IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on the mainstream media following catching up with criticism of the Government and under siege Racing Minister Steve Dickson.
Butts also predicts many industry stakeholders will desert racing ‘Dixieland’ in Queensland if there isn’t some positive news on several fronts soon, especially the need for prizemoney increases and a resolution to the dispute between trainers over Workcover costs.
Here is the Butts column:
PROMINENT BREEDER PRAISES THE GOVERNMENT ONE DAY – BAGS THEM THE NEXT
THE uncharacteristic outburst against Queensland’s racing regime in the mainline press over the past week should have come as no surprise to regulars of this column (or those who follow the letsgohorseracing website).
We have claimed for a long time (and roundly criticised) that the Racing Minister is way out of his depth – and this sad, but undeniable fact, has finally been acknowledged – even by those who have long supported him.
One prominent Darling Downs breeder on radio last Thursday was full of praise for the LNP Government (and Racing Queensland) for their ‘foresight, help and promises for the racing industry’.
On Saturday, after a dismal, below budget QTIS Sale at the Gold Coast, he turned a complete 180 degree somersault with a caustic attack on the Racing Minister Steve Dickson and the Newman Government
“They promised the world but delivered an atlas,” he said
“I am sick of the talk of how much Government has done for racing”.
The breeders had asked for a $4 million injection from Government to ‘reinvigorate’ the QTIS Scheme. They were hoping for an announcement before the sale. And their confidence was high.
But all they got was an announcement from the Racing Minister that he had put the proposal forward for Budget consideration.
And the boys from the bush are not impressed.
“NSW just put up $18 million for a week of racing.
“We are asking for $4 million over a year - and can’t get a commitment,” said Basil Nolan, boss of the Queensland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.
STAKEHOLDERS READY TO DESERT DIXIELAND IN DROVES IF RQ FAILS TO DELIVER
BUT the breeders are just one section of the third largest industry in the State that is hurting.
And it’s fair to say they get the least sympathy from the rank and file of racing.
If prizemoney doesn’t get that much needed boost to keep Queensland at least competitive with rival states there are genuine fears for the immediate future.
Everything hinges on the so-called TAB Product Agreement (in July) and the pending $130 million case against Tatts. Both outcomes are critical.
It has become a matter of survival for many stakeholders, who if they are not already planning a move interstate (from Dixieland), they are at least thinking about it.
Dixieland, how apt – do you like that?
WORKCOVER HAS REACHED CRITICAL STAGE WITH RQ EAGER FOR QUICK INTRODUCTION
ALSO at a critical stage is the controversial Workcover proposal that Racing Queensland is so keen to introduce.
It is purely designed to assist the big trainers and employers who claim they can’t afford to pay their Workcover premiums.
They want QR to introduce a fee for all horses starting in races in Queensland
So, in effect, the owner will pay the premium.
Most country trainers (and some Brisbane trainers as well) simply don’t want a bar of it. They wish to continue under the present arrangement whereby they pay a percentage of their wages.
Do the big time trainers not work on a budget like all businesses, big and small?
A budget whereby all operating costs, including Workcover premiums are factored into training fees?
If not, why not?
And many believe Workcover arrangements are not the domain of Racing Queensland unless it is their intention to actually employ everyone involved in the industry.
Racing Queensland CEO Darren Condon went on a whistle-stop tour of the north last week to woo the country trainers, who are all naturally and totally opposed to the starters’ fee.
It will see the cost of Workcover increase by more than $1,000 a year for those with just a few in work, who employ casual staff. Of course they want to reject it.
Mr Condon said he got a ‘good hearing’ from Cairns (where, incidentally, only two trainers turned up for the meeting), held last Tuesday that coincided with the first day of the QTIS Sale.
The north’s two leading trainers Fred Weiland and Roy Chillemi were at the Gold Coast.
There were about half a dozen at the Townsville meeting on Wednesday and about the same number at Mackay on Thursday – hardly representative of the huge number of trainers in the north.
‘GUN AT THE HEAD’ FROM RQ WITH THREAT OF $500 FOR A STRAPPER’S LICENSE
ACCORDING to those who did attend the meetings, RQ CEO Condon pleaded a strong case, and he allegedly warned that if the proposal does not go ahead, then trainers could be forced to pay up to $500 for a strapper’s license.
The simple answer to that is there will be no strappers. Eventually, of course, there will be no trainers.
But while RQ threatens to go full steam ahead to implement the starters’ fee, Jim Rundle, the president of the Rockhampton Trainers’ Association, remains defiant.
