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..
THE e-mail bag for the past week was dominated by comments on the appointment of the new Boards of Racing Queensland; the retirement of Black Caviar, which we have covered extensively (here’s hoping you understand our indulgence); an interesting perspective on the integrity situation in Racing Victoria and how times have changed where Chief Steward Terry Bailey is concerned; along with a number of other topics.
As usual we start the WEDNESDAY WHINGE with our popular feature: THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY SIDE OF RACING over the past week:
FIRST THE GOOD NEWS
QUEENSLAND RACING CONTROL RETURNS TO ‘GRASS ROOTS’ FORMULA WHICH IS THE RIGHT MIX
THIS website has continually criticized the delay in announcing the new Boards to run racing in Queensland and now that these have finally been named we feel it is appropriate to have our say on those chosen.
The successful formula adopted in the overdue announcements has been the decision to revert to ‘grass roots’ appointments – choosing candidates who possess first class business credentials blended with an expertise in racing.
A major drawback to the previous Bob Bentley Board – apart from the directors having too much power and too little chance of being replaced – was that some had little or no knowledge at all of the racing industry.
Former Deputy Chairman Tony Hanmer was a classic example. He may have had excellent business credentials but when it came to racing he was regarded by many as an interloper who had no idea about the industry or how it needed to be run.
Some of your opinions on the new Board appointments – and we received a couple of dozen e-mails – will be run (in part) later in this edition of the Wednesday Whinge.
From our perspective the Newman Government and Racing Minister Steve Dickson have largely delivered on the promises that they made, albeit it took them far too long to do so.
We were delighted to see a strong representation from the country spearheaded by new Harness Racing Queensland chairman Brad Steele and high profile lawyer Barry Taylor who has been appointed Deputy Chairman of the Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board. Both are from Townsville but are well known throughout the state in business and racing circles.
Several observers were quick to let us know that of the 11 appointees to the three Boards, eight were from outside Brisbane. That is correct but only three are from outside south-east Queensland, still a good result considering there were fears at one stage that there may be none.
The Independent Selection Panel of former Judge Bill Carter, former Police Commissioner Jim O’Sullivan and former Governor Peter Arnison should be commended on the job they did and the recommendations made no doubt under trying political circumstances and not unexpected pressures.
Whilst we would have preferred an independent (rather than a code chairman) to head the powerful QACRIB (it sounds more like a football injury than a racing body), the Government remained loyal to Kevin Dixon and made him Chairman of both Racing Queensland and QACRIB, which, considering the mixed make-up of that overseeing body, presents very little prospect of a conflict of interest as some are suggesting.
Michael Byrne QC is a popular choice as Chairman of Greyhound Racing Queensland being a highly respected lawyer who knows the three codes of racing well. Brad Steele may have been an appointment from left field as Harness Racing Queensland Chairman but is hardly an unknown, having chaired the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club before taking up an appointment as General Manager of Suncorp in North Queensland.
One could argue that what is missing from any of the Boards is a female. Many believe that Mary Collyer, the former Brisbane Turf Club Chairman who now works as a breakfast radio personality, had the background and expertise but perhaps she wasn’t a nominee. In the eyes of some she would have been an ideal choice for the Greyhound Board because of her background in that industry.
The new Boards now face the unenviable task of rebuilding an industry that desperately needs a boost in prizemoney, integrity and decision making. A good place to start would be the appointment of a high profile CEO and a sub-committee prepared to fight hard for a better TAB deal than the awful one that has seen racing in Queensland fall further behind the southern states.
The Government, in conjunction with newly-announced Integrity Commissioner Jim O’Sullivan, needs to move quickly to re-establish an Integrity Department that is not only respected but feared and this body must now be removed from any involvement with the domestic arm of RQ as was ordered by two racing inquiries.
TWITTER RESPONSES TO RETIREMENT OF BLACK CAVIAR WARRANTS REPRODUCING
THE magnificent win by Queenslander Adam Scott in the US Masters Golf paled into insignificance compared to the response on Twitter to the Black Caviar retirement news.
Here are but a few of the literally hundreds of ‘tweets’ concerning the mighty mare:
‘THE Melbourne Cup may be a race that stops a nation but Black Caviar is a horse that gave the world a tremendous thrill.’
‘I reckon some room should be made for you at Madame Tussauds – your wax likeness would be the best exhibit ever.’
‘As phenomenal as Black Caviar was, let’s also acknowledge how amazing Peter Moody was with his openness, availability and humbleness.’
‘How can we honor this champion mare – a public holiday on 18 August – her actual birthday?’
‘I tried to explain to my two grandchildren – both four – that Black Caviar won’t be at the races any more. It was like telling them that Santa has been cancelled.’
‘It would have been like killing Bambi if we went too far’ – Part-owner Pam Hawkes on the thought of Black Caviar being beaten after 25 straight wins.
‘NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said to be distraught on hearing the news that his dream (of Black Caviar being beaten) will never come true.’
‘FOR SALE – tickets to BTC Cup day going cheap – as is a 38R suit (salmon with black polka dots).’
‘BLACK Caviar reminded us of the joy of racing detached from the need to bet.’
A STUDY THAT COMPARES SAFETY OF SYNTHETIC TRACKS TO TURF ONES
RACING Victoria’s Equine Welfare & Veterinary Department has released the findings of a study into the state’s sole synthetic racetrack at Geelong.
The study was commissioned to consider the safety of synthetic racing in comparison to turf racing, giving consideration to a change in Geelong’s synthetic surface during the 2009-10 racing season.
The release of the findings comes after Geelong hosted its 100th meeting earlier this month on the Pro-Ride synthetic surface which replaced the original Thoroughtrack synthetic surface.
The study considered all 10,246 starters at the synthetic track from its commencement in the 2006-07 racing season through until the completion of the 2011-12 season. It combined statistical analysis with quantitative trainer research and found:
That there has been a 57% reduction in the fatality rate at Geelong Synthetic since the changeover from Thoroughtrack to the Pro-Ride surface in 2009-10 season;
· The Pro-Ride surface provides an equally safe surface to Victoria’s turf tracks;
· That the overall risk of fatality in flat racing in Victoria – synthetic and turf racing combined – is half that of the UK and on average a third of that in North America;
· That there was no evidence to support anecdotal reports of high injury rates, especially to soft tissue structure, and unusual or unique bone fractures when racing on the current synthetic surface;
· That an increased incidence of post-race coughing has been observed on occasions when there has been excessive kick back from the surface, however there is no evidence that the coughing causes anything more than a very temporary irritation;
· That some trainers reported an increased incidence of jarring up the next day when racing on the synthetic surface compared to turf tracks;
· That the majority of trainers support racing on synthetic tracks and view it as an important industry asset for the winter months.
