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..
IT comes as no surprise that the John Singleton – Gai Waterhouse war of words dominated the e-mail box this week but there was plenty of comment as well on the Houdini performance by champion trainer Chris Waller with stewards blaming ‘contaminated feed’ for the champion trainer’s four positive swabs. There were a host of other issues from whether Australia should ban anabolic steroids to criticism of the appeal decision handed down in the family feud between jockey sisters, Nikita McLean and Jackie Beriman.
As usual we start the WEDNESDAY WHINGE with our popular feature: THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY SIDE OF RACING over the past week:
THIS week we have decided to work backwards and start this section with ‘THE UGLY’ news because that was what dominated the headlines.
Whether the hierarchy of Racing NSW likes the threat to their precious image or not, they can ill-afford to have the John Singleton – Waterhouse family saga swept under the carpet. That would do more harm than good.
HAVE THE SINGLETON CLAIMS NOSEDIVED WITH THE EMERGENCE OF ‘ROBBO’AS HIS MAIN INFORMANT?
PLEASE indulge us at letsgohorseracing as editor JOHN LINGARD provides his take on the ‘UGLY’ events of the week that was:
THERE are some important questions being asked and even more interesting answers being offered in the wake of the biggest blow-up in Australian racing in decades.
The parties involved in the John Singleton verses the Waterhouse family saga will have had a cooling down period of over a week to consider their options but things might just fizzle out when the More Joyous stewards’ inquiry resumes on Monday.
The 11th hour concern for ‘Singo’ is the emergence of larrikin former jockey Allan Robinson – known by some as the ‘mouth that roars’ – as one of his key informants. Many believe the credibility of the Singleton claims have taken a sudden and irreparable jolt.
Up until now Singleton – the millionaire owner and one time rodeo rider – hasn’t taken a backward step – apart from refusing to name the informants who told him that Tom Waterhouse – the boom young bookie with the choirboy looks – had inside knowledge that More Joyous could not win the All Aged Stakes.
Gai Waterhouse has remained cool and son Tom extremely defensive as dad Robbie went on the attack exchanging fiery words with ‘Singo’ in front of a media throng in defense of his wife and son after the initial inquiry hearing.
In the wake of the drama, played out embarrassingly for the sport before a massive television audience last Saturday afternoon, Singleton has made good his promise of removing his horses and cutting his ties with the Waterhouse stable.
Young Tom has gone from describing ‘Singo’ as a ‘larrikin and long time family friend’ who clashed with Gai every time More Joyous got beaten to consulting his lawyers on whether he should sue the multi millionaire owner-breeder for defamation.
The once close families – young Tom grew up with and reportedly is still close to ‘Singo’s daughters – appear to have cut their ties once and for all. Their relationship on the surface looks beyond repair.
TIME HAS COME FOR ‘SINGO’ TO NAME NAMES OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES
HOW deep that rift becomes will largely depend on what happens when the inquiry re-opens on Monday. The time has come for Singleton to ‘put up or shut up.’
His credibility in the eyes of the racing public depends on it. This is not the time where he can continue to protect his sources, no matter how close or how high profile they might be.
The worry for ‘Singo’ is that one of his main informants has come forward and that is former controversial jockey Alan Robinson, who unfortunately doesn’t enjoy a great deal of credibility in the eyes of the Sydney stewards. And he is apparently claiming his information on Tom Waterhouse came for Andrew Johns who has already denied he was told anything of the sort that has been alleged. Therein lies a major problem for ‘Singo’. There is also speculation that long-time enemy of Murrihy in big punting Eddie Hayson could be an informant of Singleton which again raises the question of credibility in the minds of many close to racing.
The More Joyous controversy has until this revelation divided the racing industry. The knockabout ‘Singo’ is seen in the eyes of the punters as a hero for speaking out about what he perceives to be one of the biggest injustices perpetuated on an owner in a Group One race.
‘Singo’ cannot expect too much support from the Sydney racing media who will be quick to realize who they need the most in future between him and Gai. Having said that, some of the stories written by Brisbane-based News Limited sports writing guru, Robert Craddock, have been both fair and entertaining.
On the line here is Singleton’s reputation. His supporters – who most of all admire his passion for More Joyous – agree with what was tweeted by prominent lawyer Chris Murphy:
“I have known John Singleton for 30 years, hard to love but doesn’t lie, if bookmaker Tom Waterhouse has been getting inside information from trainer mum Gai, out for life.”
And these from other Singo fans:
“Surely John realizes that a young chap like Tom needs a bit of a leg up from his mum to get his little business established.”
