ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING BONA FIDES OF WINNER OFF THE MARK
WE have received several e-mails containing allegations that a recent winner at a near Brisbane TAB track was actually prepared for the race by a leading trainer and not the person officially registered.
Because of the seriousness of the suggestions we have no intention of naming the parties allegedly involved despite the fact that the racing rumor mill has been working overtime – especially at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
To clear the air we raised this matter with the Integrity Department of Queensland Racing and can confirm that their inquiries have revealed that:- The horse was formerly with a leading stable but was spelled and transferred to another trainer who prepared it for the first-up win.
- There is no record of an ownership interest involving a former high profile official, nor has there ever been according to Queensland Racing records.
- Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that any party acted improperly concerning this horse and that the stories doing the rounds and e-mails sent to this web-site have no substance at all.
QR Director of Integrity Operations, Jamie Orchard, has rightly suggested that perhaps the individuals who started or are spreading the allegations of impropriety should be prepared to take their concerns to Queensland Racing.
NO CHANGE IN POLICY RELATING TO CAMPHOR LAUREL TREE SWABS
WE also received a couple of inquiries asking whether Queensland Racing had a new policy concerning positive swabs to camphor laurel trees.
This was taken up with QR Director of Integrity Operations, Jamie Orchard, who was kind enough to reply that:
‘There hasn’t been a change to the rules in respect of camphor. In fact, the relevant rules are Australian Rules (not Local Rules) so they couldn’t be changed by Queensland Racing.
‘The usual rule relied upon in respect of positive samples is AR178 (the so-called ‘presentation’ rule). Strictly speaking, it is not necessary to determine the cause of the positive result to establish a breach of that rule as it is not an ‘administration’ rule.
‘That being said, all relevant circumstances are taken into account in determining whether to proceed against a trainer in the case of a positive and, if a charge is laid, what penalty is imposed.
‘Those circumstances will usually include the likely cause of the positive and evidence from the trainer (including about the possibility of ingestion of parts of camphor laurel trees) will be relevant in that regard.
‘Of course, while stewards will take such matters into account in considering a breach of AR178, I note that AR177 provides that in the case of a positive, the horse ‘must be disqualified’ – there is no discretion in such a case.
‘In any event, I am not sure why this issue has arisen now, given that we haven’t had a camphor positive for some time.’
We won’t go into much detail except to say that there have been industry reports that the QR Board changed the rules relating to camphor laurel earlier this year. There were also reports alleging that a prominent stable had a positive at the time.
This has been strenuously denied with an angry QR chairman Bob Bentley asking that we call on those circulating the allegations to come forward with proof.
BIG THUMBS DOWN FROM PUNTERS FOR RACING ON THE CUSHION TRACKS
IF the e-mails that we continue to receive in big numbers are any indication punters are no closer to embracing the cushion track concept and Queensland Racing should think twice before installing any more of these.
Here are a couple of examples:
‘The guys where I work are keen punters so we decided to have our Christmas Party at the Sunshine Coast recently but unfortunately the meeting was on the Cushion Track.
‘We decided to stick to the local racing and everyone contributed to a punting bank. But the form was impossible to follow. Upsets were the order of the day. We were out of money half way through the program.
‘There is always an element of risk to punting but at least on the grass you get a run for your money. Some of our group, who are not regular racegoers, will never return. The rest of us have declared that you can’t win punting on the cushion tracks. They’re an absolute disaster.’ – Clem Kelly, Sunshine Coast.
Then there was this one:
‘Who advised Bentley and his boys that the way of the future was these Cushion Tracks? What a joke. There’ll be no punters left if they keep introducing more meetings on these swamps.
‘The greatest saviour for those who do bet at the Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba has been recent blackouts which have seen races on the Cushion abandoned before the meeting was finished.
‘Don’t these dills know anything about giving the punters a fair go? At least on synthetic tracks you have a chance. On the Cushion you have none.
‘The field size in most races is an absolute disgrace. Half the runners are dropping out before the turn. Horses with no form win many races. The TAB turnover on Cushion Track meetings is evidence of what the punters think of them.
‘We were once proud of our thoroughbred tradition in Toowoomba with a magnificent turf track which over history has been graced by some of the greats of the turf in Queensland. The best thing that could happen here is for one of these storms to wash the cushion track away.’ – Dave Hart, Toowoomba.
