MAGIC Millions dominated the e-mails received by this web-site during the past week and the majority of these accused wealthy owners Gerry Harvey and John Singleton of turning the event into a media circus every year.
There were also several complaints about the ability of the Gold Coast track to cope with big fields on Millions day, television coverage of the event and the attitude of Queensland Racing chairman Bob Bentley to the Gold Coast Turf Club.
‘LET’S NOT FURTHER FEATHER THE NEST OF THE ‘MAGIC’ MILLIONAIRES’
THE loudest protest in the e-mail box was lodged by racing enthusiasts appalled by calls for the Queensland Government to help make the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic the richest race in the world.
Clem Johnston of Townsville summed up the feelings of most: “So Gerry Harvey and John Singleton think the taxpayers of Queensland owe them a debt of gratitude and should help boost the prizemoney for the Magic Millions to $11 million.
‘What a joke! We are expected to foot the bill for $5.5 million so that they can gain all the exposure and make many more millions out of their sale. In case you aren’t aware Mr Harvey there are waiting lists for hospitals in this State and our roads are struggling to cope.
‘I would rather see your mob take the race to Sydney, Melbourne or Timbuktu than give one red cent of taxpayer money to an organization that continues to cry poor but makes millions out of Queensland every year.”
Then there was this one from Karen Campbell of the Gold Coast: “From a racing perspective the Magic Millions is a restricted race where the only ones that can compete for the big loot at the end of the day are those horses sold through their sales.
‘This is hardly a level playing field when it comes to asking for the Government to contribute industry funds to what amounts to a private enterprise organization. It wouldn’t be fair on all those battling owners who can’t afford to compete at the sales with the millionaire buyers for the big owners and stables in Australia and overseas.
‘We have seen a total takeover of this day and carnival by Magic Millions to the extent where Queensland Events Corporation money goes direct to the company when it should be given to the Gold Coast Turf Club. A lot of us have a major problem with that to start with.
‘And let’s face it do we really want to see a restricted race for two-year-olds sold at a select sale outstrip our most important horse race, the Melbourne Cup? Survey people in the industry who really count – like the punters – and I’m sure the answer would be a unanimous No.”
DAVID RAPHAEL A ‘BREATH OF FRESH AIR’ AS SKY CHANNEL HOST
THERE were several e-mails concerning the television coverage of Magic Millions day, largely relating to Sky Channel and the Nine Network.
Alex Golschwesky of the Sunshine Coast wrote: “How refreshing was it to see a new face spearhead the Sky Channel coverage of Magic Millions Day on the Gold Coast?
‘I have always been a great fan of David Raphael from before he went to Hong Kong and was delighted to learn that he had been appointed by Sky as an international racing commentator in the lead-up to the introduction of new channels.
‘Raphael didn’t disappoint me with his hosting of the coverage from the Gold Coast last Saturday. He was informative, easy to listen to and didn’t try to ram his opinions down our throats like a couple of the other presenters do.
‘I hope we see more of him and less of the others in future – especially on the big days – it was a breath of fresh air for a viewer like me who has been seriously considering switching my race day viewing to TVN.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: Interesting comments Alex and we hope that ‘Mute Button,’ who was sitting back in the Sky studio in Sydney had a good look at how a hosting job should be done. At last we weren’t subjected to his incessant chattering. Sky should put him permanently on the Pub Channel – that way he can rave on forever and no-one will be listening.
‘IT WOULD HELP IF YOU LEARNT A FEW NAMES BOB!’
Then we had this e-mail from Tony of Tweed Heads, who is obviously not a Bob Bentley fan:
‘As an armchair spectator of the Millions day coverage on Nine it was again reassuring to see the doyen of Australian racing, the babbling ‘Bob the Builder,’ show just how great an ambassador for racing he is.
‘Thankfully only given one task, to present the trophies for the MM Three-Year-Old, here is a summary of how it looked on TV. ‘The Babbler’ was introduced by Jo McKinnon, who despite a long spell hasn’t improved her television etiquette, to make the presentations.
‘The Babbler’ said how great it was for racing to see 10 people share in the ownership of this horse as if it was some rare happening that 10 share ownership. He then proceeded to make the presentation to the winning owners and instead of announcing any of the owners’ names, yes they are printed in the racebook, he declared: ‘Would the winning owners step forward?’
The poor chap representing the owners stepped forward unannounced and made a short speech. ‘The Babbler’ returned to the microphone and announced: ‘Now would the winning trainer step forward?’ No mention that his name was David Pfeiffer, again printed in the racebook. This was easily the trainer’s biggest win in a short career but here he was on national TV and nobody knew his name, thanks Bob.
‘The ‘The Babbler’ presented the trophy to the winning jockey and no surprises: ‘Would the winning jockey step forward?’ Great work Bob, his name was actually Peter Robl and also printed in the racebook.
‘What an embarrassment it must have been for family and friends of the connections to win such a major race and never hear their names mentioned in recognition at the presentation ceremony.
‘And to think that this bloke is going to head the new committee to run all racing codes in Queensland. Pity he didn’t take part in the recent ‘Movember’ promotion. With a moustache he would look more like ‘you know who’ every day.”
