IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports from the high seas that the news of Patrick Cooper being overlooked for the Chief Steward’s job in Townsville hit his cruise ship like an iceberg.
Butts also raises some interesting questions about the political motivation of a leak from RQ to The Courier-Mail Racing Editor and continues his report on the state of play in South African racing.
Here is the Butts column:
EVEN ON THE HIGH SEAS THE CHIEF STEWARD APPOINTMENT CAME AS A SHOCK
THE news that filtered through to me on my cruise back to Australia from South Africa about the much-anticipated appointment of a new Chief Steward for Townsville came as quite a shock.
I don’t know Newcastle based Sam Woolaston and he may well be the best credentialed man for the job but I am disappointed that once again a senior steward who knows the local scene in Patrick Cooper has been overlooked and so were a couple of others headed by former top jockey Gary Palmer.
Even this far from home I heard the stories about the interview process and how Patrick had to deal with a panel which included some stewards who the rumor mill suggested did not want him back in racing.
If that was the case – and I am not saying it was – there should have been an independent panel conducting the interviews.
It does seem strange that Cooper was not considered good enough when one of those interviewing him – the current Integrity Chief for RQ in Wade Birch – was once his junior in Townsville.
SOME THINGS CHANGE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PATRICK COOPER IT STAYS THE SAME
HOW times change but not when it comes to Cooper being reappointed to a stewards’ role with RQ.
The Media Release on the appointment read:
FOLLOWING an extensive recruitment process, Racing Queensland is pleased to announce the appointment of Sam Woolaston to the position of Senior Steward based in Townsville.
Sam comes to the role having served as Deputy Chairman of Stewards in the Central and Western Districts and Northern Rivers District of New South Wales. In 2010, Sam returned to the Sydney Metropolitan Panel based in Newcastle, a position he has held until the present time.
RQ CEO Darren Condon is confident that Sam has attained the unique skills required of a Steward responsible for managing a large regional centre.
“Sam’s success in Senior Steward’s roles in Tamworth and more recently as the Steward in charge at Newcastle, one of Australia’s largest provincial racing centres. This represents a great foundation of experience that will serve to ensure he succeeds as the leader of Stewards Operations in North Queensland” he said.
“I am confident that Sam will be of great benefit to the racing industry in North Queensland.”
Here’s hoping that the new appointee is capable of succeeding where several others have failed in getting the racing fraternity – on and off the track – heading in the same direction in Townsville.
My belief remains that Cooper was the man for the job and stems from his knowledge of all things racing in Townsville. Good luck to Sam Woolaston. He faces no easy task on foreign soil.
‘POLITICAL’ SCOOPS CONTINUE TO FALL OFF THE BACK OF THE DEAGON DUMP TRUCK
IT would seem that someone in high places at Racing Queensland has been leaking to the racing media yet again.
That’s certainly the interpretation that has been sent to me in several emails concerning the story in Queensland’s only metropolitan daily this week concerning the Townsville Turf Club.
It was hardly news that the TTC has been engaged in a long-running battle with a contractor over the building of a dam at Cluden or that Emanate Legal, a company operated by All Codes Board director Barry Taylor, has represented the club.
That stems back years and well before Taylor was appointed to the Borad so why all of a sudden is this a newsworthy item?
It seems the Devil was in the detail with the suggestion that the TTC has made application to RQ to pay its legal fees in the matter. My understanding from the club is that happened in the Bentley era and that Taylor offered to resign as TTC lawyer when appointed to the Board but they wanted to retain his services.
Surely this wasn’t a politically-motivated media stunt to discredit Taylor and the TTC. If it was – and one has to question if the information fell off the back of a Deagon dump truck – then it’s pretty rich considering the ‘right royal treatment’ that some clubs – especially the BRC and Toowoomba – have received since the Bob Bentley Board departed.
TWO DISTINCT ASPECTS TO THE STATE OF RACING IN SOUTH AFRICA
NOW back to the state of play aboard and it is hard to get an accurate assessment on the overall state of racing after only a short visit to South Africa. But there are two very distinct aspects.
