ABOUT three years ago I received a phone call on my way to the Caulfield races.

MATT STEWART reports in the HERALD SUN that the mail had arrived that Tinkler had gone bonkers at Crown Towers after reading a reference to him in an article, even though "whale" was a description of his big spending at horse sales, not his girth.

The mail, also, was that the big fellow and his half-dozen aides, easily recognised in dark glasses on a gloomy day, would be looking for me.

There was no suggestion of a hip and shoulder, just icy stares - and that's what happened. The always sullen Tinkler stood in the mounting yard with his flunkies, spotted me near the tunnel and just stared.

It was a bizarre few seconds, just as Tinkler's foray into horse racing - and sport - has been a bizarre few years.

With Tinkler, "whale" could have referred to many things. The cheap shot would have been as a reference to his ample girth.

More poignant would be a reference to his gluttonous approach to his new venture.

Tinkler, fleetingly Australia's richest person under 40, attempted to barge into racing,
a sport and industry too complicated and unforgiving to allow for the creation of overnight kingdoms.

Racing is littered with beaten-down billionaires.

Wadham Park, with its $1 million gates and elevator to its viewing deck, burst on to the scene when unknown Dale Sutton, backed by retired Toll chairman Peter Rowsthorn, nervously signed a $1.3 million cheque for a Sadler's Wells colt at the 2006 Gold Coast Magic Millions sale.

The colt never amounted to anything and nor did Wadham Park, which built two overnight kingdoms - one on the Gold Coast hinterland, the other near Woodend.

The $10 million facility near Woodend is now a virtual ghost stable. Sutton is gone, stable jockey Steve Baster is long gone and Wadham's three big barns now house a trickle of pre-trainers.

Tinkler barged on to the scene hot on the heels of Wadham Park and his indulgence made Wadham appear careful.

Flush with mining money, Tinkler first appeared in 2008 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions sale. Sale after sale, he just kept spending.

Far richer yet far more seasoned campaigners, such as the global Darley and Coolmore from Ireland, opted out of bidding duels with Tinkler, who appeared, to them, a crazed young man on a suicide mission.
 

Tinkler bought farms and created stables -in three states - at a rate Coolmore and Darley might cautiously assign to the purchase of a single colt or broodmare.

Tinkler embarked on a sponsorship spree across three codes of sport.

In five years he spent more than $200 million on his equine addiction.

The cracks started appearing some months back.

Race clubs were not being paid, at least not without constant reminders to Tinkler.

Private trainer John Thompson revealed last spring that he was training Tinkler's horses on the smell of an oily rag.

Tinkler sold a swag of racing and breeding stock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sales complex some months back for just a few million.

In 2008 he bought 58 yearlings at the same complex for $18.5 million.

Tinkler did not enter the racing world with a racing pedigree. He attracted hangers-on who saw him as a temporary gravy train.

He seemed to trust no one. Employees never lasted long and his empire was dubbed "Pat and Sack".

Mostly, he was a sullen figure.

He demanded racing reward his indulgence instantly. He refused to play in real time.

The Ingham chicken empire started with just one chook; its racing empire with one horse.

At lunches, the late Jack Ingham - a man who always smiled, was always grateful - would serve up lobster and duck.

But a humble chook would always be front and centre on the dinner table as a tribute and a reminder.

The Inghams built both their empires with care and caution. It took the brothers 30 years of toil before Octagonal, the gift horse, came along.

John Singleton is lavish by nature, but his racing indulgence was always carefully plotted and mindful of pitfalls.
Singo mauled and kissed Bob Hawke after Ha Ha won the 2001 Golden Slipper, just as he wiped genuine tears as he hugged Clarry Conners, his mate on a long racing journey, after Dear Demi won last year's VRC Oaks.

Long, lonely roads led to these great Singleton celebrations.

Tinkler demanded a short cut. In racing, there are none.

STORY SOURCE: MELBOURNE HERALD-SUN - NEWS LIMITED.