We reproduce the column courtesy of one of Australia’s leading rural newspapers, the North Queensland Register, which reads:
IF, by chance, you thought Queensland Racing Limited under Chairman Bob Bentley was arrogant, especially in its dealings with cash-strapped race clubs in the State, you are not alone.
Just ask any of the Townsville Turf Club committee, and a lot of other Queensland racing committees and administrators.
But the Australian Racing Board, which Mr Bentley, believe it or not, is also chairman of, has taken arrogance to a lofty new level.
The ARB has been accused of completely defying the wishes of an estimated 90 per cent of the entire national racing industry – an industry that the 17-member ARB was founded to protect.
The ARB has been condemned by high profile industry leaders for its refusal last Thursday to change the confusing and highly controversial whip rules.
It would seem the headline-seeking Sydney chief stipe Ray Murrihy is the only one in agreement with the ARB rules, and in doing so has put himself totally offside with the majority.
Bart Cummings, Damien Oliver and Darren Beadman, to name just three, say the rules are 'ridiculous'. That should be enough.
Many in the game have called for Mr Bentley’s resignation and/or the disbandment of the ARB.
Peter Lawrence, writing on the Racenet website, said jockeys hate the new rules, trainers hate them and owners hate them.
“How can any board continue to operate when it ignores the wishes of 90pc of its participants?” he said.
“When are the participants going to make a stand and propose a vote of no confidence in this board that completely ignores its wishes?
“How is it possible the architects of this absurd rule, none of whom have ever ridden or trained a horse, can convince other ARB members that they know better than the overwhelming majority of industry participants?”
Where else in a democratic society does such a bizarre situation exist?
While Mr Bentley and the ARB are copping a bashing from all over, it is in his home State where he is the target for the most venom.
Just who does he think he is, is the question most asked, by people sick of his steam-rolling, asset-grabbing and stand-over tactics, which some say border on hypocrisy.
He has accused race clubs of money mis-management. He only has to look at the industry money he has absolutely wasted on cushion tracks that some jockeys won’t ride on.
What he did at Toowoomba is unforgivable. How can he accuse anyone in the Queensland industry of wasting funds?
And then there were the six-figure sums burnt on unnecessary court room battles that were seldom won by QRL.
But the anti-Bentley sentiment doesn’t end there.
A thick, murky cloud hangs over the revised Racing and Betting Act recently introduced to create a new three-code control body.
Some are saying it is already doomed, with particular concern for the future of the less popular greyhounds and harness racing industries.
There’s even a provision there for Mr Bentley to stay on as chairman for, wait for it, 10 years.
But that won’t happen. Bob will be gone the day the Bligh Government goes down. And so will a lot of his controversial changes – that’s a given.
Mind you, the Bligh Government is not entitled to a single vote either from industry participants.
Quite frankly, she and her Racing Minister Peter Lawlor are a non-event.
Luckily everyone knows it. They gave Mr Bentley Napoleonic power and he lapped it up as he embarked on a rampage through the State that has given him little else but a string of enemies and a lot of heartache to the industry.
* * *
IN the neighbouring Northern Territory, the Henderson Government has a totally contrasting viewpoint.
Racing Minister Delia Lawrie just announced an $11.5 million boost to the NT racing industry for prizemoney, additional on-track stabling at Darwin’s Fannie Bay and ‘other projects for the industry to remain competitive’.
There are just six tracks in the Territory, three of them race once a year, and one (Adelaide River) has two meetings. Darwin and Alice Springs race almost every week.
The Alice carnival kicks off next week, then Katherine (June 14), and a fortnight later the famous Fannie Bay carnival in Darwin that culminates with the Darwin Cup on August 2.
* * *
THAT age-old racing adage that there is ‘no such thing as a certainty’ was well to the fore at Julia Creek on Saturday when the odds-on Brawled went down in the Class 2 feature.
Jockey Chad Pay was shell-shocked after the horse trailed in behind the former Olivia Cairns-trained Bay Route.
He couldn’t believe his mount could be beaten.
But it was – and the notorious Julie Creek track claimed yet another.
There have been many so-called certainties bite the black soil dust over the years.
The brilliant Sad, winner of the Cleveland Bay and Weetwood, was beaten in a restricted race there some years ago.
But by all accounts it is a great day and attracted one of the biggest crowds on a western track in ages.
Another feature was the win of Wayne Crossland’s old war horse, the Irish-bred international Double Dip in the Open.
It was his first win for more than a year, but the old stager, who has won in Hong Kong, South Africa and Sydney, displayed a lot of tenacity and belied his 10 years to score in a thrilling finish.
* * *
THE million-plus yearlings continued to flop all over the country on Saturday, begging yet again the question: Is the Thoroughbred simply too expensive?
And do buyers get carried away with all the hype of modern-day yearling sales?
The answer, of course, is yes on both counts.
The most disappointing result on Saturday was at the Gold Coast when Barkarje Diva, a $1.8mn purchase, failed to beat one home in the Maiden.
Other highly priced failures included Our Surfer Girl (a $1.5mn purchase), unplaced Randwick, and the very costly Hus Der Lieften ($1.2mn), which beat two home in the third.
But Prize Fight at 25/1 did the right thing by his owners at last at Hamilton (Vic). But then again he was a cheapie at the sales - he went for a mere $400,000!
CONTACT: TERRY BUTTS by e-mail at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
