THIS website continues to listen to what our readers have to say and has introduced a ‘Wednesday Whinge’ where you can express your feelings on racing industry issues of the past week. Try to keep them objective. Just e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

THERE were some especially interesting e-mails this week ranging from anger at South African racing for allowing a two-year-old to be named Black Cavair; to criticism of Gai Waterhouse for her ‘eggs for brains’ comment about trainers who don’t race horses at the Magic Millions; and more concern and despair emanating from the most criticized club in Australia at Toowoomba. There are e-mails on the Jackie Berriman weight controversy from Ballarat and thoughts on the different approach of various states to racing integrity.

As usual we start the Wednesday Whinge with our popular feature: THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY SIDE OF RACING over the past week:

 

STARTING WITH THE GOOD

PLENTY OF MERIT IN HEAVY TRACK BAN IMPOSED BY RACING NSW STEWARDS

FULL marks to the Racing New South Wales stewards for placing a ban on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Raceway after he flopped badly again on a heavy track.

Raceway has finished tailed off at his two starts on very heavy tracks – the latest behind Altered Boy at Rosehill last Saturday.

Here’s hoping stewards in other states follow the NSW lead and that a stronger stance is taken by all against horses that continually race inconsistently.

We are not suggesting for one moment that they be banned from racing but surely if they offend by racing inconsistently on a regular basis then these horses should be stood down for a month and then forced to trial to the satisfaction of stewards before starting again.

Serial offenders could have bigger suspensions imposed which would certainly force trainers into a situation of ensuring that punters got a better run for their money than they currently do with some of these horses.

 

LIKE THE CUSHION TRACKS OR NOT THESE PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE DURING BIG WET

SUPPORTERS of the cushion tracks claim that the ‘big wet’ has shown the need for at least one in south-east Queensland.

That’s true but it has also shown that many trainers are not interested in racing on the cushion surfaces ( just look at the scratching numbers when Ipswich was moved to Toowoomba) and the subsequent turnover which was well below normal.

The Toowoomba meeting was transferred from Saturday to Monday and the Ipswich meeting lost at that venue on Friday was moved to Clifford Park on Tuesday.

At least it provided an opportunity for owners, trainers, jockeys etc to earn an income even if some are reluctant to compete on the cushion surfaces.

But the punters aren’t really interested in betting on cushion tracks whether these meetings are shown on the main SKY channel or not.

Perhaps the problem is also the fact that the Toowoomba cushion isn’t as popular as the one at the Sunshine Coast. Those using both say they are two entirely different surfaces.

 

‘THE EAR’ LANDS COMMUNICATIONS JOB – HERE’S HOPING THEY INSTAL SKY

GOOD to see our old mate, Mark ‘The Ear’ Oberhardt, land a nice job with the best communications company in Brisbane.

‘The Ear,’ sadly missed at The Courier-Mail where his column attracted a huge readership, temporarily joined the Media Unit of the new LNP Government but took ill during his probationary period and was forced to quit prematurely.

Whilst he has been in demand for plenty of part-time gigs on radio and with news services, the prospect of a permanent job with Sequel Communications came up and they were quick to hire him.

Just a tip for PR guru, Shaun Rigby, one of the directors at Sequel, it’s a coup to get ‘Obe,’ now all you need to attract his attention 24/7 is install SKY Channel in his office.

 

NOW TO THE BAD

‘EGGS FOR BRAINS’ COMMENT ABOUT MAGIC MILLIONS WON GAI FEW FANS

INTERESTING e-mail received from an owner who is obviously not a fan of the ‘First Lady of Australian racing.’

‘Well Gai Waterhouse couldn’t help herself after the win by Sweet Idea in the Silver Slipper on Saturday when her motor-mouth when into over-drive,’ he wrote.

‘Anyone who doesn’t take horses to the Magic Millions must have eggs for brains,’ said Gai, after declaring Sweet Idea hard to beat in the Golden Slipper.

