IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on a fiery meeting of country trainers in Rockhampton rejecting RQ plans to introduce a starter’s fee.
Butts has the latest news from RTA president Jim Rundle on the protest which saw five motions passed in the presence of RQ CEO Darren Condon and no were really complimentary of the control body’s decision-making process.
Here is the Butts column:
COUNTRY TRAINERS REVOLT OVER PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE STARTER’S FEE
MORE than 50 members of the Rockhampton Trainers’ Association voted unanimously on Sunday to oppose Racing Queensland’s proposal to introduce a starter’s fee.
The controversial idea is designed to off-set Workcover premiums that some of the bigger trainers in Brisbane claim they can no longer afford.
But country trainers (and some of the smaller Brisbane trainers) are against the proposal claiming it is designed only to suit the big boys, some of whom are paying over $60,000 a year in Workcover premiums.
The meeting in Rockhampton was attended by RQ’s CEO Darren Condon who failed to convince the local trainers they should agree to a decision last week by his Board that a $65 fee was to be introduced for all city starters, $35 for provincial TAB runners and $10 for country.
Many believe the fees will be simply passed on to owners, and country trainers, more especially owner- trainers, will be as much as 300 per cent (or more) worse off.
Apparently Condon offered the country trainers a reduced fee of $25 for provincial TAB runners but this was rejected during the two hour meeting.
The starter’s fee decision, which has severely divided trainers in the state, followed an approach by the Queensland branch of Australian Trainers’ Association to RQ last year.
BONECRUSHING COMMENT ABOUT COUNTRY TRAINERS FUELLED THE ROW
THE issue has festered on with some fiery exchanges.
At one meeting an overseas born Brisbane trainer allegedly referred to RTA members as; “those %?@$& grubs in North Queensland”.
However, the RTA, which in fact has more members than the ATA in Queensland, was left out of the decision-making process and last week Condon announced it was a “done deal”.
But it’s not.
On Sunday, at a special meeting called by RTA president Jim Rundle the plan was totally rejected.
Condon was present when five motions were passed rejecting the RQ proposals outright.
One motion related to obtaining legal advice on the prospects of launching a Supreme Court challenge. Another called on RQ to contact all trainers in the state for their opinion and another called on the RTA to make serious overtures to local politicians, Labor’s Bill Byrne and new LNP member Bruce Young whose silence on the issue has been deafening.
“WE will also call on deputy RQ (All Codes Board) chairman Barry Taylor who RTA supported in his election quest – in the belief he was a voice for country racing” Rundle said.
MOTIONS ADOPTED BY THE COUNTRY TRAINERS LEFT RQ CEO SPEECHLESS
THERE was no verbal reaction from RQ CEO Condon when the five motions were passed unanimously.
Condon offered to step outside when the voting on the motions began, but Mr Rundle insisted he stay and witness the proceedings.
“We have nothing to hide at our meetings,” he told the CEO.
And it might be mentioned here that Jim Rundle is not a man to mess with. He is the son of a former jockey, trainer and highly respected steward. Jim had 22 years in local government, many of them as highly respected deputy mayor of Rockhampton.
“I didn’t take out a trainer’s licence until 2004 when dad retired. I wouldn’t have a licence while he was a stipe,” said Mr Rundle.
So the dilemma of the starter’s fee is far from over.
Condon has indicated he intends to contact trainers further north, but obtaining a favourable the response will be no easy task, given the feedback this column has had on the issue in recent weeks.
Seems the feeling is the same in the north as it is outside the metropolitan area.
“We are being used to subsidise the city trainers. It’s that simple,” said a prominent Cairns trainer who echoed the thoughts of many of his colleagues.
“And you can’t just expect owners to pay the premiums. They are battling increased fees already with feed, the drought, transport etc – and no sign of increased prisemomney.
“Owners can’t afford the extra $65 to start nor an increase in training fees to cover it.
“And don’t forget owners get a $200 unplaced rebate over the border,” he said.
Can you argue?
MURRIHY RETIREMENT WOULD BE A FEW MONTHS TOO LATE FOR BUSSUTIN
THE rumour mill has Ray Murrihy retiring his post as Racing NSW Chief Steward after the rich Sydney autumn carnival.
For Kiwi trainer Trent Bussutin it is a few months too late.
Many believe Murrihy was WRONG to scratch Busuttin’s horse El Roca just hours before he was to start in the Hobartville Stakes on Saturday. Melbourne’s Chief Stipe Terry Bailey is among them.
There are a couple of questions here.
What effect would an ‘IV’ drip (I have used dozens of them over the years, especially after a horse has travelled in the NQ heat) have?
It can be likened to an athlete downing a sports drink on Friday before a contest. Yes, it is that serious.
And where was the ARB? Too busy fiddling with anabolic steroid regulations which many believe was introduced to suit the breeders, certainly not to benefit the older horses or their trainers.
The ARB, if it’s worth its salt (and some might doubt its worthiness), must address this anomaly of ‘the one clear day’ rule between states – post haste.
Otherwise the Supreme Court is going to be kept busy righting the wrongs of stewards.
And it wouldn’t surprise in the least if this matter heads there, just as the Gai Waterhouse case did recently.
Simply because in this matter at least, there was a distinct lack of simple common sense – thought the blame ultimately rests with the ARB.
Fancy – all this because a trainer gave his horse a salt solution to help overcome dehydration.
Unbelievable. If it wasn’t so serious it would be a joke.
PARRY NISSAN SPONSORSHIP RETURNS TO RACING IN TOWNSVILLE
THE famous Parry Nissan is back on the agenda at Cluden.
For years the richest two-year-old race in the north, the Great Northern, was known simply as the Parry Nissan, the race that everyone wanted to win.
But a change of ownership of the motor dealer two years ago saw a name change to rival car dealer Mike Carney who branded the race the Tomcar Classic.
But sales of Tomcar were a bit slower than the horses that contested the race and Mike decided to forgo the sponsorship. Parry
Nissan’s new owners stepped up to the plate and the age-old title is back.
Standby for more big news regarding this year’s Parry Nissan that will be announced soon.
LATE INTEREST IN PROPOSED NEW STABLING BLOCK FOR CLUDEN
ALSO at Cluden, there was a late surge of interest in the proposed new stabling block that the Townsville Turf Club is hoping to build on track.
When expressions of interest (EOI) closed last Friday there were 81 applications for on course boxes.
“It was a most gratifying result,” said Chairman Kevin O’Keefe.
“There was interest from all over. And we might have to sneak another 16 horse block into the original plans.”
O’Keefe is hopeful the go ahead for the new Strathayr track and stabling will get the nod from Government for work to commence after the Townsville Amateurs in August and hopes to see the stabling ready for occupation early next year.
That’s a positive.
THIS HAS TO BE THE QUOTE OF THE WEEK IN RACING – OR IS IT A JOKE?
AND to end this week’s we have to run the QUOTE OF THE WEEK, taken from the Brisbane Courier-Mail on Monday.
It is from Racing Minister Steve Dickson and reads: “We have turned the industry around. We have created confidence, we have created certainty – the only thing we are lacking is prizemoney.”
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.