There is a very active breeding industry that this year attracted notable representatives of Coolmore , the Arabs and other prominent UK buyers who bought yearlings at the record Capetown sales two weeks ago.
The success of these sales, inaugurated just three years ago, is obviously the reason why South African buyers were absent (or light on the ground) at the Magic Millions Sales on the Gold Coast this year – and they may be lost forever.
Simply because the Australian horses are too expensive compared to the home-grown stock – and arguably not any better. South African-bred horses have a proud record of achievement in international events in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and the UK, in spite of a horrendous quarantine regime they are forced to endure.
All horses leaving South Africa must spend two weeks in Capetown quarantine and a further 19 weeks in Dubai and more in the UK before they can race. However, if they complete the Dubai internment, they are permitted to race without further quarantine in Hong Kong and Singapore,
It is all because of African Horse Sickness and these seemingly harsh conditions are enforced by the British Bloodstock authorities, urged on and supported by Australian breeders.
There is however some hint of an easing of the restrictions in the near future, no doubt a rumor strengthened by the presence at the recent sales by the likes of John Magnier, Coolmore and co.
Should there be some relief in quarantine requirements that could see more Springbok representation on Australian tracks, not merely the likes of the Schofields and David Payne, but of the equine variety as well.
POOR PRIZEMONEY WILL SEE TOP YEARLINGS HEAD OVERSEAS TO RACE
ON the other side of the coin South Africa has poor prizemoney with an average race on any of the country's nine tracks around $10,000 and the three yearlings bought for the big overseas buyers will probably be headed straight for Dubai or Newmarket. They each sold for just over $320,000
But the comparisons are interesting.
The highest price yearling last year at the national yearling sale in South Africa was US$29,950. At the Sydney easter Sale it was$276,300, Karaka $130,690, Keeneland $102,200 and UK $333,600.
It is also interesting to note that the international star, Jay Peg, cost a mere $16,150 and won $4.275million. The brilliant J. J. Jetstar cost $8,550 and won $2.3million and Victory Moon ($24,700) won $2.3million, to name just three.
DOWNSIDE OF RACING IN SOUTH AFRICA IS TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE BETTING
THE downside of the racing industry in South Africa, apart from pathetic prizemoney for run of the mill races, is its totally ineffective on and off course betting.
Amazingly, the off course tote is run by a listed company named Phumelela. It also runs an off course fixed price betting arm called Betting World. Phumelela also runs the two biggest race clubs in the country, Turffontein nd Kenilworth – and the TV station that covers all the racing, both local and overseas – Swan Hill trots included.
Yet I found the hardest thing to do in Capetown was not to find a winner but to find a betting shop. The conseirge at my hotel didn’t know what I was talking about and nor did four of the five taxi drivers I asked.
Apparently Ladbrokes tried and failed to find the number of punters they needed for viability. So after a short stint packed up and left.
What a pity they don’t do the same in Oz!
But in a country that wagers more on soccer on a Saturday than horses, the power-brokers face a tough task to get the punters back to the track.
South Africa has the horses, and world class jockeys, but has been sadly let down by what matters most – and off-course betting system run by the industry for the industry.
There is a faint whisper that the French-owned pari mutuel that runs the all tote racing in that country is looking at a possible takeover. There are many concerned stakeholders hoping that happens.
For Cape trainer Stephen Page it is just all too late. The former jockey, who later trained for the famously influential Oppenheimer family, is packing up, at age 50+, and heading for Sydney to take up a foreman role for Warwick Farm trainer Rick Worthington who apparently does a lot of pre-training for Chris Waller.
Also heading to Australia is another ‘evergreen’ jockey Robbie Fradd who has suddenly declared he is to become a Gold Coast-based rider,
The internationally-acclaimed jockey, who has been riding for more than 30 years, intends to settle on the Coast in March after long and careful consideration.
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.