where riders on inspection didn’t feel it was safe. Stewards accepted their assessment and postponed the meeting.

Safety is paramount in racing but questions are being raised whether this should have ever occurred.

Is there not a situation in place where RV have ‘track experts’ examine surfaces before race meetings. It should never have come down to the jockeys making the ‘call’ at the 11^th hour.

Full marks to Australia’s newest star sprinter Gout Gout for committing to his promise to be at the track for the big day despite the postponement. He didn’t disappoint hundreds of kids who were there to meet and greet him.

Country Racing Victoria is one of the best run organizations in Australia under the leadership of Scott Whiteman. One can only imagine his reaction to this balls-up but it was out of Scott’s control.

 

LIKE GOOD FRIDAY RACING OR NOT – THE POSITIVE IS SUPPORT IT PROVIDES & FUNDS RAISED FOR ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL APPEAL

ALTHOUGH feelings are still mixed on whether there should be racing on Good Friday, the need to compete for the leisure dollar has become more accepted by the punting and general sporting public.

With other major sports having no problem programming on this special day, racing really had little choice. Add to that the charity value of the meeting in Victoria and it’s hard to knock.

We are not a fan of corporate bookies – in fact we believe racing in Australia would be better without them – but this is one occasion we have to give two of these big gambling companies - bet365 & Ladbrokes – a rap.

ECHUCA will host the feature Good Friday meeting in Victoria this year with the fourth running of the $500,000 Country Discovery, a spectacular celebration of racing, family fun and community spirit.

In true Good Friday spirit, $5 from every admission ticket will go directly to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. And to make it even more meaningful, the Moama Bowling Club will match every dollar raised.

The racing community has worked hard to support the Victorian Good Friday Appeal, with Ladbrokes committing to a major contribution at tomorrow night’s dual-code meeting at Cranbourne.

In a symbolic gesture, the topweight in each of the eight thoroughbred races will carry the colours of the Good Friday Appeal. For every topweight that wins, Ladbrokes will donate $2,000 to the charity, with a minimum guaranteed contribution of $10,000.

Andrew Hannan, Executive Director at Entain (parent company of Ladbrokes), said the initiative is about giving back.

“The Good Friday Appeal holds a special place in the hearts of Victorians,” Hannan told Racing.com. “We’re thrilled to partner with Southside Racing to support such a meaningful cause.”

“The work done by the Appeal provides vital support for those who need it most, and racing is once again showing its power to make a difference.”

In addition to Ladbrokes’ pledge, Southside Racing and local trainers are doing their part. Trainers of locally-prepared winners will donate $250 each, and Southside Racing will add $750 more per local victory.

Racegoers will also be contributing simply by attending—$5 from every adult general admission ticket will be donated to the Appeal. For those buying tickets online, a complimentary drink voucher is also included.

Southside Racing Chairman Sean Clarkson praised the industry’s unified support.

“It’s fantastic to see local trainers getting behind the cause,” he said. “It shows how united the racing community can be when it comes to helping others.”

“Ladbrokes continues to lead by example, and we’re incredibly grateful for their consistent support of this special race meeting.”

The funds raised will benefit the Royal Children’s Hospital, a cornerstone of the Good Friday Appeal’s efforts to provide life-changing care to children and families across Victoria.

EDITOR'S NOTE: STEVE HEWLETT on Racing Radio TAB asked the question this morning that many stakeholders and punters want answered: 'WHEN is Queensland going to schedule a Good Friday meeting - one at night on the Gold Coast would be perfect'?  

TO ALL OUR CONTRIBUTORS & READERS OF LETSGOHORSERACING HAVING A HAPPY, HOLY, SAFE AND ENJOYABLE EASTER.

 

DOES PETER V’LANDYS HAVE 'UNHEALTHY’ CONTROL OF THE MEDIA?

REINS OF POWER, an episode of Media Watch, claims that Peter V’landys, one of the most powerful sports administrators in the country, has an unhealthy ‘control’ over leading sports broadcasters and major newspapers.

At the centre of the latest controversy are two strong-willed, no-nonsense ladies – the Queen of the Australian Turf, Gai Waterhouse and the most courageous investigative journalist in the land, Kate McClymont, of the Sydney Morning Herald.

Both claim they have been victims of censorship – Gai in an interview with SKY Channel and McClymont leading up to publication of a story she wrote only to discover at the 11th hour that criticism of Racing NSW and Peter V’landys had been removed. Her subsequent News Room fracas with the Editor of the SMH saw these sections reinstated in the story.

McClymont was reporting on why a highly-publicised SKY Channel interview by Daily Telegraph Racing Editor Ray Thomas was pulled from its original broadcast timeslot. Waterhouse believes this was linked to criticism she made of the sale of Rosehill.

The bloodhounds from the SMH, headed by McClymont – arguably the only Sydney-based journalist in the past decade prepared to question the alleged control Peter V’landys has over the media – went into battle.

Eventually the SKY interview was broadcast two weeks later than planned with Waterhouse claiming it had been stripped of any criticism of Racing NSW or PVL. Both those parties denied any involvement. Gai said she was least surprised by the ‘censorship.’

SMH INTERVENTION & KATE'S SHIRT-FRONT WITH THE EDITOR

HERE are excerpts from various stories run on the issue so you can the judge, the first by Kate McClymont and colleagues in the SMH:

AT Tuesday’s barrier draw for the Golden Slipper, one of Sydney’s premier horse races, the hot topic wasn’t the horses. Instead, the racing industry was abuzz as to why the heavily promoted interview with trainer Gai Waterhouse, the undisputed queen of the Slipper, had been pulled from television the previous night.

The hour-long interview, Gai: An Audience with the First Lady, had been slated to air on Monday night on Sky Thoroughbred Central in the lead-up to Saturday’s Golden Slipper at Rosehill, a race that is synonymous with Waterhouse due to her record eight wins and her late father Tommy Smith’s six triumphs.

The fate of the racecourse, which will host the famous race, is bitterly dividing the racing industry, with the board of the Australian Turf Club split over the proposal. Those in favour of the sale claim it will open the way for a mini city of 25,000 homes to be built.

At the same time, Waterhouse and several other prominent trainers are at loggerheads over this and other issues with key racing industry figures.

In the midst of this dispute came news that the interview with Waterhouse had been pulled. The reason it was pulled so late remains wrapped in mystery, but Waterhouse believes it may have been linked to criticisms she made of the Rosehill sale during the interview.

Waterhouse told the Herald that on Sunday she was phoned by her interviewer, Ray Thomas, who’d just been informed the program was not going to air. That day, The Daily Telegraph’s readers had been encouraged to watch Thomas’s interview which was to be aired at 8.30pm the following night.

Thomas, the long-time face of horse racing coverage in the Telegraph and the host of Sky Racing’s News Central program on Wednesday nights, had conducted a lengthy interview with the iconic trainer about a month ago.

Thomas declined to comment when contacted, referring this masthead to the broadcaster’s management.

While Waterhouse said she did not know why the program had been pulled, she did offer that it would be most unfortunate “if you are not free to speak your mind in Australia”.

According to the prominent trainer, the wide-ranging interview covered a number of controversial topics including the future of the Rosehill racecourse.

“It’s the hottest issue in racing,” she said of the proposed sale which, according to Australian Turf Club chairman Peter McGauran, would put $5 billion into the coffers of the racing industry.

“This proposal offers a one-off opportunity to make the ATC the most financially secure racing club in the world,” McGauran has said.

A spokesman for Sky Racing quashed industry speculation that those lobbying for the Rosehill sale had been influential in having the Waterhouse program blocked.

 “While the piece was planned to run on Monday, our programming team decided it would benefit from taking more time to ensure a stronger editorial rollout across all of our platforms and greater promotion of the piece,” he said.

Instead, the network planned to air the “exclusive interview about the life and times of legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse across our network and TAB social media platforms during the autumn carnival,” the spokesman said.

Tabcorp-owned Sky Racing, the exclusive rights holder for racing in the state since 2015, has close ties to Racing NSW, and the organisation’s involvement in the Rosehill saga has been a point of major consternation for those ATC members opposed to the sale.

Waterhouse, an ambassador for the Victoria Racing Club, has been feuding with V’landys over a range of issues. “You have a very powerful CEO in Mr V’landys, and he controls racing and he controls everyone in racing,” she told a NSW parliamentary inquiry into the Rosehill sale last July. She also said that race clubs had become completely beholden to Racing NSW.

PETER V’LANDYS responded to the Waterhouse criticism with the following statement:

AT the outset, I must respectfully note that many of the assertions you have referenced are grossly inaccurate and appear to be based on misinformation or exaggeration.

By way of example, I was entirely unaware of the Ray Thomas interview with Gai Waterhouse, did not view the program at the time and, to this day, have not seen it. As such, any suggestion that I, or anyone at Racing NSW, had any involvement in SKY’s decisions regarding that interview—including its content or timing—is completely without foundation.

Additionally, the figures cited in relation to the Form Guides published in the Daily Telegraph and Sydney Morning Herald are significantly overstated. To clarify: TAB funds 75% of the cost of the Daily Telegraph Form Guide, while Racing NSW contributes less than 25% — and Harness Racing NSW also provides funding. Racing NSW does not contribute at all to the Sydney Morning Herald Form Guide, which is funded by a different wagering operator. Racing NSW’s role in that context is merely to facilitate the flow of those funds. Therefore, the notion that Racing NSW expends “millions” on these form guides to influence media coverage is entirely unfounded. These form guides are a key driver of wagering activity, and their funding is principally borne by wagering operators.

Please see below my responses to your specific questions:

Q: Do you cultivate friendships with decision makers in the media and politics, in the hope that it will pay dividends down the track, benefiting you and the organisations you lead? We note you have said this is the case in a previous interview with Mark Bouris in 2022.

A: I consider it an essential part of my role as Chief Executive of Racing NSW and Chairman of the NRL to build constructive relationships with media and political stakeholders. This is a standard and expected aspect of any senior executive or leadership role. Suggesting otherwise would be unrealistic.

Q: Have you or anyone from Racing NSW ever intervened to influence the media coverage concerning yourself, Racing NSW or the NRL?

A: No, I have not. I have never contacted any media representative with the intent to influence coverage of Racing NSW, the NRL, or myself—other than to correct factual inaccuracies, as I am doing here. It is also worth noting that I am regularly approached by media for my views or commentary on various issues relating to racing and rugby league.

Q: We have been told you telephone high-ranking media executives to complain about negative media queries which suggest an item is forthcoming which may be critical of Racing NSW and/or you personally. Is this the case?

Please refer to my response above.

Q: As per the question above, it appears these contacts are for the purposes of managing yours, and Racing NSW’s image in the media. Is this the case?

A: Again, I refer you to my previous response.

Q: Did you or anyone from Racing NSW contact anyone at Nine/SMH with respect to the SMH story of 19 March 2025 examining the Sky Interview?

A: As stated earlier, I was entirely unaware of the Ray Thomas interview with Gai Waterhouse and have never viewed it. I did not contact anyone at Nine or the SMH. Any contact made by Racing NSW would have been solely to clarify that Racing NSW had no involvement in the interview, its content, or its timing. Our sole objective is always to ensure factual accuracy.

Q: Did you or anyone from Racing NSW contact anyone at Sky Racing with respect to the Ray Thomas Sky Racing interview? Prior to its eventual broadcast, did you or anyone at Racing NSW discuss the content of Gai Waterhouse's interview with Ray Thomas?

A: Please refer to the previous response.

Q: Gai Waterhouse has [said] the result of your 'control' of people in the racing industry in NSW and the pressure you and Racing NSW exert is a culture of 'censorship' in the media. How do you respond?

A: There is absolutely no censorship of media coverage by Racing NSW or myself. As noted above, the financial details regarding the Form Guides have been misrepresented. Racing NSW’s contributions are limited. Suggesting that media coverage is bought or manipulated is both inaccurate and unfair. Racing NSW engages routinely and openly with stakeholders across the industry, including through annual reports, strategic plans, and regular meetings of the Racing Industry Consultative Group.

Q: Do you use the resources of Racing NSW or the NRL to cultivate relationships in the media which may lead to POSITIVE coverage of those organisations, or yourself?

A: As stated earlier, fostering productive relationships with media is part of any leadership role. These relationships support fair and balanced coverage—a standard practice across all major sports and industries.

Q: Have you used your relationships to influence the coverage of the Rosehill Racecourse sale debate?

A: No.

Q: What is your response to Gai Waterhouse's remarks at the Rosehill Racecourse inquiry (July 2024), where she said: "It’s a bit like the elephant in the room isn't it...you have a very powerful CEO in Mr V’landys and he controls racing and he controls everyone in racing...you only have to look at the newspapers now and the media coverage...it's very controlled...we don't have the true picture at all"

A: As stated above, I reject any claim of media censorship or control. Racing NSW operates transparently, consulting broadly with stakeholders including the NSW Trainers’ Association, with whom we are in near-daily contact. Our strategic plan and comprehensive annual report are regularly published and accessible.

Q: We understand that behind the scenes you have been advocating in favour of the proposal to sell Rosehill Racecourse. How do you respond?

A: I have always been clear and transparent in stating that I would support the proposal if the $5 billion valuation is achieved and if the Australian Turf Club can demonstrate viable alternative arrangements for hosting the affected race meetings. It is vital that ATC members are fully informed and presented with both sides of the argument before making any decision.

Q: We understand that in the corporate box at Royal Randwick, the menu typically includes a seafood starter, followed by fish or steak and Crème Brûlée, with your preference being a plate of chips. Is this correct?

A: Anyone who knows me will confirm that I do have a fondness for hot chips and my girth also highlights that. I might also add that mini meat pies are served after lunch and are very well received by all attendees.

 

STATEMENT from a SKY Racing spokesman:

“Racing NSW had no involvement in the editorial process and did not make any requests about the content.

“Our programming team decided the interview would benefit from taking more time to ensure a stronger editorial rollout across all of our platforms and greater promotion of the piece.

“The new time slot also coincided with the start of The Championships and the running of the TJ Smith Stakes, which is named in honour of Gai’s father.

“Rumours that the piece was delayed to remove references about the proposed sale of Rosehill are simply not true.”

 

STATEMENT from BEN ENGLISH, EDITOR, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

“THE Daily Telegraph has no commercial agreements that constrain our ability to report as we see fit, and no person or organisation has the power to vet editorial content.

There is no conflict of interest in how we report on racing or NRL - our coverage is the most robust and informative and we embrace the contest of ideas that drive the debates in these sports.

“Further, The Daily Telegraph did report on the parliamentary inquiry hearing last July into the proposed Rosehill racecourse sale, including trainer Gai Waterhouse’s concerns. Your claim that we did not do so is incorrect.

“The Daily Telegraph also believes the best way to deliver the sport coverage expected of us by our audience is to witness first hand major events and games and we have regularly disclosed that the NRL helped fund our team’s travel expenses to Las Vegas.

“As editors, journalists and various commercial executives at a major news outlet, we also regularly attend major sporting and community events including racing and the NRL. It is an expected part of our roles and is accepted practice across the media and other industries.

"On behalf of our audience The Daily Telegraph has a longstanding enthusiasm for the events and sports that captivate the community and we will never apologise for getting behind activities that promote our state, generate local jobs, excitement and enjoyment.

 

 

CONFUSION OVER WHETHER LNP WANTS NEW RACING APPEALS PANEL

THERE seems to be some industry confusion over whether the new LNP Government wants the inaugural Independent Racing Appeals Panel appointed by Labor to continue.

This follows a recent process (closing Thursday) where applications were called for a new Panel. It would seem that inaugural chairperson Kerry O’Brien will be retained but current Members could be replaced although there is nothing to say they can’t reapply for their positions.

Most questions focus on whether the term of the current panel is up or if Racing Minister Tim Mander wants to replace some of those on the one established by his predecessor Grace Grace.

Inaugural members of the Racing Appeals Panel which began operation on 31 March 2023 included: Chairperson Kerry O’Brien AM, a former Chief Judge of the Queensland District Court; Deputy Chairs Dianne Condon, a Legal Board Member on the Parole Board Queensland and Peter O’Neill, a barrister with over 30 years standing as a lawyer and extensive skills and experience in legal practice and sporting judiciary.

They were joined by Martin Einfeld KC, Juanita Maiden, Darren Guppy, Brian Stewart, Lyndsey Hicks, Daryl Kays, John McCoy OAM, and Edwin Wilkinson to constitute a pool of panel members with expertise across the fields of racing, veterinary science and law.

At the time of their appointment then Minister Grace Grace said the new Panel would strengthen the high standards of animal welfare and industry integrity in Queensland’s racing industry, as well as providing a quick and accessible way to review stewards’ decisions by a specialist body.

Whilst the newlook 'Independent Panel' appears to have worked well, the appointment of at least one Member was not accepted by sections of the industry, who questioned from the start whether that person should have been appointed because of alleged skeletons in the closet.

At the time of the Labor-appointed Racing Appeals Panel, Minister Grace Grace said: “The Palaszczuk Government listened to industry concerns about the current review process and with the establishment of this panel we are delivering a faster, fairer review system that addresses their concerns.

“Our landmark racing integrity reforms in 2016 gave Queensland the best animal welfare and racing integrity body in the nation, and it will now be bolstered by a strong independent appeals body.

“A rigorous recruitment process was undertaken to ensure the best possible people have appointed to this important panel. Queensland is set to have a fair and transparent racing review body under the leadership of Kerry O’Brien. The new panel will provide assurance of independent decision making to industry.”

Applications were called earlier this month for a new panel and close at midnight Thursday – a very short period for the process.

Established under the Racing Integrity Amendment Act 2022, the Panel will hear and decide applications for review of a racing decision of a steward.

Functions of the Panel will include:

Finalizing review applications within prescribed time frames; and

Ensuring racing decisions are made in accordance with the law and the Rules of Racing to maintain the integrity of the racing industry in Queensland.

Expressions are being sought for the appointment of Deputy Chairpersons and Panel Members for the Panel, who have:

Demonstrated high-level knowledge and understanding of the racing industry;

Proven ability to properly exercise sound judgment and effective and timely decision-making;

Ability to maintain impartiality and independence to promote the integrity of the racing industry.

To be eligible for appointment, the person must demonstrate professional experience in one or more of the following areas:

Chemistry relating to animals;

Law;

Racing and

Veterinary science.

As part of the selection process, applicants are required to disclose any adverse media coverage or relevant matters that may impact their suitability for appointment. This is designed to ensure transparency and upholding integrity and public confidence in the Panel’s operations. It would be interesting to know if one of the current Panel disclosed that when that person was appointed.  

LGHR knows of at least one applicant - with previous Appeals Body experience and a lot more knowlodge than some of those appointed - who did not get a look in when Labor was running the show.

 

OFFICIALDOM SHOULD STOP PRETENDING – THERE IS ‘NO WHIP’ RULE

DID the outstanding Victorian filly TREASURETHE MOMENT receive an unfair advantage when top jockey Damien Lane struck her 20 times to snare victory from the bolter SUN ‘N’ SAND in the Group 1 Australian Oaks at Randwick on Saturday?

More importantly should she have been disqualified by Sydney Stewards who avoided the anger of punters who backed her into $1.55 favourite when they decided it was better to let Lane pay for the win?

That dodged major controversy as Alysha Collett, who almost scored a major boilover on Sun ‘n’ Sand $51, was also over the permitted strikes (by six and nowhere near the 20 of Lane on the winner). Had both not been guilty of overuse of the whip, perhaps third placed YOU WAHNG (Craig Williams) who did not breach the Rules would not have been beaten by the length margin he was.   

There is arguably no question that had Lane not blatantly broken the Rules Treasurethe Moment would not have added the $1.14mn Oaks to her resume which now includes nine wins from 11 starts.

Regular SYDNEY contributor PETER MAIR posed some interesting observations about whether the WHIP RULES are working or not in Australian racing when he wrote:

'RIDERS ride to the Rules – ‘win if you can’ is the only Rule in place.

Saturday's Australian Oaks may be a moment to treasure for the connections of the winner but not for racing administrators. The outcome again showed them that they have neither a Rule about Use of the Whip nor the integrity to either say so or properly enforce a Rule ignored at will.

The fine of ONE PER CENT of the WINNER’S PURSE will be covered by connections, people also unfairly enriched by the additional value now attaching to her sale as a broodmare.

As for the rider, any rider, a suspension is ‘personal’. The possible cost (likely income foregone) is part of the code in the trade: Being obliged and trusted to do-what-you-have-to. Depending on the wash-up of what could have been, the connections may well be up for more to keep their side of an implied contract.

All that said, unless and until there is determination in the management of the industry to relegate or, preferably, disqualify a horse unfairly advantaged – participants will behave as if there is no Rule.

…........and there is practically no Rule of any consequence for Whip Use or, much more importantly, careless riding.’

RATHER than walk the tightrope and relegate star filly TREASURETHE MOMENT Stewards dodged an almighty backlash when they decided to make Lane ‘pay the price’ for the win. One has to question if that was fair on the minor place-getters?

Here’s the Stewards’ Report:

TREASURETHE MOMENT: Damien Lane pleaded guilty to a charge of excessive whip use under AR132(5) in that he used the whip on 20 occasions in totality, including 10 prior to the 100m, contrary to the provisions of AR132(7)(a)(ii).

 Lane’s license to ride in races was suspended for a period of two weeks commencing on Sunday 13 April 2025 and to expire on Sunday 27 April 2025, on which day he may ride. In addition, D. Lane was fined $10,000.

Stewards also reported the following breaches of the Whip Rule on Day Two of The Championships:

STEWARDS noted the following riders exceeded the permitted strikes of the whip prior to the 100m under AR132(7)(a)(ii). Bearing in mind the totality of whip use, no action was taken.

Race 4: Jason Collett (Within The Law) 7 strikes.

Race 6: Alysha Collett (Sun ‘N’ Sand) 6 strikes & Josh Parr (Ella Hazel) 8 strikes.

Race 8: Ben Melham (Tom Kitten) 7 strikes & Nash Rawiller (Lindermann) 6 strikes.

EDITOR'S NOTE: IN the opinion of many who follow racing, like PHIL PURSER, astute form analyst and former publisher of justracing.com, the whip should be banned. Phil feels so strongly that he has paid for signs (illustration above) promoting that belief to be erected alongside major highways in Queensland. 

 

MARK LATHAM FACING RACETRACK BAN AFTER VERBAL ALTERCATION

RACING NSW has engaged one of Australia’s most senior law enforcement figures to investigate an alleged tirade by Independent MP Mark Latham towards a race club official.

CHRIS BARRETT reports for FAIRFAX MEDIA that the incident at Rosehill last week prompted an immediate probe by the Australian Turf Club, of which Latham is a Member, but the State’s powerful industry regulator is also assessing the conduct of its most fierce and vocal detractor.

Michael Phelan, a former chief executive of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and ex-Deputy Commissioner for national security with the Australian Federal Police, has been hired to carry out a separate investigation into Latham’s trackside run-in with ATC Head of Corporate Affairs and Government Relations Steve McMahon.

The club, whose controversial proposed sale of Rosehill to the State Government for $5 billion is to be voted on by members next month, has said one of its senior officials was on the receiving end of “alleged unprovoked verbal abuse” in the Members’ Stand at Rosehill during an Autumn Carnival race meet on Tuesday last week.

The ATC Board is understood to have met on Wednesday night to discuss Latham’s behaviour, having commissioned its own external review of it.

Latham faces potential suspension of his membership over the outburst towards McMahon, a long-time friend of Premier Chris Minns who first made the NSW leader aware of the racecourse sale plan in a 2023 meeting that was a focus of last year’s Rosehill parliamentary inquiry.

Racing NSW could take action against him as an industry participant because of his ownership of racehorses, and has brought in Phelan to determine whether the NSW Upper House MP was in breach of the Rules of Racing.

The former top cop, who is a sport’s integrity and policing consultant for the Asian Racing Federation and an advisor to global risk and corporate intelligence consultancy Kroll, has been asked to examine whether Latham was responsible for “conduct detrimental to the interests of racing”.

Under the Rules, which give racing authorities wide-reaching powers, it’s stated that a person must not engage in “improper or insulting behaviour at any time towards a PRA [principal racing authority], the stewards, a club, or any official, employee, contractor or agent of any of them in relation to the relevant person’s functions, powers or duties”.

Latham was scathing of Phelan’s appointment on X, formerly Twitter. “Can you believe that the kooks at Racing NSW has [sic] sent me a letter saying they have commissioned a guy who works for Kroll to investigate if I insulted Steve McMahon,” he posted. “A grave case of hurt feelings. Kroll is an American company described by French intelligence as a CIA front.”

In the US the company, which is notable for having tracked down Saddam Hussein’s secret riches abroad, has been referred to as a “private CIA”.

Its Australian arm has service agreements with state and federal governments on issues such as anti-bribery and corruption and anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, and it was contracted by the NSW Independent Casino Commission to monitor Crown Sydney before it had its licence for its Barangaroo casino reinstated last year.

Phelan is a strategic advisor for investigations, diligence and compliance for Kroll, but it is understood he has been engaged by Racing NSW in a personal capacity, not in his role with the company.

Racing stewards usually investigate possible breaches of Rules and hand down penalties at their discretion, but the regulator opted to have the Latham matter investigated independently because of his public criticism of Racing NSW and its Chief Executive, Peter V’landys.

It is expected that Phelan will make a recommendation to the Racing NSW Board.

Latham, who raised whistleblower complaints against the state racing body during the Rosehill inquiry and has rallied against the track sale, is said to have sworn at McMahon and vowed to bring down the ATC official and the Club Chairman, Peter McGauran.

Latham did not reply to attempts to contact him on Thursday but said last week that “someone had to tell [McMahon] what everyone thinks of him”.

Racing NSW said it was unable to comment on any matter but would “always ensure due process and natural justice is provided at all times”.

The ATC’s 11,000-plus members began voting online on the Rosehill proposal last month ahead of an extraordinary general meeting to determine whether the plan will go ahead.

It was due to be held on April 3, but six days before then was pushed back to May 12 on the instruction of Racing NSW, which said insufficient information had been provided to members.

Latham and other opponents of the sale have said they believe the meeting was delayed because most members were voting against it.

 

IF THE RULES REQUIRE JOCKEYS TO GIVE MOUNTS EVERY CHANCE – SURELY THE SAME SHOULD APPLY TO THOSE PREPARING THE TRACKS

THERE’S an important Rule of Racing where jockeys are required to position their mounts to give same every possible chance of winning or obtaining the best opportunity to win.

As a protective measure for punters – the lifeblood of the sport – should the same Rule not apply to Race Clubs and Course Rangers when it comes to preparing tracks?

There was plenty of punting anger – not to mention those who bother to do the form – after night racing returned to the Gold Coast on Friday.

To say the surface did not give every runner the best opportunity to win would be an understatement. In fact it played blatantly unfair with those on the pace severely advantaged and others back in the ruck spinning their wheels and having no chance.

The track was rated a Soft 5 but the clods that were thrown up suggested it may have been worse. From the opening races it was evident that runners needed to be on the pace to win. Favorites that got back in the field had no chance.

By the middle of the meeting winning jockeys were admitting in interviews with SKY that up front was the place to be. They didn’t say it but the ‘Blind Cocky’ knew coming from back in the field was a Mission Impossible.

It led to some major upsets – horses that normally wouldn’t have won went to the front and just kept going. Spare a thought for punters who still believed that short-priced favorites in the backmarker category had some hope of winning. They didn’t.

After Red Code ($3.2) and Dubawi’s Girl ($21) led and won the opening races, Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michael Rodd made a bee-line for the front in the third on the widely drawn and plunged Hey Daisy ($1.95) which never looked like being run down.

Cosmic Beauty ($5.5) settled just behind the leaders and won the fourth. Naughty Nurse ($7.5) shared the lead and upstaged the NSW visitor Warrior For Peace ($1.8) which was robbed of a win getting back in the field on a biased track and finishing second.

Bolters Shapin’ Power ($21) and Bold Julius ($26) shared the lead fighting out the finish and blowing punters out of the water in the seventh then in the last The Lucky Alien ($11) was another beneficiary of the on-pace bias with favourite Lady Shotgun another victim of circumstances of the night.

Bookies got the lot, punters copped another carrot up the hindquarters and racing was the big loser. If that’s the best the Gold Coast Turf Club can provide for a venue that is spectacular when it comes to night racing, they should turn the lights out, as has happened in Toowoomba.

And – by the way – what has happened to those promises for replacement lights or a band-aid repair cure so that Clifford Park can return to its twilight timeslot?

Meanwhile, our colleague Archie Butterfly reports on peterprofit.com today that more track troubles are brewing in Toowoomba.

Archie writes that ‘it’s all due to the unacceptable number of horses and jockeys that are falling at the crossing on the training track.

‘Numerous horses have come down lately, and the response from the track staff is a simple one. Those coming off just don’t know how to ride. There have been two senior jockeys involved in recent falls, and two experienced and well respected trackwork riders have also hit the turf. These people know how to ride.

‘Work riders are being told just to put up with it, as trainers and the club don’t want the training track closed down. That’s not good enough. We shouldn’t have to wait for a rider to be seriously hurt for something to be done.’

 

GREYHOUNDS EUTHANIZED FOLLOWING TRIALS AT NEW WORLD CLASS THE Q TRACK - PROTESTS FROM ANIMAL LIBERATION GROUPS

IN a horror start leading up to the official opening of Queensland’s new multi-million dollar greyhound racing facility, The Q near Ipswich, two greyhounds have tragically died in trials on the world class track.

Promoted as a state-of-the-art venue prioritising animal welfare, the track now faces immediate scrutiny leading up to the official opening on June 7, just another hiccup and hardly the start the industry had hoped for.

The Courier-Mail reports that two greyhounds died during trial runs in late March, with both suffering hock fractures, cracks in the joints of the hind limb of animals, often resulting in dogs having to be euthanized.

In an email to animal welfare group AnimalKIND, the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) confirmed that both dogs were euthanized after veterinary consultations.

“Throughout the trials on 24 and 25 March 2025, two greyhounds sustained hock fractures,” The QRIC email said. “The QRIC veterinarian on-course provided immediate treatment and referred the greyhounds to an off-course vet for diagnostic treatment.

“Scans were completed on both animals, with a secondary opinion from an orthopaedic vet, resulting in both dogs being euthanized,” the QRIC said.

The third dog, Fernando Dusty, suffered a serious injury during the opening race on April 4. This injury, described as a right hind hock fracture, has led to a 90-day stand-down period, with a mandatory trial required before the dog can race again.

A QRIC report from the April 4 event confirmed Fernando Dusty’s injury, which occurred when the dog collided with another during the race.

In response to the events at The Q, QRIC has acknowledged the incidents and reiterated its commitment to animal welfare.

“The QRIC takes animal welfare and integrity in the racing industry very seriously and is committed to ensuring all racing animals are afforded high standards of care,” the Commission said.

QRIC said no extra measures would be instated to address broader safety concerns raised by animal welfare groups.

However, QRIC said it was working with Racing Queensland to review trial procedures but said trials conducted at The Q were not subject to the same reporting standards as formal races in other states, leading to further calls for more transparency.

QRIC has been criticised for inadequate penalties for animal welfare violations.

AnimalKIND campaign manager Amanda Holly criticised the new facility and its lack of communication with the public.

“The industry’s core issue isn’t track design, it’s that racing itself is dangerous and exploitative – they can’t engineer their way out of killing these animals,” Ms Holly told The Courier-Mail.

“The public has a right to know how their money is being wasted, and dogs have a right not to die for entertainment,” she said.

The concerns were echoed by the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, which has campaigned for the end of greyhound racing in Queensland.

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds Queensland state president Amy MacMahon questioned whether The Q’s promises regarding animal welfare were genuine.

“Australia, and particularly Queensland, are some of the last places propping up this dying industry as we’ve seen New Zealand has taken action with a national ban,” Ms MacMahon said.

“However, instead of retiring these dogs, we’re seeing them exported to Australia to continue racing, which is an outcome that undermines the intent of the ban.

“Queensland should be leading on animal welfare, and not giving a second life to an industry others are leaving behind.”

As part of Racing Queensland’s commitment to animal welfare, close to $1 million was spent in 2024-2025 to support greyhound welfare initiatives.

The Race Meeting Injury Scheme was established to alleviate financial concerns relating to the treatment and rehabilitation of racing animals, while the Greyhound Retirement Readiness Scheme was developed to support the successful transition from racing to pets.

As part of construction of The Q, Racing Queensland has engaged with some of the world’s most authoritative voices in track design and injury prevention to further inform its decision making, providing new and improved ways to deliver safer racing.

It is a requirement that all greyhounds must complete a trial at The Q before they are permitted to race at the venue.

 

THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE

BIG RICHIE COPS A BACKHANDER FOR HIS WALLER WORSHIPPING

ONE of our biggest Whinges of the Week is attributed to ‘Bill From Breakfast Creek’ but we can assure readers the contributor concerned is well connected in the racing industry and we have respected his request for anonymity. He writes:

‘I cannot believe the dribble that happens every week in the column penned by one R Callander (on the high profile racing website Racenet).

Week after week after week it is simply a Waller worship page. Yes, the man is a great trainer and wins many big races. But seriously, what is the gig in talking up all his beaten runners every week? Are they the only ones in the race?

And what of the ones I refer to as the "Walleroveraters" that you see on Saturday’s and certainly during the week almost every week.

As a part owner of a Derby runner last Saturday, I was amused to hear our trainer lamenting on the dead-wood in some of the big races every week, how CJW plonks multiple horses in and simply makes up extra numbers..... and then they seem to die off rapidly... look at the likes of Manzoice and Francesco Guardi...... what has happened (or not happened) to them?

Richard, please be aware there are many great trainers out there... perhaps you can refer to more than one occasionally?’

 

MOORE HAS NOTHING TO PROVE BUT THESE RIDES WERE ORDINARY

CHAMPION British jockey Ryan Moore has won a Melbourne Cup, a Cox Plate and a Golden Slipper but was hardly the punters’ pal with his ‘slaughter jobs’ on two favourites at Randwick on Day One of The Championships.

Wodeton arguably should have won the Group 1 ATC Sires when a close fourth to the Victoria Vinrock and Clean Energy was a desperately unlucky fourth to She’s Got Pizzazz in the Group 3 P J Bell.

Call these victims of circumstances from their draws, particularly Wodeton, or bad rides, but Moore had both three wide from the outset and arguably unlucky not to have figured in the finish.

In contrast Damien Lane had the plunged Aeliana in the box seat when she demolished the boys in the Group 1 Australian Derby. LGHR would rather put our hard earned any day of the week on Lane than Ryan, anywhere in the world.

Moore, who boasts the most British Group and Listed wins of any active jockey, is No 1 jockey for Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle operation, where he mainly rides horses owned by Coolmore Stud.

High-priced colt Wodeton, part-owned by Coolmore and ridden by James McDonald, arguably should have won the Golden Slipper when second to the lightly-raced Marhoona (with Lane a late call-up). The son of Wootton Bassett then suffered a smilar fate when Moore was trapped wide in the Sires.

Clean Energy, a promising filly raced by the new powerhouse in Australian racing (Yulong) in partnership with Coolmore, had won three of four starts before Moore managed to get caught three wide in the P J Bell on the Waterhouse-Bott-trained three-year-old.

Perhaps Moore flew in for Day One of The Championships because JMac was committed to Romantic Warrior which was beaten in Dubai.  He is best remembered for winning the Golden Slipper on Shinzo in 2023, the Ranvet on Dubai Honour in the same year, the Mackinnon on Magic Wand in 2019 and the Cox Plate (Adelaide) and Melbourne Cup (Protectionists) in 2014.

Punters are an unforgiving bunch and a repeat of his performances on Saturday will soon see Moore on the ‘barred list’ Down Under, be it blamed on bad luck or bad rides.

 

MORE PRAISE FOR THE LATE, GREAT RACING SCRIBE PETER CAMERON

LGHR continues to receive emails remembering the life and times of the late, great racing scribe Peter Cameron and declaring what a great job he did. Many want to know about his funeral arrangements. Rest assured we will relay those when news filters through to us.

Here’s just another example received in recent days from CHRIS TRAVERS:

‘I was very sad to hear of the passing of Peter Cameron. I had many conversations with him during the shambles of the Jamie Orchard era (at Racing Queensland).

You will remember him – the person they appointed to run Integrity who most believed didn’t have the foggiest clue about racing – yet had the power to terminate a participant’s income.

You will also recall he was one of the ones that cost taxpayers a six-figure sum when he and a few others ‘fled the village’ when they realized an incoming Government would soon learn their actual worth.

You are right, Peter had associates and contacts on both sides of the political fence - surely the mark of a proper journalist. His like are now gone and we are all the poorer for it.’

 

CIARON MAHER’S BROTHER, DECLAN, TO OPEN GOLD COAST STABLES

AND, in an interesting news story, broken today ANDREW EDDY reports for RACING.COM that:

CIARON Maher's younger brother Declan is to branch out on his own, with the renowned Ballarat-based horseman set to take up as many as 20 boxes soon on the Gold Coast.

Maher said on Tuesday that he expects to be full-time at the Gold Coast stables shortly after the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival is finished after spending seven years as his brother's assistant trainer out of the stable's highly productive Ballarat yard.

"I was up there (Gold Coast) on the weekend and I'll probably get up there over the next week or so to get some minor details sorted out," Maher said.

"I think I'll have 20 boxes. The timing looks right as having Ciaron sending horses up for the carnival, it's a good opportunity to be up there for Queensland racing's biggest time of the year."

Maher said the idea of branching out on his own is not a new thought, but he felt the time was right to do so.

"Taylah (partner) and I have a young boy Caolan now, so before he goes to kindergarten and schools, it just seemed the right time to make the move," he said.

"I will still work in with my brother from time to time. We will still be on the phone to each other, so it's not so much a closing of a chapter, more a starting of a new one.

"I've made a lot of connections with owners that are Ciaron's owners and there will be horses that aren't up to metro racing in Sydney or Melbourne that might be better suited up there."

Ciaron Maher Racing made the announcement of his move on Tuesday afternoon: "Declan has been an integral part of Ciaron Maher Racing for many years.

"Over that time, he has experienced all the highs and challenges that come with life in racing and he has grown into an exceptional horseman with a deep understanding of the game.

"His passion, dedication and natural talent have shone through in every aspect of his work."

 

ALICE SPRINGS CUP PROGRAMMING AKIN TO LASSETER’S LAST RIDE 

GARY GORRIE, the one-time leading North Queensland bookmaker now living in retirement in Phuket, still follows racing passionately and writes of his dismay at the demise of the Alice Springs Cup meeting which was run last Sunday.

‘MAYBE I am a bit nostalgic but it was disappointing to see the holds on the TAB and Betfair on one of my favorite meetings, the Alice Springs Cup, run at the weekend.

There were nine meetings on Sunday for product that punters could bet on – seems a lot for a Sunday. Even our form expert ‘Jimmy Olsen’ could not find time to do the form for the Alice in his great tipping service.

The time-honored spot for the Alice Springs Cup was always May Day Monday. Holds this year were $2,000 to $5,000 per race until the Cup which held $15,000 while $16,000 was bet on the Trifecta, $4,200 on the First Four and a HUGE Quadrella of $2,500. When I fielded at the Alice, I would have held more than that bookmaking per race.

Back then the tote was $30,000 plus per race and over $100,000 on the Cup. I note four Grafton, Gunnedah, Kilmore and Ipswich are being conducted on May Day – where the Alice Springs Cup would seem a better fit to me. Once we had the well-attended Doomben Labour Day Cup meeting conducted on this date too.

I guess I liked the old days when racing in Sydney confided with the Easter Foyal Show and we had the Doncaster on the Saturday and Sydney Cup on the Monday.

The Empsom would be run on in late September or early October to coincide with the NRL Grand Final on the Sunday and The Metropolitan on the Monday of the long weekend. We also had the Stradbroke and Brisbane Cup on the Saturday and Monday of the then Queen’s Birthday weekend in June.

At this stage the Cairns Amateurs are still run on the second Saturday in September and the Darwin Cup on the first Monday in August.

Many meetings have been changed and I am sure turnover has dropped because of it but more importantly punters stopped going to the tracks because of these changes.

One of my good mates has promised his long-time girlfriend they will get married on the first Tuesday in November when there is no Melbourne Cup. He must be getting worried with all these changes.

And if turnover is the ‘God’ now why is the Melbourne Cup not Race 9 or 10. I am sure the holds would be a lot higher. People would stay at the track longer, bar sales would increase too. It’s a bit like putting Elvis on at the start of the show and ‘Dick and the Dropouts’ last – as the main attraction.

Now the guru bean counters say these meetings have been moved so that they can return greater betting turnover. As Pauline Hansen would say: ‘PLEASE EXPLAIN’?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Great words Gaz but so many running racing these days would regard you and I as ‘Dinosaurs’.

The two things you forgot to mention is that major clubs – especially in Queensland – don’t want to race on public holidays any longer because of the wages they have to pay. The answer is simple negotiate a special ‘pay deal’ with the unions that provides a better return for those who work on public holidays and Sundays but not as much as the double or triple turn that has forced clubs to abandon these once special feature days.

Secondly, we pander too much to television coverage. It’s an absolute farce when the stage is reached where SKY and whoever the mainstream broadcaster of racing is (like the Seven Network) dictate race times. Daylight savings also has something to do with the Melbourne Cup being run so early. But it’s not racing that is the only victim of this stupidity. Major sports, especially rugby league, are also played to fit in with TV programming (like news and current affairs).

 

• OUR regular SYDNEY contributor PETER MAIR has weighed in on two interesting tops. His emails always make for interesting reading:

AUSTRALIA’S BROKE PATTERN SYSTEM: BLACK TYPE IS NONSENSE

A STORY on (racing website) THE STRAIGHT suggests local horse breeders want to end the impasse over our broken system for granting 'Black Type' status to winners of races offering high prize-money. (https://thestraight.com.au).

While better late than never is best for seeking 'reconciliation', forgiveness asked for on a death-bed is a poor substitute for not speaking up earlier. Breeders could have proposed objective classification criteria to displace arbitrary classification decisions. Decisions made by an uncooperative committee of conflicted state racing administrators. Administrators separately in thrall to demanding local-interests and open to concessions of inter-state 'entitlements' being gifted a nominal place in the sun. Talk about black days.

One could suggest the 'class' of a race would be best determined, on the basis of displayed ratings, after the race was run than before. Expectations that a race result would simply endorse a standing 'black-type' declaration are often plain nonsense. The past can be indicative but not decisive.

While it is possible that buyers influenced by a black-type performance are naïve, those paying high prices for tried runners would presumably be smart enough to know the difference between a lucky result and proven good performance. Otherwise – 'Tears-I-Cry.

The recent history around black-type status is simply disturbing from a national policy perspective. A deal to give 'The Everest' G1 status was apparently agreed, by NSW and Victoria, conditional on G1 equality for 'The All Star Mile'. This so-timely 'deal' was accompanied by undertakings to reveal the outcome of a wholesale review of standing and prospective entitlements of races to black-type status – some would go 'down' and some 'up'.

Waiting for Godot!

Tell all that to the pixies: Can you imagine the weeping and gnashing of teeth among a group of state-based racing administrators asked to concede 'any downs'? Hell on earth!

….... and what is the international community making of this parochial bickering ….. Australia must already be the butt of much international derision …. politely not spoken lest the plundered pot-of-gold be withdrawn .... 'leading' the racing-world in the number of 'black type' races, in the number of G1-races globally offering mouth-watering prize-money, and more generally so relatively grossly over-raced across the nation as to be facing a disruptive return to a more sensible reality.

The bell is ringing – will the breeders speak up?

 

RVL ASKING FOR AN INQUIRY & PUNTERS DESERVE TO BE RESPECTED

‘AS I predicted last Wednesday,  Saturday at Caulfield was a sad reflection on the competence and integrity of (ir)responsible Victorian racing administrators.

Among other things, the Quadrella 'paid' some $50,000, three F4s paid some $20k, $66k and $100k and another gross embarrassment (Race 4) was only just averted.

One obvious problem is, and has long been, inflated fields running over 1400 and 1600 metres at Caulfield (and Flemington). There are problems with inflated fields more generally -- too many runners with no reasonable expectation of being 'in the race' are only a disruptive presence.

The most-punter set are disadvantaged by administrative policies akin to using wide-combs to fleece simple sheep. Conversely, this deliberately rough-result racing is manna from heaven for fixed-odds bookmakers being served bales of profits from the 'skinner' results.

There is no point me asking the captive mainstream racing-media to have a crack at exposing this routine exploitation of most punters -- my hope is that you will have a crack with a story, begging to be told.’

On 2/04/2025 7:56 pm, Peter Mair wrote:

RVL IS ASKING FOR AN INQUIRY

‘IT is Wednesday. One should not know what will happen at Caulfield on Saturday -- the fields are out but 'should be out' better captures what's on offer.

What's on offer is another reminder of RVL not properly managing the quality of its Saturday metropolitan racing -- another likely rort, RVL chasing punting turnover (and its tax entitlement) from overcrowded low-grade events risking rough outcomes. Probably the punters will be undone-again.

Punters will bet after doing the form, expecting it will be relevant  to outcomes of fair contests. It should be but it probably won't be -- check the big fields, the wide pre-post prices.  Consider the plain unfairness of running inflated fields, especially in the 1400 &1600 'cd' races.

Nine-Media knows the score -- for the past couple of weeks they have published only the fields for Melbourne but not the long-expected detailed form guide as was usual in the SMH (if not in The Age).

When will someone ring the bell on RVL?’

 

WHY SHOULD FAIRFAX PAY WHILE TAB FINANCES MURDOCK GUIDES? 

AND in response to Peter Mair’s comments regarding THE AGE’S ‘so-called’ Form Guide, ROSS MORRISION writes:

‘THE AGE only prints a proper Form Guide for the Caulfield Guineas and Cup; Cox Plate; VRC Derby, Melbourne Cup and Stakes day meetings.

On Saturdays for the rest of the year, they only print the fields for Melbourne and Sydney.

The Age Form Guide has been like that for a number of years.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: BEFORE commenting on the above, LGHR should declare his background: Worked as Sports and Racing Editor for Townsville Bulletin; in Turf Departments of The Courier-Mail and Brisbane Telegraph when Jim Anderson and Keith Noud were Turf Editors; Racing Editor of Brisbane Sun when 'Manuel' left for greener pastures worked as Brisbane sports correspondent for Fairfax and wrote a Queensland racing column for The Sun-Herald; worked in the Racing Department of Minister Bob Gibbs for a short time and Communications and Marketting Manager for Racing Queensland in the Bob Bentley era before launching the Letsgohorseracing website.

My understand is that the reason Fairfax (SMH and The Age) gave up what were wonderful Form Guides in competition to the Murdoch Media was the decision by the TAB to finance only those published by Murdoch. Why should Fairfax pay for the same privilege and allow themselves to be treated second rate by the TAB?

 

‘PALOOKAS TRYING TO FOLLOW IN PETER CAMERON’S FOOTSTEPS ARE NOT FIT TO TIE HIS SHOE LACES’ – SHAME ON YOU MURDOCH MEDIA!

THE lack of loyalty in the Murdoch Media has been their failure to pay tribute to a great columnist and no-nonsense turf scribe who died suddenly last week.

Surely the stories doing the rounds that some of today’s crop of racing journalists in Queensland are reluctant to write an obituary about Peter Cameron is because they are scared it might offend one of his old foes.

If that’s the case what one of our contributors wrote is right:

‘Cameron’s columns in The Sunday Mail were great. These palookas trying to follow in his footsteps, like ‘Big Ben’, aren’t fit to tie his shoe laces.’

LGHR has already written our tribute to ‘The Sting’. We call on those who were closely involved with Cameron – like his former Editor, the weak-kneed Mike Quirk, to call in some old favours and ensure credit where credit is due to a loyal servant.

It seems the Cameron situation (after his death) has revived concerns about coverage in the mainstream racing media and the growing concerns he had for most of his career.

Former Corinthian winning jockey Wally Gleeson, who is locked in a war with the Brisbane Racing Club as an angry Member who has been refused Minutes of their last AGM, doesn’t have a high opinion of the Fourth Estate when it comes to race coverage in Queensland.

Wally has made a submission to the Racing Review ordered by the new LNP Government which will be forwarded to the Press Council. It focuses on perceived failures of the Media in particular when it comes to transparency and accountability of the Boards of the BRC and Racing Queensland.

There are some dynamite revelations in what Gleeson has reported to the Review, highlighted by the reason his son, Simon, resigned from the Board of the BRC Board under duress and the close relationship between BRC Board members with turf scribes and newspaper editors.

Wally Gleeson recently texted LGHR:

‘I was surprised to see Ben Dorries of The Courier Mail write a story regarding the recent resignations of heavies from the Australian Trainers Association because of  irreconsilable differences with high profile staff at Racing Queensland.

Dorries once told me he ‘doesn’t get involved in the politics of club land’. Now that things seem to have changed perhaps Ben would like to explain why:

He didn’t question the shock resignation of BRC CEO Tony Partridge in August last year and a month later the forced resignation of well respected Board Director Simon Gleeson (my son).

We are still to see the Dorries ‘Life Story’ of long serving chairman/director Neville Bell. Nor has he reported that the BRC membership, which is in the thousands, are unable to access the October 2024 AGM minutes as they are entitled to under the Corporations ACT.

ASIC has received a complaint regarding the minutes situation and we can expect to see the BRC directors under quite a bit of pressure in coming weeks. The BRC membership deserves an answer.

Here’s hoping a former turf editor, now a consultant to the BRC, isn’t advising Dorries to steer clear of any untoward publicity regarding the BRC. If so, where have the ethics of journalism gone?

The Racing Review has received a number of submissions surrounding the suppression of public interest information involving the Racing Media over the past 30 years. A few people are starting to finally realise that their pants maybe on fire.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Don't expect to see Dorries change his tune. Most believe he's in bed with the BRC. It's called a 'suck up and survive' mentality that exists in the racing media these days.

When it comes to the mainstream media they are basically a law unto themselves in what they publish and who they support whether it be racing or politics.

What needs to happen is for the Terms of Reference of the Review to include a widespread discussion of what has happened in the Racing Media in Queensland for decades.

Those making submissions should be free to provide information under a similar situation to Parliamentary Privilege so the public can learn exactly what has been going on behind the scenes for years and will continue to happen while the ‘Manuel’s’ of this world are not allowed to remote control what is written and said by racing scribes and commentators.

 

RIP PETER CAMERON – WE WILL REMEMBER YOU AS A GREAT SCRIBE

WHEN you start describing some of the great turf racing scribes, there was none quite like Peter Cameron whose sudden death has come as a shock to all of us.

‘Sting’ or ‘Paceway’ – whatever moniker you preferred – Cameron during his career in journalism earned the respect of not only his colleagues and stakeholders of the racing industry but politicians, priests and battling punters.

His columns in The Courier-Mail and later The Sunday Mail were legendary and these didn't just focus on horse racing.

‘Paceway’ – which LGHR christened him because of his stint covering the ‘red hots’ – pulled no punches and covered just about everything. 

He preferred ‘Sting’ as a nickname and that was the headline on a weekly column that was as well read as any in the Murdoch Media. It didn’t just cover racing but controversial news of the day.

Please forgive if we’ve left anything out but to our knowledge Cameron – who hailed from Ipswich – started his career with the old Country Press, later converted to AAP. He transitioned to The Courier-Mail where horse racing became his forte working as Deputy Editor eventually to the late, great Jim Anderson. And later in his working life had a stint as a feature writer for the Gold Coast Bulletin.

He and Anderson were great mates and Peter helped Jim in his attempts to win a Brisbane seat for the Liberals way back when. There was a touch of ‘pin-stripe’ in Cameron but he had just as many mates in the other side of politics, like former Racing Minister Bob Gibbs and Lord Mayor Jim Soorley.

When LGHR told long-serving Gold Coast MP, the popular Ray Stevens, of Peter’s death he responded: ‘I got on well with Peter and despite him being a (former RQ Chairman) Bentley mate we enjoyed plenty of laughs, RIP Peter.’

Cameron never stepped away from a fight. He battled to accept what he called the ‘intrusion’ of the electronic media into race day coverage and wound up in strife one day for pushing a prominent radio identity out of the way during a post-race interview with a leading trainer.

‘Sting’s’ on-going battles with Queensland’s leading race club covered many column inches and was a tale of two Racing Editors he worked with – one his mate who tolerated the criticism despite being close to the QTC and another who failed to do so because he was in bed with them.

Even in retirement Cameron claimed if he told what he knew about one of the best-known Racing Editors of his time in Queensland the bloke would wind up in jail. Sadly, he will take that information to his grave - or will he?

One of my fondest memories of Peter was when he visited Townsville to cover the Cup meeting and I was Sports Editor and racing scribe for the Bulletin. We had Cup eve on the town and wound up at the Calcutta at the old Yacht Club. It was the year the big race that Golvin was favorite for Alf Sands and Kevin Hayes bought Never Out from Sydney and landed an upset.

After an ale or two – ‘Sting’s’ favorite past-time, we headed to the Calcutta where Cameron suggested the venue, the old Yacht Club in South Townsville, was about to sink into the water. His words were prophetic, stepping inside the door a section of the wooden floor gave way under him but rescuers ensured he didn’t wind up in the swollen Ross River below. That was the year when after the Calcutta we gave a far from sober Turf Club official a lift home. When he refused to get out of the car, Cameron tossed him out into a row of rose bushes on his front lawn. The guy turned up at the races the next day with more band-aids on his face than Norman Gunston.

It was Peter who labelled me ‘Lucky’ – to this day I don’t know why – but it stuck. We were mates and colleagues for decades but lost touch in more recent times after he retired. I can still remember the eulogy Peter bravely provided at the funeral of his darling wife, Shirley, when she lost her long battle with illness. They have two wonderful siblings to carry on the Cameron legacy.

There are so many stories about the life and times of Peter Cameron that I am sure will be better told than me by two of his best mates, turf writing great Max Presnell and Bruce ‘Snowy’ Clark who regarded him as a mentor. I can’t wait to read those.

Peter had a massive heart attack and had been in an induced coma before his death. RIP ‘STING’.

 

ATA CAN NO LONGER DEAL WITH RQ LEADERSHIP TEAM, BOSSES QUIT!

IT’S an unacceptable situation when the highly-respected, hard-working bosses of an organization as important as the Australian Trainers’ Association believe they can no longer deal with the ‘leadership team’ running Racing Queensland.

Cameron Partington and Tony Fenlon have quit in frustration from their roles running the Queensland Executive of the ATA – after being told by the RQ ‘rocket scientists’ that their communications to industry stakeholders was ‘often unnecessary’ and ‘derogatory’ towards the control body.

This is yet another issue that new Racing Minister Tim Mander needs to address ASAP. Once again those running the show at RQ – whose background comes with a Degree in Corporate Bookmaking – have shown how out of touch they are with the reality of the industry and the importance of its stakeholders.

LGHR has been fortunate enough to secure a copy of a message sent on Wednesday to ATA Members from Cameron Partington which reads:

Good afternoon all.

After considerable thought over recent months - culminating in a meeting this morning with RQ Management and Racing Ops personnel - I have made a decision to step down from my position as ATA (Qld) State Executive, and our Regional Executive Tony Fenlon will do the same.

The current RQ Racing Team have made it very clear over recent months that, in their opinion, the ATA is a detrimental, and often negative influence that impacts their ability to effectively manage the statewide racing operations.

They have advised us that our communication to members and industry was often unnecessary, and furthermore, on occasions, derogatory towards them.

They also suggested the ATA interfere too often in matters that didn't concern us!

The current RQ leadership team appeared today to clearly feel more committed to listening to the complaints from staff within their racing team about the ATA, than to constructively discuss where the root of the problem, in my personal opinion, lies.

Personally I can't give any less than 100% to a cause, being working for the betterment of the industry for my members, all trainers and the greater community of racing participants. Sadly, I cannot do this working in the current RQ environment.

Out of respect for the ATA, I will stay on in a "care-taker" role until the ATA determines the future direction for Qld branch.

There will no longer be any direct ATA messages on this platform concerning Racing Operations etc. RQ have made it abundantly clear that they have adequate internal resources to manage all racing operations communications or concerns.

Hence moving forward with immediate effect…..

 “For any racing operations information or questions, call RQ direct on 38699777 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This too is a direct request from RQ, they no longer want to hear from the ATA on behalf of trainers.

If you have any concerns or questions we suggest you contact RQ General Manager - Racing, David Brick at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I've enjoyed my 15 years in this role, doing my best to look after you all. The ATA will still be an important advocate for you giving trainers a voice, and I urge you to keep your support of the ATA. Once we have a new Executive and/or Branch structure in place, I will update all trainers.

Thanks to you all and I sincerely hope the racing review saves our industry.

I hope to see many of you around the tracks in the future in whatever capacity that may be.

Regards Cam

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is not only a sad but serious situation. It’s time a new Board (we’re still waiting Mr Minister) started putting a broom through some of these ‘bums’ running the show at RQ. Send them back to the Corporate Bookmaking organizations they came from because most haven’t got a clue on how to run a racing industry let alone deal with those who do.   

 

DISPARITY IN PENALTIES FOR ‘BASHING’ HORSES NEEDS ADDRESSING

IF the ‘Perry Mason’ of racing lawyers in Queensland – Jim Murdoch KC – performs another miracle and Rockhampton trainer Tom Smith escapes with a reduced penalty on appeal for belting a horse with a poly pipe in the Callaghan Park pool, it will send a message that animal welfare is on the nose in the Sunshine State.

Our mate ARCHIE BUTTERFLY, wrote an interesting article on his subscriber-only website peterprofit.com which we know he won’t mind us republishing. Forget about the pros and cons of the appeal, this is about a disparity in penalties for this type of offence in Queensland. It reads:

AS we wait for the decision of the Racing Appeals Tribunal on Rockhampton trainer Tom Smith’s appeal against his THREE MONTHS SUSPENSION for beating a young horse mercilessly for 33 MINUTES as he tried to force it into the Callaghan Park pool, a controversy is swirling about parity in sentencing in Queensland, or the lack thereof.

In the same week that Smith’s appeal was heard, a stable hand named Chris Wearne had been DISQUALIFIED FOR 16 MONTHS after a four-year-old video of him assaulting a horse surfaced when someone handed it to the Stewards.

The video by all reports is not pretty viewing, and there is little doubt that Wearne deserved a stiff punishment for his actions, which were triggered by him having been bitten by the horse as he was attempting to hold it by the mane. Angered by the bite and acting impulsively in response, Wearne is said to have struck the horse on seven occasions during the filmed (without his knowledge) assault that lasted no more than THREE MINUTES.

We are not for a moment sticking up for Wearne or his actions because you can’t, but WHY IS IT WHAT HE DID OVER A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 180 SECONDS WITHOUT ANY WEAPONS ATTACTED A 16-MONTH DQ, WHEREAS WHAT TOM SMITH DID BY ASSAILING A HORSE ON VIDEO FOR 33 MINUTES WITH POLY PIPES (INCLUDING A PIPE THAT HE BENT IN HALF TO INCRESE ITS FORCE) AND STEEL CHAINS, TERRIFYING IT SO MUCH THAT IT FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES WHILE THE TRAINER TRIED TO FORCE IT INTO THE POOL, WAS DEEMED TO DESERVE ONY A THREE MONTH SUSPENSION?

It doesn’t make much sense and leaves no licensee with any confidence in the Stewards treating people equally by delivering like sentences for like offences.

For reasons only known to itself the Appeals Panel refused to show the recording of Smith’s attack on the horse in open court.

It will be interesting to see the film of Wearne’s attack if played at the Panel hearing should he appeal his penalty, or whether it will otherwise emerge by being leaked on social media or to the press.

For now though the extremely disparate sentences have left a lot of questions lingering - perhaps when the Stewards’ Report into the Wearne matter is released in the coming days or perhaps not.

 We will have to wait and see.

EDITOR’S NOTE: APPEALS history in Queensland has shown that Jim Murdoch KC is a genius when it comes to ‘escapology’ for licensees that many believe should have done time or received higher penalties.

Good luck to trainer Tom Smith if he joins that long list. LGHR hopes that the new-look Racing Appeals Panel sends a message and doubles or triples his penalty. If they don’t here’s hoping QRIC appeals their decision and takes the matter to a higher body.

 

IS RVL PROPERTY MANAGING QUALITY OF SATURDAY METRO MEETS?

ANOTHER interesting email from SYDNEY contributor PETER MAIR who is well versed on all things racing which reads:

‘IT is Wednesday. One should not know what will happen at Caulfield on Saturday -- the fields are out but 'should be out' better captures what's on offer.

What's on offer is another reminder of RVL not properly managing the quality of its Saturday metropolitan racing -- another likely rort, RVL chasing punting turnover (and its tax entitlement) from overcrowded low-grade events risking rough outcomes. Probably the punters will be undone-again.

Punters will bet after doing the form, expecting it will be relevant  to outcomes of fair contests. It should be but it probably won't be -- check the big fields, the wide pre-post prices.  Consider the plain unfairness of running inflated fields, especially in the 1400 &1600 'cd' races.

Nine-Media knows the score -- for the past couple of weeks they have published only the fields for Melbourne but not the long-expected detailed form guide as was usual in the SMH (if not in The Age).

When will someone ring the bell on RVL?’

 

 

 

ANOTHER SENIOR QUEENSLAND HARNESS RACING STEWARD SACKED 

THE mail is strong that yet another senior steward has parted ways with harness racing in Queensland.

LGHR has been reliably informed that QRIC has sacked Steve Shinn from the panel he has been part of – on and off for the past eight years.

We understand Shinn’s departure followed complaints about his general demeanour in dealing with licensees which was eventually determined not to be up to a standard required of a senior steward.

The dismissal of Shinn, closely on the heels of Chief Steward David Farquharson, leaves a big gap in the panel now under the Acting Chairmanship of Norm Torpey. The search has started for experienced stewards to clean up Albion Park racing before the Inter Dominion is hosted in Brisbane.

Controversy has ridden shotgun with Shinn since he made the transition from a leading reinsman to harness steward. He is best remembered for winning the 1976 Kilmore Cup on legendary pacer Pure Steel.

A member of one of Australia's most famous horse-racing families, Shinn made headlines in 2010 claiming he had been sacked from a senior harness racing job because he was gay.

Shinn, whose nephew is Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Blake Shinn, says his problems started within months of being employed as a Senior Harness Racing Steward in Western Australia.

In 2011 the STAR OBERERVOR reported that Shinn was taking his ex-employer to Fair Work Australia after claiming he was sacked for being gay for a third time in his career.

He was fired by Racing & Wagering Western Australia over what they deemed were performance issues after he stood down a fellow steward when a disagreement over rules got out of hand.

The same steward made an offensive language complaint against Shinn, and the matter became the subject of an RWWA internal inquiry and Shinn’s contract was terminated.

Shinn told the Star Observer he was not allowed to appeal the decision, question witnesses or present evidence of his own.

More than 100 Australian racing identities signed a petition calling on RWWA to grant Shinn another hearing. He reportedly made the RWWA aware of his sexuality from the start. He says previous employers made him redundant after it became known in the job.

But when he arrived to take up the job in WA he found that a false rumour that he had been fired in South Australia because his boss had caught him naked with his boyfriend was already circulating.

Two months after his sacking he learned an ex-colleague had made a complaint against another steward for making comments about Shinn’s sexuality. “In his words, the comments were so disgusting it made him feel physically ill,” Shinn told the Star Observer.

The RWWA denied Shinn’s characterisation of events and insisted it had a workplace policy covering sexuality discrimination since 2000.

IN 2022, Archie Butterfly questioned on his well-read website peterprofit.com: ‘WHERE IS STEVE SHINN’?

His report read in part:

The State Government was unable to confirm or deny that Tasmania’s Chief Harness Racing Steward Steve Shinn has been stood down and was under investigation when questioned in Parliament.

Labor’s Racing spokesman Dean Winter asked newly-appointed Racing Minister Madeleine Ogilvie: ‘What is the investigation in relation to and what do you think this says about the former Minister’s attention to matters of integrity?’

Ogilvie replied it would be inappropriate for her to comment on matters that were operational in matter and said she would have to seek advice.

Shinn had been absent for four harness meetings in Tasmania and rumours were rife about his future.

TIME SINCLAIR GOT SOME STICK RATHER THAN PLACED ON PEDESTAL’

COL DIXON, a contributor from the north, keeps LGHR on our toes when we write something he doesn’t agree with but this time we are on the same playing field with his email concerning claims that former Murdoch Media turf boss Bart Sinclair continues to control the racing media from his consultancy role with the Brisbane Racing Club.

Col wrote:

We note your columns re the ‘Power of Our Bart’. Obviously people have short memories.

In my time following racing from 1965 (I’m now 72) the biggest change in Queensland has been the introduction of the Magic Millions Carnival at the Gold Coast. Sinclair was the most vociferous voice against the Gold Coast having a metropolitan stand-alone meeting.

The success of the carnival has proved him so wrong. He also fought against the Hollindale day and Caloundra Cup days being stand-alone.

How anyone would employ him as a consultant is unfathomable. It’s about time some of his sycophants started to give him some stick rather than placing him on a pedestal.

EDITOR’S NOTE: ‘Manuel’, as I like to call him, fought against the Magic Millions but didn’t mind the trimmings that went with his positive publicity for the event. He was always first aboard the ‘junket’ to Hamilton Island provided to the media each year.

 

DOES A NUMBER 2 BEFORE A RACE AFFECT A HORSE’S PERFORMANCE?

IT’S different strokes for different folks when it comes to race day coverage for the broadcasters when they have plenty of time to spare.

SKY chose to show replays of races leading up to features on Winter Championship Day when it was left coverage-free after Rosehill and Doomben was abandoned last Saturday.

RACING.com adopted a totally different approach – and one which our feedback suggests was more appealing – when it had only the Geelong meeting to cover on Tuesday while SKY attracted the best ratings with the postponed meetings.

This contribution from one of our readers summed up the feelings of some of those who chose to watch RACING.com when the big races weren’t being run on SKY.

“MY mates and I rate TB and Hong Kong Hutchi the best comedy duo on racing TV. Their light-hearted approach makes race day coverage so much more entertaining. It’s akin to Paul Joice and Kiaarn Dickens in Queensland.

Bailey stole the show on Tuesday when he posed this question to Hitchinson, ‘Does a No 2 before a race affect the performance of a horse’?

‘I think you have lost your marbles,’ Hutchi replied.

TB: ‘We have all this statistical data available on starters – should a No 2 (poo) behind the barriers be included? I’m not so much referring to a Harry Lee (pee).’

CH: ‘Your mind works in very strange ways.’

