It’s an e-mail box full to the brim this week with concerns over the departure of a respected Price Assessor and the Queensland Racing response; the early word on the Civil Action in the Supreme Court over the QR Board elections; two varying opinions about removal of privileges to two fine ladies of the turf; a QR response to the lack of scanners in the north; reports of an animal cruelty investigation involving a leading lady trainer; the return north of ‘Big Trev,’ a popular guy in racing radio;and a new tipster proves popular with Brisbane punters. .
OPENING DAY OF THE COURT CHALLENGE TO THE QR ELECTION PROCESS
THE e-mail box was inundated overnight after the opening day of a Supreme Court hearing of a civil action by Bill Andrews, over the validity of a short-list of candidates for election to the new Board of Queensland Racing.
Andrews, a sitting Board member who did not make the short-list, has questioned the eligibility of Neville Stewart and Wayne Milner, who got the nod despite the fact that both were on the committee of race clubs at the time of their nomination.
We have been very selective in running contents of e-mails as this is an on-going trial and we believe much of the information received is hearsay. We have done our best to authenticate what is being run and have précised it from the e-mails received.
One line of questioning faced by Mr Andrews from lawyers for Queensland Racing involved who was contributing financially to his challenge. We are told his answer was: Bob Frappell, Basil Nolan, Dick McGruther, Tom Treston and Kevin Dixon.
One witness to the hearing likened the evidence of Queensland Racing chairman, Bob Bentley, to a scene from the movie: “A Few Good Men.”
Bentley apparently told the hearing of a ‘succession plan’ he had and that he wanted new Board members who could eventually take over from him at QR.
Which poses – and to some degree answers the question: ‘What confidence does he have in his current deputy, Tony Hanmer?”
Those who witnessed Mr Hanmer’s time giving evidence on the opening day were still cringing 24 hours later. The word within the industry is strong that it wasn’t a good day for Queensland Racing.
And for all those who have been e-mailing this web-site and asking when Mr Hanmer has to stand for re-election to the Board, Mr Bentley has advised that this will occur next year. Please stop cheering – a year can be a long time in racing!
DUST FLYING OVER DEPARTURE OF PRICE ASSESSOR & QRL RESPONSE
SOME of the more concerning e-mails received by the web-site in the past week concerned the distribution of betting prices from major tracks in south-east Queensland and the reasons for the departure of a respected Price Assessor.
Before running the contents of the e-mails we sought a reply from Queensland Racing Director of Integrity Operations, Jamie Orchard, who was quick to respond to the allegations.
Here are both sides of the story:
THE COMPLAINTS:
That a long-serving and respected Price Assessor on metropolitan tracks, Dale Potter, had been virtually forced out of his job because he refused a request to assess prices from two individual bookmakers rather than the entire betting ring.
The information we have received suggests that Potter was told he would be required to re-apply for his position after Queensland Racing decided to take over responsibility for this role and others. Potter re-applied and was re-appointed.
However, it is alleged that in his first week back in the job he was approached by a prominent bookmaker who suggested that he should be recording only the prices of two bookmakers and not the entire ring. (The two concerned were the bookmaker who made the approach and a friend of his, one of the leaders of the Brisbane ring).
Potter is said to have refused the request and replied that he would continue to take a cross-section of prices from the entire ring for interstate distribution.
The e-mails claim that a few days later he received a telephone call from Queensland Racing’s Senior Betting Steward, Mark Sweeney, who allegedly told Potter that he would only be required to work one day a week in future. Potter apparently said ‘thanks but not thanks’ and quit his job.
The general theme of the e-mails was that a problem has existed for a long-time over the distribution of prices from the major Queensland betting rings to interstate. There are references to complaints being made concerning bookmakers by a former senior betting steward, Ian Black, who claimed at the time that these fell on deaf ears with the stewards of the day.
THE QUEENSLAND RACING RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINTS
‘EARLIER this year, QRL determined to assume responsibility for the supply of certain key race day officials at TAB race meetings. The roles were the Starter, Assistant Starter, Judge, Clerk of Scales and Price Assessor. To that end, QRL advertised for officials who wished to fulfil those roles on either a full time or part time basis.
It was envisaged that QRL would then have one full time person in each role supplemented by a number of part time staff who would be rostered on as required. We received a number of applications, primarily from those that had been fulfilling the various roles on behalf of clubs and after conducting interviews, we appointed a full time person to the role of Starter, Assistant Starter and Judge.