He has not relented, nor is likely to, and suggests the Racing Queensland hierarchy have a look at their very own Code of Racing Policy drawn up in May last year.
The document is available on the RQ website, and outlines how all new policy has to be introduced.
“They haven’t followed one single step of their own process,” said Mr Rundle, who stressed: “We are far from finished and currently working through various procedures.
He also stated:
“LNP Members of Parliament have totally divorced us, except for Vaughan Johnson who is most concerned what this starter fee will do to country racing.
“He is trying his hardest.
“But Bruce Young, the LNP member for Keppel, has been most disappointing.
“He has run with the mob and deserted his own electorate,” said Mr Rundle.
HOW CAN I HELP – WE CAN RELIEVE YOU OF $1,000 SAY THE RQ STEWARDS
CONNECTIONS of How Can I Help are naturally peeved over the disqualification of their horse from its third placing at Kilcoy last Thursday – and with sound justification, it would seem.
The trainer was notified by stewards on Friday of the disqualification.
All because a horse named Save the Plant, which had beaten How Can I Help in a Maiden at Innisfail last November, was disqualified on Wednesday over a positive swab – the day before the Kilcoy race.
Yes, the race was in Innisfail last November and the hearing was the day before the Kilcoy race last week.
Of course connections had no idea that there was an on-going enquiry into the Innisfail race.
How Can I Help changed hands after that race and went to a new stable. It has since won a Maiden at Rockhampton in December. It was fifth in a Class 1 at the Gold Coast prior to his Kilcoy outing.
In this day and age of computers, flags and communications, it is inconceivable that this could happen. It quite simply fell through the cracks of racing control.
Connections, I am told, have rightfully claimed compensation for nomination, acceptance and transport fees. But they have lost $1,000 in prizemoney,
What would have happened if the horse had won at the Gold Coast?
And the other question is, of course, why the Save the Plant inquiry was held so late?
DAMIEN BROWNE APPEAL DECISION HAS OPENED THE FLOOD-GATES FOR JOCKEYS
AND on the subject of inquiries, senior jockey Andrew Spinks was telling someone at a recent Townsville meeting that he copped a month for riding an ill-judged race at the Gold Coast last year.
He was in a discussion at Cluden about the Damien Browne episode that saw that jockey walk free last week amid much speculation.
“I didn’t like my suspension – but I copped it. It was a bad ride,” said Spinks.
Browne also admitted his was a bad ride. And stewards rightly penalised him. Heathcote, the trainer, threatened to relocate to Sydney because his stable jockey got time.
Has he gone yet?
The appeal, or importantly, the end result was no surprise to anyone.
Browne was long odds-on to beat the wrap.
In the end it was a case of the stewards doing their job in the room – and the jockey not doing his job on the track.
That simple!
If a jockey, particularly of Browne’s calibre, admits it was a bad ride surely that should be enough. There was no need for anyone else to get involved – no-one.
Didn’t Glyn Schofield do time recently for what was deemed by stewards as an ill-judged ride?
WHY IS THERE A LIMIT OF 12 STARTERS AT OORALEA – THE RQ CEO HAS TO CHECK IT OUT
WHILE addressing trainers in Mackay last week, RQ CEO Darren Condon was asked why there was a limit of 12 horses for the new Ooralea track, rated the best in country Queensland.
Good question.
Outspoken local mentor Wayne Pomfrett said there should be a limit of at least 14 for some races.
“The track is so well cambered, horses don’t lose ground going wide. It is very safe and it is ridiculous to have that limit,” he said.
The CEO promised to investigate.
He might also investigate why the club, once the richest in country Queensland and now said to be on the financial ropes, has a rumoured $200,000 in liquor in store at the racetrack.
Given the current poor track attendances it’s hardly likely it will move much stock – all with a use-by date of course.
And the actual origin of the stock is also a question that could be asked.
Apparently the Brewery just ‘doesn’t want to know about it’.
But there is a suggestion figures of a certain pub in the district might look a bit inflated – especially if there is a plan to sell, according to my well primed informant on matters of racing (and liquor) in the sugar city.
QCAT MIGHT GET AROUND TO HEARING THIS APPEAL BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
THE much-awaited QCAT appeal over the fine and penalty levied on trainer Tony Bita six months ago over the alleged use of the drug prednosolene has been postponed – yet again.
It was to have been heard this month, was changed to April 17 – and now that has been further postponed to a date to be fixed.
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.