“When you read about the family interest in the Tom Waterhouse bookmaking empire, especially that of his dad – once warned off over the Fine Cotton scandal – the waters are getting muddier by the moment.”
“The new Tom Waterhouse TV ad should read: I know what punters want because mum told me so earlier this morning.”
Then you have the army of supporters of the First Lady of Racing – arguably even more vocal – who have been quick to tweet their disrespect for the high profile owner’s stance:
“Singo you are an ungrateful wanker. Gai made More Joyous.”
“There is a good reason why Singo has gone through six wives. They all got sick of his shit.”
“God help your case Singo if you are counting on the reliability of ‘Robbo’ (former jockey Alan Robinson) as a reliable witness.”
“Have a look at what Gai has achieved with More Joyous. You are just a sore loser Singleton and as Gerry Harvey suggested you need to learn to run second.”
It’s all very entertaining but unfortunately far more embarrassing for racing – especially in Sydney which is still reeling from the positive swab inquiry involving top trainer Chris Waller – where the blame was laid squarely at the feet of the ‘contaminated’ feed merchant.
There are even rumors circulating in Sydney racing that there could be more positives to come – nothing to this date from the stewards – then again they took months to tell the industry or the punters about the previous swabs.
And there are questions being asked about who is involved in the company that manufactures the additives that are at the centre of the ‘food contamination’ positives and whether they have links to any of the big stables. Yet again nothing from racing officialdom in NSW, not even a clarification or denial.
WILL THERE BE AN UNFORTUNATE ‘SCAPEGOAT’ IN THIS SORRY SAGA?
Will there be an unfortunate ‘scapegoat’ in this latest sorry saga – that is what the insiders are tipping – and John Singleton is firming as a hot favorite?
Some are claiming ‘Singo’ will not have the ammunition – or the reliable support of his informants – to back his claims and that the entire affair will be swept under the carpet.
Others reckon there is no way stewards will ask or want to pursue the tough questions that could provide ugly answers for racing in NSW. They point out that while Ray Murrihy was basking in the media spotlight and confirming that Tom Waterhouse had been told to attend next Monday’s inquiry the young bookie was denying any knowledge of that requirement.
No doubt he will be there but will they delve into questions like:
Did you decide to back More Joyous after hearing John Singleton claim you had told friends the mare could not win? (It has been established that the betting drift with More Joyous occurred well before ‘Singo’ spoke to the media about his concerns).
When you deny speaking to your mum about More Joyous – or any other stable runner prior to race days – does that apply to your dad as well and is there any discussion with him on the prospects of Waterhouse stable runners on a regular basis?
What is the family involvement especially that of your dad – who was warned off during the Fine Cotton inquiry – in the family bookmaking empire that you operate?
When your mother elected to take the Cox Plate draw that in the opinion of many good judges denied More Joyous the chance of winning the big race were the reports correct that you had laid the mare for a small fortune?
The other question being asked by many are these:
When Singleton told Richard Callander on TVN that the More Joyous rumors reported to him before the All Aged Stakes were the third time that this sort of thing had happened with his horses trained by Gai, what were the other two?
Have the rules of racing been changed from the time when bookmakers could only ‘back bet’ or ‘have a saver’ on a horse in a race? The reason for this query is that young Tom admitted in an interview on TVN that he had backed More Joyous (7th), Epaulette (6th) and Rain Affair (2nd) while laying the winner, All Too Hard, for plenty. To some it seems like a terribly bad book for an operator who is being hailed the best in the land and promotes himself as being trained by generations of successful bookmakers.
As respected racing columnist Ken Callander wrote in The Daily Telegraph on Monday:
SINGO might like to look after his mates, but he is going to have to name names at (Monday’s) stewards’ inquiry into last Saturday's heavyweight mud-slinging stoush between him and Gai Waterhouse.
If he doesn't and cannot back up his claims the implications could be horrendous.
You just cannot go around saying on television that mates have told you a big bookie knew a horse wasn't going to win a big race at Randwick, particularly when the trainer of the horse is the bookie's mum.
The failure of Gai Waterhouse to inform stewards – and in turn the punters who invested millions on More Joyous – of a ‘problem’ with a Group 1 favorite must be addressed. A slap over the wrist or even a substantial fine, which would mean nothing to her, is – in the opinion of many in racing – just not good enough.
On this issue we endorse what Ken Callander had to say:
I have a feeling the heat in the neck issue with More Joyous and the administering of an antibiotic to her are going to get a lot more airplay (next Monday).
Sure Singo made his allegations against Tom Waterhouse before the race and before More Joyous failed but you have to produce some evidence to say such things in public.
The easy way out may have been for Singo to scratch the horse if he thought it was certain not to win.
