IN his widely-read column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS tells the sad story of jockey Tracey O’Hara who not only missed the winning Mackay Cup mount but suffered an injury that threatens her riding career.

He also reports on off-track complaints about Mackay Cup Day, how country clubs are starting to feel so neglected by Racing Queensland that they are adopting the motto – ‘We of the Never Never.’

Butts also again slams the licensing rules which continue to discriminate against racing in Queensland where under 18s allowed to the V8 spectacular in Townsville where there was grog aplenty and to add insult to injury youngsters will be admitted free to the Melbourne Cup carnival if accompanied by an adult.

Here is the Butts column:

 

SADDEST STORY OF THE WEEK IN NQ RACING RESTS WITH TRACEY O’HARA

SURELY the saddest story of the week belongs to young Rockhampton-based jockey Tracey O’Hara.

She lay in a hospital bed and listened to Prussian Secret run away with the Mackay Cup on Saturday.

Earlier she has listened to the Clinton Garland trained Reece’s Comet win the 800m Class 1.

Tracey was to have ridden both.

But instead she lay prone in the Rocky hospital recovering after a horrific barrier incident at Callaghan Park trials last Tuesday.

Just 10 minutes after Scone trainer Cory Morgan booked her ride Prussian Secret in the Mackay Cup Tracey was on an unraced two-year-old when it suddenly flipped and landed on top of her in the stalls.

A badly fractured pelvis not only robbed the likeable, young, hard-working jockey her biggest day ever in the saddle, but the incident has severely threatened her riding career.

A profession the senior qualified high school teacher admits she  lives for.

According to her close partner, the up-and-coming trainer Jared Wehlow, Tracey is ‘shattered.’

“And so am I,” he proffered.

Trainer Morgan immediately sought the services of another apprentice Jessica Drury, to replace the injured Tracey and the old gelding provided her with an armchair ride to win easily.

And in so doing provided ample compensation for his unlucky run in the Rockhampton Cup a fortnight earlier.

Prussian Secret will return to NSW this week abandoning a trek further north for the Townsville and Cairns Carnivals.

 

MACKAY CARNIVAL A SUCCESS ON THE TRACK BUT OFF THE TRACK A DIFFERENT STORY

THE Mackay two-day Cup meeting, from a racing perspective, was a big success.

However, there were several complaints about service and on track facilities, with many dressed up patrons reportedly leaving the track early, preferring to view proceedings via Sky from the nearby Shamrock Hotel.

The ticketing system for drinks and under-staffed bars was a source of many complaints.

But racing was first class and the new Ooralea track now definitely has lost its tag as a leader biased racetrack.

Cup winner Prussian Secret came from well back as did NQ Derby winner Damn Good Idea.

And most notable of the backmarkers to win was the brilliant Lyle Rowe-trained Kilwinning Option in the Newmarket on Thursday. He came from second last and made his opposition look second class. According to astute local judges, he is definitely up to city class.

Greg Wehlow made the long haul down from the Atherton Tablelands with a mixed bag of results. His two well supported runners Go Forest Go and Achievements in the Newmarket performed below expectations, but he tasted success with four other stable runners over the two days to take the trainer’s title.

 

TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB READY TO ADOPT THE MOTTO - 'WE OF THE NEVER NEVER'

AND now the focus is on Townsville which is battling to get its well worn and weary race track in shape.

Mackay and Rocky had their carnivals on tracks that cost a combined total of $20 million (and a budgeted maintenance bill that neither club will afford).

TOWNSVILLE is out on a limb – no grant – and none likely in the immediate future.

The club, which we hear is about to change its motto to We of the Never Never. has been a victim of broken promises by the Bentley old guard and seemingly it has no cause to be confident of any immediate and much needed assistance by the new regime.

Some might say we are just a tad too far north of Noosa.

The same people are asking who and when will there be a country voice or representative appointed to the RQL Board.

Yes, that was another promise that is still awaiting fulfillment.

 

WHAT A JOKE – KIDS BANNED FROM TOWNSVILLE CUP BUT ADMITTED FREE TO FLEMINGTON

THE SAME day as kids mingled with the beer and a spirit-swilling crowd at the Townsville V8s, many mothers were still trying to finalize arrangements for babysitters and the like to look after their little ones on Townsville Cup day,which is still an 18+ event.

IT was also on the very same day the Victoria Racing Club announced that any child under 16 is not only welcome (accompanied an adult), but will be admitted FREE to the Melbourne Cup this year.

NOT the Townsville Cup - THE Melbourne Cup!

Frankly, just how stupid does racing in Queensland look now?

Can our Queensland Government continue to sit back and do absolutely nothing about this abominable legislation that separate mothers from their children on one of the biggest social events of the year?

And can it continue to allow officers of Licensing and Gaming to rattle the sabre at race club committees and threaten outrageous action if they witness an under-age drinker on a racecourse at the same time demanding clubs provide over the top security at great expense.

Surely the task of Licensing and Gaming is to apprehend and deal with offenders.

That’s THEIR job – not to place the onus on the club whose primary function is to run a race meeting.

This Queensland ruling is so wrong, so discriminatory and downright dunce-like that even a politician should be able to realize it.

Incidentally, the Townsville Turf Club was prosecuted over an under-age incident a few years back. It cost the club a decent five figure sum to fight and lose the case in court.

That’s why clubs are reticent to go against Licensing who recommend they opt for an 18+ race day.

But did you know the club still doesn’t know the identity of the under-age offenders who brought about the $10,000+ fine. Surely the club entitled to know.

The committee might wish to bar them from any future race meetings. Anyway, why not?

And did you know that a young mother who just happens to be the  wife of a winning trainer on Cup day five years ago is suing the TTC for discrimination after she was barred from taking her baby on to the track to watch and celebrate her husband’s horse win?

That matter is still festering in the courts.

By the way – is ‘Can Do’ Campbell still trimming the fat from the smug and underperforming Government departments?

Just curious!

 

EWAN AMATEURS HAS VOTED AGAINST THE TREND TO GO CORN-FED

THE EWAN Amateur Turf Club has again voted against the trend to go corn-fed for its two-day meeting at the end of September.

So it will remain one of the country’s few remaining grass-fed fixtures for traditional reasons.

"To retain tradition of bush racing and to provide an opportunity for small time owners and syndicates to participate in the friendly and relaxed environment of a bush race meeting” said a club spokesman.

But the club has begged more sponsorship dollars to retain stakes money levels.

Racing Queensland provides $1000 per race to a total of $10,000 leaving the club to find another $50,000.

“Attempts to improve the level of funding from RQL through the Queensland Country Racing Committee have failed,” according to an information sheet distributed recently by the club to members and licensees in the area.

This year the Ewan meeting is on September 28 and 29. Horses go to the Hillgrove Station paddock on August 26 for release on September 16.

This year the benchmark system of handicapping will be used for the first time on most races including the Ewan Cup  over 1600m  which will be a Benchmark 72.

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..