BENTLEY FIRES BACK AT CHAIRMEN OF BRC AND GCTC
IT could only happen in Queensland Racing but the decision of the Government to inject $80 million in industry funding to the three codes has resulted in a bun-fight between the Gold Coast Turf Club and the thoroughbred control body.
The kafuffle started when QR chairman Bob Bentley took umbrage at suggestions that the chairmen of the two biggest race clubs (Kevin Dixon, Brisbane Racing Club and Andrew Eggleston, Gold Coast Turf Club) were being left out of the loop.
It prompted this response to the two gentlemen from the QR boss on January 7:
‘Dear Kevin/Andrew
‘I note your uninformed comments made to Bart Sinclair (Courier-Mail Turf Editor) this morning in his article.
‘For your information, Class A members are licensed by a control body, which represents persons or bodies who are licensed by, or whose role is regulated and overseen by the control body, and therefore, the way that the process is conducted is one for the Government to be satisfied as to the integrity and capability rather than Class A members of existing bodies having a say on the matter.’
Yours Sincerely,
R G Bentley,
Chairman
TALK OF THREATS THAT A TRUST COULD BE PUT IN PLACE AT GOLD COAST
THERE were several e-mails concerning lack of consultation and transparency along with concerns expressed after the Government announced improvements to the infrastructure at the Gold Coast Turf Club were high on the priority list for the $80 million four-year funding package announced last week.
Here is an example:
‘How can Bob Bentley refuse to consult with the Gold Coast Turf Club on how its share of Government funding will be spent on improvements at the facility? It is down-right disgraceful and smacks of a dictatorship when he says it has nothing to do with club officials.
‘One gets the impression that Mr Bentley has jumped at the opportunity to discredit the new committee under the chairmanship of Andrew Eggleston and try to have control wrested from them and placed in the hands of a Trust that he and Queensland Racing can control.
‘We also noticed that the Queensland Racing communications department put out a reply on behalf of Bentley to criticism in a media release from Shadow Racing Minister Ray Stevens.
‘The Bentley attack read as though it was written by a spin doctor for the Government or its Racing Department. Whoever it was done by couldn’t even spell Mr Stevens’ name correctly. It was ‘Stephens’ all the way through the reply.
‘But this is pretty typical of Queensland Racing. It’s got people all over the place doing the bidding of their bosses. Very few of them from the racing manager to the project manager for the History of Queensland Racing, are getting too many Brownie Points from the industry at large.
‘You might also be surprised to learn that not one representative of Queensland Racing appeared to be present at the committee luncheon on Magic Millions day. I can say with assurance that neither Bob the Builder nor his off-sider, Tony Hamster (your mistake this time sir, the gentleman's name is Hamner), were there.
‘I am told on good authority that Mr Bentley has warned Mr Eggleston that if the Gold Coast Turf Club does not agree to the way he wants to use this money at the track then he will have ensure a Trust is put in place. And can you imagine some of the cronies that could win a berth? What is the good dentist doing these days?’ – Name and address with-held.
IT WAS ALL TOO SQUEEZY IN THE TRACKSIDE MEDIA BOX ON MILLIONS DAY
WE received an interesting e-mail on the inadequate facilities provided for the big media contingent that covered Magic Millions day at the Gold Coast and how when compared with what is on offer at major meetings in the south it was the butt of many jokes.
It read: ‘Thought you might like to know that the media was far from happy with the facilities or lack thereof that were available at the Gold Coast track. The media gets looked after better at the picnics in Victoria.
‘They tried to pack double the number that could adequately be accommodated in their poor excuse for a press box. It was first in, first served and some high profile members of the local racing print media had their noses right out of joint.
‘I am told that the Racing Editor of The Sunday-Mail arrived to find that his regular spot had been taken by some guy covering the Magic Millions sales. Don’t know what he was doing in the press box at the races.
‘Then some of the few remaining spots available were taken up by Queensland Racing camera crew or whatever. One would wonder what they were doing in the working media room on a big race day.
‘If places like the Gold Coast want to host these big meetings perhaps they should get their act together and start providing proper facilities for the working media not just ensuring that those who work for Magic Millions and Queensland Racing are catered for.’ – Name and address supplied.
EDITOR’S NOTE: It wouldn’t have happened in the days when Scott Whiteman was CEO. He always ensured the media was well catered for and even opened a nearby box to cater for the extra photographers on big days.
DID THE AMBULANCE OFFICERS GO MISSING FOR TWO RACES?
WE end our e-mail box this week with an alarming report from North Queensland, which, if it happens to be correct, certainly needs investigating by the appropriate authorities no matter how long ago it happened.
Because it comes under the ‘scuttlebutt mail box’ we have not bothered to send it to QR Director of Integrity Operations, Jamie Orchard, but standby for more to be revealed in future.
Here is the e-mail:
‘Have you heard about the ambulance that went missing from a Sky-televised TAB meeting at (North Queensland provincial centre)?
‘This did occur some time ago but it was swept under the carpet. The ambulance officers went missing for two races. No matter how long ago this was steps need to be taken to ensure it never happens again.
‘Concerned industry personnel are attempting to seek answers through Freedom of Information and we will keep you informed.’ – Name and address with with-held for obvious reasons.
EDITOR: We continue to hear alarming reports about what is happening at this particular track and, if these are correct, some Integrity intervention is long overdue.
