IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, warns the Labor Government of the need to fix the problems confronting the racing industry.
Butts joins many other stakeholders in calling for the resignation of Interim CEO of Racing Queensland, Ian Haul, the appointment of a new Board and the separation of the three codes, now under one umbrella.
Here is the Butts’ column:
CLOCK TICKING ON FIX FOR RACING INDUSTRY IN QLD
TIME is fast running out for the Government to fix the racing industry in Queensland.
Confidence in the Government and its handling of RQ – still the third largest employer in the State – is at an all-time low.
Latest bloomer in a long list of clangers and miscalculations since Labor took control was just last week when it called applications for a new permanent CEO of Racing Queensland.
RQ doesn’t even have a Board. How downright stupid is that?
New Racing minister, the unlikely (by name and deeds) Grace Grace, has until April to introduce a new Bill – a critical document that contains the highly-controversial MacSporran Report that just about everyone in the industry, on both sides of politics, has boohooed.
They want the Bill scrapped.
Wouldn’t it be better to install a Racing Queensland Board with qualified racing people to administer at least for a settling down period before the Bill (and changes) is introduced to Parliament? Surely it can be deferred.
And surely Grace will back down on the ridiculous suggestion of McSporran to have the three codes work under the same umbrella.
Separation is the only answer. And it is sink or sail – with no piggy-backing as initially suggested by the acting CEO Ian Hall.
CONFLICT IF INTEREST ACCUSATIONS CONTINUE TO HAUNT RQ CEO
SEEMS our acting RQ CEO is falling out of favour too with his peers and is definitely under the gun by Opposition spokesman on racing Jann Stuckey and the powerful breakaway group known as QRUG (Queensland Racing Unity Group).
A face-saving resignation might be his best option as the KPMG- employed Receiver has been, according to many, a complete disaster as acting head.
The decision to reduce the annual Racing Information Fee paid to RQ by corporate bookies for the right to work on Queensland races has been strongly criticised
That figure is said to be the range of $10 million.
It is further alleged Hall’s employer (KPMG) represented the corporate giant Sportsbet in its recent affiliation with Betfair, another of the despised off course bookies operating in Australia, a move that mightily upset the UBET hierarchy.
Racing Minister Grace has, according to the Opposition, admitted serious breaches of protocol since the appointment of Hall.
Shadow Minister Stuckey said the revelations were detailed in a letter from the Palaszczuk Government Minister.
“I wrote to Grace Grace almost two months ago raising serious concerns over governance in Racing Queensland,” Mrs Stuckey said.
“Her reply exposes that only now, after media attention, has she asked Mr Hall to explain how he will manage potential conflicts of interest arising from the fact that he is a partner of KPMG, a company with links to international corporate betting giant, Sportsbet.
“Surely these serious issues should have been canvassed before Mr Hall was appointed to lead Queensland’s billion dollar racing industry.
“This is all the more important given Racing Queensland’s recent decision to reduce race field fees for corporate bookmakers such as Sportsbet.”
In December last year, it was reported that Mr Hall supported Sportsbet’s involvement in racing in Queensland, raising concerns for the sole licensed wagering operator - UBET.
“What wasn’t made clear at the time was that corporate betting agencies like Sportsbet reap all the financial rewards of operating in Queensland but don't pay many State taxes – revenue that won’t be re-invested in Queensland’s racing industry,” she said.
“Given the confusion about what conflict of interest declarations Mr Hall has provided, or not provided, the Minister should clarify the matter by releasing what was provided and when, including whether he outlined his and KPMG's potential conflict of interest with Sportsbet.”
Mrs Stuckey said the Minister’s correspondence also admitted that the Government has potentially breached its own Act by appointing new Racing Queensland CEO Ian Hall without conducting a police or background check as per the requirements of the Act.
“The Minister stated they have only recently sought Mr Hall's consent to do this, despite being appointed by Governor-in-Council on 27 August,” she said.
“In essence Mr Hall has been managing Racing Queensland whilst legally not fulfilling the appointment requirements under the law. This may open up any decisions he has made as the CEO to legal challenge.”
QUESTIONS ABOUT MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR UBET PAYMENT TO RQ
NEXT question might be to ask the exact whereabouts of UBET’s initial $37.5 million payment to Racing Queensland under the deal brokered by previous RQ chairman Kevin Dixon.
Inquiries reveal that the money was paid in July 2014 to the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing but then suddenly disappeared, presumably to Treasury.
The question being asked: Is this money earmarked or quarantined for use by Racing Queensland?
If so, why is it not included in Racing Queensland’s Annual Report financials?
Oh, and by the way...what about the interest?
BETTING FINE ON JOCKEY FRANK EDWARDS DECLARE ‘LUDICRUOUS’
WHILE QRUG chairman, Ian Macauley OAM, awaits the answers to these important questions we refer to the case of Townsville jockey Frank Edwards who was fined a whopping $500 last week for having a bet.
We all know jockeys are not allowed to bet – and so does Frankie – who in 40-odd years of riding has an exemplary record.
The facts of this case are that in 2014, Frankie, while under suspension for a minor offence, placed a $20 bet on a horse in a Townsville race – one that he would have been riding if not suspended. The other was a $20 bet on a winner of a feature race at the Gold Coast.
He was completely stumped when confronted with his ‘heinous’ crime in December last year after someone – with little else to do – had trawled the UBET accounts and found the name of jockey Edwards,
Frankie readily pleaded guilty and said he only opened the UBET phone account as he is an ardent Cowboys supporter and wanted to have small wagers on the football.
That should have been the end of it but last week the matter was finalised with a $500 fine – which frankly is ludicrous. His quite reasonable request for a suspended sentence was refused.
So now he should insist the fine goes to a charity of his choice – not into the coffers of RQ.
In other words – it should not be a contribution to the RQ Christmas Party!
And as for UBEET, it should be more concerned with gaining punters not penalising the few they have. And if Frankie wants to keep betting (on the football, of course) he just opens another account in another name with another agency.
That simple!
FAREWELL TO ONE OF NORTH QUEENSLAND’S BEST KNOWN TRAINERS
GILBERT BOW, one of North Queensland’s best known trainers, passed away last week. He was 93.
Bow had fought a valiant battle against ill-health for many months. But to the very end he never surrendered his great passion for racing.
Gilbert will be remembered as a strict straight-shooter and disciplinarian. He was never backward and neve r shirked an issue.
He stood for and demanded high standards in every aspect of the game and his resilience in a tough racing environment was well known and highly respected.
To the very end (I had a short bedside interview with him on November 23), he still remembered clearly the highlights of his long and successful career – the highs and the lows.
He was a trainer for 40 years without peer in northern Australia.
His long list of achievements include three Townsville Cups, three Richmond Cups, three Innisfail Cups, three Mingela Cups – and every other feature race in the district.
Gilbert reeled them off as if it was last year.
Recently the Townsville Turf Club paid homage to the grand old man and his contribution to racing by naming a race in his honour.
Sadly, Gilbert was unable to attend, but club secretary Michel Charge drove him around the new track. He said the old trainer was elated.
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..