Magic Millions is well named Gai. It’s largely for the rich and famous – the millionaire owners who have no respect for their money. The sale is over-promoted, gets far too much publicity largely because of who owns the company and is full to the brim with over-priced yearlings.

Our e-mailer suggested that instead of telling the battling owners of this country that they are a bunch of dills for not going to the Magic Millions sales, Waterhouse should get her head out of the clouds and remember that without them racing would struggle to survive.

“The reason we don’t go to the MM is that we cannot afford to buy horses at their sales and the MM race meeting is restricted to horses from those sales,” he wrote. “One might suggest that there is a restriction in trade when RQ allows the MM to be the major Saturday meeting when not every owner can race for the big prizemoney.

“It’s not that we have ‘eggs for brains’ as you would suggest – kicking up for your mates at Magic Millions Gai – it’s more that unlike you we cannot afford to buy horses there and therefore don’t have the ammunition at this over-hyped restricted fixture.’

When it comes to your horses and their chances in the big race be as carefree as you like in charge of a microphone but when it comes to the battling owners in this country, we would prefer if you kept your thoughts to yourself.”

 

RQ OFFICIAL REPORTEDLY TRIED TO BOARD THE WRONG PLANE TO HALL OF FAME DINNER

OUR Spy in the Deagon Bunker reports on an embarrassing situation for a high profile RQ official who was to attend the Hall of Fame inauguration dinner in Melbourne last week.

The official mistakenly tried to board the flight from Brisbane to Adelaide after the Melbourne one had departed.

Story goes Brett Leishmann, now with the Australian Racing Board but formerly based at Deagon, was called on as an 11th hour replacement at the Hall of Fame function for his former RQ colleague.

We won’t name the embarrassed official as he’s a top bloke who does a great job but needless to say he was left rather ‘red faced’ and headed home earlier than expected from the airport for a ‘cat nap’ instead of enjoying the festivities in Melbourne.

 

NICE ROW LOOMING OVER TRIAL REPORTS – IS SOMEONE GETTING START?

FROM the e-mails that we have been receiving in the past week a nice old blue is looming over the provision of trial reports and a newcomer on the scene.

It seems a trials specialist on racing in south-east Queensland, who is based in Melbourne but has links to a certain big name media personality in the north, is branching out to cover Sydney and Melbourne.

This is not sitting well with those who have provided these services for years, reportedly not because they don’t want competition but largely there is a belief that the newcomer has a bit more start than he should when it comes to publicity and free advertising.

According to the e-mails we are receiving the matter could soon reach complaint stage to the appropriate authorities who monitor the actions of racing broadcasters and hosts.

 

AND FINALLY THE UGLY

ANGER AS SOUTH AFRICA ALLOWS A TWO-YEAR-OLD TO BE NAMED BLACK CAVIAR

THE e-mail protests came flying thick and fast with the revelation that a two-year-old colt named Black Caviar will make his debut in South Africa tonight (Wednesday).

Imitation might be the greatest form of flattery but angry fans Australian world champion of the same name want world racing authorities to force a name change for the Yarpy interloper.

News of the South African name registration blunder was broken by RAY THOMAS in the SYDNEY TELEGRAPH in the following story.

BLACK Caviar is set to contest a 1000m race at Durbanville in South Africa (tonight, Wednesday) - sparking international outrage.

Australian racing authorities are up in arms that an unraced South Africa two-year-old colt has been named after the world's most famous racehorse.

There is a tacit agreement among racing jurisdictions around the world to protect the names of elite racehorses.

For example, you won't see Phar Lap's name used in England while Australian owners will not be able to register Frankel. So how Black Caviar's name was allowed to be registered in South Africa is perplexing.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said he would take the necessary steps to ensure the identity of Australia's greatest sprinter is protected.

"There is an understanding among racing jurisdictions not to allow the name of a great racehorse to be used again, either in the country of the horse's origin or anywhere else in the world," V'landys said last night.