NOW TO THE BAD NEWS
ONLY ANOTHER RACING INQUIRY WILL REVEAL WHAT’S BURIED UNDER THE CAR PARK
A couple of angry e-mailers went into bat for the former long-running Chairman of the Toowoomba Turf Club, Neville Stewart, who is at the centre of allegations that he had a driveway laid at his stud using materials meant for a new car park at Clifford Park.
Mr Stewart has strenuously denied the allegations but the matter is likely to be raised during another Racing Inquiry, this one to be set up by the LNP Government into contracts and other issues involving the Bob Bentley Board just before and soon after Labor lost power.
We are not prepared to run the e-mails supporting Mr Stewart, not because we don’t believe they are a valid defense of an official who contributed decades to improving racing on the Downs, but they make accusations and name another official claiming he is behind the latest allegations.
In view of the seriousness of the situation, perhaps the Attorney-General should reveal, under Parliamentary privilege, if there was a ‘whistle-blower’ or name the source of the information that led to the investigation into Mr Stewart.
Only then will the claims by Stewart supporters that certain officials are using ‘mates of mates to create a political witch-hunt’ be silenced.
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE is the story by MICHAEL McKENNA in THE AUSTRALIAN that has caused another political war in Downs racing:
A HIGH-profile racing identity is facing allegations he had a driveway laid at his stud using materials meant for a new car park at the Toowoomba Turf Club.
A forensic audit of the former Bligh government’s planned $158 million upgrade of regional racetracks, in which almost all contracts were awarded without tender by the former Labor-aligned Racing Queensland board, has recommended an investigation into alleged overcharging for the car park and claims some asphalt was used by then turf club chairman Neville Stewart on his Darling Downs property, west of Brisbane.
Mr Stewart, a veteran stud owner and former Liberal Party state vice-president, yesterday dismissed the allegations.
He said he was not involved in negotiations for the construction of the car park and had never used contractor Contour Consulting Engineers — at the centre of a widening probe into Racing Queensland’s capital works program — in any work at his home or stud.
The allegations emerged as Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie confirmed he will today seek cabinet approval for a parliamentary committee into the awarding of the Racing Queensland contracts, between 2007 and last year.
On Saturday The Weekend Australian revealed the findings of the audit report — which recommended an investigation into the contracts by the Crime and Misconduct Commission, and how the Bligh government approved more than $20 million in payments for the works in the days before it lost power, in March last year.
Mr Bleijie said he would seek approval for the inquiry to have the power to impel witnesses to appear and believed deputy opposition leader and former racing minister Tim Mulherin and union heavyweight and former Racing Queensland board member Bill Ludwig should give evidence.
He said yesterday the inquiry needed to investigate who approved the payments and if it went through cabinet.
Mr Stewart, who has long maintained close ties with Labor politicians despite being a Liberal official, was chairman of the Towoomba Turf Club when its grass track was replaced with a cushion track as part of the statewide capital works program.
The construction of the new car park was paid for by the Toowoomba Turf Club and carried out as the cushion track neared completion in 2009.
The audit, by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, has raised questions about its $483,000 cost after the new turf club board received a quote of $200,000 for a planned second car park, which was reportedly half the size.
The auditor said there was no evidence of any tendering process for the car park.
Mr Stewart said he had almost no involvement in the commissioning of the car park, as the decision was made while he was on compassionate leave after the death of his son.
“It is an outrageous allegation,” he said.
“Any of the work that I have done on my property has not involved Contour, and I had nothing to do with the negotiations or contracts with them.”
While the audit focuses on Contour — appointed to co-ordinate and/or design $158m in works, of which $60m was completed before the Newman government froze the program — the report also criticises Racing Queensland’s dealings with other contractors between 2007 and last year.
PROPOSED MANDATORY RACING CONTRACT HAS SOME OWNERS CONCERNED
QUEENSLAND Racehorse Owners’ Association President Kerrina King has held an urgent meeting with Racing Queensland Chairman Kevin Dixon to discuss the proposed mandatory racing contract between trainers and owners announced by the ATA in the April Racing Queensland Magazine.
"An issue as important as this one needs full stakeholder cooperation and collaboration. QROA has made it clear to Mr Dixon that there needs to be improvements in conditions for owners before owners are willing to be a party to this important change," Ms King said.
At the QROA meeting with RQL Mr Dixon was in agreement that owners need to benefit from the proposed owner/trainer contract. Mr Dixon and the RQL legal team will be using the QROA owner/trainer contract written specifically for QROA by V. Pennisi and Associates Solicitors as a precedent for writing the new mandatory contract.
"Kevin Dixon was amenable to substantial input from QROA into the new contract and this is a good outcome for owners." Ms King said.
"It would be fair and balanced to ensure that the owner/trainer contract includes an obligation by trainers to (a) report to and keep owners informed as to the program for, and status of their horses and (b) be reasonably available to speak and communicate with owners amongst other provisions designed to improve conditions for owners," Ms King said.
"Owners in Queensland are under enough pressure and many have already voted with their feet and moved their horses south. Racing in Queensland can ill afford to cause any more to leave. Owners conditions must be improved along with any improvement for trainers," Ms King said.
QROA will be staging a free industry event to bring together stakeholder groups to discuss owner/trainer contracts with RQL representatives.
This event will include a light lunch and drinks and will take place at Doomben's Chief De Beers Room 12.00 to 2.00pm Friday 14 June. Kevin Dixon will be attending. To attend this event register your RSVP at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
EARLIER STRADBROKE WEIGHTS WOULD DELIVER STRONGER BETTING INTEREST
WE received an interesting email from a highly respected racing man concerning early betting, or lack of, on Queensland’s biggest race, the Stradbroke Handicap.
As he pointed out weights for the Stradbroke, to be run on June 8, are not declared until Monday May 27, two days after the WFA Doomben 10,000 - which is unbelievable.
This means that if punters are lucky they might see a Stradbroke market framed by the TABs and Corporate Bookmakers 24 hours later.
Our e-mailer posed this question: ‘Does Racing Queensland realize that this is 2013?
‘Punters want to have win and place, and/or doubles on the Stradbroke into the Derb,y the J J Atkins (formerly T J Smith) or Brisbane Cup.’
