FOR the first time since confidence in Queensland Racing reached an all-time low under an integrity regime that was eventually shown the door, punters can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
A positive outcome from the Baby Boom inquiry could well prove the catalyst for punters – big and small – to give betting on races in Queensland a second chance. The industry in the north desperately needs that confidence boost.
Others may well take the credit but ironically it has been a young steward in Wade Birch, who many described as too wet behind the ears to take on the big job, that is starting to justify his appointment big-time.Of concern are reports emanating from those close to his panel that not every-one at racing headquarters in the north sits comfortably with the Birch bid to clean-up Queensland racing - something that has been long overdue.
One would hope there aren’t road blocks being put in his path, particularly when it comes to attempts to rein in a big bookie said to have many jockeys on his speed dial as well as a high profile QR figure. Favorites have a disgusting record of success at TAB tracks in Queensland.
Even more concerning is the suggestion that Birch will be replaced as Chief Steward when the Government legislates for an Integrated Board.
The rumor mill has it that QR Chairman Bob Bentley has given Birch an undertaking that he will not be usurped by a leading steward from another code, whose friends in racing are insisting the takeover is ‘as good as done.’
If that eventuates it will create a greater furore for Bentley than the departure of some good, honest and badly treated stewards of the past, spearheaded by Alan Reardon, whose treatment by the former Integrity bosses at QR was nothing short of ‘shameful and disgusting.’
The e-mails received by this web-site in the wake of yesterday’s Baby Boom inquiry have been unanimously in support of the job that Birch and his panel have done, obviously under the direction of the QR legal team and Integrity boss, Jamie Orchard.
We won’t comment on the inquiry, as the outcome is yet to be decided, except to say that QR broke new ground and won plenty of friends in the punting public throughout the country when it issued show cause notices on three Betfair punters.
The consequences of this inquiry and the one being headed in Melbourne by Australia’s best steward, Terry Bailey, are long overdue and have been welcomed by a legion of punters throughout the country.
The great concern in the north is that Queensland Racing continues to defy the orders of two Government-ordered inquiries for a separation of powers.
That doesn’t mean drawing an imaginary line down the middle of the Deagon headquarters and putting integrity on one side and administration on the other – a farcical band-aid solution applied on the recommendation of a former Integrity boss who is fortunately long gone but unfortunately not forgotten.
Racing Minister Peter Lawlor needs to insist that every part of the Integrity Department is removed from Queensland Racing. You can’t have a situation where it is under the same roof and where QR appoints the Integrity boss and the stewards. To suggest that is independent is nothing short of a joke.
Queensland Racing has a long way to go before it wins back the confidence of punters. The letsgohorseracing web-site will continue to highlight integrity and industry short-comings. Unlike other racing media sources, we don't and never will rely on ‘hand-outs’ from QR or UNiTAB to survive.
Nor are we subservient to high profile QR officials – some of whom are not fit to hold down the jobs that they have and should never have been appointed in the first place.
They can continue to ‘bad mouth’ and ‘intimidate’ people who make contributions to this web-site. It won’t make one iota of difference. We are here for the long haul and their criticism only makes us more determined. The hits on this web-site continue to grow by the week.
Perhaps Bob Bentley would like to set the record straight, through an outlet that thousands of thoroughbred followers read daily, on where his support stands for Chief Steward Wade Birch and if he is prepared to finally abide by the rulings of two Racing Inquiries and allow a complete separation of ingtegrity powers. We won't hold our breath!
