IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS looks toward a new racing year with some trepidation.

He speaks of more than a glimmer of hope with legal experts tipping that racing in Queensland will emerge triumphant from the battle with Tattersall’s in the courts.

Butts also reports on the Predisone positive swab controversy in country Queensland and the prospects of a class action by trainers against the control body.

Here is the Butts column:

NEW RACING YEAR BEGINS WITH A SENSE OF TREPIDATION

THE new racing year has begun with a distinct sense of trepidation.

There is certainly more hope than confidence our industry’s reputation can survive the freefall it has suffered from events over recent weeks.

The astounding Vlahos conspiracy has already had widespread affect  on the entire national racing  scene and will no doubt  affect everyone  from  the breeders  to the bookmakers.

 The Vlahos fall-out will certainly change the way horses are actually sold, syndicated and insured in this country henceforth. And integrity strategies will no doubt be reviewed, particularly in Victoria, where ‘everything’ seems to happen.

The Vlahos cloud hangs menacingly over an industry already fighting to regain some semblance of respect after continuous scandals involving Damien Oliver and his infamous bet, of Dan Nikolic and his disreputable exploits, the Gai Waterhouse-John Singleton saga… and the list goes on.

 But the dark and heavy cloud of Vlahos is yet to burst. It could very well be the Cyclone Althea of racing.

We will gauge some idea of his impact from the results of the up-coming Magic Millions Sales. But seemingly there is much more to come from the Vlahos probe.

 

RQ LEGAL EXPERTS CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS OUTCOME AGAINST TATTS

CLOSER to home, Racing Queensland and its thousands of stakeholders were somewhat numbed by a Statement of Claim tendered by Tattersalls, which, if successful, could cost as much as $200 million, according to some analysts.

The  claim was lodged in the Brisbane Supreme Court just prior to Christmas in response to the already much publicised demand by Racing Queensland for $120 million against Tatts for alleged  non-payment of  fees that RQ says it is entitled.

IN spite of the Tatts’ counter claim legal experts associated with RQ are said to be still confident of a successful outcome.

“Our position hasn’t changed,” said CEO Darren Condon.

Everyone in the racing game in Queensland is relying on a successful Supreme Court decision in the hope it will provide a much needed boost to prizemoney - and fund other urgent projects throughout the State. We can only hope.

 

TOWNSVILLE THANKFUL FOR UPGRADE BUT SOME SAY TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

THE Townsville Turf club finally got some recognition after several years of begging and broken promises (by Bob Bentley and his Board) when approval was given in December for the $7million track upgrade. 

Some might say it is a case of too little too late, particularly when compared to the $15 million granted to Albion Park - on the same day - for a new race-caller’s box (someone suggested it should be bright pink), a restaurant and stabling facilities for the inner Brisbane site.

While the TTC were lavish in their appreciation for the local Tories and RQ for the $7mn grant, it is no secret the club had hoped for more.

Townsville urgently requires on-course stabling which the club rightly claims is essential for the future growth of the industry in the north.

There were also plans to convert the betting ring into an all-weather entertainment precinct that could provide essential internal revenue for the club.

Seems these projects are still on the back-burner but hopefully will be resurrected if and when the legal battle with Tatts is decided in RQ’s favour.

 

ENVY AND RESENTMENT IN NORTH TO ‘START ‘ THAT TOOWOOMBA GOT

TO say there is an undercurrent of envy and resentment among northerners over the way Toowoomba was allowed gatecrash or jump the queue for funds last year is an understatement.

Everyone knows Townsville was in the queue for financial help way ahead of Toowoomba which had voted (yes voted) to waste millions on a cushion track back in the Bentley regime.

 It didn’t work so the club wanted to revert back to turf.

No problem with that.

But in the minds of many it was obscene the way Toowoomba was allowed to jump the queue.

It will be remembered as the leap frog the year in fact , brazen as could be and complete with the blessing of our so-called Racing  Minister who has won no votes (Cairns excluded) in this part of the world.

 

SEVEN POSITIVES TO PREDNISONE PRESENTS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR RQ

TALKING of clouds that are about to burst.

In Queensland we have the Prednisone investigation which is festering away with the potential to burst. There have been seven positives to the drug over the past year in all different regions of the state.

The respective trainers have been notified but not formally charged. The charge and threat of losing livelihood has been with them for many months, prompting one trainer to say: “It’s a virtual sentence in itself.”

Then just before Christmas RQ unexpectedly decided not to proceed with the charges against trainers some of whom are based at Tolga, Mt Isa, Rockhampton and Mackay.

