by TERRY BUTTS of the NQ REGISTER

THE QRIC ‘cops’, as they are now known, were out in force at Cairns at the recent Amateurs Carnival where – to substantiate their overwhelming presence – they continued a blitz on stables and stable staff.

Caught up like a dolphin in a shark net however was the 59-year-old wife of leading local trainer Trevor Rowe. And the somewhat audacious incident has caused quite a stir in racing circles up North – not surprisingly.

As wife of a long-time leading trainer, who is the recognized master of NQ apprentice jockeys, Mrs Rowe has made a huge contribution to racing. To be marched up from the on-course stabling area to provide a urine sample in the Stewards’ Room on the busiest race day of the year must have been a daunting, embarrassing experience for her. Son, Peter said: “Mum was gobsmacked”.

Of course she was. How did her name appear on the list of those to be tested by stewards in the first place?

It was a pretty ordinary decision and does little to enhance the reputation of QRIC that is floundering in its role as caretaker of an industry that is already deep in the doldrums.

Mail is that 15 stablehands were subjected to the highly expensive ($400 a pop we are told) testing procedure – obviously performed without “prejudice, fear nor favour.”

THE STEWARDS HAD TO BE TOLD BY A RIVAL TRAINER ABOUT THIS

THEN there is the case from Mackay last Tuesday where a rival trainer reported to stewards he had witnessed the application of Vick’s ointment into a horse’s nostril in the tie-up stalls.

Vick’s, a common every-day treatment for humans, is a prohibited substance on a racecourse where it is sometimes used (illegally) to prompt the memory of a horse that might have been subjected to “electrical encouragement” on a training track.

The unique and strong smelling Vick’s is rubbed on prior to a training gallop and again on race day with the hope that the horse associates it with the training gallop ‘zap’. It has been going on for centuries, by trainers big and small.

Mind you the treatment is no different to what stock is subjected to at rodeos – or every day in cattle yards around the world. But in Australia and other leading racing countries “electrical encouragement” or the ‘jigger’ – as it is colloquially known – is  frowned upon.

The horse at Mackay (China Town) was allowed to start and finished third. Trainer (Trinity Brannon) was fined $600 and now awaits the result of a swab taken from the horse.

But it does not end there. The complainant – the rival trainer – still not happy with the horse being allowed to start after he had reported the incident phoned QRIC the next day and spoke to Chief Stipe Alan Reardon.

“What would have happened if the horse had won, especially after stewards had already been informed it had been treated with a prohibitive substance?” he asked.

“And the vet, at the start, wiped the Vick’s from the horse’s nose after identifying the substance, so why wasn’t it scratched then?”

We wait with interest Reardon’s and, or QRIC’s response.

Below is part of the Stewards’ Report from the Mackay meeting:

CHINA TOWN - The start was delayed when the mare broke through the barriers before being restrained a short distance later. The horse was examined by the veterinary surgeon and cleared to start. During the examination Stewards were advised by the veterinary surgeon the mare had a substance visible in its nostril indicative of an application of an ointment. This substance was wiped clear prior to the mare being reloaded. Trainer T. Bannon pleaded guilty to a charge under A.R.178E in that prior to the race she applied
CHINATOWN with a substance (chest rub ointment) in the nasal passage of the mare. Trainer Bannon was fined $600. A swab sample was taken.