"I'll certainly be contacting my South African counterparts (today) to rectify this anomaly immediately.

"This should not have been allowed to happen."

IN LATE BREAKING NEWS the MELBOURNE HERALD SUN reports today:

COMMON sense finally prevailed last night after the owners of an unraced South African two-year-old colt dumped the name Black Caviar.

Australian racing authorities were stunned when they learned a horse by the same name as the Peter Moody-trained champ was about to debut on the other side of the planet.

There is an agreement among racing jurisdictions to protect names of champions like Black Caviar.

It was only after The Daily Telegraph highlighted the double-up that South African officials asked the owners to rethink.

Prominent owners and breeders Henry and Patricia Devine, who raced and bred champion Jet Master, said they were only too happy to come up with an alternative to Black Caviar.

 

IT HAS BEEN REVEALED THAT RIDICULOUS FIELD SIZE LIMITS WILL APPLY AT NEW TRACK

THE situation with the proposed new Strathayr track proposed for Toowoomba just seems to go from bad to worse by the week.

It has now been revealed that the maximum number of starters from the 1200m on the new track will be limited to 12 and that’s with the rail in the true position.

Our understanding is that the club’s biggest race, the time-honored Weetwood Handicap, was reduced from 1300m to 1200m, to enable bigger fields when the cushion track was introduced.

As Terry Butts reported in his Silks & Saddles column some astute racing men on the Downs are questioning why at least $8 million will be spent on a track that can at best serve only 12 runners. The matter will apparently be raised with RQ by the Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers’ Association.

There is mounting pressure on the Toowoomba Turf Club and the Government to do a feasibility study into selling the current Clifford Park (said to be worth an estimated $40 million) and relocate to a new complex which could be built on Government owned land just outside of Toowoomba where there is apparently plenty of water available.

 

TTC MUST BE TRYING FOR GUINESS BOOK OF SPORTING RECORDS IN STAFF SACKINGS

AND on the subject of Toowoomba our Spy on the Downs informs us that another two key staff at the Turf Club were shown the door this week.

We are unaware of the reason but a high profile administrative staff member and the events co-ordinator are said to have left the club.

An e-mailer joked that the Bob Frappell Board must be attempting a place in the Guinness Book of Racing Records.

He wrote: “They have lost at least four staff members, two course rangers, a clerk of the course, the bar manager, the catering manager and four members of the committee have resigned.

“Members of the club are starting to ask what the hell is going on. And that’s not to mention what is being paid out in negotiated settlements with some of those who have left, were forced to leave or felt they didn’t get a fair deal.”

 

TIME TO PUT THE INDUSTRY OUT OF ITS MISERY AND NAME THE NEW BOARDS 

WE are starting to sound like a worn-out record but the industry continues to hear speculation that there will be no surprises when the new All Codes Board is announced shortly.

Rumors abound of alleged Government interference in the process despite the assurances that the selection recommendations of the independent panel will be final.

One would hope so but not all are convinced. A high profile official for a major club continues to tell anyone – here or interstate – that cares to listen: “When we take over.”

Heaven help the industry in Queensland if ‘they’ do.

His confidence probably explains – as our mate at justracing, Phil Purser, would describe it – the lack of testicular fortitude from the mainstream racing media when it comes to calls for the selection process not only to appear to be right but TO BE RIGHT.

If there isn’t an independent chairman of the All Codes Board or an acceptable representative from the country then some fear only those with the ‘right’ connections have a future in the industry in Queensland.

We are told that the announcement of the new Boards is only a couple of weeks away.

And rest assured, that unlike mates of you know who in the mainstream racing media, websites like this will be sticking around to ensure the Boards that are appointed do the right thing by everyone in the industry, not just a select few.