Adam Oslanski, the racecaller at Geelong on Tuesday, chimed into the debate:

‘A bloke wrote a book 20 years ago and rated your theory viable TB,’ Adam O told TB. ‘If you can locate that book the statistical data on what can affect a horse’s performance is quite interesting.’

 

ATA ACCUSES RQ OF ABYSMAL RESPONSE TO PROGRAMMING ISSUE

TO say the Australian Trainers’ Association is unimpressed with how Racing Queensland is handling a programming issue involving the Townsville Turf Club would be an understatement.

A high profile ATA official, who never stops working hard for members, sent this text to members in the North on Tuesday, which read in part:

‘I have been negotiating with the RQ team (including the acting CEO). In my 15 years it's one of the most heartless and irrational decisions I've witnessed them make, and I've seen plenty.

I have tried to contact Graham Quirk RQ Board (who is calling me back later today).

Short story is the Maiden was within policy for them to delete, however it was a 50/50 call during good healthy times, but with the current landscape it was a 70/30 to proceed.

The C6 was 100% the wrong decision, and outside of their policy in our opinion. Their feeble reasons were:

The horses in other races had not indicated preferences (it's never the responsibility of the trainer to give preference or comments at the nomination stage. It's a requirement at acceptance stage). Within RISA the option for comments isn't even in the nomination process.

By deleting the races it's giving those abandoned horses an option now to go into other races. Isn't that what many of you have already done, hence the dual noms which they complained about?

 We apologize we couldn't get any positive response. We certainly tried. We will still talk to the RQ Board (member) later today. We urge you all to, including those not in the races but have been there before to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and give him your feedback (please ensure you copy me in This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and also contact your local media and Members of Parliament.

They have kicked you guys when you are already down. Both races should have been weighted and then a decision made tomorrow (Wednesday) at acceptance time based on your preferences and the normal policy and interpretation etc. I look forward to your email. They will hopefully back-up what we've been trying to get through to them.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: Rest assured if there is anyone on the RQ Board that can help the ATA it is Graham Quirk. What a pity he doesn’t want the Chairman’s job. The rumour doing the round is that with the current Chairman Steve Wilson on the way out – ‘girl power’ is taking over. The LNP Government is keen to be seen to promoting women to top jobs. Here’s hoping it’s not at the cost of what is supposedly happening at present on the RQ Board. LGHR is happy to print a response to this from the Acting RQ Board Chairwoman if our mail is incorrect.

 

GREG HAS BOUQUETS & BRICKBATS FOR RACING QLD THIS WEEK 

OUR latest email from regular contributor GREG BLANCHARD of the GOLD COAST reads:

‘THE poly tracks are something I'm not a great fan of but they certainly served a purpose over the weekend so bouquets to Gold Coast and Sunny Coast.

But brickbats to Racing Queensland for not getting Hong Kong apprentices here as I spoke about last week that was promised back in 2023.

I have discovered since that HK apprentice Rocky Cheung came to Western Australia earlier this year and has ridden three winners. Well done Rocky and WA Racing.

South Australia has done a sterling job since getting HK apprentices from Queensland. Yes, that’s right, we had them first.

So to use an old trotting terminology we are further back than Walla Walla when it comes to getting Asian apprentice jockeys to the Sunshine State.’

 

SADLY THERE WAS MORE OMITTED FROM THE STEWARDS’ REPORT ON THAT CONTROVERSIAL DAY IN MAREEBA THAN WAS INCLUDED IN IT

QRIC Deputy Commissioner Kim Kelly has asked Stewards officiating at the Mareeba meeting on Saturday – especially the Chief in the Far North, Paul Gillard, to answer punters concerns relating to the second race.

Here is the reply that he kindly provided to LGHR today:

‘THANK you again for the right of reply in respect of the matters which were raised in an article published on Monday, 30 March 2025. 

I have been advised that F Weiland, the trainer of Missile Thunder, and Jockey C Meehan, who rode that horse when it competed in Race 2 at the Mareeba race meeting conducted on Saturday, 29 March 2025 were formally interviewed following the race regarding the performance of the horse after it finished last of 4 runners as the $1.40 favourite, beaten 11.53 lengths.

However, the relevant explanations were not recorded in the official Stewards’ Report which was issued at the conclusion of the meeting.

I have been further advised that this was an oversight on the part of the race meeting Stewards’ Panel which has today been corrected so that the industry and public are properly informed of the situation. 

I have also been advised that the Stewards spoke with S Massingham, the trainer of both Stats and Tycoon Beau in respect of the pre-race withdrawal of those horses which resulted in the race field reducing from six runners at declaration time to four at the time the race was run.

Although both Stats and Tycoon Beau are owned in similar interests to Missile Thunder, that horse is not trained by Mr Massingham. Further, I have been informed that Mr Massigham was interviewed prior to the relevant race meeting concluding.

Unfortunately, the comments of S Massingham and the decision of the Stewards to note the comments were also not included in the official Stewards’ Report. 

Both of these matters have now been included in the official Stewards’ Report from the race meeting.

Although the Stewards in attendance at the Mareeba race meeting have accepted responsibility for the reporting oversights instanced above, as the QRIC’s responsible Deputy Commissioner, I am the person who accepts ultimate responsibility for any failures in established procedures and protocols. 

Accordingly, I have stressed to the Stewards the requirement for the racing industry and interested members of the public to be properly informed of the activities of the Stewards in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Further, I will take the necessary steps to ensure that measures are in place to, wherever possible prevent a reoccurrence of process failures. 

TALE OF 2 COMMISSIONERS, ONE DOES THE JOB, THE OTHER DIDN’T 

EDITOR’S NOTE: How different it is dealing with Kim Kelly than the former QRIC Commissioner Shane Gillard. Where he is employed today one would hope it has nothing to do with integrity in racing.

After enjoying a good working relationship with the two previous QRIC Commissioners, LGHR expected nothing would change when Gillard arrived. How wrong we were.

The first time we contacted him seeking a response to a genuine integrity question LGHR was basically told to: ‘F…k off.’ It related to whether jockeys or trainers were advised of massive blows in the prices of their horses shortly before the start.

What was relayed through a PR person for the Commissioner, who eventually shot himself in the foot, was that it was none of our business and in any case he preferred to deal with the mainstream racing media and his ‘spin doctor’ ‘Big Ben’ Dorries.

LGHR does not expect any start. We don’t care if the Murdoch Media gets the ‘exclusives’. All we ask is to be treated fairly and that for legitimate queries to be answered. That is what we are getting from Kim Kelly which shows why racing integrity under his leadership – along with the support of the new QRIC Commissioners - is on an upward spiral.

The only comment we want to make about the Mareeba fiasco is that the caller who told us we wouldn’t have been interested had Gillard not been involved was only half right. We follow up on any legitimate integrity concerns raised with us, which this was.

As for Gillard we never have and never will rate him as a steward and what happened here proves our point – there was more information concerning Race 2 omitted from the official Stewards’ Report than that which was included.

It’s noble of Kim Kelly to accept responsibility for what occurred but he needs to be able to rely on his troops to do the right thing. The bottom line here, LGHR believes, is that these horses are raced by a prominent owner who some believe North Queensland racing relies on to survive.

No-one is bigger than the sport and no official should think that it is better to ‘look the other way’ where his horses are concerned. Sadly, the majority of those who called us in relation to this incident had one message – that Paul Gillard might feel intimidated by a powerful ownership bearing the Hedley name. Let’s hope that isn’t the case.

           

 

QLD RACING NEEDS MORE QUICK-THINKING DECISIONS LIKE THIS 

FULL marks to whoever was responsible for the quick-thinking decision to postpone the washed-out Doomben meeting to coincide with the one at Rosehill that suffered a similar fate.

This required a team effort which we don’t see often enough in Queensland racing where the Brisbane Racing Club and Racing Queensland agreed to a suggestion from the Trainers’ Association.

No it isn’t an April Fools’ Day joke, LGHR is actually writing something positive and praising those responsible for today’s double-header.

Linking with the blockbuster Group1 Day in Sydney was a no-brainer. Racing on a Tuesday won’t attract the same turnover as a Saturday but linking Doomben with the block-buster in Sydney certainly adds a lot more appeal to punters than a normal midweek day.

Stewards gave Doomben every chance of racing on Saturday but the weather gods were not on their side. The same occurred at Rosehill where Steve Railton and his panel have faced unwarranted criticism for their decision.

Robbie Waterhouse led the voice of disapproval at the postponement. One would have thought he had been around long enough not to want to compromise jockey and horse safety.

It has been well documented that LGHR is not a fan of racing on the POLY tracks but without those it would have been a race-less weekend in south-east Queensland.

We received a timely-reminder of this from regular contributor GREG BLANCHARD of the GOLD COAST with this email:

‘THE poly tracks are something I'm not a great fan of but they certainly served a purpose over the weekend so bouquets to the Gold Coast and Sunny Coast clubs.’

In the wake of the weekend washouts the splendid job that Clifford Park did to run the King of the Mountain Race meeting last Friday has somewhat flown under the radar.

In the trying conditions of rain and fog that Toowoomba can throw up, racing proceeded with jockeys, trainers, owners and commentators braving the elements. How Anthony Collins managed to so accurately call each race without making a mistake shows that he is up there with the best callers in the State. Weather-beaten SKY duo of Paul Joice and Kiaarn Dickens were priceless as usual

The Toowoomba Turf Club needs finance to replace an aging lighting system. It’s not as though the Government or Racing Queensland has an excess of funds but this one needs high priority.

‘Big Ben’ Dorries, who doubles as a ‘spin doctor’ for the Brisbane Racing Club reported last week that:

A major issue for racing in South East Queensland, at least for premier club the Brisbane Racing Club, is Eagle Farm’s dilapidated John Power grandstand.

An August 2026 deadline has been set for the redevelopment of the grandstand with BRC boss Karl deKroo warning Queensland’s racing headquarters risks falling into “wrack and ruin” within the next two years if significant upgrades aren’t undertaken.

Asked about the issue and whether racing needed world-class facilities to attract new people, (Racing Minister) Tim Mander said: “We want to ensure modern and fit for purpose racing infrastructure is in place across the entire state.

“I have spoken to the BRC and Racing Queensland regarding the Eagle Farm grandstand and we will continue to engage with them.”

Just when we were trying to be nice, LGHR has to question whether a grandstand, primarily for the use of Members, should get priority over needed infrastructure projects at other TAB clubs, like the lighting requirements for night racing at Toowoomba, which benefit the general racing public.

Eagle Farm needs to be a first class facility, even if the only time they get big crowds is for major Winter Carnival days. With all due respects to Mr deKroo and his Directors the paying public have to be given priority over the Members (after all the club isn’t even prepared to provide some of those with the Minutes of their last AGM - another story).

And while ‘Big Ben’ is doing another ‘suck up and survive’ job protecting his free lamb chops and booze in the Directors’ Room on race days, perhaps he should be doing his job as an award-winning turf scribe and asking some serious questions about the BRC AGM rather than kicking up for the club to get more millions at the expense of the industry. Just how much was spent getting the new Eagle Farm track right and who paid for it?

 

NOT ONE QUESTION ASKED ABOUT $1.4FAV IN MAREEBA FINISHING  11 LENS FROM WINNER – HOW DOES PAUL GILLARD RETAIN HIS JOB?

TRAINERS and jockeys call him ‘Lucky Star’ – the ‘I’ve Been Everywhere Man’ of the Stewards’ Panel in Queensland for close on two decades now.

Last Saturday, Paul Gillard was the ‘de facto chairman’ at the Mareeba meeting doing what he does best – ‘SFA’, excuse the French, ‘sweet f…k all!’

The official Stewards’ Report shows that Ashleigh Holzhauser was Chairman of the meet in Far North Queensland but last call she was nearing end of 'cadetship' under Gillard's tutorlege.

In response to this story, QRIC Deputy Commissioner Kim Kelly was quick to reply:

'THANK you for providing me with the right of reply in respect of the issues raised regarding Race 2 at the Mareeba race meeting conducted last Saturday, 29 March 2025. 

I have spoken to the relevant Stewards and directed them to provide me with a comprehensive report regarding the issues raised. I anticipate that I will be in a position to respond to the various matters no later than tomorrow.'

Gillard unfortunately shares the same surname as the recently resigned QRIC Commissioner, Shane, but we don’t believe the pair is related. Sadly, it is no secret that Labor-appointed my-way-or-the-highway Shane rated boofhead Paul one of his best stewards – which shows why the policing of racing in Queensland got into the mess it was until recent times.

The bad news for new Deputy Commissioner at QRIC, highly-respected Kim Kelly, an internationally experienced steward, is that he has inherited the ‘baggage’ from the Shane Gillard era and beyond. And there’s plenty of it.

Former RQ Chief Stewards Steve Railton and Alan Reardon reportedly refused to employ Paul Gillard on the permanent panel (for reasons of their own). But when their services were dispensed with during the Bob Bentley era, he secured that elusive spot courtesy of the new boss of the Integrity Department Dr Bob Mason. More than being an overdue appointment it was a case of ‘Kiss My Arse for Good Luck’.

LGHR was front and centre at RQ in those days. Rest assured the promotion wasn’t for his stewarding ability but more so his ‘surveillance’ tactics off the track (in the office at RQ they called him Maxwell Smart) on behalf of the ‘Good Doctor’ and his First Lieutenant who then Chairman Bentley labelled the ‘Rottweiler’.

Gillard wore his welcome as a steward out quickly in so many places (largely because of mistakes he made) and received so many postings that he became known as the ‘I’ve Been Everywhere Man’ of the Stewards’ Panel.

There was a time when he became the regular Chief Steward at the Gold Coast – where Kim Kelly cut his teeth – and when the news filtered through before the first that weak-kneed ‘Pauly’ would be in charge, a rousing cheer would go up in the Jockeys’ Room.

We could go on forever with stories about him but back to Saturday’s meeting at Mareeba and whether Gillard was in charge or not the buck stops with him.

Rather than LGHR tell you what happened, here’s an email that we received from a regular racegoer in the north who wants to dodge the ‘kickback’ from Gillard and has used a ‘non-de-plume’ but rest assured among racing stakeholders he is better respected than the Steward himself. It reads:

‘ON a balmy Saturday afternoon, Race Two at Mareeba was an Open Plate run over 1210m on a Heavy 8 surface with four combatants to face the starter. 

The $1.40 favourite MISSILE THUNDER was first-up for new trainer Fred Wieland. Under the set weights conditions of the race, the weight spread was only 4.5kg prior to any allowances meaning that 82 rated MISSILE THUNDER as opposed to carrying 66.5kg under normal true weights was extremely well in with 61.5kg allocated. The same impost as the 64 rated STRATEGIST. 

This was further substantiated by the fact that the race was stood up by other horses from a different trainer but from the same ownership group that were, to the surprise of no-one, including the Stewards’ Panel who failed to ask a solitary question, subsequently scratched to ensure the race went ahead. 

From gate 1 MISSILE THUNDER ambled through to take the lead, however gave ground from the 600m to finish a distant 11.53 lengths from the winner GULF OF LION which had coincidentally sat outside of MISSILE THUNDER in the run. 

Now, under normal circumstances you would have hoped that the Stewards’ Panel who are commissioned to maintain all things integrity during the conduct of race meetings, might have asked a few questions of the connections of the well beaten $1.40 favourite and if the planets aligned, even engaged the local cat and dog vet to cast an eye over said beast post-race. 

Alas not a single action was taken and the former ‘champion’ North Queensland juvenile was whisked away after his first-up failure.

It is envisaged that when the ‘stoopids’ from the local window-licking integrity unit wake from their slumber and fabricate a paragraph to place into their ‘reviewed’ fictitious report on Monday, it will go somewhat along the lines of:

“When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of MISSILE THUNDER, trainer Fred Wieland was at a loss to explain the performance other than to suggest that the gelding was first-up for his stable, however had been working well in preparation for today’s event. Jockey Chris Meehan stated that MISSILE THUNDER had begun well and taken up a forward position however approaching the 600m the horse was placed under pressure and gave ground. Jockey Meehan stated that the gelding didn’t appreciate the prevailing heavy track conditions and that the gelding would derive fitness improvement from the run. Trainer Wieland concurred with jockey Meehan’s assessment and gave an undertaking to Stewards to report any conditions that may come to light on the gelding’s poor performance in the coming days. Stewards noted the explanations tendered.”

Historically, that’s how the narrative goes. In addition to that bullshit response, the ‘everywhere man’ of Queensland racing integrity should also embargo the horse for one, a Vet Certificate and two, a further barrier trial to the satisfaction of Stewards prior to resuming racing. 

QRIC is responsible for protecting the punters, not cupping the balls of leviathan ownership consortiums.

‘KENNETH from KOAH’.

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS is just another black eye for racing in Queensland caused by one of the most experienced but arguably worst performing stewards on the Panel. LGHR has expressed our views about Paul Gillard to Kim Kelly and wished him the best in dealing with this boofhead. He has been invited to respond to the above email. Our suggestion: Fire him out of a canon in Mareeba landing on Magnetic Island where he would be better suited running the TOAD RACES at the Arcadia Pub.    

 

NO APRIL FOOL’S DAY JOKE FOR DOOMBEN TO RACE ON TUESDAY

WHAT a smart, forward-thinking move it would be by the gurus at Racing Queensland to postpone Saturday’s washed out Doomben meeting to next Tuesday.

Not only will it ensure that owners, trainers and jockeys receive the ‘goodies’ that should have been distributed four days earlier but it would create a betting bonanza with the big Randwick meeting to be run on Tuesday as well.

The cynics would of course be saying that those now running the show at RQ, who graduated with a Degree in Corporate Bookmaking, were once again looking after the interests of their former bosses.

But who cares – there are no losers in decisions like this that we rarely see from the Deagon rocket-scientists – as long as the prizemoney is distributed to all concerned and the turnover on the day is terrific.

Hang on a sec – what’s the date of Tuesday – April 1^st – let’s not make this a Fool’s Day joke. Come on RQ make it happen!

 

ROSEHILL SALE REACHING JOKE STATUS – WHY POSTPONE THE VOTE?

CAN you imagine the Prime Minister calling off the upcoming Federal Election a few days before we were to vote because he was concerned the result might not be going his way?

That’s what some critics are claiming is the reason for the vote on the $5 billion sale of Rosehill Gardens Racecourse being postponed to allow more time for a new alternative course to be put forward.

Members of the Australian Turf Club were due to vote on the proposed sale on Thursday but that has now been postponed until May 12.

Racing NSW said in a statement on its website that the decision ‘follows concerns’ from members of the ATC and racing industry participants that the information on a replacement course was ‘insufficient’.

The Friday afternoon move by Racing NSW to delay the vote has been slammed by the Save Rosehill group as a ‘blatant attempt to silence your vote’, claiming the majority of members have already voted against the resolutions.

Here’s what regular SYDNEY contributor PETER MAIR has to say on an issue he is well informed on:

RUMBLING ROSEHILL --- PAUSE FOR REFLECTION 

‘IT was prescient to say, two weeks ago, that it was too early to unravel the nonsense around the 'sale of Rosehill'. 

Whatever may have been going on, not all the cards played in this game have been played on top of the table.

Recall a story published by The Straight on 17 March:

https://thestraight.com.au/an-informed-decision-the-questions-atc-members-still-want-answered-ahead-of-the-rosehill-vote/

Reflect on these believe-it-or-not extracts:

• .......... one would think that the role of Racing NSW would be crucial....the hands-off approach of those at Druitt Street, .......has been intriguing.

• McGauran is unequivocal that it will be the ATC’s money to manage, and the regulator won’t control the funds of any sale.

• McGauran ....... reiterated his belief that the members have everything they need to make an informed vote.

• ..... certainly committed to razing Warwick Farm to the ground........ ........so that Group 1 racing can return to this western Sydney racecourse.

With the 'sale-or-no sale' 3 April vote postponed to12 May, will the rumbling ahead of that be an open book?

............ one dare not speculate on who may be the stringmaster?’

 

REVIEW CALLED ON TO INVESTIGATE ‘CONTROL’ OF RACING MEDIA

IF the Terms of Reference allow, the forthcoming ‘widespread’ Review into the three codes of Racing in Queensland will be asked to investigate ‘control’ and ‘intimidation’ of the mainstream racing media.

The accepted belief is that former News Limited Turf Editor Bart Sinclair, a long-time, loyal servant of the former QTC and now BRC, has an ‘unhealthy’ influence over the written and spoken word on Queensland racing by the working media.

Sinclair, rewarded for his years of service to the major club with a consultancy which one of our contributors claims is worth around $175,000, has a vested interest in wanting to ‘control’ his former and present media colleagues which smacks of a major conflict of interest.

The ill-feeling between he and Peter Bredhauer, a well-known racing identity who has participated in almost every aspect of racing, has been well documented. They fell out after Bredhauer overheard pressure being put on the then Racing Appeals Panel Chairman by a high profile racing official and a prominent steward many moons ago when he was dining at Tatt’s Club. Sinclair got to hear of what Bredhauer was saying through a friend of a friend and reported the matter back to the Steward in question.

This caused a major blow-up with Bredhauer hauled into the Stewards’ Room. It ended up being discussed by the Board of Queensland Racing at the time and led to some serious repercussions for those involved. Bredhauer, who has been involved in racing as a QR Board member, Director of a City Club; on the Racing Appeals Panel, as a breeder, owner, amateur jockey, racecaller etc, has been at war with Sinclair ever since. He even had a Chief Steward hauled before the RQ Board to answer allegations that the Turf Scribe was allegedly running messages from the Jockeys’ Room to the Bookies’ Ring – something that was vehemently denied by the Chief Stipe of the Day.

Bredhauer was a Guest Speaker at a Country Racing Australia Conference where he raised some controversial issues about the racing media in Queensland under Sinclair’s influence including serious allegations about telephone links to the Press Box followed by plunges on ‘one goers’ in Sydney racing along with another specific address which he called ‘The Sinclair File’. Ironically, the scribe he labelled ‘The Maggot’ , took no legal action over what Bredhauer had to say publicly. That unfortunate nickname was raised during discussions about the media running race day messages from jockeys to bookies during the Daubney-Rafter Commission of Inquiry.

THERE’S STILL PLENTY OF FIGHT IN THE ‘MAGGOT-HUNTING DOG’

NOT in the best of health in recent times – and living an almost secluded life from racing on his farm on the Darling Downs – there is still some fight left in the dog. Having seen an old amateur riding mate Wally Gleeson, frustrated in his attempts to get a copy of the Minutes of the last AGM of the BRC, Bredhauer has again fired up with a dynamite and damning letter to the Review planned by the LNP Government. His criticism of Sinclair claims interference with the racing media on behalf of the BRC leading to censorship of the BRC AGM. Bredhauer wants his day before the Inquiry to revive his Sinclair ‘bashing’ which have never died.

Add to that Wally Gleeson has – or is planning to – call on the Review to look into ‘unhealthy’ links between the BRC and the mainstream racing media and who is responsible for what he believes is ‘control’ of what is or should be written on some contentious issues. This situation goes far beyond the turf scribes and now involves Editors who have ‘social’ links with Directors of major clubs. Nothing wrong with that provided this ‘friendship’ isn’t being used to censor controversial issues involving the clubs in question.

LGHR experienced the ‘Hand of God’ in the racing media when he worked alongside Sinclair for far too long. Although he was made redundant when The Daily Sun was closed – after rejecting an offer some time earlier to work alongside Sinclair at The Courier-Mail – LGHR knew his days as a racing scribe were numbered. He had been virtually sacked as harness racing writer for failing to toe the line for critcizing too many high profile identities.

Ironically he was removed from the job for doing what he was told to do when employed by the then boss of The Sun. ‘No more of this spin doctor shit for the red hots,’ was the instruction. But when that Editor left and a new ‘no talent reject’ arrived from two-head territory to takeover things changed. That Editor was wined and dined by the powers-that-be who convinced him that LGHR should be replaced as the harness writer. It was taken more as a compliment because the Editor in question wasn’t fit to park cars let alone control what was published in a major newspaper. Then again that’s how the Murdoch Media works – those who do the boss’s bidding politically and business wise are the ones who survive and get the promotions.

Race writing – not only in Queensland but especially even in NSW – is a ‘suck up and survive’ profession – with not an ounce of the principles and respect that some of the great turf writers once attracted and deserved.

 

‘GOLDILOCKS’ & ‘CRYING CHRIS’ SHARE A BOX OF ‘SLIPPER’ TISSUES

AND with some reference to the SYDNEY racing media, WALLY the WALLER HATER from MELBOURNE sent this tongue-in-cheek email:

‘WONDERING why you didn’t see too much of Waller’s main media man slinking around in front of the SKY cameras at Rosehill last Saturday?

Story goes that ‘Goldilocks’ and ‘Crying Chris’ were sharing a box of tissues in a corner of the parade ring after the Waller stable was the bridesmaid with certainties beaten – Aeliana in the Rosehill Guineas, Fangirl in the George Ryder Stakes and Wodeton in the Golden Slipper.

Just imagine, with an ounce of luck Waller would have won four Group Ones’s on the card, having saddled up the successful Via Sistina in the Ranvet Stakes. The SKY scenes would have been sickening.

‘Crying Chris’ would have been holding back tears of joy and ‘Goldilocks’ would have been doing three laps of leapfrog aboard his good mate in enclosure scenes reminiscent to the day a Prime Minister and a millionaire owner did likewise after the Slipper won by Bel De Jour.

Waller stable jockey JMac summed up the feelings of most punters to anicety when he quipped: ‘You win some, you lose some.’

 

WHEN IS AN ABANDONED RACE NOT AN ABANDONED RACE – IN QLD?

AN old colleague RAY SEE sent this interesting email. Ray is never one to criticize racing in Queensland which he writes a well-read blog about on Facebook:

WHEN is an Abandoned Race not Abandoned - only in Queensland?

After watching the replay of Race 7 at Ipswich last Friday, I was very shocked to look at the results on both racingaustralia.horse and racingqueensland.com.au to see that the race had been ‘abandoned’, because apart from a runner being declared a late scratching by vets behind the barriers and another runner jumping awkwardly I could see no reason that the race had been ‘abandoned’.

I straight away thought that it might have been that old chestnut of the barriers for the race being set up at the incorrect starting point (which I can remember happening at least twice at TAB meetings) but checking the time for the race I could see it was run over the correct distance of 1350m.

I then checked corporate bookmakers and thought they haven't shown the race as being abandoned, with both TAB and Sportsbet showing they were paying on the race.

I also rang someone I know who had a runner and they confirmed that the race wasn't abandoned.

Luckily I took screenshots of both the RQ and Racing Australia websites, otherwise I might now be thinking that I had one too many head knocks in my younger days and was now paying the cost with early onset dementia.

As you can see in the photo (that LGHR has published in association with this article) that RQ definitely put up that the race was abandoned and Racing Australia even added that the race was ABANDONED at 4.56 PM due to......?

That has now been updated of course.

I just cannot wait to read the Stewards Report.

EDITOR’S NOTE: WE thank QRIC Deputy Commissioner KIM KELLY for his response to this issue which states:

'I am advised that the subject race was not abandoned and that the official result of the race stands.

I have been informed that there had been an error in the national race result system which briefly resulted in the race incorrectly showing as having been abandoned.

QRIC staff identified the issue shortly after the race and rectified the error last Friday. The race is now displayed correctly on the Racing Australia and Racing Queensland websites.'

 

GOVERNMENT & RACING – BAD POLICY v GOOD POLITICS

REGULAR Sydney contributor PETER MAIR sent this interesting email:

THE Australian racing industry is unsettled and no one seems to know what to do next.

State politicians, also unsettled, are buying time with more and less wide ranging racing industry reviews – reviews typically contrived to make findings more consistent with the 'good politics' of doing nothing different bar digging the hole deeper.

One question deserving attention is about ministerial responsibility – the confusion of being either the 'minister for racing', an ally promoting the industry, or a more open-minded disposition of a 'racing minister' independently regulating racing in the best interests of the industry and the wider community. Sadly the long standing answer to this question is consistent with the appointed ministers being 'the minister for racing'.

One illustration is the Queensland minister for racing recently announcing an inquiry that attracted this comment: ......the proposal currently tabled for an independent inquiry into racing in Queensland is fundamentally flawed. The tone and content of the media release is only consistent with a direction - from the Minister -- for any inquiry to be anything other than independent.

Subsequently, in NSW, the government's few-words response to the report on 'the Rosehill matter' was a bland intention to review the Thoroughbred Racing Act presumably under the direction of the minister for racing. We need to know more.

[This response prompted recall of an earlier review of this legislation when the then minister for racing announced, on a Saturday morning that nothing needed to be done (this, after submissions only closed the day before) – told to reconsider made no difference]

Not to single-out NSW, when all-states are equally at fault, but there are risks in the NSW government's inclination to appoint previous ministers for racing to the board of RacingNSW. One risk is that ministers with an eye to post-politics appointments will be compromised in their role as the minister – such possible problems are best avoided.

[Again, not to labour the point, these concerns prompt recall of the contrived demise of a NSW racing minister a couple of decades ago – a racing minister inclined to intervene in ways the industry objected to, was undermined and finally deposed with a few words in a Sunday-paper story saying the government and the industry had lost confidence in him.]

As for Victoria – what can one say. Some was said, and published, a few months ago in the context of RVL diverting prize-money from the newly elevated G1 'All Star Mile' to fund $100,000 maiden races in rural Victoria on Sundays. Almost beyond credible belief.

Beyond that, a golden era for Victorian racing can be recalled from the 2000s. The racing minister, Rob Hulls, was the deputy premier; Michael Duffy, the chairman of RVL was a former federal cabinet minister and Rob Hines was the CEO of RVL. Victorian racing, then 'the best in the world' has sadly since been in steady decline.

It would now be best to avoid racing reviews akin to the rigidity of pre-cast concrete.

Correspondence to those responsible, raising issues about racing industry policy, are sometimes acknowledged – sometimes apparently read – but always ignored and never encouraged.

 

MORE PROOF OF WHAT RACING IN QUEENSLAND IS MISSING OUT ON

GREG BLANCHARD, of the GOLD COAST, another regular contributor, reminded Racing Queensland what it is missing out as a result of the bureaucratic bungle that prevents overseas apprentices from riding here.

‘INTERESTING to note that at the First Round of the Apprentices National Series, Hong Kong’s Isaac Sitt, representing South Australia, won both races. He is a real talent.

The series is a good opportunity for many apprentices to ride against other apprentices from different states.

What happened to Queensland getting Hong Kong apprentices which we were told would happen back in 2023? Ho hum – nothing – what a surprise.

I hope this forthcoming Racing Review does something about the lack of not only bush jockeys but also track riders throughout the state.

We will never have enough of our own riders and must look to Asia to be a part of the solution to a problem that won’t go away. God, I am sick of saying this.’

 

ANDREW MALLYON HAS HIS ‘GOOD & BAD DAYS’ ON THE JOB

WE all have our good and bad days on the job – top jockey Andrew Mallyon is a classic example.

Some days his rides are up there with the best in the land and others he performs like an inexperienced apprentice.

Sadly, from a punters perspective, some of those bad rides are on well backed runners.

LGHR makes no secret that we believe Mallyon is one of the best jockeys on his day but on others his rides prove somewhat bizarre. Plunged favourite Field Of Myrtle in Race 7 at Doomben on Saturday was one of those occasions.

The ride also attracted the attention of RQ Stewards’ Chairman Josh Adams and his panel, who reported:

WHEN questioned regarding Jockey A. Mallyon’s riding of FIELD OF MYRTLE in the middle stages and on entering the home straight, in particular if Jockey Mallyon had an opportunity to improve his position from the 600m onwards, Jockey Mallyon stated that after riding the mare two starts prior at Ipswich and after examining the footage of the mare’s previous start at Eagle Farm, he was of the opinion that FIELD OF MYRTLE could not sustain being placed under pressure too early in the event and was better suited to being exposed to a short, sharp sprint.

He added that his early assessment was that GALWAY HUSSLER and HERMANITA had established a genuine tempo which in his opinion, both horses would be unable to sustain, so on straightening he was comfortable in how the mare was travelling without placing FIELD OF MYRTLE under full pressure. He further added that passing the 300m; after placing the mare under pressure, FIELD OF MYRTLE responded strongly to his riding and finished the race off in a positive manner.

He added in hindsight, he should have put greater emphasis on the apprentice claim on HERMANITA and should have exposed the mare further out than what he did.

Trainer M. Dunn when questioned stated that he also was of the opinion that the mare had a short, sharp sprint but was of the opinion that Jockey Mallyon erred in not placing the mare under pressure earlier on straightening.

Stewards advised both A. Mallyon and M. Dunn that they intend on adjourning to review the wagering on the race and the previous race starts of the mare to a time and date to be fixed.

PUNTERS confidence will continue to build if Stewards ask more questions like this. Here’s hoping their inquiries in the Fields of Myrtle case venture down the road of Betfair to see if any ‘smart’ punters were keen to ‘lay’ the plunged favourite. Even if no action is taken Stewards will still have fired a shot across the bows and let trainers and jockeys know that times have changed in Queensland racing for the better.

 

CAN LEAP TO FAME & AN INTER DOMINION SAVE ALBION PARK FROM OBLIVION? THE ‘RED HOTS’ IN QLD HAVE REACHED THE CROSSROADS 

THE question needs to be asked and answered: Is it too late to save harness racing at Albion Park?

Loyal supporters of the sport that has all but hit rock bottom have their hopes pinned on an Inter Dominion in July with the blockbuster drawcard of local champion Leap To Fame, arguably the best pacer in the world.

But a legion of fans (especially punters) who plan to return for the Inter Dominion Series insist their visit will be fleeting – with none prepared any longer to gamble their hard-earned on the ‘red hot’ regular Saturday night racing at Albion Park.

It’s refreshing to see a new APHRC CEO in James Waddell highlighting his goal to return the Creek to its halcyon days – good luck mate but all your hard work will be in vain if the ‘ferals’ continue to organize races at the 'Creek' on a weekly basis.

Most know who they are and how long they have been operating without any action taken by the ‘harness police’ under the leadership of David Farquharson, who ended his controversial role as Chief Stipe last week. Those at the coalface say QRIC wasn’t happy with the job he was doing and decided the buck for the on-going problems at Albion Park stopped with him.

Veteran Norm Torpey has been appointed Acting Chief Steward until a national and international search is completed for a replacement for Farquharson. His appointment doesn’t sit well with long-time Albion Park punters who insist he has been on the front-line of the ordinary ‘policing’ of the sport over the years that has seen it go down-hill.

LGHR is hopeful with the guidance of QRIC Deputy Commissioner, Kim Kelly, that Torpey might start holding a few running and handling inquiries and investigating some suspicious races.

It would appear that a significant step toward limiting the involvement of a former top trots bookmaker-turned-punter in his association with trainers and drivers seems to have been circumvented. If you want to read more about that log-on to Archie Butterfly’s informative website, peterprofit.com. Surely QRIC is aware of some of the concerns 'The Butterfly' has raised.

It’s a shame that there is no longer a dedicated harness writer with the daily ‘fish and chips’ wrapper. Instead the stories they publish, although well written, are from the harness racing ‘spin doctor’ Adam Hamilton. Don't expect anything controversial there.

And if you thought there might be an expose on Radio TAB, think again. Firstly, it’s priority is to promote betting on the three codes. We shouldn’t need to explain to the rocket scientists running the show that if there is no punter confidence in harness racing it needs to be fixed and if that means bad publicity so be it.

Then we have the Harness ‘Hall of Famer’ and former Chairman of Albion Park, David ‘Feathers’ Fowler, who has to know what’s going on at Albion Park (we’ve received several emails pointing out who some of his associates are). His program Press Room, when it isn’t being used to promote political mates in the industry, refuses to enter into any form of controversy – like just who is organising the ‘boat races’ at Albion Park and why the BRC won’t release the minutes of its last AGM.

Later this week LGHR has a story planned on how the ‘media’ continues to be controlled when it comes to coverage of racing in Queensland and who benefits most from this?

A former high profile and respected administrator and industry identity (with a media background) has made a submission to the Review the LNP Government has ordered into the three codes of racing in Queensland and there are some dynamite claims in what he has to say. Once he was a voice crying in the wilderness on this issue but now he has strong support from a couple of key players. Who knows LGHR might even weigh into the debate!

At the end of the day it will be interesting to see if new Racing Minister Tim Mander is prepared to keep funding a minor code that continues to shoot itself in the foot – not only on the track but off it. And don’t think for one moment the BRC AGM fiasco has been swept under the carpet. It is very much alive and kicking.

 

OUR PROPHECY ABOUT DAMIEN LANE PROVED CORRECT IN SLIPPER 

IT was only a week after LGHR suggested that the Boy from Bunbury, Damien Lane, would prove just as successful as James Mcdonald given the same opportunities that he rides the Golden Slipper winner.

In a touch of irony it was JMac aboard Wodeton who finished the closest of seconds to Lane on Marhoona, the last horse to qualify for a start in the world’s richest two-year-old but the first home.

JMac, the world's best rider, still had a big day out enjoying Group 1 success on Via Sistina (Ranvet Stakes) and Broadsiding (Rosehill Guineas) along with Autumn Glow at her comeback in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes.

But it could have been even better – a wide trip cost Fangirl success in the Group 1 George Ryder (beaten in a photo by Gringotts) and Wodeton looking the winner a stride out in the Golden Slipper but Marhoona getting the bob in on the line.

Lane answered a late ‘call-up’ to ride the Michael Freedman-trained filly the $5 million Two-Year-Old Classic. “He’s a champion rider. We were lucky to get a jockey of his calibre at such a late stage.

“Damian gave the filly an amazing ride. We had a chat (in the) morning about where we thought she might end up in the run. When I saw him peel off heels at the top of the straight I though we are a chance here.”

Lane said Marhoona jumped well, settled into a forward position and enjoyed a good run throughout the race. “She was great. She's obviously been prepped perfectly for this, just peaking on the day. Not often you come up with a plan and execute it perfectly in Group 1 races.

“It really played out how we thought it might and she was great. She just was there to be beaten at the 100m and when Wodeton got to us, she really stuck at it, so very brave.”

Marhoona pulled up shine sore having only her third start in the Slipper, adding even further merit to the win. She will now spell with Freedman already planning an ambitious spring campaign that could include a start in the $20mn The Everest.

One would assume that Wodeton and Tempted, placegetters in the Slipper, are now likely to have a rematch in the Sires and perhaps even the Champagne Stakes. The run of Tempted has largely flown under the radar after being checked on straightening.

 

 

GOVERNMENT AND NEW MINISTER MANDER DETERMINED TO REPAIR IMAGE OF QLD RACING INDUSTRY AFTER INHERTING A ‘BASKET CASE’

THEY might have been slow out of the barriers but the new LNP Government and its Racing Minister Tim Mander now have a desperately-needed agenda designed to resurrect the integrity image of the three codes in Queensland after inheriting a ‘basket case’ from their predecessors.

The Grace Grace era of industry control will be remembered for some positives overshadowed by the major negative of her appointment of Shane Gillard whose ‘my-way-or-the-highway’ mentality as QRIC Commissioner arguably made Queensland racing the laughing stock of the nation.

Gillard eventually fell on his sword but the damage has been done and it has been left to a new Racing Minister and a new panel of QRIC Commissioners, headed by the highly-respected former Paralympics Australia boss Catherine Clark, to pick up the pieces.

LGHR found it rather ironic to wake to the headline in the daily ‘fish and chips’ wrapper announcing: ‘NEWLY appointed QRIC Deputy Commissioner KIM KELLY is confident there won’t be a repeat of previous regime’s budget blowouts.’

At least the story was written by the CM’s new young gun turf scribe Daniel Pace and not the ‘old hack’ Ben Dorries. It would have been rather hypocritical for ‘Big Ben’ to praise the appointment of Kelly after he virtually become the ‘spin doctor’ for former Commissioner Gillard who refused to talk to websites, like LGHR, because we dared to criticize him for performing like a prize goose.

Those close to the coalface have been walking a tightrope in recent weeks firstly waiting to see if internationally experienced steward Kim Kelly would apply to continue permanently in his Acting Deputy Commissioner role and if he did whether the new Government would want him.

Kelly doesn’t need the money but wants to contribute back to the racing state that gave him his start. He wanted to see how the trial period in the job would go and decided it was worth the challenge. As for whether Racing Minister Mander wanted Kelly in the job well that was a ‘given’.

For the time being at least there is no suggestion that QRIC will be dismantled. That, of course, is contingent on costs. Some might say what price integrity but the LNP believes the blowout under Labor has been unacceptable.

As the CM reported:

KELLY had been the QRIC’s Acting Deputy Commissioner since September but now has been formally handed the keys to help drive the Commission’s management, culture and reforms.

It comes at an important time for the industry, with ex-Australian Turf Club chairman Matt McGrath heading up a comprehensive review into Queensland racing.

Racing Minister Mander announced the release of a key discussion paper early this month, with one of the priorities of the Review being to further strengthen the integrity of Queensland’s racing industry.

Submissions to the discussion paper end next Sunday.

“I’m confident that the QRIC is in very strong hands, particularly with Catherine Clark as the Commissioner and Chantal Raine as a Deputy Commissioner,” Kelly told News Ltd.

“I’m very confident that the Commission is in very good hands as far as the financial aspects of the organisation and the governance of the organisation are concerned.

“Now I’ve got my part to play in that in regards to the operational aspects of the organisation but as far as those other matters are concerned, I’ve got supreme confidence that QRIC is in a better position now than it was on the 12^th of September when we took over.

“I have no doubt about that, I’m very confident in that respect.

“Now that’s a work in motion, it’s a fluid thing, because you’re always trying to be better.

“The minute that you think you’re as good as you can possibly be, well it’s time to get out and let someone else do the job because it means you’re not going to progress.

“There’re things that can be done better for sure. They’re not just click-your-finger events, they don’t happen overnight, but they are in progress.”

CHANGES are already evident since the new-look QRIC became operational and we are told even more is happening behind the scenes. Punters believe the removal of Harness Racing Chief Steward David Farquharson in the past week was long overdue.

In the eyes of many the jury is out on his gallops counterpart, Josh Adams, who is said to have had an on-again off-again relationship with Shane Gillard. He has a bit of work to do to win the confidence of punters who still believe there is a ‘smell’ about the way certain races, especially those involving a particular stable, are run in south-east Queensland.

Finding a suitable steward to clean-up the Albion Park ‘red hots’ sounds like a mission impossible but Kelly says it needs to be done before the Brisbane-hosted Inter-dominion later this year.

QRIC has received intelligence on who is said to be behind the organization of races at Albion Park and it might surprise some followers of the sport if they were to learn the identities of those involved. And we’re not referring to someone with past bookmaking interests. Submissions on this have been made to the planned Review and to Racing Minister Mander because he might be shocked to learn of links between those involved and a political colleague.

There are two things that will determine the success or failure of this supposed widespread Review into the Three Codes. One is the Terms of Reference. If it restricts certain things that need investigating the word ‘whitewash’ will be flashing. And it is important to know who will assist the Review Chairman. Kelly is a standout but it cannot include some of his former colleagues who have skeletons in the closet and an axe to grind with Racing Queensland from the past.

 

YET ANOTHER ‘DUMB’ DECISION BY PROGRAMMING ‘GURUS’ AT RQ?

YET another dumb programming decision by the rocket scientists at Racing Queensland has angered stakeholders in the bush.

All they needed was some common sense when it came to a wet weather transfer in the north and north-west of the State something that seems to be lacking from these appointments with Degrees in Corporate Bookmaking.

This email from a contributor in Mt Isa sums up the situation:

Further to the woes facing the bush, jockeys booked for Townsville on Thursday and Mount Isa on Saturday will now be forced to choose between rides and just about all of them will ride at Cluden Park.

This has occurred because RQ in their wisdom moved the (Townsville) meeting to Saturday due to wet weather. Sunday was just sitting there to race at Cluden Park and there is no racing in Queensland on Monday.

Go figure!

 

NICHOLLS NO CHANCE OF RQ BOARD SPOT, KEEN TO  OFFER FEEDBACK

AND on the subject of bush racing, MATT NICHOLLS, Editor-Publisher of the North West Weekly, has responded to a suggestion by GARY GORRIE that he should be on the new Board of Racing Queensland.

‘I just saw Gary Gorrie's comments about the Board so I thought I'd offer a response ...

I'd love nothing more than to join the Racing Queensland Board, if only to have at least one person in the room that still loves racing at the grassroots level.

Country racing is still the heart of the industry, despite what we're told (from those running the show at) Deagon. I see packed meetings in country Victoria and New South Wales and wish that our administrators had the same foresight to invest back into the bush.

The only way racing has a future is if the next generation is engaged in the sport. Wagering on racing will be dead in 20 years if we don't spark an interest in the actual animal and the personalities at the track. 

Country racing is the best way to do that. Some of the problems are easily fixed. Having a marketing team that focuses on country racing would be a start. It's easy to promote Birdsville (more on that soon) and the Cairns Amateurs, but what about the McKinlay Cup or the Augathella races on Easter Monday?

Gary's comment about Ewan and Twin Hills clashing is a perfect example of an administration that has lost sight of the demographics and geography of country racing. In yesteryear, there were enough jockeys, horses and punters to sustain both meetings. In 2025, especially with roads much better to drive on, trainers are willing to travel much further than before. Having those two iconic bush meetings clash makes no sense.

On Birdsville – and this will divide many people – it is a shame the club has killed the golden goose. Once a great meeting where punters and bookies would go head-to-head – and different bookies would have different opinions – the Birdsville meeting has lost its lustre. It's now a place for grey nomads to tick off their bucket list. Since becoming a TAB meeting, it has lost the mystique that enticed many to make the pilgrimage. Horrendous track bias (it was a little better last year) and only better-than-average TAB prizemoney has also put off many stables from making the journey.

If the powers-that-be are insistent on TAB status for Birdsville, I'd have a six-race TAB program on the Friday (including the Cup) and a big non-TAB program on the Saturday, with a feature sprint race on the program.

On a final note, while I'm very happy to be considered a friend of bush racing, I also have some strong opinions on the long-term future of racing in the bush that might be contrary to traditional thinking. While we absolutely need to keep meetings and preserve those once-a-year clubs (for the most part), I also recognize that hubs like Longreach and Mount Isa (and Roma) must start to race in non-traditional slots to provide revenue for the industry. If Mount Isa has 12 meetings a year, four or five should be on a Saturday and the rest should be TAB days during the week. I'd love to see Friday twilight racing in a place like Mount Isa, starting at 3.30pm and finishing at 6.20pm because the sun sets later in western Queensland.

I'm as much chance of getting a phone call to join the RQ Board as Alabama Magic is of winning the Golden Slipper, but I'm more than happy to offer up my thoughts.’

 

BRILLIANT WALLER TRAINING ALIBI FOR STABLE FORM REVERSALS 

AND speaking of the Golden Slipper, the world’s richest two-year-old race to be run at Rosehill on Saturday, MERV the MAD PUNTER from MELBOURNE offered this contribution.

IF Wodeton can find the vast improvement needed to beat Tempted in the Golden Slipper just watch the apologists from the Sydney racing media alibi it on the training genius of Chris Waller.

For Wodeton to turn the tables on Tempted it will take more than the addition of a set of winkers. When this pair last raced and JMac rode them both Tempted was a big winner of the Reisling and Wodeton was beaten by Tentyris in the Todman. Time-wise the effort of Tempted was lengths better.

Yet McDonald has stuck with Wodeton (probably out of loyalty to his No 1 man Waller).

“We didn't go with the full blinkers, we've gone the winkers just to help him concentrate probably more the second half of the race, not the first half. We want to switch him off and relax. The winkers will help that and make him focus the last bit,” Waller explained after the barrier draw when Tempted and Wodeton drew one and two.

For those of us who are not Waller fans – he’s a great trainer but his stable’s domination threatens to do more harm than good to Sydney racing – your website summed it up this week declaring: ‘We better get used to it’.

Just look at the features at Rosehill on Saturday. Waller will saddle up one of the favorites Birdman in the G3 Manion Cup; he has short-priced elect Autumn Glow in the Listed Darby Munro; long odds-on Via Sistina in the G1 Ranvet Stakes; Aeliana (wow it’s each-way odds for the G1 Rosehill Guineas); Fangirl the favorite for the G1 George Ryder; Wodeton in the Golden Slipper; I’m surprised they are bothering to run the G1 Galaxy as he doesn’t have a runner; and Rose Bloom one of the fancies for the G3 Birthday Card.

What odds big Greg from SKY is already in front of the bathroom mirror practicing his chant 'Waller, Waller, Waller' – almost as sickening as that annoying 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi'. And chances are the golden locks of PVL’s ‘main media man’ will be nowhere to be seen when he's anywhere near Waller in the winner's enclosure. (EDITOR'S NOTE: You're being rather harsh Merv on two 'good guys' who are simply doing their best for Racing NSW). 

My mates and I will be dodging the ‘finger down the throat’ antics of the racing media in Sydney and focusing on the big meeting at Moonee Valley where champion trainer Ciaron Maher does have the favourite Jimmysstar in the G1 William Reid but by no means does his stable dominate the card.

Unfortunately Waller has Molly Bloom, favorite for the G2 Sunline Stakes, which also requires a form reversal to win after finishing 7^th in a G3 race at Flemington. But that’s par for the course with horses from this powerful stable.

My racing dream is for Waller to move to Hong Kong (that won't happen, he's got it too sweet in Sydney) or even better relocate across the Ditch. And for his first lieutenant 'Sir Charles' to go back to the UK where he belongs and take some of these other annoying 'Poms' infiltrating the racing media in OZ, like 'Little Lizzie', with him.'

HOOFNOTE: FULL marks to the programming team at Racing Victoria for finding a spot on the card (it’s now 11 races) for the Yarra Valley Cup which was washed out after the first race last Sunday.

 

TIME FOR QRIC TO DISPENSE WITH OTHER HARNESS STEWARDS?

LGHR has received plenty of feedback since the departure of David Farquharson as Chief Steward of Harness Racing Queensland – much of which we have elected not to publish.

Here’s one that does raise some serious issues for QRIC and it comes from a highly respected licensee of the industry. We’re not saying what he alleges is right but remain confident the new respected team now running integrity will investigate.

‘COULD you please keep my name (anonymous) as I still have close links to a lot of participants?

The sudden departure of the Chairman of Stewards is seen by most as a positive for harness racing but they are hoping it goes even further and another senior steward goes as well. There are also questions being asked how some stewards (can continue to be) employed by QRIC.

Confidence in harness racing has been rock bottom for a long, long time, a couple of decades or more, and for very good reason. Questions that arguably should have been asked have never been asked, inquiries that have been opened appear to have been opened with (little) intention of finding anything. Why?

The question being asked is if the new broom ‘King Kim’ is aware of the disciplinary actions against a senior steward that were uncovered by the original Commissioner Ross Barnett.  I’m sure if he is aware of this then he would not have this steward in any form of leadership role.

Integrity in racing should also mean integrity of those who oversee how it is run. Allegations that (certain) stewards have tipped off stables in regards to up-coming stable inspections is a serious breach of Rules and integrity (if they are correct). An allegation Commissioner Barnett was aware of and a matter he dealt with, but with secrecy.     

The ‘red hots’ tag is well deserved and justified as barely a race meeting goes by without a race or two looking suss. 

Just a suggestion which I hope gets some consideration. It would be well worth having a look at the betting accounts of partners of trainers and drivers as I am led to believe several persons have accounts in wives and partners names that they operate through.

I also wonder if this new appointment will slow down the perceived favourtism that certain (trainers) and drivers seem to be afforded by high profile people at Racing Queensland (and certain) politicians.

EDITOR’S NOTE: THERE are a couple of identities with a background in harness racing dating back decades who those at the coalface know have a cartel of trainers and drivers on their speed dials. LGHR has been told that these ‘crooks’ are on the radar of the new-look QRIC team and their days hopefully are numbered. We are reliably informed that new Racing Minister Tim Mander has taken the situation so seriously that he is even investigating ties between a colleague and some interesting identities. If harness racing at Albion Park, in particular, is to put on a new face before the Interdominion, action needs to be taken NOW to convince a doubting public and more importantly the legion of punters who have given up on the minor code which needs to lift its act before rock bottom arrives.

 

FUNERAL FRIDAY OF WIFE OF LATE BROADCASTER WAYNE WILSON 

THE FUNERAL will be held tomorrow (Friday) at St Joseph's. Bracken Ridge, of the loving wife of the late leading race broadcaster Wayne Wilson.

SALLY, one of the nicest ladies you would ever meet, was a racing regular - at meetings and functions - with Wayne by her side before his death after a long battle with illness.

Her life had its tragedy in recent times with the sudden and unfortunate death of son Jamie after a fall. Those close to Sally say she never got over it.

The industry extends its condolences to Honny, Sally's daughter, for a Lady of Racing who will be sadly missed.

   

SCAPEGOAT OR NOT, THIS PROBLEM STOPS AT BUTCHER NOT BLOCK 

WHEN it reaches the stage where even the blind man and his Labrador at the Albion Park gate can tell you who is organising the boat races, something had to give.

Call him the ‘scapegoat’ if you wish, but David Farquharson was the latest Chief Steward responsible for policing harness racing at headquarters but the problem festered long before he arrived.

In fact it goes back to the days of Russ Hinze as Racing and Police Minister when stewards were too intimidated to take action against his private stable which was doing as it liked.

Big Russ did a lot of good things for racing, especially the ‘red hots’, but how could anyone condone his private trainer 'king-hitting' a stable driver (in Silks Restaurant) who dared to upset one that the boss had backed. Ironically that same stable driver is now a harness racing steward with QRIC.

No explanation has been provided for the sudden exit of Farquharson this week but QRIC doesn’t have to give a reason. If the former Chief Steward feels aggrieved by the decision he can always take similar steps to what he did with a positive result some years ago when the then Commissioner tried to show him the door.

From the emails and texts LGHR has received no-one from the punting fraternity is losing any sleep over his departure. In fact their calls for his removal fell on deaf ears at QRIC until Kim Kelly and the new crew took over and decided to do something about integrity of the basket case of the three codes.

Not too many don’t know – but aren’t prepared to speak publicly – on who is responsible for rigging races at Albion Park. It’s been going on for too long. LGHR knows who is responsible but for legal reasons we can’t name them.

What makes it more frustrating is that a former top bookie has been caught in the crossfire when some of those behind the problem may not even be associated with him but because of their profession have a close association with a group of drivers involved.

Even worse they have had – from back in the Hinze days – up to the present some unfortunate political connections, not with Labor but the LNP, with new Racing Minister Tim Mander being briefed on allegations against one of his colleagues.

 

‘MISSION IMPOSSIBLE’ FINDING CHIEF STIPE TO CLEAN JOINT UP?

FINDING a suitable no-nonsense, heavy-hitting steward to clean the joint up before Albion Park hosts the Interdominion sounds like a ‘mission impossible’. But if anyone can do it, it’s Kim Kelly – expected to be confirmed permanently to his role as a QRIC Deputy Commissioner in the coming days.

Racing Queensland has announced that the Pacing Championship division of the Interdom will carry a $1 million final, double what the finalists ran for in Sydney last year. The Trotting Championship final will soar from $150,000 last year to $500,000, making it by far the richest trotting feature in Australia.

The Murdoch Media reports that the move from a December to July timeslot as part of the growing Queensland Constellations has been well received, with trainers insisting it will ensure broader participation from around Australia and New Zealand.

How refreshing it was to read that the Albion Park Harness Racing Club's new boss James Waddell (surprise, surprise with a corporate bookmaking background) says he's determined to restore the glory days to the racing code in Brisbane. Good luck to him but there is an upside – he has the blockbuster drawcard of the world’s best pacer, Leap To Fame, to fall back on.

“We always seem to be chasing our tails in harness racing,” Waddell told News Ltd. “The days of 10,000 people turning up to Albion Park, how do we get that back?

“In the old days you'd have buses taking people from Eagle Farm and Doomben to Albion Park for a seafood buffet or whatever it was.”

It was in fact Silks Restaurant that attracted those who didn’t prefer to drop into the Brekky Creek for those famous steaks and beer off the wood.

LGHR admires your enthusiasm Jimmy but unless they clean the joint up on the track, all your work off the track will be wasted. So good luck!

 

HAPPY 92^ND BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF HARNESS RACING’S ‘GENTLEMEN’

ON a more positive, ROD HILL, one of the ‘gentlemen’ of the sport of harness racing, celebrates his 92^nd birthday today.

Rod has major eye-sight issues but with the help of his wonderful wife, Lee, still manages to negotiate life’s challenges.

His good mate, Phil Purser, penned a wonderful story on Rod when he published the great racing website Justracing. Here is an excerpt from that:

Rod recalls how his career as a race-caller began, by saying, “I started calling at Rocklea in the early 60’s, when I used to relieve the full time caller Gordon Lawlor, who would get asked to do the Show circuit.

From that start at Rocklea and calling trots at country Shows, it developed that I was able to do a trotting results program on 4KQ and then I successfully applied for the Albion Park on-course calling job when night trotting kicked off in Brisbane on September 7, 1968.

4KQ and myself got the job ahead of 4BC and (fellow race-callers of the time) Vince Curry and Wayne Wilson, who had also put in an application. I was with 4KQ until October 1976, when the station went out of sport and I was left to freelance, but that left me only calling races on course at Tweed Heads and Ipswich and it was hard going financially. I had relinquished the role of caller at Rocklea for some years as due to my 4KQ commitments Ron Egerton had taken over as the caller at that track.

When 4KQ decided to terminate harness racing broadcasts from Albion Park in October 1976, Rod makes no secret of the fact that he hit hard times saying, “I had to then sell the good mare Lee and I had called Chile. We sold her about 1976 for $15,000 at auction and that was, at the time, a record price ever paid at auction for a Queensland pacer. That $15,000 sale price broke the previous record of $14,000 that Stanley Hanover had been sold for at public auction. Bob Gills bought Chile and he gave her to Neil Strong to train. They tried her at Albion Park, but once again she was reluctant to stretch out properly going right handed. They sent her to Sydney to Vic Frost and he won a race at Harold Park with her, then she went amiss.

Bob Gills then rang me to tell me she’d gone amiss and he asked me if I’d like her back to breed from. I very, very quickly snapped up the offer and a measure of the great man the late Bob Gills was, was the fact he knew when he’d bought her at that auction that we’d only sold her because of my job situation. When he gave her back to me totally free of charge, he even paid for her freight home from Sydney.

Rod Hill started his foray into harness racing breeding by purchasing a mare called Diana Miss out of a Trotguide advertisement for 150 pounds ($300). “Three of us, myself, Pat Cahill and John Schwarer, bought her from a chap called McCarthy from Junee. We put in 50 pounds ($100) each. She’d won one race at Junee. We gave her to Cliff Mewes to train and she won quite a few at Rocklea and the old Gold Coast track, from memory, she won 14 or 15 races. But when she retired my two partners didn’t want to breed with her, so I put her to stallion Friendly John for her first two matings and the resultant foals raced as Dulacca Kidd and Daisy Hill and both won races. In fact that pacer Daisy Hill was named after my mother. For the third mating of Diana Miss, we sent her down to an imported American stallion called Bravado Hanover at Charlie Muddle’s stud at Cowra. That 1972-born foal was named Chile. She won 18 races as a two- and three-year-old, five at two and 13 at three, the highlights being her victories at three against the males in the Gold Coast and Rocklea Derbys. She was voted ‘Queensland 3YO of the Year’ for her achievements. Chile was trained by a wily old character at Aratula called Bill Lucas and was driven by his son Geoff. In the breeding barn though Chile really threw nothing to compare to her own ability, whereas her daughter Valparaiso was a lesser performed mare, yet threw lovely horses,” concluded Rod.

Such fine memories – Happy Birthday Rod from all of us who miss your company and the once memorable days of harness racing in Queensland.

 

WILL THE DEPUTY STEP UP TO CHAIRWOMAN OF THE RQ BOARD?

LGHR has some mail from political insiders that Racing Minister Tim Mander is planning only two changes when the new Board of Racing Queensland is announced soon.

The most important of those is the current chairman Steve Wilson – some say he is departing because of his close association with former Racing Minister Grace Grace – others claim it is because of ill-health.

We don’t know for sure who the other departure will be but some are tipping Rebecca Frizelle – better known for her involvement in a consortium that owns the Gold Coast Titans NRL franchise.

The mail is strong that the new LNP Government would like to see a woman appointed RQ Chairman to replace Wilson. That opens the door for Deputy Chairman Jane Seawright to step up from the Deputy role.

The industry is keen to have former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk appointed but he has too much on his plate at present so we might have to be content with his services on the Board which still is a major bonus for thoroughbred stakeholders.

 

‘RACING MINISTER SHOULD CONSIDER NICHOLLS FOR BOARD ROLE’

OUR old mate GARY GORRIE, a former top bookie in North Queensland and now residing in retirement in Phuket where the nonagenarian still manages to beat the younger brigade in a round of squash, offered this suggestion for a RQ Board replacement:

IT is easy to see why the ‘Fish and Chip Shops in Mt Isa’ do a roaring trade. Everyone buys their product to read what wraps them – the North West Weekly’.

It is refreshing to read and hear someone make sense on racing issues. That has been lost in the north since Terry Butts went to the Big Racecourse in the Sky.

I think (new Racing Minister) Tim Mander could do a lot worse than have Matt on the Racing Queensland Board. He has a good handle on Queensland Country racing and understands the importance of it to the communities that support it.

It might also good to have someone independent, not a puppet whose strings are pulled by the Corporate Bookies. We must be in trouble getting staff if all we can get is the reject pile from the Corporates.

Matt understood that reducing Mt Isa's meeting numbers was a stealthy way to get rid of racing in the area as the pool of horses there supports the many surrounding country meetings.

Reducing the meetings makes it unviable to race horses because of the lack of racing and prize money distributed. Soon all racing in the region would cease closing many clubs. Longreach would suffer the same fate and the domino effect would bring down Bedourie, Betoota, Birdsville circuit too.  

 ‘We have had all sorts of stealthy attempts to close courses – a few years back Racing Queensland condemned the starting stalls in Moranbah knowing the club could not afford new ones and racing would cease.

 We lobbied the Isaac Regional Council and they immediately bought new stalls and the club repaid them in due course. Once Moranbah was forced to abandon a meeting but their request for another date was rejected because it would have clashed with Gladstone. Can you believe RQ said it was too close geographically and would affect the nominations? The rocket-scientists at RQ needed a geography lesson. Every year the Twin Hills and Ewan meetings now clash where once many patrons supported both meetings on different dates. Trainer John Manzlemann sends a sends a truck-load of horses to both venues. I would love to attend both of these wonderful venues but I no longer can. I am sure there are many like myself.

I hope (new Racing Tim Mander can get Matt Nicholls on the Board. He would provide some fresh blood not contaminated by the ‘Greedy Corporates’ and a voice from the country.

Keep up the great work Matty! 

 

SOME THOUGHT-PROVOKING COMMENTS ON ROSEHILL SALE DEBATE 

REGULAR Sydney contributor PETER MAIR has weighted into the ROSEHILL sale debate with these two emails:  

IT is too soon to try unravelling the nonsense paraded by 'those in favour'.

That said -- the proposed price of $5 billion, to be paid to the ATC, needs to be discounted to reflect the 'up to fifteen years' timeline for instalments to be paid.

$5 billion paid today is $5 billion -- the present (today) value of $5 billion paid in 15 years’ time is about half -- $2.5 billion at a modest 4-5% p.a. interest rate .......... and less than $1 billion if the discount rate were a more realistic 7-8 % p.a.

In short, on the terms presented, the true price to be paid over 15 years falls well short of $5 billion.

Looking at some ongoing side-plays -- it would be good to have an update on the 'delay' with the 4Corners program on RacingNSW going to air (as reported by LGHR).

Presumably 4C will cover two 'own goals' scored -- first when accountability was rejected as a condition of agreeing preferences for 'Chairman' and next when the consideration of an 'unsolicited' offer degenerated into a shambles.

On another tack it is disappointing to see the SMH's Friday form guide is now missing a 'tipsters’ panel' for the Sydney and Melbourne Saturday meetings.

I guess 'form guides' are subsidised by the state administrators ...... cost-savings may be an own goal if the most-punter set are left disadvantaged.

PS: I was at Ellerslie on recent Saturday for one of NZ's best meetings…and it was well conducted. Even so apart from the 'race book' there was no local form guide and there did not seem to be any TABs around the town. NZers do not seem to be as 'into racing' as one might have thought.

And this contribution:

THE unfolding death-throes of a proposal for the NSW Government to buy Rosehill have hallmarks of a face saving venture.

There is a massive difference between '$5 billion paid now' and, as presented, the present value of annual instalments being paid over 10 to 15 years.

...........last time the ATC had director elections less than 20 per cent (of 11,000 members) bothered to vote.

Extracts from a story on the website The Straight this week ignore the flaws.

                   [ as featured on Ripley's believe it or not ]

[ATC] did [not] make a couple of things clear. The first was the asking price, saying it would accept no less than $5 billion from the Government for the purchase of the site, the second was that the money would be paid either up front, or in full over 15 years.

“There is [not] a firm price put on the sale, unlike the various conflicting valuations. And if the Government doesn't accept the price, then there is no sale............”

..............the role of Racing NSW would be crucial........the hands-off approach of those at Druitt Street........has been intriguing.....McGauran is unequivocal that it will be the ATC’s money to manage, and the regulator won’t control the funds of any sale.

“We have certainly committed to razing Warwick Farm to the ground”....“Everything goes, including the grandstands. And we have a magnificent new track there with world-class facilities. So that Group 1 racing can return to this western Sydney racecourse.

 

DAVID FARQUHARSON NO LONGER CHIEF STEWARD OF QLD TROTS

MAIL from those at the coalface suggests that David Farquharson is no longer the Chief Steward for Harness Racing in Queensland.

LGHR understand that Farquharson ceased duties yesterday and has been replaced in an Acting capacity by Norm Torpey.

Farquharson has been a controversial figure in his role as Chairman of Stewards with a former QRIC Commissioner trying to remove him but that decision (back in 2016) being overturned on appeal.

Story goes that QRIC will make a national and international search for a replacement for Farquharson fully aware of the need to clean harness racing up, especially at Albion Park with an Interdominion on the horizon.

 

IT’S THE FEEL-GOOD STORIES THAT RACING FOLK PREFER TO READ

WHAT would you rather read about in the aftermath of weekend racing – a feel-good story about a bunch of battlers winning a million dollar race with a cheap buy or a champion trainer and jockey adding to their massive Group 1 tally?

It’s a no-brainer – with all due respects to Chris Waller and James McDonald – but the win by $14,000 buy McGaw in The Showdown at Caulfield captured the imagination of racing followers more than brilliant filly Lady Shenandoah claiming her third Group 1 win in the $1 million Coolmore Classic at Caufield.