"The Marshal", Ray Murrihy, cannot just let the whole sorry mess go through to the keeper and let such allegations die a natural death.
We couldn’t agree more and as much as the reputation of Singleton and the Waterhouse family – determined not to have their name again dragged through the mud – is on the line here – so is that of Ray Murrihy and his panel of stewards.
THE IMAGE OF RACING IN NSW IS IN TATTERS AND OFFICIALS SEEMS TO WANT THIS TO GO AWAY
THE image of racing in NSW is in tatters. They were the ones quick to bag racing in Victoria some months back when controversy stole the spotlight from the spring carnival. They are now the ones ducking for cover when the crap has hit the fan on home soil during their autumn carnival.
Someone has to provide the answers – firstly Singleton, then Tom and Gai Waterhouse (and perhaps even Robbie, the wildcard in this drama).
But most of all it is time for ‘Marshall’ Murrihy to show that he is the tough steward he was once regarded and not the weaker version that some of his critics are claiming when it comes to dealing with the real big names in racing.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon – who wants to reel in the corporate bookmakers and the money they are leeching off racing in this country – does not believe the Murrihy inquiry will get to the bottom of this matter.
He has called for a Judicial Inquiry enabling Singleton and others to ‘name names without fear of defamation.’ But Racing NSW CEO Peter V’Landy’s has described the Senator’s call as a ‘gross overreaction’ and accused him of ‘attention seeking.’
It sounds very much to us like V’Landys is a sending a message to the Murrihy panel to end this inquiry as quickly as possible with as little fallout to the precious Racing NSW image as possible.
Here’s hoping – at least on this occasion – that the ‘Marshall’ isn’t listening to the call.
MORE ‘UGLY’ NEWS
‘WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THAT YOU CONSIGNED TO THE SCRAPHEAP NATHAN?’
WE received this e-mail from a close relation of an industry identity who once worked for the Patinack stable. It concerns the story on how one-time billionaire Nathan Tinkler feels racing has treated him badly.
‘SO poor Nathan Tinkler is feeling sorry for himself and reckons he is just one of many owners thrown on the scrap heap by the racing industry.
Now you know how it feels mate. I am closely related to a family that you literally destroyed because the bread winner didn’t reap the lofty results that you expected from your horses early days.
It’s a great leveler racing – as you have found out Nathan – and those you fly past on the way up are there to wave goodbye on your way down.
Some of those you consigned to the scrap heap deserved better. Your tale of woe pales into insignificance considering you might have dropped a billion or two. But I expect you still have several hundred million stored away to enjoy a lifestyle that the rest of us can only dream of.
I never believed in karma once – now I do – especially after your fate was highlighted in amazing circumstances. The day you chose to break your silence – hoping to achieve a headline or two – the best horse you ever had was winning another Group One for his new owners. Not only that, the bizarre circumstances of his race relegated your story to an also ran with the racing and news media.
It’s a dog eat dog world out there Nathan and whether you were ‘handled’ by some of the ‘smart players’ in racing or not, you are a big boy who was only too aware of the risk of investment whether in racehorses or the share market.
Some will say you deserved a better fate and that as a major owner your loss to racing will be monumental. From the perspective of our family and friends you got what you deserved and all the bleating in the world is not going to make us feel sorry for you.’
AND the final item of ‘UGLY’ news, although some would say there’s nothing ‘UGLY’ about it:
JOCKEY TOLD TO LEAVE BECAUSE STABLEHANDS WERE ‘TOO EXHAUSTED’
STORY doing the rounds in racing circles concerns the reason a controversial jockey left one state to ride in another.
Insiders claim a high profile trainer was forced to cut the jockey adrift because stable staff was too exhausted to perform their normal duties.
NOW TO THE BAD NEWS
ROBBIE INVOLVED IN COMPLEX CORPORATE WEB THAT OWNS TOM’S BUSINESS
AN investigation by the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD has discovered that Robbie Waterhouse has a financial stake in the bookmaking empire of son Tom.
FAIRFAX reports that company documents show Robbie Waterhouse, who was warned off racecourses until 1998 over the Fine Cotton horse substitution scandal in 1984, is a director of two companies within the complex corporate web that owns the bookmaking operation of Tom Waterhouse.
Records held by corporate regulator the Australian Securities and Investments Commission show Tom Waterhouse N.T., which is licensed as a bookmaker in the Northern Territory, is run by Tom Waterhouse and Louise Waterhouse, Robbie Waterhouse's sister.
The company is owned by Tom and Louise Waterhouse and two companies, Wunderkid and Torolo. Torolo is owned by Tom, Louise and Robbie Waterhouse, who are also the company's directors. In turn, Torolo owns a stake in Wunderkid, also run by Tom, Louise and Robbie Waterhouse.