 

WORKCOVER ITEM BY TERRY BUTTS STRUCK A NERVE WITH BIG GUY IN SOUTH-EAST QLD

THE Workcover item by Terry Butts in his Silks and Saddles column apparently struck a raw nerve with a couple of top trainers in the metropolitan area which is understandable.

They will be major beneficiaries of what is being proposed and because Butts, kicking up for his training colleagues in the country, used information leaked to him there has been a backlash.

One guy, a big name trainer in the south, has suggested that Butts should not be using confidential information. Why not – does this trainer want the Workcover deal done without any consultation of battlers in the bush which would see them subsidize the big name trainers in the south-east?’

 

Now here is the e-mail contributions in full that we have elected to publish this week with apologies to those who missed out:

 

VICTORIAN STEWARDS ACCUSED OF ‘BUCK PASSING’ IN BERRIMAN CLAIM CONTROVERSY

‘THE stewards at Racing Victoria have to be kidding in they try to pass the buck in the Ballarat race controversy to apprentice Jackie Berriman because she failed to notify of not being eligible to claim in the race.

Surely the responsibility rests with the stewards or the clerk of scales to be aware of the fact that it was a non-claiming race. If he or she did know then why was Berriman asked what her claim was?

To even suggest that Berriman was wholly responsible for this massive mistake smacks of buck passing. Come on Mr Bailey make your Ballarat panel accept their share of the responsibility for this mistake.

I am told that the connections of the Gary Portelli-trained Kochama, which ran a heavily backed favorite and finished a close second to Mybenz, which was ridden by Berriman in the race at Ballarat, are seriously considering their legal options.

The story goes that they backed Kochama for plenty only to go down narrowly and find out later that Mybenz in all likelihood will be disqualified because Berriman claimed in a race that she wasn’t entitled to.

Whilst I realize that this is still the subject of an inquiry the question that needs to be addressed is why stewards did not detect the mistake before correct weight was declared. It’s not as though the chairman on the day was inexperienced. Corey Waller has been around for a good while and is highly regarded by the industry.”- As I am a Victorian-based trainer I would ask that my identity not be revealed.

EDITOR’S NOTE: It would seem to me that both the stewards and the apprentice deserve a rap over the knuckles on this one. As for legal action by the connections of the runner-up, well good luck to them. Here is a story by MICHAEL SHARKIE in the MELBOURNE AGE on the subject:

RACING Victoria Stewards will open an inquiry (set down for today, Wednesday) as to how apprentice jockey Jackie Berriman was allowed to claim from her weight on winner My Benz in a non-claiming race at Ballarat on Friday.

In a bizarre twist to the running of the Hygain 0-62 Fillies and Mares Hcp, it was found after the running of the race that Berriman had been allowed to claim 1.5kg from the allotted weight of 59kg assigned to the Stuart Webb trained My Benz when not permitted to do so. The mistake was not discovered until after correct weight was declared.

Chief Steward Terry Bailey said yesterday that he was "obviously not happy" that the mistake had occurred, nor that it had been discovered so late, and confirmed yesterday that My Benz would ultimately be disqualified from the race under the rules of racing for not having carried the assigned weight.

The win would be removed from My Benz’s record and all prize money earned by the horse for the win would need to be returned by the owners and winning jockey and trainer.

"There are a number of checks and balances in place to prevent this sort of thing from happening and obviously it is very rare, but the buck ultimately stops with the jockey," Bailey said.

Bailey said that apprentice jockeys were meant to notify stewards at the scales when they were permitted to claim and said that Berriman had wrongfully done so at Ballarat; Berriman may face a reprimand for her part in the fiasco.

"She should not have got on those scales and said she could claim 1.5 kilos," Bailey said

 

IF SOMETHING CAN GO WRONG IN RACING – VICTORIA WILL GET A MENTION

‘IF something can go wrong in racing it is a safe bet Victoria will get a mention.

The latest debacle involving apprentice Berriman at Ballarat must make Terry Bailey, their Chairman of Stewards, just wonder if it is all worth the effort.