But for those who don’t like the Waller domination of Sydney racing they had better get used to it. Despite the recent run of success of Bjorn Baker, the leading stable is growing in size with the addition of more topline overseas talent and it looks like being a big autumn.

Of course when a single stable is so successful there is a downside. The next rung of trainers is finding it near-on impossible to prove competitive. Without the Waller horses some Group races in Sydney would struggle for field size.

Just look at the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes last Saturday when he saddled up half the field finishing 1^st with Lazzura, 3^rd with Delichy Boulevard, 4^th with Movin Out and 7^th of eight with Real Class.

Waller won the Group 1 Coolmore Classic with Lady Shenandoah, finished second with the underrated Firestorm, 4^th with Olentia and 11^th with Scarlet Oak.

From a punting and form analysis viewpoint the numbers game with the Waller horses presents an absolute nightmare. How often in Benchmark or even Black Type races do we see his second strings beat favorites – Lazzura upstaging favorite Delichy Boulevard in the Phar Lap was the most recent example?

It doesn’t sit well with the punting public or ‘form experts’, one of whom told LGHR: ‘The Waller horses are impossible to follow. You are better off looking for those in races that are backed at good odds to beat his favorites.

‘How many of his fancied runners have we seen slaughtered in recent weeks? Excuses always accepted then again when was the last time the stewards conducted a running and handling inquiry into a Wallter horse? That’s why many regard him as ‘Untouchable’ – because Sydney racing would be lost without him.’

Such isn’t the case in Melbourne despite the success story of Ciaron Maher. Just look at Saturday’s racing at Caulfield where McGaw was successful in the $1mn The Showdown.

The fairytale success story prompted co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne to comment: ‘Australia  really is a land of opportunity when you buy one for fourteen (thousand dollars) and you win a race like that.’ (Can the same be said of Sydney?)

Only one horse in The Showdown fetched less than the $14,000 bid McGaw attracted at a yearling sale last year. Browne said McGaw’s legs caught her eye during the inspections but was quick to add that husband and training partner David was far from convinced about the son of I Am Immortal.

McGaw more than doubled that amount in prizemoney and bonuses when he bolted in on debut at Pakenham in January. That attracted offers from Hong Kong which the battling ownership group was quick to reject.

Ironically, champion jockey Damien Lane knocked back prize mounts in rich races in Sydney to continue his association with McGaw which he was confident could still win despite drawing wide.

There was another feel-good story to emerge from the second leg of the Queensland double-header at the Gold Coast on Saturday when Lawrie Mayfield-Smith won the Listed Gold Coast Stakes with the promising Just Molly.

One of the great survivors of the training ranks in south-east Queensland, Mayfield Smith saddled up a double on the Jewel card, scoring earlier with heavily-backed Shihab (with Melbourne Cup winning jockey Robbie Dolan in the saddle).

Mayfield-Smith flies under the radar in Queensland where racing is dominated by the powerful Tony Gollan stable but considering the small number he has in work Lawrie’s strike rate is just as good if not better. From a punters' perspective, he's their 'pin-up' boy.

 

SAD PASSING OF PATRIARCH OF RACING DYNASTY ON THE DOWNS

ONE of Queensland longest-serving trainers and the patriarch of a racing dynasty on the Downs, Paul Nolan Snr, passed away on Sunday. He was 86.

The Toowoomba Chronicle reports that nearly 70 years ago, Nolan made a decision that shaped his family’s future and changed the Queensland racing landscape. He convinced the family to swap dairy cows for racehorses.

A successful sheep and cattle farmer, Paul Snr had dreamt of becoming a horse trainer and the change was ultimately the base on which his siblings and children built a racing dynasty in Queensland.

Founded in 1957 Raheen Stud, now run by Paul Snr’s younger brother Basil, near Warwick, is one of the Sunshine State’s longest established horse nurseries. “Paul was the one that started Raheen, to be quite honest,” Basil told the Chronicle. “He and my mother were the keen ones who wanted to start it – he was the first one that wanted to get into the racing industry.

Paul moved to a wheat farm at Dalby when he got married but always wanted to dabble in racing. He wanted to be a horse trainer and that is how it ended up. He didn’t have a lot of horses but he always found a good horse and had quite a bit of success as a trainer.

Married for more than 60 years Paul Snr and his wife Rita had seven children – Marg, Peter, Michael, Donna, Cathy, Paul Jnr and Dan – who have all been involved in racing at some point in their lives.

Paul Jnr said his father was one of the most loyal people he knew and an ‘old-school horseman’. “He was very loyal to his friends and family – he always had our back. He was a very good horseman who grew up in the Depression era where your horse was everything, your mode of transport and how you ploughed your paddocks.

Paul Snr won multiple Group, Listed and black-type feature races across south-east Queensland with career statistics of 315 winners and 490 placincs from 2,399 starterss.

Swapping Warwick for Toowoomba in 1988 – a trio of horses helped put the Nolan family on the racing map. Private Company led the charge in those early days but it was Paul’s Folly who would truly establish the Nolan family legacy. The gelding, who was Paul Snr’s first Group race success, won 15 races and nearly $500,000 in prizemoney.

Paul’s Folly won the Group 3 Ipswich Cup, Bernborough and Brisbane Handicaps and several other feature races. Narwong and Rodway Sea were good Open company horses in Brisbane.

Paul Nolan Snr is survived by his wife Sue, children Marg, Peter, Michael, Donna, Cathy, Paul Jnr and Dan as well as a large number of grand and great-children.

 

 

BIZARRE COMMENT FROM RQ BOSS – BLACKOUT BROADCAST A FAKE?

LGHR has received a handful of emails and texts asking what prompted one of the most bizarre comments in the recent history of Queensland racing after the lights went out momentarily during the running of a race at Toowoomba on Saturday evening.

In the wake of apprentice Cobi Vitler admitting he feared for his safety  when the track was plunged into darkness soon after the start of race six at Clifford Park, acting CEO of RQ, Lachlan Murray, offered this little gem to the Murdoch Media:

“The (SKY) broadcast shows it worse than what it actually is,” claimed Murray, who is filling the shoes of his ‘Corporate Bookies Boys Club’ mate, Jason Scott, who has gone to the dogs after Peter Gleeson, copped one too many ‘baits’ from workmates at The Q and scampered off with his tail between his legs and a ‘bone bag’ full of dollar goodies.

Industry stakeholders gob-smacked by the ‘foot in mouth’ response from Murray can’t believe that he is actually being considered as a replacement for Scott. They have compared his 'blackout worse than it actually was' comment to some unforgettable clangers from high profile administrators of the past who thankfully are nowhere to be seen in racing these days.

Firstly, there was the CEO for a leading club who asked at a conference with SKY Channel about coverage of the Winter Carnival how they got the horses to Stradbroke for the big race.

Then there was the clown prince of all Racing Ministers, later to quit the LNP and join the ranks of One Nation, who told the industry that within a year of his appointment Queensland would be a ‘furlong in front’ of racing in NSW and Victoria.

And finally, the lady legal eagle who circularized male members of the staff at RQ many moons ago, warning them that an audit who would be done on ‘who couldn’t shoot straight’ after a buffoon Board member went ballistic after soiling his Italian-made shoes on a pool of urine in a toilet cubicle at Deagon HQ.

It’s a crying shame that the relatively new CEO of the Toowoomba Turf Club, Grant Sheather, has been dragged into this lighting fiasco. Some might remember the days when he was a hard-working and highly respected CEO of the Gold Coast Turf Club before leaving to manage Hamilton Island.

Sheather is a welcome return addition to the ranks of racing administrators in Queensland and in the opinion of LGHR would have more knowledge when it comes to the industry than some higher paid appointments with ‘corporate bookmaking’ backgrounds on their CV’s.

“The timing of the blackout couldn’t have been worse,” Sheather told The Courier-Mail. “The generators supplied the track safety lights that part did its job. It’s good it was a small field. We’ve got all the contingencies in place but it was just one of those things unfortunately.”

RQ boss Murray added that stewards had made the right call to abandon the last two races of the meeting given it would have taken at least an hour to test the lightning.

“The broadcast shows it worse than what it actually is,” Murray said. “From a safety point of view, which is obviously paramount, the safety lights and the back-up generators were there for this reason.”

One of those at the coalface, apprentice Cobi Vitler might not necessarily agree that the assessment made by Murray – probably from the comfort of his arm chair at home – suggesting the ‘blackout’ wasn’t as bad as it looked on the broadcast. How much better can it be if the lights go out?

Vitler told the Murdoch Media of fearing his mount would clip heels when the lights went out and the track was plunged into darkness after a contactor in a distribution board burnt out.

The five jockeys in the race continued to ride (there wasn’t much else they could do) but stewards later declared a ‘no-race’, despite the generators eventually kicking in to supply the track safety lights.

“I think I found it worse than everyone else in the race because I had tinted goggles on and I couldn’t see anything,” Vitler said. “I had horses inside me, outside me and in front of me. I was probably in the worst spot to be honest.

“I had no idea if I was about to take a heel or what was going on. It was good there were only five of us in the race and we’re all pretty experienced. If they had been some younger apprentices or first-timers going around then it probably wouldn’t have been so well managed.”

Here are some of the comments that LGHR has received on the unfortunate situation and these aren’t all that complimentary for the Acting CEO of RQ:

PAUL J of TOOWOOMBA wrote:

‘CAN someone explain to me how when the lights go out, no matter for what duration, but especially when a race is being run that the SKY broadcast shows it worse than it actually was?

‘This Murray bloke must be living under a rock. Then again I don’t have a Degree in Corporate Bookmaking which seems to be a requirement to graduate to a leading administrative role in Queensland Racing these days.’

AND this one from a former leading and highly respected racing official who wants to remain anonymous rather than cop the crap associated with criticizing those in power these days:

‘THERE was a time when industry experience was the main credential needed to run a race club or to be appointed to a position of power on a race club.

Things have changed since these parasite corporate bookies were allowed to take over at a time when all we need is a national tote. If you don’t have a background with them these days, good luck working in an important role in racing.

The way I see it administrators should be doing all they can to improve the industry and the lot of its stakeholders. I get the impression these days that some of those in key positions wouldn’t know there’s racing north of Nambour and are still keen to protect the interests of their former employees when it comes to the gambling dollar.

Because I come from the country the jury is out on Jason Scott despite the raps he receives from the city slickers. But I will ask the question: If he has done such a sterling job how come RQ is confronted by an $80mn black hole at present and a cost blow-out on the new Q greyhound facility which will supposedly be world class when it opens?’

THAT aside, LGHR believes it is of paramount importance ASAP to find the funding for a new set of lights for Toowoomba which won’t be cheap. Let’s not forget that when Neville Stewart and Allen Volz were chairman and CEO of the club they took a giant gamble in the early 90’s and pioneered night racing in Queensland.

Sunshine Coast and now the Gold Coast have successfully followed their lead but that doesn’t mean Toowoomba should be neglected as a night venue. RQ needs to find the funds (even by Government assistance) regardless of the financial implications and new Racing Minister Tim Mander needs to instruct them to make this issue a priority.

For safety reasons night racing cannot be held while there is the prospect of more problems with the obsolete lighting system at Clifford Park.

The TTC has sent a letter to Queensland Premier David Crisafulli asking for Government funding to install a new lighting system. “We do have an ageing lights infrastructure and certainly we’d like to see something done about that in the very near future.”

In the interim the $750,000 King Of The Mountain slot race on Friday week is not in jeopardy given the final race of the meeting will be run at 6pm.

HOOFNOTE: Here’s hoping when Racing Minister Mander finally turns the lights out on the Board and administration now running RQ, that the ‘corporate bookies boys' club’ will be the first to go and the last ones to flick the switch and that their replacements will come from experienced racing identities with no past links to the greedy gambling giants.

 

SALE OF THE CENTURY, PROPERTY WORTH NEARLY $1mn SOLD FOR $1

IT’S a sad state of affairs when many stakeholders have no confidence in an investigation into claims by rebel MP Mark Latham of a property deal involving Racing NSW and its chair Saranne Cook.

NSW Racing Minister David Harris has promised to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reported deal which sounds almost ‘too good to be true’.

Latham questioned Harris at a recent Estimates Hearing concerning his knowledge of the purchase by Cooke, then Deputy Chair of Racing NSW in 2001. He tabled land title documents which revealed Cooke had paid almost $1mn for the property which was sold eight months later to Racing NSW for $1.

Whilst Latham (or LGHR) are not suggesting any impropriety on Cooke’s behalf, the MP, with a known dislike for Racing NSW, asked if the Minister could provide an explanation of the unusual transaction.

Harris told the hearing he had no knowledge of the land deal, which occurred before he was Racing Minister, but promised to investigate.

“With no knowledge of what's happened, I can't comment at this particular stage. We'll have a look at it, Mr Latham. As you know, whenever something's raised, we have a proper look at it.”

Harris said that any potential conflict in a deal of that nature would warrant a declaration. He didn’t know if those declarations had been made but said he would investigate if that was the case.    

“I would expect that anyone would follow the correct declaration processes and declare anything that had a potential conflict,” he said.

HOOFNOTE: NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has now said he will investigate a 2020 $3.7 million grant to Bathurst Race Club, much of which appears unspent, and also the stamp duty liability on the $1 sale of 270 Gilmour Street to Racing NSW in 2022. At this stage, he expects zero Stamp Duty was paid.

EDITOR’S NOTE: IF you want to listen to the Estimates Hearing debate on this issue go to Mark Latham’s Outsiders on Facebook. It is certainly an interesting discussion. One wonders why the mainstream Sydney media (especially MURDOCH & SKY) appears to have missed this news as we can’t find any reporting on the issue whatsoever.

 

RACING MATES – A NSW SCHEME THAT SHOULD BE ADOPTED IN QLD

GREG BLANCHARD of the Gold Coast is a regular contributor, always looking at ideas to improve the lot of those involved in the racing industry. Here is his latest:

‘I read the story on (trainer) Lindsay Hatch and his request for more help for mental health.

I have over the years pushed Racing Queensland to implement something similar to Racing Mates in NSW which was started by Pat Webster and Maurice Logue.

Maurice is now with Harness Racing NSW where Harness 4 Mates has been introduced.

Sadly my requests have fallen on deaf ears in the north. In the Education Department section of the Queensland Racing Magazine it says apprentices can contact Glen Prentice from the Jockeys’ Association who will refer them to a sports psychologist if they have any problems.

Now that's good but I think we can do more. Racing licensees need something like Racing Mates for trainers, jockeys, track riders and strappers .Racing Mates provides access to psychologists, counsellors, assistant hotlines and racing ambassadors.

They also organize barbeques and social functions at different tracks in the State. Some people would rather have a chat to another person involved in the industry or someone with a caring ear so ambassadors are important.

Surely if we can afford to have officials travel to the Asian Racing Conference  and major meetings like Hong Kong International Week, we can find the money for the welfare of our stakeholders .We must be proactive not reactive. There are plenty of good people who would only be too happy to volunteer.’

 

CORPORATE BOOKIES DON’T DISCRIMINATE WITH THEIR CLIENTS

FROM all reports it would seem some of these ‘cute’ corporate bookies don’t discriminate when it comes to treatment of their clients – it doesn’t matter if you’re a mug punter or a high flyer.

Here’s an email we received from an old mate and keen racing man, retired District Judge BOB PACK OAM from North Queensland, which reads:

‘THIS is a tale of woe. I am much more concerned about the process than the money. The facts:

I have had a Sportsbet  and a TAB account for many, many years. I use both.

A month or so ago I had three bets recorded on my bet slip with Sportsbet. It was a Saturday. My bet slip recorded I had backed a horse in Melbourne in an early race ($50 investment straight out to return $800). I very probably looked at the prices on that race. I did not intend to bet and didn’t notice that it was on my bet slip until well after the time cancellation is available – so I said to myself that I would have to cop it sweet.

The bet was absolutely inconsistent with any previous betting pattern - the horse was unplaced. Later in the day I went to Cluden (Townsville). My wife is in a ladies’ racing syndicate. They had an unplaced and unfancied runner.

I took a trifecta in Race 9 in Melbourne boxing five for $30. I applied for a boost which raised my stake to 26.7 or thereabouts. Obviously it should have been more than 50 per cent. This was partly explained by the fact that one number was entered twice as if six horses had been boxed. I didn’t think it possible to enter the same number twice let alone have that recorded on the bet slip. That was the only trifecta I had for the day. I had one other local bet odds on $50 to win $25.

Both the trifecta and the last mentioned bet were recorded on my bet slip and remained there until late Monday. Those bets were successful at least on paper. I advised Sportsbet that the bet slip remained on my screen before it disappeared. The bet slip did advise technical difficulties but no advice was given the bets though recorded had not been made. In the past technical difficulties have been corrected later during the races, some hours later or I think rarely on the following day.

Accordingly, I wasn’t worried that my account had not swollen in the short term. I was always in the position to have made the bets with the TAB if advised of invalidity. On the Monday I contacted Customer Service, who, having been advised as above referred me to Complaints, who advised that they would respond within five business days. That didn’t happen. I was referred back to Customer Service. Did not go back there until more than 15 business days had elapsed.

What has been consistent is that it is said they cannot confirm the bets. The primary question remains if bets are recorded on a bet slip does that mean the client doesn’t have a bet until something else  happens and or is there fine print setting out entitlements? No answer.

I was informed that a number of steps are taken before bets are recorded. Relevance not explained. So I provided a declaration in written form witnessed appropriately. Sportsbet now unequivocally have evidence that the bets were made. No response of any kind. They will have had that for more than five business days.

At the outset I indicated that the process is very much my concern – the money is less than $300. The trifecta paid a little more than $550. I do not think that money was deducted from my account when the bets were placed. I am not in the habit of checking my balance when I am aware there is sufficient money to draw on.

Where do I go from here?’

EDITOR’S NOTE: Sadly Bob these corporate bookies are a law unto themselves and unless the Government or racing authorities take some steps to correct the situation punters like you will continue to be treated like crap. The racing industry his jumped into bed in too many sponsorship ways with the corporates for the situation to improve. They are only interested in hood-winking the ‘mug punters’ with their free bets initiatives promoted by former top jockeys in many cases. If you prove to be a successful punter, your accounts are closed. What we need in Australia is a National Tote but if – heaven forbid it is run by one of the major gambling companies – God help the industry.

ON a further note, a prominent punter contacted LGHR about a football bet he tried to make on the NRL Grand Final. Even after the Brisbane Broncos had firmed from $12 to $5 he decided to have $10,000 to $2,000 – the corporate (one of the major operators) cut him back to $1,000 to $200. We read about these major corporates accepting $20,000 and more bets on favorites at the gallops each Saturday and the BS RED LIGHT immediately flashes. Given their track record, why wouldn’t it?

 

WHY HAVE LIGHTS AT GOLD COAST IF CLUB WON'T USE THEM?

HERE are a few bits & pieces to think about after the weekend racing and the cyclone washout in south-east Queensland:

WHAT’S the point of spending millions on lights at the Gold Coast when they get the opportunity to transfer a major meeting there on Friday night but prefer to race on Saturday.

The reason – Saturday attracts better turnover to Friday night.

Correct, but that’s on a normal Saturday, not one when you schedule 21 races over 10 hours starting at Eagle Farm mid-morning and ending well into the night at the Gold Coast.

 

WALLER DIDN’T GIVE KMAC A SECOND CHANCE TO ‘SLAUGHTER’ MARE

LEAST said the better of the slaughter job by Kerrin McEvoy on Joliestar first-up in the Expressway after the mare bolted in with the Group 1 Newmarket at Flemington last Saturday.

No surprise trainer Chris Waller elected to book in-form Damien Lane to replace KMac despite the fact that the internationally experienced jock could not possibly have got caught wide down the straight.

The stable’s No 1 rider JMac elected to remain in Sydney and got the job done qualifying costly colt Wodeton for the Golden Slipper when it ran second to Tentyris in the Todman. He was also aboard the much more impressive Tempted in its Reisling win. That filly has now joined Wodeton as equal favorite for the Slipper, indicating how this year’s world’s richest two-year-old won’t be one of the best on record.

The jury remains out on Wodeton – it’s hard to find an excuse for Saturday’s defeat – some say he needs to be ridden quieter and others that he needs a wet track.

Never under-estimate a form reversal from Waller – if Wodeton wins the Slipper the apologists will simply put it down to his training genius, a change of gear or that’s racing. The cynics are saying you can bet your bottom dollar there will be no inquiry into the improvement. LGHR would never say that about the Sydney Stewards' Panel who we have the utmost respect for working under trying circumstances.

 

IS GODOLPHIN SET TO BE SOLD & JAMES CUMMINGS HEADED TO  HK?

THE ‘Tommy Drums’ are beating that James Cummings will eventually be training in Hong Kong with strong rumors that the new racing powerhouse, Yulong, will buy the Australian arm of Godolphin.

Story goes that the Sheik has had a ‘gutful’ of the millions that Godolphin in OZ is costing and wants out with Yulong ready to come to the party.

James is a great trainer and would be a welcome addition to the Hong Kong ranks. History shows the HKJC only adds one expat trainer each year and South African Brett Crawford has been invited for 2025-26.

That’s why these ridiculous rumors about Tony Gollan heading to Hong Kong are just that. Why would the King of the Queensland training ranks want to leave when he is expanding his local empire (with stables now at the Gold Coast) and we are told has just bought a luxury apartment in Hendra?

 

PAY MORE FOR LESS AS RUPERT’S BOYS STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP

LITTLE wonder King Rupert’s boys struggle to keep up with the latest racing news even when they have no mainstream media opposition.

If you want the daily edition of the fish and chips wrapper thrown over your fence these days it costs you more. The cost of inflation we guess.

If like LGHR you pay to see what News Limited reports daily on the web, an added bonus is a free copy of the Saturday and Sunday edition of their newspapers delivered. In our case that’s when 'Tommy Turban' remembers or it isn’t too wet for him to venture out.

The Murdoch Media also boast that you will be kept up-to-date with the news as it happens. Here’s an example: At 7.18am on Wednesday LGHR received an e-mail with a 'news flash' from The Sunday Mail reporting: ‘New life-threatening emergency unfolding in SEQ as Alfred crosses with Category 1 winds’.

Better late than never (three days in fact). Come on Rupert you are one of the great newspapermen of our time, who I was once proud to work for. How about ordering the troops to lift their game before your service becomes a laughing stock?

      

BIG CHANGES NEEDED AT RQ HEADQUARTERS STARTING WITH LABOR-APPOINTED BOARD & SEVERING THESE CLOSE TIES WITH LADBROKES

AN EDITORIAL  by MATT NICHOLLS, editor and publisher of the NORTH WEST WEEKLY, based in Mount Isa – at last a turf scribe who doesn’t ‘suck up to survive’ like his colleagues in the south-east corner and is prepared to declare:

THE control body (RQ) has lost touch with the average Queenslander living outside of the south-east corner; the Racing Minister needs to do something ASAP to replace most of the current Board who don’t seem to realize there is a new Government with new policies and finally the connection between RQ and Ladbrokes needs to be severed with too many former employees of the gambling giant now holding down important administrative positions with race clubs and the control body who don’t seem to care about racing north of Nambour.

Here is the EDITORIAL by MATT NICHOLLS:  

A MAJOR overhaul is needed at Racing Queensland based on what we’ve seen out of Deagon in the last 12 months.

Outgoing CEO Jason Scott may have been an expert on wagering from his days with Ladbrokes, but his knowledge of Queensland, particularly the regional areas, has fallen short of expectations.

With a new State Government, it also appears that the racing body is out of step with the LNP’s plans for bush racing, which so far has been extremely supportive.

Racing Minister Tim Mander has called for a State-wide Review of the three codes of racing, but it is clear that more immediate action must be taken in the interim, based on last Friday’s appalling situation, which saw RQ blindside Country Racing Panel members with plans to start cutting meetings from hubs in order to save money.

It was a move that was done without consultation with the Government and one that reportedly infuriated the Racing Minister.

While Mr Scott has put in his notice and is now temporarily in charge of RQ’s soon-to-be-opened greyhound track ‘The Q’, the bush is still left with a racing body that lacks empathy and the understanding of the challenges of operating race clubs in the regions.

Under the previous Palaszczuk-Miles Government, RQ lost its way and has since become a ‘boys’ club’.

When the long-time and well-respected Queensland country racing manager Col Truscott retired last year, it left a major hole in the industry.

Instead of scouring the nation for a replacement for such a major position, RQ instead appointed a former Ladbrokes employee with very little relevant experience.

And instead of being based in a place like Rockhampton, where his predecessor resided, the new country racing manager sits in Deagon and has barely been sighted at a bush meeting since taking the job.

How can a statutory body like Racing Queensland appoint major roles like that without advertising them? It doesn’t pass the pub test.

And with Mr Scott leaving his post early, it would have come as no surprise to many that his acting replacement is – lo and behold – another former Ladbrokes man.

What hope does bush racing have when most of RQ’s payroll sit in an air-conditioned office in Deagon and 98 per cent of staff live in the south-east corner?

Since last year’s election, Mr Mander has been impressive in his new role as Racing Minister, but it is clear that he has a lot of work to do to clean up what is a giant mess at RQ headquarters.

The racing body’s solution to save money was to cut meetings from bush hubs like Mount Isa and Longreach, but the cuts need to start in Deagon.

How much money has been wasted in the last five years because of major blunders by RQ?

Failed track upgrades at places like Charters Towers, Eagle Farm and Charleville have cost millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, clubs like Mount Isa and Longreach are putting on a great service to their communities.

Had someone from RQ been at the St Patrick’s Day-themed meeting on Saturday, they would have seen 800 people – most of them aged under 40 and at least half of them women – which is a lot more than you’ll see at most Brisbane race meetings.

Instead of trying to cut our local meetings, RQ should be thinking of ways to build them up so they can contribute to the coffers of a flailing racing industry.

 

MINISTER STEPS IN TO HALT CUTS TO COUNTRY RACING & GUESS WHAT? RQ DOES GIANT BACK-FLIP ENSURING LNP PROMISES KEPT 

HERE’S hoping the racing industry in outback Queensland realises how lucky it is to have a newspaper like the NORTH WEST WEEKLY and its publisher MATT NICHOLLS who doubles as a turf scribe. Unlike some of his city colleagues Matt is fighting for what needs to be done for stakeholders not bowing to pressure from high profile ‘mates’ running race clubs and control bodies who they think can boost their status more.

The latest story by Nicholls of a major back-flip by RQ after protests to the LNP Government from the bush is republished by LGHR with permission of the NW Weekly:

A stand-off has emerged in the racing industry after the two major clubs in Outback Queensland were forced to fight for their futures.

In a meeting with the Country Racing Panel last Friday, Racing Queensland (RQ) told delegates that it was willing to protect all of the once-a-year clubs in the bush but, in order to lower costs, it was seriously considering reducing the number of meetings at hubs in Mount Isa and Longreach.

Mount Isa is the capital of the North West racing region and hosts 12 meetings per year, although it often holds more when it picks up transferred meetings from other clubs in the region if bad weather intervenes.

Longreach holds a similar role in the Central West and stages nine meetings each year.

“I was a bit flabbergasted, to be honest,” said Mount Isa Race Club president Jay Morris when told of RQ’s plans. “We are the major centre out here that gets called upon to prop up race meetings after rain events or just general incidents at tracks that don’t allow them to race. We take them on at short notice for the benefit of the industry.

“I thought we were pretty safe from any cuts because we are a major centre. We don’t want any cuts anywhere, to be honest. We want it to be status quo.”

Those thoughts were echoed by Longreach Jockey Club president Andrew Watts, who is also a caller at some of the North West’s major race meetings.

“It seemed like a backflip from Racing Queensland, who at the end of last year was talking about closing down once-a-year clubs, or at least the potential of that happening,” he said.

“To take meetings away from the bigger clubs like Longreach and Mount Isa, who they’ve spent millions of dollars on with infrastructure upgrades, it seemed a bizarre way of thinking.”

The Country Racing Panel was blindsided by the news, according to the North West’s new delegate Dan Ballard, who was backed by Central West representative Gary Peoples.

“The meeting went without any real issues until we got to the last agenda item, ‘race dates calendar’,” Mr Ballard said. “It was at this point that Lachlan Murray, the acting CEO, shared that, due to the downturn in wagering revenue, RQ was looking at all options to cut costs and among the suggestions was a reduction in country race meetings.

“RQ reps assured panel members that the once-a-year clubs were all safe, but they were considering a reduction to the number of meetings given to country clubs that race multiple times a year and that there was questionable social benefit associated with meetings that weren’t well attended.

“Lyle Murray from Eidsvold asked if that meant transferring those meetings to other clubs in the region and Mr Murray clarified that the meeting would be absorbed by RQ at a saving of around $50,000 for every meeting they didn’t hold.

“When there wasn’t any appetite or support for the idea amongst panel members, Graham Quirk said the RQ board had a fiduciary responsibility to reduce costs and that hard decisions would need to be made.”

Mr Peoples, a prominent horse owner and bookmaker, said Racing Queensland tried to use one of the panel’s advocacy policies against them.

“We’ve always pushed the social fabric argument and how important it is to country communities that we hold our race meetings, being probably the biggest events in some of our towns these days,” he said.

“The argument was put to us, ‘how is it a social fabric issue for Mount Isa and Longreach who have a lot of these meetings where they get 100 or 200 people?’

“Our argument back to them was that unless we have those bigger clubs racing that many times, we wouldn’t have a season.

“We’ve already got a very fine window now. We race from about March through to November, so we’ve got a small window where owners, trainers, jockeys and the like can make a dollar. We don’t need that reduced anymore.

“I definitely got the impression that there was some agenda there to look at trying to cut some country meetings.

“I have no doubt about that.”

Following Friday’s meeting, the Outback racing circle lit up with discussion.

The proposed reduction of meetings was the hottest topic at the Mount Isa and Barcaldine race meetings on Saturday.

By Monday morning, following media requests from North West Weekly to RQ, Racing Minister Tim Mander, State MPs and the Opposition spokesperson for racing, Grace Grace, the narrative inside the four walls of Deagon began to change.

It is understood that Mr Mander was furious with the stance taken by RQ, which went against the LNP’s policy of supporting racing in country Queensland.

By Monday afternoon, RQ had not only back-flipped on its stance, but was now gas-lighting Country Racing Panel members, claiming it never intended to make cuts to race meetings at venues like Mount Isa and Longreach.

“On an annual basis, RQ conducts more than 1600 race meetings across the state,” a spokesperson for RQ said.

“To support the development of its racing calendar, RQ consults with key stakeholders, including the Country Racing Panel, to ensure it is optimising meetings including those with low attendance levels.

“No country race meetings have been removed from the draft 2025-26 racing calendar, with the final calendar expected to be published by the end of the month.”

When asked for clarification after RQ’s statement contradicted the viewpoint of panel members, the spokesperson added: “The panel was asked to participate in a discussion on Friday as to whether there are any race meetings, which have been poorly attended historically, and whether they should be scheduled or not.

“This was not limited to attendances, however, as other data points were also discussed including horse nominations, acceptances, starters, field sizes, and census population data.

“There was no need for a vote as it was merely a discussion point.”

Panel delegates have since disputed these claims.

A spokesperson for Mr Mander said there would be no cuts to the 2025-26 racing calendar.

“We have been informed by Racing Queensland that no country race meets have been removed from the draft 2025-26 calendar,” they said on Monday.

“The Crisafulli Government is committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability and viability of country racing in Queensland and that is why we have launched the independent Racing Review.

“I encourage all stakeholders and participants in Mount Isa and Longreach to have their say. The discussion paper will be open for submissions until 30 March.”

Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said that any cuts to race clubs were unacceptable.

“It’s a statement made out of ignorance where (RQ) don’t fully appreciate the impact of what they’re saying,” he said. “It’s a lot more complicated than just cutting a few meetings.

“The viability of the industry is already under threat for your critical mass of trainers, jockeys and stakeholders, and to say things that can undermine that further is sending a signal that we don’t really care about your future.”

Mr Katter said he was pleased to hear the once-a-year clubs were protected, but there was a lack of understanding from RQ about how those meetings were supported.

“The trainers are usually based in the bigger centres and they support those little events,” he said.

“In our case in the North West it’s Mount Isa where you have your critical mass and that ensures the viability of those smaller events.”

Former Racing Minister and Labor’s opposition spokesperson for the racing industry, Grace Grace, said any cuts to country racing would be unacceptable.

“Country racing was very well supported while I was Minister. We put a lot of money into it and made a conscious effort to support country racing,” she said.

“If country racing dies it has bigger impacts on coastal clubs.”

Member for Gregory, the LNP’s Sean Dillon, said he was pleased Mr Mander intervened as Racing Minister, and reinforced the need for stakeholders to take part in the government’s Racing Review.

“So whilst we know there’s no cuts for 2025-26, we also think this review – without predicating the independence of it – is geared towards how we protect and grow the industry,” he said.

“It’s not just good enough to maintain the status quo.

“You’ve got to look for methods to grow and build resilience into that model and that’s very clearly what we’re chasing because we singled country racing out in the terms of reference ... it shows that as a government we view it as a pretty special part of the racing fabric.”

 

TEN HOURS OF NON-STOP BETTING ON QUEENSLAND RACING THIS SATURDAY – THEY HAVE TO BE JOKING – WHAT’S SECOND PRIZE?

RACING Queensland is arguably ‘damned if they do and damned if they don’t’ in deciding to run a marathon double-header on Saturday rather than relegating the Gold Coast Jewel meeting to the Friday night.

The situation has highlighted a problem of which 'master' some control body heavies are subservient to that continues to be raised with new Racing Minister Tim Mander and could even be the topic of discussion at the upcoming Review into the Three Codes of Racing.

There are growing concerns, especially from officials in the country, that corporate bookmakers or more to the point their former employees have started to take over key roles in industry administration.

One high profile and long-standing former country club chairman posed the question: ‘What credentials do you need to work for a corporate bookie? Certainly university degrees are not required.

‘They keep telling us that experience with the corporate bookmaking business is a major advantage when appointing control body and race club bosses these days. This country would be much better off without the corporates, who history has shown only want to accept bets from the mugs. So if we can do without them, why can’t we do without those keen to move on from them and arguably protect their former bosses' interests through key industry appointments?

‘Everywhere you turn these days we have former high flyers with the leading corporate bookies jumping ship. Then there’s the racing media  personnel who are leaving their jobs to join the corporate bookies with some even then moving on to greener pastures with leading race clubs. If the qualification for running a race club these days is securing mug punting clients for corporate bookies, God help the racing industry.”

This growing controversy was raised by North West Weekly Editor Matt Nicholls in a recent Q & A with new Racing Minister Tim Mander as follows:

THERE’S clearly been some change of leadership with (Racing Queensland CEO) Jason Scott, announcing his resignation and shifting roles (on secondment to the troubled new Q track), but there is also a concern that Racing Queensland has been filled with ex-Ladbrokes employees and that some of the appointments are just not adequate. I guess this will come out in the Review, but there is a concern, Minister, that this Review will take six months and that could mean six months of pain for some of these bush clubs.

THE Minister replied: LOOK, it is business as usual whilst we go through this transition of leadership. I don’t think it’s smart to make an appointment of the new Head of RQ until we get the Review done because, in some ways, it will be the blueprint for the next CEO and it’s important that we pick somebody that is capable of doing it and has the appropriate skills.  

I hear the concerns that you’ve just raised and I understand them. I am committed to making sure that we have a CEO that is well-rounded and understands that this is an industry that is state-wide. It’s not simply in the south-east corner, it’s not simply in other metropolitan areas down the coast and a new CEO will have to be very cognizant of that because of the importance of country racing.

LGHR raises this latest headache for Minister Mander, who we believe is doing a terrific job early days considering the basket case he has inherited, because obviously there is a difference of opinion on Saturday’s block-buster between Tony Gollan and Jason Scott, who the champion trainer has admitted he will be sorry to see leave the RQ CEO role. 

Gollan has told 'hard-hitting' Murdoch Media turf scribe Ben Dorries (except when it comes to asking tough questions of his mates at the BRC about their last AGM) that officials should have copied the Gold Coast Magic Millions blueprint and rescheduled the rich QTIS Jewel meeting to Friday night rather than being part of a marathon Saturday schedule.

Big Ben (who with his daughter once enjoyed the hospitality of renegade BRC Member Wally Gleeson on his family's Downs stud but has failed to reciprocate that generosity preferring a couple of pork chops and a free beer each week in the BRC directors’ room) diligently reports:

The original Magic Millions meeting in January was called off after several races due to a heavy downpour and the iconic event was rescheduled for the following Friday in a twilight/night card under lights.

With ex-Cyclone Alfred creating havoc in the Sunshine State last Saturday’s Gold Coast meeting featuring the $500,000 2YO and 3YO Jewel races has been rescheduled until this Saturday as a twilight meeting.

In an unprecedented situation, Eagle Farm will have an 11-race metropolitan day card on Saturday and the Gold Coast will have their 10 metropolitan races in a monster 21-race day.

Racing Queensland, whose Acting Chief Executive Lachlan Murray – like Jason Scott – comes from a corporate bookmaking background, claims the supercharged Saturday will provide a boost to wagering turnover in a time where there are industry challenges on the wagering front.

In contrast Gollan believes it has created major complexities – including splitting the jockey pool – and feels it would have been preferable to run the Jewel card as a Friday Gold Coast twilight meeting.

“I know it’s a tough situation and it’s hard to plan for these type of things, but I think it could have been handled better,” Gollan told Dorries. “My opinion on it hasn’t changed, we had a pretty good blueprint there from a challenging Magic Millions carnival due to storms and track poisoning.  We were able to think on our feet quite quickly and that showed with a little bit of co-operation, we all can co-exist and get things done.

“I can’t really understand why the Jewel meeting wouldn’t be run on the Friday night. There are now two metro meetings on the same day, where you split the pool of your riding talent to a degree.

“I think they should have given both events the proper spectacle they deserve, having proper metro events on separate days which could both be enjoyed rather than trying to run them on the same day.

“Maybe it’s going to be a betting bonanza, who knows? I guess it is locked and loaded now and we have to make do with what we have got, and we can judge it after the event. It’s certainly different, it’s something that’s never been done before that I know of. I just think Friday would have been a good option for the Jewel, we saw a really successful Magic Millions night under tough circumstances after a weather event.”

Acting RQ CEO Murray pointed Dorries in the direction of the wagering benefits of having two metropolitan Saturday meetings. Those close to the coalface are questioning which ‘master’ 'the new Big Cod' is serving here – the industry or the corporates?

LGHR believes it to be the industry as he argues that wagering turnover on the Jewel meeting could potentially have been almost halved if it had been run on Friday night rather than on Saturday.

“Whilst we appreciate some trainers may have preferred us to reschedule the Jewel to under lights at the Gold Coast, it’s imperative that we also factor in the feedback from our clubs and the increase on turnover that will be materialised on Saturday."

Murray claims punters are habitual and many would have turned their back on the Jewel if it was run on Friday night. That means he thinks they will battle on for up to 10 hours betting on Queensland racing.

The punters that LGHR have spoken to say ‘he has to be kidding’ that with the likelihood of ‘bog tracks’ in the south-east corner they will focus their betting activities on Sydney and Melbourne racing on Saturday then head for a quiet ale and off to bed.

There will be an overlap between the Eagle Farm and Gold Coast cards on Saturday. The first Eagle Farm race is scheduled for 10.28am with the last of 11 at 4.27pm. The first race at the Gold Coast will be run at 2.49pm and the last of 10 races at 8.15pm. What a headache for poor old SKY Channel - it'll be handbags tossed across the room!

One also questions whether the Gold Coast Turf Club should be paying to charter helicopters to get top jockeys from Brisbane to the Gold Coast in time to meet commitments. Nothing wrong with the helicopter idea but these blokes make enough money to pay for the charter flights themselves.

It was a similar situation at the first night meeting on the Coast when bonuses were paid by the club to winning jockeys and trainers. Of course the ones that missed out were the owners and the punters, without whom there would be no racing.

There's no shortage of rocket-scientists running the show on the 'Glitter Strip'. What about the one - who shall remain nameless - defending the drawing up of fields for the Jewel meeting last Saturday suggesting that the cyclone might not even arrive. 'Who knows,' he said? 'The sun could well be shining on Saturday morning.' The only place it was in the terrible circumstances was where he had his head. 

 

IS DAMIEN LANE RIDING JUST AS WELL AS JAMES McDONALD?

IF James McDonald is the best jockey in the world, where does Damien Lane fit into the equation?

There are plenty who believe that if ‘Frosty’ had the choice of mounts from a powerful stable like that of Chris Waller, he would achieve as good as – if not better – results than Jmac.

Both are great jockeys but from a punting perspective there is no ‘tax’ on the rides of Lane that bookies impose whenever McDonald jumps aboard.

The career records of the pair read:

McDonald  over 8000 rides for close to 1700 wins – a strike rate of almost 21 per cent. This season he has had 617 rides for 162 wins (over 26 per cent, quite amazing).

JMac won nine of the world's top 100 Group 1 features from December 2023  to November 30, 2024 – Hong Kong Cup (Romantic Warrior), Stewards' Cup (Voyage Bubble), Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (Romantic Warrior), Ranvet Stakes (Via Sistina), QEII Cup (Romantic Warrior), Yasuda Kinen (Romantic Warrior), W.S. Cox Plate (Via Sistina), VRC Champions Sprint (Sunshine in Paris) and VRC Champions Stakes (Via Sistina).

The 32-year-old was named the World’s Best Jockey at an Awards’ Ceremony coinciding with the Hong Kong International last December by 10 points from four-time winner, Englishman Ryan Moore.

In contrast DAMIEN LANE has had over 10,000 rides for almost 1600 wins – a strike rate of 15 per cent. This season he has ridden 70 winners (not half the number of McDonald but a lot less opportunities) from 437 rides (almost 200 less than JMac) for a strike rate of 16 per cent.

His more recent Group 1 winners in Australia include: VRC Oaks (Treasurethe Moment), Caulfield Guineas (Private Life), Turnbull Stakes (Via Sistina), T J Smith (Chain Of Lightning) & George Ryder Stakes (Veight).

IT was a Japanese connection that labelled Lane a superstar rider. A curiosity to explore a new racing jurisdiction during the Melbourne Winter of 2019 altered the course of his career.

Lane subsequently rode feature races on Japanese horses in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Hong Kong. He became a ‘household’ racing name in the land of the Rising Sun.

The son of horse trainers, Michael and Vickey, Damien was born in Bunbury, WA, in 1994. His riding career began in the west in 2004 before he moved to Victoria and celebrated his first Group 1 win on Trust In A Grace in the 2014 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Lane spent three months in Japan from April to July 2019, riding 37 winners, including his first Japanese Group 1 on Normcore in the Victoria Mile. He spent another three months there between April and July 2020, riding 41 winners.

In 2019 during the Melbourne Spring Carnival he partnered the Japanese-trained horses Mer De Glace and Lys Gracieux in their respective Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate wins.

Lane returned to Japan in 2022 where he marked his 100th Japanese race win on Rain From Heaven.  In 2023, he won the Japanese Derby on Tastiera, becoming the first jockey from the South Hemisphere to win a Japanese classic.

‘Frosty’, with just over 30 Group 1 wins will never achieve the G1 status of JMac (now over 110) but the Kiwi rode his first when he was only 16. However, when it comes to international success there isn’t much between the pair.

Lane’s latest big race connection is with VRC Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment taking her tally to six straight in Saturday’s Kewney Stakes at Flemington. Her next target is the G1 Vinery Stakes at Rosehill in a fortnight.

With Waller planning only a light Autumn campaign for his gun fillies, Lady Shenandoah and Autumn Glow, we might have to wait for the Spring to see that duo clash with Treasurethe Moment.

For the legion of JMac fans who might be poo-pooing our suggestion that Lane can be compared to the best jockey in the World, have a look at the recent rides of the duo then think about the difference in value for punters when it comes to backing their mounts.

McDonald decided to stay in Sydney last Saturday – probably to ensure the Waller stable’s star youngster Wodeton qualified for the Gold Slipper which it did but got beaten. Bookies have eased his price for the world’s richest two-year-old race on March 22 but Saturday’s winner Tempted is now a $5.5 equal favourite. Ironically it was Jmac who rode the James Cummings-trained Tempted to his only win of the day in the G2 Reisling. Wonder which one he would prefer to be on in the big race.

In Melbourne, Waller used the services of Lane who piloted Joliestar to victory in the G1 Newmarket adding to his success in the Kewney on the Matt Laurie-trained Treasurethe Moment which has consolidated his connections with the powerful ownership of Yulong Investments.

In no way is this article intended to diminish the status of a true champion in James McDonald who is the best jockey in the world.

LGHR just wants to highlight the growing opinion that from a racing in Australia viewpoint Damien Lane is now easily the next best, not far behind the superstar and much better punting value.

 

THE AMAZING STORY OF ZHANG YEUSHENG & HIS EMERGING YULONG RACING DYNASTY 

ANDREW HAWKINS reports for THE STANDARD

 QUANNAO VILLAGE, population 120 and situated on the China-Mongolia border in the Gobi Desert, is hardly the first place that comes to mind as the birthplace of a modern horse racing dynasty.

AROUND 1000 years since Genghis Khan and Marco Polo traversed the Mongolian Steppes, the region has now inspired Quannao native Zhang Yuesheng, whose Yulong operation is fast emerging as an international outfit to match big guns like Coolmore and Godolphin. 

Earlier this week, it was reported that three of North America's best mares - Canadian Horse of the Year Moira along with Full Count Felicia and Anisette - were bound for Australia. 

They will join Yulong's rapidly expanding stable, which already includes the world's best mare Via Sistina and exciting three-year-old Growing Empire. 

Such has been Zhang's success in just 17 years since he established the Yulong Group in China that he is among a small coterie of prolific global owner-breeders who have been granted Hong Kong Jockey Club ownership permits. 

Zhang and South African doyenne Mary Slack were granted the first non-resident permits in 2022 - a program since extended to a handful of others, like Germany's Dr Andreas Jacobs or Peter Vela from New Zealand.

Zhang, 55, has had three Hong Kong runners so far, all trained by Mark Newnham: Happy Valley winner Show Respect, Hong Kong Mile runner Ramadan and Australian Stakes placegetter Alsonso. 

By any measure, it has been a rapid rise for the self-made Chinese billionaire. 

So where did it all begin? Zhang grew up in Quannao, where horses were an agricultural necessity and a mode of transport. 

His ambition soon drove him south to Datong where, at 18, he first became a taxi driver before beginning work as a coal transportation officer. 

By 2000, Zhang had established a coal mining business that quickly expanded into other industries with 14 subsidiaries across sectors like renewable energy, property and petrochemicals. 

His conglomerate was named Yulong after the ‘white dragon horse’ of Chinese mythology, immortalized in the 16th-century epic Journey To The West. 

A return to his roots was only natural and in 2008, he established Yulong Horse Group, based at Yulong Horse Park in Youyu, not far from Quannao. 

Two years later, he bought his first thoroughbred abroad - an Irish filly named Yulong Baoju, trained by Edward Lynam - but it was being trackside at Flemington for Fiorente's 2013 Melbourne Cup success that inspired his global vision. 

The Yulong colors - jade green and white, because the 'Yu' also means jade in Chinese - have since been seen in most major jurisdictions around the world. 

However, it is Australia where they now have the greatest impact, reaching their zenith with Via Sistina's Cox Plate win last year. 

Only five years ago the fledgling Yulong operation Down Under was seen as a flash in the pan, racing many high-priced yearlings with little success. 

Like so many big spenders before him, it was expected that Zhang's involvement would cease. 

Now, Yulong is the biggest breeder in Victoria, building a broodmare band that is the envy of the world and a stallion roster befitting any major stud. 

Their trophy cabinet is filling up rapidly. Zhang is contributing to a new era of globalization that is making the racing world smaller than ever before. 

Mares like Via Sistina or Moira would never have raced or gone to stud in Australia previously and the blend of international form-lines and pedigrees is a positive for the sport's future. 

It may not be Genghis Khan level of global domination, but Zhang is well on his way to changing the face of international racing.

LGHR EDITOR’S NOTE: There is a strong but unconfirmed story doing the rounds that Yulong has purchased the Australian arm of Godolphin.

 

JAMIE’S NEAR MISS AS BEN RIDES TO G1 GLORY IN ALL STAR MILE

RACING’S dark cloud gave way to daring and drama under the clear skies of Flemington on Saturday as big-occasion jockey Ben Melham captured group 1 glory on a James Cummings-trained horse just seconds after his wife almost fell.

DANNY RUSSELL reports for FAIRFAX MEDIA that the nerve-wracking finish to the All-Star Mile came after a sombre fortnight in which Flemington lost trainer Mike Moroney, 66, to cancer and the famous Payne siblings lost their 51-year-old sister Bernadette.

It was also a fortnight in which the Cummings name had taken a hit. James’ father, Anthony, was forced to walk away from Leilani Lodge during the week, his financial troubles shutting the doors on the Randwick stables that had been in their family for 50 years.

But racing has a habit of creating distracting moments to help us momentarily forget.

The married Melhams – Ben and Jamie – and jockey Craig Williams were at the heart of that palpitating moment on Saturday.

As Ben swept four-wide down the Flemington straight to spark a driving finish with Williams on Mr Brightside, Jamie was caught in the wash.

She had a lap-full of horse and as she searched for a gap 200 metres from home on Another Wil, they clipped heels with the horse in front, blundered and almost fell.

For a heart-in-mouth second in time, a dark history came terrifyingly close to repeating itself.

It was on this track and this day two years ago, Jamie Kah (now Melham) came crashing to the turf in the Sires Produce and suffered serious head injuries that would keep her sidelined for months.

But this time around her horse was able to keep its feet. If the near miss unsettled her nerve, it did not show.

“In my opinion, he wins if he doesn’t draw barrier one,” she said of her precarious position after the race.

The stewards took a sterner view of Jamie’s ride. They reprimanded her for her actions and told her to “exercise more care” in future.

Her husband was oblivious to his wife’s near miss. Tom Kitten had edged out Mr Brightside by a nose and Ben had captured his 22nd group 1 victory.

He praised Tom Kitten for putting “another big one on the mantelpiece”.

“I was confident he could come here and beat [Mr] Brightside today, but he just has a few antics on the barriers and stepped a bit ordinary, but it worked out really well for us,” Ben said after the race.

Williams also came in for attention from the stewards, who questioned if he had shown enough urgency to set up a winning break on Mr Brightside as the field had turned for home.

They were satisfied with his explanation.

“He explained that in the early stages he was satisfied with the position he was able to settle, with Another Wil, one of his main dangers, positioned to his inside,” the stewards said.

“Williams added that when he became aware that Tom Kitten, which he considered the other main danger, had commenced to improve to his outside, he placed Mr Brightside under pressure passing the 300m, where he felt the gelding had every opportunity to win.”

James Cummings, who trains for Godolphin, was not at Flemington to soak up the glory. He had stayed in Sydney to watch Broadsiding finish a narrow second in the group 1 Randwick Guineas.

It was a pity because he had long-maintained the faith in Tom Kitten, a gelding that stable foreman Nacim Dilmi described as having had “many unlucky races”. On Saturday, the luck finally turned.

“Now it is onwards to the Australian Cup,” Dilmi said.

Eighty minutes later, the group 1 Newmarket Handicap was run at Flemington and won by favourite Joliestar, a Chris Waller-trained mare ridden by Damian Lane.

The decorated jockey revealed he had never been so confident of putting away a group 1 – if only he could find a gap.

“It felt like I needed an inch of room, and she was going to put them away. She just travelled so easily the whole race,” Lane said.

“I just had to bide my time, and we got out at the perfect time in the end.”

They finished 1.3 lengths ahead of Headwall, with Stretan Angel another 1.5 lengths back in third.

But the sombre moments are never far away. Lane was presented with the Dean Holland Trophy after winning the Newmarket, a cup named in honour of the jockey who died in a 2023 race fall.

“I don’t think there was a member of our industry who wasn’t touched in some way by Dean,” Lane said.

“He was such a character – much loved in the jockeys’ room. It is sad but rewarding [to win his trophy] at the same time.”

Flemington will hold a memorial for Moroney on Tuesday.

 

RACING MINISTER CONFIRMS LNP GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLANS TO SHUT COUNTRY CLUBS IN Q&A WITH NORTH WEST WEEKLY EDITOR

ON the day that he announced the terms of a major Review into the Racing Industry, Minister for Racing TIM MANDER spoke with NORTH WEST WEEKLY EDITOR MATT NICHOLLS about some of the issues facing the country racing circuit in Queensland.

* MN: Minister, you’ve just made a major announcement in Brisbane about a Review into Racing. Can you summarise what this Review is going to entail?

TM: We promised during the election campaign that we would have a comprehensive Review. This is a proactive review, not a reactive one, which has really been the reviews of recent history, responding to a singular issue.

This is a chance to look at the whole industry with no predetermined views in mind, but knowing some of the challenges that we have to ensure the long-term sustainability of the three codes of racing. So today was kicking off that Review and the kick-off really is a discussion paper that has gone out and is now online in which I’m encouraging people from the sector to participate in over the next month right through to March 30.

We want people from the sector to tell us what they believe the issues are, and whether they have any ideas, and how those issues can be met. We’ve put some themes in, which includes governance, funding models, animal welfare and, of course, the future of country racing.

But we don’t want people to be constrained by (the themes); we want them to say whatever they believe is relevant.

We’ve also announced that the person who will lead the review is Matt McGrath, who is a former Chair of the Australian Turf Club in Sydney.

We looked for somebody who was independent of Queensland, but has a good working knowledge of racing and a working knowledge of what happens in Queensland as well.

He’s got an extensive business background and he’ll be assisted by a steering group that will be made up of local experts to help us fine-tune the terms of reference and then Matt and his group will go out and start meeting with people and finding out first-hand what some of those issues are.

Then, in six months, at the end of September, Matt will report back to me and then we’ll consider those recommendations and go to Cabinet and work out, if that’s relevant, what needs to happen going forward.

It’s not like the industry is in dire need of massive change, but it’s a chance to go through and look under the hood, if you like, and work out what we can change to make things better.

Some of the issues that I mentioned to you are issues that have been communicated to me in my time as Shadow Minister for the last four years, and since I’ve become Minister, but I’m sure there are other issues as well.

* Just on country racing and without pre-empting the Review, but what do you see as the biggest challenges for country racing in Queensland?

There are a number of challenges and one of them is that country racing is having the same challenges that lots of industries are in the bush, which is a depopulation of some of the areas, so there are workforce challenges, particularly with jockeys.

There is also the issue of old infrastructure coming face-to-face with modern compliance standards. We’ve all heard the stories about the star pickets, about barriers that obviously are not compliant anymore, that cost a couple of hundred thousand dollars to fix for a race meeting once a year.

I mean, they’re challenges and we’ve got to look at innovative ways of making sure that country racing not only survives, but thrives.

I’m acutely conscious of the role that racing plays in the bush with regards to the social fabric.

I think in 85 towns across Queensland, racing is either the number one or two event that they have during the year and I come from a regionalised party with local members that represent regional areas and I’m reminded constantly – not that I need reminding because I am conscious of it – of how important racing is in the bush.

* There’s clearly been some change of leadership with (Racing Queensland CEO) Jason Scott, announcing his resignation and shifting roles, but there is also a concern that Racing Queensland has been filled with ex-Ladbrokes employees and that some of the appointments are just not adequate. I guess this will come out in the Review, but there is a concern, Minister, that this review will take six months and that could mean six months of pain for some of these bush clubs.

Look, it is business as usual whilst we go through this transition of leadership. I don’t think it’s smart to make an appointment of the new Head of RQ until we get the review done because, in some ways, it will be the blueprint for the next CEO and it’s important that we pick somebody that is capable of doing it and has the appropriate skills.

I hear the concerns that you’ve just raised and I understand them.

I am committed to making sure that we have a CEO that is well-rounded and understands that this is an industry that is Statewide.

It’s not simply in the south-east corner, it’s not simply in other metropolitan areas down the coast and a new CEO will have to be very cognizant of that because of the importance of country racing.

* The jockey shortage issue has been spoken about for a long time, particularly when you were Shadow Minister but it continues in the bush. One of the potential solutions that’s been brought up – and it’s probably more of a federal issue than a state issue – is the allowance of visas for overseas jockeys, especially from the Asian market, to come to Australia. Is that something that you as Minister could potentially work with the federal government on to potentially open some doors?

Absolutely. I mean, we’ve got to look at all options and skilled migration is one of those and it seems to be an obvious channel to promote and go forward.

You’re right, it’s under federal jurisdiction, but part of my job – if that is what we believe is the best way to go forward – is for me to advocate and lobby for that and put pressure on the federal government, or whatever persuasion it might be, to see the great need for it.

But that seems to be one (solution) that just sort of slams you right between the eyes.

* I saw you went to the Goondiwindi races last weekend, which was great to see. The outgoing CEO has said on the record that he does feel like there should be some consolidation of clubs in Queensland. As an LNP Minister I’m guessing that some of your colleagues would be very much against that. Are you confident that we won’t see mass closures of clubs in your country Queensland?

Well that’s not my intention, nor my agenda, and someone like Jason is going to have his own opinion, and that’s fine, but that’s not my intention.

I want us to be smart and I want us to be innovative and, at the same time, understand how our regional people love racing so much and the part that it plays in the social fabric of their communities.

I don’t want to pre-empt anything but that’s definitely not part of my agenda.

* My last question circles back to this Review. What would your message be to the Mount Isa Race Club or the Cloncurry Race Club or even the Gregory Downs Jockey Club about contributing to this review and making submissions?

My advice is for them is to be very proactive in making submissions and suggestions through the discussion paper process and then be ready to talk about the solutions you have in mind when there’s the face-to-face stuff.

This is a great opportunity. My experience with the racing industry is they’re not backwards in coming forwards with their opinion, which is great, and I like working with people like that who are direct.

There’s always a lot of talk that people are going to do something or think about something but here’s our opportunity now to put it on the table and work out right across the board what’s the best way to go forward in a whole range of different categories.

To make a submission or read the terms of the Queensland Racing Review 2025, visit https://www.sport.qld.gov.au/racing/consultation-for-queenslands-2025-racing-review.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Isn’t it refreshing to see an innovative country-based newspaper and a well-informed Editor doing the job that the mainstream media is failing to do. Then again we’re still waiting for the Murdoch Media not only to report on the contentious AGM of their mates at the Brisbane Racing Club but why they refuse to release minutes of that meeting to concerned Members like Wally Gleeson.

 

FORMER TOP BOOKIE FIRES BACK ON SUGGESTED ‘CUTS TO COUNTRY RACING’ & WANTS TO SEE NATIONAL TOTE REPLACE THE CORPORATES

THERE is no more passionate supporter of country racing that legendary North Queensland bookie, Gary Gorrie, now living in retirement in Phuket.

Gaz, who has just returned home after undergoing serious surgery in Brisbane, showed he is well on the road to recovery, firing back at suggestions from Sydneysider Peter Mair that the Review into Queensland Racing, should look at the viability of racing in the country/bush.

Here’s what Gary had to say:

PETER ‘Mare’ of Sydney seems like a bloke who knows everything.

Maybe he might like to comment on Country Racing Victoria where we have former Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Scott Whiteman running the show. 

CRV profit for the last three years ending June 30 resulted: 2022, $524,308; 2023, $703,456 & 2024, $954,440.

I believe most ‘picnic’ clubs in Victoria had house-full signs up each meeting and those country towns supported these meetings to the full.

Seems to having a look at the CRV model would do Queensland country no harm and maybe we could get Scott to consult on good practices to follow.

Maybe the new ‘toe-cutters’ doing the study on Queensland racing might look at the figures that Townsville had [crowds, bookies, numbers of starters compared to Doomben, Toowoomba and Gold Coast. In 1997 Townsville was a furlong in front until they reduced Townsville in favor of the south-east corner.

These favored clubs have had financial nightmares for years and the solution is always ‘let’s cut the number of clubs in Queensland country’ not find out why clubs in the south cannot be viable. Maybe it’s time to rationalize this protected corner and give the country clubs some help in setting up like Country Racing in Victoria. 

Then we lost iconic clubs like Wilpena, Wowan, Banana, Ridgelands, Saltbush Park, Mingela (used to send train full of punters there), Bowen River and Ogmore.

So our the ‘Mare of Sydney racing’ must have some clubs picked out that I am sure he has visited, like Mt Garnet, Twin Hills, Ewan and many more, which attract huge crowds. (Ewan I know raises big money for the lifesavers). Many of these country clubs are a social release for the townspeople.

The Moranbah/Isaac regions Coal mining area injects a huge amounts of money into the Queensland economy. The costs of these meetings would be a pittance of the taxes paid to the Queensland Government. Moranbah has three meetings a year run by a vibrant committee who ensure the townspeople have something different to have fun and let off some steam from shiftwork pressures.

Now when they did the 1997 ‘toe-cutting' exercise they centralized all the Racing Associations. We lost the expertise back then of the likes of Bill Moss & Alan Coopers (at the NQRA). The business was handed over to inexperienced operators which they ended up having to sack and pay huge redundancies because of misplaced appointments. The salaries for these positions were over the top. It would be interesting if our bean counter ‘Mr Mare’ might do a comparison to see how much this great move has cost Queensland Racing.

He might also note that both Sydney and Melbourne now often give stand-alone status on Saturdays to the larger Country tracks for feature meetings. I wonder why. Maybe it’s because they cannot draw a crowd like the country clubs can.. Common ‘Mr Mare’ what about some figures gate-wise for those meetings?

Now I have been an owner, bookie, race-caller and committee member but look at Hong Kong where they have one tote, the best prize money and outstanding racing. It’s time to do the same here. Get rid of the Corporate ‘leeches’ sucking the profits out of racing and have one tote which is owned by racing with the profits ploughed back into racing and not sent off shore .

Now I have given Peter ‘Mare’ a serve (pun intended) because of his one-eyed ideas with no thought to not only the economic and social implications but to spruik the same old tired rhetoric of ‘close the Country clubs’ not looking at the waste in administration and track rebuilding disasters that ‘favored’ south-east corner clubs have encountered.

My suggestions ONE TOTE (owned by Aussie Racing), no corporates and look at the successful models (Scott Whiteman’s Country Racing Victoria and the Hong Kong Jockey Club).

Iconic country racing tracks like Ewan, Twin Hills and Mt Garnet should be Heritage Listed’. They are the grass roots of racing and should be preserved for future generations.

Come on Jimmy Olsen (LGHR) it’s time you too looked at new ideas. You have been lucky to see the best way back when and to witness the gradual decline in Racing.

Let’s punt the ‘Sydney Night-Mare's’ ideas. He’s no Winks, that's for sure.

Gary Gorrie (unapologetic Queensland country racing supporter).

 

CALLS FOR RQ CONTINGENCY PLANS TO BE CONFIRMED ASAP

AS Cyclone Alfred bears down on the south-east Queensland coast, stakeholders are demanding that Racing Queensland stops procrastinating and immediately confirms contingency plans.

Trainers, in particular, have accused the control body – and the Gold Coast Turf Club – of pussy-footing around for too long while other major sports have already abandoned big games set down for decision over the next few days.

One leading trainer told LGHR: ‘I couldn’t believe it when I heard one Nostradamus discussing the fate of the Jewel Day at the Gold Coast on Racing Radio suggesting the sun could be shining on Saturday morning.’

Racing Queensland’s racing manager (perhaps that should read ‘rocket scientist’ Ross Gove told the Murdoch Media earlier in the week that officials would have a clearer picture on Tuesday as stakeholders, including broadcaster Sky Racing, were consulted and weather forecasts were updated. It’s now Wednesday and stakeholders are still waiting.

Gove said devising contingency plans was a difficult process considering the ‘packed schedule’ and the ‘domino effect’ of rescheduling race meetings.

In southeast Queensland alone, the effects of the cyclone are likely to heavily impact scheduled race meetings at Doomben on Friday, the Gold Coast, Esk, Ipswich and Toowoomba (night) on Saturday and the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

“There are race meetings all over the joint but obviously Gold Coast is the most important one,” Gove said on Monday. “It’s the lowest-hanging fruit so we’ll wade through that over the next 24 hours and work out what it looks like and then let the industry know.

“It’s a domino effect because wherever they move to, it’ll potentially have an effect on someone else in a tight racing schedule. It’s a big puzzle. The most important one we have to cater for is the Saturday metro race meeting. It’s a big one, being the Jewel, so we have to find a potential home for that. The problem is finding a hole in the schedule.”

Talk about procrastination. Just make a decision Mr Gove – face the fact that even if ‘the sun is shining on Saturday’ prospects are horses competing at the Gold Coast will be stranded by floodwaters and who knows what state the track will be in.

Down on the tourist strip, racing has another ‘genius’ calling the shorts. GCTC CEO Steve Lines told the Murdoch Media his preference was to reschedule Jewel Day to Saturday week adding that he understood there was no simple solution, with Eagle Farm racing slated for that same day.

“Our preference is to go to the next Saturday given it’s a $2 million race day but the BRC (Brisbane Racing Club) may not be overly rapt in that,” Lines said. He’s not wrong there.

There is also the option now that the Gold Coast has lights for the Jewel Meeting to be held on Friday allowing Brisbane to retain its Saturday timeslot. That seems a solution that should suit all. 

Lines added this little gem: “It’s not over yet though. I’ve lived in cyclone towns all my life and I’ve never seen one do a right-hand turn but I’m not going to make a judgment because as soon as you do, you end up with egg on your face.”

D-DAY has arrived for RQ and the GCTC – a decision needs to be made this morning (Wednesday) or racing in Queensland risks once becoming the laughing stock of the nation.

As for what’s happening with the ‘red hots’ – as one cynic suggested, ‘It’ll be ‘boat race’ business as usual at Albion Park – the more things change the more they stay the same.’

 

CHANGING AN ENTIRE FEATURE RACE DAY PROGRAM TO FIT IN WITH SCHEDULE OF CHAMPION JOCKEY, IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN IN SYDNEY

WHAT an absolute farce!

Sydney racing officialdom is unbelievably considering bringing forward the time of the $4 million Doncaster so that champion jockey James McDonald can ride in it before he jets off to partner Romantic Warrior in Dubai on the same day.

And to worsen the situation the mail is strong they might rearrange the entire card on one of Australia’s biggest race days – running feature races before lunch then taking a break – just so that JMac can fulfil commitments to favorites from the powerful Chris Waller stable (only in Sydney!).

Aren’t there enough good jockeys in Australia to fill the gap created if JMac was forced to miss this big day because of his international jet-setting to try and claim another Group 1 in the Dubai Turf?

Here’s a thought – why doesn’t the star hoop’s management get Emirates or Qantas or whoever he flies with delay the departure of his flight out of Sydney until he arrives at the airport which would fit in with his needs? 