‘But that’s another story with the closing date of Brisbane Cup entries not until Monday June 3, which just is ‘another joke’.
“If RQ really wants to promote their Stradbroke day, then they need to bring forward entry dates. Then the punters will invest big time. And we all know what that means – more media coverage of these major races.
“The Group 1 Doncaster weights are declared 47 days before the actual race which gives maximum media exposure plus the fact that TABs and Corporates frame an early market which assists punters in early Win bets and feature doubles.
"So why does the BRC not release Group 1 Stradbroke weights until 11 days prior? It seems archaic.”
HAPPY VALLEY WORK CLOSURE WILL COST HKJC MILLIONS IN TURNOVER
BETTING on horse racing in Hong Kong will more than likely take a major hit next year when Happy Valley Race Course closes in order to renovate its racing surface and drainage system.
According to the Racing Post, up to 10 race meetings are scheduled to be transferred from Happy Valley to Sha Tin.
Hong Kong Jockey Club officials say betting at Happy Valley regularly exceeds HK$1 billion, while similar meetings at Sha Tin bring in around HK$60 million less.
The renovation project will replace three areas of the Happy Valley surface and is due to start in April 2014. Although some of the construction will take place during the two-month off-season, the track is scheduled to be out of action until mid-October.
“I don’t think it will be excessive, but I think there will be a slight reduction in turnover. The occasional dirt meeting can hold its own, but a constant diet of dirt races on Wednesday nights, we haven’t experienced that in Hong Kong – at least not for some time,” HKJC director of racing Bill Nader said.
AND FINALLY TO THE UGLY NEWS
IMAGINE IF RV HAD ADOPTED THE RQ APPROACH ON MEDIA EMBARGOES AND EXCLUSIVES
ATTENTION KEVIN DIXON - Chairman for everything in racing in Queensland: Did you notice how they handled the major announcement in Victoria when it came to the retirement of Black Caviar?
There were no embargoes to favor media mates. It was a level playing field designed to give everyone – from the radio and television networks to the newspapers and internet providers – a fair go.
In this day and age – with twitter, internet, live crosses etc – the print editions of newspapers will never be competitive.
It is impossible to make media releases designed exclusively to suit their first editions – that is why they have major websites enabling the likes of News Ltd and Fairfax to compete and ensure their followers and readers are kept up-to-date 24 hours a day.
Television, radio and website coverage will never compete with feature articles in the newspapers which are what that section of the media should now be specializing in rather than breaking news.
Can you imagine if Racing Victoria had adopted the common stance of the Interim RQ Board, led by Chairman Kevin Dixon, and placed an 11pm embargo on the announcement of the retirement of Black Caviar?
All hell would have broken loose in the media.
Such was the importance of the story that it made not one iota of difference to the coverage attracted when the newspapers hit the streets over 12 hours after the retirement had been confirmed.
Some officials are so far behind the times in Queensland that they even place embargoes on stories of insignificant value to most news services. But to totally ignore others – like the wonderful website justracing – is not only disgraceful but disrespectful to owner-editor Phil Purser, who pioneered racing coverage on the web and has provided a terrific service for years.
The increase in first prizemoney for the Stradbroke Handicap and Hollindale Stakes is good news but not important enough to warrant embargoes. In fact this is the sort of thing they should have been shouting from the roof-tops of racing from every media outlet possible.
For the Government and the Racing Minister to leak the much-awaited and long overdue announcement of the new Boards to The Courier-Mail the previous day and then send a Media Release to the rest (or some of them) early the following morning displayed blatant favoritism.
The lack of a level playing field for the media in racing in Queensland harks back to the time when the Queensland Turf Club ran hand-in-hand with Courier-Mail Racing Editor Bart Sinclair who was regarded more as their communications manager than the protector of stakeholders and the racing public which is supposedly the job of a racing journalist.
That practice has continued right through until his recent retirement. Only one side of the political bun fight was presented most of the time in The Courier-Mail. Those with a differing opinion to the officials that Sinclair supported struggled to get their story across.
He may have retired but many believe the Sinclair influence on media favoritism in racing has continued through his close association with Kevin Dixon (they race a horse together) and is the reason behind the attitude that sees the majority of the media treated like second rate citizens by officialdom at RQ.
This is one area that the new Boards of racing in Queensland need to address. Favoritism to sections of the racing media that write nice stories about you and never criticize simply lacks ethics and credibility. Denying those a fair go because they dare to question the job you do smacks of insecurity.
A classic example is the editorial in The Courier-Mail on Tuesday where once again their ‘love affair’ with the new White Knight of racing in Queensland continued. One could argue that their comments are quid pro quo.
They get the protective embargoes or exclusives on Media Release of importance concerning racing in Queensland and in return the CM Editorial comments:
‘The Government has made promising steps and the appointment of highly respected businessman Kevin Dixon as chairman of the new body was astute. Mr Dixon’s common-sense decision-making has been welcomed in many parts of the industry.’
Here’s hoping that times change for the better and a more level playing field exists where the media is concerned now that we have a new powerful Board running RQ which is not made up entirely of Dixon ‘yes men.’
Well that’s a matter of opinion. There are many in racing – including high profile officials – who believe the Dixon-led Interim Board over-stepped its mark in making decisions that should have been stood over until the permanent Boards were in place. It will be interesting to see if some of these are revisited.
Not that it will make any difference to the coverage of racing where this website is concerned. We will continue to criticize and ask the tough questions regardless of who is running the show.’ – John Lingard, Editor/Owner of letsghorseracing.
CON AND TONY KARAKATSANIS LOOSE APPEALS AGAINST ‘TUBING’ CONVICTIONS
THE Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has dismissed appeals lodged by Sydney trainer Con Karakatsanis and his father and stable employee, Tony Karakatsanis, against convictions for charges which emanated from a raceday stable inspection by Racing Victoria stewards during the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival.
VCAT upheld the January 2013 decision of the Racing Appeals & Disciplinary Board that found the father and son guilty of conspiring and intending to stomach-tube Howmuchdoyoulove prior to competing in the Group 2 Yellowglen Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on 3 November 2012.
In delivering his verdict in writing, his Honour Senior Sessional Member John Nixon decided that he was comfortably satisfied that Con and Tony Karakatsanis intended to tube the horse prior to the race on race day and thus the appeals against conviction were dismissed.
Con Karakatsanis, who has been permitted to train on a stay of proceedings from VCAT, was disqualified for a period of nine months by the RAD Board and Tony Karakatsanis for a period of two years.