In 2008, the year Bailey took over from Des Gleeson, (RAD Board Chairman) Judge Lewis handed down a report more or less saying that the industry in that state was ‘rotten to the core’. 

I have had the feeling for some time that the Victorian troubles were nationwide. I also felt that the report was behind Gleeson’s ‘retirement’.

Being from out of town so to speak Bailey’s appointment to the top job didn’t go down all that well. After all they had the experienced Terry Sharp to take over from Gleeson.

Bailey’s biggest mistake is that he introduced a major change to the Gleeson era; the introduction of a single book of racing rules. This treated all people equal and some who felt that in the past because of their profile they were untouchable got their noses out of joint.

Everyone from champion overseas trainers like Aidan O’Brien to the likes of Ms Berriman are perfect examples of the level playing that now exists. 

To add salt to the wound some decisions of the RAD Board leaves one with any number of questions when trying to analyze their findings. 

It would be interesting to know if there is a phone call or two being held by the Victorian Police or the Australian Crimes Commission (ACC). 

I guess we will only find out if details ‘fall off the back of a truck’ in front of The Age newspaper.

I hope Mr Murrihy has taken off his rose-colored glasses as there is absolutely no risk that NSW is next on the list BIG TIME.

As far as Queensland goes, well they had a chance to do something 10 years ago and stuffed it up. I believe quotes may be called for the installation of an ‘Iron Lung’ at Deagon.

I just hope Judge Carter and his fellow panel are allowed to do the work they are employed to do when it comes to selecting an independent Board to run the show. However, I do have my grave doubts.’ - Maurice Connor, Brisbane.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Anyone who reads this column regularly would know that I am a great fan of Terry Bailey and believe him to be the best Chief Steward in the land. In the Jackie Berriman case however the buck has to stop with the Steward in Charge of that meeting at Ballarat. He erred by declaring correct weight when the winner did not carry its allotted weight and that should be strongly considered before any penalty is imposed on the female apprentice. As for stewards in other jurisdictions, Ray Murrihy has more than his share of problems with Sydney racing lacking confidence of the punters these days. With the new powers that be deciding to dispense with the Integrity Department at Racing Queensland, the industry there is nothing more than a joke on and off the track. But at least NSW is taking positive steps to combat the problem as the following story from the SYDNEY TELEGRAPH this week reveals:

RACING NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said the establishment of an investigations unit to crack down on cheats and corruption is a means to shore up punter confidence in the sport.

With the racing industry rocked by allegations of interstate jockeys betting, illegal drug use and race fixing, V'landys said Racing NSW has adopted a proactive agenda to maintain its "leadership position in ensuring integrity within the (racing) industry."

The new Racing NSW Investigations and Surveillance Unit will be headed by former senior NSW police officer Nathan Hayward as chief investigator, with former Australian Federal Police officer Albert Gardner appointed as racecourse detective.

"The reason we feel it is necessary to set up this unit is to fill in areas that we believe are inadequate," V'landys said.

"We need more than just drug-testing, we need to undertake some form of surveillance and intelligence gathering.

"In the modern era, we want to get on to the front foot to protect the integrity of racing. We'll use world's best practice to stay ahead of the game - we want to be proactive, not reactive."

 V'landys denied the new unit was a direct result of the series of integrity scandals which marred the Victorian spring carnival last year.

 "Racing NSW has been considering establishing this unit for quite a while now.

 "It has certainly been expedited by certain matters in the community, not just what has happened in Victoria.

 "This has always been on our agenda to maintain our leadership position on integrity issues in racing.

"The appointments of these high class investigators with many years of experience between them will ensure that Racing NSW uses the best possible practices to ensure that both punters and participants can have confidence at all times of a level playing field."

 Hayward brings with him a wealth of investigative experience after a 15-year career in the NSW Police Force where he was involved in investigations with the homicide squad, armed robbery unit, counter-terrorism command and the integrity testing unit, as well as ASIO and ICAC.

