IN his widely-read column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on an issue that you won’t read about in the mainstream racing media which is joined at the hip with the new Racing Queensland chairman Kevin Dixon and his reduced interim Board.
Butts tells of the growing disquiet within the industry, especially in the country, where stake-holders feel let down by the promises that were made by the LNP Government and the new Dixon Board.
He also reports on the Rockhampton Cup carnival and some interesting visitors to Central Queensland for the big week of racing including Hugh Bowman, Shane Scriven and Jo Bowditch.
Here is the Butts column:
GROWING DISQUIET WITH NEW RACING QUEENSLAND BOARD AND ITS CHAIRMAN
THERE is increasing disquiet within the industry of the new racing regime (Board of RQL) of this state – a regime or change of guard that was so eagerly awaited by most stakeholders.
There is a new Chairman (Kevin Dixon) who one might say is ‘hastening slowly’ and while it is still too soon to judge, there is certainly some unease about what has happened so far.
Brisbane Racing Club, with which he was so closely aligned (as Chairman), was quick to get a million or so before any of the other pledges by the out-going Bentley Board were fulfilled.
True, Toowoomba Turf Club got a cheque as well, while others wait, some impatiently, some like Townsville and Cairns, await with growing concern.
Yet there is money to engage new stewards, and if the figures that are being bandied about are correct, the industry is entitled to be concerned.
THE NEW STEWARDING JOB SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVERTISED NATIONALLY
SOME say if a salary of close to $200,000 annually is on the table, surely the job should be advertised, not only nationally, but overseas as well.
With that money there would be a response from candidates with the experience and knowledge to run an industry that has lost and is losing public confidence. There was a chance to refit – to give the game a brand new look.
But all we have got so far is a band-aid solution – albeit at considerable expense.
We watch with interest if any new RQL Board members will be appointed to replace Wayne Milner and Bradley Ryan.
Country racing, which is in desperate need and was promised a member on the new Board, is not all that happy to read this at the end of the RQL Media Release announcing the resignation of the two former Bentley Board members:
‘RQL also announced that it did not intend making any further additions to the Interim Board at this time, but would now operate with the current Interim Board pending the introduction of legislation leading to the formation of code specific statutory control bodies, as well as an All Codes Board.’
WAS THE RACING QUEENSLAND BOARD REDUCED TO PAY SALARIES OF TOP STEWARDS?
IS it true the RQ Board was reduced to help finance the new steward and the promotion of the current chief steward?
As it is, their salaries are now said to be more than that paid to the entire RQL Board.
And there is still no voice for country Queensland.
Then we have this situation with racing in Queensland locked into a SKY Channel contract to 2020 when TVN reportedly offered more money.
We have heard all these stories about clubs being barnstormed into an agreement with SKY by the Bentley Board.
But another story is emerging that it was the clubs, encouraged by the BRC, who agreed to go with SKY.
So where is Queensland now that TVN has this new deal with NSW and Victoria – out on a limb it would seem.
ROCKHAMPTON READY TO HOST ONE OF ITS BIGGEST CUP CARNIVALS IN RECENT TIMES
CALLAGHAN PARK will be the scene this week of one of the biggest Cup carnivals in recent times.
There is a host of interstate personalities and horses have been drawn from all over.
Some, including leading Cup fancy Prussian Secret hail from over the border.
And to add more color to the line-up, Adelaide-based Jo Bowditch and Brisbane icon Shane Scriven will ride on both Thursday and Cup day.
Hugh Bowman, the Ambassador this year for the Rocky Carnival, will have four rides on Thursday, but due to a commitment for Red Tracer at Eagle Farm is unable to participate on Saturday.
Shane Scriven will partner River Lad in the Newmarket and is still available for a suitable Cup mount.
Scriven is on the comeback trail after an enforced and somewhat controversial lay off. It could be said he got rubbed out for ‘trying to hard’ in a race at Bundamba last year.
It will be an eventful month for the popular jock that usually goes to Darwin for the big Top End carnival at the end of next month.
He is also heading to Kalgoolie for the carnival in September and has accepted an invitation to ride at the Charters Towers Amateur cup meeting on Caulfield Cup day.
But back to Rocky!
While it will be a busy month or two for Scriven, Jo Bowditch has a torrid few days ahead this week. He rides in Adelaide on Wednesday and then heads straight to Rocky to ride on Thursday and again on Saturday.
Near record nominations were received for the $100,000 – wait for it – Sleepy Mattresses Rockhampton Cup (1600m), including three from Townsville.
The pre-Cup luncheon and Calcutta at the Cambridge Hotel is a sell-out on Friday and on Cup day a sea of corporate marquees will all but overtake the new-look Callaghan Park course.
Can’t wait!
MAJOR CONTROVERSY AT INNISFAIL OVER ORDER TO VACATE BOXES AT SHOW TIME
WHILE everything is seemingly going without hitch in central Queensland, the same can’t be said for the far north.
There is a storm of cyclonic proportions developing at Innisfail and about to hit Pease Park, the racecourse/showgrounds complex owned by the local council.
For years there has been a clause that trainers, who rent boxes on track, must vacate them for two weeks during Innisfail show time. This year that clause is being enforced for the first time in 100 years and the local trainers are ‘not happy.’
Racing Queensland steward Harold Warren had a meeting last week with the local trainers of the 24 horses stabled on track and told them that as ‘unfortunate and upsetting it might be’ they must obey the direction by Council.
Some trainers are seeking legal advice. Some are expected to abide by the rule and relocate to Mt Garnet, 90 minutes away, and some are said to be ‘staying put’ – no matter what.
It is a messy situation, and hard working club secretary Kellie Harrison said her club had done everything possible to help the plight of trainers.
“We have had the period reduced from 14 days to 10.
“But it’s out of our hands. We have no public liability insurance during the two weeks the Show Society has control of the grounds.
“Besides, there is not as lot of space and sideshow alley is crammed in adjacent to the stable complex so there are safety issues,” she said.
The Russ Hinze-built stables are not used by the show competitors – they are housed in the centre of the arena.
It is the same situation trainers face each year at Gympie where the racetrack and showgrounds share the Council-owned facility. Racehorses vacate the course at show time.
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..