The Karakatsanis’ also filed appeals against penalty. Those appeals will now be heard by VCAT on a date to be fixed.
SHOULD THE FUEDDING SISTER JOCKEYS BE SEPARATED FOR SAFETY’S SAKE?
WE received several e-mails asking how Racing Victoria stewards were planning to overcome this ugly situation that has arisen between Nikita McLean and her sister, Jackie Beriman.
There are some in the industry that fear this family feud between these female jockeys could spread to the track despite assurances from Nikita that she would never try to harm Jackie during a race.
Well the matter is currently out of the stewards’ hands. They suspended Nikita McLean for five months which some felt was rather harsh but her record didn’t help. It is now up to the RAD Tribunal to decide whether she gets a stay of proceedings and eventually whether the penalty is overturned or varied on appeal.
A stay of proceedings for Nikita could see the two sisters compete on their home turf in the up-coming Warrnambool Carnival which would present an interesting situation.
Perhaps the time has come for dad to again intervene as he did when the problem originally arose and Jackie spent a stint riding in Sydney for the Gai Waterhouse stable. Certainly, in the interests of all concerned, including the two sisters, a trial separation seems an appropriate answer.
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE is a story from the SUN-HERALD written on the eve of Jackie riding in Sydney last Saturday and following the completion of the RVL Stewards’ Inquiry into the altercation between the sisters at Hamilton races.
BELEAGUERED jockey Jackie Beriman heads to Sydney today (Saturday) with the unconditional support of top trainer Mick Kent.
Beriman, described on Thursday by her sister Nikita McLean as a manipulative liar who had ruined McLean's marriage, rides Kent's Sydney Cup aspirant Vittoria in the first race at Randwick (it failed in the heavy ground).
Almost every woman jockey in Victoria appears to have turned on Beriman, whose bags were thrown from a female jockeys' room by her colleagues recently.
Kent said he could not care less about Beriman's domestic dramas, nor her relationship with other jockeys.
"Why should anyone else get involved in that sort of stuff?" Kent said.
"For me, she's always been a pleasure to deal with. She rides well, she's a great judge of pace, she's great."
Beriman makes her hit-and-run visit to Sydney as racing administrators in Melbourne ponder what one described yesterday as the most unusual situation he had encountered in the sport.
McLean has been suspended for five months for assaulting Beriman at the Hamilton races last Sunday.
Supported at the inquiry by riders Michelle Payne and Holly McKechnie, McLean reminded stewards that a number of female jockeys had complained to them about Beriman.
McLean said an incident in a recent race, when Beriman was elbowed by another rider, was not accidental. Another female jockey said Beriman was despised by other riders.
Racing Victoria chief executive Bernard Saundry said the sisters, and McLean's estranged husband, jumps jockey Brad McLean, had been involved in an RVL welfare program since their domestic situation turned sour about eight months ago.
Saundry said he could not reveal the nature of the program "for privacy reasons". He described the Hamilton incident as "utterly unacceptable".
Others have wondered if the spat might have an impact on race safety if the sisters rode in the same race, although McLean insisted she "would never do anything (to Beriman) on the back of a horse".
McLean revealed this week she had sought counselling since Beriman's alleged affair with her husband.
INQUIRY NEEDED BUT DON’T IGNORE WHAT IS HAPPENING ON RACE DAYS
AN interesting e-mail arrived after The Courier-Mail called for the Newman Government to open an inquiry into the administration of the Bob Bentley Board specifically relating to the granting of tenders without going through the proper process and the ‘golden handshakes’ to loyal servants worth close to $2 million.
Not that we often agree with the major Brisbane daily on matters of racing politics but on this one we totally endorse their call providing that the cost of the inquiry is footed by Government and not the racing industry.
Our e-mailer was more concerned about what another Racing Inquiry would do to the image of racing that has already taken a battering in Queensland but did take the CM to task over the final comment made in their Editorial on Tuesday that: “It would be ideal if racing talk became about the on-course action, not off-course controversies.”
What he wrote was this:
"Much of the problem with the image of racing in Queensland is linked to on and off the track activity. As a person very much involved in the day to day activities of the industry I can assure you that horses are being ‘tubed’ on a regular basis and this is not being detected in the testing.
"While stewards are busy raiding the training premises of no-name or battling trainers perhaps they should look right under their own noses or to the west of Brisbane where the real action is taking place – some on race days and the rest in a least suspected – but very well known – facility.
It’s food for thought for the new Racing Integrity Commission who hopefully will soon have a Compliance Squad on the ground made up of former police with a knowledge of racing and stewards expert in their field who are prepared to raid any premises regardless of who the trainers are. The problem of course is finding the right personnel to do the job.”
COULD THIS BE THE START OF ANOTHER ‘CAFFEINE CRISIS’ IN QUEENSLAND RACING?
THE alarm bells are ringing in the training ranks of racing in Queensland with mystery surrounding a spate of positive swabs to the drug Prednisone.
TERRY BUTTS reported in his SILKS & SADDLES column that, in the light of the positives, a leading veterinary surgeon wants an urgent review of swab testing procedures in Queensland.
Five positive swabs - from Brisbane to Townsville and other major centres – have been detected in recent months and all trainers involved have claimed they have not used the drug in any shape or form.
Dr David Lemon, one of the state’s best known and respected equine veterinarians, said it was ‘bizarre that there are so many positives to the same drug.’
“You have to start thinking there is something wrong somewhere,” he said.
There is no point complaining to the stewards or RQ about the situation – all they can do is recognize the positives returned from the laboratory and act on them.
But it would be a good launching pad for the new Integrity Commissioner to order an investigation. There are too many trainers from too many different places pleading ignorance for it to be more than a coincidence.
Remember the caffeine crisis that brought the Queensland racing industry to its knees some decades ago only for the cause to be finally detected in the swabbing sticks?
Now here are the e-mail contributions in full that we have elected to publish this week with apologies to those who missed out:
EDITED RESPONSES FROM OUR READERS ON THE NEW RQ CONTROL BODIES
AS promised here are some of the comments from readers concerning the appointment of the new Boards of the three codes of racing in Queensland. In some cases these have been edited for legal reasons:
AE of GOLD COAST wrote: ‘I had to laugh when I read the Racing Minister’s comment that the new governance structure would see the sector led by their best and brightest members.’
The question I would like to ask Steve Dickson is this: ‘Under what category does (appointment to minor code, name with-held for legal reasons) fit? He certainly isn’t the best nor could anyone in their wildest dreams suggest he is the brightest.’