 Gardner's credentials are similarly impressive as he has been a detective/investigator with the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, National Crime Authority, NSW Crime Commission, the ICAC and NSW Royal Commission into the Building Industry.

 

THOSE WITH ‘EGGS FOR BRAINS’ ARE THE ONES WHO RACE HORSES IN QUEENSLAND

‘THAT nasty little ‘eggs for brains’ comment by Gai Waterhouse, aimed at promoting the Magic Millions, was not very well received by most in the industry in the north.

What she should have said was that ‘anyone who races a horse in Queensland must have eggs for brains or more money than sense.’

It costs just as much to feed a horse here as it does in the south but while the prizemoney in NSW and Victoria continues to sky-rocket the stakes levels in Queensland are at a standstill and there is little sign of any major improvement.

No-one seems to have the answers. Kevin Dixon will be the new chairman of RQ and all he has told us is that the Government doesn’t have the money to boost stakes levels. Well where is it going to come from?

The answer is quite simply – from nowhere. Regardless of who is running the show in Queensland or what Government is in place, unless the new TAB deal provides a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow racing in the north is stuffed.

And the likelihood of much more emanating from the TAB coffers is pipe-dream stuff.

An indication of how well racing in Queensland is travelling can be gauged by the yearling sales of horses that end up trained and owned in this state – not the Magic Millions which is for the big southern stables, the overseas buyers and the millionaires.’ – Sam Allom, Sunshine Coast.

EDITOR’S NOTE: It would seem the only hope of major prizemoney increases for Queensland rests with the new TAB Privatisation Deal and that is why the right Board needs to be in place to negotiate the best possible return for the industry. Perhaps the Queensland Government could take a leaf out of the book of their counterpart in NSW where they have legislated to charge corporate bookmakers and Betfair an increased fee to operate on feature race meeetings. From the beginning of March, Racing Administration Regulation 2012 has been amended to allow Racing NSW to increase the race field information fee from 1.5 to two per cent at selected premium race meetings with the $5 million exemption threshold to remain unchanged. Racing NSW will now be able to charge the two per cent turnover-based fee for any meetings in that State which has a race programmed for prizemoney of $150,000 or more (and that will take in a lot of race meetings). What is to stop the Queensland Government from legislating likewise?   

 

PUNTER RECKONS IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO FOLLOW THE FORM BECAUSE OF TRACK RATINGS

‘AS a punter I have just about given up on trying to do the form. The weather Gods have not been kind to me or anyone else who likes to believe they can find a winner through hard work.

No-one has control over the weather but surely there is enough material – like satellite images – to forecast more accurately the tracks that will be raced on 24 hours ahead.

It’s the same old thing in Melbourne where when it is fine they go up a Dead 4 or 5 but you can count on it being a Good 3 within a race or two. In fact on Saturday it was more like a Good 2 with horses feeling the hard track which had a major impact on the form for those who did not expect that.

Sydney and Brisbane have both been hammered by wet weather but the tracks produced can be very different on wet days. The problem in Brisbane is that the stewards seem so keen to compliment the recuperative powers of the tracks that we see ratings go from Heavy 8 to Dead 5 in the space of a day which borders on joke status.

So I have come to the conclusion that there is no point doing the form any more. And I haven’t even touched on speed maps which seem to be a waste of time at some venues where horses expected to lead settle back in the field and visa versa.’ – Glen Williams, Brisbane.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As you said Glen no-one can control the weather and it has been very fickle especially in Queensland and NSW. I find the track forecasts far more accurate in Sydney than Brisbane, where the improvement in the ratings is beyond belief at times. As for Melbourne they do advise of an upgrade to Good being likely when Dead 4 is posted at meetings. Saturday was an exception where the track appeared to be much harder than was forecast and it showed in the performances of some fancied runners that failed badly.