Well that's apparently not even a needed option because multi-millionaire Peter Lau, the owner of Romantic Warrior, is prepared to have a Lear Jet on hand to fly JMac to Dubai but it needs to leave Sydney by 3pm for him to travel across the world and arrive in time for the race.   

Richie Callander – who continues to ride shotgun with controversy in his column for Racenet each week (pity it’s the only thing the website has going for it) – has suggested ‘the cash-strapped Australian Turf Club and Racing NSW’ are considering the controversial change of programming to ‘maximise turnover on one of the country’s biggest race days.

Callander has suggested that the ATC will run the Doncaster as early as Race 4 on the 10-race card (with feature races possibly being run before lunch then a break in proceedings – you know like half-time at the footy but a lot longer).

There are no biggest fans of JMac than LGHR but we were wondering (tongue in cheek) if he and the beautiful Katie decided to take an unexpected break during the Spring Carnival whether officials in Victoria might run the Melbourne Cup under the stars awaiting their flight to arrive from Honolulu or wherever so that he could ride in the big two-miler.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club didn’t delay the planned start time for their Gold Cup which JMac won on Voyage Bubble recently when he jetted from Dubai with only hours to spare and after the meeting at Sha Tin was already underway.

He was returning from partnering Romantic Warrior to a narrow defeat by Japanese superstar Forever Young in the Saudi Cup. That was the ride that Victorian trainer Wayne Hawkes caused much controversy declaring JMac had ‘slaughtered the Hong Kong champ’. The horse’s owner Peter Lau obviously didn’t agree with that assessment and is prepared to move heaven and earth to ensure the partnership continues.

Callander reports that Lau is ‘apparently prepared to have a Lear Jet on hand to fly McDonald to Dubai’ for a Group 1 the same day as the Doncaster but the time difference means it cannot depart later than 3pm, hence the need to bring the time-honoured mile forward if he is to ride in both.

The feedback that LGHR has received from even the greatest of fans of JMac has been overwhelming. He might be a terrific drawcard and one of the best jockeys the world has seen but officials need to get their priorities right – McDonald is not bigger than the sport of horse racing. One wonders if he is so indispensable how reluctant stewards would be to suspend him for careless riding (fortunately Sydney has a no-nonsense internationally-experienced Chief in Steve Railton who would never allow that pressure to sway his decision-making).

Racing fans have bagged the ATC for even considering changing the timing of feature races on the card or the programming to fit in with the schedule of a champion jockey. Farcically, this would mean running some races before lunch-time then having an extended break to ensure the last half of the program is held during the normally ‘hot’ wagering period late in the afternoon. Some have even suggested that the ‘not so big’ Richie these days was simply stirring the pot with an early April Fools’ Day joke.

There are even those who are questioning – and have been for some time now – whether our top jockeys in Australia should be permitted to continue to ride regularly on a Saturday afternoon at major feature meetings locally and then jet out overnight to Hong Kong to take top mounts there.

One high profile trainer, who asked not to be named, wrote:

‘The number of meetings at which these top jocks are allowed to ride in Hong Kong should be limited. No problem with major feature days but not almost every weekend. Could you imagine Hong Kong authorities allowing champion contracted riders like Zac Purton to compete in Australia almost every weekend during their season? It just wouldn’t happen.

‘If jockeys like McDonald, Shinn, Williams and company want to ride in Hong Kong then they should base themselves there during the season and only be allowed to ride at big meetings in Australia as the HKJC sees fit. Of course that wouldn’t suit JMac because of his commitments to the powerful Waller stable.

‘It’s a farce when you see a jockey like Shinn, who is chasing premierships in Australia and costing battling jockeys rides at obscure meetings during the week in Victoria, taking a night off recently when he had a strong book. One trainer who had to find a new rider for a favorite on the card said: ‘Blake needed to freshen up and rest because of his higher priority commitments to Melbourne and Hong Kong that weekend’. Not good enough. Stewards should have stepped in.’

Callander revealed an indication of the popularity of McDonald rides, quoting the TAB’s Head Trader Tim Ryan who said of the almost 130 runners accepted for Randwick last Saturday more than half the money invested was on JMac’s eight rides – an amazing statistic.

Australia’s ‘racing God’ PVL will no doubt soon be seen in an ‘arm-wrestle’ with Hong Kong’s supremo Winfried Bresges for the services of JMac in the years ahead.

Money talks all languages and in that battle there will be only one winner – a venue where punters bet more in a day than Australia could dream of in a couple of months and where the tote is the only place for the locals to bet legally. They don’t have to bow and scrape to the corporates – what a racing utopia.

 

DAMPENER ON CONSULTATION FOR QUEENSLAND RACING REVIEW

THE landmark Review being undertaken by the new LNP Government and designed to secure the future of the Queensland racing industry has attracted plenty of early feedback.

WE thought this response from one of our regular contributors, PETER MAIR of SYDNEY, who knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the sport, was most worthy of publishing. It reads:

LANDMARK REVIEW TO SECURE FUTURE OF QLD RACING INDUSTRY

https://www.sport.qld.gov.au/racing/consultation-for-queenslands-2025-racing-review

THE following responses have been offered to the request for input to this review:

• THE racing industry nationally is bracing for a funding shortfall relative to 'promises' made to fund the prosperity of the industry.
• IN the southern states, industry assets are ‘on the market’ to establish a capital fund and to use the earnings to compensate for current funding shortfalls. Some on-course residential developments in Queensland are about in place. This is a worrying sign.
• QUEENSLAND, generally, is often troubled by the need to reconcile ‘commercial hopes’ with ‘concerns about integrity’ and its racing industry often fits this mould. This is fairly a cultural concern.
• AS with the racing industry nationally, there is an apparent reluctance in Queensland to, basically, face the facts of an industry needing rationalisation.
• THE most significant cost challenge facing the industry, also nationally,  is the ‘cost’ of funding rural racing commitments when the business of rural racing is not commercially viable -- the revenue from tax-takes on rural-racing gambling does not cover the costs, mainly the costs of prizemoney promised.
• INDUSTRIES wanting more workers will need to pay more for them -- and that does not sit easily with the looming shortfall of revenue to do this in the racing industry.
• ..............AN industry reliant on ‘volunteers’ for its viability needs to brace for a fundamental adjustment.
• ............‘THE greatest cost challenges’ are about the need to cut costs to meet available revenue. It is a national issue, one not likely to be resolved by political hopes of  ‘ever more success’ that are being dashed in the day-to-day reality of the shortfall of revenue from taxes on racing gambling.
• UNFORTUNATELY, very little if anything............. if the cultural fabric of rural communities is dependent on ‘dead-loss’ racing it is best that this is recognised with a plan to shift the culture to a more generally viable culture.
• SORRY to spoil the party but, nationally, the need is for less funding of racing in rural areas that has no prospect of commercial merit or viability.
• UNFORTUNATELY, very little if anything............. if the cultural fabric of rural communities is dependent on ‘dead-loss’ racing it is best that this is recognised with a plan to shift the culture to a more generally commercially viable culture.
• ANY that ‘named horses’ are entitled to a life of comfortably subsidised retirement is not sensible.
• NONE - any idea to ‘give the Queensland racing industry a greater presence nationally and internationally’ is fanciful.
• THE best prospect of a future for racing in Queensland, or any other State, is to concentrate the conduct of racing in capital cities on Saturdays -- a prospect that needs a commitment to only staging any publicly-funded racing on terms that ensure the quality of the racing product is sound for most punters. Sadly this is not presently so -- the customers are not respected.
• YES!........the proposal currently tabled for an independent inquiry into racing in Queensland is fundamentally flawed. The tone and content of the media release is only consistent with a direction - from the Minister -- for any inquiry to be anything other than independent.
  
  ..............AS presented,  the words of the 'Minister's foreword' are just inconsistent with any reasonable reality ............ neatly summarised in the determination to both safeguard rural racing and ‘set Queensland up to have the best and most viable racing industry in the country’.
  
  This will not be happening .............it is plainly incredible political nonsense.

 

 

LANDMARK REVIEW TO SECURE FUTURE OF QLD RACING INDUSTRY

MEDIA RELEASE from RACING MINISTER TIM MANDER

• Crisafulli Government releases discussion paper to inform comprehensive Racing Review  
• Industry participants and stakeholders are encouraged to get involved
• Review will focus on ensuring a sustainable industry across all three codes of racing
• Matthew McGrath appointed as Chair of the Review 

THE Crisafulli Government has taken the first step towards a landmark Review of Queensland’s racing industry by releasing a discussion paper, calling on participants and stakeholders to have their say.  

The discussion paper is set to be the most substantial of its kind in Queensland racing for more than 25 years and will help inform the Review. 

The racing industry’s economic contribution to the State exceeds $2.4 billion per year and employs around 16,000 Queenslanders.  

Importantly, more than half of the economic benefits from racing go directly to regional Queensland communities. 

The Review will examine how we can ensure the long-term sustainability of Thoroughbred, Harness and Greyhound Racing across Queensland.  

It will look to further strengthen the integrity of Queensland’s racing industry, recommend the necessary steps to deliver modern and fit for purpose infrastructure and safeguard the ongoing strength and success of country racing. 

The Review will also foster a collaborative relationship among stakeholders to guarantee the long-term viability and growth of each racing code is delivered with high animal welfare standards as a priority. 

Matthew McGrath has been appointed Chair of the Queensland Racing Review. Mr McGrath is an experienced businessman, former Chairman of the Australian Turf Club, and a current Board member of the Cronulla Sharks. 

Minister for Sport and Racing Tim Mander said it was important participants and stakeholders had their say through the discussion paper process.  

“We committed to a review into all aspects of racing, and this discussion paper is the first step,” Minister Mander said. 

“The racing industry is a major contributor to the state’s economy, an important employer for many hard-working Queenslanders and is at the heart of communities right across Queensland. 

“From our biggest cities to our smallest and most remote towns, racing brings our communities together. 

“We want to ensure the long-term financial stability, viability, and integrity of racing in the state.  

“I encourage all stakeholders and participants to have their say and play an active role in this process to ensure a prosperous future for the industry, for the participants, for the employees and volunteers and for the communities right across the state who simply love racing.” 

Matthew McGrath said it’s a great privilege to Chair the Review into the three codes of Racing in Queensland. 

“The Racing Review brings many elements together and will look at social, financial, and employment impacts and the welfare of those who compete on the track and vitally for the horses and greyhounds,” said Mr McGrath. 

“The Review Team aims to be at as many racetracks as possible, meeting industry participants, punters, race goers and the teams of people who manage and work in the Clubs. 

“The recommendations will be pragmatic and progressive to ensure the best future for Queensland racing.” 

The Racing Review discussion paper will be open for input until 30 March 2025. 

For more information visit: www.sport.qld.gov.au/racingreview

 

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY SIDE OF HORSE RACING

INJUNCTION HALTS FOUR CORNERS PROGRAM ON PVL

THOSE anxiously waiting to see the Four Corners program attacking rugby league and racing supremo Peter V’Landys will be disappointed

LGHR understands that lawyers acting for PVL were granted a Supreme Court injunction preventing the show from going to air as planned to coincide with the NRL’s season opener in Las Vegas.

We expect Four Corners will fight the injunction for the program to air. Producers reportedly had enough interviews from racing and rugby league identities wanting to ‘dump’ on Peter V’landys to run two programs.

 

COSTLY AFFAIR – BUT WHO’BENEFITS, THE WIFE OR GIRLFRIEND? 

THE racing rumour mill is in overdrive about an ‘affair’ that reportedly will cost one of the country’s most prominent owners a cool $5 million.

LGHR has done its best to check the authenticity of the rumours which seem to be correct.

It involves an ‘English Rose’ well known to those who watch racing on the box (there's more than enough of them these days) and a prominent owner twice her age (plenty of candidates there too).

Story goes things have turned sour and the stakes are high. For what it will reportedly cost,  the gentleman could have bought a record-priced yearling or even one of Winx’s foals.

Not sure who will be the beneficiary of the supposed massive payout - the wife, the girlfriend - or both!

 

MINISTER CHOSE THE 'WRONG DAY' TO VISIT GOONDIWINDI

IF the reports are correct new Racing Minister in Queensland, Tim Mander – who is doing a terrific job in trying circumstances – chose the wrong day to go to the non-TAB meeting at Goondiwindi last weekend.

The Minister got first-hand experience of the incompetence of some of those running race meetings when the starter released the field in one race without all the starters being loaded into the barriers.

A video replay of the race has the caller declaring: ‘False start, false start, we’ve gone without one. I believe it is a false start. This will be a no-race.’

Stewards proved him to be wrong and after a lengthy inquiry declared correct weight. They gave the starter a backhander directing that in future he review his communication processes at the barrier.

 

‘FART IN THE LIFT’ STORIES WON’T IMPROVE ‘SULTAN’S’ TIPPING

DAVID Strehlau took a giant gamble a few years back when he quit his job as a physical education teacher to become a form analyst earning the label ‘Sultan’.

Strehlau is not everybody’s cup of tea but TV and radio broadcaster RSN obviously like him and the bloke has made some giant leaps in a short time.

You have the punters who say he can’t ‘pick’ his nose and is a ‘legend in his own lunch-time’. It doesn’t seem to worry Strehlau who just puts one bad day of tipping behind him and heads to the next.

LGHR was listening to him on a new Saturday morning tipping show on RSN last Saturday and trying to enjoy a late breakfast when ‘The Sultan’ came up with this gem.

Strehlau explained that earlier in the morning while travelling the lift in his apartment a bloke had alighted on a certain floor and left behind a ripe fart. When another tenant jumped in the lift it looked like he had been responsible for the foul odour and no matter what he said found it impossible to be convince the newcomer.

Too much information ‘Sultan’ and in any case aren’t we to believe that ‘your shit doesn’t stink’?

 

BATTLE OF THE GREAT DEBATERS – J-MAC versus WAYNO

WHO’S the best debater – you be the judge?

Wayne Hawkes declares James McDonald slaughtered Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior in the Group 1 Saudi Cup and the champion jockey blames the dust bowl of a track for the defeat of Romantic Warrior by track specialist Forever Young in the G1 Saudi Cup.

‘Wayno’, in his inimitable style claimed:

‘NO-one has got the you-know-what’s to say it. J-Mac has got this horse beat. That is my assumption of the race. He was sitting behind the best horse in the world on the dirt. You're going to say ‘the kickback was there and that's how they ride on the dirt'.

‘He is behind the best horse, one-off the fence, and then he has come around them all … he has straightened up and said ‘toodeloo, I'm off to the showers'. He was that confident. He looked across to his left and looked at the big screen to see how far he was in front. He should have stayed behind the best horse in the world and then come out, taken his time and cruised up next to him.’

McDonald responded: ‘You've got to take whatever Wayne says with a pinch of salt. I'm sure the astute form analyst Wayne Hawkes would have gone back and watched the whole weekend's racing of how the track was playing and where the winners were coming from. If he hasn't, I'm happy to send him a link to watch all the dirt replays and tell me where they were in the run.

‘It was a bit like a dust bowl (on the inside), so to speak, a lot of stuff flying everywhere. I thought it wasn't the right place to be, so I got him into clear air and let him fly through the gears. He did it beautifully … just gutted to be defeated."

 

HOW DID THIS MARE GET BEATEN EIGHT LENGTHS WHEN ODDS-ON?

THERE’S an old adage in racing that you have to forgive a horse one bad run.

That certainly applies to Gotta Go Guru, Saturday’s Group 3 Lord Reims winner at Morphettville for the Andrew Gluyas stable.

Readers might remember that early in the New Year LGHR received a couple of complaints from angry punters after the mare turned in a form reversal to win at Murray Bridge.

At her previous start, when a heavily-backed odds-on favourite, Gotta Go Guru finished a well beaten seventh at Gawler – courtesy of a ‘slaughter job’ by apprentice Taylor Johnstone.

The SA Stewards – notorious for their lack of action when favourites perform poorly or jockeys ride them badly – didn’t bother to ask a question of the run when she was a beaten odds-on fancy nor when she came out next start and bolted in.

But since then Gotta Go Guru has been one of the most improved horses in SA. wining four on end culminating in a rise Group 3 company last Saturday. It just goes to show what a good thing beaten she was when an eight-lengths seventh at Gawler before Christmas.

 

CHIEF STIPES LOOK OVER SHOULDERS WITH BIRCH RETURNING HOME

THE news that well-travelled and widely-experienced steward Wade Birch – no stranger to racing in Queensland – has resigned his role with NSW Greyhounds to move back north has some under-achieving Chief Stipes looking over their shoulders.

Controversy may have ridden shotgun with Birch during his racing career – arguably because of some people he has associated with when he wasn’t a steward – but as a custodian of integrity he has more experience than most now working on the QRIC panels.

Josh Adams might have the backing of Kim Kelly, who hopefully will soon be reappointed to the permanent role of Deputy Commissioner, but since taking over as Chief Steward at the gallops in Queensland has failed to pass the pub test in the opinion of many.

Most punters rate David Farquharson, the Harness Racing Chief Steward in Queensland, one of the worst in the land. A former QRIC Commissioner tried to remove him but a successful appeal to a higher authority means that Farquharson is regarded these days as virtually untouchable.

Hence harness racing has degenerated into the basket case of the three codes in Queensland with punters steering clear in droves claiming you need to be ‘in the know’ to bet on the ‘red hots’, especially Albion Park. That lack of confidence has been reflected in the turnover which sees greyhound racing easily overtaking harness in popularity.

Adams has been accused of simply ‘plodding along’, causing no waves and accepting excuses for some shocking rides on favourites and form reversals from leading stables. Every week there is an example – last Saturday for instance – where most times questions aren’t even asked when horses prepared by prominent trainers turn in massive form reversals.

Those trying to assess the form pose the question: ‘When was the last time Adams instigated an inquiry involving a prominent trainer or jockey. Does he not want to rock the boat?’ The same could be said for Sydney racing every Saturday, a situation we will try to address later in this article.

Meantime, back to Wade Birch and where he might fit on the QRIC panel. Why not second him to the ‘red hots’ and give him six months to clean the joint up. Punters insist he couldn’t do any worse a job than Farquharson or Norm Tropey (his side-kick from the Dad’s Army Days) have done for some time.

If that doesn’t work dispatch Birch to the country. On the positive side he has more ability in his little toe than the ‘I’ve been everywhere man of the Stewards’ Panel' – currently doing next to nothing in his northern jurisdiction.

LGHR believes Birch is as good a steward as Queensland can hope to get. Let’s face it – Steve Railton is looking more to retiring than returning north; Terry Bailey has fallen in love with Hong Kong; and there aren’t too many others with youth on their side.

The downside for Birch is that when he worked in the north early days he was seen too often socializing with licensees when he was Chief Steward those at the coalface felt he spent too much time in the company of the RQ Chairman of the day who was counselled on this closeness by his CEO about separation of powers between administration and integrity. The CEO subsequently lost job.

Birch eventually moved on as well and that is where his critics have a field day. The bloke spent some time working in racing in Asia but returned to Australia and reportedly linked with one of the country’s most notorious punters, said to have quite a few top jockeys on his speed dial. That did Wade’s credibility no good (from a steward perspective) despite the fact he was entitled to make a living.

LGHR believes in second chances. Wade Birch is a competent steward, has youth on his side, boasts far more experience than the current Chief Stipes at the gallops or the trots and is a furlong in front of some of those currently running race meetings in the Sunshine State.

 

WILL WEEK GO BY IN SYDNEY RACING WHEN FAV ISN’T SLAUGHTERED

NOW let’s take a look at Sydney racing where rarely does a week go by when a hot favourite from a leading stable isn’t ‘slaughtered’ by a top jockey with little to no action taken by stewards.

Much has been made by the Queensland racing media of the terrible ride by apprentice Bailey Wheeler on classy filly Carbonara in the Two-Year-Old Jewel Prelude at Eagle Farm.

As usual the racing commentators, who double as apologists for ‘slaughter jobs’ in Sydney racing, haven’t been as harsh on another bad rideby international jockey Kerrin McEvoy, this time on ruling Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton at Rosehill last Saturday.

Stewards questioned McEvoy after his ride on the Chris Waller-trained youngster in the Silver Slipper and subsequently reported:

WHEN questioned, K. McEvoy stated that his instructions were to ride the colt conservatively from the outside barrier with the intention to settle behind midfield.

He said that in the run to the first turn, when Brat Summer maintained a position one away from the running rail, with Buffalo racing to its outside, this left Wodeton racing in a four-wide position.

He said that while he did give consideration to restraining his mount to settle behind those runners, the colt was travelling too keenly to achieve this and, therefore, he felt it was in the best interests of Wodeton to allow it to stride forward, accepting that he would be required to race three wide and without cover.

He said that the colt, which was having only its second race start, in his view, performed well as it closed off, particularly over the final 150m despite having raced without cover throughout.

BOOKIES agreed and still have Wodeton a clearcut $3.6 favorite for the Golden Slipper on March 22. What odds, McEvoy isn’t in the saddle on the $1.6mn Coolmore-owned colt when he steps out in that race. It will of course by JMac and regardless of where Wodeton draws, there will be no replica of Saturday’s ‘slaughter job’ in the race Waller has targeted.

Just to clarify the referral earlier to ‘apologists for jockeys’ in the Sydney racing media, don’t include Richie Callander in that list. Despite his close friendship with Waller, the ‘not so big fella these days’ wrote this in his popular column for Racenet.

‘THE level of arrogance of some, telling punters they aren't allowed to have an opinion or they don't know what they are talking about, is embarrassing.

Punters definitely know the difference between good and bad rides. It costs them too much money if they don't.

The debate has been at the forefront of racing chatter in recent weeks with the hottest topic being whether Kerrin McEvoy has ridden some poor races.

Kerrin is a champion and his record shows that, he is a great person and possibly the nicest man I have met in the sport, but we are talking about some of his recent rides … that is all.

A thousand punters can watch a race and opinions will be split, that is life.

I thought Kerrin didn't do anything wrong on Via Sistina in the Apollo Stakes, she stepped a fraction slow but when clear charged to the line and will be hard to beat this weekend in the Group One Verry Elleegant Stakes.

But I thought his rides on Joliestar, United Stakes and Wodeton were poor. That's my opinion and if you disagree all well and good, you are entitled to think that.

Last week, champion jockeys Glen Boss and Malcolm Johnston supported Kerrin and backed his rides and that is great but like mine and like yours and all punters it is just their opinion it doesn't change the ride, it is just their view.

The opinions that do matter for jockeys are the owners and trainers when it comes to booking a rider.

Racing survives off punters talking and acting through their pockets.

Racing will survive without us in the media, even though we play an integral role, but it won't survive a day without punters.’

LGHR couldn’t agree more – WELL SAID RICHIE!

 

SURELY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO KEEP THESE JOCKEYS IN QLD

JIM RUNDLE, a prominent and highly respected identity in CENTRAL QUEENSLAND racing, sent this interesting email about jockey shortages:

‘I certainly believe and know there is a serious jockey shortage in parts of Queensland.

In Rockhampton we have two riders, one about to be deported, and the other moving to NSW.

One is a professional senior jockey and the other an experienced track-work rider and jump-out rider who wants an apprenticeship.

The senior jockey Raul Silvera Olivera is presently on the edge of being deported because he cannot get his Visa extended.

He has tried many times to pass the English test and fails on the speaking part. I am told the speaking test is done by a computer. Can you believe that – surely a human would conduct the speaking test better!

I have trouble with computers understanding me, so how would someone with a foreign accent possibly cope.

He’s been riding for about two years in Queensland without any problems. He has ridden in many Group races overseas.

If speaking is a problem, and a problem to the extent he will be deported, how come it’s hasn’t been an issue?

The other rider is Rahul Printish Goordin. He goes by the name of Printish. He speaks well and I don’t believe he has a Visa problem.

The problem is with QRIC. They will not give him a license to become an apprentice.

QRIC blame Racing Queensland, however RQ say they want more jockeys and want him to stay.

It seems crazy that QRIC issued him with a trackwork rider’s licence and jump-out approval but will not let him become an apprentice.

Many people, myself included, are trying hard to get the people who administer racing, especially the Minister in Queensland, to sort this mess out.

We desperately need these people to stay in Queensland. Printish has told me he can get an apprenticeship in NSW and has a trainer urging him to come to NSW.

If NSW can do it, why can’t QRIC?

We have two jockeys who are about to be forced to leave Queensland, and the powers that be, are sitting on their hands.’

 

HOW LUCKY WAS RACING TO DODGE A BULLET WHEN JPL MISSED MINISTERIAL ROLE – IS IT TIME FOR RELEGATION TO BACKBENCH?

WOW! Stakeholders only have to read today’s news to realize how lucky they were to dodge a bullet when John Paul Langbroek failed to fulfil his dream of becoming Racing Minister.

Education Minister in the new Government and given the unfortunate  nickname of 'leftovers' (a relic of the past) by some of his younger  colleagues, Langbroek stunned the LNP with his ‘mind-boggling response to the NAPLAN crisis’ in an interview with The Courier-Mail.

There are plenty of political observers – and even some of his older MP mates – who believe Langbroek, once considered an alternative Premier in Queensland, has destined himself for the backbench ‘scrap-heap’ by crapping in the face of no-nonsense Premier David Crisafulli.

Those who criticized LGHR for campaigning against JPL becoming Racing Minister have suddenly jumped ship. The Courier-Mail State Political Writer Hayden Johnston summed up the situation perfectly when he posed the question: ‘How can the Education Minister get away with lazily dismissing the key challenge he has been given?’

We wonder if Johnston will cop a similar ban that LGHR did for daring to publicise criticism of Langbroek on our website. Here is what he wrote in today’s CM:

IF Health Minister Tim Nicholls refused to promise ambulance ramping would improve within four years he’d quickly face the political axe.

So how can Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek get away with lazily dismissing the key challenge he has been given: to ensure our children are better at reading and writing under his tenure.

This unambitious leadership makes a mockery of Premier David Crisafulli’s promise to make his ministers work hard – and to hold them to account if they don’t.

It is not like NAPLAN results are a fringe portfolio issue. This is at the centre of the charter letter issued by Mr Crisafulli in November to his Education Minister.

The letter identifies, as the second of five “core portfolio values” for education: “Implement strategies to deliver improved NAPLAN results for Queensland.”

But when The Courier-Mail on Monday asked the Minister on behalf of Queensland parents if he would commit to ensuring those results improve, we got this: “What my job is as Minister is to work with my Department, to say, from a policy perspective … if we can work on the things that we believe, both the Department telling us that we think this will make a difference, because they’re the experts, I’m not a teacher.”

If you take the time to wade through that word soup, Mr Langbroek’s message is actually right – in that he must listen to the experts, as he is not one.

However as the LNP so often crowed while in Opposition, culture starts at the top.

How can the Department take seriously Mr Crisafulli’s demand for better NAPLAN results if their Minister dead-bats questions about whether he will commit to fixing it?

It should be concerning to every Queenslander that Mr Langbroek hasn’t committed to moving heaven and earth to ensure our schools are producing smarter kids within three years.

As we said earlier this month, the education portfolio must be more than a few picture ops at the first day back at school.

JUST imagine if this Ministerial ‘boof head’ had been given the racing portfolio. We’ve had some doozies from both sides of the political fence in the past but if his fledgling months in charge of Education are any guide he would have – as predicted by LGHR – proven to be a dud.

It might be taking the new Government an eternity to get off their backsides and announce details of plans they have for racing but had it been ‘Leftovers’ he would have continued to listen to the wrong people from all codes and arguably sent the industry into a giant tail-spin.

Not only should the Premier be praised for giving the Racing portfolio to Tim Mander (the right man for the job who is doing his best under enormous stakeholder pressure at present) but he should immediately relegate JPL to the backbench pasture never to be considered for a Ministerial portfolio again and barred from having any input whatsoever into racing.

Do the taxpayers of Queensland a giant favour ‘Leftovers’ – stop sucking on the public purse and take an early retirement!   

 

MESSAGE TO RACING INDUSTRY FROM NEW GOVERNMENT – BE PATIENT 

FOUR months after the LNP Government swept to power in Queensland and the racing industry is none the wiser on what plans they have.

But there is good news on the horizon and the message from those sharing the coalface with new Racing Minister Tim Mander is – BE PATIENT.

For the new Premier there are more important issues on the agenda – youth crime, shortage of beds in hospital and overall costs of living – as a result racing is understandably down the pecking order.

It’s not that the LNP doesn’t underrate the importance of the industry but announcements that probably would have been made at last week’s sittings of State Parliament were delayed by the problems associated with the terrible floods in the North and what the Government planned to do for those in greatest need.

Expect racing to be front and centre when Parliament sits in March with the naming of a new Racing Queensland Board and importantly the widespread Review into the Three Codes.

An announcement on who will chair the Review will almost certainly be announced before Parliament sits as it has become the worst kept secret in racing in Queensland.

It would seem that when Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys rejected the job, it was accepted by former Australian Turf Club Chairman Matt McGrath who LGHR believes will be a popular choice.

What the industry wants to know is the ‘terms of reference’ for the Review and how far-reaching they will be. It will be interesting to see if these include the contentious issue of the Brisbane Racing Club refusing to release minutes of its controversial AGM.

As for the new RQ Board we can reveal three things that our mail suggests the new Government is planning:

• THE LNP doesn’t want Steve Wilson to continue as Chairman despite his appearance at the $25,000-a-head for PM-in-waiting Peter Dutton after being appointed to racing’s top role by good friend, Labor Minister Grace Grace.
• IT is not likely that former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk will be the replacement Chairman as he already has too many irons in the fire (but here’s hoping he remains on the Board as the Thoroughbred Representative).
• RACING Minister Mander has started a search for a well credentialed female Board Member who could also double as Chairman.

 There is also much debate behind the scenes on what the future holds for departing RQ CEO Jason Scott who has been seconded to the greyhounds following the shock early departure of inaugural The Q CEO Peter Gleeson.

Minister Mander needs to deal with the internal dramas at The Q where there are rumours that a key staff member who was behind the alleged undermining of Gleeson is now pushing for his or her mother to be on the Board. What's going on is almost unbelievable.

Meanwhile, Gleeson has apparently moved on – pocketing a healthy six figure sum for the trouble he encountered in the fledgling days in his dream job and is said to have been quickly snapped up by the new Premier as one of his speech writers.

 

WILL THE NEW GOVERNMENT BLOCK JASON SCOTT MOVING TO THE Q?

IN an ‘exclusive’, ARCHIE BUTTERFLY reports on his subscriber-only website peterprofit.com today that out-going Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott could be heading to the ‘dogs’.

Close associates of Peter Gleeson, who resigned yesterday whilst still in his fledgling days as CEO of The Q, Queensland’s new world first greyhound facility, have been warning him not to take advice from RQ.

One of his close mates told LGHR soon after the sudden resignation had been revealed: ‘Gleeso has been told that if he listens to a high flyer at RQ and gives up on his fight to retain the top dog role at The Q, he will be replaced by Jason Scott’.

'The Butterfly' reports today:

IN the wake of Peter Gleeson’s resignation this week as CEO of the Queensland Greyhound Racing Club, a surprise new name has emerged as the front-runner to take over the reins at The Q.

Jason Scott.

We have always known that the out-going Racing Queensland CEO – who in his short time with RQ has become one of the most respected racing administrators in the land – is passionate about greyhound racing, and has been outspoken about his determination to make The Q a raging success.

Now it seems the man known for walking the talk is about the do exactly that.

With a raft of high-paying job offers here and abroad being waved at him, Scott will elect instead to lead The Q.

What a coup for Queensland greyhound racing this is, and a huge boon to the sport nationwide.

The dogs are going to be in excellent hands.

Remember you heard it here first.

Watch this space.

UPDATED:

The latest mail is that J. Scott will go over (at his own volition) the The Q on secondment, with RQ Chief Financial Officer Lachlan Murray – like Scott a Graduate of the Ladbrokes Finishing School – the tip to act in the CEO role while his boss gets The Q sorted.

THE only thing that our good mate Archie may have overlooked in his ‘exclusive’ – at a guess ‘Big Ben’ will finally catch up on the news of the day in a week’s time – is that there is plenty of resentment in the new LNP Government to Jason Scott.

LGHR spoke to one high profile MP when there was a big tip that Scott would replace under siege Steve Lines as CEO of the Gold Coast Turf Club at the time the track was supposedly sabotaged. He told us: ‘Jason Scott is a million to one to join the GCTC, was destined to be punted from his role at RQ and will struggle to find a job in racing in Queensland.’

Gleeson ‘voluntarily and temporarily’ stood himself down as CEO of The Q  last week because he reportedly could not deal with being continually undermined by a group from the former Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club who wanted another prominent identity appointed to the CEO role.

We are told he clung to the hope of retaining his dream job in the belief that things might change after a 'clandestine meeting' of supposed supporters on Tuesday at the Jindalee Hotel. He also believed that the new Board to be announced by the Racing Minister (hopefully in State Parliament today) would offer some light at the end of the tunnel.

Gleeson apparently rejected advice from RQ at the weekend to resign and move on but refused to do so until Tuesday’s meeting – which was designed to provide a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the Board currently running The Q but failed to deliver an outcome that would have helped him.

Feeling he had no option but to resign, Gleeson is said to have sent an SOS to a long-standing Ministerial ‘mate’ asking him to intervene with the Premier. We don’t know what happened there but that ‘mate’ apparently did what LGHR would have expected – failed to deliver - surprise, surprise!

Gleeson gave up and resigned but the news is he walked away with a handy six-figure sum for his troubles. What are the odds he will move into a Communications Role with the new Government? Some will say the big loser in this sordid affair is greyhound racing.

Certainly it will take someone of Scott’s expertise to put the good ship The Q back on course dodging the icebergs that still lay ahead. But a cloud still hangs over whether the LNP will back Scott’s appointment. We should know soon - if they don't, disaster awaits.

We are told that the RQ Board endured one of its lengthiest monthly meetings on record this week. Will it be the last one for Chairman Steve ‘Whirlwind' Wilson or did his attendance at a $25,000-a-head fund-raiser for our new PM, Peter Dutton, save the day? We wonder if Steve’s good friend, Grace Grace, feels like she’s been ‘dumped’.That's politics!

LGHR also understands that the RQ Board had a lengthy discussion over whether the minutes of the Brisbane Racing Club AGM should be released – unencumbered – to renegade Member Wally Gleeson.

Or perhaps the story isn’t as outlandish as it sounds that Racing Minister Mander – on the advice of RQ – will shortcut the planned Review from hearing details and order an immediate forensic audit into the financial affairs of the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club and the Brisbane Racing Club.

We won't hold our breath but in the expectation of transparency - not suggesting anyone has done anything wrong - one can only hope!

HOOFNOTE: To those weak grubs who keep sending LGHR emails bagging our mate Archie Butterfly over his support for Jason Scott and offering reasons for it, have the balls to contact him. We won't be publishing your rubbish so don't waste your time.    

   

 

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO TRUE GENTLEMAN OF THE HARNESS WORLD

IN his journey of life JIM MUNRO made a legion of friends across a wide spectrum of the business and sporting community but what most would not know is that his great-grandfather William English rode Arsenal to win the 1886 Melbourne Cup.

Many will be there to farewell Jim, who died last Friday after a battle with cancer, when his funeral is held next Thursday at 11am at St Bernard’s Catholic Church, Mt Gravatt followed by a wake across the road at the Southern Cross Sports Club.

For the record, Jim was born in Brisbane in 1936 and grew up in West End. He worked in various odd jobs during his teenage years then moved to the Main Roads Department in 1956 and then in 1963 got a junior position with what was called the State Service Union which represented a broad cross-section of Queensland Government employees.

Over the years Jim rose to head the organization as its General Secretary from 1980 to 1988. A short time after retiring from the Union he was appointed to a part-time statutory position as Lay Observer to the Queensland Law Society which he undertook for seven years from 1990.

During his time at the Main Roads Jim met his wife Val, who was also working there. They married in 1961 and had five children who remain a close-knit family.

Sport played a major part in Jim’s life. He was a champion cyclist in his teenage years with the Brisbane Junior Amateur Cycling Club.

Following retirement he took up golf which became a passion, spending several days a week at Pacific Golf Club, Carindale. There he also served a couple of stints on the committee or board. He achieved three hole-in-one trophies among other awards whilst also making many lasting friendships.  

Jim’s great-grandfather on his mother’s side, William English, was 19 years of age when he rode Arsenal to win the 1886 Melbourne Cup – he died some years later following a race fall at Canterbury leaving his widow with three young children.  

Jim’s dad, in addition to his regular work, was also a bookie’s clerk.  Whilst working for the Union, Jim became more interested in harness racing. He owned and leased numerous horses including a few joint ownership syndicates over the years.

Various trainer-drivers took care of the horses e.g. Brian Fearnley (Dayboro), Gordon Francis (Ipswich), Arthur Sugden (Rosewood), Tom Clough (Capalaba) and Peter Johnson (Redcliffe). Over time he lost touch with some of them. Brian and Gordon, have since passed.

Jim joined the Metropolitan Harness Racing Club (MHRC) at Rocklea and was subsequently elected to serve on the committee from 1974 to 1985 and was then made a life member. He also served as President of the Queensland Trotting Guild in 1976 and was a member of the Ipswich Turf Club.

The following is a list of names of his horses that his son Damian can remember (in no particular order). Several of them had good wins over the years including at Albion Park, Rocklea, Ipswich, Redcliffe and Southport: Reveller Eden, Ball Point, Big City, Aggressive, Turku, Note Again, King Kudos, Dark Moments,Little Caduce, Leading Man, Sporting Sam, Spritsail, Star Charles, Revelling King, High Ideal and Tiny Red.

Before battling illness (and even for some time then) Jim religiously followed the thoroughbred and particularly harness racing news. He was a regular contributor to LGHR and his advice and consultation over the years was a source of immeasurable value. We will miss him dearly.  

• THE ATTACHED PHOTO is of one of Jim Munro’s many harness winners, BALL POINT, which raced in his familiar colours, ORANGE with BLACK STARS and WHITE CAP.

 

PUNTERS ADAMANT STEWARDS SHOULD HAVE IMPOSED ‘TOTAL BAN’ ON LINDSAY GALLAGHER INSTEAD OF JUST A ‘BAR’ FROM THE BIRDCAGE  

IT’S been a long time since punters have been united in their praise of the harness racing stewards in Queensland.

The news that Lindsay Gallagher, former ‘King’ of the rails ring at Albion Park turned professional punter at the ‘red hots’, has been banned from the birdcage has been instantly applauded.

But many, who have followed harness racing in south-east Queensland and lost confidence betting on the minor code, say stewards should have gone the whole hog and ‘barred’ him from attending meetings or having any association with trainers or drivers.

It hasn’t been a good look for Gallagher to be seen mingling in the ‘authorised persons only’ areas at Albion Park and Redcliffe chatting with drivers before races.

All sorts of rumours have been circulating about his presence there and as he wasn’t the owner of a horse racing on the day or night, what right he had to be in the ‘birdcage’ area?

Sadly, stewards have turned a ‘blind eye’ to this in the past. One suspects the situation reached the stage where those now running QRIC decided ‘enough is enough’ and instructed Chief Stipe Farquharson to get off his behind and do something about it.

Many punters are adamant it isn’t enough and that just because a controversial identity isn’t seen any longer in the ‘restricted area’ doesn’t mean he won’t still be in contact with drivers through other means.

LGHR is not even sure that a total ban would end that association in this modern era of technology. Perhaps it’s time for ‘raids’ on the mobile phones of prominent trainers and drivers.

Something has to be done to rebuild punter confidence in the ‘red hots’ to an acceptable level. For ours it’s a ‘mission impossible’ and what has been happening in the past will continue to occur.

But at least QRIC – under the stewarding leadership of internationally-experienced Kim Kelly, is doing something to correct the problem. To date it has been put in the ‘too hard’ basket.

We still believe the top stipes at the Queensland trots need to be replaced – punters have no confidence in controversial chief David Farquharson and his deputy Norm Torpey, who must be nearing retirement age. He was front and centre when all this trouble festered with many believing he did little to nothing about it.

The Stewards’ Report from the Albion Park trots on Saturday night reads:

‘OWNER Lindsay Gallagher was advised he is not permitted to attend the birdcage area unless a horse he owns is engaged to race at that meeting.  Stewards will monitor this direction closely.’

The same direction is decades too late for the one-time leading gallops scribe who ran messages from the jockeys’ room to the main betting rings at the gallops in Brisbane right under the nose of some top stewards of the day. Wonder if ‘Manuel’ is at a loose end on a Saturday night these days – by then he should have washed up the glasses in the owners’ lounge at the Farm – because Lindsay is probably looking for a ‘runner.’

Then again one of his ‘Manuel’s’ good media mates could always step up to the plate – he would no doubt have access to the birdcage area. Story goes QRIC is already looking at some of his calls (on the occasions he still officiates at the trots) and whether the rumours are right about how they affect the betting of a certain prominent punter who bets 'in the run'.

Here are a couple of overnight emails on the Lindsay Gallagher ban from the birdcage at Albion Park:

‘This would never have happened in years gone by when Gallagher enjoyed such a close association with those running racing in Queensland. Three things – it’s too little too late; if they’re so concerned about what he’s doing, why not warn him off totally; and with the associates he has (with access to restricted areas) will anything change?”

And this one:

‘Don’t the stewards realize by banning Gallagher from the birdcage area if he and his team of ‘workers’ depart the trots the attendance on race nights will halve not to mention how much less turnover there will be if he gives up betting on the trots. We all know that won’t happen. Those who followed his bookmaker operation way back when will tell you when he took on a favourite it always seemed to get beaten and those who know the ones he backs say their only danger was bad luck.’

 

TIME TO LOOK BEHIND STABLE DOOR OF THE FABULOUS BAKER BOY

LET us preface this story that no-one in the mainstream racing media in Sydney seems prepared to write by saying we are not for one moment suggesting that crest-of-the-wave trainer Bjorn Baker is doing anything wrong.

But stewards need to act to silence some of the terrible ‘reasons’ for his winning streak that are being alleged on social media and behind-the-scenes in the industry without anyone attempting to correct the claims.

In recent times the Baker stable has incredibly outperformed every top trainer in the last 100 years, including the legendary Tommy Smith. When it comes to strike rate he makes the modern-day champion Chris Waller look insignificant.

It is no surprise that Baker is the victim of the ‘Tally Poppy Syndrome’. First he was labelled ELO (conductor of the Electric Light Orchestra) by his critics. You work that one out for yourselves but in this era of integrity one would hope that would be near-on impossible.

Now they are saying his stable staff includes a former disqualified harness racing identity known for his treatment of horses. Firstly, people with that sort of record cannot be employed by trainers and Baker isn’t silly enough to do that. Secondly, as a former chemist why would he need any help when it comes to treatment of his horses where his record is exemplary?

As we said at the start we aren’t accusing Bjorn Baker (a trainer the punters love) of anything untoward. We believe the secret of his amazing run of success has been a terrific team of horses – the best he has ever had since coming from New Zealand.

But from an integrity perspective, Stewards should step in, investigate the outrageous claims that a disqualified person is associated with the Baker stable and make a Report on the subject. Sydney racing can certainly do without any further controversy.

 

RACETRACK WHISPERS, LEGITIMATE WHINGES & THE ODD WANKER

PVL WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT, PITY ABOUT CONFLICT OF INTEREST

MANY stakeholders are gob-smacked that Racing Minister Tim Mander would even consider asking Peter V’landys to conduct the Review into the Three Codes in Queensland considering the conflict of interest it presents.

If you’re to believe Racenet columnist Richard Callander, who seems well-informed on all things Racing NSW, Mander has settled on former Australian Turf Club Chairman Matt McGrath to do the job.

That announcement – along with a raft of other important plans for racing – will be announced in Parliament today or tomorrow. The sooner the better as far as the Review is concerned.

We don’t agree with ‘Feathers’ Fowler on too many things these days but he was right in declaring the new LNP Government is dragging its feet on this one. Do you think David that the Review should also include some probing questions from the BRC AGM that you and ‘Big Ben’ aren’t prepared to ask about your mates down at the Farm?

 

SPIN DOCTOR OR APOLOGIST, PUNTERS CAN’T COP GOOD OLD ‘RAZOR’

SURPRISE, surprise, the moment punters started to spew about the beaten rides of Kerrin McEvoy on heavily-backed Waller-trained favorites Joliestar and Via Sistina at Randwick last Saturday, who jumped to their defence?

None other than good old Murdoch media scribe ‘Razor’ Thomas who dredged up strong responses from retired jockeys Glen Boss and Malcom Johnston declaring there was little more that KMac could have done? They have to be kidding!

When was the last time ‘Razor’ did his ‘real’ job protecting the interests of the punters instead of ‘spin doctoring’ bad rides by top jockeys, beaten favorites from the top stables, especially Waller’s, and pumping up the tyres of Racing NSW and his good mate PVL?

 

FLIGHTS FREE TO THE BUSH BUT WHO PAYS FOR ACCOMMMODATION

GREG Blanchard, in his continuing fight to beat the shortage of jockeys in the bush, has weighed into the debate following the decision by Racing Queensland to subsidise flights for riders to TAB and non-TAB meetings in the outback.

‘I applaud (outgoing RQ CEO) Jason Scott. He has been the only one to try something to resolve this matter.

I do believe we must look at a more permanent solution as mentioned many times that will allow overseas kids into our Apprentice School.

Will someone in the future have the foresight to get this done? I sincerely hope so. I want to call on other people in the industry to make those in authority aware of their plight.’

Whilst RQ will provide up to $800 to subsidize jockeys flying in to ride at TAB and non-TAB meetings in the bush, chances are they will have to stay overnight. Who pays for the cost of accommodation?

LGHR also received an email from Mt Isa, separate to that from Greg Blanchard, on this issue, which read:

‘Racing Queensland has basically doubled the amount fly-in, fly-out jockeys will receive for non-TAB meetings in the North-West and will subsidize one extra jockey for TAB meetings.

But there seems to be no proper administration to stop one trainer, Tanya Parry, from benefitting the most. It should be remembered that this is industry money they are spending and that anomaly needs to be examined.’

 

RVL SHOULD EXPLAIN ITS POLICY ON FIELDS IN FLEMINGTON RACES

THIS was an email from regular contributor PETER MAIR of SYDNEY which we apologize for failing to run before last weekend’s racing:

There is no point saying this on Sunday.

Five of the eight quadrella races at Flemington on Saturday will be run over 1400m.

This 1400m course is not well suited to fair racing especially when the fields are stacked with 'Bradbury’s'.

Race 3 – a Group3 with 9 starters -- looks ok as does Race 6 – a :isted event with 11 starters.

Race 7 – a Group3 for 3YO C&G has16 acceptors: it looks a risky race with half the field at 20/1 or worse. Similarly risky is Race 9 – a Listed event for 3YO fillies with 12 accepting.

Race10 – a BM 84 -- has half of the 15 accepting listed to start at 'good' odds.

In short, it is not good quality control for RVL to run crowded fields of three-year-olds over this 1400m course and it smacks of being simply unfair to modest punters to, as usual, overcrowd a 1400m race as the last leg of the main quadrella.

RVL should be asked to explain its policies -- a couple of rough-results on Saturday may put the question in sharp relief again.

Have a gander at Saturday’s results from Flemington and you be the judge!

 

‘GET WELL’ MESSAGE TO TRIO WHO HAVE BEEN DOING IT TOUGH

LGHR sends a ‘get well soon’ message to three popular members of the Brisbane racing community who have been doing it tough health-wise:

WE are told that former top jockey GARRY LEGG has been in hospital where he underwent serious surgery. Hopefully the road to rocovery is a quick one.

WE only learnt recently that in recent months AAP form guru STEVE RODGERS has battled prostrate concerns and underwent surgery. His legion of mates in the racing industry and media will be wishing Steve a quick recovery.

FEW would know the major illness battles that have confronted former Queensland Racing CEO GREG HONCHIN for many years. That hasn’t improved more recently but thanks to the help of his loving wife Robyn, Greg is fighting the good fight.

 

RIP TO A GOOD GUY OF HARNESS RACING WHO LOST CANCER BATTLE

ON a sad note we have to report the passing of one of the good guys of Brisbane harness racing and life in general, Jim Munro.

LGHR received this email from his son Damien which reads:

‘JIM passed away peacefully on Friday 14/02/25 at home with his immediate family around him.  

He had courageously navigated the past two and a half years following his cancer diagnosis.

In that time, he endured multiple surgeries and a few setbacks at different times but throughout it all he remained stoic with an open outlook and appreciation for the help he received and the kind and caring thoughts and wishes from friends.

He necessarily and graciously surrendered most elements of his previously very active and engaged lifestyle – coming to terms with and accepting the changes and new limitations which grew over time.

He leaves quite a legacy and a lasting impression on many good people.

I’ll send an update when funeral arrangements are confirmed but please do not feel any obligation or expectation in this regard.

HOOFNOTE: Jim was a very private person and LGHR dealt with him on a weekly basis before illness halted his favourite past-time, a round of golf. He certainly left a lasting impression on me and will be sadly missed. The former committeeman at the Metropolitan Harness Racing Club of Rocklea in its heyday, would have been 89 this year. Rest peacefully old mate.

 

HOT FAVORITES IN FEATURE RACES FAIL TO DELIVER FOR WALLER BARN – BAD RIDES OR LUCKLESS – YOU BE THE JUDGE OF KMAC

THE late legendary bookmaker and tipster ‘Chubby’ Holloway had one valuable piece of advice for punters: ‘Believe what you see with your own eyes’.

That wise saying was ringing in the ears of LGHR when we revisited the replays of two of the feature races from Randwick on Saturday – the Group 2 Expressway and Apollo Stakes.

And it didn’t matter whether we watched the race sitting on the couch, standing on our head or with a set of binoculars, the verdict was the same.

Internationally-acclaimed jockey Kerrin McEvoy (with all due respects and excuses read) slaughtered Joliestar, sitting three wide in a six-horse Expressway field and was either terribly unlucky or showed poor judgement in his handling of the best mare in the land, Via Sistina, in the Apollo.

From the feedback that LGHR has received, punters were far from happy with the handling of both heavily-backed favorites from the powerful Chris Waller stable.

Nor were they impressed by the comments of SKY ‘experts’ Corey ‘what a great ride’ Brown or Ron ‘SYY says tips more winners than anyone else’ Dufficy concerning the defeat of Joliestar which ran third to main rival, the Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time.

One contributor commented: ‘When was the last time Brown criticised the ride of one of his mates in the riding ranks? To suggest McEvoy sat three wide in a small field to keep his main danger pocketed was an absolute farce.

‘And as for Dufficy, well he hasn’t criticised a ride for many moons since a top jockey he targeted fired back with ‘How many Group winners did you ride tubby?’ Ronny’s suggestion that Joliestar pulled too hard has some merit considering the sectionals they ran.’

Some punters were saying champion jockey JMac delivered an early tip when he elected to ride Switzerland in the Lightning at Flemington rather than continue his association with Via Sistina at her comeback and providing the hospital pass to Kmac.

Subscribers to the LGHR LATE MAIL were tipped stablemate Fan Girl a SPECIAL over Via Sistina because we felt the Waller-second string might have a slight edge fresh and deliver what many do from that tricky stable. Our judgement proved spot-on – but just – the big bets were on the Waller roughie of his four runners in the Apollo – Linderman which was only nailed on the line.

Waller horses are near on impossible to follow – and be wary whether the good ones are wound up enough to win when resuming. Fan Girl was the exception because what she does fresh is normally her best for the campaign.

Sure Lady Shenandoah was too good for Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot in the Group 2 Light Fingers but at her best she was always going to beat that field.

As far as the run of Switzerland goes in the Lightning – Jmac was adamant he could win but Waller had a warning that the colt would be improved by the run in the Group 1. The punters preferred to believe JMac and he proved wrong on this occasion.

Adding insult to injury for punters after his handling of Joliestar and arguably giving Via Sistina little hope boxed up on the rails near last (what odds it beats Fan Girl when they next clash), McEvoy comes out and produces a 10 out of 10 ride to win the Group 3 Triscay Stakes in an upset on Inhibitions beating the favorite Clear Thinking. ‘What a great ride,’ echoed ‘waste of space’ Corey.

In the case of the two beaten Waller favorites, stewards reported:

JOLIESTAR: Approaching the 900m improved up onto the heels of Iowna Merc and, as a consequence, was checked, got its head up and bumped with Magic Time. Joliestar was left racing wide and without cover from the 700m.

VIA SISTINA: Slow to begin. Had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the home straight before racing tight with Ceolwulf when endeavouring to shift to the outside of the heels of Fangirl approaching the 200m.

That’s racing – legitimate excuses but try telling that to those who back either beaten fancy. It just built on their belief that horses from the Waller barn can prove very costly when favorites and near-on impossible for punters to follow.

Meanwhile, up at Eagle Farm, talented jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor threw a ‘hissy fit’ after he got beaten in the last on the Ciaron Maher-trained Until Valhalla (we felt like doing the same thing as it was our LGHR LATE MAIL tip).

Here’s hoping his fiancee Angela Jones wasn’t as angry as stewards were because passing the 300m mark KWT put paid to the chances of her mount, Set To Shine (severe interference).

The Stewards Report read:

Jockey K. Wilson-Taylor pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to AR 228(b) in that after leaving the Stewards’ room for an inquiry, Mr Wilson-Taylor entered the Jockey’s room and punched a hole into the male Jockey’s room wall. Jockey K. Wilson-Taylor was fined $1000 with $500 suspended for two years and directed by Stewards to contact the Brisbane Racing Club to rectify the damaged caused.

One would hope that meant KWT has to pay for repairs to the damaged wall as well as the fine. It might make him think twice next time. And hopefully delightful little Angie was more forgiving and provided some sympathy and ice to his no doubt sore fist.

Stipes delivered a severe reprimand for the severe interference he caused her.

Perhaps KWT should have head-butted the wall, the result would have been arguably less painful for both parties.

 

TIME FOR RACING MINISTER TO INTERVENE ON INTERNAL DRAMAS AT THE Q WHICH WE UNDERSTAND HAS SEEN CEO STAND HIMSELF DOWN

INTERNAL administrative dramas threaten to disrupt the official opening of Queensland’s new world class greyhound facility near Ipswich next month.

LGHR has learnt that tensions have boiled over after the controversial appointment of former media identity Peter Gleeson as CEO and that facing the prospect of losing the job he ‘voluntarily and temporarily’ stood himself down at the weekend.

Reports suggest that rivals from the old Brisbane Greyhound Club have allegedly been undermining the job that Gleeson is trying to do before his appointment takes effect shortly forcing RQ to request a vote of confidence with more than 100 signatures supporting the new CEO.

We understand there are two reasons for the in-fighting – Gleeson won the position as boss of The Q over a preferred candidate backed by a strong faction from the former BGRC who are claiming the position should have been widely advertised and the successful CEO head-hunted world-wide.

The other reason is political with enemies of Gleeson claiming he made his alley good for the job by dumping on the Labor Party in his media roles leading up to the last State Election. They are highlighting the close ties he has built with LNP heavies including the new Premier.

The internal dramas threaten to boilover when State Parliament meets this week with unconfirmed reports that Labor is set to unleash on Gleeson and his close association with the LNP Government describing his appointment as a ‘job for the boys’.

They apparently plan to call for his ‘sacking’ before the CEO appointment even becomes ‘official’. LGHR understands that the undermining of Gleeson reached such a serious stage last week that he had to be talked out of resigning.

Supporters – and he has plenty of them – stepped in and started a petition calling for his retention in the job. RQ CEO Jason Scott apparently said he would back the move providing 100 signatures could be collected – in 24 hours there were many more than what he required.

But a controversial meeting of the new Q Board planned for Saturday, at which Gleeson supporters were hoping a motion of no-confidence would be passed in some of those now running the show, turned sour when it looked like his enemies had the numbers to sack him.

The meeting was reportedly postponed until later in the week (possibly Thursday) and Gleeson invoked an administrative stand-down from his CEO role on advice, we believe, from Racing Queensland. (At least that’s what we understand it is described as).

This is a farcical situation at a time when greyhound racing in Queensland should be in the world spotlight for all the right reasons. Racing Minister Tim Mander needs to step in before Parliament sits later this week and get this situation sorted. Sacking the current Board would be a good start. After all the LNP in Parliament this week will be naming their preferred appointees to join the Board.

Gleeson has learnt that it can be a rocky road to the top of the media landscape – having been dismissed by News Ltd for alleged plagiarism. He survived to fight another day in the media but made some long-term Labor enemies with his stint on drive-time radio.

Ironically, when the live-baiting controversy occurred, which saw Darren Condon the RQ CEO thrown under a bus and eventually the entire Board removed, Gleeson was the first one that Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk offered the job to. He knocked it back but for some reason his ‘closeness’ with Labor back then came to an end. Who knows why?

Before someone reminds us, LGHR has been a long-time colleague of Gleeso from our newspaper days with good memories of our years when we worked together. Sadly we are no longer as close. Let's just say we differ in our opinion of a Ministerial 'mate' of his who doesn't like us because something was published on LGHR way back when that upset 'his preciousness'.

But it's a waste of time looking in the rear-vision mirror – Peter Gleeson is the right man for the job as CEO of The Q. That’s the mail LGHR keeps getting from a lot of good people in the greyhound industry. Sure he might not have administrative experience but he is passionate about the sport and his media skills and contacts are exemplary.

There is no bigger supporter or better bloke than David Brasch when it comes to greyhound racing. He wrote a story last week for The Greyhound Recorder which hopefully that publication won’t mind LGHR reproducing which reads (and should silence some of the critics):

QUEENSLAND Greyhound Racing Club CEO, Peter Gleeson, is being backed to the hilt by participants as ‘The Q' gets ready to become the world's premier racing venue.

Gleeson is known throughout the country as a media influence through newspapers, radio and TV, and has significant political connections.

His "pull" with the newly-elected Queensland State Government has already seen Premier David Chrisafulli confirmed to officially open The Q in May.

Gleeson has already locked in a $100,000 sponsorship for The Q, and is close to sealing a $25,000 opening night sponsorship, coming on top of the decade-long Ladbrokes deal.

But, it is believed some members of the Club committee are at loggerheads with Gleeson even to the stage heated arguments have been held.

This has prompted club members and racing participants to rush to sign a petition, backing Gleeson and his position as CEO.

Racing Queensland is watching the developments closely and it is understood they will likely need to step in to resolve the tension unless Gleeson's fully fledged status is rubber-stamped.

It is believed a special meeting of the caretaker club committee has been called for Saturday morning where Gleeson's position will be discussed.

The current caretaker committee will be replaced by the Yamanto Board in May once ASIC confirms the new constitution.

Four Racing Queensland appointees to that board will be announced at the end of February.

They will join current club committee members Eleanor Wallace, Wade Core and Merv Page who have already been elected as Board members.

Gleeson has been at the helm during a particularly tumultuous period with long-serving Brisbane Club president Les Bein dumped from the Board.

The Brisbane Club's long serving CEO Luke Gatehouse departed at the same time.

Adding to tensions, Bein's successor, local trainer Graham Hall, subsequently missed out on a position on the Yamanto Board and resigned.

Gleeson played a pivotal role in the overwhelming vote of 115-1 to convert the constitution of the club to a company limited by guarantee. This was to allow the introduction at The Q of poker machines which will give the club a massive financial windfall to reinvest into racing.

He has been heavily involved in regulatory compliance matters and is close to signing off the lease of The Q with Racing Queensland.

The petition to secure Gleeson's tenure has been up for just a few hours and has already been swamped with support.

The petition also seeks signatures for a spill motion to overthrow the club committee at Saturday's special meeting.

THE next few days will determine whether Gleeson survives or walks, obviously into a high profile media role with the new Government. That would be an absolute waste from the greyhound industry's point of view.

Come on Minister – the time to act is now – not when the ‘crap hits the fan’ in Parliament. Even if it means appeasing the critics and readvertising the job but leaving Gleeso there until his appointment will most certainly be reaffirmed no matter how far and wide you look for a CEO.          

 

PUMPING UP THE TYRES OF THE BRC WITHOUT PAINTING THE TRUE FINANCIAL PICTURE – WHEN WILL THE CM ‘GAME PLAYING’ END?

WHATEVER happened to the Code of Ethics in journalism?

Media analysts say those were dumped during the Super League War when Murdoch and Packer were hell-bent on winning broadcast control rights worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

For better or worse they won and at the end of the day political promises that Pay TV would not deprive football and racing fans from watching their favourite sport on Free-To-Air survives by drip-feed with only selective events now shown. To guarantee watching the side you follow, you have to pay for the privilege.

But times have changed for King Rupert. Few too many read his newspapers, his SKY News is so politically slanted that viewers who don’t agree with it have turned off and recently he sold his interest in Foxtel raising the alarm bells about what will happen to NRL and AFL coverage down the track.

Having dispatched with the Code of Ethics which helped the journalistic profession retain an edge on ‘used car salesmen and politicians’, it’s now a case of pump up the political party that the boss wants to support, follow his lead and provide ‘start’ to your high profile mates in business and sport and forget about the interests of the general public who you were once destined to serve the interest of.

A perfect example of a major news organisation (more to the point the statewide fish and chips wrapper in Queensland) failing to do its job is an unhealthy association between some media hierarchy and selective Board members of the Brisbane Racing Club.

It’s now months since the controversial Annual General Meeting of Queensland’s premier Race Club where contentious questions were asked by concerned Member Wally Gleeson, a former top Amateur jockey, respected businessman and breeder of thoroughbreds.

All Wally wants is a copy of the Minutes of the AGM – which he is according to our legal advice entitled to. Aided and abetted by Racing Queensland, the BRC claims it does not have to release the Minutes until shortly before the next AGM. That poses the question from many in the industry and those who follow it: What has the BRC got to hide.

Those who still read The Courier-Mail are puzzled why not only did the newspaper not cover the BRC AGM and report on questions asked of the then Chairman Neville Bell by Wally Gleeson but it has refused to cover his on-going campaign to receive a copy of the Minutes unencumbered and forthwith, which surely he is entitled to.

The reason for the Murdoch Media ‘censorship’ of this important issue is said to be an ‘unhealthy’ alliance between some with editorial control, spineless ‘spin doctor’ turf scribes who are in bed with the BRC Board and the employment of former influential Courier-Mail staff by the BRC.

It’s not a good look when those failing to do their jobs as racing scribes and commentators are seen with their noses in the trough on a regular basis at the BRC while their bosses are part of the Butterfly Social Network wined and dined at major race meetings and seen interstate and overseas at major racing and sporting evens with key officials of not only the club but Racing Queensland.

 

IT’S TIME TO PAINT THE ‘TRUE’ FINANCIAL PICTURE AT THE BRC

What makes matters worse is a recent CM story pumping up the tyres of the BRC failed – according to some who have contacted LGHR – to paint the true financial picture.

The story by Chris Herde reads in part:

ALMOST 15 years ago Brisbane’s two thoroughbred racing clubs in the eastern suburbs cast aside decades of rivalry and joined forces.

Both clubs were land rich but cash poor with dwindling revenues, and the Brisbane Racing Club was formed on July 1, 2009, from the merger of the neighbouring Queensland Turf Club at Eagle Farm and the Brisbane Turf Club at the Doomben Racecourse in Ascot.

A long-term plan to preserve the racecourses was formulated and an ambitious $1.5bn masterplan was launched in 2012 to develop up to 19ha of excess land and diversify its income streams.

New chairman Richard Morrison, who recently took over from Neville Bell who had launched the masterplan, said that in terms of area they were about halfway through their development strategy.

“What the masterplan does is identify the areas for core racing that will never be touched,” said Mr Morrison whose 4000-member owned club runs Queensland’s most famous race, the Star Stradbroke Handicap.

“They need to be retained and enhanced to promote thoroughbred racing. We’re a race club – we host about 80 races a year – and that’s our number one priority.

“But the plan also identified the pieces of real estate that could potentially have other uses.

There’s still plenty of work that needs to be done but were doing well.”

Over the past decade the BRC has developed the $50m Eagle Farm Infield Stabling and Training Facilities, two Ascot Green residential towers, Racecourse Village Shopping Centre, Ascot Childcare and Kindy, Bernborough Ascot Retirement Living and the Ascot Aquatic Centre.

This year they should complete Charlton House – the third residential tower at Ascot Green they are developing with Mirvac. There are another five buildings to be constructed.

The BRC has also diversified into licensed clubs and investment bringing dilapidated venues back to life and they now operate Gallopers Sports Club at Ascot, Souths Sports Club at Acacia Ridge and recently opened The Gibson at Stafford.

But it has not been an easy ride to get this far.

Mr Morrison said the merger of the rival clubs – who were divided by Nudgee Rd or what some wags labelled the Gaza Strip – was a case of pure survival.

“The board at the time noticed a changing structure over the years as returns to the race clubs diminished as control was assumed more and more by Racing Queensland and the proceeds from wagering turnover was directed to the state government as opposed to clubs as how it used to be,” he said.

“We’d put on the race meetings but effectively the revenue doesn’t flow to the club, it flows to the government. So we needed to innovate and come up with other revenue sources that will subsidise our core racing business and I think we’ve done that successfully.

“The big picture is that we are in a sound position but there’d still a lot of hard work to go and we need to be able to sustain our position as a major metropolitan race club in comparison to places like Randwick and Flemington.”

In the annual report for the 2024 financial year BRC’s revenue was $67.6m, slightly down on last year, while the club returned an overall profit of $1.8m, having incurred a $1.9m loss last year.

A good slice of that revenue was used to pay down of about $50m in debt incurred by the development of the Eagle Farm infield stables, carparking and the Racecourse Village Shopping Centre.

However, it can be argued that the BRC is still a good length in front of the Victoria Racing Club which posted $24.2m loss over the 2024 financial year and the Australian Turf Club in Sydney that recorded a $2.4m loss, it is the start of a turn around in fortunes.

 

WILL GLEESON LETTER TO THE CM EDITOR BE CENSORED TOO?

NOT surprisingly, one of those questioning the correctness of the CM story is Wally Gleeson who felt so incensed he penned a Letter to the Editor in response which reads:

‘YOUR publication (QB Weekly 13/2/25: BRC in a race for its long-term future):

Transparency and Integrity has been at the heart of the BRC Board over the past six months.

Your article indicates that in the past financial year 2023/24 the BRC indicated that it posted an overall profit of $1.8mn.

Yes, correct on book value but failed to identify that a forgiveness loan of $6,333,161 was made by Racing Queensland. This loan was the outstanding costs associated with the Eagle Farm pedestrian tunnel.

As a matter of Integrity and Transparency I would like to advise that on cash, BRC effectively recorded a loss of $4.5million.

The new CEO will need to ensure strong fiscal control or as he said in this article ‘the challenges could make or break the club’.

