IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, reports how paperwork prevented Robbie Waterhouse from fielding in Toowoomba on Saturday.

Butts predicts the chances of Waterhouse fielding at other carnival meetings in Brisbane are starting to lengthen considerably.

Here is his column:

 

ROBBIE SHOULD LEAVE THE BRISBANE CARNIVAL CAMPAIGNING TO GAI

PAPERWORK apparently prevented Robbie Waterhouse from fielding at the stand alone Toowoomba race meeting on Saturday that showcased its brand new track, the time-honoured Weetwood and the Toowoomba Cup.

Apparently Waterhouse was invited by the club (certainly not by the local bookies) to field, but arrangements couldn’t be completed in time.

The mail now is that he has ‘offered’ to work over the Brisbane winter carnival.

But he will have more than paperwork to contend with in that pursuit.

For starters it has never been policy of the Brisbane Racing Club to allow outside bookies in – and you would hardly expect those who call the odds at meetings throughout the year to be happy to see such a bold personality as Waterhouse take a stand.

He is 10/1 and drifting, said one.

 

QTA CONFIDENT MANY PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED

THE Queensland Trainers’ Association president, Jim Rundle, completed a whistle-stop tour of the northern racing centres last weekend and returned to Rockhampton with more than a 100 new members and a lot of confidence that many problems facing the industry can be resolved.

“We need to be united and the trainers and racing personalities I met on the tour of Townsville. Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands were very receptive to our ideas and our motives,” said Mr Rundle.

He said there were a couple of major issues that he may bring to the attention of the Racing Minister but declined to elaborate.

He said, however, that since its formation the QTA had received a groundswell of support and he had been fielding calls from as far away as Longreach from trainers seeking affiliation.

“We might have to consider sub-associations for the different zones. Queensland is a big state.”

To date the Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers’ Association has been serving the interests of trainers all over the state, and is the only one recognised by Racing Queensland.

But, according to RQ CEO Darren Condon, no application has been made for recognition of the QTA.

“I have met and discussed different matters with Jim Rundle but to date we haven’t heard any details of this new Association.

“However, it will be treated on its merits,” said Mr Condon who is well aware of the background and in fact attended a meeting of disgruntled Rockhampton trainers before the QTA was actually formed.

There was also opposition from the ATA about the title of Mr Rundle’s new Association.

Of course that was treated with due contempt.

 

BET 365 BOASTS IT’S THE BIGGEST AND BEST BUT REALLY IT’S THE WEAKEST AND WORST

OUR fearless big betting bookie Bet 365 has done it again!

Already under investigation by the ACCC, the London-based corporate that boasts 200 agencies and multi-million turnover, on Saturday refused a $10 bet on a 9/1 chance in the first at Shepparton greyhounds.

A punter I know (very well, in fact) requested the $10 on-line and after some deliberation was informed that he could have… wait for it... $1.67 on the dog.

And he was told that the request for the balance of the wager ‘was being considered’.

After more than a minute he was then informed that the balance of the bet had been rejected. And while this was going on Bet 365 trimmed the price into $8.50 (from $10).

Can you seriously believe it?

Just another reason why firstly, the NT Gaming Commission should be replaced and a full investigation into the betting activities of these corporates should be initiated. There is no doubt a condition of their license should force them to work under the same rules as on-course bookies – with a set liability.

Currently they can choose who and when to bet and for how much.

Obviously the NT Gaming Commission is either incompetent, asleep at the wheel, or simply doesn’t know. It’s time for the wake-up call.

Bottom line is: Does Australia need them – the blood-sucking corporates? Or the licensing body that allows the corporate bookies to discriminate and to do as they wish?

Especially the big brave Bet 365 – the one that took $1.67 on a 9/1 chance and brazenly shortened the price!

PAW NOTE: The dog started $4.40 and finished unplaced.

 

TOWNSVILLE CUP DATE ALLOCATED TO CAIRNS DURING CLUDEN CLOSURE

WHILE work continues on schedule for the new turf track at Cluden, the date for the Townsville Cup (July 25) has already been allocated to Cairns.

There is no firm date for the Cluden re-opening with club CEO Michael Charge predicting late August early September.

“Hopefully it doesn’t go into October as it’s a bit hot for racing here at that time,” he so correctly opined.

The first meeting on the new track will be Parry Nissan day – but with a difference. The famous two-year-old classic will be for three-year-olds this year.

But of course it makes no difference, as the contenders, all two-year-olds now, will be three after August 1.

The TTC has no desire to run a spate of meetings on the new track until the base is well and truly established. The mistake of too much racing too soon has been blamed for the deteriorating of Ipswich and Toowoomba tracks in recent times.

By the way, who would have thought Toowoomba could have staged their meeting after the wild weather last Friday.

But it did – and the new Strathyr track according to all those present – was perfect.

The difficulty now perhaps is its preservation – as there is less room (compared to other tracks) to fully utilize the false rail.

 

 

INNISFAIL GALLOPER WINS SEASON-OPENER OF STAYERS SERIES

INNISFAIL-trained Arcanus won the first this season’s Magic Millions FNQ Up and Coming Stayers Series at Atherton on Saturday.

The two $3.20 favourites fought out the finish with Arcanus (Frank Edwards) proving too strong for Ozein.

Next race in the series will be run at Gordonvale on May 16 – Cup day.

 

FRUSTRATING WEEK FOR INNISFAIL TRAINER GLEN BAKER

ATHERTON continued a frustrating week for local trainer Glen Baker.

He made the long trek to Mackay to be beaten a whisker with Valjean on Friday and in the last on Saturday saw his stable pin-up French Lesson collide with a stationary car on his way to the start.

The odds-on favourite was subsequently scratched and while still clutching his betting tickets, the trainer saw his other runner Idle Situation stroll in.

And that’s not all.

Baker fronts this week on the cobalt charge but he, like everyone else, has no idea where it is going to end up.

Seems everyone is waiting on the outcome of the inquiries in Melbourne involving the ‘Big Three’ – Moody, O’Brien and Kavanagh.

And still no date has been set for the much anticipated hearing.

 

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..