   

WHY DON’T THE MOODY HORSES PERFORM AS WELL AT FLEMINGTON? 

‘HAVE you noticed how bad horses trained by Peter Moody perform at Flemington especially in comparison to their home track at Caulfield?

I read or heard recently where he has enormous winning statistics at Caulfield but only one in close to 20 of his starters are successful at Flemington.

As a matter of interest the Moody stable had seven runners at Flemington on Saturday and not one was successful. His best efforts were second and third placings with Ready To Rip and stable newcomer Karuta Queen in the race won by Isabella Snowflake.

There’s Only One, which Moody declared his stable best on Melbourne radio on Friday morning, finished near last and couldn’t even beat its lesser fancied stablemate Thy home. I have noticed in recent weeks that his pick of the day has been well and truly off the mark.

Elusive King was well backed with the blinkers on and ran last on Saturday while Shout Out Loud buck-jumped soon after the start and ran last.

It isn’t an imposing record at Flemington for our champion trainer whose stats there might even be boosted to better than they are by the performances of his stable star Black Caviar.’ – Grant Adamson, Melbourne.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I am not questioning your statistics for one minute Grant but I want to be the last one to question the judgment or ability of Big Pete. He gives of his time freely to the media, as evidenced during the career of Black Caviar and on Friday mornings is often asked to run through the chances of up to a dozen horses. If at times he happens to be off the mark then so be it. I know of plenty of occasions when he has tipped punters into nice priced winners. His strike rate might be down at Flemington but don’t ever under-estimate the ability of Moody to make those who dare to criticize eat humble pie.   

 

VICTORIA THE ONLY MAJOR STATE SHOWING COMMON SENSE ON NEW PENALTIES

‘IT comes as no surprise that Racing Queensland can’t get it right but one would have thought Racing New South Wales would have shown more common sense than to approve these silly penalties drafted by the Australian Racing Board.

Fortunately the Australian Jockeys’ Association plans to mount a court challenge to the minimum penalties which have come into affect for a number of offences, including betting by jockeys.

How a battling jockey who walks into a TAB and has a $50 bet or even high profile jockeys who invest a few dollars on a sporting account could possible attract a two-year disqualification beggar’s belief.

At least Racing Victoria showed some common-sense – or more to the point conscience – on this issue and rejected the minimum penalties from the ARB. RQ and RNSW just followed like lambs.’ – As I am a jockey manager I have to insist that my identity be with-held.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a jockey manger you would be well aware of the proposed action by the AJA over a blanket rule proposal by the ARB that will just no work. Here is a story run during the week in the MELBOURNE dailies:

MINIMUM penalties set to be introduced from tomorrow for a raft of serious offences could face a legal challenge.

Australian Jockeys Association chairman Ross Inglis said the minimum penalties drafted by the Australian Racing Board had caused considerable angst among jockeys as well as trainers.

Inglis said the definitive position of Racing New South Wales and Racing Queensland to adopt the new penalties, which includes a two year disqualification for a jockey betting in a race in which they ride, caused concern.

“The AJA will be voicing their concern to Racing New South Wales and Queensland Racing and certainly trainers will be doing the same very strongly,” Inglis said.

“The trainers and jockeys in New South Wales are gravely concerned about the inequity of these minimums and it also affects jockeys and trainers who have to go to there.

 “At this stage there is a great deal of unrest. It really is an attack on person’s rights and natural justice.

“There is a distinct possibility there may be a legal challenge to it. I think we may be looming for a bit of a showdown.”

Inglis said he wanted Racing New South Wales and Queensland Racing to be more flexible in how they addressed any person who may breach the rules that drew minimum penalties.

He said he wanted jockeys to be able to present to stewards whatever circumstances pertained particularly to their situation not be hit with a mandatory penalty.