This sudden decision followed a successful request by RQ for an adjournment of the appeal to QCAT by trainer Tony Bita against his $3,000 fine for a positive to Prednisone last year. That appeal is now set to be heard in March.

Brisbane-based Bita says he can’t wait to get to the QCAT appeal. And says he was bitterly disappointed it was adjourned at the last minute late last year.

“I just can’t wait. We have all the ammo and I am determined to clear my name.

“To date I have been labelled as cheat, a liar and a thief.

“I did absolutely nothing wrong and I won’t rest until I am completely exonerated,” he said.

“And I promise if I lose the appeal I will not pay a single red cent of the fine.

“Why should I?

“I am totally innocent,” he said.

Bita is solidly supported by his owner Daryl Northfield who is equally adamant of his trainer’s innocence.

“Besides he is not being given a fair go.

“There are a lot of issues surrounding this case that RQ stewards refuse to advise me or comment on particular issues such as what category Prednisone is recognised under Australian Rules of Racing.

“It has been badly handled from the start and to top it off I got an email from (Chairman of Stewards) Wade Birch after a series of exchanges that stated:

 “Racing Queensland does not intend to enter into any further correspondence with respect to this matter”

The email suggested that the owner should file any further evidence with his legal representative. And he has.

And that evidence includes a statement from a leading racing laboratory in Europe which declared it was a scientific fact that all large mammals, under stress, produce Prednisone and as a result of this study, racing in Europe, according to Mr Northfield, has introduced a screening limit level for the drug.

Currently Australia has zero tolerance.

 

TRAINERS CONSIDERING CLASS ACTION AGAINST RACING QUEENSLAND

AND THAT’S NOT ALL.

Trainer Daryl Hansen, and Tablelands colleague Fred Weiland, who had both previously been charged, fined and had their horses disqualified over positives to the drug, are considering a class action against Racing Queensland.

Hansen has already requested another reading of the positive swab returned by his horse, Essington, after winning the Rockhampton Newmarket two years ago. He was fined $10,000 and of course lost the race.

He has been told by Birch that his request is under consideration and he expects an answer this week.

Hansen was adamant then - and still is - that he never used the drug. Wieland says the same.

A media release from RQ on December 24 revealed that there were ‘inconsistencies of screening sensitivity levels among the official racing laboratories in Australia.’

It added that the problem had now been rectified, but, acting on legal advice, RQ had decided not to proceed with the charges that were pending.

 

SID ‘THE KILLER KID’ PARKER – A BUSH LEGEND – WILL BE SADLY MISSED

IT is with genuine great sadness that we learn of the sudden passing of Sid Parker in Darwin on Monday.

Sid was very close to my family. e He gave my wife Kathy away at our wedding 37 years ago and is Godfather and for many years mentors of Brendan our first born. You don’t get much closer.

He was one of my greatest mates. I trained horses for him and he swung the bag when my clerk failed to turn up one day at Wyndham.

In year 2000, on his 75th birthday, I penned this:

They say he came from Rocky, but at risk of feeling cocky

I can tell you he’s from Comet,

In the dry and dusty west.

He came to Darwin ringing, and the stations soon were singing

The praises of the stockman

The one we call old Sid.

It was way back in the ‘fifties, when we heard the first “by Jingies”

The catchphrase of the cattleman-

The one we call Old Sid.

From Camooweal to Katherine-from Wyndam to Port Keats,

From Karumba to Dunmurra,

And all points north and east

They know him- and they love him

The one we call Old Sid.

IT was tough at times- by jingies to get yourself a quid

But it never worried Sidney-

Sid the killer kid.

He cleared the plains for big horned beasts-

And sent them overseas.

To pull a plough In near east lands-and provide the daily dinner.

And in the cut throat world of live export-

Old Sid has been the winner.

He surveyed all the rivers that entwine those northern parts

So ships could carry cattle-loaded to the mast

He sent them off to buyers who made the highest bid

That cattleman from Darwin

That one we call Old Sid.

They talk about the early days-when he boarded at the Vic

The days when men drank long necks and never called it quits,

When men were men- and many

Would drink right through the night-

But old Sid would still be standing

When Fong Lim doused the light.

He’d drink you under table-then laugh at your demise

For when it’s time to party- there was no second prize,

He did the lot beyond the call and without fear or favour

And now it’s time to dip the lid,

To say goodbye-to Sid, our mate

Old Sid the killer kid.

 

COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.

TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.