THE loan forgiveness by RQ of $6.33mn is recorded on Page 23 of the BRC Annual Report. It’s arguable whether the BRC should have included the loan write-off as income. Instead of a profit, in real terms is it a loss? Some might say more smokes and mirrors as so often happens in race clubs’ annual reports.  

Having said that, surely the CM was entitled to mention this when they were ‘pumping up the tyres’ of the great job done by the BRC Board in the story in their Business Weekly section. We await with interest whether the Gleeson Letter to the Editor will be censored as well.

   

NOTHING HAS CHANGED WITH NEW SKIPPER OF THE BRC TITANIC

THERE was recently a rearrangement of the deck chairs on the good ship BRC Titanic with a new skipper at the helm but it seems the more things change the more they stay the same.

Richard Morrison has replaced Neville Bell (who we are told is off soon on a lengthy and well deserved overseas holiday) as Chairman. Wally Gleeson thought that might lead to a change of heart when it came to his determination to secure the AGM Minutes.

Here’s an exchange of emails between the pair that occurred recently and was prompted by an earlier message sent by Gleeson to BRC Company Secretary David Koch which was referred to new Chairman Richard Morrison which reads:

Hello David

Note my recent email below requesting that you advise me as to your phone number and a suitable calling time. It appears that you do not intend complying with my respectful request.

Racing Queensland has advised me that the draft minutes of the October AGM are available for my inspection. However, copies of the minutes cannot be provided or removed from your office.

Racing Queensland has encouraged me to take up the BRC ‘s offer regarding access to the AGM minutes and I am considering this option.

My advice to you would be that in viewing these minutes I would request a quiet area to take notes from my examination of minutes and possibly photographing .

You would note in all governance literature that to be accountable, transparent and to uphold integrity minutes should be managed in the following way.

Key points about AGM minutes availability:

• Prompt distribution:

Ideally, draft minutes should be circulated as soon as possible after the AGM to allow for timely feedback while details are still fresh.  (NOTE THIS SENSIBLE AND REASONED APPROACH for AGM)

• Access for members:

As AGM minutes are considered a public record, all members should have access to review the draft minutes. 

• Review process:

The minutes should be reviewed by the meeting chair and potentially other key individuals before being circulated to the wider membership. 

• Formal approval:

Organizations require a formal approval process for the final minutes, which may involve a subsequent meeting or a designated timeframe for submitting any corrections.

The non-issue of these draft minutes is being seen by the wider racing community as a blatant lack of Integrity, Transparency and Accountability by the Directors of the BRC Board. I have been inundated with calls, emails and texts that indicate there is growing public dissention with decisions being made by the BRC Board.

I now request that you provide me with a response to my request to inspect the minutes in a manner which will give me confidence in the authenticity of the draft recorded AGM minutes. Better still send me a draft copy to save your time.

Note members have rights to access Board minutes under the Corporations Act 2001. With the obstinance of the BRC Board on this matter, one and all, can only conclude that there must be something to hide in those AGM minutes.

Thank you

Wally Gleeson

That resulted in this reply from Richard Morrison:

Wally,

Thanks for your correspondence. It is standard practice for draft minutes from the Annual General Meeting to be released at the time of the announcement for the next AGM. Generally, this is 4-6 weeks in advance of the next AGM, and this has always been standard process at the BRC.

We have confirmed this approach with both a constitutional lawyer and a governance advisor, and they have advised that it aligns with best practice.

That said, we are willing to provide you with the draft minutes for review if you would like to meet. However, these minutes are not for distribution in any form and will not be subject to debate before their official release in the next financial year.

You may not be aware, but BRC relies on a professional third-party to record the minutes of its AGMs. They are prepared by a professional minute taker who provides this service for numerous large public and private companies. She was referred to BRC by your son, Simon Gleeson.

At Eagle Farm in September, I invited you to discuss any concerns you have with the Brisbane Racing Club. You declined that offer. The invitation remains open should you wish to take it up.

Regards,

Richard Morrison

And Wally Gleeson followed up with:

Dear Richard

Thank you for your reply.

Firstly I am somewhat surprised by the fact that as Board Chair you are responding to my email when in fact, in line with good governance principles it is the responsibility of the Company Secretary (copied into your email).

 Secondly, my request for a draft copy of the October AGM minutes is totally irrelevant to your statement about your offer to me at the September Races to discuss with you any concerns relating to the BRC. Please note that this offer was made prior to the AGM.

Thirdly your advice that the minutes are prepared by a private professional minute taker (regardless of who referred that person) once again has no relevance to my request for a draft copy of the AGM minutes.

I have thoroughly reviewed the BRC Constitution of Brisbane Racing Club Ltd, a company Limited by Guarantee and not having a Share Capital under the auspices of the Corporations Act, and nowhere does it indicate that this standard practice you refer to is mentioned in the constitution. You state that both a constitutional lawyer and governance advisor have advised you that it aligns with best practice. I would request that you kindly forward to me a copy of the advice provided to you so that I am able to view it in light of the information in my possession.

In spite of our conflicting advice, I continue to request a draft copy of the minutes of the AGM. It is not unreasonable to reach the conclusion that the releasing of the draft minutes is problematic for the BRC;  the reasons for which are undisclosed.

Yours sincerely

 Wally Gleeson

 

‘BEST PRACTICE’ DEFINITION DEPENDS ON SIDE OF FENCE YOU SIT

WITH regards to the legal and constitutional advice received by the BRC that their refusal to release the AGM Minutes at this time ‘aligns with best practice’ LGHR is not the only one who is somewhat confused.

We are told that ‘a best practice’ is a method or technique that has been generally accepted as superior to alternatives because it tends to produce superior results. Best practices are used to achieve quality as an alternative to mandatory standards. Best practices can be based on self-assessment or benchmarking.

If the ‘best practice’ in this case is refusing to provide a copy of the minutes of a controversial AGM to Members of the BRC – who are entitled to it – then how does that produce ‘superior results’? It simply doesn’t and is just legal gobblydeegook.

Chairman Morrison says the BRC is ‘willing to provide (Gleeson) with the draft minutes for review if (he) would like to meet. However, these minutes are not for distribution in any form and will not be subject to debate before their official release in the next financial year’.

That smacks of ‘censorship’ and is something that new Racing Minister Tim Mander needs to deal with immediately before Gleeson is forced to take this to a higher authority resulting in more bad publicity for not only the BRC but RQ which can do without another black eye.

 

 

JOCKEY SUBSIDY CHANGES ON CARDS TO OFFSET SHORTAGE IN BUSH

RACING Queensland is working on changes to its jockey travel subsidy for the North West following concerns that race meetings will be called off in 2025 due to a lack of available riders.

The issue, which attracted front page headlines on the NORTH WEST WEEKLY, has since caught the attention of the racing body.

EDITOR MATT NICHOLLS this week made inquiries to RQ following a number of concerns raised about the current “Go West” subsidy, which was first introduced in 2023.

When announced, RQ said it would subsidise up to two return flights (to a maximum of $1200 each) to each non-TAB race meeting; and up to three return flights (to a maximum of $800 each) to each TAB meeting in the North West region.

However, a Racing Queensland spokesperson said that the scheme was being revised.

“We are presently making a number of amendments to the Go West scheme, which we’ll be in a position to provide further detail on in the coming weeks,” they said on Tuesday morning.

Mount Isa-based trainer Emma Morton said changes to the scheme would be welcomed.

“I’m going to fly up a jockey for the (February 22) meeting and that will cost more than $1000,” she told North West Weekly.

“The jockey said they applied for the subsidy but apparently it had already been exhausted.

“I don’t know exactly how it works but it does seem a bit unfair that some jockeys get it and others don’t.”

North West Weekly put questions to RQ about how the scheme was administered, but it did not provide an answer, other than to say it was making amendments.

One jockey, who asked not to be named, said jockeys were able to get the subsidy and not accept a full book of rides in Mount Isa.

“One jockey won’t be able to ride the minimum weight, which means he might not get five rides,” they said.

“I’d hate to see the industry pay for his flights when another jockey misses out.”

Morton, who trained her first winner last year, said she was currently advertising for a jockey and/or trackwork rider to make the move to Mount Isa.

“I’m always hopeful but I’m not confident,” she said.

The young trainer, who is also on the Mount Isa Race Club committee, said there was some serious money to be made for a jockey willing to make the move to the North West.

“I can offer them a job as a driver at Kenlach, as well as subsidised accommodation and they can get paid to ride work in the mornings, and then get a full book of rides on a Saturday,” she said.

“For somebody who is willing to really have a go and is keen to apply themselves, they should be making a killing.”

Jason Hoopert is one of just two Mount Isa-based jockeys who will be available to ride in 2025. He will miss this month’s race meeting due to injury, but is likely to be back in the saddle in March.

Hoopert said he had no regrets about making the move west and wished that other senior jockeys would follow suit.

“I’ve got a good life working Monday to Friday (on the mine site) and riding on Saturdays and the occasional mid-weeks when they have TAB meetings,” he said.

“I’m making a great living. I’ve told this to a heap of jockeys but they won’t come here for some reason.”

Hoopert said he wasn’t against the subsidy, but wished local jockeys had some of their travel expenses met.

“It is frustrating when we drive to Hughenden or to Richmond for a race meeting and don’t get any of our costs covered, but a jockey can be paid to fly into Mount Isa and then beat us,” he said.

“There should be a subsidy for jockeys if they drive a certain distance, too.”

 

 QRIC TAKING SERIOUSLY CLAIMS OF ‘RACE RIGGING’ AT GALLOPS & ‘RED HOTS’ , NOTHING OFFICIAL BUT SECRET INQUIRIES UNDER WAY?

THE mail sounds legitimate (not like the usual scuttlebutt) that the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission is taking seriously claims of ‘race rigging’ at major TAB meetings of the gallops and ‘red hots’ and has launched separate investigations.

This follows an expose by our colleague Archie Butterfly on his subscriber-only website, peterprofit.com, where he raised serious allegations confronting both codes which the mainstream media would follow up on if they were doing their job of protecting the interests of punters.

LGHR raised the allegations with Kim Kelly, the Acting QRIC Deputy Commissioner, who told us: “Thanks for the offer to comment. I appreciate it very much. I think it would be best to opt out of commenting on these ones specifically given the prevailing circumstances other than to say that “the integrity of racing is at the foundation of QRIC’s responsibilities. As such, any potential breach of the Rules will be vigorously pursued.”

We fully understand Kelly’s predicament. He has just applied for the position in which he has proved so effective with QRIC in such a short time. Here’s hoping that ‘acting’ position is soon confirmed as ‘permanent’. If anyone can clean up problems at the gallops and harness racing, he’s the one with decades of local and international experience as a steward under his belt.

For those who missed what Archie Butterfly wrote, we trust he doesn’t mind LGHR republishing same. In the case of the gallops:

SPECULATION is rife in Brisbane that a group of six jockeys who ride for a major stable are using speed maps provided by a high profile Queensland form analyst and tipster to arrange the ‘rigging’ of certain races at major metropolitan tracks.

The riders, who include some of the bigger names in the riding ranks in the State, and some leading apprentices – are said to study the speed maps and then rearrange the expected order of horses in the running, for the benefit of a small cohort of punters who are alleged to be backing and laying horses on their behalf.

QRIC is said to have become aware of concerns about some suspicious races, and are conducting covert investigations into the matter.

LGHR (and we will include peterprofit.com in this) are NOT suggesting that a leading trainer is involved in this alleged ‘race fixing’. In fact we are told that he has been surprised by tactics adopted on some of his horses and some of the consequent results (which were contrary to what the stable expected).

 

RACE FIXING INVOLVEMENT THE WORST KEPT SECRET AT ‘RED HOTS’

PUNTERS who have been around for decades say they are least surprised by the latest allegations involving harness racing, especially the main meeting of the week at Albion Park.

Here’s what Archie Butterfly wrote in relation to the ‘red hots’:

RUMOURS of a race fixing conspiracy at Albion Park continue to grow, with a team managed by a former Brisbane bookmaker claimed to be involved. The talk is that the syndicate is backing horses in from long odds to near favourite, and then laying them back on Betfair for substantial profits once punters start following the ‘smart money’ in. The drivers are said to take care of the rest.

Stewards would have to be sleeping under a log if they weren’t aware of the allegations against this particular bookie who many believe has been part of the problem with harness racing for far too long.

Here’s an email from STEVE J, who has all but given up on betting on harness racing in Queensland:

‘Most of us who have followed the trots in south-east Queensland are well aware of what has been going on for years. If the stewards aren’t aware of it they have to be living under a rock.

With all due respects to the current Chief Steward, punters feel he has done next to nothing about the problems that we see occurring on the track week in week out. A former QRIC Commissioner tried unsuccessfully to have him removed but it seems he is here to stay.

‘If the new LNP Racing Minister could order the removal of the CEO at Albion Park surely he has the power to do the same with the Harness Racing Chief Steward.

‘When he was fielding this particular bookie had a reputation of only letting punters (especially the big ones) on when the runner they wanted to back was nailed to the ground.

‘Rumours suggest that he ‘controls a team of drivers’, similar to the jockeys he supposedly had on his ‘speed dial’ at the gallops.

‘His close association with a certain high profile media identity ensures there is no adverse publicity in the mainstream media (print or broadcast).

‘I'm not referring to a leading gallops scribe who is joined at the hip with officials of a leading club and was seen having a fireside chat with a prominent RQ official and a leading trainer (whose stable was referred to in Archie’s story about the gallops) at a recent race meeting in Brisbane.

‘Lack of confidence in the trots will continue until this bookie and his mates (some of them ex-coppers we ae told) are shown the door. When was the last time we saw a major inquiry into a race or some of the leading drivers at Albion Park?  Surely it's not that squeaky clean!’

    

IS A ‘GUARDIAN ANGEL’ WITHIN RANKS OF LNP PROTECT THE BRC?

DOES the Brisbane Racing Club have a ‘guardian angel’ protecting them from providing minutes of the controversial AGM which is becoming a more serious matter by the day for the new Racing Minister to address?

And does that ‘guardian angel’ – far within the bowels of the LNP and a prominent Minister in the new Government – have links to some key people at the BRC going back to who knows when.

Here’s a hint. When Ray Stevens made the mistake of backing his mate JPL in a leadership spill many moons ago (heaven forbid that dud would have become the alternative Premier), the penalty ‘Razor’ paid for doing so was reportedly an end to his dream of becoming Racing Minister.

Could the same fate await Tim Mander – they work in strange ways behind the scenes in the ‘Goat Riders’ Club – but hopefully the new ‘Godfather’ will cop none of this nonsense from the old guard and the new Racing Minister will be under no intimidation or pressure when it comes to doing the job that RQ wasn’t prepared to do in ordering the BRC Board to meet their legal obligations?

Interesting times ahead but don’t expect to see any of this reported in the state’s leading fish and chips wrapper which has for some reason decided to censor an important industry story. Who cares, they’re going so well that readers are being offered a $50,000 prize to attract subscribers?

 

ONE OF THE MOST FARCICAL PROTEST DECISIONS IN RECENT TIMES? 

WE received this thought-provoking email from a long-time punter on racing in NSW which raises some interesting questions:

‘WHEN a decision by the custodians of the sport (the stewards) makes you try and make sense of what they saw, you can guarantee this will be etched in your brain forever.

I am referring to Race 7 at Taree last Sunday which saw a very controversial dismissal of a protest after a very severe skirmish in the race.

Ironically Paul Perry, the trainer of the horse Edge of Midnight was involved in a controversial protest at Flemington on Derby Day back in the 90’s when the champion colt Choisor lost on protest after winning impressively.

The name Choisor was written into racing folklore after that very dubious decision and every time it happens again the name tends to bob up.

Well ‘Choisor’ can now be retired when it comes to remembering farcical protest decisions and the mantle replaced by ‘Edge of Midnight’.

Anyone reading this who hasn’t see the vision of Sunday’s race at Taree on the Racing NSW website and decide for themselves.

Might I suggest the Racing NSW Stewards don’t need this type of exposure as confidence in racing (especially in Sydney) is already at an all-time low.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: Here’s the Stewards’ Report on this race from TAREE on Sunday:

EDGE OF MIDNIGHT: Stewards considered a protest lodged by App. S Wilkes, rider of 2nd placegetter Edge Of Midnight, against Water Lad being declared the winner, alleging interference in the home straight. After considering all the evidence, the Stewards found that approaching the 150m Edge Of Midnight had to be checked to avoid the heels of Water Lad, which shifted out. Further, Edge Of Midnight had to be shifted in to continue into clear running near the 50m when Water Lad shifted out. In relation to the incident near the 50m Stewards found that Edge Of Midnight had not established running to the outside of Water Lad at this point and, bearing in mind the beaten margin of one length, Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that had this incident not occurred Edge Of Midnight would have finished in advance of Water Lad and dismissed the protest. App. N Palmer, rider of Water Lad, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR131(a) in that near the 150m he allowed his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of Edge Of Midnight, which had to be checked and lost its rightful running. App. Palmer’s permit to ride in races was suspended for a period to commence on Friday, 14 February 2025 and to expire on Monday, 17 February 2025, on which day he may ride.

 

STAKE.com BILLIONAIRE BANKS ON DARWIN FOR BETTING LICENCE

INTERESTING story (written by Yoni Bashan in The Australia) that we thought was worth reproducing. It appeared under the headline: Stake-com Billionaire Ed Craven Punts on Darwin for Betting Licence.

THE talk of Darwin has been a stealthy visit by crypto billionaire Ed  Craven of Stake.com, who quietly touched down at the airport last Thursday in his newly-purchased private jet.

He was on a mission to finally submit the paperwork for a coveted local bookmaker’s licence and flew up for meetings with gambling regulators and Northern Territory Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby. 

Registered in July, EC Aviation Pty Ltd is the owner of this aircraft, presumed to be a Gulfstream, and lists its director and secretary as one Edward James Macarthur Craven, the young money rich-lister and co-founder of the online casino giant.

Whether it’s a G4 or Bombardier, is there a better way of transitioning into the blast furnace of Darwin’s heat for a top-level meeting? Fresh off the jet, sharper than Gillette.

Craven, not even 30 yet, and co-founder Bijan Tehrani have been Jonesing to enter the Australian gambling market since at least 2023, their operations presently domiciled in the tropical, less-regulated clime of Curacao. 

Expansions last year saw Stake enter the Italian market by swallowing up one of its heritage sportsbooks; it separately obtained a licence to operate in Peru, where it remains. Two years ago the parent company, Easygo, acquired Betfair Colombia, giving it a licence to operate there until 2025. 

Much activity all over the globe, but no word on a licence yet for the home turf, which has us wondering why Craven would come gliding into Darwin if not for discussions about an impending application and the likelihood of its success. 

But what would we know? A spokeswoman for Easygo told us: “We meet with regulators from time to time, to listen and understand their priorities as part of monitoring gambling markets around the world.” 

Roger that! Nothing to see here. Or is there? 

 

TIME FOR MANDER TO ‘BLOW THE WHISTLE’ ON TROUBLING ISSUES

THE first sittings of the Queensland Parliament for the New Year will be held next week and the time has arrived for former top rugby league referee turned Racing Minister Tim Mander to blow the whistle on a few things that are troubling the industry.

The first thing the LNP Government needs to do is name a new Racing Queensland Board – showing the door to current Chairman Steve Wilson, a refugee from the Grace Grace era of Labor control and hopefully catapult former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk into the job she didn’t want him to have.

New Minister Mander needs to give the industry some assurances amid stakeholder concern that the wide ranging Review into the Three Codes will not just be a dumping ground for each and every problem the new Government doesn’t want to deal with.

Serious issues confronting the Brisbane Racing Club Board and inherited by new Chairman Richard Morrison (after Neville Bell recently left the building) need to be tackled head-on by Minister Mander not meekly relegated to the ‘too hard’ basket and hand-passed to the Review. This issue in particular will be the first real challenge and determine whether Mander will be known as ‘Tiger Tim’ or ‘Tiny Tim’ in the eyes of the industry.

Then there is the on-going problem of a lack of jockeys in the bush which has for a decade now seen owners unable to start their horses because there is no-one to ride them. LGHR understands that the Katter Party is planning a full-scale attack on what the new Government plans to do about a problem that Labor virtually ignored.

Mander needs to instruct Racing Queensland to expedite the appointment of a new CEO following the resignation of Jason Scott who has done a great job despite being accused by some officials in the bush of being too subservient to the south-east corner, in particular the Brisbane Racing Club.

The Minister needs to move quickly to remove the perception that the BRC and not RQ is running racing in Queensland. That was allowed to fester under Grace Grace whose closeness to some Board Members of the BRC including former Chairman Bell is still evident.

How successful the planned Review will be depends largely on who will be the Chairman and whether he has assistance from some high profile stewards or integrity identities. Reports suggest the Chair will be a prominent lawyer with racing experience from Sydney.

One would hope it isn’t the ‘international racing identity’ being tipped. Who can forget his alleged performance at one of the biggest carnivals in the world during which he sported a black eye courtesy of a top trainer. We’ll let you guess why the trainer was upset but the story goes it might have had something to do with his better half.

Minister Mander also needs to ensure that this Inquiry isn’t a political witch-hunt as at least one or two in the past have been and that those assisting the Chairman don’t have skeletons in the closet when it comes to Queensland racing.

One thing’s for sure if a ‘political or soft cock’ appointment is made as Review Chairman when Parliament sits next week, the LNP will lose instant credibility in the eyes of the industry and its stakeholders.

Interesting to note after RQ did next to nothing to force the BRC Board to meet their obligations and provide Member Wally Gleeson with a copy of the Minutes of their controversial AGM, a couple of new positions have been advertised.

RQ is looking for an experienced Compliance Officer to join its RTO (Registered Training Operation) team on a permanent or part-time basis with flexible work options.

The RQ ad poses the question: ‘Are you a purpose-led Compliance Officer that understands the value of trust and integrity? Racing Queensland is looking for an experienced Clubs Compliance Officer to join our Clubs, Tracks and Assets Team.’

Some might suggest that history shows what RQ is looking for is anything but what they have at present. And the ad doesn’t mention a thing about ‘special treatment’ when it comes to certain clubs which is a positive!

 

TEAM MELHAM THE ‘NEW’ FORCE TO EMERGE IN VICTORIAN RACING

TEAM MELHAM sent a message on the opening day of the Festival of Racing that they will prove a combined new force in the riding ranks in Victoria.

The honeymoon is well and truly over for Jamie and Ben who combined to win a Group 1 and Group 2 at Caulfield on Saturday and a Listed race at Hobart on Sunday.

Highlight of the weekend for the Team was the sentimental win by Jamie on the Ciaron Maher-trained Another Wil in the C F Orr Stakes beating favorite Mr Brightside.

That success tended to overshadow a magnificent quartet of winners by popular jockey Harry Coffey who admitted that for some time he was looking at quitting race riding to become a farmer.

As Gilbert Gardiner so well reported for the Murdoch Media:

A dream became reality for star jockey Jamie Melham as humble homebred-turned-Group 1 winner Another Wil secured an emotion-charged triumph in the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.

Another Wil, owned and bred by the late racing identity Colin McKenna, finished over the top of champion Mr Brightside in the 1400m feature on Saturday.

Melham was particularly close to friends and mentors McKenna and wife Janice and only every wanted to win a Group 1 for them.

While unable to do so before McKenna lost a short battle with illness last year, Melham achieved the feat on Saturday with Janice trackside at Caulfield.

“I thought about this day, I dreamed about it the last few days, but it’s amazing that things like this happen in racing,” Melham said.

“There’s a God in racing … this horse has deserved it for so many starts, but to do it for Col after his birthday on Tuesday is just amazing.

“I know he’s watching down on us and Another Wil lifted for his dad. That was amazing.”

EARLIER in the day Jamie’s new hubby Ben piloted the heavily-backed Angel Capital to a comeback success in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes for the Clinton McDonald stable.

Melham showed he can compete with the best jockeys in the land producing a 10 out of 10 ride on Angel Capital. He will now proceed to the Australian Guineas and All Star Mile before pulling up stumps for the spring.

Team Melham headed to Hobart for Cup Day on Sunday where Jamie landed Listed success in the Stutt Stakes on the Nick Ryan-trained Suntora. Ben won a restricted race on Ashfall.

No time for rest with Jamie and Ben heavily engaged in today’s Super Bowl Twilight fixture at Caulfield which is an interesting experiment for the Melbourne Racing Club. Between them they will ride four of the eight favourites on the Heath card.

 

SOLUTION TO JOCKEY PROBLEM PUTS NEW TARGET ON JASON SCOTT

JASON Scott, the departing CEO of Racing Queensland, is the target of more anger in the bush after suggesting a solution to the on-going problem of a lack of jockeys for non-TAB and some TAB meetings.

Scott wasn’t kidding when he told North West Weekly Editor Matt Nicholls, in a Q & A series, that he had some thoughts on how to fix the problem but ‘it’s not going to be popular’.

“The only way that we’re going to be able to sustain the current level of racing (in the bush) is if more clubs will agree NOT TO RACE on Saturdays. We’re happy to work with them, to work with the local Councils to gazette a public holiday on a Friday, or to hold meetings on a Sunday,” Scott said.

“We are never going to solve the problem of jockey shortages when you have a look at racing in Queensland. We probably race 15 Mondays a year, 35 Tuesdays, one meeting every Wednesday and Thursday, two meetings on a Friday, 10 meetings on a Saturday, sometimes more, and then one meeting on a Sunday. On Saturdays, we can have four TAB meetings and six or eight non-TAB meetings, depending on the week.”

Scott went on to explain to the North West Weekly that being a jockey was not a simple one-day-a-week job. “We need to give these jockeys and stewards – we’ve got exactly the same problem with stewards but it’s just not as commonly known – an opportunity to race two or three times a week.

“If we could hold two of our country meetings a weekend – one on a Friday and one on a Sunday – all of a sudden you’ve got more jockeys. We sent something to all clubs last year asking them to consider changing away from Saturdays. One club was willing to move to a Sunday.

“Financially, the status quo it’s not tolerable for the jockeys. They can’t earn enough money racing in a six-race program. The solution has to be to give them the opportunity to ride in two or three meetings a week. But traditionally we’ve always all raced on Saturdays and nobody’s really keen to change, but I think eventually that’s the right model.”

Scott predicted his comments wouldn’t be popular and officials in the bush were quick to dismiss them but made their attack more personal.

One long-time bush administrator told LGHR: ‘We were delighted to learn that Mr Scott had resigned. If he hadn’t we were campaigning the new LNP Government to get rid of him and that would have happened.

‘He was a Labor appointment and made the mistake of believing that his role was subservient to the south-east corner, in particular taking his marching orders from the Brisbane Racing Club.

‘Imagine if the RQ CEO were to suggest that Eagle Farm or Doomben ditch their Saturday racing for less popular days. There would be an uproar. But because we come from the bush we’re treated like second rate citizens where racing is concerned.

‘Well Labor has been shown the door – and hopefully we won’t see them for a very long time. The LNP is now in power and at least the National Party section of that Government cares about the survival and well-being of country racing.

‘But if they don’t move to resolve this bush jockey crisis – without costing us Saturday racing which we are entitled to – then the Katter Party is ready to swoop and no-one needs to be told there is no love lost between Robbie Katter and the new Premier after comments made in the lead-up to the last election. Standby for some questions to be asked when Parliament resumes shortly and just brushing the problem off to this cure-all Review into Racing won’t be an acceptable answer from the LNP.’

 

BLANCHARD HAS ANSWERS BUT NO-ONE WANTS TO LISTEN TO HIM

ONE man who has fought more than anyone in racing in Queensland to find a solution to the chronic shortage of bush jockeys, which has cost owners runners on a weekly basis, is Greg Blanchard, based on the Gold Coast.

Greg wants to see the door open in the Sunshine Coast for overseas, in particular Asian apprentices, but this continues to be closed because of bureaucratic red tape which for some unknown reason racing officials and politicians in Queensland refuse to address.

Greg was quick to respond to the Jason Scott solution to the problem when he wrote:

At the outset I want to acknowledge that Jason did try something by paying two jockeys to fly out to the north-west meetings but sadly we still have a huge problem.

The idea of moving meetings to Sundays yes would help with jockey numbers but remember the Monday 11 November Mt Isa TAB meeting still saw SEVEN horses scratched with no riders.

Saturday is traditionally the race day that most punters bet on Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and I'm sure race clubs have other (financial) reasons to retain their traditional Saturday dates.

Jockeys travelling to Sunday meetings won't help horses that need to be worked during the week. Emma Morton from Mt Isa is advertising for an experienced trackwork rider to double as her stable jockey. She would even consider an apprentice.

That's what's needed – more jockeys in the area. Granted it’s easier said than done but that's why for 10 years I've been saying we must look to Asia. Many years down the track and Racing Queensland still does not have CRICOS (Commonwealth Register Institutions Courses (for) Overseas Students which would allow overseas kids into our Apprentice School. There are overseas kids here right now working as track riders, one who wants to be a jockey and there could be more.

What has happened to the Hong Kong apprentices who were coming here? At the Estimates Hearing on August 23 (then Opposition Racing Minister) Tim Mander questioned RQ CEO Jason Scott about the lack of riders in the bush. Here is part of his response:

‘We have organized a deal with Hong Kong to have Apprentice jockeys over here for six and nine month periods.’

Fast forward to April 2024, Racenet reported that immigration lawyers had been called in. My question is why this problem was not known at the Estimates hearing in 2023 and at what stage has this situation reach right now.

Jason Scott was at the big Hong Kong International races late last year. One wonders if he managed to raise the subject of apprentice jockeys coming to Queensland with the HKJC during that visit.

We will never have enough domestic jockeys in the bush, especially the north-west. That’s why we must look to Asia.

This problem is only going to get worse and I sincerely believe getting overseas kids into our Apprentice school must be part of the solution. And trust me a Korean lad for example would be wrapped to get five rides a week. The only recommendation would be to get these kids on rotation for three months at a time, one goes and another comes.

LGHR wishes RQ good luck finding a new CEO who can serve two masters, those in the city and the others in the bush. That is why it is important to appoint a new Board rather than leave it to one led by Steve Wilson, a Labor appointee and good friend of former Racing Minister Grace Grace whose close association with the BRC continues to be exposed.  

 

INDUSTRY WELCOMES REVIEW BUT WANTS SOME ASSURANCES

THERE are growing concerns among stakeholders that rather than put some of racing’s on-going problems in the ‘too-hard’ basket the new LNP Government will buck-pass these to the soon-to-be announced ‘Comprehensive Review Into the Three Codes of Racing’.

The questions being asked are:

WILL that mean the industry has to wait for the Review to be completed and recommendations to be made by the Chairman before the Government even moves on urgently needed changes?

WHAT serious issues will be included in the Terms of Reference of the Review and will these include the need for the Brisbane Racing Club to release Minutes of its controversial Annual General Meeting which Racing Queensland arguably wrongly claims it has no power to force them to do?

HOW sure can the industry be that the Chairman who is appointed does not have previous links to racing in Queensland Racing and to silence any criticism or uncertainty over his appointment, should there not be two other Review Panel appointees on this Review?

THIS is not a COMMISSION of INQUIRY, previous ones have provided mixed results, so how certain can the racing industry be that this Review is not politically motivated or designed to provide the results the Government of the Day wants which many believe previous ones were?

SHOULD the current BOARD be involved in the recruitment of a new RQ CEO to replaced Jason Scott or a new BOARD be appointed forthwith to take over that role and silence the current groundswell of opinion that the Labor Party and the Brisbane Racing Club are still running Racing Queensland?

SCOTT SOLUTION TO BUSH JOCKEY SHORTAGE & IT MAKES SENSE

JUST days after announcing he was stepping down from the role, Racing Queensland CEO JASON SCOTT spoke with North West Weekly editor MATT NICHOLLS about some of the concerns facing the racing industry in that region. He has kindly allowed us to republish that interview.

MN: Jason, you’ve got around six months left in the role. What are you hoping to achieve before you finish up as CEO?

JS: I think it’s going to be an interesting six months because the (State) Government is going to start a review into racing, which they’ll start at some stage in February, and they’re hoping to be in a position to announce (the results) publicly in August.

I figure my role is not necessarily a caretaker role, but to make sure that things are bubbling along well for the next six months.

The timing of my departure might work well. It’ll allow the Minister (Tim Mander) and the Chair of Racing Queensland (Steve Wilson) to work out what direction they want and what sort of CEO they’ll need.

Typically, they’ll find a CEO who is good at the things I was bad at. That tends to be how these positions work and it makes sense.

It might not be at the top of the priority list but there’s a feeling in the bush that racing is facing a tough period. What is Racing Queensland doing at the moment to sort of alleviate some of those fears?

I think there are concerns everywhere. We’ve seen wagering decrease 10 per cent in 2024; it’s another eight per cent down this year.

And that’s not just a Queensland thing. In actual fact, we’re better off than a couple of the other States.

Frankly, and I’ll put it without being rude to the previous Government, we weren’t enamoured with funding from the previous Government. The current Government is going to use this Review to work out what the optimum model is, and the optimum amount of money that Queensland as a whole across all three codes (thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing) needs to operate.

Your background is in wagering, so when you took on the Racing Queensland job and saw all of these bush tracks that didn’t have outside wagering on them, did that present a challenge? Do you have any thoughts on how we might be able to ensure our races in the North West become more sustainable by increasing the number of TAB meetings?

I think that those tracks still hold a really important part in the racing landscape. Racing’s got to start somewhere and it starts in the bush. What I’m very cognizant of is that those 40 or 50 (non-TAB) tracks, particularly the once-a-year and twice-a-year tracks, have to meet minimum standards.

For instance, we stopped racing at Eagle Farm for eight weeks last year because horses were shying on a certain part of the track.

We need to have that lens across all of our tracks and there are only two ways to fix that – more funding for assets or the consolidation of tracks.

Last year we had tracks with star pickets on the outside rails, star pickets in the tie-up stalls, and things that clearly we just shouldn’t be racing with, in 2025.

The minimum standards have improved.

We need to understand where the funding is and what we’re prepared to put into the once and twice-a-year tracks and if it passes the pub test to keep these tracks as standard, let’s do it.

If a track were to go, that doesn’t mean the region would lose a race meeting.

There are a couple of central hubs in the bush, with Mount Isa in the North West and Longreach and Barcaldine in the Central West. Those tracks have successfully staged more and more TAB meetings in the past couple of years. Do you see a future where there are almost weekly TAB meetings in the North West and Central West?

Definitely, and that will no doubt form part of the Review.

This might be lost on some of our casual readers but the racing industry will be keen to hear your thoughts. Last year, one of Racing Queensland’s longest-serving employees, Col Truscott, finished up unexpectedly. It looks like he’s left a pretty big hole. I know his position’s been filled, but did that catch you by surprise about how much went into that role?

No, it didn’t catch me by surprise because I think everyone in Racing Queensland was aware of how much Col did and how many hours he put in.

Probably equally as important was the amount of intellectual property that was between his right and his left ear.

Transferring that to the new person has been very difficult. David Horne, who’s taken over that role, has started brilliantly but he’s not going to learn what Col knew in three years or five years. It’s going to take him 10 years and who knows where he’ll be in 10 years.

So that was a great loss to racing in Queensland.

Animal welfare appears to be at the forefront of decision making in racing, and rightly so. The North West has built a good reputation as being part of the racing ecosystem, where a horse that might be too slow to win in the city or at provincial level, ends up racing here, before being retired to a paddock. There are concerns if bush racing were to die, or to downsize, that it would have a major impact on horse welfare. Does that factor into the decision making?

Well it certainly helps the task of Queenslanders in terms of re-homing all of the horses.

We’re the destination for all of these older horses now to prolong their careers. They’ll come up, they might have five starts in Brisbane until that’s too good for them, then they’ll go and race on the provincial circuit at Rockhampton, Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, wherever that is, until that gets too good for them, and then they move into the country circuit.

It’s actually a great progression for these old horses.

It then creates the problem when they hit 13 years, as Fab’s Cowboy did, and can’t race anymore.

But I think us having that pathway is really helpful for racing in Australia.

I know this is not your direct role, but there is a real concern in the bush about jockey numbers this year, which is nothing new but seems to be an alarming problem heading into 2025. Do you have any thoughts on how we might fix some of the issues?

I do have some thoughts and it’s not going to be popular.

We are never going to solve the problem of jockey shortages when you have a look at racing in Queensland.

We probably race 15 Mondays a year, 35 Tuesdays, one meeting every Wednesday and Thursday, two meetings on a Friday, 10 meetings on a Saturday, sometimes more, and then one meeting on a Sunday.

On Saturdays, we can have four TAB meetings and six or eight non-TAB meetings, depending on the week.

The only way that we’re going to be able to sustain this level of racing is if more clubs will agree to not race on Saturdays. We’re happy to work with them, to work with the local councils to gazette a public holiday on a Friday, or to hold meetings on a Sunday.

Being a jockey is not a simple one-day-a-week job.

We need to give these jockeys and stewards – we’ve got exactly the same problem with stewards but it’s just not as commonly known – to give these jockeys and stewards an opportunity to race two or three times a week.

If we could hold two of our country meetings a weekend – one on a Friday and one on a Sunday – all of a sudden you’ve got more jockeys.

We sent something to all clubs last year asking them to consider changing away from Saturdays.

One club was willing to move to a Sunday.

Financially, the status quo it’s not tolerable for the jockeys. They can’t earn enough money racing in a six-race program.

The solution has to be to give them the opportunity to ride in two or three meetings a week.

But traditionally we’ve always all raced on Saturdays and nobody’s really keen to change, but I think eventually that’s the right model.

We had a legendary jockey in Keith Ballard retire last year. Do you think Racing Queensland maybe missed a step by not congratulating or reaching out to him? It was noticed by some in the local industry.

Yeah, I think we certainly should have done more.

I ran into Keith in Hong Kong about three weeks after (he retired) and thanked him but I think publicly we certainly should have done more and I acknowledge that was an error by us.

 

 

GALLOPS WANT TO BE MASTER OF OWN DESTINY & CUT MINOR CODES ADRIFT – SOUNDS GREAT BUT BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU WISH FOR!

IT didn’t take long for a groundswell of support to arrive for the call by champion trainer Tony Gollan for the gallops to once again be the master of its own destiny and cut the minor codes adrift in Queensland.

LGHR understands that the new LNP Government was already considering a return to the days when each of the codes was responsible for their own administration leaving integrity under the umbrella of a separate organisation, like QRIC.

“The biggest issue we have in Queensland at the moment is the three-code model and I think each code would prefer to have their own CEO,” Gollan told Racenet in the wake of the resignation of RQ boss Jason Scott.

“As far as thoroughbreds go, we want to try to keep within sight of NSW and Victoria. “We are coming into a very challenging period, with the wagering downturn we need someone who is laser-focused on the needs of thoroughbred racing.”

The original reason for the combination of the three codes was to cut costs by eradicating duplication. If each code returned to a single banner – gallops, trots and dogs – it would cost more and that is where a feasibility study would need to be done.

Just a warning from LGHR when heading down the stand-alone track for the three codes – BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU WISH FOR!

 

FEEDBACK ON THE GOLLAN INITIATIVE FOR FUTURE OF QLD RACING

HERE is a sample of the overnight feedback LGHR received after the Gollan initiative surfaced on Racenet:

JEFF S of BRISBANE wrote: ‘It’s time a halt was put to the minor codes, especially the trots, maggoting on the back of the gallops. Harness racing is a basket case in Queensland, on and off the track, good luck to saving it.’

MARK J of BRISBANE had this suggestion: ‘You probably won’t publish this, given your feelings about David Fowler but they should distance harness racing from the other two codes and appoint him CEO. The sport was thriving when David was Chairman at Albion Park but he dared to criticize ‘the King’ Kevin Seymour suggesting he was ‘yesterday’s man’.’

SAM L of IPSWICH weighed in on behalf of the dogs: ‘So what if this magnificent new, world class facility The Q has suffered a cost blow-out. It’s what the sport needs in Queensland. Greyhounds have proved they are panels in front of harness when it comes to turnover. Punters have more confidence betting on the dogs than the red hots. We can stand on our own two feet. I don’t think the same could be said about the trots.’

AND finally this longer email which is extremely thought-provoking from a long-time gallops identity who has asked not to be identified for fear that the minor codes will lynch him:

‘THERE’S a simple solution to changing the current three-code administrative model back to a single one for each code but I’m not sure any Government – LNP or Labor – would be prepared to accept it.

‘Allocate funds (prizemoney and running costs) for the operation of the gallops, harness and greyhounds on the basis of their return to the industry through betting turnover. The less they earn and the more they cost depends on what prizemoney is allocated.

‘We all know that under that principle the trots would not survive. Just because Kevin Seymour has been their saviour and great influencer of political thinking should have no bearing on decisions Governments make concerning harness racing.

‘With the internal blood-letting that is occurring in the greyhound industry over the appointment of Peter Gleeson as CEO of the new Q facility, one wonders what would happen if the dogs were to revert to single code control with some of his ‘enemies’ certain to secure key positions. It’s got the potential for an absolute disaster.

‘Then at the gallops there are too many clubs in Queensland so who is going to do something about a cull. I can’t see the LNP doing that outside the metropolitan area where feelings are already running high that the BRC has too much control over what Racing Queensland does and had too much influence over the out-going CEO.

‘If prizemoney levels in Queensland gallops are to keep even as far behind as they are now to NSW and Victoria something has to give and the only way to ensure the major member of the herd survives is to cull the weak members, starting with the red hots.’

 

RESTRICTIONS ON AGM MINUTES RELEASE ‘ILLEGAL & UNACCEPTABLE’

IT seems our old mate Ben Dorries over at Racenet is more interested in the integrity of racing in Tasmania than that in Queensland where his ‘soul brothers’ at the BRC continue to escape mainstream racing media coverage over the debacle that was their AGM.

Here’s the latest from Wally Gleeson after Racing Queensland intervened and convinced the BRC Board to let him view minutes of the AGM under strict conditions which are not only said to be illegal but unacceptable.

Gleeson sent this response to RQ:

Subject: RE: Complaints Form Submission

Hello (sorry but no name contact on your email) – RQ officer, not so transparent.

Thank you for your email regarding the draft AGM Minutes of the BRC held in October 2024.

As previously advised, I have been requesting a copy of these draft minutes since mid-November 2024 and due to no satisfactory response from the BRC lodged a complaint with your office.

Your below reply to me yesterday indicated that I would only be permitted to view the AGM minutes and that I am unable to secure a copy.

This restricted action does not agree with the Corporations Act 2001 where in it states the various access to AGM minutes by members include – Request access to inspect the minutes or receive a copy (for which a reasonable fee may be required).

The below key points are provided to your office and is in contravention to your advice and my entitlement as a member of BRC. Note Public Record.

Key points about AGM minutes availability:

• Prompt distribution:

Ideally, draft minutes should be circulated as soon as possible after the AGM to allow for timely feedback while details are still fresh. 

• Access for members:

As AGM minutes are considered a public record, all members should have access to review the draft minutes. 

• Review process:

The minutes should be reviewed by the meeting chair and potentially other key individuals before being circulated to the wider membership. 

• Formal approval:

Organizations require a formal approval process for the final minutes, which may involve a subsequent meeting or a designated timeframe for submitting any corrections.

I now respectfully request that you direct the BRC to provide me with a draft copy of these AGM minutes for which I am prepared to pay a reasonable fee.

FOOTNOTE:

Today I have received from the racing community, calls, texts, and emails that RQ is condoning blatant lack of transparency and accountability by the BRC and advise that there is growing public dissension.

Regards

Wally Gleeson

EDITOR’S NOTE: If the new LNP Government does not believe it will receive any criticism from Labor on this issue, they want to remember there’s another Party in Queensland watching it closely that has a big axe to grind with the new Premier over comments he made about them in the lead-up to the State Election.

 

AS GREAT A TRAINER AS HE IS, WALLER KEEPS UPSETTING PUNTERS

BACK to what’s been happening on the track and here are a couple of emails from disgruntled punters on several incidents during the past week:

MAX J from MELBOURNE gets stuck into champion trainer Chris Waller:

‘I know the legion of Waller fans will shoot me down using his Group race winning record to support their belief that there has never been a better trainer in Australia.

That isn’t my gripe. However, I will add that when you continue to inherit star horses, one of the latest Alligator Blood, from other stables, you are destined to train plenty of Group winners.

What the majority of punters are upset about is the stable’s domination of fields in restricted races and how the form of those runners is near on impossible to follow on many occasions.

Friday nights are developing into a Waller farce. His first lieutenant, ‘Sir Charles’ Duckworth, was front and centre at the latest meeting. When the stable had almost half the field in the third at Canterbury, SKY host & Waller ‘spin doctor’ big Richie Callender asked Ducky to give the punters a lead. His reply was to back the short-priced favorite Bright Red in the fourth.

History shows that the well backed Delrico won the third beating Waller stablemate Pink Shalala. One race later, you don’t have to be told Heed The Omens, which they didn’t forget to back, came out and upset the stablemate and favourite Bright Red. Not a good look for the tipping prowess of ‘Sir Charles’ but pretty much par for the course with what continually happens with the Waller horses engaged in the same race.

Things didn’t improve much at Rosehill on Saturday with the Waller horses, especially where the punters were concerned but you can expect the Hall Of Famer to be front and centre when some of his stars return over the next few weeks.

Waller started two horses in the G3 Canonbury Stakes. The $1.9mn purchase Fermoy was resuming and struggled to keep up while stablemate Tropic, well backed on debut, performed like a dromedary. The duo finished at the tail of the field behind Blitzburg.

Here’s what Stewards at Rosehill reported:

FERMOY: Jumped awkwardly, shifted in and bumped Melanite. K. McEvoy reported that in this incident his right foot made contact with the barriers, causing him some discomfort. From a wide barrier Fermoy then was shifted behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 50m was directed to the outside of Melanite. In regard to the colt’s performance, K. McEvoy added that Fermoy was not suited by being positioned back in the field when the race developed into a sprint home. He said that Fermoy found it difficult to make up any appreciable ground when under pressure in the straight. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities other than losing its off-fore plate. K. McEvoy was examined by the medical officer and cleared to fulfil his remaining engagements.

TROPIC: J. McDonald stated that after beginning awkwardly from the inside barrier, he was able to obtain a position behind the leader, Blitzburg. He said Tropic travelled satisfactorily in the middle stages, however, when the tempo increased from the 600m the colt came under pressure to hold its position. He said that Tropic did not close off the race in the home straight and after giving ground he did not test it over the final 100m when out of contention. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.

INTERESTINGLY, neither Waller horse was required to trial before starting again despite performing ingloriously. From a punters’ perspective not a good look. At least if they trial when these horses turn in form reversals next start there will be an excuse.

Then we had Kapakiri in the sixth, which almost brought off a form reversal plunge at its previous start. This time it ran favourite and struggled to pick its feet up beating only three home.

Stewards reported:

KAPAKIRI: When questioned regarding the performance, J. McDonald reported that after being slow to begin he was required to settle towards the rear of the field. He said he commenced to place his mount under pressure after the 600m with the view then of shifting out on straightening. He said when So Newchee Thinks, which he was trailing, commenced to shift out passing the 400m, he elected then to shift to its inside to obtain clear running. He said, however, when So Newchee Thinks (J. Severo) then shifted back in, he was disappointed for a run to its inside leaving the 300m. J. Severo was advised to exercise more care. J. McDonald said after then shifting Kapakiri into clear running to the outside of So Newchee Thinks his mount closed off the race only fairly over the final 200m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed Kapakiri to be slow to recover.

Head north to Doomben and another Waller runner, the enigmatic Aldeenary decided not to turn up on the day with the bookmakers’ crystal balls proving spot on as it drifted alarmingly in price.

Stewards queried the run and reported:

ALDEENAARY: Bumped shortly after the start when IVERSON shifted out. Approaching the 100m raced in restricted room and passing the 50m, obliged to steady after becoming awkward at the heels of IVERSON whilst weakening. Jockey J. Orman reported his mount didn’t let down as expected in the home straight. Stable representative for C. Waller was advised to report back in the days subsequent.’

BIGGEST BAGGING OF WEEK SAVED FOR ORMAN RIDE ON FAV IN LAST

THE biggest bagging we received from the weekend racing was for the ride of star jockey James Orman on the highly-raced Mintaka Lad in the last at Doomben.

The David Vandyke-trained galloper was beaten in a photo but should have bolted in.

To be fair Mintaka Lad’s wide barrier didn’t help but punters are an unforgiving lot and were blaming the Orman ride declaring it a slaughter job.

One wrote: “We keep hearing and reading what a great rider Jimmy Orman is. Every time I back him on a fancied runner it is described as unlucky. That’s BS, most times it’s the victim of a terrible ride.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: MORAL of the story is had Orman gone back and got beaten on Mintaka Lad he would still have been caught in the crossfire. I’ll have him on anything I back. Mintaka Lad is a good thing next time it steps out – regardless of who rides it.

 

ANOTHER HEADACHE FOR NEW RACING MINISTER IN NORTH WEST

ANOTHER headache for new Racing Minister Tim Mander – the headline on the North West Weekly Front Page today says it all: RACING IN STRIFE, Industry Crippled by Jockey Shortage.

LGHR republishes the following story courtesy of  MATT NICHOLLS, EDITOR of the NORTH WEST WEEKLY:

MEETINGS will be lost from the North West racing calendar in 2025 if immediate changes are not made to the scheduling.

Once-a-year programs at Boulia, Gregory Downs and Maxwelton are facing an immediate threat, although several Saturday meetings scheduled for Mount Isa will also be under pressure.

Why? Because of a lack of local jockeys in 2025.

The first race meeting of 2025 is scheduled for February 22 at the Mount Isa Race Club and, at the time of writing, just one jockey is available to ride.

That man is 55-year-old Jason Babarovich.

Of the other Mount Isa-based jockeys, Terry Hill is in serious doubt to ride this year due to complications from an injury sustained in 2024, while Dan Ballard is all but retired, having injured his hand at the beginning of last year.

With Keith Ballard also retired, it leaves just Babarovich and Jason Hoopert as the local jockeys who will be available to ride this year.

Hoopert, 52, is still recovering from a nasty fall late last year, but will be available to ride in March or April.

While Racing Queensland will help subsidise the cost of flying jockeys to Mount Isa and the North West, finding enough jockeys to make the trip will also present a problem, with most clubs racing on Saturdays.

The only obvious solution is to start switching race dates away from Saturdays.

This will fly in the face of tradition – and put pressure on volunteers and staff – but it’s perhaps the only option the North West has in 2025.

Boulia, for example, should be pushing to race on Easter Sunday, rather than the Saturday, to allow jockeys riding at Barcaldine that weekend to make the trip west and pick up a second book of rides.

Gregory Downs Jockey Club, which will compete with meetings at Mount Garnet and Barcaldine on its traditional May long weekend, might be better placed to race a day later, on the Sunday, if it wants to get enough jockeys for its program.

Mount Isa Race Club also has the option of moving races to Sundays or Friday afternoons in order to reduce the pressure on jockey numbers.

In recent times, Longreach has moved some meetings to a Sunday with good success.

Racing Queensland, still reeling from the resignation of long-time country racing boss Col Truscott, can’t sit by and allow race meets to be called off, or run with tiny fields, in 2025.

The flow-on effects would be devastating for the North West industry.

If trainers and owners can’t get jockeys for their horses, they will simply walk away.

One leading Mount Isa trainer has already stopped getting new horses in his stable due to a lack of jockeys.

For many communities across Queensland, the annual race meeting is the biggest event of the year.

Without a sustainable industry, those events will soon be gone.

Camooweal is still feeling the pinch of losing its annual race meeting after Racing Queensland deemed its track was unsafe.

Mount Isa Race Club president Jay Morris has the difficult task of wearing two hats as both the head of the region’s main racetrack and as a horse trainer.

He acknowledged that jockeys would be hard to come by this year and that the club was already looking at options.

“As a committee, we’ve thought about getting an apprentice here to help the trainers with trackwork and racing,” Morris said.

“But it’s easier said than done. A lot of young people don’t want to move out here.

“I think we’ll be able to get jockeys to fly in for meetings because we can offer them full books and the chance to ride winners, but it will be hard for some clubs on certain days to get jockeys.”

Racing Minister Tim Mander has called for a review into racing in Queensland, but the results are unlikely to arrive in time to make any meaningful change this year.

North West Weekly calls for both the Racing Queensland CEO and Minister to make a trip to Mount Isa for an industry roundtable to address the issue and make changes to this year’s calendar before we start losing meetings.

And clubs, consider getting on the front foot and look at shifting away from Saturdays.

 

HERE’S HOPING KATTER PARTY JUMPS ABOUT BUSH JOCKEY FIASCO

NO-ONE has fought more for the lack of jockeys in the bush to be addressed than GREG BLANCHARD of the GOLD COAST and LGHR has learnt that the KATTER PARTY is getting involved which is great news.

Here is GREG’S latest contribution:

‘OVER 12 months ago I was told about a ABC news broadcast which mentioned an overseas jockey and track rider in Central Queensland.

I want to focus on the track rider who was told he could be an apprentice in Queensland and would soon be able to join our Apprentice School. But he is not. He can’t be and won’t be.

As I have mentioned before on so many occasions an apprentice must have CRICOS (Commonwealth Register Institutions Courses (for) Overseas Students to be eligible

This overseas kid doesn’t have that. To those in racing in Queensland who have fed him BS, hang your heads in shame.

This is a carbon copy of a Korean lad given false hope of becoming a jockey about a decade ago.

When is someone going to get CRICOS for our RTO? I've assisted three young riders to New Zealand because they could not be jockeys here and at the moment there are two Korean track riders in Queensland who can't be jockeys. 

I've heard every bloody piece of BS under the sun on this matter for over a decade now.’

 

 

UPDATE ON THE SITUATION AT CLUDEN COURTESY OF TTC CHAIRMAN 

LGHR has been fortunate enough to receive some recent photographs showing how much the flooding has affected the Townsville Turf Club.

These were kindly provided by Club Chairman Geoff Weeks (courtesy of Inline Images).

Geoff reports that the Cluden grass track is holding up and drained very well.

The sand fibre track and bull ring remain closed and under water while the swim is also closed.

“We have opened up the horse walkers as of today (Tuesday),” Geoff said.

“For assistance with horse welfare we are asking any trainers who have been flooded out at their properties to contact the club and we will assist them with the use of our tie-up stalls. Trainers or their staff can bed down in our Raceview Room.

“The club’s Members’ area, sports bar and admin offices have not been breached by flood waters as they were in 2019.”

Sadly, more heavy rain is forecast for the area.

 

 

WALLY GLEESON SCORES A VICTORY OF ‘SORTS’ IN BRC AGM BATTLE

WALLY GLEESON, the renegade Member engaged in a relentless battle with the Brisbane Racing Club to have minutes of their Annual General Meeting released, has had a victory of sorts.

Four months after the controversial AGM was held, it seems Racing Queensland has convinced the State’s leading race club that allowing Gleeson to view the minutes is the right thing to do.

But the Control Body for some inexplicable reason hedged its bets and had a bit each-way with the BRC only required to provide Gleeson with viewing rights to the minutes. He will not be permitted to take a copy which seems rather farcical considering the club’s legal requirements if they have nothing to hide.

It’s a bit like a customer going to their bank to make a withdrawal and being told they’re only allowed to look at the money but can’t take it away. Doesn’t make sense but not much does in Queensland racing these days.

Gleeson has refused to accept the BRC Board denial of his many requests for access to the minutes of the meeting to ensure questions relating to integrity issues that he asked of the Chairman were properly recorded. Sadly, because of the cosy relationship between members of the mainstream media and the BRC, especially key Directors, coverage of the meeting has been censored, a matter soon to be the subject of complaints to the Press Council which will make interesting reading.

Directors of the BRC are answerable to their Members who are entitled to a copy of the Minutes of the AGM whenever they want same not when the Board decides is an opportune time – like in the lead-up to the next AGM. They shouldn’t have to go cap-in-hand to the Board begging for permission to see these.

Most Members angered by what is happening would have surrendered  (some say because of intimidation) but not Wally Gleeson. He seems to adopt the approach: ‘Some men see things as they are, while others dream of things that never were and ask why not’.

Racing needs more men of integrity like Wally whether the BRC ‘slum dogs’ in the media like ‘Feathers’ and ‘Big Ben’ continue to crap in his face and take their orders from Manuel (if you care to check his history in racing just read an address made to a National Racing Conference by respected thoroughbred identity Peter Bredhauer when he was on the Board of Queensland Racing. LGHR would be delighted to send you a copy).

Gleeson’s battle to get access to the AGM minutes, especially detailing questions he asked regarding the reasons for his son, Simon, departing his Director’s role on the Board, is far from over.

But on Monday he received this email form This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., following requests since early November for RQ to intervene on his behalf with the BRC seeking a copy of the AGM draft minutes:

Hi Wally,

Racing Queensland has engaged with the Club (BRC) who have advised that the draft minutes are available for your inspection, however copies of the minutes cannot be provided or removed from their offices.

Please contact Mr David Koch, CFO and Company Secretary at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make suitable arrangements.

Kind regards (not signed by any RQ individual).

QUESTIONS need to be answered before Gleeson fronts-up at the BRC to view the minutes:

• WHY, like any other Member of the Club, isn’t he entitled to be provided with a copy of the AGM Minutes BUT not only be allowed to view these within the confines of the BRC Offices?
• WILL Gleeson be given unlimited access on the BRC premises – in a private area on his own – without ‘Big Brother’ – some club official of security person looking over his shoulder?
• RQ should stipulate to the BRC that he has private access to the Minutes and sufficient time to peruse them. If that is not the case it will give the impression that the Board and out-going Chairman have something to hide. And it won’t be a great endorsement for integrity in racing.

If the above questions are not suitably answered by RQ before Gleeson enters ‘enemy territory’ then the new LNP Government, Racing Minister Tim Mander or the Crime and Corruption Commission should intervene and rest assured they will be asked to.

 

COME ON ‘DICKY’ PLAY FAIR, YOU KNOW SIMON DIDN’T ‘RETIRE’

WALLY Gleeson has also demanded that the new Chairman Richard Morrison sets the record straight on the departure of Simon Gleeson from the BRC Board. This follows a Letter to Members which started:

‘FOLLOWING the retirement of Chairman Neville Bell and Director Simon Gleeson, the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) is seeking nominations from eligible members to fill two casual Director vacancies on the BRC Board.’

An angry Gleeson retaliated firing back with this email to the BRC heavies:

‘WOULD like to bring to the Chairman’s attention, and he should be well aware, that Simon Gleeson did not retire, he RESIGNED. This was enunciated quite clearly, twice, by me at the AGM to the Chairman Bell that he resigned not retired. I expect that this be CORRECTED as Chairman Morrison was at that AGM and that statement should be part of the invisible AGM minutes.’

Hopefully when Racing Minister Mander soon announces the Terms of Reference for the widespread Review of the Three Codes of Racing in Queensland what has been happening behind the scenes at Board level at the BRC will be one key issue.

And on the subject of the RQ Board, we have been reliably informed that changes have been fast-tracked to coincide with the announcement of the Review and who will conduct same rather than wait until it is completed.

What we can tell you is that former Racing Minister Grace Grace’s good mate and appointee as Chairman Steve Wilson will be on the first train out.

LGHR expects his replacement will be former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk OR Rebecca Frizzle, Deputy Chancellor of Griffiths University, on the Board of Directors of the Organising Committee for the Brisbane Olympics and a co-owner of the Gold Coast Titans NRL franchise.

There appears to be a cloud over whether Quirk wants the main role or would prefer to continue serving as the Thoroughbred Representative on the Board or if the new LNP Government would see some ‘Brownie Points’ in electing a woman (Frizzle) as Chairperson. The difference between the duo is that Quirk has a much stronger racing background.

As long as there aren’t any ‘jobs for political mates’ when the new Board is announced – or the appointment of former heavyweights who were sacked – then the LNP Government will be on the right track with the three codes of racing.

Story goes the decision to fast track the removal of Wilson and appointment of a new Board came following the resignation of CEO Jason Scott and the ‘Big Dance’ at Eagle Farm on Saturday where former Racing Minister Grace Grace was front and centre with some questioning whether Labor was still running racing in Queensland with help from the BRC.

 

 

MORE THINGS CHANGE IN QLD RACING, MORE THEY STAY THE SAME

IT’S a sad indictment on the multi-million dollar Queensland racing industry when ‘the more things change, the more things stay the same’ is an apt description of the state of play right now.

More than three months after the State Election and stakeholders still have no idea what plans the new Government has for racing beyond a widespread Review into the Three Codes. When it will be held, who will chair it and what the terms of reference will be remain a mystery.

Meanwhile, down at the ‘Farm’ where a new boss has been elected, it seems nothing will change with early ‘indications’ the indulgences when it comes to entertainment and travel that were endorsed by the out-going Chairman will continue to be enjoyed by the Directors.

There are mounting calls on the LNP and new Racing Minister Tim Mander to cut Labor’s umbilical cord with racing ASAP amid concerns about who is running the industry in Queensland after Grace Grace was reportedly the embarrassingly exuberant ‘life’ of the farewell party for retiring BRC Chairman Neville Bell at Saturday’s Eagle Farm races.

While LNP or RQ racing heavyweights were nowhere to be scene, Grace – who appointed the current Board headed by her ‘mate’ Steve Wilson – continues to be hoisted onto the shoulders of the BRC under its new Chairman Richard Morrison.

Jason Scott, who resigned recently before he got the shove after a campaign from ‘racing mates’ of the LNP in the country who for some reason don’t like him, was spotted at Eagle Farm but his attire suggested he wasn’t attending as a guest of the Bell farewell.

Scott apparently has agreed to stay on until the new financial year giving RQ more than enough time to find a replacement. Why the world-wide search for a suitable new CEO when there are a couple of well-credentialed identities that would fit the bill perfectly and could easily be head-hunted locally?

We’re talking about Scott Whiteman, the former Gold Coast Turf Club CEO and now running the highly successful Country Racing Victoria along with Jeremy Turner, one of the best RQ CEO’s of recent times who was railroaded during the Bob Bentley era for political reasons. We understand he is now heavily involved in Corporate Governance and a Financial Management specialist but many mons ago witnessed first-hand his passion for horse racing along with his administrative and communication skills.

 

WHEN WILL THE FAREWELL SOIREE FOR NEVILLE BELL EVER END?

BUT back to the on-going farewell soiree for long-serving Brisbane Racing Club Chairman Neville Bell – when will it ever end?

Concerned Members contacted LGHR after two retirement functions were held for Mr Bell on-course at Eagle Farm on Saturday and another is planned at a high profile city restaurant at the Story Bridge Hotel on Monday.

Here’s what one angry Member told us about Saturday:

‘My fellow Member friends do not begrudge Neville the farewell from the club that he deserves. But the Board has gone over-board.

There were two on-course retirement functions on Saturday – one lasting an hour for the plebs and the other the entire afternoon for invited guests who seemed to consist of Board Directors and their wives, Mr Bell’s family, friends and media ‘mates’.

The star of the show and only ‘celeb’ we sighted was former Racing Minister Grace Grace and that was because she exited the Official Marquee to be on her mobile. One of the Members who did attend told me that as he was leaving she gave him a kiss which was a bit strange as he didn’t know her from a bar of soap.

There was no sign of the Board Chairman Steve Wilson (who seems to have gone MIA since the election) or the new Racing Minister Tim Mander but of the media Ben Dorries was front and centre continuing to lose the ink in his pen to write about the controversy that continues to haunt the club from their AGM.  (Stay tuned for more on that in the days to come).

Then last Friday news leaked that ‘special friends’ had been invited by the BRC to a ‘story-telling afternoon’ on Monday – five hours on the career of Neville Bell – with top food and drink provided at Deery’s Restaurant (Story Bridge Hotel). (LGHR can vouch for the place – it’s 10 out of 10 – that we have patronised on special occasions (noticing one night former Racing and Sports Minister Bob Gibbs enjoying an ale there).

With all due respects it’s pretty brazen to enjoy three send-offs in three days, no doubt all paid for by the BRC (hopefully they will tell Members how much this cost. It will probably be in the minutes of the next AGM which will be impossible to secure a copy of).’

 

INTERVENTION OF NEW RACING MINISTER IS URGENTLY REQUIRED

MEMO Minister Tim Mander: Your Government is not that flush with funds, it has problems heading towards the Brisbane Olympics. Racing will struggle to secure extra prizemoney and no doubt the floods in the north will cause damage to racetracks that need unexpected immediate help.

Your intervention is urgently required as RQ just ignores the extravagances of the BRC. It is typical of Labor to just spend everyone else’s money but we thought under the LNP a new broom would be put through this rot.

Furthermore, this is not a good look for a new Chairman (Morrison) in his fledgling days with the BRC. ‘Nifty’ was a good Chairman and achieved plenty in many ways but there were areas he failed at. Here’s hoping down that track you are simply not a blueprint Dicky.

It would seem the departure of Bell will do nothing to correct the culture that has been ingrained in Directors of the BRC during his tenure. The direction isn’t promising in the fledgling days of the Morrison Chairmanship.

With no sign of any change to the Board at RQ (reportedly until the Review into the three codes has been completed who knows when), one could be mistaken for thinking that Grace Grace is still in charge and that the BRC are running Racing Queensland. Nothing seems to have changed with Grace and Neville still the ‘best of buddies’.

The new BRC Chairman has been caught in the crossfire with many Members believing he is still endorsing Labor despite the fact there is a new Government. It’s not a good start for his new career considering Grace promised plenty but delivered little to the State’s leading club during her years as Racing Minister, most notably the new Neville Bell Stand.’

 

WORST YOU CAN DO RACING MINISTER IS DELAY THE INEVITABLE

THE headaches are mounting for new Racing Minister Tim Mander and the worst thing he can do is delay the inevitable.

Action needs to be taken to address growing concerns among the BRC Members that too much money is being wasted on ‘extravagant’ functions and overseas and intra state travel by Directors not to mention the elephant in the room ‘failure to release even draft minutes of the last AGM’.

While both RQ and the BRC appear to be surviving on the umbilical cord of Labor, Mander needs to recognise that serious integrity issues are at stake and unless these are addressed by the new Government the culture will continue.

Racing on and off the track is lost without integrity and Minister Mander has to stop pussy-footing around and instruct RQ to do its job and investigate concerns continuing to be raised by Member Wally Gleeson alleging serious internal BRC Board practices.

With its ‘mates’ in the media refusing to do their job and provide constructive and fair reporting on this subject – a matter being raised with the Australian Press Council – the BRC is regarded by many as a ‘law unto itself’.

There are those who believe that this situation was allowed to fester by the Labor Government (as evidenced by the close relationship between Bell and Grace) and that the new LNP Racing Minister isn’t doing his job unless he orders a full investigation, not in six months’ time but ASAP.