JW of BRISBANE: ‘Is there not a major conflict of interest in the appointment of Kevin Dixon as both Chairman of Racing Queensland and Chairman of the Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board?
Surely he and his supporters didn’t believe he would get two votes to give him even more control on the All Codes Board?
‘I support my conflict of interest concerns with the unbelievable financial support afforded to the Brisbane Racing Club, of which Mr Dixon was Chairman, from the time he became Interim boss of RQ.’
WS of BRISBANE: ‘Perhaps the inclusion of country representatives on the Board, especially Barry Taylor, will now silence the criticism and battle that you have been mounting on your website and in association with Terry Butts.’
MF of BRISBANE: ‘Kevin Dixon is the best man for the job as chairman of RQ and QACRIB whether some of the website editors in Queensland like him or not. He is an astute businessman, refuses to embroil himself in controversies and makes decisions that are in the best interests of all concerned in the industry – unlike his predecessor Bob Bentley.’
AW of GOLD COAST: ‘Now that we have these new Boards ready to step into action the first thing they need to do is get a decent CEO to run the racing industry in Queensland. And by that I don’t mean a former steward which seems to be the preferred choice when it comes to RQ these days.’
BN of SUNSHINE COAST: ‘The Racing Minister claims that the new boards have been appointed in stark contrast to the past and that the selection process was transparent and at arm’s length from Government.
‘Who’s he kidding? Even the blind man on the racecourse gate with the Labrador knows that Kevin Dixon was a politically motivated choice. And how about revealing what went on behind the scenes with the harness racing appointments and if there was any political interference there?’
PW of TOWNSVILLE: ‘It seems the Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming but thanks to the Independent Selection Panel the country will have a worthy voice on the new racing boards.
‘It was looking pretty grim for a long time, especially with the prospect of Kevin Dixon and his cronies from the south-east corner running the show. Just look at how the Interim Board has treated Toowoomba compared to much more successful TAB venues in country Queensland like Townsville.’
PE from the DARLING DOWNS: ‘Here’s hoping the over-seeing Board to run the three codes will dispense with this nonsense of favoritism in racing in Queensland. Toowoomba is getting far too much start.
What a nonsense it was running the Weetwood on a Saturday night instead of its traditional Thursday show holiday time-slot. The turnover in comparison was dreadful – that’s why the TAB didn’t want to reveal the figures when your website asked. They didn’t want to embarrass RQ, especially the chairman, who cannot handle criticism.
The Weetwood turnover, I am reliably informed was around $700,000 on the Saturday night (when they could have raced in the afternoon and arguably held double that amount) compared to $1.1 million when the meeting was run on a Thursday last year. Much has been made of the crowd. It would be interesting to hear the audited gate receipts.
AND finally, DB of ROCKHAMPTON: ‘THERE is now some light at the end of the tunnel for stake-holders in country Queensland. The appointment of individuals like Barry Taylor will hopefully break the metropolitan monopoly and the domination of one man on racing.
‘In Central Queensland we have the biggest Trainers’ Association in the state which is largely ignored in favor of the Brisbane branch of the ATA allegedly because they have played the political game better than we have.’
THREE YEARS CAN BE A LONG TIME IN RACING – JUST ASK CHIEF STEWARD TERRY BAILEY
‘THOSE of us who are great fans of Racing Victoria Chief Steward Terry Bailey have not forgotten the time – in early 2010 – when he returned from a fact-finding overseas trip and made a few observations which saw him castigated by the Melbourne racing media.
Here’s part of what Patrick Bartley of the Melbourne Age wrote at the time:
REVELATIONS from Racing Victoria Limited chief steward Terry Bailey this week of how to change racing in this state have managed, in just three days, to disenfranchise trainers and a large proportion of owners.
Melbourne Cup lockdowns, the need for vast amounts of money to be spent on drug testing, and claims that if a core of leading trainers accept radical change ''the rest'' will follow is just a sample of what Bailey proposes.
However, the question that has puzzled those in the corridors of power, owners, trainers and the industry at large is, as chief steward is Bailey a policy maker or a policy enforcer?
Is he, a paid servant of Racing Victoria, to be a steward or does his role overlap into the realms of a decision maker that has the same clout as a chief executive, or even the legal general counsel?
Stakeholders say the ''ideas'' Bailey has conjured on his recent world trip are largely unmanageable, unworkable and fiscally impossible. His most controversial suggestion was to lock down the 24 starters in the Melbourne Cup in one stable, outside of Melbourne, 24 hours before the race.
The howls of disapproval stretched from Bart Cummings' Sydney office to trainers in the south island of New Zealand.
Bailey is a disciple of former Sydney and Hong Kong chief steward John Schreck. In fact, many believe Bailey is cut from the same cloth. Schreck was known for going on the front foot and embracing newspaper headlines when controversy struck. He was also known both in Melbourne and Sydney for giving private briefings to newspaper men in coffee shops in both states. But this week Bailey has clearly indicated that the position of chief steward has changed.
There is no doubt that racing is an international sport and participants from all around the world can and do learn from each other but, clearly, practices in some parts of the world may have no application in other areas, and the suggestion that feature-race runners could be locked down for 24 hours before a race would appear to fall into this category.
One of the unique aspects of Australian racing is its different training environments, from the standard stable to open yards and even paddocks. Given that horses are creatures of habit, changes or disruption to routine have, in the short term, the potential to cause significant angst. But there may be people who would question the extent of any detrimental effect such a process would have on a fit equine athlete in such a short space of time.
To the suggestion that "if we get the likes of David Hayes, Lee Freedman and Mick Price on board, the others should follow", are we to assume that unless you have a big team and sit at or near the top of the premiership table your opinion will be viewed as fairly insignificant and you will be swept along with your better known peers? Bailey hasn't enjoyed the best of years. He was wounded by RVL's ruling that two-year-olds do not have to trial in public. Much of that decision was based purely on economics and RVL's realisation that Victorian racing isn't shaped like Hong Kong or Sydney.
Bailey's call for a dramatically increased budget for drug testing has baffled many in the game. Leading vets from all over Victoria have urged RVL to instead increase confidence in explaining testing protocols.
How Times Change - Only three years down the track and Racing Victoria is spending a massive amount of money on drug detection and is leading the way in Australia in boosting its integrity strength.