Dennes Lonergan, who was already at QRL, was appointed as the full time Price Assessor. It was decided to fill the role of Clerk of Scales by rostering on a junior Steward to fulfil that role.
In terms of the part time positions, those that had been fulfilling the role previously were advised that they would be appointed to a part time position and would be rostered on as required (when the full time official was not filling the role).
However, after that time, and after receiving feedback from various officials, clubs and the relevant union, it was decided that people would not be employed by QRL on a part time basis and that instead, those part time officials would continue to be employed by the various clubs. The affected officials were advised accordingly.
A roster is now published every month by which clubs are advised which officials will be supplied for race meetings by QRL and to which roles they need to supply their own officials. This system seems to be working effectively.
You have raised the question of Dale Potter. Dale Potter was, for many years and up until such time as he indicated that he no longer wished to fulfil that role, a well regarded Price Assessor who worked on a casual basis. He applied for the advertised role of Price Assessor and clearly met the requirements. He was advised that he would be appointed to a part time position of Price Assessor.
As mentioned above, the decision was then made that QRL would not appoint part time staff and that they would instead continue to be employed by the club whenever the full time official was not available to handle that meeting.
When the first rosters were prepared it became obvious that the number of race meetings at which casual Price Assessors would operate was reduced as Dennes Lonergan was now handling more meetings in his capacity as the full time Price Assessor. Dale was advised of this and the fact that we still expected that he would be handling at least one race meeting per week but Dale decided not to continue as a Price Assessor.
You will see from this that the sole basis for the reduction of the number of meetings available to Dale (and indeed all other casual price assessors) was because QRL took responsibility for that role and had appointed a full time person who would handle many of the meetings that would otherwise be handled by a casual (such as Dale).
The decision had nothing to do with any alleged approach by a bookmaker as a result of the manner in which Dale was reporting prices.
Dale always conducted himself properly and reported prices in accordance with the established protocol (which calls for prices to be assessed on the basis of the majority of the larger rails bookmakers).
I am not aware of Dale having been approached by a bookmaker about the manner in which he was reporting prices. He certainly did not report any such approach.
Moreover, no bookmaker has contacted the Integrity Department (through the betting supervision office or otherwise) to have action taken against a price assessor for reporting prices in accordance with the protocol. Any such approach would obviously be rejected.
I can only assume in this case, that someone is trying to draw a sinister conclusion from the fact that the number of race meetings available to Dale Potter was reduced.
That is simply a feature of having a full time Price Assessor absorb a number of the meetings that otherwise would have been handled by part time staff such as Dale. I can assure you there was nothing sinister in this arrangement.’
JAMIE ORCHARD, QRL Director of Integrity Services.
OPINIONS DIVIDED ON MEMBERSHIP WITHDRAWAL - INJUSTICE OR NOT?
WE have received several e-mails that we just couldn’t believe at first but further information received suggests that a terrible injustice has been done to a couple of fine ladies of the turf.
Here is a sample of what is being reported to us:
“Are you aware that the widows of two long-standing Queensland Turf Club committeemen have had life membership privileges withdrawn by the new Brisbane Racing Club?
“These women were at the sides of their husbands when they did a mountain of work for the QTC but now have to rely on friends to provide them with tickets to even get into the course that their husbands help build and develop.
“One of these ladies, the wife of the greatest chairman the QTC ever had, was so distressed about the situation that she wrote to the BRC but has not even received a reply.
“When you consider that two officials there are said to be paid between them a half million dollars and one apparently got a recent pay rise you have to ask, ‘What the hell is happening?’ This injustice to these fine ladies is an absolute disgrace.”
If anyone from the Brisbane Racing Club wishes to clarify this situation or better still correct the alleged anomaly we would be pleased to hear from them and run a response.
THIS ITEM HAD ONLY BEEN UP ON THE SITE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS WHEN IT PROMPTED THIS E-MAIL RESPONSE FROM JEAN (who asked that her surname be with-held):
"I saw your item concerning what you are saying is a 'terrible injustice to fine ladies of the turf.' I am replying as a close friend of a 'long-time member' of the Queensland Turf Club and I hope you will get some space to publish my letter to you because it is important to get more than one opinion.
I have checked the information in the Merger Deed, which was agreed to by the QTC and BTC members. There is nothing I could see to cover the wives of previous committeemen.
