LONG TIME SUPPORTER VOWS NEVER TO RETURN DESPITE HIS SUCCESS

OVER the years respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS has enjoyed success as a bookmaker, owner and trainer at the Cairns Amateurs. He trained the winner of another feature race winner last weekend.

But Butts has refused to return claiming what was once one of the best draw-cards on the North Queensland racing calendar has degenerated into what he calls a ‘dusty drunk-fest, littered with louts, port-a-loos and smoking cages – relics from the Third World.’

We thank the North Queensland Register and Terry Butts for allowing us to run his ‘Silks and Saddles’ column on one of racing’s biggest social events of the year – the other was at Birdsville where the patrons had no complaints whatsoever.

‘GRUMPY OLD MAN’ PULLS THE PIN ON THE CAIRNS AMATEURS

‘CALL me a grumpy old man, call me negative, call me what you like – because I have just pulled the curtain on the Cairns Amateurs.

And yes, I have to admit, the Cairns Amateurs has never been my favorite.

That’s in spite of having enjoyed a little success there over the years as a bookie, owner and trainer - (Gift Man the Cup in 1991) and Kendel Star (the Bracelet in 1995) - the highlights.

But there has been a lot of little incidents in between that have somewhat soured your scribe, and after Saturday, I am now definitely a scratching from any future Amateur carnivals at Cannon Park.

I have no doubt that declaration will please a lot of people. But I know there are as many or more who relate and agree with what I am about to say.

Really, to my mind it is not a race meeting. In the public areas it’s a noisy, dusty drunk-fest, littered with louts, sprinkled with live bands, port-a-loos and smoking cages, relics from the third world.

And if you happen to be a licensee or strapper, you’re treated with less than ordinary decency or any concern.

On Saturday, for either of them to get a snack or a drink and look after their horses, was a feat nigh impossible. And if and when they did, it was $8 for a pre-cooked hamburger and $3 for the smallest bottle of water.

Over the years I have witnessed one of my horses (Kendel Star) pelted with a beer can when walking down the course proper towards the enclosure, the day he won the Bracelet. Not a security guard in sight.

Another year I had a horse (Plum Jam) speared by an inside running rail during the running of the Cup. Someone had moved a section of the rail to gain access to the centre of the course and didn’t replace it. Plum Jam was running third behind the leader (which saw the gap - my horse and jockey didn’t - and it was too late.

Plum Jam suffered an horrific injury. And I was told by an official, after I requested further urgent veterinary attention after the last that they (the club) would ring for a vet - but it was on my account. Imagine how that went down.

Under threat of civil action the committee, on the recommendation of stewards, eventually footed the vet bill for a horse that never raced again.

That’s the background. Last Saturday was the last straw. Yes, it was hot and the walk from the stables to the enclosure just seems to get longer each year.

Down to deliver the colors, back to the horse, down to get the saddle, back to the horse, down to the enclosure again and back to the swabbing stall after she won the Bracelet. It’s enough to drive a man to drink.

Sure, but that didn’t happen either.

For this year, unless you were the privileged and in a marquee far away from the horses - and the maddening crowd - it was a queue a mile long for tickets, and then another queue for a drink. Forget it!

I couldn’t even have a celebratory drink with part-owner John Reid after the race. No facility for us mere mortals – just the queues.

The mind was made up. Let’s get out of this bloody joint, I said to the strapper. And she, equally frustrated, hastily agreed.

But no, then there was a matter of the vet. Apparently only one on duty to swab every winner, pre-race some, and care for horses injured or breaking down on the flint hard track (that’s another story).

While other trainers bitterly, and some justifiably, complained about their horses being blooded (swabbed) after they had been saddled for their race, my complaint was about my horse being left in the swabbing stall for almost an hour. She was still in there waiting to be blooded when the next race was run.

Absolutely parched and well and truly stirred (horse, strapper and trainer), in spite of having a win, we finally headed for the long trip home, 90 minutes later. And that wasn’t easy either.

We were stopped at the gate GOING OUT and searched for…guess what? Alcohol.

I won’t repeat what was said but it wasn’t directed at the security lady. She was simply doing what the committee instructed. In this case, search horse floats. Can you believe?

Nor can I tell you what my old mate George Doolan said when he turned up on Saturday with beer tickets that he’d bought on Friday, to find they were no longer valid.

“I thought I’d be smart and beat the Saturday crowd by getting my tickets on Friday.” said George, far from happy.

It was just another way to lose at the Amateurs.

Not a lot of general sympathy for the Amateur club that is crying poor.

The fact remains it does very little for the racing industry and its stakeholders, apart from providing better than norm stakes-money. But then again the level hasn’t increased in more than 10 years.

That is a fact reflected by what was probably the weakest Cup ever run last Saturday in both quality and quantity.

Someone suggested they should lock all the party-goers and their live bands and ticket tents in the middle. And let the race-goers go racing.

Maybe it’s a good idea. But next year let’s have a couple more vets, and a little more consideration for the working people and their horses, without which there would be no Amateurs.

Otherwise, as far as I’m concerned, the committee and their blue-bloods can play quoits or croquet or shoot clay pigeons while they wash their tiger prawns down with their imported ice -cold champers. Ticket free…of course.

But, to be fair there were upsides. A lot of people enjoyed themselves, no doubt.

And this year's Amateurs will be one that young Melbourne apprentice, Adam McCabe, won’t ever forget. He landed two winners on Saturday, including the Bracelet (Fly To Win), which earned him the tag of ‘ride of the day’. He also rode one for Olivia Cairns (Bay Route) that defeated its stablemate in the Class 1.

It was a different story on Friday however, when trainer Cairns complained to the stewards about the kid’s ride on Andamon. Adam admitted a tactical error of judgment.

McCabe was subsequently fined $200 for ‘not riding his horse out’ - a decision that was the source of some debate. Bottom line is, he is an apprentice, with limited experience. That’s precisely why he claims 3kg and that’s the risk connections take when they seek a 3kg claiming apprentice.

By the way does anyone remember Olivia Cairns as an apprentice jockey? Exactly!