 

FARCICAL RESCHEDULING OF TOWNSVILLE RACES DURING BIG WET - DOES THE 'I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE MAN' REALISE IT'S RAINING?

WITH many parts of North Queensland under water it might be a while before some tracks can race again. Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose homes and possessions are under threat at present.

In the midst of the latest ‘big wet’ from Cairns to Townsville we received this interesting email from a racing stakeholder in one of the worst-hit areas which read:

‘WHAT a tremendous amount of vision and forethought from the brain surgeons at Racing Queensland to reschedule Saturday’s Townsville ‘Turd’ Club (pun intended) meeting to Thursday 6 February, with over 1.5m of rain forecast for the week.

Are these ‘half-wits’ for real?

1500mm of rain predicted across multiple forecast models and they pick that day and venue to prop up a meeting, the day before an existing Mackay meeting mind you.

How on earth do they think Townsville-based trainers are going to prepare their noble steeds for racing in such inclement weather and it beggars the question, how long before Moses becomes the gap supervisor at Cluden Park to part the seas on the “all weather” training surface in order for it to become usable?

How are non-local conditioners and connections supposed to get their champions to Cluden Park with the expected highway closures both North and South of Townsville?

I suppose all this is hard to fathom for the ‘rocket scientists’ from Deagon who only seem to manage to find their way to North Queensland for the respective Cup days in the depths of Winter and on the crest of the corporate card.

One can only hope that the locally-based QRIC constabulary have moved their government vehicles to higher ground ahead of the predicted floods, contrary to their brain-dead ‘leader’ in the 2019 floods, who did the complete opposite.’

 

FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM CHAIRMAN AS MORRISON TAKES OVER BRC

‘FOR the past 26 years, it’s been my honour and great privilege to have served on the boards of the Brisbane Racing Club and Queensland Turf Club.

Today, I called time when I resigned as Chairman and as a Director of the BRC. Quite simply, the time was right for me to step down.

At today’s board meeting, Richard Morrison was elected as Chairman and Terry Svenson as his Vice Chairman.

I’m thrilled for both and look forward very much to watching Richard, Terry and their team of Directors take the BRC into the future. I wish them the very best.

I would like to thank the many people who have helped me over an eventful few decades serving at Eagle Farm and Doomben.

It’s almost head-spinning to think back to 1998 when I joined the board of the QTC.

That was before the rise of corporate bookmakers, online betting and social media. Racing was the only product delivered by our Brisbane clubs – the QTC and Brisbane Turf Club.

The revenues generated from racing, including the on-course totalisator, were then enough to fund the operations of our clubs.

How times have changed – for the better for racing in our city.

The merger of the QTC and BTC on 1 July 2009 formed the BRC, which enabled racing in Brisbane to be transformed and modernised. And it’s created stability within our Club.

The BRC is now a diversified business with interests in property, retail, commercial property and licensed clubs among other revenue-generating streams.

These interests help to fund our racing operations – which will always remain the heartbeat of our Club.

Our Master Plan, begun a decade ago, has been the catalyst for modernising our Club.

In my first annual report as Chairman in 2013, I wrote of our early steps into diversification, noting that $1.1 million had been generated in the past 12 months from the likes of the Eagle Farm Markets and the Doomben Polo Fields.

In the last 12 months, revenue from business-as-usual operations reached almost $70 million.

I remain extremely grateful for the support and understanding of Members over more than a decade as we suggested ideas to ensure the sustainability of our Club.

That included the investment of $42 million in our infield stabling complex. This is unlike any set-up in the nation and provides the engine room to prepare the best horses in our state.

This investment was not designed to make instant financial returns to our Club.

Instead, it was designed to provide the environment to produce the horses, trainers and their staff who sustain the industry in Brisbane and beyond.

Our Members understood that and we’re grateful for their support even during the challenging times.

And there have been a few, especially during the lengthy reconstruction of our Eagle Farm track.

The BRC eventually took over that reconstruction and the track’s performance in recent times is a reward for the faith of many people.

We now face the vital development of a new precinct to replace our ageing Dr John Power Stand. This should be a priority for Queensland’s racing industry, given the proven economic benefits of racing. I trust our industry officials will find a way to help us realise this goal.

Those challenges have been far outweighed by the many highlights over the years, especially with the stars of our industry on the racetrack.

Knight’s Choice, who raced across our Brisbane winter, finally broke our Queensland drought a few months ago when he became the first horse trained in this state to win the Melbourne Cup.

That was another sign of the continued growth of our The Star Stradbroke Season which has seen the likes of Incentivise, multiple Everest winners and emerging stars such as Broadsiding go from Brisbane to national headlines in recent years.

Our increased profile led to The Star Stradbroke Season being welcomed by the World Pool, showcasing our best races across 44 countries. The Queensland Derby last year shared the World Pool card with the English Derby. Our best races are now well established on the global calendar with three of our Group 1 events ranked among the 100 best in the world in 2024.

I would like to thank the following for their wonderful support over many years. The board may be the conductors but the music comes from the orchestra and these people have been outstanding in their support:

• Our Members. This Club is owned by the Members and together they have guided racing in this region for 160 years. Meeting our Members and getting to know them and the personalities in our racing industry has been the most rewarding part of my role. Their enthusiasm for racing is infectious.
• Our BRC staff. Close to 200 permanent people make up Team BRC. They are a remarkable team of professionals. I have always been amazed at the longevity of many staff members. Our tracks and facilities teams include many who have served the BRC for over 30 years at least six who have been with us more than 40 years. This culture reflects genuine loyalty and passion that energize the whole business.
• The four CEOs during my tenure as Chairman. Each brought different skills and a different focus to our Club, enabling us to continue growing and developing in new areas. My thanks to Stephen Ferguson, Dave Whimpey, Tony Partridge and Karl deKroo.
• My fellow Directors: I have been blessed with a very skilful and united group of Directors over my tenure as Chairman. Our complex business occasionally generates robust debate at board meetings however as a group we have always respected and embraced the majority view. I never took for granted the willing commitment of skill, innovation and experience each Director brought freely to the table.
• Industry participants: Our trainers and their staff and jockeys and track riders begin their days before dawn on our tracks and ensure that we have an industry that can thrive. Their dedication, hard work and skills are an inspiration.
• Industry stakeholders: Racing in Queensland benefits from officials, government officials and volunteers who work together to improve the industry.

I am so thankful to my wife Mary who has been a wonderful support for many years. Mary and I plan to travel in the months ahead and, when we’re not on the road, we look forward to being at the races and watching the continued growth of our Club.

It’s an exciting time for the BRC with new board leadership, a new CEO, a new General Manager of Property and the continued growth of our Master Plan.

The next phase of this 160-year-old business awaits and the future holds much excitement.

Thank you again for your support.’

Neville Bell

 

 

TIME TO SHOW SOME BALLS ‘BIG BEN’ & DO THE JOB THAT ‘FEATHERS’ REFUSED TO – 'YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE GOT UNTIL IT’S GONE'

IT’S that time when our colleagues in the mainstream racing media are getting all sentimental and teary-eyed with farewell tributes to a couple of high profile identities.

Award winning writer Ben ‘Dorries’ followed the lead of his good mate David Fowler’s radio interview with retiring BRC Chairman Neville Bell when he penned a splendid article for the Murdoch Media on how much racing in Queensland will miss RQ CEO Jason Scott.

But for some reason both stopped short of providing the ‘full’ story – Fowler dodged the contentious issue of Mr Bell failing to answer contentious questions at the last BRC AGM and Dorries forgot to ask Mr Scott why he hadn’t pursued the need for the minutes of that meeting to be provided to concerned Members headed by Wally Gleeson.

Some say Mr Gleeson isn't high enough up the racing totem pole for ‘Feathers’ to care and he wouldn’t want to upset one of his mentors ‘Manuel’. But in the case of ‘Big Ben’ when was the last time you spent a weekend with your lovely little daughter enjoying the trimmings of ‘farm life’ at Kilto Park (before it went up for sale)?

You could be accused Ben of biting the hand that once fed you (Wally, Jill and family) as a welcome guest (better than the freebies you enjoy in the BRC committee room) out on the Downs for a few days at magnificent Menara, where you played ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ courtesy of  GTC and your little girl got to experience the animals first hand.

Your story on Jason Scott started with the words: ‘Sometimes in life, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.’ Do your job as an objective racing scribe Ben or that could well apply to you.

Finish the work that Fowler started and coinciding with the farewell committee meeting for Mr Bell (today Thursday) and the race meeting where the Chairman has a ‘farewell race’, silence the critics who are saying you are just another media ‘spin doctor’ for the BRC. Ask the tough questions about the BRC that the rest of your weak-kneed, suck up to survive colleagues, continue to censor.

Sadly, like his calling career, David’s credibility has been on the wane in the eyes of many in the industry for some time. Here’s your chance Ben to build on that award-winning reputation and show you do have the balls to rock the BRC boat. Time is running out!

Have you forgotten Ben that when you used to criticize the Eagle Farm track, the word went out from ‘Manuel’ that you were on the racing media ‘hit’ list – something that long gone colleagues have worn like a badge of honour because the work they did and had their careers destroyed for was built on honesty and credibility.

Here’s your chance ‘Big Ben’ to stand up and be counted. You know what has happened behind the scenes – join the growing list of stakeholders, club members and industry identities who want to see the minutes of the AGM released right now.

FOUR CORNERS PLANNING AN EXPOSE ON THE ‘KING’ PETER V’LANDYS

LGHR has been reliably informed that FOUR CORNERS are doing a story which some are describing as an expose on one of Australia’s most controversial sporting administrators, Peter V’Landys.

Some major ‘enemies’ of PVL, Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission as well as Chief Executive and Board Member of Racing NSW, are said to have contributed to the program.

The jungle drums are beating that issues raised by Mark Latham, former Labor Leader, under privilege in the NSW Parliament, are being investigated by Four Corners.

Radio and television commentator Alan Jones (facing his own share of problems at present), retired radio broadcaster Ray Hadley, former Godolphin boss Vin Cox and Fairfax investigative journalist Kate McClymont are said to have some involvement.

Issues expected to be raised by Four Corners involve allegations that high profile trainers have V’landys on their speed dials if they hit an integrity hurdle; the purchase of a motel in country NSW after the sale of Harold Park harness complex and what involvement Joe Hockey, the Australian Ambassador in the US had in granting of VISAs to rugby league stars allowing them to play in Las Vegas when they were facing charges at home.

Story goes Four Corners already has enough information for two parts to the Peter V’landys story which promises to attract big ratings for the ABC.

 

NEW CEO OF THE Q GREYHOUND COMPLEX IS BEING ‘WHITE-ANTED’

RACING Queensland needs to address a behind-the-scenes feud which threatens to disrupt the opening of the new multi-million dollar, world class greyhound complex, The Q.

Concerning reports suggest media identity, Peter Gleeson, appointed CEO of the Greater Brisbane Greyhound Club which will oversee the three-track facility, is already being ‘white-anted’.

We’re not sure whether the role was advertised but sections of the greyhound industry are divided over whether Luke Gatehouse, former CEO of the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club or Wade Core, Carina Leagues Club Chairman and BGRC committeeman, should have got The Q job ahead of Gleeson.

Here are a couple of emails that LGHR has received on the situation:

‘Gleeson is the man for the job but his task isn’t being made any easier by three appointments at The Q who are loyal to Gatehouse and they don’t want him there. Making his situation tougher is the fact that his appointment apparently isn’t effective until March.’

And this one:

‘Critics of Gleeso are saying he hasn’t got the administrative credentials to run a joint as big as The Q. His background is in the media. Perhaps someone should remind them that their choice, Gatehouse, came into the industry with a background in a dog washing business and a pizza shop.’

Opening of the new facility has already been delayed and there has been a cost blow-out which RQ says has left the control body with an $80 million blackhole. It can do without knit-picking problems internally.

One thing LGHR knows only too well is that Gleeson, over the years, has had the support of both sides of politics. In the wake of the live-baiting controversy, which saw heads roll at RQ, Labor Premier Anastasia Palecek offered him the job as CEO of the control body. Since then the LNP has recognised his credentials and he scored plenty of Brownie Points pre-election, pumping the new Government up on SKY and in his Brisbane radio drive-time show.

 

'BUCK THE COST' CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE ADOPTED NATIONALLY

VICTORIANS love their sport and the Australian Open Tennis is a great favorite but when it comes to food and drink one could argue they are being robbed compared to the prices charged at the cricket, footy and especially the races.

It would be nice to see race clubs throughout the country follow the MRC lead and adoipt the 'Buck the Cost' campaign with free entry and cheaper food and drink - at least in their off-season.

Just compare these prices:

BEER: Sandown races $8.50 schooner; MCG (2024 prices for circket and footy) $12 schoon er; Australian Open $14.50 for 375ml can.

PIE: Sandown $4.95; MCG $6.20; best equivalent at Australian Open - $5.20 for a Toastie.

SOFT DRINK (600ml): Sandown $4.95; MCG $6.20; Australian Open $6.40.

HOT CHIPS: Sandown $4.95; MCG $6.20; Australian Open $6.80.

THAT prompted the following story in Melbourne’s THE AGE by SOPHIE AUBREY:

FOR the Newey clan, a day at the tennis has involved a lot of sunscreen – and a lot of food prep.

Showing The Age a cooler bag filled with homemade sandwiches and snacks, Jade Newey said she got some early insight into the Australian Open’s food and drink prices when she came to the tournament’s Day One with her mum, Alison, and brother, Ashley.

Shocked by the prices, the Pakenham family decided that when they returned with Jade’s children – Charlee (12), Jordan (10) and Lacey (6) – they would do BYO food.

Jade felt the cost of ground passes stung compared with what they used to be. An adult’s pass is $59, a ticket for children aged three to 12 is $15, and $35 for teens aged 13 to 17.

Higher food prices have also followed as the Open has transformed into a trendy food destination with stalls from well-known restaurants.

The Newey’s were sitting on the lawn at the food hub of Grand Slam Oval. Here, a can of beer costs almost $15 and soft drink $6.40, while a slice of pizza from D.O.C or a souvlaki from Stalactites is about $20.

Over at Garden Oval, an Entrecote steak-frites baguette will set you back $27.50.

Jade said they wanted to treat themselves to dinner later, but they’d go to the John Cain Arena food stall where there is a kids’ combo of nuggets and chips for $10.50.

Ashley said he wasn’t bothered by ticket prices, but the costs inside the venue were another story.

“The price of the tickets is fine, but it almost feels like a lure because you come in, and then you get hit with all the prices for the food. That’s my disappointment. If you don’t come prepared, your hip pocket cops it.”

Jade said the overall cost of the Open could be tough for families and she wished there were more kids’ activities close to the arena, but coming still felt worth it. “I love the tennis, and the atmosphere is good,” she said.

Yong Sim was less surprised by the prices. Yong flew from Sydney with his parents, Sue and Seng, wife Yvonne and children Emma (15) and Hugo (11).

Yong said while the ground passes were higher than expected, the cost of food felt appropriate.

“It’s an experience, so I don’t think I’m overpaying for anything.”

Yvonne said that for lunch, the family got five meals from Fishbowl and a plate of CDMX tacos, each dish costing about $20.

She estimated they would spend more than $200 on food and drink alone, but she said they have loved coming to the tennis ever since a stint living in London when they’d go to Wimbledon.

“It’s expensive for a day out, but we don’t do it very often – it’s really a once-a-year thing.”

A spokeswoman for the Australian Open said organisers wanted to ensure the tournament was accessible to as many people as possible, allowing fans of all ages to enjoy world-class sport and entertainment.

“This year’s line-up of cuisines and menu offerings ensure there’s something for every taste and price point in the arena, from $5.20 toasties, hot chips from $6.80 … to more gourmet options for those who want to try something new,” she said.

“Across the precinct, the majority of menu items are priced between $12 and $23.”

People were also welcome to bring their own food and drink, she said, and water bottle refill stations were located across the site.

FOOD & DRINK COSTS A PLEASANT SURPRISE AT SANDOWN RACES

IN CONTRAST we have this story, also in THE AGE, by DANNY RUSSELL:

PAUL LOCK turned up at Sandown Racecourse on Saturday to celebrate his son Tyler's Buck's Party alongside 36 of his son's friends.

He didn’t expect free entry and Melbourne Racing Club’s lower beer prices and cheaper food – $4.95 for a hot dog or a serve of “fat” chips – to be part of the deal.

Nor did the father of the bride, Kev Kelly, who had come down from Queanbeyan to celebrate the day. Both were pleasantly surprised.

“I think $8.50 for a schooner is reasonable,” said Lock, who lives in Mildura. “I am not buying all the beers, but I am buying a few, and it is definitely better all ’round to have cheaper prices.”

Kelly agreed, although he was quick to say a schooner was $7 back in his home city in NSW. “So it should be made more affordable,” he said of sporting venues cutting prices. “I think it is a great idea. People can have a family day out if they want to bring their kids.”

The pair joked that the $4.95 Four’N’Twenty pies on the takeaway menu were the sort of “health food” that would see them through the afternoon as they “cut loose” ahead of the February 15 wedding of their kids – Tyler and Madison.

The MRC threw open its gates and cut prices at Sandown on Saturday as the racing industry continues to wrestle with dwindling off-season crowds.

As part of its “buck the cost” campaign, the club slashed the price of a glass of wine from $11.50 to $10 and a schooner of Carlton Draught from $10 to $8.50 – a $3.50 saving compared to the $12 cricket fans paid for the same size beer during the MCG’s Boxing Day Test.

The MRC cut the price of hot chips ($4.95), four-point sandwiches ($7.95) as well as a serve of fish and chips ($9.95). It also added $4.95 hot dogs and $4.95 Four’N’Twenty meat pies to its takeaway menus.

“Generally speaking, the prices are outrageous,” MRC member Lorraine Nesbitt said. “You are looking at $11-plus for one round of sandwiches – so reducing that today ($7.95 at Sandown) is a good thing. But it really should be more regular than every now and again.”

Her husband, Robert Nesbitt, welcomed MRC chairman John Kanga’s price-cutting initiative. He said people took a certain amount of money to the track and whatever they saved on food they would put into wagering turnover.

Robert also wanted to see a return to conditions that allowed families to bring an Esky with their own food and drink, “like they do at the picnic race meetings”.

As it stands, major sporting venues allow people to bring their own food, but not their own alcohol.

The budget-draining price of food and drink at Melbourne’s major sporting venues has become a growing point of contention in the current financial climate.

THE AGE reported last week that lunch for a family of four – two adults, two children – at the Australian Open over the past fortnight could cost $120, including $14.50 for a can of beer (375ml) and $12.80 for two 600ml bottles of Pepsi ($6.40 each). Last year, the MCG charged $6.20 for a meat pie, $6.20 for a serve of chips and $6.20 for a 600ml soft drink.

The MRC is one of the country’s wealthiest sporting clubs that oversees three racecourses – Caulfield, Sandown and Mornington – as well as owning 14 poker machine venues that made a $45 million profit last financial year.

On early evidence, its ‘buck the cost’ campaign was a success – helped by a top of 26 degrees on the first day of a long weekend. Rooms beneath the main pavilion were full, there were lines at the two bars, queues at the two snack outlets and a positive vibe among patrons as the multiple rows of bookmakers courted business.

A mixed collection of racegoers were scattered across Sandown’s vast lawns – a venue that has been heavily criticised in the past for its lack of atmosphere – as a number of notable storylines played out on the track.

Champion hoop Jamie Kah was back riding as Jamie Melham following her wedding to jockey Ben Melham at Rosemont Estate in Gnarwarre on January 19; an emotional Will Freedman paid tribute to his late friend Sam Kavanagh after winning the eighth race on the card with Coastwatch; and stars of the saddle Jamie Mott and Damian Lane rode doubles.

The MRC intends to adopt its new cut-price menu at all its venues until the end of July. It will offer free entry at Sandown again this Saturday.

Kanga said the club was working towards a point at which free entry became a normal practice, outside major race days such as the Caulfield Cup meeting.

 

BE CAREFUL ‘GATOR’ – YOU’RE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE ON A SYDNEY STAGE WHERE ONLY THE MEDIA 'BROWN NOSES' SURVIVE

IN the eyes of the punting public tipping guru David ‘Gator’ Gately is an absolute legend – not because he finds good priced winners but he never hesitates to call a ‘spade a spade’.

It’s refreshing compared to some of his arse-licking colleagues in the racing media who are only interested in building Brownie Points by spin-doctoring officialdom – especially those in Sydney.

Those close to the coalface say the rewards are big if you attract the eye of Racing NSW supreme PVL and point to the number of jobs enjoyed by the media man they call ‘Razor’ who pumps up his tyres at every opportunity.

In contrast the story goes that ‘Gator’ – despite his high profile image as leading tipster for SKY – has a target on his back because of his outspokenness not to mention the fact he doesn’t come from Sydney.

On Melbourne radio at the weekend Gately described Randwick on Saturday as a ‘pox meeting’. He was spot on but it didn’t sit well with some who call the shots. It was an absolute disgrace that the Group 1 feature on the day, the Carrington Stakes, could only attract four acceptors and had to be scrapped.

It’s a sad indictment on Sydney racing that it has degenerated to the stage where it seems without the support of the powerful Chris Waller stable some races would struggle to attract sufficient numbers. Just look at last Friday’s farce at Canterbury when he had 13 starters (after scratchings).

Some are saying that because of his profile and closeness to head honchos of Raing NSW, Waller is ‘untouchable’. LGHR doesn’t agree with that. Internationally experienced Chief Steward Steve Railton would never allow that to happen.

But rarely does a week pass in Sydney racing without one of Waller’s horses turning in a massive form reversal or a second string to the stable favourite saluting after being well backed at odds. It’s not a good look.

The ‘offender’ on Saturday was Political Debate, which hadn’t won for 965 days and punters could hardly back after it beat one home at Wyong at $61 when resuming. Yet out it comes and wins. The Best Bets form comment read: “He’s a hard horse to recommend highly, is down in grade though’.

Shortly before the race the stable advised that Political Debate would be ridden forward – a tactic completely foreign to the five-year-old which is part owned by the champion trainer.

Low and behold Tommy Berry takes Political Debate to the front and he scores a massive boilover starting at $20 but landing some nice bets at big odds. Stewards, under the chairmanship of Tom Moxon, questioned Waller about the improved performance.

His explanation: The horse was second-up, rising in distance and had benefitted by being ridden positively in the lead which he felt was an advantage considering how the track appeared to be racing. So there you have it, the master spoke and the stipes were pesuaded to accept his somewhat flimsly explanation.

What didn’t go unnoticed was the slaughter job of Zac Lloyd on well backed stablemate For Victory which ran fourth and should have won. SKY expert, Corey Brown, as usual was only interested in focussing on the ‘great ride’ of Berry on the winner and failed to do his job and ‘bag’ Lloyd for making no effort to come to the outside in the small field.

Stewards did however question Lloyd’s tactics. Their report read:

WHEN questioned, Lloyd stated the only instruction he was issued was, because For Victory only had a short sprint, to improve towards the inside of runners and not to make a sustained run.

He added that after being crowded on jumping, For Victory settled at the rear of the field. He said that after trailing Vega Magnifica rounding the home turn, while there was an option to ease and shift out to make his run on the outside in the straight, he felt this would have been contrary to his instructions and therefore remained racing closer to the rail to save ground.

Lloyd said that his decision to remain close to the rail was also due to, in his opinion, the previous races appearing to be favouring horses ridden in this manner. He said that when Vega Magnifico shifted out on straightening, For Victory improved to its inside and became held-up soon after straightening.

He added that when Miss You Ella did not quicken and Vega Magnifico was positioned to his outside, For Victory remained held-up until the 100m. Lloyd said that after shifting to the outside of Miss You Ella after the 100m, For Victory then continued to be held-up behind Political Debate and as a result was unable to be fully tested.

Trainer Waller confirmed the instructions issued to Lloyd and stated that in his opinion For Victory would not have been suited by making a sustained run to the outside of the field.

The stable certainly has a book full of excuses when it comes to explaining how their favourites manage to get beaten and the stewards just seem to keep accepting them which isn’t sitting well with punters, especially the small ones who are finding the leading stable near on impossible to follow and are deserting Sydney racing in droves.

And as for SKY commentator Corey Brown he continues to be a waste of space on air – simply praising the ‘great ride’ of Berry and conveniently ignoring the slaughter job of one of Sydney’s leading young jockeys on a solidly fancied runner.

Back to ‘Gator’ and we wonder what he thought of the For Victory ride. Might be for the best he didn’t let loose because LGHR fears he is playing ‘Russian Roulette’ on a Sydney stage where there is no room for constructive criticism only 'brown nosing' from the racing media.

 

DID JASON SCOTT GO BEFORE HE WAS PUSHED & WERE HIS ENEMIES OUTSIDE SOUTH-EAST CORNER CONVINCED THE BRC IS RUNNING RQ?

POLITICS continues to play too strong a role in Queensland racing – the latest victim being the Control Body CEO Jason Scott who made some of his predecessors look second rate but has failed to survive.

There was no shock behind the confirmation today that Scott had resigned. Insiders say he left before he was pushed. His time was limited under the new LNP Government and there were too many outside the south-east corner with a target on his back and were questioning whether under he as CEO it was RQ or the BRC who are running racing in Queensland.

The same fate awaits RQ Board Chairman Steve Wilson – missing in action since his close friend Grace Grace was dumped as Racing Minister at the last election. Doubt even his old school mate Bill Sexton, a good bloke and former QTC Chairman, can save him.

‘Whirlwind’ might as well follow the lead of his CEO because it’s only a matter of time before he is shown the door. Former Lord Mayor Graham Quirk is the obvious replacement for Wilson but does he want the job? One would hope so!

Whatever happens, the LNP and new Racing Minister Tim Mander need to reassure the industry that new appointments are made for the right reasons and that this is not just another ‘political’ rearrangement of the deck chairs on the good ship RQ Titanic.

The fallout from the Brisbane Racing Club AGM has arguably played a role in Scott’s departure although he would no doubt deny that. The confidence many had in the job he was doing collapsed after he agreed to look into concerns about issues at Queensland’s leading club but failed to follow through.

Wilson and Scott have allowed RQ to get too close to the BRC in the opinion of many stakeholders who have the ear of the LNP. They have Scott closely linked to Richard Morrison (who is likely to replace Neville Bell as Chairman) and fellow director Terry Svenson (the CEO of Queensland Cricket). Questions have been raised about whether Scott travelled with Directors of the BRC to America for a Broncos game last year. Nothing wrong with that and LGHR has no confirmation it occurred but his enemies are saying it wasn’t a good look in view of what has happened since.

Critics have accused Scott of being ‘asleep at the wheel’ after what happened at the AGM concerning serious issues raised by Member Wally Gleeson and have described his response to calls for minutes of the AGM to be released as ‘appalling’. Expect more to be heard of this when the new Government announces a widespread Review into the Three Codes of Racing.

A Media Release on the RQ website states:

RACING Queensland has announced its Chief Executive Officer Jason Scott will conclude his term in 2025.

Earlier this week, Mr Scott, who joined RQ in early 2023, confirmed he would be leaving his post later this year, ensuring a smooth handover to his eventual successor.  

During his time leading RQ, Mr Scott’s strong wagering background has proven highly beneficial, with the overall degradation of the Australian wagering market, recalibrating after the highs experienced during the global pandemic, impacting all jurisdictions including Queensland.

Having previously enjoyed successful stints as the CEO of Ladbrokes Australia and Vice President Trading, VIP and Retail Operations for BetMGM, RQ was able to maintain its increasing market share during Mr Scott’s tenure, whilst also delivering record-breaking revenue, returns to participants and prize money.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time leading the Queensland racing industry,” Mr Scott said.

“It’s been incredibly challenging, and equally rewarding, to work in an industry that is my passion, but there are other challenges that I would like to pursue.  

“While I am not leaving immediately, ensuring the Board can conduct a thorough process to appoint my successor, there are many things to look forward to including three highly anticipated Winter Carnivals, new stables in Townsville and lights in Redcliffe and the grand opening of the world’s best greyhound venue at The Q.”

During his time leading RQ, Mr Scott has overseen the completion of the $70 million Gold Coast Turf Club redevelopment, with Aquis Park hosting its first night meeting late last year.

The GCTC also hosted Australia’s richest ever night race meeting last week when The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions was staged under lights.

RQ Chair Steve Wilson AM said he was grateful for Mr Scott’s service over the past two years. “Jason has done a stellar job in his successful tenure as CEO,” Mr Wilson said.

“The economic headwinds have been challenging since he assumed the role, but he has taken that in his stride, growing our revenue, market share and stature as a racing jurisdiction.

“He has also served with distinction on the Racing Australia Board and as its representative on the Asian Racing Federation Executive Council.

“The Board and I are thankful for the sterling job that Jason has done and we look forward to him continuing to do so during his transition.”

RQ will commence advertising for its new CEO in the near future with Mr Scott expected to remain with the organisation until early in the new financial year. 

The Scott resignation poses more questions than answers. IF he found the job so ‘challenging and rewarding’ why is he leaving?

He says there are ‘other challenges’ he would like to pursue. One wonders if that includes the CEO role at the Gold Coast Turf Club.

Why resign if you don’t have another job to go to? Perhaps it’s because the LNP behind the scenes has made it quite clear that they did not want him to continue in the job.

It’s not as though they have someone in mind for this important position or one assumes it wouldn’t be advertised.

Here’s a tip from LGHR. Scott Whiteman, the former GCTC CEO, who has done a remarkable job turning Country Racing Victoria into a more financial outfit than Racing Victoria, would make a perfect replacement.

Whiteman once harboured dreams of returning to Queensland but was reluctant because of the political challenges the job presented. If the LNP can bring some stability to racing, Scott should be approached forthwith.  

 

 

HERE WE GO AGAIN: IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE AUSTRALIA DAY ON THE FIRST TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER – WITH APOLOGIES TO THE WOWSERS!

IT'S 'Groundhog Weekend' – and LGHR has again hopped aboard one of our favourite hobby horses – declaring how much more appropriate it would be to celebrate Australia Day on the first Tuesday in November rather than the 26^th of January.

Melbourne Cup and Anzac Day are the two collective days on the Australian calendar that unite our people more than any other. For many one begins with darkness and remembers great losses, the other ends in darkness trying to forget great losses.

Both capture elements of the larrikinism and egalitarian impulse that are embedded deep within this nation’s unique spirit.

All of which again raises the perennial questions: Why is Cup Day, one of our quintessential annual rituals, not a national public holiday? And, what could be more appropriate than celebrating Australia Day on the first Tuesday in November?

The wowsers and cultural wankers continue to insist that we should not tell the world how strongly we feel about a horse race or gambling. That’s bullshit! There can’t be too many events more Australian than the Melbourne Cup – so what better time to celebrate our national day especially with the debate over whether the current date is fitting for Australia Day?

Australia doesn't have many traditions. Attempts to get Halloween off the ground stalled due to one too many home-owners telling the little ankle-biters to ‘piss off.’ Australia's equivalent of America's Thanksgiving Day is Australia Day on January 26, allegedly commemorating the landing of the First Fleet of convicts in Botany Bay.

One could argue that there is much more emotional resonance in celebrating pioneering pilgrims who broke bread with the natives than there is in celebrating criminals that stole bread and were duly hung.

Needless to say, Australia has no tradition of putting the old ball and chain on our legs, and subsequently walking us down the street in tribute to the founding fathers. Likewise, Australia has no statues of the pioneering convicts holding up their shackled wrists in triumph!

Whilst many national days around the world involve citizens reflecting on the achievements of the ancestors that they have not personally lived up to, Australia’s national day involves citizens acting in a vastly superior way to the people that the date acknowledges.

Many believe that the 26^th of January is an inappropriate date for Australia Day as it merely represents the arrival of the British to establish the penal colony of New South Wales. Others believe it insults the ‘rightful owners of our land – the indigenous population.’

They argue that it does not represent the birth of a nation. Which brings me back to my original point – when you consider that Australia’s top three heroes are a cricketer, a racehorse and a bush ranger – perhaps it is fitting the only times the nation stops as one is to commemorate our war heroes and to have a wager on the Cup.

As a celebration of free speech and freedom we'll go out on a limb and say it: For many Australia Day simply celebrates the worst aspects of our national character, where rather than being a day for thoughtful reflection on our history and our values, it’s degenerated into a half-witted contest to see how much meat you can throw on the ‘barbie’ and how much grog you can drink.

This isn’t a wowsers' warning against barbeques and beer. Far from it! We're keen supporters of a drink with our mates and we’ve never met a meat product we didn’t adore. But as the basis for a national holiday, getting plastered, while standing around a four-burner which is groaning under the weight of calcified chump chops and snags, seems to place us well down the order of intelligence. Sadly, for many, this is what Australia Day has become, and all it will ever be.

A piss-up, where the closest we get to a consideration of what makes us who we are is to slur that this is God’s own country, an absolute bottler of a joint, you wouldn’t be dead for quids and yeah, while you’re near the Esky, can you get me another Coldie?

Even the Federal Government’s Australia Day campaign is framed around the banal idea of cooking meat, with advertisements featuring Soviet-style imagery of buffed young Aussies proudly holding meat trays, urging us to ‘Barbeque like you have never barbequed before.’

Our concern is that many Australians are stuck at the first hurdle and can’t get their minds past the chops and the Fourex. The two things which should be the focus of this national day – reflection on our history and values, and the importance of holding citizenship – are being shoved aside as we treat Australia Day like one big barbeque or, for some, in more recent times a reason to protest.

And for every group of kids who use it as a chance to proudly and peacefully drape themselves in the flag and parade along the esplanade – indifferent to the fact that they’re demonstrating national pride with an emblem that’s sullied by another country’s ensign – there’s a few ratbags who imbue the practice with pushiness and hostility. As if failure to fly the flag or join the moronic ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,’ chant is tantamount to treason.

Certainly food for thought but for LGHR and our mates no Australia Day would be complete without a punt – and there are plenty of opportunities whether you want to head to the track, the local pub or club, or just enjoy a barbie at home and watch them go around on the box.

There are race meetings for the traditionalists this long weekend starting tonight (Friday) with the Group 2 Australia Stakes under lights at Moonee Valley, supported by the Goldmarket meeting under the new lights on the tourist strip backed tomorrow (Saturday) by the Blue Diamond Preludes meeting at Sandown, the Sunshine Coast Cup meeting and sadly a featureless fixture at Randwick (they couldn’t get enough entries to run the Carrington Stakes).

On Sunday (officially Australia Day) they race at Ipswich, Moe, Wyong and Strathalbyn (for the Cup) but the most historic meeting is at Hanging Rock in Victoria which proves a major attraction for those looking for something different.

How much more Australian can you get than Hanging Rock Cup Day? No racecourse in the country attracts more non-race day visitors than the Rock. The scene of a book and a film (Picnic at Hanging Rock) draws tourists from throughout the world.

Racing at Hanging Rock is a tradition with some families over generations that never attend races elsewhere. They make the annual pilgrimage hail, rain or shine and it has become a way of life for many.

There are no special rituals that everybody undertakes on Australia Day although widespread protests that dull the occasion in more recent times need to be taken more seriously by our political decision makers by moving January 26 to a new date. We almost had a situation this year where major stores were refusing to sell Australia Day merchandise. It has to be an agreed date where people celebrate with family and friends at home, in parks, in the surf, watching and playing sport - or simply enjoying yet another public holiday.

But sadly, very few will be able to articulate anything about why we should celebrate Australia Day on January 26^th, let alone move the holiday to that first Tuesday in November.

 ON BEHALF OF LETSGOHORSERACING ENJOY A PUNT ON OUR SPECIAL DAY EVEN IF IT SHOULD BE THE FIRST TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER AND IF YOU SEE THE NEED TO PROTEST PLEASE DON’T DISRESPECT OUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY OR OUR FLAG. 

 

LNP POISED FOR REVIEW INTO RACING WITH CHAIRMAN APPOINTED

THE natives are getting restless wondering what plans the new LNP Government has for the racing industry in Queensland with some concerned there has been little action at the station.

Rest assured no-one is asleep at the wheel and they won’t have to wait long for confirmation of the promised widespread review into the three codes with the announcement shortly of an Independent Chairman who has already been appointed we understand from interstate.

The Review will focus on several important racing issues with the future direction of the trouble-riddled Queensland Racing Integrity Commission high on the agenda.

The cost of running the unit will be one of the major issues addressed but earlier fears that QRIC would be dismantled are now looking more unlikely by the day.

LGHR has had several inquiries after an advertisement was circulated for a new Deputy Director of QRIC. The main question being asked focussed on whether someone had resigned.

That is not the case. When internationally-experienced steward Kim Kelly took on his role as Deputy Director it was in an acting capacity. That position is now being advertised and we understand that Kelly will be among the candidates which is good news for racing in Queensland.

Stakeholders might have to wait a little longer than they expect to hear who will form the new Racing Queensland Board. That is despite Sport and Racing Minister Tim Mander this week announcing five new Members of the Stadiums Queensland Board which will play a major role in the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

Insiders are saying that Minister Mander may even wait until he sees the findings of the review into the racing industry before appointing the new Board. That will not please many who want change now.

They say the current Board Chairman Steve Wilson has gone MIA since the election which saw his good friend Grace Grace dumped as Racing Minister.

The same cannot be said for RQ CEO Jason Scott, another Labor appointee, who has been front and centre, especially during the recent Magic Millions track crisis where the work he did behind the scenes impressed many industry heavies.

LGHR has been told there were two major blow-ups at the MM – one when trainer Gai Waterhouse came face to face for the first time at the Sales with some of the owners of Alligator Blood who had removed the horse from her stable and transferred him to Chris Waller. They say her blast was priceless.

We have also learnt that there was a similar fiery verbal clash at the Millions between Jason Scott and the Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lyons.

Some are saying it had something to do with Scott’s assertion (like many others, including LGHR) that the pattern of the poisoning of the track was not consistent with vandalism and more a mistake in track treatment.Perhaps it was a more serious matter they clashed over.

Whatever, the story goes that Lyons, who was being groomed because of his hospitality background to manage the new hotel-units block the GCTC plans to build, has either resigned or has threatened to. We’re leaning to the former despite his close association with Chairman Brett Cook.

And to add fuel to the fire there is a strong rumour that Scott could take his place which we are told won’t sit too well with some key politicians in the new LNP Government who are pushing behind the scenes for his current contract not to be renewed by RQ.

HOOFNOTE: And don’t be surprised if the terms of reference of the Government Review into Racing sees key parties required to attend and explain to the Chairman why minutes of the BRC annual general meeting cannot be accessed. Interesting times ahead.  

 

IT’S BEEN LEFT TO ‘BIG BEN’ TO WRITE THE FINAL CHAPTER IN THE FAREWELL STORY OF RETIRING BRC CHAIRMAN NEVILLE BELL 

DAVID Fowler is no Andrea Borcelli when it comes to the ‘Time To Say Goodbye’ but it would seem, in a fitting tribute to one of the men he admires most in racing, Neville Bell, 'Feathers' somehow  forgot to ‘sing’ the final verse.

That was what we thought until a ‘little birdie’ whispered in the ear of LGHR that Fowler had unselfishly left the last say on the career of the outgoing Brisbane Racing Club Chairman to his good mate Ben Dorries.

Now being an award winning turf scribe from the Murdoch barn, ‘Big Ben’ will need no help from Manuel – the veteran racing media Jack-of-all-Trades with Queensland’s leading club – when he adds the finishing touches to the Fowler tribute before Bell chairs his final Board meeting on Thursday and says his final ‘goodbye’ to the club at the end of the month.

Just quietly we are told that down at the Farm they are relying on the literary expertise of Dorries to put a positive spin on the appointment of Richard ‘Call me Dicky’ Morrision tipped to step into the giant shoes that Bell has worn for so long as BRC Chairman.

Yes it is up to ‘Big Ben’ to complete the Bell testimonial – hopefully in a much-awaited ‘warts and all’ article in the CM and Racenet and heaven forbid not a repeat of the at-times finger-down-the-throat 4TAB interview by Fowler which addressed everything but what many folk wanted to hear.

For the record LGHR poses the question: Who could have done a better job than Neville Bell over the past decade? His legacy to the BRC and racing in general has been there for all to see.

Why then did he have to wait until the 11^th hour to stuff it up? It’s impossible – without some answers – to circumnavigate the ‘smokes and mirrors’ surrounding ‘who’s who’ when it comes to ownership of luxury units in the Village ‘zoo’.

Bell told Fowler his achievements in bringing the BRC Master Plan to fruition was a team effort – no doubt when ‘Dicky’ dons the crown as new BRC ‘King’ the industry will be made aware of the massive contribution that he has also made.

Nevertheless, a dark cloud will continue to hang over the controversy surrounding questions that the out-going Chairman refused to answer at the last AGM.

Good governance requires transparency and the refusal by the BRC Board to release a draft copy of the AGM minutes from the meeting held on October 16 will sadly overshadow some fine achievements when it comes to things that Mr Bell will be remembered for.

LGHR has been reliably informed that Ben Dorries knew of the issues that continue to haunt the current BRC Board but up until now has for some reason refused to write anything about it. Here is his final chance to objectively investigate and do the job that his mate Fowler failed to.

In a democratic society the media is expected to objectively report without fear or favour (sadly media identities like ‘Manuel’ has made the job of those who want to survive as racing scribes too difficult for too long).

Many believe ‘Big Ben’ doesn’t have the balls to rock the BRC boat. Surely one small slice of the BRC puzzle from the AGM won’t cost him that weekly free drink and feast of crumbed lamb chops in the committee room which will probably need an extension if retired directors like Bell and the likeable Dave Dawson continue to use it most Saturdays as their privileged place of refuge.

One of the intended purposes of this committee room (like others in race clubs throughout the State) should be to entertain winning owners and trainers who are the lifeblood of racing – not a ‘haven’ for ‘freeloaders’ who think it is their ‘God-given racing right’ after years of service to the club to hibernate there.

Major clubs need more younger, business-oriented Directors who don’t regard Saturday at the races as an afternoon out when you can entertain your mates with ‘free food and booze’ in the committee room. That is one tradition of racing that needs to die a sudden death.

Another concern for the wider membership of the BRC is who will be the new Chairman when Mr Bell departs at the end of the month. In recent years the Board has spent considerable money ensuring all directors undertake the AICD (Australian Institute of Company Directors) Course.

Insiders say this course has proved a little difficult to negotiate for some directors of the BRC, who shall remain nameless. They either took several attempts to pass the exam or chose not to do it to gain the qualification. The Annual Report discloses beside each director’s name whether he or she has the qualification.

Let us hope the new Chairman is well qualified to ensure transparency and integrity – and has passed the AICD examination. For him to get his new role off to a flying start – free of the latest gremlins that have sadly (in the eyes of some) eaten into Bell’s once flawless credibility, ‘Dicky’  needs to immediately release the draft copy minutes of the contentious AGM. Even more interesting would be the minute-taker’s notes used to formulate the minutes. These are said to be ‘precious’.

There are plenty of BRC Members who would have preferred to see Terry Svenson don the pads and walk onto the hallowed turf of Eagle Farm as the opener but he was LBW to the first ball bowled over by Morrison.

For our colleague Ben Dorries the task now of ‘talking up’ the in-coming Chairman has been likened by some to ‘making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.’ LGHR doesn’t agree with that sentiment for one moment and believes ‘Dicky’ – who we have never met – will make a fine Chairman but he needs to come clean on some dissention over whether he boasts a pass mark to the AICD exam or not.

In conclusion, as a turf scribe LGHR always found Neville Bell to be helpful and courteous to deal with. We wish him and his wife well as they sit back in their luxury unit atop the Village Green surveying the ‘racing kingdom’ that Neville helped establish in Queensland.    

 

TURN OUT THE LIGHTS WHEN WALLER HORSES LEAVE THE TRACK

LGHR received several emails focussing on last Friday night’s race meeting at Canterbury and questioning how depleted the fields would have been without the support of the powerful Waller stable.

Here is what one contributor (JEFF from MELBOURNE) had to say which just about sums up the thoughts of others who emailed us:

‘WALLER had 13 starters on the seven-race card in Sydney last Friday night and that was after he scratched multiple runners.

He had three of the eight in the first and won with Gatekeeper; three of the seven in the second; four of the nine in the third with Pretty Powerful and Heed The Omens running the quinella; two in the fourth (winning with plunged second string Sting In The Tail) and the well-backed Demiana which beat only one home in the sixth.

In the first three races Waller had nine of the 24 runners – without his stable there would have been five in the first; four in the second and five in the third.

It’s easy to see why Waller dominates in Sydney and why some meetings would struggle to survive without him. Is that a good thing when the Harbour City wants to be seen as the pacemaker of Australian racing?

And I haven’t even touched on the fact that it was the stable second-string that won the opener; how badly debutante that blew like a gale in the betting performed in the second; or how the favourite got lost in the fourth while the stablemate, plunged from double figures, saluted in the fifth.

But let’s adopt the attitude of Waller’s mates in the Sydney media and just put those little misadventures for the punting public down to things that happen in racing. They’re just animals – not machines.’

 

MOVEMENT AT THE GOLD COAST STATION HAS MANY GUESSING

BIG Richie Callander, who LGHR believes provides a good read in his weekly column at Racenet, has created much discussion with one item he wrote this week which suggested:

‘THERE looks to be movement on the Gold Coast shortly with a change at the helm. The man set to be parachuted in will be relieved as he jumps from a sinking ship.’

That prompted these two comments:

CHARLIE J of BRISBANE wrote:

‘MY mates and I have tried to solve the cryptic puzzle that Callander has created concerning movement at the station at the Gold Coast.

We don’t believe it could involve the Chairman as he is appointed by the Members and the Board. Perhaps it is the CEO who we thought was being kept in mothballs for when the club had its new high rise because of his hotel management skills.

Our tip from the clue ‘parachuted in and will be relieved as he jumps from a sinking ship’ is that it could be RQ CEO Jason Scott. We are told that he impressed GCTC officials and Magic Millions heavies with his behind-the-scenes efforts during the recent track fiasco. And after all is there another sinking ship other than RQ?’

And this one from BILL S of the GOLD COAST:

‘ONE would hope that Chairman Brett Cook isn’t the change at the helm that Richard Callander refers to in his Racenet column this week.

I am reliably informed that had it not been for the ‘Captain’s’ close association with a couple of key figures in the Gold Coast constabulary the club would still be waiting for an outcome on the ‘sabotage’ investigation.

My mates and I find it hard to believe that any vandal who knew what he was doing (and this guy obviously did with the pattern than he poisoned on the track), he would have attacked an area closer to the winning post.

Police have ruled out any track staff involvement after an independent report by a leading agronomist found the poisoning was “an intentional act of prepared sabotage” with the herbicide glyphosate applied to a 385sqm section of turf near the 500m mark with “malice and intent”.

What odds another independent agronomist might have come up with a different opinion. Science is a strange factor. In any case, it was the best outcome for the club who can now pursue an insurance claim for the said to be close to $1mn in damages bill.’

But back to my original reason for this email and there are plenty who believe that the GCTC would be worse off if Brett Cook were not to remain as chairman. As for the CEO, well that’s another story that I better not enter into.’

 

PICNIC CLUBS SNUBBING NEW RQ RULES & ELECTING TO GO IT ALONE

AN interesting showdown is looming between Racing Queensland and Western Queensland’s two remaining grass-fed Picnic Meetings who have refused to register with the control body but are pressing ahead with plans to race.

It will be interesting to see if rules placed on the club – which they claim cannot be afforded – will continue to be implemented with the LNP Government now in power and whether the Katter Party will intervene in the dispute.

SALLY GALL reports for the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER that:

INSTALLING shade structures for horses that have spent their lives in a paddock is one of several Racing Queensland requirements that have led Western Queensland’s two remaining grass-fed race clubs to make the difficult decision not to register with the statutory control body this season.

The many thousands of dollars needed to erect shade over the open-air horse stalls is just one of a number of standards being brought in that the Tower Hill Picnic Race Club above Muttaburra and the Oakley Amateur Picnic Race Club (or Kooroorinya), south of Hughenden, have decided they're not able to meet.

Both clubs have had to source alternative insurance for their events, resulting in an additional burden.

According to Tower Hill’s new President, Sam Nisbet, representative from the clubs met Racing Queensland officials in Brisbane in 2024 and became aware of a number of regulations – starting with barriers and not racing horses and not racing the same horse on consecutive days – that would have a major impact on racing style offered at the two clubs.

Tower Hill was founded in 1909 and its Facebook Page says the decision to de-register wasn’t taken lightly. “We are incredibly passionate about bush racing. It’s a love many of us have been born into. Others have come to a race meeting and never left because we love what they represent,” the Page says.

Mr Nisbet said no-one wanted to step away from Racing Queensland, but it wasn’t feasible to continue with the changes clubs needed to make to comply.

As for the ‘shade structure’ requirement, the main reason for Tower Hill’s decision to de-register, Mr Nisbet said: “We haven’t had shade for 100 years and there’s be no problems and our horses live in the paddock. Not only would this cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to install but you’ve got the cost of maintaining it.”

Another consideration was the Rule introduced in November 2023 stipulating that, except with the permission of stewards, a horse shall not compete in a race on consecutive days or in a race on more than five occasions during any 30-day period.

Both Tower Hill and Kooroorinya run two-day events with horses backing up on the second day.

“That would mean trainers would either have to bring two strings of horses or select what races they wanted to enter their horses in,” Mr Nisbet said. “That’s a lot of hard work for trainers for little reward.”

The clubs have also been told that they would need to look at using barriers. Rather than loading horses into barrier stalls, races are currently started the ‘old’ way with a flag. “Our type of racing just doesn’t suit the mould (of conventional barrier starts),” Mr Nisbet said.

A Racing Queensland spokesman confirmed they had met with representatives of both clubs once their licenses expired on June 30, 2024, to discuss their future direction.

Mr Nisbet said Tower Hill would continue to race with the integrity and standards it currently adhered to and its sister club, Kooroorinya was undergoing the same transition.

He said they had a big job ahead of them to be ready to race at Tower Hill on the Anzac Day weekend and at Kooroorinya on the Mother’s Day weekend.

The Kooroorinya Club was contacted for comment but did not respond.

   

WOMEN SHIFTING THE BALANCE IN JOCKEY RANKS IN QUEENSLAND

CONSIDERING the growing problem of insufficient jockeys meaning many runners at country and even some TAB meetings continues to result in horses being scratched, this is an interesting story by STEF ALLEN for the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER.

FOLLOWING high profile success stories like Michelle Payne’s Melbourne Cup win in 2015 and the world’s top-ranked female jockey, Jamie Kah, a new generation of young female jockeys have taken up the saddle, dominating a once predominantly male sport.

According to a QRIC spokesperson, while 73 per cent of jockeys in Queensland are male, 75 per cent of apprentices were female as of January 6. “Over the past few decades, the racing industry has become more inclusive, actively encouraging female participation,” the spokesperson told the NQ Register.

Tolga-based jockey Lacey Morrison has been riding for 25 years. She developed her love for horses through mustering on her family’s Springsure cattle property, show jumping, dressage, camp drafting and show events.

But it was when she started trackwork she found her niche. “I always wanted to be a jockey. I’m very fortunate I’ve achieved my dreams,” Morrison said.

When she 15, she moved to Toowoomba to start her apprenticeship through Racing Queensland. At that time, the cohort of new jockeys was mostly male, particularly in the provincial and metropolitan areas.

“There’s most definitely been a change. I noticed the change from 2005 onwards with the ratios changing at the more metropolitan areas to be even numbers of females to males, and it’s only grown each year,” Morrison said.

She believes there are many factors contributing to the rising number of females in the industry, from men choosing different careers, from women finding it easier to make the lower weights and having a greater ‘care’ factor for their horses.

“A lot of girls are coming into racing later in life, changing their career. There are definitely more female searching for work-life balance and they’re enjoying the balance of riding horses for a job,” she said.

 

SWITCH OF MAGIC MILLIONS TO TWILIGHT MEETING IS ‘NO-BRAINER’

AFTER the success of Friday night’s Magic Millions experiment the switch to a twilight meeting seems a ‘no brainer’ but this is racing in Queensland where they tend to procrastinate and do things differently.

For starters the Seven Network should have no say in the decision-making process. If if they don’t like it ‘Tough Titties’.

It’s time horse racing stopped allowing broadcast networks to dictate when races are run. If a twilight timeslot encroaches on their Big Bash cricket coverage, the nightly News, the Current Affairs Show or anything else, they have secondary stations to fall back on.

A decision on the future of the Magic Millions needs to be made firstly for the benefit on the horses participating. This is the hottest time of the year on the Gold Coast and twilight racing would make it better from a horse welfare viewpoint.

Suggestions it would affect turnover not being a Saturday afternoon card could be offset by running a meeting in Brisbane for metropolitan prizemoney and not a virtual midweek card.

This would silence the critics who believe the current situation is a restriction of trade with the major Saturday meeting restricted largely to graduates of the Magic Millions Sales when the primary fixture is supposed to be for all-comers.

More than 12,000 turned out (granted it was free admission but many were from the younger generation which racing has lost in recent times) to watch the bulk of the MM Card postponed the previous Saturday when the untimely ‘big wet’ made the track unsafe for racing.

The track played better than the washed out meeting when horses had to be near the rail and on the pace to have any hope in the three races run. Opinions are divided on Friday’s twilight outcome.

Some – including the top trainer of one feature race winner – conceded front-runners had an advantage. Others highlight how West Of Africa overcame a suicidal wide barrier and stormed home from last to win the Magic Millions Cup.

The answer’s a pineapple but have a look at any of the replays and clods of turf were being thrown up despite the track being rated in the Good range. Jockeys say the fast times recorded are because the base is harder than the surface turf. Work still needs to be done on the track.

The stable and its supporters can provide all the explanations they like the win of Bjorn Baker-trained O’ Ole in the $3 million MM Two-Year-Old Classic was a form reversal on her fifth at Wyong to Gallo Nero when she raced on the pace and struggled.

That is why from a Golden Slipper perspective, O’ Ole is a $21 chance behind the Chris Waller-trained Wodeton which won impressively on debut at Rosehill on Saturday. He cost $1.6mn and was highly spruiked going into that race.

Queensland’s leading trainer Tony Gollan – who now has well over 100 horses in work at Eagle Farm and on the Gold Coast – landed two of the MM features with Zarastro in the $2mn Snippets and Hidden Wealth in the $1.5mn QTIS Open.

Both were arguably form reversals – Zarastro raced on the pace and dropped out to finish 7^th to stablemate Cannonball in the Listed Falvelon at Eagle Farm at his previous start. Cannonball sat wide in that race but on Friday night finished 7^th beaten five lengths by the horse that he made look second rate in the Falvelon.

Hidden Wealth was a massive form reversal. He was a heavily-backed favorite in the Falvelon but dropped out to be beaten over nine lengths last behind stablemate Cannonball. He grew a leg on Friday night beating QTIS horses but it was still a very good field, including Cirfrado, Boom Torque and Yellow Brick.

Sadly, Chief Steward Josh Adams and his panel were asleep at the wheel failing to query the improved performances of the two Gollan horses which from a punters’ perspective is simply not good enough.

HOOFNOTE: POLICE are now declaring the poisoning of the Gold Coast track an act of vandalism and have cleared any Turf Club staff of being involved. But for some strange reason they have put the investigation into 'hybernation'. LGHR won't be making any apologies for assertions made in the past until police arrest someone and he or she is convincted which is likely to be next to never. At least it opens the way for the GCTC to claim insurance.

 

WHAT HAS IT COST TO FIX GOLD COAST TRACK, WHO FOOTS THE BILL?

AS trainers, jockeys, owners and punters anxiously wait to see if the Gold Coast track plays fairly on Magic Millions night, it’s time to address the elephant in the room.

How many millions has it cost to fix the poisoned section of the track and who will pay?

With the Government unlikely to ‘kick in’, some say the GCTC will dodge a bullet and that Racing Queensland – substitute the industry – will foot the bill.

Perhaps Chairman Steve Wilson, who seems to have ‘disappeared’ since his good friend Grace Grace lost her role as Racing Minister, might like to explain who is paying for the Gold Coast repairs and the installation of a ‘sight screen’ as a safety measure at Eagle Farm.

The story goes that the unsung hero of the Gold Coast debacle was Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch. He was the one who suggested transplanting the section of track to replace that damaged by poisoning.

Perhaps Barry might now like to ask his boss Gerry Harvey to spare a few shackles to pay for the costly repairs that enabled his Magic Millions circus to proceed. After all the amount we are talking about is less than new owners paid for some of the high priced yearlings at the MM Sales from which his company is the major beneficiary.

 

DEATH OF FORMER CHAIRMAN WHO PAVED WAY FOR SCTC SUCCESS

LES Geeves, a former Chairman of the Sunshine Coast Turf Club and rugby league great in Queensland, has died.

Geeves, who was 84, passed away on January 10. A celebration of his life will be held at the Victory Church in Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane, on Monday at 1pm.

As a Rugby League player, Geeves won Brisbane Premierships with Norths, played for his State and helped select some of the best sides to represent Queensland and Australia.

He played an integral part on the committee and as Chairman in the success story that has been the Sunshine Coast Turf Club.

David Aldred, a former CEO of the SCTC, paid tribute to Geeves:

‘A foundation member of the SCTC, Les served on the inaugural SCTC committee in 1982 for over a decade and a half before being elected the Club Chairman in the late 1990s. Les led the progressive provincial committee/board for 13 years.

At the time of his death, Les was one of only 14 SCTC life members. One of a handful of men who drove the establishment of thoroughbred racing on the Sunshine Coast, he paved a way for others to follow.

He was at the forefront of the planning of Corbould Park, built from a greenfield site that was once nothing more than a swampy paddock. He was instrumental in establishing and licensing the racetrack and the SCTC and in the early 1990s he was one of the Club's team that took Corbould Park from a part-time TAB Club to a fully-fledged TAB Club.

Not long after reaching the important milestone, Les, another former chairman Des Scanlan, and I pulled off a game changer for the Club, establishing a deal with SKY Channel (Sky Racing), the TAB, and the Queensland Principal Club (Racing Queensland) to race every Sunday.

Around the same time, the Club's TAB identity was also changed, with a push from the Club, to change the venue name from Caloundra to the Sunshine Coast, the Club subsequently creating history by running the SCTC's only million-dollar race, the Pelican Waters Queensland Million.

More than 30 years after starting the club in Caloundra, Les was still working to make the SCTC a success. He was there when the club built on course stabling, installed a Polytrack and erected floodlights for night racing.

And 18 years ago he was instrumental in the SCTC and Racing Queensland joint venture taking ownership of Corbould Park from the Caloundra City Council. The Council was originally gifted the property by the original landowner Edward Corbould.

One of Les’ proudest ideas was introducing the Sunshine Coast Guineas to the club’s calendar in the late 1990s. The race for three-year-olds was subsequently renamed the Winx Guineas after the superstar mare famously won the race.’

 

STAKEHOLDERS ENTITLED TO EXPECT LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AT GC

CONSIDERING the money that has been spent correcting the Gold Coast track, stakeholders and punters are entitled to expect a level playing field for Friday night’s rich Magic Millions meeting.

A repeat of last Saturday’s ‘farce’, when a biased surface favoured those drawn well and racing on the pace, will result in further embarrassment for the latest ‘basket case’ of Queensland racing.

As we have said before, if a trainer takes a horse to the track and the jockey fails to give it every chance of winning he can be charged. In contrast if a club prepares a track that isn’t fair to all runners, it’s declared ‘one of those things than happen in racing.’

There were reasons for the way the Gold Coast played last Saturday – some close to the action blamed it on a failure to aerate both sides of the track. The club has had almost a week to correct that problem. Here’s hoping they’ve taken time out from blaming sabotage for the poisoning of a section of the surface near the home turn, to address that issue.

Early markets certainly suggest the bookies aren’t convinced the track will play much different to last Saturday. Fancied runners drawn wide or backmarkers are twice the price they should be.

LGHR praised whoever was responsible for bringing the time of the $3mn Two-Year-Old Classic forward to ensure it was run before dark. There wasn’t sufficient time to ensure all youngsters had trialled under lights and it seemed the right safety measure to take.

We were told to get our mail right that the real reason for the early timeslot for the feature was to fit in with the Seven Network coverage. Farcically it seems there is the need to avoid a clash with the Big Bash cricket – and just when we thought Seven had several other Channels to fall back on. It’s time TV stopped controlling programming of races but that isn’t going to happen.

Horses drawn to benefit most if there is again a bias to front-runners in the Two-Year-Old Classic are Invincible Woman, Gallo Nero, Memo, Ole O’le, Vein Girl and The Playwright.

If the track was playing fairly there is so much early speed that La Bella Boom and Icarian Dream arguably could run over the top. But such was the situation last Saturday that backmarkers found it impossible to make ground.

Here are LGHR thoughts on the race – whether the track plays fairly or not:

GALLO NERO: Slight query that the end of a tough 1200m could test him.

ICARIAN DREAM: Not sure about the quality of her win in the G3 Bruce McLachlan and she has been up for longer than most in this field.

OLE O’LE: She has also been up for quite a while and could struggle at the end of 1200m

VEIN GIRL: One of two Munce starters – has been backed at big odds – is unbeaten but untried at 1200m. She should run it out strongly and is the BEST ROUGHIE in the FIELD. Her stablemate COOL ARCHIE, at Bolter’s Odds, one of Australia’s best judges rates him a KO Hope if the track if HEAVY.

LA BELLA BOOM: The jury is out on her last start win at the Sunshine Coast – she did have a month into that run so will be fitter – can’t be overlooked but not totally convinced.

INVINCIBLE WOMAN: The ‘Sally Snow’ camp will be cheering this filly home if you know the connection with one of her owners. She’s the one to run down – Damien Lane sticks after her impressive debut win – but untried at trip and fillies don’t have a great record in the race.

HI BARBIE: They found excuses for her 18-length defeat when favourite at Start 2. Her Listed debut win in November was against a small field and for ours she needs to grow a leg to win this. Gollan runners can do that!

THE PLAYWRIGHT: You have to respect any runner with the Waterhouse-Bott polish. She might go better ridden with a ‘sit’ than she did when run over by Icarian Dream and others in the Bruce McLachlan.

MEMO: Still a Maiden but the race sets up well for her, bias or no bias. There looks to be sufficient pace to suit. She’s prepared by Snowden and ridden by McEvoy. She should have won the MM 2YO 1^st-up at Wyong and then had no luck behind Gallo Nero at Randwick. We rate her the ONE TO BEAT.

Those who like a well-informed ‘leisure bet’ should join the winners and SUBSCRIBE to the LGHR LATE MAIL. We have a ‘special deal’ at present. Just email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR text 0407175750 for details.

 

THIS WASN’T ‘WATERGATE’ IT WAS WATERFORD, VIGILANCE NEEDED?

LET LGHR say at the outset that we did not agree with Mark Latham’s attack on Peter V’landys under Parliamentary Privilege which we felt was unwarranted.

Nor do we believe his outrageous suggestion that some leading trainers have a ‘hot-line’ to V’landys if they hit an integrity hurdle.

BUT shouldn’t that mean the Racing NSW Stewards’ Panel are even more vigilant.

Chairman Steve Railton, one of the most highly respected internationally experienced stewards in the land, knows all too well how it feels to have administrative bosses interfere in integrity – he was a victim many moons ago in Queensland.

With Latham’s claims causing much debate among stakeholders and punters, one would have thought that made ‘Railo’ extra vigilant in policing how the leading stables in NSW operate.

Sadly, several punters who use LGHR as a platform to have a ‘whinge’, believe the Railton Panel need to lift their act on occasions.

Saturday was the latest example – and not for an instant is LGHR suggesting anything untoward occurred – but considering the parties involved surely a couple of questions deserved to be asked after the Chris Waller-trained Waterford won the $500,000 Wyong feature, The Lakes.

Here are couple of examples of e-mails we received:

DES J of SYDNEY writes:

‘My mates and I had been following Waterford but dropped off after his more recent performances. Then out he comes, beats the outside alley, still manages to run a sensational late sectional and turns in what we believe was a massive form reversal. Surely the Waller stable should have been asked a question but I can’t find where that occurred in the official Stewards Report’.

And this one from SAM S of MELBOURNE, arguably not a big Waller fan:

‘I wonder how big Richie Callander, Waller’s good mate and outspoken on so many subjects, would have described the big improvement shown by the horse he part-owns in Waterford at the weekend. Was that the same horse we saw go round in the Summer Cup or The Gong or the Little Dance? From a punters’ perspective sadly this happens too often with Waller-trained horses. And don’t worry Waterford landed some good bets at double figure odds. Adding insult to injury its win came only two races after what looked to be Waller’s ‘good thing’ of the day – Invader Zim – was the subject of an inquiry after many blamed his defeat on the ride of apprentice Ben Osmond who stewards felt should have been ‘more positive early’.

THE POST MORTEM:

IN our LATE MAIL SERVICE, LGHR labelled WATERFORD one of OUR BEST ROUGHIES of the day. Had it drawn a better alley we would have tipped the horse on top largely because we have become so accustomed to Waller horses that appear to be racing poorly growing a leg when you least expect.

It’s easy to understand the frustration of punters, especially when a stable as powerful as Waller’s has so many starters and often it’s a second-string that beats home the favourite.

In the case of Waterford, we didn’t believe he ran out the 2000m of the Summer Cup. He finished 12^th behind Robusto (the horse he swept past to win The Lakes) and in the G2 Ingham before that he never got clear galloping room. In the Little Dance he was anchored by 62kg then his run peaked when fourth in The Gong when he was third-up and chasing the smart Gringotts.

That’s the plus side. But negative wise Waterford was drawn off the track, had placed only once from seven starts at the mile and not in one of his five starts this campaign did he settle further forward than eighth. If there was no notification of a change in riding tactics from that bad draw (which we don’t believe there was), then Waller should have been reminded of his obligations.

If ever there was a time when Stewards needed to convince the ‘Doubting Thomas’s’ who bet on Sydney racing that leading stables need a ‘rev up’, then this was it and LGHR is sure that winning owner ‘Big Richie’, who tends to divide racing followers, would be the first to agree with that assessment.

 

WAS IT THE ‘ONE-ARMED MAN’ WHO DID THE DAMAGE TO GC TRACK?

THE Magic Millions was a subject several emailers wanted to comment on. Here are two of the contributions received that we are able to publish:

PAUL D of LABRADOR writes:

‘I thought there were a couple of comments from police concerning the alleged sabotage of the Gold Coast track that have added to the intrigue.

• Superintendent Brett Jackson said police were keeping an ‘open mind’ when determining whether the damage was in fact ‘deliberate’.
• Jackson said there were consistencies in the correlation between the machinery used by the GCTC with dimensions of the damaged area 16m wide and a spray boom used by track staff around 8m.
• The Superintendent said there were ‘still no suspects’ in the police investigation.

