Letsgohorseracing - Silks & Saddles

Details: Published: 25 March 2018; Created: 25 March 2018

By TERRY BUTTS of the NQ REGISTER

RAY Walsh was always the perfect gentleman. He was of the old school in so many ways.

And right up until the last day he attended a race meeting, just a few weeks ago, he was resplendent in his customary, or perhaps to him (obligatory), hat and tie – whilst most of his colleagues were content with more casual North Queensland race day attire of shirts, caps and jeans.

His horses too were always paraded with what became known over the years as the ‘Walsh polish’, an accolade he dismisses with ‘well, we always did our best to look after them – even the slower ones’.

And that, everyone will attest he surely did.

Details: Published: 19 March 2018; Created: 19 March 2018

By TERRY BUTTS of the NQ REGISTER

THE BETTING industry in Australia is in danger of being taxed back into the dark ages of illegal SP bookies should the controversial new Punters’ Tax come into effect across Australia.

That’s the latest furphy being spread by opponents of the new Government tax (POC tax) that has the big off course corporate bookies on the back foot and fleeing.

Yet amazingly Fair Wagering Australia which purports to look after the interests of punters seems to support the off-course operators on the POC tax issue.

Details: Published: 11 December 2017; Created: 11 December 2017

By TERRY BUTTS of the NQ REGISTER

NOT too many knew him as Alan William Townsend. But a legion of racing fans around the Mackay area – and beyond – will remember him simply as ‘Pee Wee’.

He was a character of great renown both on and off the tracks for more than 50 years – from Callaghan Park in Rockhampton to Cannon Park in Cairns – and racetracks in between.

The leviathan (a thing that is very large and powerful) punter – and an utterly fearless bookmaker – was laid to rest at the tiny sugar town of Mirani on Friday. He was 75 and the tributes and stories of the former railway porter, cane cutter, punter, owner and bookmaker and, above all, devoted family man and passionate gardener, flowed freely.