Some of the ideas that Bailey simply put forward for discussion and was castigated for have been implemented and interestingly the following story appeared recently in the New York Times and International Herald Tribune, written by Joe Drape, which I hope you will allow me the indulgence of reproducing. It reads:
THE 72 hours before the Kentucky Derby traditionally have been filled with steam, as it is known in racetrack parlance - rumors about which horse is due for a big race and which veterinarians are working overtime to get their horses to the gate. But for the first time in the 139 years of the race, the authorities this year will know precisely who is going into which barn in the hours leading up to the race and for what reason.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will have 24-hour surveillance on the 20 Derby horses and require their trainers, veterinarians and staff to log in and log out. Syringes will be collected, and expanded drug testing will be in place.
John Ward, executive director of the Kentucky commission, said the measures were meant to restore public confidence in a sport trying to change a drug culture that he and other officials concede has damaged its popularity.
"We're trying to have everything bulletproof," said Ward, who trained the 2001 Derby champion, Monarchos. "We want people to understand that we are doing everything we can to be transparent and present a clean and safely run race to a casual fan who tunes in for the spectacle, as well as our betting customers."
Last week, the Santa Anita Derby announced plans for stepped-up surveillance and expanded security for the first time after the owner of a horse in the race asked for it and picked up the bill.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is trying to be pre-emptive as well. Rudy Rodriguez, the trainer of the Derby contender Vyjack, has been ordered to appear before the commission on Tuesday to explain why he should be given a training license. Last month, Rodriguez served a 20-day suspension and paid $7,500 in fines in New York, after having two positive tests for the anti-inflammatory flunixin. Another of his horses also recently tested positive tested for the drug.
Last year, the Derby victory and Triple Crown run of I'll Have Another was partly eclipsed by publicity surrounding the long history of doping violations by the colt's trainer, Doug O'Neill. On Wednesday, California authorities said they were investigating the sudden deaths of seemingly healthy racehorses - 17 so far this year. The three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert has had seven horses die suddenly in the last 16 months, necropsies revealed.
Thoroughbreds rarely drop dead suddenly. A 2010 study in The Equine Veterinary Journal found that sudden death occurred in 9 percent of fatalities in California. In New York over the past 16 months, eight thoroughbreds have died suddenly, according to state records. Baffert issued a statement Friday calling the horses' deaths "personally troubling and of great sadness to me."
"I am working with everyone, including the California Horse Racing Board, my veterinarians and staff at the tracks, to find causes for the unexplained deaths," he said.
Both O'Neill and Baffert are expected to have horses in the Derby starting gate on May 4. O'Neill saddles the Santa Anita Derby champion Goldencents, and Baffert will try to win his fourth Derby with Govenor Charlie.
The new security measures are not popular among trainers. Last year at the Belmont Stakes, where a detention barn was created after 21 fatal breakdowns during the 2011-12 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, some of the most prominent trainers in the sport, including Baffert and Dale Romans, complained that their horses' routines were disrupted and that the surveillance was unnecessary.
On the eve of the Belmont and I'll Have Another's bid to become the 12th Triple Crown champion, O'Neill scratched the colt after he suffered what the trainer called a freakish injury to his left front tendon. Veterinary records, however, showed he had physical ailments before he was withdrawn and was treated with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs as the race approached.
For the Travers Stakes last year and the Wood Memorial last week, New York authorities also put the horses under 72-hour scrutiny but let them stay in their own barns. That policy will stay in place and perhaps expand, especially in light of a New York State task force's finding that more than half of the 21 racehorses that had fatal breakdowns at Aqueduct could have been saved. The task force said racing authorities should have monitored more closely the horses' health and the liberal use of prescription drugs to keep them racing.
"Increased security in the barn area, through surveillance cameras or any other means, is always a good thing," said Ogden Mills Phipps, who, with Stuart S. Janney III, owns Orb, a Derby favorite. "We welcome anything that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission or Churchill Downs puts into effect in the area of security for the Kentucky Derby."
The commission, which is working closely with Churchill Downs and local law enforcement, will make surveillance cameras available to individual owners who request them. Ward said that investigators had explored the technology and that they consider it "the wave of the future." He said, however, that he was uncertain if he could get it approved and in place for this Derby.
It will be up to the racing commissioners whether Rodriguez receives a license in Kentucky. Rodriguez is a former assistant to Rick Dutrow, who won the 2008 Kentucky Derby with Big Brown but is currently barred for 10 years by New York for a substantial list of drug violations.
"I'm going to the hearing and will see what happens," Rodriguez said. "I'm just paying attention to my horses now. I don't have a problem with extra security of any kind."
James Gagliano, president of the Jockey Club, cited the stricter medication regulation and the commitment to well-financed and more efficient drug-testing laboratories that were recently adopted by eight states in the East and mid-Atlantic region as signs of change.
"Backstretch security is a vital component in the thoroughbred industry's multipronged effort to preserve the integrity of competition," Gagliano said. "We must always protect the rights of our horsemen and our fans, and we must do so in a transparent manner."
Thanks for your indulgence and food for much thought in racing don’t you think?’ – Mike Giddins, Melbourne.
EDITOR’S NOTE: PATRICK Bartley is a highly respected, professional racing writer and was, at the time, echoing the sentiments and quoting the reaction of many others to what Terry Bailey had to say. Back then Bailey was still seen as an interloper to racing in Victoria – an outsider who had come in from Queensland and a stint in harness racing – with ideas and an approach far different to the comfort zone that stakeholders and licensees had become accustomed to under his predecessor. I am sure that even Bartley now largely supports the job that Bailey has done – on many occasions in trying circumstances, a la the Danny Nikolic controversy. Sometimes ideas that are ahead of their time are howled done by the traditionalists but eventually embraced by new officialdom as has been the case in Victoria. What’s wrong with having horses under surveillance for up to 48 hours before major races? I understand that in Japan they even have restrictions on the movement and contacts that jockeys can make from the Friday leading into big weekend races. Racing Victoria has had security surveillance on top contenders for big races for some time. The day it happens in Queensland – where some would suggest it should occur every week of the year – Francesca Cumani will phone up and ask me for a date.
BOOKIES WERE PLEASED TO SEE HER GO BUT NOT SO THE PROFESSIONAL PUNTERS
IF there was a downside to the Black Caviar story it had to be the corporate bookies who were pleased to see her retirement after suffering at the hands of the big professional punters who never lost on her.
IF you placed a $1 bet on Black Caviar to win her first race and rolled the winnings into every one of her career races you would have collected all of just $337 such was the dominance of the champion mare.
Online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au compiled a list of interesting betting statistics following her retirement.