It was left to GCTC Chairman Brett Cook – to follow up on the Police update – with this:

‘If it does turn out to be a deliberate act, which is looking increasingly likely, we’re very disappointed with the narrative that has come out suggesting it was some sort of mistake on our part.’

LGHR got some late mail from a suspect source that the blind man who collects donations from punters after the races was out for a walk with his Labrador one night around the time the ‘sabotage’ occurred and saw a ‘one armed man’ (bit too young to be Richard Kimble) madly rowing a ‘tinnie’ down a canal near the track with hose nosels hanging around his neck.

 

BOUQUETS FOR MOVING TWO-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC TO DAYLIGHT SLOT

‘LGHR received this email concerning the running of the Magic Millions Two-Year-Classic on Friday night:

DAPHNE J of GOLD COAST writes:

‘Full marks to stewards or whoever was responsible, for moving the rich Two-Year-Old Classic forward to Race 2 on Friday night.

We understand that before youngsters raced in The Debut at the Gold Coast in December they were required to trial under lights.

This would not have been possible for those who did not contest The Debut because of the short time-frame between Saturday and Friday night. Bringing the race forward to when it is still daylight overcomes that problem.

It removed the (probably remote) chance of a big field of lightly-raced youngsters vying for a $3 million purse with many of them not having experienced night racing conditions.

And on a final note here’s hoping they have remedied the problem by Friday night that saw only those on the pace and drawn near the fence fighting out the finish of the three races run last Saturday. It was hardly a level playing field.’

As an aside, those who witnessed Gai Waterhouse give the owners of Alligator Blood a serve for transferring the horse to Chris Waller reckon it was one of the highlights outside the Magic Millions Sales Ring.’

 

CAHILL WILL MAKE A TERRIFIC MENTOR FOR YOUNG JOCKEYS AT RQ

GREG BLANCHARD, of the Gold Coast, a great supporter of preparing young people for a career in the saddle, welcomes the news that top jockey MICHAEL CAHILL will join the RQ Training Department.

‘It was terrific to hear that Michael Cahill has accepted a position with the Racing Queensland Training Department. I applaud this decision.

I believe that training is vitally important and the appointment of someone of Michael’s ability is the best decision RQ Training has made in the last decade.

Not only is he a Group 1 winning rider (winning the Stradbroke and two Doomben 10,000, as well as many other big races) but Michael also rode with success internationally in Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau and Mauritius.

Apart from that ability on the track I am told he is a champion bloke and a perfect role model for young jockeys.

The news has also filtered through that Chris Whitely is also retiring from race riding and joining Michael with long-time Training Department supremo Shane Scriven at RQ. Chris rode for almost 35 years and I believe landed close to 2,000 winners.’

 

WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG TO UPGRADE CLUDEN PARADE RING?

PERRY H from NORTH QUEENSLAND sent this email which we have been able to follow up:

‘I have been watching racing at Cluden for a very long time both on and off the course, nowadays at home (sadly, not a lot to attract one to the course these days) and I would like to know why for months now there is no parade enclosure and return to scale area shown on SKY?

It appears the parade ring and return to scale is out of action for some reason?

No idea why. Could it be they can't afford to get it usable/repaired?

It's very unsatisfactory as a TV watcher as the only glimpse you get is of the horses going out on to the track with riders aboard. I can't imagine SKY or RQ would be impressed?

Hoping you may be able to ask around and get the CORRECT answers and not PR spin from the club.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: You are right Perry. The reason you can’t see the horses parading at Townsville is because the ring and return to scale area is being upgraded. Sadly there has been delays, the reasons for which stakeholders and SKY viewers should have been made aware of. We are reliably informed the redevelopment has been an absolute catastrophe. Some are blaming the Townsville Turf Club and others Racing Queensland. It would be nice to get some clarification on the issue from the authorities and how long it is going to take to have the parade ring back in action like it should have been months ago.

 

 

IS A HIGH PROFILE QUEENSLAND PUNTER PROVIDING THE TAB WITH ‘HIS’ PRICES & BETTING ON THEM BEFORE PUNTERS GET A CRACK? THE GREATEST RORT OF ALL TIME OR CAN THE NEW CEO EXPLAIN?

‘CALVIN from CLONTARF’ is a very well-informed identity when it comes to the gambling world. What he is claiming needs investigating at the highest level. We would love to hear an explanation from new TAB CEO GILLON McLACHLAN.

THERE used to be a saying in racing ……….THE ONLY PLACE ALL MEN ARE EQUAL IS ON THE TURF AND UNDER IT.

Whether it be bankers, lawyers, labourers, teachers or wharfies, when we all walked through the racetrack gate we were all coming off scratch.

Things have changed dramatically in the past 20 years.

As we go further into the digital age the gambling world has been turned on its head with betting syndicates spending $400mn on computers, corporate bookmakers (who are a law unto themselves), betting exchanges, both legal and illegal bet fair and citibet, of which Australian authorities have no jurisdiction whatsoever and makes Betfair look like a timid bingo game at the RSL.

Not only in racing, but also in politics, sport and every day occurrences, it is nigh impossible for people in the main stream media to report the facts, without the spin or nuances.

There has been a rumour around gambling circles for quite a while but nobody wants to mention ‘the war’ – even if this has a modicum of truth in it – it will have punters aghast.

Has anybody else (bar the pros) noticed the wild fluctuations that the TAB has been posting on the three codes in recent times?

If what is said to be happening is true, it will make the ‘Sally Snow saga’ pale into insignificance. That whole debacle would have been a PR nightmare for TABCORP but it was swept under a rather large carpet!

The story goes that a large Queensland gambler who likes to have an  ‘edge’ and the odds  ‘stacked’ in his favour is supplying the TAB with his prices and proceeds to bet with them at ‘HIS’ prices for good amounts BEFORE they are displayed on the internet for general consumption for the rank and file. WTF!

I am no legal expert but I will hazard a guess and say evens each of two ‘insider trading’ or ‘systematic fraud’. They supply the prices to the TAB and then bet with them. Nice work if you can get it.

TABCORP’s current share price is 56 cents, a far cry from days gone by. They made a loss last year of $A1.6 billion. Sportsbet on the other hand made $2 billion net.

Something doesn’t seem quite right.

We all know that before the current administration the business was arguably very poorly run and had been outpointed by the corporates at every turn.  

Some say Gillon McLachlan was thrown a ‘hospital pass’ when he took on the job as CEO of Tabcorp. To ease his pain he is on $30,000 per week plus incentives and bonuses. 

It would be nice to know if the shareholders are aware of the modus operandi of the traders.

About a month ago the TAB shed 200 staff with redundancies etc. There is a climate of fear in the workplace with nobody wanting to rock the boat for fear of retribution.

Maybe it is time for the CEO to shine a light on these dark, disturbing allegations as punters have very little voice these days unlike breeders, owners and trainers who have never seen it better.

Without turnover racing is a house of cards and if punters don’t get a fair go they will cease to invest.     

LONG MAY WE PLAY!                                                        

 

DON’T BE SO SELECTIVE IN YOUR COMMENTARY ON CONTROVERSY ‘FEATHERS’ – YOUR ‘SPIN’ HAS MORE BIAS THAN THE GC TRACK

THE message bank and emails ran hot mid-morning with suggestions that ‘Feathers’ Fowler had once again used his ‘politically motivated, suck-up-to-survive’ Press Room program on Radio TAB to give LGHR & peterprofit.com another serve, although he didn't have the 'balls' to name us.

The subject of his come to expect, non-constructive criticism on this occasion was that we had dared to suggest that track bias on the Gold Coast for the three races run on Saturday favoured only those on the pace and near the rail.

Memo Dave:

‘You’re entitled to your opinion even if you refused to do a post-portem of how the three races were run. Would your attitude have been the same had this occurred at Eagle Farm?

Like many others LRHR doesn't listen to your drivel of a Monday. With respect, you would win more friends David if you were arguably less subservient to your mates at the BRC, took steps to halt the industry belief that you take directions from ‘Manuel’ and start listening to the people in the know at the coalface of racing and some of them might tell you what is ‘really’ happening.

‘And by the way ,it’s been a couple of months now but you refuse to answer our call to do a fireside chat with BRC Chairman Neville Bell about those questions from respected Member Wally Gleeson that the industry is still waiting to hear answers to after the AGM. Even some of your one-time supporters believe constructiveness has gone from the 'penthouse’ to the ‘out-house’  on this mainstream media censored issue. 

‘Stop pretending to be a hard-hitting racing commentator. Your bagging of RQ on the Press Room show for failing to transfer the washed out Eagle Farm meeting on Saturday to Monday lost credibility because everyone knows how close you are to the BRC.

It was big prizemoney lost to the industry – couldn’t agree more with your suggestion. But here’s hoping you weren’t encouraged to ‘parrot’ that Monday transfer by ‘Manuel’ and the ‘Boys at the Farm’. After all you are their No 1 ‘spin doctor’ .

Kicking up for the GCTC isn’t going to help mate if the reports are right that your days of race calling will be part of many redundancies at Radio TAB. Take the tip and fast forward plans to head to Crow-Eater Country.’

Here’s just one example of what an observer thought of the Gold Coast track on Saturday:

PAUL A writes: 'I’m happy to be proven wrong but while watching coverage of the MM on Saturday I thought I noticed two tyre tracks along the inside rail where it looked like vehicles or tractors had been going along.

That would therefore have compacted that section of the track and explain the massive bias to that area. I remember Mick Goodie doing that at Flemington one carnival and it ultimately costing him his job.'

WE had several more emails and texts – some highlighting the kickback obvious in the Stewards’ vision of Race 1; others blaming ‘aerating’ of only half the track (that makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?); and plenty claiming if the heavy rain hadn’t forced the meeting to be postponed the way the track was playing it would have rewarded ‘mediocrity’.  

 

WEATHER GODS ANSWERED PRAYERS OF THOSE UNHAPPY WITH BIAS

THE ‘Weather Gods’ weren’t kind to the Magic Millions on Saturday but answered the prayers of those owners and trainers who had horses in big races that were drawn wide or backmarkers.

The ‘spin doctors’ can praise the efforts of the track staff, the Gold Coast Turf Club and Racing Queensland for enabling the big meeting to proceed in trying circumstances but in a word they are ‘dodging’ the real issue. Many believe the track was 'stuffed' before the meeting began.

There was no way it played fairly in the three races that were run on Saturday. The bias towards runners on the rail made it impossible for the backmarkers. Some of those tried so hard but came to the outside and just spun their wheels and just couldn't make ground while others nearer the rail were benefitted unfairly.

When the decision that had to be made for safety reasons was announced mid-afternoon on Saturday there was a resounding sigh of relief from many big trainers. One lady, who shall remain nameless, declared: ‘Thank God for that. Runners drawn wide that get back might as well have been left at home in their boxes.’

It’s a crazy situation in racing when a track is prepared that doesn’t play fairly to all runners. No-one takes the blame. But if a trainer takes a horse to the races and doesn’t give it the best opportunity of winning, he’s in strife.

LGHR will, of course, be accused of ‘negativity’ once again but we are reliably informed by our spies close to the coalface that the real reason for the problem was that only half the track was ‘aerated’ prior to Millions day.

Stakeholders are entitled to know why they presented a track that wasn’t fair to ALL runners. We expect officials will deny this and the 'Noddy's' in the mainstream racing media will agree with them but ask those who know and are not afraid to speak out.

Whatever the debate let’s hope they get it right in time for Friday night which could be a problem if the constant rain continues because it was the right decision to go under lights. Free admission for the remainder of the card was the right one. It was a perfect opportunity to promote night racing at the Gold Coast which is spectacular.

The ‘big wet’ that hit south-east Queensland did lead to another disaster however when they transferred what was a very good Sunday meeting on the Sunshine Coast to the despised ‘Poly’ track.

If Racing Queensland needed any further confirmation that most owners and trainers are reluctant to race on this surface, here it was. Over 100 scratchings – unbelievable – and a meeting (sure it ensured there was racing on the ‘Sunny’ Coast) – but turnover was down alarmingly and as a spectacle one might as well have been watching Jason Richardson and Bernadettte Cooper prolicking in the puddles before the cameras on Millions day.

 

PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY HAD BROPHY BOXING TROUPE BEEN AT MM

FRED Brophy, the legendary showman whose Boxing Troupe is almost as famous as the iconic Birdsville races, could well have plied his trade at the Gold Coast on Magic Millions Day.

We’re joking off course but feelings are running so high between officials of some major clubs that Brophy could well have organised a charity fund-raiser with Gold Coast chairman Brett Cook versus his Townsville counterpart Geoff Weeks and Brisbane Racing Club chairman ‘Nifty’ Neville Bell pitted against Mayor of the Gold Coast Tom Tate.

On a serious note, the Townsville Turf Club has reacted angrily to suggestions that the GCTC want to take over racing at Cluden Park because the club is facing financial problems.

Back in the big smoke Mayor Tate has angered the BRC by suggesting that Doomben racetrack should be considered as the main venue for the Brisbane Olympics.

Here’s what TTC Chairman Geoff Weeks had to say about the GCTC takeover move:

‘WE would like to respond to a recent article regarding a proposed takeover of Townsville Turf Club by Gold Coast Turf Club.

Neither the Chairman, Committee or CEO of Townsville Turf Club have been included in, or are aware of any discussions involving the GCTC taking over the administration or license of Townsville Turf Club.

We have further been advised both Racing Queensland and the Racing Minister's Office are also not aware of any preliminary discussions or discussions currently on hold.

On a recent visit by the Racing Minister to Townsville and visiting the track, the Minister spoke of his commitment and support of regional and country racing clubs.

The story has upset many of our trainers and members with one member expressing  their disappointment by saying it would be the equivalent of telling the NQ Cowboys players, members and supporters that the Cowboys will be run by the Brisbane Broncos or Sydney Roosters.

The current committee and CEO are working through its financial issues and obligations by reducing costs, terminating non-essential outsourced contracts, having the support of RQ ,and importantly it has the support of the members and the community.

On other good news as reported in an earlier article in 2024 by LGHR, TTC can confirm that retired trainer of over 40 years in the industry, Errol Sewell, was awarded Honorary Life Membership at our AGM in November 2024.

Meanwhile, GOLD COAST Mayor Tom Tate has upset the BRC with his suggestion the Brisbane Olympics could save $5 billion and use the extra cash to fund a new main stadium at Doomben Racecourse.

Tate this week delivered the city’s formal submission to the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics Review, with the 32-page document outlining how the blockbuster event could save billions of dollars by using or enhancing existing venues, such as the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, creating additional budget to solve Brisbane’s stadium dilemma once and for all.

His Doomben suggestion saw one of the major race tracks in Queensland join a growing list of potential sites mooted as Olympic stadiums, as debate rages over whether a revamped Gabba, Victoria Park, the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre or a privately funded venue on Brisbane’s northside should serve as a main Olympic stadium.

It was left to the new BRC CEO Karl deKroo to respond in a message circulated to Members:

‘YOU may have read (overnight), Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, has included Doomben Racecourse in his formal submission to the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics Review as a potential site for an Olympic stadium. 

We were surprised and disappointed by Tate’s decision to name Doomben in his proposal without any consultation with the Brisbane Racing Club.

Our position has always been to recognise the significance of the 2032 Olympics and the opportunity the Games present for Brisbane and Queensland.

We remain open to engaging with the Government on the role our club can play in the broader infrastructure plan. However, any proposal that would lead to the cessation of racing at Doomben demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of its critical role in sustaining the thoroughbred racing industry in Queensland. 

We will be sure to update Members of any further discussions in the future.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: IT would have been more appropriate for Mayor Tate to have consulted the BRC before going public on his Olympic ideas.

We standby our story regarding the GCTC wanting to take over the license of the financial troubled TTC. Someone is telling ‘porkies’ here. Our information came via a high profile GCTC Turf Club official who was speaking of plans for the club with a former Chairman.

Before anyone jumps to conclusions over the source of our story don’t forget LGHR has great respect for the jobs that were done by Hoss Heinrich, Bill Millican and Andrew Eggleston when they were Chairmen. Eeny meeny miny moe!

 

‘BALLSY CALL’ TO PRESS AHEAD WITH MILLIONS AT THE GOLD COAST

WHOEVER has provided the millions it cost to repair the poisoned section of the Gold Coast track got the first return on their investment when it was decided to run the Magic Millions on their home track.

It was a ‘ballsy’ call to risk running over a newly-laid transplanted section of turf on the home turn after top jockeys trialled six runners on Thursday morning and gave it the ‘all clear’.

One can only hope that the predicted rain doesn’t damage the repaired patch and cause some safety issues after big fields have negotiated earlier in the card and the track plays fairly for the entire program – something that couldn’t have been guaranteed even before the poisoning occurred.

It seemed ironic that only minutes after it was announced the meeting would proceed at the Gold Coast and officials held a media conference the rain started to team down and plenty more has been predicted over the next 48 hours. As one commentator told RSN: ‘That’s the Gold Coast – beautiful one day, pissing down the next’.

Little wonder punters have been reluctant to bet early on the meeting – not only was there the uncertainty over where the MM would be run but who knows how the track will play with the inclement weather forcast.

But it’s all systems go – ‘Gerry and the Pacemakers’ have been saved the embarrassment of entertaining a big crowd of visitors and celebrities while the real drawcard is run an hour away at Eagle Farm. And that’s not to mention what it would have cost them if the races weren’t run on the ‘glitter strip’.

What the industry now wants to know is how much the ‘Magic Millions Rescue Operation’ cost and who will be paying for it. Stakeholders are entitled to know.

Come on RQ don’t go sweeping this one under the carpet.

Bringing in track specialists was just the start, moving heaven and turf to make the surface safe for racing would have cost a fortune. It must have been in the millions. RQ says it has a financial ‘black hole’ because of the cost blowout of the new Q greyhound complex, the new Government is hardly going to kick in, so does that mean it will be paid from the Racing Infrastructure Fund or will the GCTC (or heaven forbid, even the Magic Millions run by one of Australia’s richest men) be asked to contribute. Considering the amount Gerry Harvey makes out of the MM each year, where yearlings are being sold at the Sales for unbelievable prices, it would be nothing short of a drop in the bucket for him.  

RSN RADIO spoke to the ‘man of the moment’, a relieved GCTC CEO Steve Lyons, soon after the news filtered through that the meeting would proceed at the Coast. Here are some of the ‘gems’ he provided:

“The feedback from the jockeys (who rode horses in a trial) was that the repaired section performed as good as the rest of the track. We’re here to race on Saturday.

“The Evergreen team are world class. My team, my Board, my Chairman were first class handling the crisis management. Lots of the media were very supportive and we are grateful for that.

“It has been a gut-wrenching week. My staff are going to take my lead on everything. This is the result of team work. You are only as good as the team around you. There are risks with everything. At the end of the day you have to stay solid,” Lyons concluded. LGHR and others removed their fingers from their throats.

Asked about any concerns over the predicted rain RQ CEO Jason Scott said: “If we do get rain we will deal with it.” Fair comment from the one official making sense in all of this.

 

COULD GOLD COAST TAKEOVER TROUBLED TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB?

IF the Gold Coast can complete a ‘Mission Impossible’ and rescue Saturday’s multi-million dollar Magic Millions meeting on the ‘glitter strip that will certainly not damage its chances of Racing Queensland allowing the club to expand state-wide.

LGHR understands that the GCTC wants to take control of the financially-troubled Townsville Turf Club with preliminary talks put on hold when the Gold Coast track was poisoned on the eve of the Magic Millions.

If the GCTC is seen as a viable option to run Cluden Park – and there seems no reason it shouldn’t be after the successful takeover of Beaudesert – it will possess of racing empire to rival the Brisbane Racing Club, which operates Eagle Farm, Doomben and Deagon.

There are similarities in the master plans of both clubs. Each has a major backer – Aquis at the Gold Coast and Ladbrokes in Brisbane. Both have expanded their interests to include a licensed club outside their tracks. The BRC has its luxury high rise unit development and the GCTC has plans to follow suit.

The BRC hosts the major races of the Winter Carnival spearheaded by the Stradbroke Handicap, rated the most prestigious in Queensland. Gold Coast has its Magic Millions Carnival, the richest in the State at the height of the tourist season.

The extra advantages the GCTC boasts is a major Sales Centre nearby and the recent addition of Night Racing with a spectacular launch before Christmas. Brisbane will never boast that at Eagle Farm or Doomben because the lights would apparently present a major problem to the nearby International Airport.

Something that needs noting from a political perspective is that Chairman Brett Cook insisted that – despite the change in Government – former Racing Minister Grace Grace and some of her key staff be special guests at the night race launch. The man she calls ‘Bretty’ was quick to recognise that without ‘Gracie’s’ support there would have been no funding of the lighting project. And that is despite his close friendship with the Local Member from the LNP, JPL.

 

GOLD COAST POISED TO ARGUE FOR MORE STAND-ALONE SATURDAYS

SUCH has been the emergence of the Gold Coast as a racing giant in Queensland that it can justifiably argue for more stand-alone Saturday meetings.

Therein lies a problem. Brisbane doesn’t want to relinquish any of its dates. One of the reasons the Labor Government supported the installation of lights was that it believed Night Racing might overcome that situation.

LGHR understands that the GCTC believes it has too many night meetings allocated because on several occasions it means the club would not be racing that week on the Saturday. They are hoping the new Government will allow them to correct that.

Problem is there is a belief at Racing Queensland that the Sunshine Coast cannot continue to bare the sole burden of Friday night racing because it is having an effect of the size of their Sunday fields.

A GCTC takeover of Townsville seems a ‘good fix’ at a time when stakeholders in the north have lost confidence in the current administration with the club close to bankruptcy.

There are problems with the Cluden track that also need fixing and that is why how the GCTC handles the current ‘poisoning’ issue at Bundall is being closely monitored behind the scenes.

 

GCTC NEEDS TO STOP BLAME GAME & LIFT PUBLIC RELATIONS IMAGE

ONE understands why Brett Cook and his committee are upset at suggestions – some from high profile track experts within their own ranks – that a mistaken over-spraying of a fungus problem and not sabotage caused the poisoning.

They are adamant it was sabotage – firstly blaming the animal liberationists and then disgruntled staff who had been sacked. But why they waited days to report those feelings to police while desperate efforts were made to fix the problem remains a mystery.

We understand the GCTC needs to prove it was sabotage to claim insurance. But there are holes in the discovery of footprints and nosels near the track theories. Why were those footprints not found near the poisoned area and only a dumb vandal would leave behind the tools of his trade?

The one downside for the club has been its handling of the affair. It has been a public relations disaster, despite having the mainstream racing media on-side. ‘Captain Cook’ should be focussing on fixing the problem rather than worrying about taking pot-shots at websites like LGHR for daring to ask legitimate questions on behalf of stakeholders.

The time has come to bite the bullet and invite Steve Andrews back onto the frontline team ensuring track woes of the past don’t return to haunt the club. For too long there has been an inclination to blame someone else – such was the case when the new track had to be closed for nine months – the GCTC maintained their track staff were working under directions and pressure from RQ and that caused the problem.

 

ARE NATIVES STILL RESTLESS OR CAN COOKIE DODGE ODD SPEAR?

BRETT Cook came to a role that was always going to be hard to fill considering some of the Chairmen that preceded him but he possessed a truck-load of experience as a Director.

The same can’t be said for CEO Steve Lyons who brought decades of experience in the hospitality industry to the job but next to no background in racing.

Lyons was quick to bag those who maintain the pattern of the poisoned area of the track was not consistent with sabotage. One of those was RQ CEO Jason Scott. Not a smart move and something a highly respected former CEO like Scott Whiteman, now with Country Racing Victoria, would never have considered.

Critics of Lyons say – tongue in cheek – his greatest claim to fame has been removing a photo montage of former Club Chairmen – many of them legends – from a wall in the club precinct. No doubt he had a good reason for this.

Ian Brown is the other key player at the GCTC whose role when he joined the club as a former steward was largely Racing Manager responsible for Integrity. That seems to have changed since he built a closer association with Aquis than arguably the Chairman, CEO or any Director enjoy.

Some at the coalface say club heavies were far from happy with Brown’s new influence and tipped he wouldn’t last but he has. LGHR likes to think that ‘behind every successful man, there’s a great woman’ and having watched first-hand the sports management and public relations skills of Brown’s wife Bree (formerly Andrews, a well-known racing family), we can only assume that her abilities have rubbed off on him.

The odds are shortening that the Gold Coast will host Saturday’s meeting – despite Eagle Farm being placed on standby. One thing you can be sure of – with Kim Kelly’s stewarding experience – Chief Stipe Josh Adams will need to be 99 per cent sure that the new section of track will stand up to a big day of racing (and perhaps some rain) after horses gallop over it before a final decision is made on Thursday morning.

 

HOPE ISLAND HARRY OFFERS HUMOROUS SOLUTION TO TRACK WOES

AS the ‘Who Did It’ of racing in Queensland continues with police investigating the alleged sabotage of the Gold Coast track, there was an amusing email to peterprofit.com which LGHR is sure Archie Butterfly won’t mind us republishing.

Under the headline: Hope Island Harry Fingers the Gold Coast Saboteurs, his suggestion added some light-hearted humor to a sad but serious situation.

Harry wrote (in part):

‘ALLOW me to let your readers in on a little secret.

The Gold Coast track wasn’t sabotaged by a rogue group of animal activitists.

Those long-haired, cauliflower-eating, racing hating dole bludgers are too stoned to poison in such perfect symmetrical straight lines. Plus they couldn’t afford to buy the quantity of Round Up required for the job.

No my friends, this wasn’t the work of animal activists.

It was the ALIENS.

Those extra-terrestrial trouble-makers have long form when it comes to turning green grass brown.

Remember the crop circles?

That was them too – this is just history repeating.

What’s their motive you ask?

That’s easy.

It’s the new lights at the track.

Their beams are so powerful they travel all the way to Uranus and shine so bright in their eyes that it wakes the kids up.

Stuffing up the track so that the Southern stables can’t come up and plunder Racing Queensland’s riches is just the Alien’s form of payback to the Gold Coast Turf Club for making them get out of bed to get the little tackers back to sleep.

Any idiot could have worked out that it was them.

It was the Aliens for sure.

Take that cheque to the bank and cash it.

There’s no need to buy any manure to get the grass growing again.

The finger-pointing clowns running the Gold Coast Club speak enough shit to fertilize the Kalahari.’

 

‘SOUTH AUSTRALIAN STEWARDS ARE IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN’

IN other news we have received several emails from angry punters bagging the stewards in South Australia and declaring that panel the worst in the land.

You might remember the complaints we published when they failed to ask a question after Gotta Go Guru, a plunged odds-on favourite, beat only two home at Gawler on December 14.

The Andrew Gluyus-trained mare was beaten eight lengths on that occasion in a Benchmark 64 over 1700m. Critics suggested it wasn’t one of apprentice Taylor Johnstone’s better rides.

It seems punters have been waiting for Gotta Go Guru to start again and it was reproduced last Saturday in a tougher Benchmark 72 over 2000m at Murray Bridge with Johnstone again in the saddle.

In under three weeks Gotta Go Guru grew a leg, was backed for a bundle and bolted in carrying significantly less weight. One would have thought that after failing to query the dismal performance at its previous start, stewards might have questioned the form reversal on Saturday.

But not the good old boys in South Australia who one punter suggested were ‘again asleep at the wheel’ but went as far as bagging the form ‘experts’ on racing.com, highlighting the fact that one of them has a long-standing association with the Gluyus stable.

Surely there was an explanation and punters were entitled to know what it was. Gotta Go Guru is a smart mare and Gluyus is a talented trainer. LGHR is not suggesting anything untoward happened here – simply suggesting it’s time the SA Stewards did their job.

Favorites have a woeful record in that State – just look at the results of the first three races on Saturday. Last start winner San Lucido lost a leg beaten almost nine lengths after being heavily-backed into $2.15. Harpalee, which looked one of the good things of the day and started $2, never looked like winning before finishing a close third. Novela, plunged into $2.05 in the third, finished a battling fourth. The the two equal favourites in the fifth (Tosen Water and Wine Barron beaten only one runner home.

Come on guys, how about lifting your act before none of the rank and file punters are game to bet on racing in South Australia!

 

CONCERNS EXPRESSED & QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUTBARRIER DRAWS

A SHORT time ago we received an interesting email expressing concerns at the barrier draw and should have addressed the matter before now but were focussed on issues involving the Gold Coast track and the AGM at the Brisbane Racing Club. 

Here is what PETER B wrote:

‘I believe we are not going with the times by having the barrier draw process that is still being used today. It is so obvious it’s not a fair system. Certain trainers are continually executed week in week out. Locked on Integrity in racing is paramount and the draws basically have a major impact on the result of the race.

My question to the powers above: Why isn’t it governed more closely, even live stream a manual draw, only eight or nine races, then it’s level playing field.

If the Lotto draw was done behind closed doors no one would buy a ticket.

I think this issue is serious and needs closer attention. It never seems to get taken seriously.

We raised the matter with Kim Kelly, Deputy Commission for QRIC, who promised to check what balances were in place as far as routine barrier draws were concerned.

Kim advised that, apart from special feature races where the draws were done independently (often involving owners) at functions, draws from the majority of races are conducted by computer at Racing Australia.

In Hong Kong, where Kelly was Chief Steward for many years until recently, he said the allocation system was audited on an annual basis by the University of Queensland. Further, a representative of the HK Racehorse Owners’ Association was invited to witness the process if they wished.

Kelly confirmed that in recent times a stakeholders’ official, concerned about the barrier draw, witnessed from Queensland the process being undertaken by Racing Australia and was satisfied with the outcome. 

 

WHY NOT ENLIST SLATTER TO ENCOURAGE KIDS TO BECOME JOCKEYS?

HERE are the latest thoughts of GREG BLANCHARD from the GOLD COAST in his on-going battle to have more jockeys available to ride in the bush:

‘AS in previous years 2024 saw hundreds and hundreds of horses scratched due to no riders in the bush.

Here is my suggestion which I might add I wrote to RQ few years ago about but never heard back from them.

Rugby League legend Billy Slater is on the Coast for the Magic Millions. It’s a great opportunity to get him on board to assist by travelling to the bush and encouraging kids interested in becoming jockeys.

If Racing Queensland could persuade Billy to go to the far west and far north west, even if it was only for a few days, I believe his visit would be worthwhile.

You need star power to get kids interested and Slater is one of their heroes. If we get just one or two kids on board to start with as trainees it would be a success.’
 

 

QUESTIONS WALLY GLEESON ASKED AT BRC AGM THAT MAINSTREAM RACING JOURNALISTS ‘CENSORED’ – AS THE STAND-OFF CONTINUES

IF the Brisbane Racing Club refuses ASAP to provide draft minutes of its AGM, relating to how questions asked concerning disclosures of apartment ownership and Directors’ travel are recorded, the on-going dispute will be escalated.

THE ownership of luxury apartments in the Ascot Green Development is an issue that BRC Member Wally Gleeson and his supporters want clarified for the sake of transparency.

“When asked about this at the AGM the Chairman only identified a few Directors as having ownership but he failed to include himself as an owner of one or more apartments. The Chairman did however provide the AGM with an extensive reply on just how transparent the process is of Directors purchasing apartments in the Ascot Green Development.”

Gleeson said the matter of travel and accommodation costs for Board Directors raised at the AGM (an average of $23,450 individually during 2023-24) was of great concern to regular club Members.

“In 2024 alone the BRC was represented by multiple directors (air fares, accommodation and other expenses) at racing carnivals in most States of Australia on a regular basis. As well three directors and their partners attended the Royal Ascot Carnival in the UK and another three and their partners the week-long Asian Racing Conference in Japan. The Deputy Chairman and the Director for Finance & Governance attended the Japan Cup in November.

“It is little wonder they racked up a total expenditure of $187,636 in 2023-24. At the current rate of travel the 2024-25 figure will surpass that. The time has come for all Board Directors (Bell, Morrison, Gagel, Svenson, Schatz, Gleeson (until his departure), Frayne and Creaton) to have their individual expenses revealed to the membership.

“It is time Racing Queensland investigated the expenditure of the BRC Directors on travel and accommodation. The Auditor’s report was reviewed and approved by RQ before the AGM and surprisingly not one question was raised with the Board.”

THESE are the questions that Wally Gleeson asked at the AGM of the BRC:

HOW many Board Directors, ex Board Directors, Senior Staff or ex Senior Staff own one or more apartments in the Eagle Farm Ascot Green Development?

WHY did Club CEO Tony Partridge abruptly resign in early July 2024 and did he sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement?

WHY did Board member of 10 years, Simon Gleeson, resign a month after the CEO?

WHY wasn’t the Board vacancy created by Simon Gleeson’s resignation included in the general election of Board Members? Is this vacancy to be a Captain’s Pick?

WAS the mainstream media invited to attend the AGM?

IS the current Auditor, whose fees for the 2023-24 audit was $98,050, engaged in accordance with Section (256A) of the RO Act? (By explanation Registered Organization means the same auditor can only be used five years in every seven).

Gleeson also raised issues regarding Directors’ Travel Costs:

REFER BRC 2023-24 Annual Report (pages 45, Sections 24, Directors & Executive Disclosures – Board entertainment, Travel & Accommodation costs:

Board $187,636, Executive $86,138. TOTAL: $273,774.

Average annual cost per Director was $23,450.

CAN the Auditor apportion these costs to the individual Board Members and BRC Executives?

REFERRING to PAGE 39 of the 2023-24 Annual Report, Directors and Executives disclosures and related Party Disclosures in the BRC’s ‘Register of Interests:

IS Director Shatz’s disclosure the only one from all the Board Directors?

CHAIRMAN, are you proposing any overseas trips at the expense of the BRC before your up-coming retirement in the early part of the New Year, eg your annual visit to the Hong Kong International Carnival in early December, 2024?

“His response to the Hong trip was flippantly answered by saying (at the time) he hadn’t received an invitation from the HKJC. True to form, as he has in most years, Mr Bell turned up in Hong Kong in December. Were his airfares, accommodation and costs paid for by the BRC?

“The Hong Kong trip was only one of many which the Chairman undertook (with his wife) in 2024 throughout Australia and Ireland, all presumed official on behalf of the BRC and at the club’s expense. What was the benefit of this when he is about to retire.”

Wally Gleeson maintains that very few of the contentious questions he asked at the AGM were answered satisfactorily by Chairman Bell. He wants to know if the draft minutes, which he is demanding, will reveal the ‘full facts or any forgetfulness in answers provided’.

He also raised questions about ‘Directors and Executives disclosures and related Party Disclosures’ in the BRC ‘Register of Interests’. “The Register does indicate that Director Schatz has a disclosure. Members are entitled to know if all other Directors have declared related Party Disclosures.”

In relation to expenses and costs incurred by the BRC and its Directors, Gleeson says Members are desperate for answers but most don’t want to rock the boat by asking questions.

“For instance, will the Board hold a send-off for Chairman Bell when he eventually retires?  And when he retires will he and his former Board colleague (David Dawson) and others continue to hold their regular spots (with partners) in the committee room enjoying ‘generous drinks and eats as the sanctuary for the privileged of racing in Brisbane?’

“This room should be reinstated for its historic and original purpose – that being to engage with each winning ownership group to celebrate their success. Owners being invited into the Committee Room was once a long-held tradition.

“To banish these people who enable the sport to exist (the owners) to a room out the back with a security guard for company is arguably extremely bad manners. The excuse of syndicate groups being too big just doesn’t cut it.

“The BRC seems to have lost touch with an accepted fact that race meetings are a venue where all are equal, from priests to prostitutes and judges to janitors. You shouldn’t have to be a former committee member or a racing scribe to enjoy the benefits.”

From Wally Gleeson’s perspective – and that of many others as the weeks roll by – it is important to ascertain how the minutes of the October AGM were recorded. This needs to happen before Mr Bell retires as Chairman.

The draft minutes must be made available NOW to ensure the responses given by the Chairman to questions of governance, transparency and accountability, have been properly recorded for public record.

Gleeson warns that the continued non-release of these minutes will be considered ‘illegal’. With contact from a former staff member advising of the resignations over the past six months of key administrative identities, a few more with targets on their backs and the AGM fallout, it is little wonder that staff morale at the BRC and stakeholder confidence in Queensland’s biggest club is said to be at an all-time low.

 

OPERATION ‘MINCEMEAT’ BEGINS TO SALVAGE GOLD COAST TRACK

OPERATION MINCEMEAT (substitute Magic Millions) has begun in a race against time to have the poisoned Gold Coast track safe enough to race on for Queensland’s richest race meeting on Saturday.

Behind the scenes the ‘blame game’ continues over who or what was responsible for the damage to the track with the club and its supporters claiming sabotage calling in police to investigate and their critics insisting it was a serious maintenance mistake.

On disclosed information – and a damning report that track staff knew of the problem at least three days before it was reported to police as sabotage – we’re leaning to the latter.

Whoever is to blame, LGHR wants to see the meeting run on the Gold Coast provided the track is safe and doesn’t turn into another embarrassment for Queensland in the eyes of Australian racing.

Despite the fact that animal activists will be protesting outside the track if the meeting goes ahead on the Gold Coast, we accept that they weren’t responsible for the current problem.

Our lingering doubt about who to blame follows an anonymous tip from a person who claimed to have been sacked without reasonable cause after working for the club for many years.

The message to LGHR from this person, who seemed to be legitimate, was: “Don’t be quick to reject the suggestion of sabotage. There are so many former disgruntled employees – dozens in fact – who have been sacked by the club in more recent times who would be celebrating this setback on the eve of their biggest race meeting.

“RQ needs to step in and address staff issues at the GCTC before this ends in another disaster. Don’t blame the Chairman. He’s been kept in the dark on many issues. One of his offsiders is running the show and that particular person is responsible for the increasing disharmony and is detested by a majority of the staff.”

There is a suggestion that the track was deliberately poisoned weeks ago but the damage did not become evident until earlier last week and the staff tried to correct it but ran out of time. That was late Friday when club officials contacted police. We understand if they can prove sabotage insurance and not the industry will pick up the huge bill for this latest track fiasco in Queensland.

The fate of Saturday’s $14.5mn Magic Millions blockbuster hinges on a planned drop-in cricket pitch-style turf transfer. This costly operation is being undertaken by the same team that saved the 2022 Melbourne Cup, when a protester pumped 1000 litres of an oily substance onto Flemington track just hours before the big race.

The Courier-Mail reports that Flemington track manager Liam O’Keeffe has been seconded by the GCTC to oversee the salvage operation, along with experts and equipment from Victorian-based Evergreen Turf which helped save the 2022 Melbourne Cup and has worked on Olympic and Commonwealth Games arenas.

A special turf-cutting machine will be used to pull up a surplus section of grass and transplant it in the 250sqm damaged area. Excavation work will begin today (Monday morning). Officials are hopeful the replacement grass will be installed tomorrow (Tuesday) before the track is test-galloped on Wednesday or Thursday - the deadline for deciding if the MM race has to be moved to either Eagle Farm or the Sunshine Coast.

HOOFNOTE:

FOR those who have contacted us requesting more information on what disgruntled Member Wally Gleeson raised at the AGM of the Brisbane Racing Club (which was censored for some reason by the mainstream racing media) we are working on a follow-up story that will provide more detail and hope to run it tomorrow or Wednesday.

 

WHY WAS TRACK STAFF WITNESSED DESPERATELY TRYING TO CORRECT PROBLEM THE CLUB REPORTED DAYS LATER AS SABOTAGE?

THE Gold Coast Turf Club is being accused by some of its long-time stakeholders of a cover-up in blaming sabotage for damage caused to the track by a maintenance mistake.

LGHR believes officials were badly advised on the problem and question why police were only called in on Friday night to address the sabotage claims when track staff was seen desperately trying to correct the problem days earlier.

We have spoken to witnesses who saw track staff working on the damaged section of the track long before the sabotage theory emerged and this is something police should follow up on.

First the finger of blame was pointed at the anti-horse racing activist who would never do anything to injure an animal. Now LGHR understands GCTC officials have pointed police in the direction of a disgruntled former employee of a training company they are associated with who was sacked recently in controversial circumstances? Critics say they are clutching at straws when the real problem is ‘in house’.

Detectives have called for any witnesses with information or homes (we are told the nearest are 1km away) with relevant CCTV footage to come forward as the new LNP Government weighed into the debate. Acting Premier Jarrod Bleijie called the ‘turf vandalism disgraceful’ and said he hoped police would ‘throw the book’’ at the alleged culprits. Someone should advise him that there’s another side to the story.

Here’s hoping that this is the final chapter in an internal issue that the GCTC has failed to address over measures to properly maintain the dogged new track for over a year. Sadly, it seems unlikely that Racing Queensland will get involved. Asked on Melbourne Radio if the damage to the track might have been caused by something other than ‘sabotage’, CEO Jason Scott said it wasn’t for him to determine and that was a matter to be addressed by the GCTC.

Hopefully the situation will be made clearer when the results of tests on the damaged section of the track are known. Warren Williams, a former track manager with the Brisbane Racing Club now working with RQ, is overseeing this. He was asked recently by another highly respected ‘track expert’ to ‘ensure that the results came to directly to him to ensure independence.’

There are those who believe GCTC officials should be asked to ‘explain’ the on-going disaster that has dogged the new track and saw it closed for nine months. During that time one of the country’s top ‘track mangers’ departed almost as quickly as he arrived. There are those who insist the club should ‘bite the bullet’ and invite their ‘Mr Fix-it’ back. Steve Andrews remains on the pay roll but his expertise has been largely ignored since he was consigned to the ‘coal mines’ at Beaudesert reportedly because a couple of high profile officials don’t like him.

Since his departure the situation has ended in tears several times for the club. There can be no repeat of Saturday’s first-ever MM twilight meeting having to be moved from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast after jockeys voiced safety concerns following the mystery poisoning of a section of the track near the home turn. But problems with the track will continue to occur if officials refuse to address the issue and gain support for their sabotage theory.

How the damaged section of the track is repaired will determine whether the major MM meeting proceeds at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Some close to the action are already questioning plans to right the sinking ship.

There is reportedly a plan to move large sections of turf from elsewhere on the track and hope that it knits well enough in time as a replacement for the damage section. One reliable ‘expert’ is questioning the dye treatment that has reportedly already been applied to the track. He says this will kill the roots in the grass which need to grow again.

MM co-owners Katie Page and Gerry Harvey have paid tribute to the racing community for pitching in to save the meeting, including SCTC boss John Miller who approved the mammoth race move within minutes and worked around the clock to make it happen. It came at a cost for his club losing today’s planned race meeting.

Officials remain ‘quietly optimistic’ next Saturday’s rich MM race day will proceed at the Gold Coast but others are saying it is ‘long odds’. Much will depend on how quickly the damaged track recovers, whether it can be repaired to meet safety requirements and more importantly that heavy rain stays away during the week.

Opinions remain divided on what or who caused the ‘poisoning’ of the  track as police launch an investigation. LGHR is more chance of riding a winner on MM than the constabulary of convicting a saboteur.

Here are questions and facts that need to be considered:

WHY was track staff trying desperately to correct the problem days before the alleged sabotage occurred and were club officials aware of this?

SHOULD police be interviewing witnesses at the coal face who claim the problem occurred because of over-spraying of a fungus treatment and a failure to turn off the boom spray resulting in a double dosing?

IS there a conflict of interest for a NSW-based racing identity who has been bagging LGHR for suggesting this maintenance mistake is the ‘real reason’ for the track problem? Although he declares himself a ‘keen racing follower’ on social media, our research indicates the gentleman is involved with a company that provides turf products, including those used to eliminate fungicide on race tracks. We wonder if he is involved in any way with track maintenance at the Gold Coast.

WHY would anti-racing activists attempt to sabotage the track leading up to the MM when as they say such action would risk injuring the horses that they are out to protect?

HAVE MM officials pointed police in the direction of a disgruntled former employee of a training company they are associated with who was sacked recently in controversial circumstances?

DOES RQ Queensland CEO Jason Scott believe sabotage was responsible for the track damage? Anyone who listened to an interview with him on Melbourne Racing Radio on Saturday would know he doesn’t. Scott pointed to the pattern of the damage highlighting how it didn’t fit with a random attack of sabotage.

WHY can SCOTT see that there is a pattern of damage to the track not consistent with a random attack of sabotage and the GCTC can’t? If vandals were responsible why weren’t there any foot-prints to be detected as would be consistent had that been the reason for the damage?

HOW well advised was Acting Premier Jarrod Bleijie when he accepted the theory that sabotage was responsible, describing the ‘vandalism as disgraceful’ and called for police to ‘throw the book’ at those responsible? Perhaps he should have sought the opinion of the RQ CEO rather than club officials.

WHAT chance is the biggest Gold Coast meeting of the year of proceeding next Saturday when a cloud hangs over plans to correct the problem and whether the track will be rated ‘safe’ in time?

LGHR hopes it is. Racing should consider itself lucky to have such a wonderful back-up as the Sunshine Coast.

 

DON’T BELIEVE THIS SABOTAGE BS, ANOTHER GC TRACK BALLS-UP

WAS the problem that threatens the prestigious Magic Millions Carnival from not being run at the Gold Coast the next two Saturdays caused by anti-racing sabotage or the track being inadvertently poisoned during the treatment of a fungus problem?

Serious damage near the home turn is so bad that this weekend’s meeting – the MM Carnival Opener featuring the $3 million Sunlight Slot Race and the $500,000 the Wave – was sensationally transferred at the 11^th hour to the Sunshine Coast when jockeys refused to give it the ‘all-clear’ safety wise after galloping horses over the problem area on Friday afternoon.

"The advice from turf experts was that next Saturday's Magic Millions meeting will be fine to proceed," RQ CEO Jason Scott said. "They believe the track will be able to be fixed up." That was reassuring after his comments to News Ltd earlier on Friday that the meeting only 24 hours away would proceed at the Gold Coast.

Racing Queensland and GCTC officials are still trying to determine what has damaged the new multi-million problem track. The Murdoch Media reported that officials were refusing to rule out foul play by anti-racing campaigners and full-time security had been employed immediately to guard the track in the lead-up to the major MM meeting on Saturday, January 11.

LGHR has been assured by those close to the coalface that there was no foul play involved but a mistake in the treatment of a fungus on the track. Samples have been sent for urgent testing to determine the substance that has damaged a 25m by 10m section of the track near the 500m mark.

“This is just another colossal balls-up by officialdom. One wonders what Gerry Harvey and the new Government think about this,” a high profile Gold Coast trainer told LGHR. “The trio of rocket scientists running the club will no doubt be looking for someone to blame. Disaster after disaster has occurred since they railroaded Steve Andrews to Beaudesert. He was the one track expert who could have avoided these problems from Day 1 but they wouldn’t listen to him.

“You have to pity the poor bloke who is coming from Melbourne to oversee all tracks for Racing Queensland. He will inherit this on-going headache. After three years of stuff-ups and many millions of dollars wasted heads must roll this time.

“Forget all this bullshit about track sabotage. The problem occurred because of over-spraying of the fungus treatment. The damaged section is where they turn the tractor around and have not turned the boom spray off resulting in a double dosing of the treatment.”

The trainer told LGHR that those who know but are not prepared to speak out in fear of upsetting RQ or the GCTC was that if any significant rain fell the big meeting in a week’s time was in jeopardy.

The Murdoch Media reports that representatives from a leading turf farm in New South Wales have been engaged to oversee urgent works next week to ensure next Saturday's bumper Magic Millions meeting can proceed as planned.

The sudden change in venue has caused multiple problems. Different bookies are applying different rules for those who have already bet. Channel 7's coverage of the much spruiked twilight meeting is in disarray, with the network going to great lengths to broadcast it on free to air TV.

The BRC reportedly offered to host Saturday’s meeting at Eagle Farm. However, the decision was ultimately made to move it to the Sunshine Coast instead, with the club already hosting a meeting on Sunday.

This is the just another chapter in the dramas that have engulfed the Gold Coast track (sadly some of these could have been avoided). The new multi-million dollar circuit was out of action for nine months after a meeting last March when horses resembled those racing in the desert at Birdsville.

In 2023, the Magic Millions was washed out after just 14mm of rainfall on race morning, when a rogue sprinkler was to blame for a wet patch on the track.

The brainstrust currently in charge have decided they have no option but to stage a phantom meeting at the Gold Coast while the Sunshine Coast comes to their rescue race-wise. The reason for this is that they have thousands attending and it is too late to stop the catering. It will be interesting to see – among the ‘big name’ invitees, especially officials and politicians, who turns up at the Gold Coast to put their snouts in the feed trough and who travels up to the Sunny Coast to see the ‘real’ racing.

What odds RQ and the GCTC put this latest diabolical disaster down to ‘more bad luck’. Wouldn’t you liked to have been a fly on the wall at the Harvey Estate when news filtered through about the change of venue?

IN a HOOFNOTE to this story we were sent this photograph by a Gold Coast racing stakeholder who commented:

'WASN'T it refreshing to see that amid all the doom and gloom over the track and the doubts confronting the Magic Millions Carnival proceeding that GCTC Racing Manager Ian Brown could still find a reason to smile.

Here's hoping the first step toward solution of the track problem - observors say they have administered a dye to the damaged surface - doesn't kill the roots of the grass as some are saying and worsen the fiasco.

Guess we should all adopt the motto of one of Mrs Brown's boys and ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE'.

 

 

RACING MINISTER NEEDS TO INTERVENE IF RQ DOESN’T ASK BRC FOR ‘PLEASE EXPLAIN’ ON REFUSAL TO PROVIDE MINUTES FROM AGM NOW

PRESSURE is mounting on the new LNP Government to instruct Racing Queensland to deliver a ‘please explain’ to the Brisbane Racing Club over its continued refusal to immediately provide a copy of the minutes of the controversial AGM that was held in October.

Several requests by concerned Club Member Wally Gleeson to David Koch, the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of the BRC, have met with this unacceptable response:

Re: minutes to Members

‘Minutes of the 2024 AGM will not become available to Members until they are confirmed as correct at the 2025 AGM.

Notices of meetings require a minimum of 21 days’ notice; and we publish the Draft AGM minutes from the previous year when providing that notice of meeting.

Hope that clarifies things around minutes and notices.

I am happy to discuss this matter with you if the process requires further clarification.’

Wally, father of former Director Simon Gleeson, has been frustrated in his attempts to obtain a copy of the minutes, since first requesting same a month after the AGM.

Gleeson Jnr, a highly respected young Director of the BRC, parted company with the Board following a disagreement over governance and integrity issues regarding transparency and perceived conflicts of interest relating to luxury units purchased by Directors and former senior staff in the Village Green complex.

Gleeson Snr asked a series of questions of BRC Chairman Neville Bell at the AGM but from all reports was fobbed off. This important and controversial meeting was incredibly not covered by the Murdoch Media – some say because of the closeness of some high profile editorial identities and racing scribes to BRC hierarchy.  

Refusing to be stonewalled and encouraged back then by a silent minority within the club membership, Wally Gleeson pressed ahead with his determination to get some answers and a month after the AGM sent this letter to the BRC:

‘IT is now one month since the Brisbane Racing Club held its Annual General Meeting on 16th October 2024 at Eagle Farm Racecourse.

As a financial Member of the Club, also an attendee at this AGM, I wish to exercise my right by requesting that I be supplied with a copy of the minutes taken at this AGM.

I request that these minutes be either emailed or posted to me at either of the below addresses within the next 14 days.’

Far from happy with the BRC response which was nothing short of embarrassing, Gleeson fired back:

‘I refer to my emails regarding the availability of a draft copy of the BRC’s minutes from the AGM held on the 16th of October 2024.

As stated (before) I would like your explanation as to why these draft minutes are not available to me or any member seeking an inspection of the minute book or requesting a copy of the said AGM draft copy minutes.  

It is now three weeks since my second request and as you indicated that you are happy to provide further clarification surrounding the reasons for not providing a draft copy of these minutes I would now like your urgent reply.’

ALMOST three months down the track Gleeson is none the wiser, his requests continue to fall on ‘deaf ears’ but his determination is even stronger buoyed by growing support from many sections of the industry. The problem the BRC thought would go away has all of a sudden come back to bite them in the backside.

The disappointing aspect of the entire affair from Gleeson’s perspective – and that of many others – has been the seeming reluctance of Racing Queensland to get too involved despite CEO Jason Scott at the AGM promising to investigate any ‘legitimate’ complaints against the BRC.

It would seem that the problems here are political. The Board was Labor-appointed and its Chairman Steve Wilson is known for his closeness to former Racing Minister Grace Grace. Scott was appointed with her support. Graham Quirk seems to be the only one keen to help and it’s time the Racing Minister catapulted the former Lord Mayor into the Chairman’s role.

But the situation lies far deeper than that. From the days when Sir Edward Williams and Peter Gallagher were chairmen of the then Queensland Turf Club, they were known for their closeness and loyalty to the LNP. For some unknown reason, insiders say Neville Bell, chairman of the BRC (the relatively newly merged club), became known for his support of Labor’s Grace Grace. Problem is the former Racing Minister failed to deliver on millions in financial help to provide a much needed replacement for a major grandstand at Eagle Farm. Either that or she ran out of time.

Advisors on racing to the new LNP Government have made them well aware of how fondly ‘Nifty Neville’ was of ‘Amazing Grace’. That association could come back to haunt the BRC when the new Racing Minister Tim Mander gets his head around the debacle surrounding the current Board and the feedback he is receiving.

Mander highlighted early days his no-nonsense approach when controversial Albion Park Harness Racing Club CEO Scott Steele claimed back his job after fighting serious charges in court. Mander warned the code, the worst performing of the three in Queensland and on the nose as far as punters are concerned, that any Steele comeback risked their ‘financial supply chain’ being cut by the Government. Steele was gone within 24 hours.

The mail is strong that Mander is on the verge of stepping in to this problem at the BRC that continues to cross his desk. Perhaps he is waiting first to see what Racing Queensland does. Forget about Chairman Wilson – he’s ‘gonski’. Here’s hoping Scott survives but someone needs to whisper in his ear that RQ and not the BRC are running racing in Queensland as many high profile identities of rival TAB clubs are now claiming. Mander needs to step in and require the BRC to meet their obligations of providing a copy of the minutes of the AGM to Wally Gleeson ASAP, not when it suits them. How the AGM (specifically questions concerning ownership of units in the Village Green) was reported in these could well determine what steps are taken next and that won’t be nice for the BRC. It needs to happen before Neville Bell ends his tenure as Chairman, which we understand won’t be long.

You might be asking why LGHR is focussing on this at a time when one of Australia’s richest men will be enjoying his annual ‘MMs benefit’, some might say at the expense of the racing industry in Queensland. We have long believed Magic Millions – as great a carnival as it is – represents a ‘restriction of trade’ for those owners of horses ineligible to race for the big money restricted to yearlings sold at a private enterprise sale but that’s another story and we’ll leave the ‘suck up and survive’ coverage to the ‘spin doctors’ with their noses in the MM trough.

The answer is simple why the Murdoch Media, some at SKY and others at Racing Radio TAB (morning ‘Feathers’) refuse to report on the most controversial AGM in the history of the major club in Queensland. Some of Rupert’s disciples are in bed with Directors at the BRC and their turf scribes are more interested in boosting their own image in the eyes of hierarchy at the BRC where they enjoy the social trimmings rather than provide constructive coverage and criticism when it is needed.

Here’s the situation as we know it:

The BRC is regulated under the Corporations Act 2001. It operates as a company limited by guarantee, which makes it subject to the provisions of the Corporations Act. This includes compliance with requirements for governance, financial reporting, and member rights.

Key points about its regulation under the Act include:

Structure: The BRC is registered as a company, and its governance is determined by its constitution alongside obligations under the Corporations Act.

Meeting and Reporting Requirements: AGMs must follow the Corporations Act’s provisions, such as preparing financial statements and allowing members to vote on key resolutions.  Members have rights under the Act to access certain documents, including the minutes of meetings.

Director and Member Governance: Elections, director responsibilities, and member rights align with the Corporations Act, ensuring transparency and accountability.

If you need specifics on how the BRC operates within this framework, reviewing their constitution or speaking with their corporate governance team would provide clarity. Their constitution and operations are designed to meet legal obligations while reflecting the club's unique nature as a racing and membership-based entity.

You might be wondering what the BRC’s obligations are under the Corporations Act to provide members with a copy of the minutes from an AGM on request?

We understand that under the Corporations Act 2001, specifically sections 251AA and 251A, a company is required to provide members with access to certain records, including minutes of meetings. However, in the case of the BRC, which is likely a not-for-profit organization or a club, the obligations may differ from those of a for-profit company.

Here’s a general outline of the obligations under the Corporations Act for providing minutes of an AGM:

Right to inspect minutes: Members of the club generally have the right to inspect minutes of meetings, including AGMs, under the Corporations Act. If the BRC is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, the members (or any person acting on their behalf) can request a copy of the minutes.

Provision of minutes: According to section 251AA, minutes of meetings (such as an AGM) must be signed by the chairperson. The company or club is obligated to keep minutes of meetings. Section 251A allows a member to request access to these minutes.

Request procedure: If a member of the BRC requests a copy of the minutes from the AGM, the club is required to provide the minutes within a reasonable time frame (usually within seven to 14 days).

Fees: Under the Corporations Act, the club may charge a reasonable fee for providing a copy of the minutes, though this must be a reasonable amount.

Exemptions: There may be certain exemptions, such as if the minutes contain confidential or privileged information that the club has a right to withhold. However, if the minutes contain only general meeting proceedings, there is usually an obligation to provide them.

And one thing we forgot to mention Wally Gleeson has done his homework and thoroughly checked the current BRC Constitution finding no adverse conditions eg By-Laws.

First thing in the ‘Constitution of BRISBANE RACING CLUB LTD’:

Interpretation

Annual General Meeting means the general meeting held each year as required by the Corporations Act 2001 and the Constitution.

This clearly means that by not providing a copy of the AGM minutes the BRC Ltd is in breach of the Corporations Act. Surely it’s not Rafferty’s Rules and they are receiving the wrong advice or simply don’t care.

Furthermore, the Chairman is required to sign a copy of the minutes. That is why it is important these minutes are provided (with the help of RQ or the new Racing Minister) before Neville Bell heads off into retirement.

MEMO from the racing industry and its legion of stakeholders to RQ, the new LNP GOVERNMENT & the new RACING MINISTER:

‘INTEGRITY LOST, EVERYTHING LOST – THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENCY OFF THE TRACK IN QUEENSLAND RACING, STARTING WITH THE NUMBER ONE CLUB.’

 

BREAK OUT THE TISSUES – ‘BRC NOT A CLUB TO RELY ON HANDOUTS’

BREAK out the tissues – the poor old Brisbane Racing Club needs a major handout before one of its crumbling grandstands falls over and they want the taxpayers of Queensland (or industry funds) to help foot the multi-million dollar bill.

And guess who’s started a campaign with the new LNP Government on behalf of the State’s leading gallops club for a ‘hardship fund’? None other than The Courier-Mail which continues to refuse to ask a few simple questions that went unanswered at the AGM of the BRC concerning the sale of luxury units in the Village Green, who bought these and what was paid for same.

Karl deKroo, the new CEO of the BRC, is ‘crying poor’ in the latest edition of the super-thin Brisbane ‘fish and chips’ wrapper. If it wasn’t for the Harvey Norman ads a small gust of wind would blow your daily down the street before the dog can get his mouth around it.

After all the tens of millions that were spent getting the new track at Eagle Farm right – that took an eternity – deKroo declares: The BRC is not a club that has relied on handouts.  Apart from the cost of getting the track right (RQ might put a figure on that), how much extra had to be invested in the safety sight screen when jockeys refused to ride until problems were corrected and who’s paying for it? Perhaps RQ CEO Jason Scott would like to answer that one.

deKroo tells readers of the CM that: “Over the past decade, our Board and management team have worked tirelessly to diversify income streams through a strategic property masterplan and investment in our licensed clubs network. Every dollar we generate is reinvested into racing and our racecourses. (A legacy of the Bell era).

“We’ve self-funded a $50m training complex that brings little direct financial return to the club but drives the entire Queensland thoroughbred industry forward. That is the kind of commitment Eagle Farm deserves now. (Don’t quite understand that one).

“We certainly don’t begrudge the major investment that has been made into greyhounds, or country and provincial racing, but there does need to be recognition of the critical importance of BRC venues and the need to invest in metro racing for the good of the entire industry.” (That's nice).

No-one disagrees with him on the contribution that the BRC makes to the industry in Queensland through its two major tracks but as he’s raised the property masterplan, which we guess involves the construction of luxury unit blocks, perhaps the new CEO would like to answer those questions that his Chairman failed to when asked nicely by Member Wally Gleeson at the last AGM after Wally’s son Simon departed as a director of the club in controversial circumstances.

In this plea for help for the BRC – ‘Nifty’ Nev must have decided it was best for the CEO to do the bidding with the new Government because he is about to retire as Chairman and some felt he got a bit too close to ‘Amazing Grace’ during her long term as Racing Minister when she failed to deliver the grandstand finances that were so desperately needed. Even if it is going to ‘wrack and ruin’ as reported, many are questioning how much use a new facility would get on any but a few big race days at the Farm and whether the investment can be justified.

Karl deKroo reminded us that:

“Eagle Farm is the engine room of Queensland racing. It is headquarters for thoroughbred racing in this state and it is unthinkable that such a critical venue could be allowed to wither on the vine.

“After all its track issues it is now the best and most consistent racing surface in Queensland, if not Australia. There needs to be spectator facilities that are fitting of Queensland racing’s showcase venue.”

He said the BRC was supportive of the former State Government’s spending at other tracks around the state but felt the time had come to support Queensland’s major racing facility.

The club was cognisant of the squeeze on Government money with the 2032 Olympic Games on the horizon. Far from being “just another problem”, he said the club wanted to be part of the solution. Apparently that includes the Doomben infield playing a role during the Olympics as a quarantine centre, facility for equestrian competition or training fields for other sports. The BRC stands ready to collaborate on practical, innovative solutions that benefit racing, the Olympics, and the wider community.

It would be nice to hear the thoughts of the new Racing Minister and the RQ Board on this topic. As for the CM well perhaps Trenton Akers, who unlike many of his colleagues does not ‘suck up to survive’ as a turf journalist, would like to do their job and gets some answers to those ‘luxury unit’ questions that – take our word – Wally Gleeson has far from given up on.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE RACING MEDIA – LGHR HAS A RESOLUTION ‘NOT TO LET THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS DESTROY OUR INNER PEACE’. AS FOR OUR WISH LIST FOR 2025 – WE CAN’T TELL YOU WHAT THAT IS. IF WE DID IT WOULDN’T COME TRUE & DESTROY THE SURPRISES THAT LIE AHEAD.

 

GREG WILL CONTINUE HIS FIGHT IN NEW YEAR FOR MORE JOCKS

WE can’t finish the year without a final say from the one man who has worked hardest to overcome the shortage of jockeys in the bush. It’s a no-win battle but GREG BLANCHARD refuses to give up. In his latest ‘exclusive’ Greg tells us that:

‘BRIONY Moore has been given the job of RTO (Registered Training Organization Manager) at Racing Queensland.

I wish her well and hope she gets the support needed to make it a success .

Briony is the sixth RTO Manager in around a decade.

I see apprentice Isaac Sit from Hong Kong rode  his first winner at Strathalbyn last week. His parents were both jockeys.

I live in hope that we can have a working relationship with an Asian country here in Queensland. The opportunities are there and needed.’

 

REGULAR contributor PETER MAIR from SYDNEY weights in on two topics that have been covered by the popular THE STRAIGHT website:

RATIONALISING RACING POLICY

‘ANOTHER excellent story (this week) published by The Straight on the denying of race club rationalisation in Victoria -- overlaid with misgivings about the ATC now beholden to RNSW.

As is, it seems racing administrators in Victoria and NSW are looking for more money everywhere bar requiring commercial viability for race meetings not presently recovering costs from the tax-take on total turnover.

You seem to know where to get the numbers that might shine a light on which classes of race meeting are profitable and those not.

As an outsider-observer, it is not possible to do much with the turnover numbers disclosed for the TABs which, these days, are swamped by fixed-odds betting and presumably exotics bets with corporates paying dividends matched to the TABs.

Administrators 'must' know those numbers and, presumably, pleading 'commercial in confidence' to deny their disclosure is hardly in the public interest.

Any chance of shining a light on this darkness?

 

And this one:

‘MONEY FROM ANYWHERE WILL DO’

AS a source of 'relevant numbers' about funding the racing industry, The Straight is consistently the most informative of the facts.

The numbers revealed put minds into overdrive in understanding the implications for funding racing across the states and, collectively, nationally.

At the same time, administrators' responses expose their grasping character. Some would take a loan against a grandmother's house and waste the proceeds on another dead-loss race meeting. Some others would sell race tracks and do the same.

Politicians are, apparently, left speechless -- they say and do nothing to stop the rot.

The grab for money for racing has no shame -- as you implicitly observe, money from anywhere will do:

......... there is .........the Point of Consumption Tax funding model, which more and more states favour.

Racing Queensland and TasRacing get 80 per cent of POCT generated by the government from both racing and sports betting, while Victoria’s regime is a 50-50 split to the broader racing industry. NSW, which sends 33 per cent of POCT back to racing, is seeking a new regime, similar to that of Victoria. Western Australian racing gets 30 per cent of its government’s POCT tax receipts and South Australia 20 per cent.

The upside for the racing industry on these deals comes when wagering increases, regardless of whether that wagering is on racing or sports.

Spare my days!

Does no one question the sense of direct 'off-budget' diversions of general tax revenue  to fund racing? Surely, the tax-revenue taken from sports-betting should not be connected in any way with funding for racing.

In this context, what happens in Canberra, the ACT, deserves attention. The ACT government makes a modest direct  allocation of funds for racing from its budget annually, there is no connection, no link, to the POCT tax-take in Canberra.

This in sharp contrast to the above mentioned: Racing Queensland and TasRacing get 80 per cent of POCT generated by the government from both racing and sports betting............

The current decline in the tax-take from racing gambling allows pause for reflection. It should be the catalyst for state politicians and racing administrators rethinking how this mess was made and to get about fixing it -- but not by diverting more money under the table to racing.

 

MIXED RESPONSE TO REINTRODUCTION OF SATURDAY NIGHT RACING

THERE has been a mixed response to the reintroduction of Saturday night racing in Victoria with the launch last Saturday night providing arguably more questions than answers.

The four-night summer trial was requested by the newly-constituted Southside Racing to assist its effort in promoting racing in south-east Victoria and engaging local communities.

Cranbourne previously held two to three Saturday night meetings annually from 2011 to 2019 prior to their cessation during the COVID pandemic. 