EDITOR’S NOTE: No doubt these comments will prompt a critical reply from a good mate of this web-site, prominent Toowoomba media man, Peter Bredhauer. Alas, old mate, it seems you are a voice crying in the wilderness these days.
DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR THE TOP STEWARDS TO RETURN HOME
THE Horsing Around column by Godfrey Smith that was run this week concerning the stewards lost to Queensland Racing provoked a couple of overnight e-mails. Here’s one:
‘I would like to congratulate you on the column concerning the mass exodus of stewards from Queensland Racing. But I think it is wishful thinking to suggest that one of them might one day return.
‘Why would they work for a place that pays a pittance to the people responsible for policing a sport where millions are invested? It is an absolute disgrace the way that some of the former Queensland stewards were dispensed with.
‘One only has to look at how long it took these guys to be snapped up by far more high profile racing regions than Queensland. One also only has to look at how badly racing is policed in Queensland since they left.
‘I went to the races at Eagle Farm last Saturday and would respectfully suggest to the panel in charge that there was one of the hottest cases I have seen on a metropolitan track in ages. It did not even rate a mention.
‘They boast of having The Sherriff – John Shreck – on hand as a consultant to the QR stewards’ panel. What does he do? Help them eat afternoon tea.
‘Someone told me he was at Toowoomba recently when they poured thousands of litres of water (I thought that’s why they closed the grass track) onto the glue-pot they call a racing surface up there.
How long is it since a high profile trainer was the subject of a major inquiry in Brisbane?’ So long, no-one can remember! – Glen Thomas, Ipswich.
DO THESE COAST SHORTENERS LOSE NOTHING IN THE TELLING?
IN recent weeks we have received a number of e-mails concerning betting activity on races at the Gold Coast, a couple of which have questioned widely publicized fluctuations on supposedly well backed runners.
This e-mail best sums up the feelings of most:
‘It seems that rarely does a Saturday race meeting pass at the Gold Coast when the caller doesn’t tell us of some mammoth betting move for a runner in a particular race. If it looks like winning we get the usual: ‘The bookies will be crying.’
‘My friends and I once bet very heavily and almost exclusively on the Gold Coast races. We gave that up because we felt there was a need for stronger stewardship of the meetings. We decided to make our feelings known to Queensland Racing but it fell on deaf ears apparently.
‘With all this talk of these big betting moves we decided to make a return to the track and check it out. We watched closely then listened to the propaganda about these big betting ring shorteners but failed to witness what was being reported.
‘If the fluctuations man is reporting big plunges, in our opinion, he must be watching a different betting ring. Having said that has anyone told them that if only one bookie bets a price far above the rest that is hardly evidence of a big shortener – only proof that the bookie concerned is a dill and didn’t do his homework.’ – Name and address with-held by request.
ARE THE QR BOARD VACANCIES A FOREGONE CONCLUSION?
We end the ‘Believe It Or Not’ file this week with a sample of e-mails that continue to filter in about the controversial Queensland Racing Board elections, which will be decided next Monday.
Here’s the first:
‘I am a great fan of Neville Stewart, for which I make no apologies. In my opinion he is a terrific administrator and should have been the first one onto the short list. He has paid the price for being Bob Bentley’s friend.
‘Now a lot was made of the Supreme Court challenge by Bill Andrews to the involvement of the previous recruitment company and the short list that they provided. But no-one has mentioned how badly Stewart has been treated this time around.
‘I would like you to check if the new recruitment company was ever involved in an investigation that involved Neville some years ago and whether there would be a conflict of interest that he could argue.
‘To make matters worse I am told that they did not even bother inviting him to Brisbane for an interview. There are suggestions that the word was out he wouldn’t make the short list even before it was released.’ – Name and address with-held by request.
Then there was this e-mail of an opposing view:
‘First there were four and now there are seven on the short list for the QRL Board, but will it make any difference? The way they do the voting is unfair and an absolute disgrace. Everyone should be locked up and told to vote simultaneously.
‘We are tipping Wayne Milner as a certainty because he has the nod of approval from Bentley and his followers – by that we mean a good majority of those who seem to just vote as he wants.
‘As for the other position one can only hope that Bill Andrews makes the cut. We are particularly concerned about reports of the long standing friendship between Mr Bentley and a Mr Scott Agnew, who is on the short list. They might not go back as far as Bob and Neville but this is an association that needs to be exposed.’ – Stan Hyde, Townsville.