 

JOCKEYS HAVE BEEN BETTING SINCE ADAM TEMPTED EVE WITH AN APPLE

‘I am amused at the new system that the ARB is introducing on penalties for various breaches of the Australian Rules of Racing.

Take for instance a jockey who will travel most weekendsd, say from Longreach to Birdsville or the equivalent, just to ride a half broken-in and badly educated ‘scrubber’ because the trainer, a slab a day man, said  “it is a flying machine”.

If he should survive the stray cattle and the numerous scrub wallabies on the road without Incident, then he more than likely has to ride a winner to get travelling expenses.

As he goes to be legged up onto his ‘dot’ pad he notices something different about his mount - both eyes are 80 per cent white.

As the jock is being loaded into the latest in starting stalls the girth pinches his mount. All hell breaks loose with the jock doing a three and a half backward twist with his mount loosing the old ‘fluid tube’ in the neck trick at the same time.

The Ambos tells the jock he obviously had a few breaks here and there. He was going to chat with a big fellow eating ice-cream and strawberries and filming the day’s events – not the races. As soon as he could he would organize for the mail truck to pick him up on his return trip and take him home.

Whilst in the back of the ambulance the jock gets a call from Ollie about this good thing so he finds six bucks in his shoe.  He decides to have $3 each-way. Ollie has some young apprentice cleaning his boots for him and getting his gear ready for ‘the next’ so he has time to get 10 large ones on this good thing.

The ACC traces all these phone calls – somehow the details make the pages of The Age.  The stewards are obliged to take action so Ollie and his mate in Birdsville both get TWO YEARS under the new formula for penalties.

This example is too far-fetched to be a reality BUT someone is trying to make a ‘goose’ out of the system that has served us so well over the many years.

I am convinced that whoever the bone head is that was the brains behind this idea is not smart enough, or is just too tired and lazy to do his job.

The provisions for stiffer penalties have been around for years.  Such penalties have just been ignored. The blasted ‘Appeal Boards’ need a good boot up the back side. They will have to share the blame for this madness.’ – Harry Donnelly, Gold Coast.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I enjoyed the e-mail Harry. It’s absolutely ludicrous that a battling jockey who has $50 each-way on a horse can be disqualified for two years, the same as a champion jockey who might have $10,000 on the same horse. Penalties need to fit the crime and by electing to have minimums of such a big magnitude will not deter jockeys from having a bet just force them to get someone else to place it on their behalf.

 

DOUBLE-HEADER MEETINGS IN BRISBANE TO COMPENSATE FOR WET A GOOD IDEA

‘A few of us involved in the industry were discussing the suggestion on your web site of a double-header meeting in Brisbane over the next couple of weekends to compensate the industry for lost earnings.

It’s a good point that just adding two races to a program hardly returns the earnings lost by an entire meeting. It’s simply not good enough and some might describe it as penny-pinching by Racing Queensland.

Why couldn’t they program a Saturday and Sunday double-header at Eagle Farm and Doomben? As you pointed out there is no reason why the Sunshine Coast could not still run on the Sunday.

There are enough horses looking for starts but it seems the fly in the ointment – as usual – is SKY Channel. If the meeting can’t be shown on SKY1 then the turnover is down. Here we are being dictated to in an industry that turns over multi millions of dollars and employs hundreds of thousands by a penny-ante joint called SKY.’ – Donald Rutherford, Ipswich.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If they can transfer meetings to the cushion track at Toowoomba where no-one wants to bet and a majority of trainers don’t want to run their horses, surely it is worth considering the double-header proposal. Racing Queensland bared its backside in the long-term coverage deal done with SKY and it is time when they demand something in return that SKY showed some loyalty and not only listened but delivered in spades.  

 

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in the above e-mails should not be interpreted as those of JOHN LINGARD, the owner of the letsgohorseracing web-site. That is why he has added an ‘EDITOR’S NOTE’. Every endeavor is made to verify the authenticity of contributors. We welcome any reasonable and constructive responses from parties or individuals.