· Biggest bets placed on Black Caviar with sportsbet.com.au - $1.65million, 2 x $1million, 5 x $500,000 and 4 x $300,000
· The smallest single bet placed Black Caviar with sportsbet.com.au – 5 cents at $1.05
· The 2013 William Reid Stakes was the race punters wagered the most money on the champion mare
· The 2010 Patinack Farm, the race she ran down Hay List, was the race that punters won the most from sportsbet.com.au on BC and also was the race with the best backed runner (Hay List)to beat her
· Victorian punters collected the most winnings from Black Caviar
· Black Caviar paid $3.00 with sportsbet.com.au when winning her first career race
· One sportsbet.com.au punter placed a ‘speed machine’ megabet, wagering $120,000 on Black Caviar to win the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot into Usain Bolt winning the men’s 100m final at the London Olympics at $2.00 for a cool $240,000 collect
Black Caviar winning dividends with sportsbet.com.au over her illustrious career ranged from the highest of $3 (the only time she started at black figures) on debut in a Two-Year-Old at Flemington to several times that she started at $1.05, the latest in the recent William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.
PROLIFIC PUNTER BROKE INTO TEARS WHEN HE HARD OF BLACK CAVIAR RETIREMENT
WE thought this was one of the best stories written following the retirement of BLACK CAVIAR and reproduce it courtesy of the SYDNEY TELEGRAPH:
HARRY Findlay - one of the most publicized and prolific punters in the world - has endless memories of Black Caviar, but his most vivid resides in a sweaty betting shop in Sri Lanka two years ago.
"She was racing at Moonee Valley, and I was in a betting shop in Colombo, and all the local guys from outside had come in to watch this horse - even the beggars," Findlay told The Daily Telegraph.
"I had $370,000 on her - about 75 per cent of my equity - but I knew she was about to absolutely shit in and I made everyone watch. That's one of my best memories of Black Caviar. That betting shop in Colombo. She was a punter's dream. I'll miss her."
Forget about Peter Moody and Luke Nolen and the doting owners and adoring public and the schoolkids resplendent in the salmon and black dots.
Spare a thought for the poor old short-priced professional punters who have made fortunes backing a horse that never lost. The ones who took $1.20 and $1.18 and even $1.06 and invested six figures - as much as half a million in Findlay's case - to make the bet worthwhile.
What about them?
When leading Sydney bookmaker Shane Filipek broke the news to Findlay on Wednesday, the colourful Englishman was stunned.
"He didn't believe me," Filipek laughed. "He was in shock."
Findlay understands the punt like few others.
He grew up in Brighton, a town on England's south coast, where the population of 100,000 shared four casinos, a racecourse and dog track.
Lifelong friends have known him to have nothing but lint in his pockets one day, then placing half a million on a horse the next.
But Findlay has never seen anything like Black Caviar, and the other unbeaten horse in his life, English champion Frankel.
"It just goes to show when you're a true punter and you really follow a horse, it's just like owning the horse anyway," Findlay says.
"It's no different. I remember being in the boardroom at Randwick where there's a picture of Ajax (Australia's champion horse from the 1930s). He won 18 straight and then got beaten at $1.02.
"They all got beat. All the superstars have been beaten. But for these two to come along when they have and to do what they've done is just amazing. Black Caviar and Frankel have been absolute friends to me."
Friends with benefits.
Findlay is reluctant to give up how much he's won on the pair, but he estimates about "a million pounds".
The first time he saw Black Caviar was just before her third start when he noticed how laid-back she was in the Moonee Valley mounting yard.
"And her big fat arse," he says. When he says fat, he means powerful.
"I was at her second ever race," he says. "I was behind the blackball at Moonee Valley, and I had a little bit more than I should've, but she was so impressive.
"When you get a fortune out of someone like a Tiger Woods or Roger Federer or Black Caviar, it gives you such an advantage from a punting point of view. You can afford to be brave. If I hadn't been there at Moonee Valley that night, who knows."
Filipek says there were plenty of punters who were prepared to wager large sums whenever Black Caviar was returning about $1.20, but they dropped off when the price fell below that.
Not Findlay.
He backed her every start, even when he knew the $1.17 she was fetching when she raced at Ascot in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes was far too short because of the enormity of the task.
He says on a handful of occasions, those bets were more than $500,000.
Did he ever feel the heat, the fear, that she would let him down at some stage?
"I can honestly say, with hand on my heart, I never once considered defeat for Black Caviar would be a possibility," he says.
"At the same time, I had a lot of bets on a horse called Big Buck's, who won me a lot of money over the hurdles. With Big Buck's, you could always imagine something going wrong. Not Black Caviar."
As a short-odds punter, you're always told 10-on or 6-on for a filly was risky. With Black Caviar, you never had to worry about that. She was bomb-proof."
So is Findlay filthy now that the guaranteed return is over?
"I'm gutted, but I'm not angry," he says.
"I don't want to say I'm a clever horse punter because I'm not. In my lifetime, I'm not in front."
Backing a horse that never lost? That sounds clever enough.
‘TALL TIMBERS’ TEND TO BE LOPPED DOWN WHEN THEY GROW TOO HIGH
‘AS an official of a TAB club a Media Release from RQ was forwarded to me during the week and arrived in my junk email box which is where it should have stayed.
It announced the appointment of a betting supervisor as thoroughbred racing manager. Perhaps the best credentials for a major administration job in racing in Queensland these days in to be a former steward.
At least we might now get a betting supervisor with some ‘teeth’ and if they promote his underling to the position then the industry has gone further down-hill than anyone would have ever anticipated.
Here’s hoping the bar that has been set for the appointment process at RQ is raised a lot higher when it comes to finding a suitable Chief Executive Officer.
And by the way what right has an Interim Board to make important appointments when they have finally got around to having the ‘real deal’ named.
It sounds awfully like certain people are being catapulted into certain executive positions because of their loyalty – sound familiar?’ – From my club’s point of view I would ask that you do not identify me but rest assured I will be making my thoughts known to some members of the new QACRIB.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: I would prefer not to comment on the above. I will leave that to our SPY IN THE DEAGON BUNKER who had this to say about the situation:
IT came as no great shock to most of us. The appointee has always played the ‘company’ line and got on well with most of the trumps including the despised ‘Orchardist.’ He was certainly a better choice than some of the other applicants.
You will no doubt have seen the Board appointments. Most of the controversy in here concerns the two minor codes.
There are strong rumors regarding a property developer and his dislike of a mooted appointment of a certain businessman. He disliked the situation so badly that the interviews were apparently redone.