I have also checked up to confirm that the wives of past committeemen were not LIFE MEMBERS as you or someone seems to think they are or were. They were just partners of their husbands, getting free-bees all along the way.
So for the life of me why should the NEW club give a life member category to the wife of a past committeeman of the QTC? The QTC is finished. R.I.P. Amen.The BRC is a NEW club. The free-loading days are over for all of the people who got accustomed to same.
I also know that partners of several new committeemen of the BRC are members themselves. They pay their way and I would say 'so they should pay their way'.
I would think if the wives of passed committeemen of the QTC are keen race-goers that they should JOIN THE CLUB! Maybe that is something they aren't too keen on.'
THERE WAS ALSO THIS E-MAIL ABOUT THE NEW BRC:
'There is no loyalty from the new Brisbane Racing Club. All they think about is getting the young ones there to get drunk. They are the only ones that can afford it. Even a bottle of water is $4.
They have forgotten about the older punter and treat them as if they do not exsist. There is nowhere for us to go and sit as it is all taken up with unruly young men and women who have had too much to drink.
I would probably be able to say this on a face to face meeting but it is no use complaining even to Mr Bart Sinclair (Courier-Mail Racing Editor) because he knows what side his bread is buttered on.'
Thank you for letting me have my bitch -Bev Connett.
NEW SCANNERS AVAILABLE SOON TO ALL REGIONS OF THE STATE
QUEENSLAND Racing Director of Integrity Operations, Jamie Orchard, has responded to suggestions that horses in the north cannot be checked for micro-chip identification because there are no scanners available to stewards.
We received an e-mail from Mr Orchard, which stated: “Scanners are available to stewards outside of Brisbane, including in North Queensland.
“I understand that they have not traditionally been used in provincial areas but you will see an increased reliance on them in all areas of Queensland – including provincial and country areas.”
Mr Orchard subsequently explained in a telephone conversation that the older model scanners, which resembled tennis racquets, were being phased out and the new ones would soon be distributed and available to all the regions.
Despite his assurances one North Queensland trainer insists that when he took a horse in for micro-chip identification recently the steward told him they did not have a scanner.
We believe this may have occurred because it was a time when the old ones had been phased out and the newer scanners had not arrived.
ANIMAL CRUELTY ALLEGATIONS AGAINST LEADING LADY TRAINER
THE mail is strong that a leading lady trainer in the north of the state is facing allegations of animal cruelty following an incident involving one of her horses in a hosing down bay.
We understand that Queensland Racing despatched an Integrity Counsellor to the north and that several witnesses were called to an investigation yesterday.
Standby for the outcome – it should be known very soon.
‘BIG TREV’ WOULD BE A WELCOME ADDITION TO RACING RADIO IN QLD
ONE would hope that Racing Radio in Queensland quickly snaps up the services of ‘Big’ Trevor Himstedt who is returning to Brisbane after a 14-year stint with Sport 927 in Melbourne.
Himstedt, who cut his teeth with what is now Racing Radio TAB in Queensland, was paid some glowing tributes by high profile Sport 927 colleagues on Sunday.
Adam Hamilton made special mention of the interview that Himstedt did with champion European jockey Frankie Dettori one Melbourne Cup morning about the plane crash that nearly killed him.
“Trev dared to go where no-one else had. This had been a taboo topic with Frankie but he just opened up to Trev,” Hamilton said.
Himstedt said his time with Sport 927 had been extremely enjoyable. “But after 14 years it is time something else happens in my life. The desire to be with family at home has become stronger, particularly as I got older.”
An e-mail just received sums up the feelings of a lot of big Trev’s fans in the north. “Wouldn’t he make the perfect back up to Steve Hewlett hosting the Radio TAB morning show in Brisbane? Hewlett is great but Himstedt would put the icing on the cake.”
PUNTERS WANT TO SEE THIS TIPSTER GIVEN A PERMANENT GIG
PUNTERS are quick to recognise a winner - especially when it comes to the tipping brigade - and they are ready to jump on the band-wagon of Robert Windmill from AAP Racing.
Windmill made a surprise guest appearance in the selections panel for the Eagle Farm races last Saturday and managed to tip SIX OF THE EIGHT WINNERS with his on top selections.
It prompted this e-mail from Greg Swan of Bulimba: "Who is this Windmill guy? His tips were terrific. Why do we have to put up with that rubbish we normally get from AAP when this bloke is lurking in the wings? Please let us have his tips for Brisbane racing every week. He certainly knows what he's talking about."