The trial is designed to allow Southside Racing and Racing Victoria to better understand key metrics, such as attendance, wagering and engagement, around Saturday night racing post the COVID era.

Key features of the trial are:

• NO increase in the volume of meetings conducted with the four Saturday night fixtures moved from other timeslots to facilitate the trial;
• The Saturday night trial will be conducted across four consecutive weeks from 28 December to 17 January;
• There will be no night racing in Victoria on Fridays, 27 December and 3 January, and Thursdays 9 and 16 January;
• Racing will conclude no later than 8.45pm with Southside Racing planning to entertain crowds thereafter with live music and entertainment;
• Country level prizemoney will be offered to ensure a point of difference from the Saturday afternoon metropolitan meeting; and
• The meetings will serve to provide opportunities for a range of participants who may not be competing at the metropolitan meeting on the day.

During the consultation process, key stakeholder groups and leading stables indicated to Southside Racing and RV their willingness to support the trial in the agreed format. 

Notably, feedback from Wagering Service Providers indicated that twice as many of their racing customers are active in the 5.30pm-8.30pm Saturday timeslot than the Tuesday and Thursday daytime slots and 50-60% more than the Wednesday and Sunday daytime slots.

RV’s executive general manager of racing Matt Welsh said the trial had a range of potential benefits. “These meetings will start earlier to intersect with the large volume of active customers engaging in Saturday metro meetings, while also enabling an earlier finish for participants.”

Supporters of the Saturday night experiment have been critical of some top trainers who have bagged the initiative saying: ‘If they don’t want to race at these meetings they don’t have to. It gives those who are a better opportunity.’

It’s not as though the turnover was disappointing in comparison to the night this Cranbourne meeting would normally have been run and conducting the experiment as a joint-code fixture helped boost the crowd and the interest.

Some punters recognized the positive of having a secondary meeting to invest on – Toowoomba in Queensland – but locals north of the border were quick to point out that betting on Clifford Park has been labelled a ‘wealth hazard’.

For too long the form at Toowoomba has been hard to follow – whether the meetings are run day, night or twilight. Saturday was no exception with feedback from a couple of punters suggesting stewards should be taking a harder look at how some of the races are run.

 

OWNERS ANGER AT BEING ‘BLINDSIDED’ BY NEW SET OF FEES

OUR story on the increased training fees advisement to owners from a couple of leading stables in south-east Queensland has caused much discussion and plenty of feedback.

To say some owners aren’t happy would be an understatement. There are other trainers who have distanced themselves from the increases.

We won’t name the stable whose owner sent us the directive. Needless to say this owner is looking for an ‘out’ because there is a belief among many of his colleagues that there is ‘too much penny-pinching’ involved.

LGHR also received received a notification from a couple of owners who questioned if we were aware that some trainers now charge ‘appearance fees’ for going to race meetings.

One wrote: “I thought it was part of their job – and trainers say they don’t make money from training fees.’

In recent times LGHR heard from a retired bookie now living overseas who decided to continue his interest in racing by buying a share in a well-bred filly (mare) that ended up a Black Type placegetter.

He chose to sell his interest after the high profile Victorian trainer included a $300-plus fee on his bill for ‘attending the races’ when the mare was engaged.

‘Apparently the bloke does this for every horse he has engaged and some days there are plenty. When I questioned it he said he could instead send along his foreman and that would only cost half as much. I sold the horse.’

 

WHY THE SECRECY SURROUNDING NEW GREYHOUND FACILITY?

THE time is fast approaching when Queensland will be the home to the nation’s most advanced greyhound racing complex nearing completion at Purga outside Ipswich.

We decided to take some photographs of progress on the world class, multi-million dollar facility as it nears completion but were greeted by a sign on the front gate: ‘No photos or videos’ and ‘No public access’.

Why the secrecy and who gives a shit?

Considering the multi millions of taxpayer and industry money spent on the project and the cost blow-out that has occurred, the public is entitled to have photographs taken of its progress.

We can do without legal troubles so decided not to publish the ones we took without entering the property. It won't be long and they'll be begging the media to photograph the joint.

What surprises us is that the new CEO of the Great Brisbane Greyhound Centre is a former high profile journalist and Editor with News Ltd, who I am sure in his day would have gone to any length to keep the public informed. ‘Gleeso’ would have to agree – they should be singing the praises of their showcase facility from the rooftops, not trying to hide it.

From what we could see progress on the grandstand, circle track lights and other buildings are taking shape. It is certainly an exciting era for greyhound participants and fans.

Unfortunately, like most major projects in Queensland (the Cross River Rail is a good example) costs have blown out since the project was first announced by the Palaszczuk six years ago. That figure has doubled from $40mn to $80mn which Racing Queensland has blamed for its current financial black hole.

LGHR is dumb as dog shit when it comes to understanding finances but we thought the multi-million dollar project was being paid for from the Racing Infrastructure Fund, which is financed from the exclusive wagering license fee paid to the State and allocated by the Government to approved projects. Perhaps it is the cost blow-out portion that has to be met by the industry. If that’s the case it’s hardly fair on the gallops – we won’t mention the trots because that’s a basket case in Queensland.

Animal welfare is at the core of the design and construction of the new venue, which will be the only one in Australia to feature three tracks – a straight track, a two-turn track and a one-turn track.

Once completed, hopefully early in the New Year, the Brisbane and Ipswich greyhound racing clubs will co-locate to the venue.

Greyhound racing is the fast growing code in Queensland and contributes close to $150mn to the Brisbane and Ipswich economies and supports over 1,000 full-time jobs. During construction the Purga project has created close to 100 jobs.

 

A FORWARD PLAN FOR AUSTRALIAN RACING

REGULAR contributor PETER MAIR from SYDNEY weighs in with another interesting read:

‘MUCH as it may suit the compromised mainstream racing media to simply ignore the portents for the future funding of Australian racing, it is another thing for The Straight to not offer sensibly prescient editorial assessment.

Comment of this ilk ducks the issue:

Future taxation projections are an inexact science, especially in a market as dynamic as wagering, but given racing industry funding is tied to taxation revenues, such variation makes it difficult for racing bodies to forward plan.

As we all know the forward-planning default option of  racing bodies is to couple grossly exaggerated claims of the 'benefits' racing delivers, with similarly flawed proposals seeking more ear-marked POCT revenue to flow directly, from taxes on racing gambling, to the racing industry -- all this without proper parliamentary scrutiny of this plundering of the public purse.

Who thinks the NSW administrators are not already presenting a case to either/both lift the rate of POCT to 20% and to ear-mark a higher percentage to flow direct to their coffers to cover the 'cost' of promised racing and prizemoney they cannot deliver. 

Someone needs to say 'STOP'.

Australian racing, frankly and fairly, is entitled to much less public funding than it is now given, given in ways that deny proper public policy scrutiny of pay-outs from the public purse. Other claims on taxpayer funds are actually deserving -- dead loss racing is not.

Which state racing administrator will be the first to say that it will stop funding 'some' race meetings that are clearly a dead-loss in terms of taxes taken from betting turnover not covering much at all of prizemoney unfairly paid out 'from the public purse', however that may be deceptively disguised.

Talking turkey is seasonally demanding!’

 

OUR MATE COL HASN’T BEEN SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME IN SUN

WE love hearing from our old mate COL DIXON of TOWNSVILLE and here’s his latest thoughts on a couple of issues:

‘REPORTING on the Pro Punters’ bets are erroneous. Winnings include his initial Stakes.

Most punters are aware that winnings are the amount collected in excess of the stake.

From memory the two major bets he had were in the $70-$80,000 range on which he won less than $20,000 in total. I’m surprised to see you followed Fairfax’s assertion.

On another topic:

BRICKBATS to Bernadette Cooper, Michael, Maxworthy and the producers re their Playbook show (on SKY).

Their air-time gets increases to 60 minutes and they just waste the first 30 with frivolities.

They could easily get another industry participant to do trackwork reviews or perhaps another tipster.

It was good to see top jockey Jimmy Orman join the SKY hosting team of the Friday night racing launch on the Gold Coast. Why not use him whilst he is out injured?

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE TEAM AT LGHR

IN conclusion LGHR would like to wish all our readers and contributors – whether they like us or not – a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a safe, healthy, happy and prosperous NEW YEAR. And to the subscribers to our LATE MAIL which finances the publishing of this website, a big thank you for your continued support.  

 

 

SHOULD BONUSES HAVE GONE TO OWNERS & PUNTERS INSTEAD?

THE launch of Gold Coast night racing last Friday was a spectacular success but we felt the club got their priorities wrong in one aspect of the promotion.

Without the owners and punters there would be no racing but they chose to focus on the winning trainers and jockeys providing $10,000 and $5,000 bonuses.

Great initiative but they already get bonuses for winning. Why not add the $10,000 bonus to the successful owners’ prizemoney purse and hold a draw for an on-course punter to invest the other $5,000 on his or her fancy. With the TAB heavily involved in the night opener they could have doubled that bonus.

Racing under the stars at the Gold Coast should have happened long ago. It is the best venue in the State if not the land for a Hong Kong Happy Valley style of night racing.

Turf Club officials told the local newspaper, the Bulletin, that: ‘What’s being dubbed the Big Bash cricket version of horse racing has hit the Gold Coast – and proven a winner.

Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines told the Bulletin: “It was just a massive success. There was a crowd of nearly 10,000 people. We put a couple of shows on with an electric violinist and a lights show.”

Highlight of the racing was the Magic Millions The Debut for unraced two-year-olds worth $250,000. Track-side all eyes were skyward watching a stunning drone display and laser lights show among the attractions which some media identities have described as even better than the one on Sydney Harbour before The Everest .

“It’s all about racing tourism so for us this product is something that people will want to come and see,” Lines said. “They’ll actually come to the Gold Coast stay here and come to it, watch it and go to the theme parks and stay for the weekend. It’s all built around tourism, the Big Bash of racing.”

Interestingly, the GCTC has started discussions with the Dubai Race Club for future events under the stars, hoping to attract interstate and international attendees.

“It certainly affords us some big opportunities. We’ll do about six to eight of these a year, they may not always be Friday nights – we might do a couple of Wednesdays – we’re just working through our program now,” Lines said. “It’s all about giving people an experience that they would never get anywhere else in Australia.”

Another twilight race meeting – starting in the late afternoon and heading into the night – will occur on January 4 with six Magic Millions carnival feature races worth $2.5 million.

The next big full race meet under the lights at the Gold Coast Turf Club is scheduled for Friday, January 24 – which is expected to be a thrilling night time start to the Australia Day long weekend.

 

LITTLE WONDER BATTLING OWNERS ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE

WHAT prompted LGHR to suggest owners need to be encouraged more (because without them there would be no racing) was an email we received concerning rises in training fees for some leading stables in Queensland.

Little wonder more and more syndicates are emerging (that’s another story about what an investor needs his horse to win just to get his money back) when you take a look at the cost of training a horse on a weekly basis.

Just cop the extras added to the increased fees for the above stable (advised to clients in the past week). About the only ones missing out on a bonus seem to be the tea lady and the manure man.

Here’s the Christmas present that owners got from one leading stable in Brisbane:

Daily training fee $142.

Daily track usage fee $6.60.

Race Day staffing fees for:

Official trials & jumpouts $150.

Race meetings – Metro, Gold & Sunshine Coast & Ipswich $180.

Race meetings – Country & Northern NSW $250.

Farrier Fees: Work shoes $265; Race Plates $280 & Basic Foot Care $165.

Dentist: General examination $165.

Veterinarian: General examination $121; Re-examination $121; Blood Profile $170 & Endoscopic Examination $250.

Adjistment per day: $38.50.

Pre-training per day: $115.50.

Breaking-in: One-off fee $4,400.

Rug hire (winter): 65c per day.

BRC lease operations fee: $3.30 per day.

Workcover Levy: $6.60 per day.

Administration Fees – Racing Australia registrations, lodgement owner transfers, on-line sale entry: From $220.

Charges incurred for any therapeutics, applications, tests, sampling, ointments and/or medicines applied to the horse for specific treatments will be identified on the Training Invoice issued to the Owner for reimbursement, in addition to the charge for any General Examination.

 Yearlings and 2 year-olds may have lower costs than 3+ year-olds given: (i) the level of development required to race; and (ii) the overall life cycle of the horse.

 For other than emergency treatment, prior approval will be sought from the Owner where an individual treatment will likely exceed $2,000 (incl GST) in cost.

TRANSPORTATION to RACES (COST a GUIDE ONLY, dependent on service provider (increased charges apply for night meetings, Sundays and Public Holidays):

Short journey $150.

Deagon, Ipswich & Kilcoy $275.

Caloundra, Gold Coast & Beaudesert $330.

Toowoomba, Warwick & Murwillumbah $440.

Ballina, Lismore & Dalby $495.

Grafton $660.

RACE ENTRY, NOMINATION, ACCEPTANCE, NON-ACCEPTANCE AND SCRATCHING FEES

Race entry fees are not included in this Fees Notice – they will be additional and depend on the race. All race nomination, acceptance, non-acceptance and scratching fees are set by the Principal Racing Authority (PRA) and/or Race Club and are passed on to the Owner/s at cost. They should be checked with each relevant PRA or Race Club.

TRAINERS ADDITIONAL REMUNERATION, GRATUITIES AND/OR BONUSES THAT MAY BE PAYABLE:

1. If the Horse, being an Entire, is sold or retired to stud:

An additional fee being an amount equal to 10% (plus GST) of the sale price (excluding GST); and one (1) transferable lifetime service right which will entitle the holder of such right to nominate a mare to be provided with a stud service by the Horse during each stud season that the Horse is used to provide stud services commercially, free of any service fee.

2. If the Horse, being other than an Entire to which paragraph 1 applies, is sold while being trained by the Proprietor, or within 3 months after ceasing to be trained by the Proprietor, an additional fee being an amount equal to 5% (plus GST) of the sale price (excluding GST).

Notes:

(1) The entitlements of the Proprietor to the additional remuneration and gratuities set out in paragraph 1:

(a) will be conditional upon the Horse winning a Group 1 or Group 2 race while being trained by the Proprietor, or within 3 months after ceasing to be trained by the Proprietor; but

(b) will not be conditional upon the Proprietor being the trainer of the Horse at the time of it being sold or retired to stud.

(2) The entitlements of the Proprietor to the additional remuneration set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 will also apply to the sale of an interest or share in the Horse.

HANDS UP ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO RACE A HORSE AFTER SEEING WHAT IT COSTS?

 

10-YEAR BAN FOR PUNTER AT CENTRE OF JOCKEY BETTING SCANDAL

A FORMER professional punter at the centre of a jockey betting scandal has been warned off racetracks for 10 years by the Victorian Racing Tribunal for actions that attack “the very essence of our horse racing industry”.

DANNY RUSSELL reports for THE AGE that Tribunal chairman Judge John Bowman handed down the penalty against Noah Brash, 29, on Friday morning after he pleaded guilty to five charges under the Rules of Racing of betting on behalf of a jockey.

Bowman said Brash bet more than $172,000 on two separate race days at the request or direction of a jockey and won money as a result.

“These are grave offences striking at the very heart of racing integrity,” Bowman said.

The Tibunal warned Brash off racetracks for 10 years on each of the five charges, but ruled that the time was to be served concurrently.

The Tribunal was unable to suspend or disqualify Brash because he was not a licensed person in the racing industry.

At an earlier hearing, it was revealed that Brash operated separate Betfair accounts for himself and jockey Michael Poy and won more than $350,000 between April 2022 and August 2022 when placing bets involving horses ridden by Poy or his friend, and fellow jockey, Lewis German.

The bets included laying horses to lose, backing a horse to win, head-to-head bets, and picking horses to run in the top four.

Racing industry charges against Poy and German are expected to be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal next year. Neither jockey has entered a plea.

The Tribunal heard that Brash placed bets for Poy and himself involving four different races – three of them at Swan Hill on August 7, 2022, and a fourth race at Bendigo on August 14, 2022.

Poy and German rode in two of the races on which the bets were placed.

Brash and Poy communicated using borrowed phones, aliases, different SIM cards and sent messages over the Signal app – a free service that supports end-to-end encryption.

The tribunal heard that Brash operated one betting account for himself, called Brashboy1, that returned a betting profit of $98,956 when backing or laying horses ridden by German and Poy.

He operated another account for Poy, Brashboy2, that showed a profit of $259,610 when backing or laying horses ridden by German and Poy.

Racing Victoria stewards revealed that Brash first met Poy, the son of Cox Plate-winning jockey Michael Clarke, at the Sandown races in 2018 and offered to do free speed maps for the then 18-year-old apprentice.

They then became close friends, speaking on the phone “at all times of the day and night” and even playing online games together, such as FIFA on PlayStation.

Four years after they met, Brash’s betting habits changed significantly.

From April 12, 2022, he began targeting horses ridden by Poy or German to not win or place in races, stewards alleged.

Racing Victoria discovered screenshots of their messages on Brash’s phone, and these led to the five charges laid against Brash.

 

NEW ERA FOR GOLD COAST WITH NIGHT RACING LAUNCH ON FRIDAY

IT’S a new era for racing in Queensland and can be witnessed free when night racing is launched at the Gold Coast on Friday.

Full credit to the GCTC for offering free admission – but be aware racegoers do have to pre-register for pre-admission tickets – over 2,000 already certain to attend.

Queensland’s Summer Carnival kicks off with the first-ever Silks Under the Stars night racing event on Friday (photograph courtesy of GCTC).

It’s been described as the dawn of a new era for the club following the major tracks, tunnel and lights redevelopment costing in excess of $70 million.

Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines has described the event as a new chapter for the club. The state-of-the-art he lighting installation is the result of over a decade of hard work, marking a new era for the club as it aims to become Queensland’s second Metropolitan venue.

Lines says Silks Under the Stars represents much more than just a one-off racing night. It’s the start of something special. Gold Coast night racing has long been a dream, and it’s finally being realized with a series of successful lighting tests, including a twilight meeting in early October. The club claims that night racing will open new doors for tourism and puts Gold Coast racing on the map, both interstate and internationally. (We thought Magic Millions had already done that or that’s what we’ve been speed feed for years).

Silks Under the Stars is only the beginning of the new Summer Carnival. As part of the Turf Club’s biggest racing festival ever, the fun continues into January with a second Night Racing event on Friday, January 24, just ahead of the Australia Day long weekend.

One can only hope that Night Racing isn’t the disaster that caused a delay of almost a year before they got the new track right. Here’s hoping for second time lucky on the Tourist Strip.  

 

WELCOME HOME BIG JEFFREY WITHDRAWAL SYMPTONS ALMOST OVER

THE TAB in QUEENSLAND and bottle shops on the Brisbane North are throwing a welcome home party for one of their biggest customers.

Jeff Kelly, everyone’s favourite former copper, has been enjoying a holiday-of-a-lifetime with his long-suffering wife Maureeen by coach and cruise in Northern Europe chasing the Northern Lights and enjoying plenty of snow while his mates have been sweltering at home.

For over a month Jeffrey hasn’t placed a bet and for some of that time hasn’t been able to acquire his favourite brew, Guinness. The good news is he’s back this week, very thirsty and having TAB withdrawal symptoms.

Maureen sent us this photograph ‘doing a bit of house work by cleaning the ice and snow off the steps of their cosy abode near the Arctic Pole. And for those wondering that is Jeffrey and not Father Christmas.

 

                      WERE RACING AUSTRALIA'S FACTS NOBBLED?

REGULAR Sydney contributor PETER MAIR provided these thought provoking emails:

AS The Straight says about the ‘Fact Book’ for 2024:

...............curiously in this year’s edition, overall wagering, arguably the most important metric, has been left out.

The Straight is doing a great job reporting ‘news about racing’ but is the option not also open to put questions on the record in related editorial comment.

I guess, implicitly, the word ‘curiously’ implies a question but there would be no harm in putting the question straight and directly.

It is unlikely that staffers preparing the fact-book would not have followed precedent and included the ‘overall wagering’ numbers in the draft report. If so, was a management decision made to exclude these important numbers?

If so, that decision – presumably withholding numbers showing declining turnover -- should be reversed. 

We are entitled to know the facts – administrators need to be candid............and we need to know more about how other decisions (e.g. on ‘black type’) are being made at Racing Australia.

 

AND this one:

AUSTRALIAN RACING: PUNCHING BEYOND ITS WEIGHT?

A STORY on The Straight (link below) highlights the 2025 Aushorse Investors’ Guide. There is, of course, some hyperbole among the facts to encourage investment.

This story prompts quotations from the guide of some points for reflection – reflection, in the context of emerging disquiet about the funding and administration of racing authorities and race clubs nationally.

A NATIONAL WHERE RACING IS EMBRACED

AS Australia crashed through $1 billion in prize money for the first time in 2023/24, one in 40 horses earned more than $500,000 and one in every 130 earned more than $1 million. …........for the fourth year running Australia hosted more of the world’s top 100 Group 1 races (24) than any other country.  

In Australia, racing is woven into the fabric of our society and embedded into communities across the country. We have more owners and more racecourses than any other country: all supported by a population of just 27 million.

With more than 140,000 registered owners, 
1 in every 200 Australians has a share in a racehorse. No other country gets close to this level of engagement across society.

Australians also wager more on racing per capita than any other nation – which is why our prizemoney leads the world.

A Winning Experience

RACING a horse in Australia is a unique experience: our major race days are a match for any on the planet, with huge crowds of passionate fans and owners; our prizemoney leads the world ….............we host more Group 1 races than any other jurisdiction.

This is best highlighted by the number of races worth $A1million or more: Australia hosted 105 such races in 2024, compared to 69 in the bigger racing jurisdiction of America and just 29 across the whole of Europe (including the UK and Ireland).

SUSTAINED GROWTH

IN the past five years, our prizemoney has surged by an extraordinary 36%, especially when contrasted with the comparatively modest 12% increase in American purses during the same period. In the past decade our prizemoney has soared by 92%; in comparison, American purses are up just 16% in that time.

….......... Australia hosts more elite races than any other jurisdiction.

https://thestraight.com.au/australian-opportunity-highlighted-as-one-in-every-132-horses-surpass-1-million/

 

GREG PENS A LETTER TO SANTA CONCEDING IT WON’T BE ANSWERED

IT will come as no surprise what regular contributor GREG BLANCHARD from the Gold Coast wants Santa to deliver to racing in Queensland:

DEAR SANTA,

‘Again this year I have asked you what I want.

It’s the same as last year etc, etc .

My wish is that we get overseas apprentice jockeys to help alleviate the problem of a lack of jockeys in the bush and that bureaucracy changes to allow overseas kids into our Apprentice School.

Hong Kong apprentices were also promised back in 2023 and yes I did read the April 2024 article involving Immigration Lawyers. Any update there Santa?

I think the only way I'll get to see a Hong Kong apprentice ride in Australia is to go to South Australia. Their latest apprentice is Isaac Sit. I sadly am starting to not believe in you Santa makes me sad.’

 

ENTAIN SUED IN FIRST CASE OF ITS KIND AGAINST AN ON LINE BOOKMAKER

THE parent company of Ladbrokes and Ned has been sued by the financial crimes regulator for allegedly not doing enough to prevent money laundering on their products. 

LIANA WALKER reports for ABC NEWS that the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has commenced civil proceedings against the Australian arm of Entain Group, in the first case of its kind against an online betting business. 

AUSTRAC alleges the company had ‘serious and systemic non-compliance’ with Australia's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws.

It alleges Entain did not develop and maintain a compliant anti-money laundering program and failed to identify and assess the risks it faced, leaving the company at serious risk of criminal exploitation. 

AUSTRAC's allegations include that:

• The Board and senior management did not have appropriate oversight of its AML/CTF program
• The company operated a 24/7 business through its website and app, which created risks that persons unknown to the business could access and use the betting platform including through third party providers
• Third parties, including businesses and individuals, accepted cash and other deposits on behalf of Entain to be credited into betting accounts in ways that could obscure the proceeds of crime
• The company did not have appropriate controls to confirm the identity of customers making these deposits and the source of this money
• The company did not conduct appropriate checks on 17 higher-risk customers
• The company deliberately obscured the identity of some high-risk customers, on its own systems, through the use of pseudonyms to "protect their privacy"

Entain CEO Gavin Isaacs said the company took the allegations extremely seriously on a notice posted on the London Stock exchange.  

"We have co-operated fully with AUSTRAC throughout its investigation and we are implementing further enhancements to Entain Australia's AML and CTF compliance arrangements," Mr Isaacs said. 

"Whilst we still have some further improvements to make, we expect these to be implemented in line with the plan we communicated to AUSTRAC in 2023.

"We are committed to keeping financial crime out of gambling and continue to play our part in supporting a well-regulated and compliant sector for our customers, stakeholders and the wider community."

The matter is now before the Federal Court. 

ANTI-MONEY LANDERING ACTION

SEVERAL gambling companies have faced penalties for contraventions to the AML/CTF laws in recent years.

In 2023 Crown Resorts was ordered to pay $450 million for breaching money laundering laws.

This year Adelaide's SkyCity was fined $67 million over allegations the Casino had customers with links to organised crime, loan sharking, human trafficking and sex slavery. 

Online betting company Sportsbet also accepted an enforceable undertaking to uplift its compliance with AML/CTF laws in May this year. 

Independent Federal MP Andrew Wilkie in November re-introduced a Bill that would give courts the power to return the gambled proceeds of crimes to victims.

The Bill would put obligations on gambling companies to report to AUSTRAC if they have reason to suspect a person is paying for a gambling service with money they've obtained illegally.

It also enables the Federal Court to order a gambling company to return stolen funds, where it's found that a bettor has paid for a gambling service using funds they obtained illegally.

 

 

RARE EVENT IN SYDNEY RACING BUT MORE OF THE SAME FROM THE SA STEWARDS WHO ARGUABLY AREN'T FIT TO POLICE A MEETING

PUNTERS enjoyed one of those once in a lifetime events – like Man Landing on the Moon or the sighting of Hayley’s Comet – when every favourite saluted at Canterbury last Friday night.

It wasn’t a full moon or a dream. It actually happened. And it was a nightmare for bookies who get plenty most meetings in Sydney when favourites perform poorly or have no luck in running (a nice way of saying they are slaughtered).

As many of those who enjoyed the rare occurrence at Canterbury there are thousands of others who – if our feedback is correct – are walking away from betting on racing in South Australia.

Angry punters are accusing the Stewards there of being asleep at the wheel or not interested in conducting inquiries into some terribly questionable performances of fancied runners, not to mention the way some of these were handled.

The LGHR whinge mail was in overdrive at the weekend. Normally it’s when the Waller stable wins with a second string while the fancied stablemate performs poorly but this time the target was a heavily-backed favourite at Gawler on Saturday.

The target of the punter anger was the Andrew Gluyas-trained Gotta Go Guru, plunged into $1.7 favourite, which finished seventh (beaten over eight lengths) behind Divine Fire ($5.5) in the Kingsford Hotel Handicap.

Even allowing for the ride of apprentice Taylor Johnstone, a 3kg claimer – it wasn’t one of her best – Gotta Go Guru arguably lost a leg after her luckless fourth when trapped wide at Morphettville Parks second-up.

Not only was Gotta Go Guru declared the ‘Bet of the Day’ by John Kelton, the SA tipping guru rated one of the best in the business, but it was also the Tom Waterhouse ‘good thing’ to his legion of clients.

THE SA Racing Stewards finally got around to posting their report from Saturday’s Gawler meeting on Monday afternoon and here’s what they reported concerning the poor performance of GOTTA GO GURU:

 APPRENTICE Taylor Johnstone reported that the mare never travelled during the event, and when placed under pressure approaching the 600m did not respond to her riding and was disappointing. Trainer A. Gluyas advised that the mare had continued to work well following its last race start on Saturday, 30 November 2024, and could not offer an explanation for the performance other than in his opinion GOTTA GO GURU may be suited to races over a longer distance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no visible abnormalities.

From a punters’ perspective that explanation and lack of action by the stewards explains why there is no confidence for those betting in South Australian racing.

Gluyas couldn’t offer an excuse for the massive form reversal other than an opinion that Gotta Go Guru may be suited to races over a long journey. With all due respects, he has to be kidding. The further they went on Saturday the worse the favourite performed. She wouldn’t have caught the winner had the race been over 3200m.

Instead of requiring Gotta Go Guru to trial satisfactorily before racing again the stewards decided to shove it under the carpet. In this day and age of required transparency that is simply not good enough. Sorry guys, but in the eyes of the punters you aren’t fit to be policing a meeting in Mingela – and they don’t race there any more.

Some of the emails we received from punters are ‘too hot’ to handle but here’s a couple we are prepared to publish:

‘YOU need some special inside information to back a favourite in SA these days. Some of the performances of heavily-backed runners on a Saturday are nothing short of disgraceful as are the rides but the Stewards’ Panel doesn’t seem to see anything wrong. Little wonder punters are steering clear of the joint in droves.’

 AND this one:

‘It’s late Sunday evening and I still can’t find a Stewards’ Report for Saturday’s racing. All the other states have managed to post theirs but not the good old boys in Adelaide. What I want to know is why a horse I backed heavily in Gotta Go Guru not only got beaten but also went like a dromedary.

‘It was interesting to note that gun tipster John Kelton who shared my confidence in the mare winning was left gob-smacked after the event. And of course his off-sider, the spin doctor for everything racing in SA, wanted to talk about anything but the flop. Then again he has links to the stable so I guess it was a bit hard for him.’

This isn’t the first time we have received complaints about what is happening on the track in SA and suggestions of how the stewards don’t seem too interested in policing it. Things need to change!

 

ANIMAL LIBERATIONISTS URGING AUSTRALIA TO FOLLOW KIWI LEAD

IT didn’t take long for the animal liberationists to use the planned closure of greyhound racing in New Zealand against the industry in Australia.

Fortunately, stringent rules put in place in the wake of the live baiting saga, will ensure there is no repeat here of what ‘Winnie The Pooh’ has done across the Ditch.

But the sport needs to ensure there is no complacency that provides the powerful animal libbers with any bullets to fire.

Alarm bells are ringing with Greyhound Racing Victoria forced to defend its welfare record despite a 45 per cent increase in dog deaths across the State this year.

Danny Russell reports for THE AGE that the frenetic sport has lost 45 greyhounds on Victorian tracks since January compared to 31 last year.

The first greyhound, Cook Model, died at Traralgon on January 31 and the last of the 45, Minnie Rocks, was euthanized at Healesville on December 8, according to the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds’ records, which are compiled from Greyhound Racing Victoria Stewards’ Reports.

The alarming jump in Victorian dog deaths comes as the New Zealand Government announced this week that it was banning greyhound racing permanently from mid-2026 on welfare grounds.

New Zealand Racing Minister Winston Peters said the “percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high” and the decision to ban the sport was “in the best interest of the animal”.

Greyhound Racing Victoria chief executive Stuart Laing said the situation in New Zealand was unique to that country’s “political environment and circumstances”.

New Zealand Racing Minister Winston Peters has announced the Government's plans to end greyhound racing.

“In the context of the greyhound racing industry here in Victoria, nothing changes,” Laing said.

On top of this year’s spike in deaths, GRV is suffering from a sharp drop in wagering turnover across the past 18 months which resulted in the industry recording a $22.7 million loss last financial year.

As a result, Laing said his organisation had embarked on cost-cutting measures since January to save $20 million across the next financial year.

He said GRV had cut prizemoney, staff numbers and operating expenses, but had not compromised integrity, welfare and rehoming programs.

“Fatality rates in Victorian greyhound racing have declined more than 42 per cent in the past five years,” Laing said.

“Last financial year’s 43 fatalities represented 0.039 per cent of the 110,422 starters in Victorian greyhound racing, down from 69 (0.068 per cent) in 2019-20.

“With over 110,000 starters in about 15,000 races in Victoria annually, fatalities and serious injuries in racing are rare.”

Warrnambool proved the deadliest track in the state this year, losing seven dogs, while Ballarat and Warragul had six deaths, followed by Shepparton and Traralgon with five.

Four deaths were recorded at Sandown Park, but Melbourne’s second city track, the Meadows in Broadmeadows, was fatality free.

“The causes are multi-faceted and unique to each situation and cannot be solely attributable to the track design, shape or surface,” Laing said.

He said GRV had proposed to identify options for at least one more straight track in the state such as Healesville, which races twice a week. Three dogs died at Healesville this year.

Sale Greyhound Racing Club has submitted plans to Wellington Shire Council to build new facilities that would include a straight track.

Laing said GRV continued to focus on “initiatives and actions” aimed at reducing serious injuries and fatalities in racing such as its greyhound adoption program, greyhound recovery initiative, digital greyhound tracking initiative and track maintenance training program.

“More than half of all GRV’s staff work in the welfare and integrity teams, and last financial year, more than $25 million was invested in integrity, welfare and racing expenses,” Laing said.

The industry is also conducting a study of seven years of data, led Dr Sarah Rosanowski, a specialist researcher in veterinary epidemiology, to identify risk factors that predispose greyhounds to injury.

Figures published by Greyhounds Australasia reveal that Victoria is the largest greyhound jurisdiction in the world, contributing $844.8 million to the national economy – 41 per cent generated in regional areas – and creating more than 4800 full-time jobs.

The recent Melbourne Cup greyhound meeting attracted more than $9 million in turnover, up about 30 per cent on the $6.9 million wagered in 2023.

The $1.6 million wagered on the cup itself made it the third-highest turnover race of all time in Victoria.

But the event as a spectacle was marred by a collision at the first bend during which the No.4 dog, Sunset Frazier, was sent cartwheeling out of the race.

Sunset Frazier did not suffer any ongoing injuries and is expected to run in the $1.65 million Phoenix at the Meadows on Saturday week.

 

NATIONAL TOTE ONLY ANSWER TO AVOID CORPORATE TAKEOVER

THE feedback LGHR has received suggests that punters – big and small – would immediately close their accounts with corporate bookies if there was a National Tote that offered similar incentives and a guarantee that those who won too often wouldn’t be barred from betting.

Punters have been quick to applaud a damning expose of how a majority of these ‘parasite’ corporates operate which was interestingly published by the Fairfax Media in contrast to the deafening silence from the Murdoch Press – perhaps that has something to do with the fact that their boss once dabbled in that side of the racing business – without success we might add.

Here are some of the comments that we have received from readers in the wake of the FAIRFAX story exposing how the gambling giants are black-listing winning punters and questions why Governments and racing authorities are doing nothing to control them.

Here is a precise of the feedback LGHR has received:

‘UNTIL there is a National Tote that offers similar incentives (Free Bets etc), punters will continue to bet with corporate bookmakers rather than the TAB.’

‘THE tentacles of the gambling giants has grown to such a degree that they are now in bed with major race clubs, through sponsorships, which in turn sees their product promoted in preference to the TAB which provides the majority of stakes money.’

‘THEIR influence with racing hierarchy and the Federal Government has reached such a height that even the Prime Minister isn’t prepared to back any sort of ban on gambling  advertising.’

‘IF you win too often they close down your account and don’t have to give you a reason – such are the conditions for opening an account with them that surely Fair Trading needs to address.’

‘WHEN you have a dispute it goes to a Gambling Body in the Northern Territory which for some strange reason sides with the corporate bookmaker 90 percent of the time.’

‘THE corporates might be here to stay – a National Tote is the answer to their virtual monopoly over the current State TAB’s. But what hope is there of agreement on a National Tote when Governments, major race clubs and high profile racing identities are all in bed with the corporates who are pouring money into their pockets?’

 

IS BAN ON DOG RACING ACROSS DITCH ANY REAL SURPRISE?

THE news that New Zealand will ban greyhound racing from 2026 due to ‘unacceptably high’ rates of injuries and deaths among the dogs has come as no surprise to many.

Greyhound racing has existed in New Zealand since the late 19th Century but the industry has faced growing public criticism over its treatment of racing dogs in recent years.

Multiple independent reports have found a high number of healthy dogs had been euthanized by their trainers or suffered serious injuries on the track, and in 2021 the then Labor Government put the industry on notice to either make improvements or face closure.

Deputy Prime Minister and Racing Minister Winston Peters told the New Zealand media on Tuesday the decision to wind down the industry was not taken lightly and was driven by wanting to protect the dogs’ welfare. Clubs and tracks will be closed by the end of 2026.

 “Desite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals,” Peters said.

The Green Party’s Animal Welfare and Racing spokesperson, Steve Abel, said he was happy the Government had listened to the public. One wonders if there will be a similar push in Australia should the Green gain balance of power in the next Federal Election. It’s an outside chance but by the same token they are keen to close horse racing, starting with the jumpers, two-year-olds and banning the whip.

Australian greyhound racing dodged a bullet (especially NSW which at one stage was destined to have the sport banned) in the wake of the live baiting scandal of 2015.

A public hearing of the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into the Sport was told that as many as 17,000 greyhounds were killed in Australia each year because they were too slow. And before the practice of live baiting was exposed, up to nine in 10 trainers were using animals such as rabbits and piglets to ‘blood’ their dogs.

Greyhound racing in this country has rebounded sensationally to the stage where popularity on betting on the sport now far outweighs harness racing. In Queensland, thanks to the support of both political parties, the new Q greyhound complex is nearing completion close to Ipswich.

LGHR this week caught up with Phil Purser, a pioneer of racing websites in this country, who lives in the region. Phil is a tough judge but was singing the praises of the new world class facility and can’t wait for it to open.

 

DOES ANYONE AT RQ CARE ABOUT LACK OF RIDERS IN BUSH?

DOES anyone at Racing Queensland care that there are insufficient riders to ensure owners don’t have to scratch their horses on a weekly basis from meetings in the country?

Greg Blanchard continues his endless fight to have this problem correct but seems to be a voice crying in the wilderness which is a sad indictment on a sport that wastes so many millions on correcting mistakes made with track in the south-east corner.

Here’s Greg’s latest contribution:

‘I'M doing a Dame Nellie Melba one last time because last Saturday was a horror for when it come to no riders being available to meet the needs of country racing.

There were 14 horses scratched before the meeting stated at Mt Isa. To make matters worse Jason Hoopert got injured the first race enforcing another four that he was to ride to be withdrawn.

Atherton had nine scratched with insufficient jockeys, two more came out at Home Hill and one at Bundaberg for the same reasons.

That brings it to a total of 30 for the weekend. If we don't get overseas kids into our Apprentice School the bush is doomed.

There is an overseas lad riding trackwork in Rockhampton who 12 months ago was told in an ABC article (11 Dec 2023) that he would soon be in the Apprentice School. Guess what? He is not – because of bureaucracy he can't be.

There are another two overseas track riders who are coming to south-east Queensland in a few months who would also like to become jockeys. They can’t for the same reason.

Trainers and owners in the bush are being penalized – it’s not fair.’ 

 

                        THE RACING INDUSTRY v. TAXPAYERS

PETER MAIR of SYDNEY weighs in on an interesting topic:

                                          The State of Play

OPERATING losses and shortfalls of racing revenue have racing industry administrators scrambling for more money.

The intention is that the proceeds of asset sales will generate 'non wagering revenue' to compensate for declining betting turnover and the reduced tax taken to fund racing.

Not discussed is cutting costs by reducing prize-money paid out or the number of races run. The racing industry seems to believe it is entitled to funds on a needs-basis, to cover promised commitments. This without regard to needs of others or a commitment to the commercial viability of the races run.

The racing industry seems determined to dig the hole deeper. Paying high prize-money for maiden races run on Sundays on rural tracks is one example of a more general problem. Too many race meetings are just not commercially viable -- the 'tax-take' from betting on the meetings does not cover the prize-money paid out.

State racing administrators demanding more only embarrass Oliver Twist.

                                Taxpayers should be revolting

PUNTERS not betting enough to fund administrators' plans for racing is one thing -- it is altogether another leap into an abyss to rescue those mislayed plans.

In broad terms if some ten-percent of the adult population bet regularly on horse racing, that means ninety-percent do not. No one reminds the ninety-percent is that taxes taken from betting turnover are automatically 'ear-marked' as funding entitlements for racing.

Now, racing is entitled to public-funding but not as much as it is given at present.

Taxes on racing gambling are the same as other taxes – including other taxes on other gambling. In the first instance, all gambling tax revenue fairly belongs in the public purse. In the normal course, those claiming funds for particular activities – schools, hospitals, roads...... and racing – would make their claims in the context of state budgets.

Funding for racing is bypassing budget spending disciplines. It should not.

                                     The Rosehill Inquiry

A similarly titled story on Racent overlooks a main hope of the 'Rosehill inquiry' – that racing administrators nationally will be called to account for their use of funds from the public purse.

https://www.racenet.com.au/news/if-youre-a-tax-payer-you-should-be-absolutely-filthy

 

HONG  KONG INTERNATIONAL WEEK GETAWAY & GO RACING WINNER

WHEN it comes to ‘get away and go racing’ Hong Kong International Week is attracting more Australian visitors than ever.

It’s not only the attraction of seeing the world’s best jockeys go head to head in the Invitational Races at Happy Valley on the Wednesday night but also the chance to see the stars of world turf clash in four Group races at Sha Tin on the Sunday.

Add to that a pre-Christmas holiday in Hong Kong with mainland China on its doorstep – with the tourist attractions and shopping to die for – and there is little wonder that this big meeting is becoming the most popular outside the Melbourne Cup for Aussie racing lovers (two of whom were pictured above).

Japan is more about the best horseflesh on the planet and the Gold Coast Magic Millions is a winner coinciding with the peak tourist season but the downside for many is that this carnival is largely for graduates of a private enterprise sale.

HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges described the just completed carnival as ‘one of the best, if not the best…and an incredible week.

“When one looks purely at the results, it was a tremendous success for Hong Kong horses but our overseas horses also ran really well. When you talk to the overseas owners, even if their horses finished second or third, they say it was a wonderful experience to come to Hong Kong and support the meeting.

“This meeting was broadcast into 29 countries live and in Hong Kong. We saw tremendous attendance figures with overall attendance of 80,000. We also had 6,511 visitors from the Mainland, which is a record – 40 per cent more than we had last year.”

Sha Tin hosted 69,916 attendees, while Happy Valley drew 10,775 people for a total of 80,691 – the highest LONGINES HKIR attendance since 2018.

On a day when Hong Kong racing shimmered on the international stage as Ka Ying Rising (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint), Voyage Bubble (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile) and Great Britain celebrated its first win at the ‘Turf World Championships’ since 2012 with Giavellotto (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase), Romantic Warrior created history with victory in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.

Danny Shum’s champion stayer became the first horse to win the Hong Kong Cup three times and, in doing so, took his career prizemoney earnings to HK$177 million – a world record – and overtook Golden Sixty’s mark of HK$167 million.

“When you look at the sporting performances, Romantic Warrior is the best 2000m horse in the world. It was an absolutely dominant performance, he showed that he is absolutely world-class and to win this race (LONGINES Hong Kong Cup) for the third time is an incredible effort,” Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

“He has now broken the world prizemoney record of Golden Sixty with total prizemoney of HK$177 million, which is an amazing achievement.

“It was a very good win by Giavellotto. It was the first time since 2012 for a British horse and with Ka Ying Rising, he had tremendous competition from another Hong Kong horses (Victor The Winner), which disrupted his rhythm, but he is an amazing sprinter.

“Voyage Bubble has shown how good he is and I think it was a tremendous performance from the runner-up (Soul Rush).”

The landmark meeting saw turnover reach HK$1,716.3 million, including a commingling record of HK$473.8 million – an increase of 10 percent on last year’s LONGINES HKIR.

“Our strategy to bring the best races from Hong Kong and show them overseas is really proving a great success with our races today for the first time under the World Pool banner, which shows our racing product is extremely well received,” Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

HKJC Executive Director of Racing, Mr Andrew Harding, described Sunday’s race meeting as “an amazing day of sport, capping an amazing week of sport.”

“The emphasis was on international. We were so pleased to see the entries from so many countries, including for the first time for a little while from Australia, and the quality of the entries was outstanding – I would like to acknowledge our team in achieving that,” Mr Harding said.

“We saw today of the 80,000 people who came to the races here at Sha Tin and also Happy Valley, so many of those people were from all over the world. Of the many things we work at the Club, it is putting Hong Kong on the world stage.

“We are always excited to stage events of the quality we have seen this week for our partner, LONGINES and I would like to thank the many teams at the Club who have worked so hard to make this week a success.”

 

TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB FACES INSOLVENCY, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

CLUDEN PARK Race Club Chairman Geoff Weeks has conceded the club is facing insolvency. However, he says there’s a plan to turn their fortunes around. – TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN article by Chris Burns

FORENSIC auditor BDO is examining the cause of financial problems at Cluden Park Race Club after the committee secured an advance in its funding so that it can pay for its operations over the next three months.

The club is suffering a cash flow problem, risking insolvency, and it is trying to figure out how it got into the position that it is in.

Racing Queensland’s chief executive Jason Scott said it was working with the club to determine the “failures of governance” that contributed to these issues, and said there would be an independent review.

Mr Scott said Cluden Park was strategically important for the industry, especially through the completion of multi-million dollar projects like its stables that would increase the club’s revenue stream.

Cluden Park’s chairman Geoff Weeks believes the issue has come about from “bad decision making” from the past committee rather than dodgy practice, revolving around outsourcing its work to contractors which ended up costing more than the staff it scaled back on.

But he assured the racing community that with $20m in assets and property the club was not at risk of a “fire sale” to pay its expenses and debts.

The issue for the club is having the funds to operate until the start of next year’s racing season, as well as the income from hosting social events such as weddings which generally kick-started from February.

Townsville Turf Club president Geoff Weeks said the club was in a financially poor situation and that auditors were examining the books, but there was a plan to improve the situation.

In an annual general meeting held last month Mr Weeks, who has been in the position for a year, conceded the club was in financial trouble, and had been for some time, with the club needing to rely on the three month advancement of more than $300,000 from Queensland Racing.

“It’s not a grant, it is our money, we’ve just asked for an advance payment for it,” he said.

In the meantime it stopped outsourcing its work to two companies and was scaling back the use of a third, which Mr Weeks said would save $1.5m.

“Let me also state that all staff wages and entitlements are being met and there is absolutely no issue,” Mr Weeks said.

“Racing Queensland are also working with our CEO (Wayne Croton) understanding how the situation came about and providing any additional funding.

“We have also been transparent with our creditors advising of this short term cash position and implemented mutually agreed payment plans.”

It is understood through concerns raised by members about the club’s fiscal health surround the previous committee’s decisions to cut back on staff and outsource maintenance to three different contracting companies were a huge factor.

The club’s financial statement for the past financial year said the club’s profit after income tax was $138,000, but it also had already received $3.1m in grants and subsidies.

Staff wages were just over $1.1m and had reduced by $166,000 from the year previous, but subcontracting costs had doubled to $1.2m.

But a reliance on contractors had increased since 2022, while maintenance costs had increased with assets such as a problematic training track.

“The previous committee did take the decision, at the time, to outsource three areas that were being undertaken in house,” Mr Weeks said.

“Unfortunately the projected cost savings by those decisions did not eventuate and conditions in those contracts were an impost to the club.

“We have now either taken those works back in house or in the process of working with those contractors agreeing to a new contract with a reduced scope of works and reduced cost.”

Mr Weeks said interests between the committee and the contractors were investigated independently and that BDO had not yet found anything untoward.

The club’s finances would be bolstered with the sale of a parcel of land to developer Shaun McCarthy, understood to be sold somewhere between five to 10 million dollars, who intends on building a long-awaited water park.

But the club would not be depending on it to survive.

“We want to lock the money that we get from the sale away for the future of the club, and on the interest of that money feed it back into the club.

“The money that we get from the sale is not reliant on us getting out of this current cash flow situation.”

 

HOW GAMBLING GIANTS ARE ‘BLACK-LISTING’ WINNERS – THE ‘REAL’ STORY ABOUT PARASITE CORPORATE BOOKIES – WITHOUT THE SPIN

BARELY hours after the fairytale finish to this year’s Melbourne Cup, corporate bookmaker Ladbrokes launched a PR blitz to trumpet the fortunes of a lucky punter who had won $3.2 million for a $100 bet.

DANNY RUSSELL reports for FAIRFAX MEDIA that for the married mother of two, it was a life-changing event. She had cobbled together four numbers for a First Four and, against the odds, they landed – Knight’s Choice (No.11), Warp Speed (No.4), Okita Soushi (No.12) and Zardozi (No.14).

The first four dividend paid $728,015.70 and she had it four times. It was like winning the Lotto.

“When Ladbrokes called to confirm I’d won over three million, my husband literally fell to the floor. He was just sobbing,” the woman said, revealing the windfall would pay off their previously daunting mortgage.

Ladbrokes was equally chuffed. “We always strive to give our customers unforgettable experiences,” a spokesman for the bookmaker said.

“This is a life-changing win and we’re thrilled to be part of this incredible story and to have played a role in helping this family secure their future.”

But this is not the sort of “unforgettable” experience that everyone has with a corporate bookmaker when their luck runs hot.

Instead, there is a growing group of disgruntled professional punters who say the betting companies have closed down their accounts simply because they win too often.

Others have had big payouts capped – reduced to a smaller amount under the small print of the bookmaker’s terms and conditions – while others’ betting activities have been severely restricted.

It was a point made on a pro punting podcast two days after the Melbourne Cup.

“I think if one of us on this show had got the [$3.2 million first four] collect, I don’t think it would have made the news, and we might have got caught up in the T&Cs of a maximum payout of $500,000,” one of the pros said.

Another agreed: “They made sure they got their PR’s worth … being a once-in-a-year Melbourne Cup punter, I think they [Ladbrokes] got their mileage out of the extra payment through good will and mileage in the press. That would have been a per-customer decision.”

‘THE AMOUNT OF WINNERS WHO ARE VOIDED IS INSANE’

LUKE MacDonald is a pro punter who has become so tired of waging an online war with the corporates that he has all but given up.

“The amount of winners who are voided is insane,” he says. “And it shows how predatory in nature these big companies are, that they only have losers on their books.”

MacDonald claims the “corporates” have a number of strategies for cutting punters off.

He claims they accuse punters of working for a rival bookmaker, say your betting does not suit their operation, or use anti-money laundering or counter-terrorism funding laws.

MacDonald says he knows of examples of bookmakers shutting down an account after a client has had a win and then demanding payslips and unredacted bank accounts as proof of identity before they agree to pay out winnings.

That process that can take months, even years.

MacDonald says he has previously shared six months of bank statements with online bookmakers, only for his private information to be leaked on social media.

“A piece of information about where we shopped got leaked on Twitter,” he says.

“It was too hard for me to pinpoint which operator it was and try to hunt down the staff member. But that information was used against me to try to publicly shame me, which I didn’t care about, but I just thought, ‘geez, that’s pretty bad’.

“People can find out a lot about you by having six months of your bank statements. My kids’ daycare stuff is on there.”

Frank Pangallo, an independent member of South Australia’s Legislative Council, wants to stop corporate bookmakers from banning or restricting punters simply because they win.

He has introduced a bill to the South Australian Parliament calling for the strategy to be outlawed.

Under Pangallo’s Authorised Betting Operations (User Bans) Amendment Bill 2024, betting companies would:

• No longer be allowed to ban, refuse or restrict punters simply because they win or have a certain betting strategy;
• No longer be allowed to change the odds on specific players just to save their own bottom line;
• Need to give written reasons why they have refused or placed restrictions on a punter’s betting; and,
• Not be able to exploit minimum payout or withdrawal limits to hold on to a customer’s winnings.

“They enter the market willingly, and pocket billions of dollars from losers willingly – so they cannot cry poor when it comes time to pay out a winner,” Pangallo said.

Pangallo believes other states will follow suit if the bill is supported in South Australia when he brings it to a vote in February.

“But my concern is that governments are intoxicated by gambling taxes that they receive, and seem to be reluctant to move on issues that are trying to protect gamblers,” he said.

‘THE PLAY DUMB’

Ronny* has not been able to bet with big online bookmakers for the past three years after he and a friend tapped into a successful betting system in which they outlaid about $10,000 to win $40,000 across two months.

While living in Sydney, the pair had a link to a private equity firm that focused on racing algorithms that would suggest bets on “roughies”.

At the time, Ronny had a separate mobile phone and SIM card that was solely connected to a 3G or 4G network so that the bookmakers could not track him to a specific IP address.

“If you connect to Wi-Fi, they can immediately track it and they restrict anything that comes from that IP address,” he said.

Ronny said the algorithm would feed you a message that said, “in 40 seconds this race is about to start and this horse is likely to win, or place – it is currently at 10-1 and it should be at 4-1”.

“So you would put $50 to $100, sometimes $150, on the horse, and you end up with probably four bets where you lose – so, you lose $400 in four races – and then suddenly the fifth horse wins at 12-1 and you get back $1200,” he said.

He said they would go through two new betting companies every “week or two”.

“They are all linked, and once one betting agency realises they don’t like the way you are betting, they will ban you or restrict you betting at all,” he said.

Ronny said their gambling was not without risk – “I could have lost it all” – but he was still shut down for good. Now he can’t bet with mates.

“I have got a screenshot here from Sportsbet from this year after trying to join a $50 buy-in bet-with-mates group and the response is ‘you are unable to join a group, please call us to help resolve the issue’, and then you call them and they play dumb and they say, ‘sorry, we don’t have an answer for you’.

“So if I want to have a bet, it is either going into a TAB or I might have to use my partner’s account occasionally to put a $50 bet on.”

Laying a bet on someone else’s account, a practice called using a “bowler account”, is banned by online bookmakers under their terms and conditions.

If bookmakers discover you are betting on behalf of a third party, they will refuse to pay out winnings.

PUNTER BOWLED OVER

LAST month, a punter failed in his quest to have Ladbrokes release $30,000 in winnings from his account because the betting giant claimed he was operating a “bowler account”.

Ladbrokes’ terms and conditions state “You must not permit another person to access your account and you must not use your account on behalf of or for the benefit of another person.”

The betting giant used “variations in speech patterns” from phone calls to support its case before the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission – Ladbrokes.com.au is registered in the NT.

During the October hearing, the gambling giant said it had refused to release the cash in December 2022 because the account holder was unable to complete its “two-factor authentication” – a process triggered by a text message.

The punter claimed he could not access the text because he was overseas and did not have the right phone number.

He later tried to register a new phone number with the bookmaker, but it was found to be connected to another Ladbrokes account.

Ladbrokes told the commission that during several follow-up phone conversations “it was most likely not the complainant who engaged with Ladbrokes, but a person identifying himself as the complainant instead”. That is why it closed his account.

The commission found in Ladbrokes’ favour, agreeing that on the “balance of probabilities” a third party had been involved, but it said it could “not be confirmed with absolute certainty” that the voice on the phone did not belong to the account holder.

MacDonald said there would not be an issue with bowler accounts if winning punters were allowed to continue betting under their own names.

“There is no reason for anyone to have to come in the back door, if they are allowed to go in and bet under their own name,” he said.

“A lot of issues in the industry that have been created are on the back of restrictions.”

He said if authorities really cared about anti-money laundering or counter-terrorism financing laws, they would stop online bookmakers restricting or banning winning punters, which would eliminate the need for bowler accounts.

‘TOTALLY AMORAL’

Another pro-punter, Brandon*, says he restricts himself to betting in person with on-course bookmakers at city race meetings on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

“It’s better value, I can get on quickly and it’s a more sociably enjoyable environment than sitting in a room with a computer screen in front of you all day,” he said.

“I find the corporates are just a blight on the industry. They’re leeches, and their business model is amoral.

“You are encouraged to lose, you are promoted to lose, and you are discouraged and restricted from winning.

“If you are a registered loser, and you consistently lose, they will bet you any amount. They give you free bets, they give you deposit matches, all sorts of things. To me that’s totally amoral.”

Ladbrokes told FAIRFAX it “is a company that does not ban winners”.

A spokesperson for the betting giant said it adhered to the minimum bet limits required by the racing codes.

In reference to capping payouts, Ladbrokes highlighted its $3.2 million payout last month to the lucky punter who landed the Melbourne Cup first four, saying “we are not afraid to pay someone if they win big”.

The spokesperson said Ladbrokes sets its own betting markets, and was not reactive to what other bookmakers were doing.

“If other bookies want to copy our prices that’s not something we can control,” the spokesperson said.

The company said it had an obligation under legislation to clamp down on “bowler accounts”.

Brandon said “bookmakers are not bookmakers any more”. He said they are not taking risks, but using algorithms and strategies to analyse punters instead.

“They do form on their punters,” he said. “They say this bloke is losing 11 per cent per annum, so we can bet him to a certain amount.

“This bloke’s only just losing, he is losing only 1 per cent, so we will restrict him a little bit.

“This bloke is winning 3 per cent in NSW, so we won’t bet him in NSW, or he is winning 5 per cent on dogs, but losing 12 per cent on horses so we will restrict him on dogs.

“So they analyse the client, not the outcome of the event. That’s how they work, so it needs to go back to how it was.”

MacDonald said he knew of a case in which every member of a punters’ club had their winning bets voided by an online bookmaker 16 minutes after a race.

They had all bet to win $5000.

“The bet won, the bookmaker paid out the bet, and then they voided the winnings (removed the payouts from their accounts) and returned the stake,” he said.

“Only one of them has received an email so far as to why the bets were voided. Everyone else has just got radio silence.”

Sportsbet told this masthead that it “does not ban customers just because they are winning”.

“Every customer is able to bet with us, in their own name, as defined by respective minimum bet laws set by the racing bodies,” a Sportsbet spokesperson said.

“Our terms and conditions are in place to ensure a fair go for all customers, as is the case across many other industries. We responsibly manage customer accounts for regulatory, compliance and safer gambling reasons.”

MINIMUM BETS

SERGIO* is a full-time punter who bets on harness racing. He said he was able to get by because of minimum bet laws introduced by Harness Racing Victoria in January 2018.

The laws mean online bookmakers “must stand to lose a maximum of $500 for a fixed-odds win bet” on country races from no later than 10am on a race day. The amount increases to $1000 for metropolitan races.

“A lot of big punters sign up with 10-12 different accounts if they want to have a real crack because the corporates will only bet you to win $500,” Sergio says.

“To win thousands, you need multiple accounts.”

He said it took careful planning because all the bookmakers were linked.

“All of the corporates have algorithms for their odds,” he said. “They actually don’t employ someone to set the odds, do the markets, they are just copying what the main bookies have.

“For example, if I hit the TAB first [with a bet], all of the other bookies will roll the odds down, following the TAB, without actually taking a bet.

“So, I have got to hit them in order – smallest bookies to biggest bookies. A lot of them have algorithms but TAB, for example, won’t give a stuff if I hit something at one of those smaller bookies.

“But if I go the other way around, the smaller bookie will react straight away to the TAB price.”

Racing Victoria introduced a minimum bet limit for thoroughbred racing in October 2016, which applies after the final acceptances deadline.

Wagering service providers have to allow punters to win up to $2000 on a metropolitan win bet and $1000 on a non-metropolitan win bet.

But there are no minimum bet laws in place for betting on sports such as AFL, tennis or basketball.

“Legally, they don’t have to take any money on sports bets,” Sergio said.

‘AGAINST OUR POLICY’

BRANDON said he broke with his routine recently when he tried to have a $1000 cash bet on a horse at $3.50 using an electronic betting terminal, or EBT, at a Melbourne pub TAB.

“I went up to the EBT, and there was a sign on there saying, ‘no cash in this machine, please see the bar attendant for a voucher’,” he said.

But when he approached the bar, he was told by a staff member there was a “limit of $200”.

When he asked for five $200 vouchers in exchange for his $1000, he was told it was “against our money laundering policy”.

“I couldn’t get on,” he said. “I wanted to have a cash bet and couldn’t get on. I thought, ‘no wonder the turnover is suffering’.”

A TAB spokesman said: “TAB venue staff are trained in responsible gambling practices and can refuse to issue vouchers where they believe it is in the customer’s best interest not to.”

The betting organisation said it did not cap payouts to punters - “as highlighted by a punter who collected $728,000 from a $24 mystery bet on the Melbourne Cup” - but it did cut off or restrict losing punters.

“We are introducing new technology to detect changes in customer behaviour faster so we can intervene sooner to protect customers from gambling harm,” the spokesman said.

TAXING THE PUNTER

IINCREASES in taxes have become another bugbear for punters. They say, ultimately, these extra costs are worn by the customers.

From January 2019, the state government introduced a point of consumption tax to replace the wagering and betting tax structures.

It was a way for the state to properly tax online bookmakers who are often licensed outside of Victoria.

Both Ladbrokes.com.au and Sportsbet.com.au are licensed in the Northern Territory. Ladbrokes is owned by Entain, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, while Sportsbet is part of the Flutter Entertainment Group, which is a worldwide online gambling operator with headquarters in Dublin.

“Because they [the corporate bookmakers] were eluding taxes, the governments and tax authorities said, ‘we are not getting our whack out of this’, so they introduced all these taxes,” Brandon said.

“But the corporates responded by just putting up their percentages. They used to bet to 110 per cent [for a market], now they bet to 125 per cent. To the point where the turnover is now dropping.”

The Victorian Point of Consumption Tax jumped from 10 per cent to 15 per cent in July, with half of the income guaranteed to be funnelled back to all racing codes. In other words, the Victorian racing industry is now welded to an income from the online bookmaker model.

“The government and racing bodies are taxing the industry to death,” MacDonald said. “When they are increased, it is passed on to the punters. When the online bookmakers have poorer margins, they have to cut down on the winners.

“But winners are a big part of the game. If more winners are allowed, it would make the margins sharper. So losers would lose at a slower rate.

“It is a cycle of poor management. Governments and sports administrations want greater returns from tax, but they are losing revenue.”

Racing Victoria said gambling revenue fell 10 per cent last financial year, and is already down nine per cent this year.

The other side effects, MacDonald said, was that more and more gamblers were turning to the black market.

POLITICAL MISSION

WHETHER Pangallo’s Bill can start a chain reaction remains to be seen. But he is determined to make a difference.

“The conglomerates who own these companies – like Flutter Entertainment (Sportsbet) or Entain Group (Neds and Ladbrokes) – have resources in the billions of dollars,” he said.

“Their algorithms pick up on every tiny detail – from the way you swipe on your phone application to the IP address you use when making bets.

“But advances of technology have seen a new genre of smart and well-resourced gamblers attempting to improve their chances of landing winners. Some punters are just really good at analysis, while others utilise complex computer algorithms.

“As a result, these greedy betting companies have wised up and devised their own way to ensure they still hold the upper hand – by simply banning the punter.

“In any other industry, that would be unconscionable, if not illegal conduct.”

*Names changed to protect privacy.

 

 

LATHAM ACCUSES SOME IN THE SYDNEY RACING MEDIA OF BEING 'PUPPETS' FOR PETER V'LANDYS

The Hon. MARK LATHAM  speaking in the NSW PARLIAMENT: Previously I have explained how the CEO of Racing NSW uses his power as the industry regulatory. 

With a weak, compliant racing board and dense network of political and media favours and patronage built up over decades, Mr V'landys is, quite frankly, out of control, and the slightest, most trivial criticism of or           disagreement with him invokes immediate revenge. 

In September last year, Mr V'landys wrote to the highly respected chair of Aushorse, Antony Thompson—a great, long-time contributor to the New South Wales racing industry—accusing him of, "orchestrating a campaign       against Racing NSW, its chairman and myself personally, with this behaviour having serious consequences.”

 Mr Thompson's crime was to say that the term of Russell Balding as Chairman of Racing NSW should not be extended. In the end, through the actions of this Parliament, it was not. 

On 6 October Mr V'landys again wrote to the Aushorse chair, this time with the false allegation that Aushorse had collaborated with Anne Davies atThe Guardian to out the way in which V'landys deliberately bought influence from the political class through free hospitality in the Directors Room at Royal Randwick Racecourse and other gifts, including Ben English's freebie to the Kentucky Derby with TwinSpires. 

The freeloaders at Randwick include Ben Fordham at 2GB, who calls V'landys "the Godfather", and his then producer James Willis. 

Willis started texting Antony Thompson in a campaign of harassment and intimidation on behalf of his master at Racing NSW, Mr V'landys. 

In six text messages, Willis accused Mr Thompson of running a campaign against Racing NSW. Does that sound familiar? 

He said he needed to interview him on the Fordham program, which was to do him in. 

Those text messages were sent rat-a-tat-tat to Antony Thompson.

Willis even claimed he had, "more evidence that Aushorse may have been running a hit campaign against the executive at Racing NSW via the relevant Minister.” 

In truth, he made that up. 

In response to the Willis matter, Minister Harris, in the abiding style of a V'landys lackey, has denied on the parliamentary Notice Paper ever providing such information to James Willis. 

The highly respected bloodstock expert Vin Cox received similar treatment after he wrote to the racing Minister on 20 September last year arguing against the extension of Mr Balding's term. 

A few days later, Richard Callander wrote a piece for Breednet alluding to the powerful figures meddling in the affairs of Racing NSW, with the old V'landys chestnut that anyone who disagrees with the CEO at Racing NSW is trying to help Victorian racing.

Then the Channel 9 empire joined in, with John Redman, a producer at A Current Affair, giving Mr Cox the same treatment James Willis gave Antony Thompson, with persistent messages, harassment and threats to out him on A Current Affair. 

Weirdly and falsely, Redman claimed that the Breednet article, "appears to allege political lobbying on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed.” 

The ruler of Dubai has visited his Godolphin horse interest in Australia only once. 

It is more likely that I will ride a treble at Randwick on Saturday than it is that Sheikh Mohammed even knows who Russell Balding is. 

It was an absurd proposition. 

As if A Current Affair was ever going to run a segment on Sheikh Mohammed interfering in the extension of Russell Balding's term. 

The whole proposition was from planet Mars. It was nothing more than an attempt, on behalf of Racing NSW, to intimidate yet another well-intended contributor to the industry for disagreeing with the CEO, Mr V'landys.

Unfortunately, this is a very Sydney story. 

Peter V'landys is the ultimate networker. 

I always thought Kevin Rudd was the greatest power accumulator and networker I had ever met, but V'landys puts him in the shade. 

He buys influence from the media and his surrogates to, in return, do his bidding and intimidate and silence anyone in the racing industry who disagrees with him. 

While Chris Minns runs cover for V'landys out of fear thatThe Daily Telegraph and 2GB will turn on him and his political interests. 

What is this? 

Anyone who disagrees with the CEO of Racing NSW has a journalist set upon him. 

The media are bought off by freebies at Royal Randwick and Rosehill. 

I hope they do better than some of the National Party members, who got only a buffet instead of à la carte meals. 

I am sure they are doing a lot better in the Directors Room at Royal Randwick. 

Are we living in New South Wales or in a foreign dictatorship where media harassment, the misuse of the media and the harassment of individuals occurs. 

I fear for the future of racing as long as these tactics are allowed to continue.