And yet we have the Racing Minister (with the now recovered spine) crowing about how these appointments were at arm’s length from the Government. They may well have been, but they weren’t at arm’s length from the Government’s backers or those that this Government takes plenty of notice of.
Many in the Deagon bunker are hoping they get the ‘dish-lickers’ situation sorted out where one of the past employees of a major club is now being detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure after helping herself to a quarter of a million dollars of the club’s funds. How someone could help themselves to over $2,000 a week for two years has raised plenty of questions.
By the way it was no shock to see one prominent appointment to QACRIB. Around here he is known as the ‘Eclipse’ - never out of the chairman’s shadow. The Boards might have changed but ‘your SPY’ will be keeping in touch.
Another interesting situation has arisen in here where new and old RQ staff has been warned that anybody found leaking information to your website will be immediately sacked. Aren’t I glad my identity remains anonymous and that in any case I’ve got a good retirement package.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Someone who reckons this is a website not worth reading is certainly taking us rather seriously. Despite their attempts to silence us the hits just keep increasing, especially on a Wednesday, so we must be doing something right.
TIME TO DISPENSE WITH QCAT AS AN APPEALS TRIBUNAL FOR RACING?
‘FROM a racing perspective one can only hope that when the review of QCAT (the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal) is undertaken soon that the three codes of racing are removed from its jurisdiction.
Too many inexplicable decisions have been returned by QCAT for the industry to continue to accept a situation whereby the livelihood of racing folk can be determined by panelists who know plenty about the law but next to nothing about racing.
Admittedly, some who should never have beaten charges and penalties have benefited from this lack of intricate knowledge of the gallops, harness racing and greyhounds. But industry appeals should never have been heard by QCAT – it is a specialist field that requires a specialist panel.
After the announcement that the First Level Appeals panel at RQ has obviously been abandoned in favor of a Racing Disciplinary Board, headed by former Judge Bill Carter, perhaps needed change is in the air.
One would hope that those assisting Chairman Carter are lawyers with knowledge of racing and not former licensees or stewards, both of whom are seen to have too great a conflict of interest when it comes to the decision-making process.’ – Barry O’Hara, Brisbane.
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE’S an informative story on QCAT written by KAY DIBBEN in THE COURIER-MAIL:
THEY gather every weekday morning on the 10th floor of an inner-city building, waiting for Queensland's "super tribunal" to hear everything from tenancy disputes to tree, trader and building cases.
Clutching their documents, dozens of people nervously eye off opponents as they prepare to argue their cases, mostly without the help of lawyers.
Justice can be swift in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, where minor civil disputes make up the vast majority of almost 30,000 cases lodged each year.
Many disputes are heard, summed up and decided by members or adjudicators within 25 minutes.
"I've only ever seen that show Judge Judy a few times, but those minor civil dispute rooms remind me of Judge Judy," QCAT president Justice Alan Wilson says.
The tribunal deals with guardianship, anti-discrimination, building, children's matters, retail shop leases, neighbour disputes, disciplinary cases and its own internal appeals.
Wilson is in awe of the senior members, ordinary members, sessional members and adjudicators who efficiently deal with complex, often emotionally charged disputes that could tie up civil courts for days.
"On the 10th floor there are unhappy fishermen, unlicensed taxi drivers, unhappy tenants and landlords, allegedly misbehaving teachers. The whole of life is out there," he says.
Next month QCAT, set up just more than three years ago after 18 tribunals and 23 jurisdictions were merged, will receive its 100,000th application.
The independent tribunal, which is supposed to offer "accessible, fair, just, economical, informal and quick" hearings and decisions, is about to undergo a review of its Act and a radical change.
In a six-month trial, from June 30 legally trained Justices of the Peace, sitting with 30 non-legal JPs, will be paid just $100 a day each to decide non-urgent tenancy and minor civil disputes under the value of $5000.
QCAT's current 123 decision-makers include retired judges, a criminologist, a plumber, psychologists, social workers, teachers, vets, doctors and other medical professionals and 83 people with legal backgrounds. There are sessional members with backgrounds in economics, speech therapy, youth work, fishing and pharmacy. The 10 adjudicators handling most minor civil disputes are all lawyers.
Headed by Wilson, a former District Court judge, and deputy president Judge Alexander Horneman-Wrenn, the tribunal has four senior members with extensive court and tribunal experience. They are each paid $271,082 a year.
Ten members each receive $192,956, 10 adjudicators are paid $120,069 and 99 sessional members, who sit part-time around the state, receive from $453 to $759 for more than four hours' work a day.
"We get real people in here. That's the refreshing thing about QCAT," Wilson says.
He is used to being called everything from "youse" to "your majesty" by those who appear before him. "Some of them who've watched American television will say 'Youse, with respect'," he says with obvious delight.
There are cases about dodgy traders ripping off customers, guardianship for the aged, the conduct of doctors, lawyers and jockeys, bitter fights between caravan park residents, gun licences and menacing dogs.
Many are sorted out before hearings through mediation or compulsory conferences. Parties ask to be legally represented in only 4 per cent of cases.
Some cases spark plenty of emotion and repeated hearings and appeals, including one involving a complaint by French tenants that their rented Sunshine Coast pole house smelt of dog urine. The dispute escalated into a physical altercation in the corridors of the Brisbane tribunal, police were called to a real estate agency and the property, one of the tenants sought counselling and the stressed owner moved to Tasmania.
"The building jurisdiction generates enormous amounts of passion, heat, money and trouble," Wilson says.
QCAT now has a team of 16 arborists going to properties to sort out neighbours' tree disputes and Wilson would love to have a similar team of building experts.
His other dream is to have extra adjudicators "constantly circling like sheepdogs" outside the Brisbane hearing rooms, rounding up people who want a last chance to settle matters and avoid hearings.
"They're ripe, they're like low-hanging fruit for a mediator outside the hearing. They don't want to go in there," he says.
Guardianship matters represent the second highest number of tribunal applications, with 6420 lodged between July last year and February 28 and the numbers are expected to increase.
Almost half of the 10,270 minor civil dispute claims lodged last year were over private and public tenancy and real estate agents complain of their frustration at waiting weeks for hearings, while tenants' debts mount.
In April last year QCAT almost ran out of money to fund state-wide hearings by sessional members, until Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie injected an extra $150,000.
Wilson believes the tribunal could soon face the same funding problem, but he is confident QCAT will continue to handle the "tsunami" of cases in a quick and efficient way.
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.