Along with her father Bill Waterhouse, who was also warned off over the Fine Cotton scandal, Louise Waterhouse is an honorary consul to Australia of the tiny South Pacific kingdom of Tonga.
‘WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT’ THE AUTUMN CARNIVAL WAS FOR SYDNEY RACING
WE received an interesting email commenting on items that were overshadowed by the More Joyous drama at Randwick on Saturday which read:
‘THE media all of a sudden found a mountain of space to cover racing when the blow up occurred between John Singleton and Gai Waterhouse over More Joyous.
While the racing scribes and commentators made a big deal of how it had unfortunately overshadowed the amazing performance of All Too Hard in the All Aged Stakes they conveniently overlooked a few other downsides of the day.
From a punters’ perspective the day was another Sydney racing disaster. It started when the odds-on Toydini failed to run a place in the first and ended with More Joyous blowing like a gale in the betting and performing accordingly.
In between there was what many consider a woeful ride by Michael Rodd (replacing the suspended James Macdonald) on the odds-on It’s A Dundeel in the Queen Elizabeth. He missed the start and showed no urgency until the sprint went on when, in the opinion of many, it was impossible for his mount to win.
Rodd has terrible statistics when it comes to riding heavily backed favorites. Another that comes to mind was Khalifa from the Mark Kavanagh stable on which he missed the start at Flemington a week earlier.
But back to Randwick where Kelinni, which was expected to win the Sydney Cup, went like a hobbled duck for positive swab escapee Chris Waller and Julienas again performed woefully for Waterhouse tailing out last for the second start in succession.
Little wonder the crowds for some of the big race days – like the Golden Slipper – were down this autumn carnival. It’s a wonder the same disinterest isn’t reflected in the turnover.
And to think Racing NSW was ready to give Melbourne a bagging when they struck their spring carnival woes involving allegations of fixed races, the Damien Oliver betting scandal and the Dan Nikolic affairs.’ – Matty Jackson, Melbourne.
GLASS OF WINE AT BRISBANE RACES COSTS MORE THAN A BOTTLE RETAILS FOR
FORMER Brisbane Turf Club chairman, turned top rating radio breakfast show host, MARY COLLIER, tweeted this during the week:
‘WONDER why race crowds are dwindling?
One glass of Matua Valley Sav Blanc cost me $15. It retails at $12 a bottle.
No-one expects to pay retail. But no-one expects to be ripped off either. Our industry has real problems.
Thankfully I only have a drink after the last.’
JOCKEYS SEEM TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE JOB THAN BARRIER STAFF AT THANGOOL
GOOD to see the ladies getting in on the email action. Here’s one we received from SUSAN PEDDLE (via the North Queensland Register):
‘At the last Thangool races (jockeys) Dale Evans and Shane McGovern were called in after the last race and fined for starting from the incorrect gates in an earlier race.
They were loaded by barrier staff.
Isn’t the starter and barrier steward responsible for correct loading?
Jockey Mark Usher, whose wife is a trainer, was fined for leading a horse from her stables to the track in Mackay.
Shane McGovern, another whose wife trains, faced a similar fate for leading a horse from the swimming pool to its stable in Rockhampton until RQ Chairman of Stewards Wade Birch intervened.
Where is the rule that says jockeys can’t lead a horse?’
EDITOR’S NOTE: WE don’t believe there is one Susan but will have it checked out.
‘BALLS-UP’ AT BALLINA JUST ANOTHER EMBARRASSMENT FOR RACING NSW
And this one from CHAS KNUDSEN of East Ballina:
‘I hadn't been to Ballina races for many months but decided to go with a few mates on Friday April 19 and I have to say that whoever was in charge of the meeting must have been auditioning for ‘Amateur Hour’.
Seriously, I would imagine that if the track was walked by stewards before the races began, then how could they possibly have missed the fact that about six metres of the inside running rail was missing at about the 1250m during the running of the first race over 1600m?
Workplace Health and Safety officials would have had a field day if any jockey or horse had come to grief due to the apparent gross incompetence of a racing official.
On another serious issue a few races later in race 4, one horse was becoming difficult to load into the barriers according to the on-course announcer and I saw bookmakers directed to scratch the horse on their betting boards. The horse, Gotta Be Stylish, remarkably jumped with the rest of the field.
For a race meeting with full TAB status I think you’d agree that a far more professional approach to the conduct of said meeting was warranted.
FYI: I waited a number of days to check the official stewards’ report from the Racing NSW website and sadly not one of the above grievances rated a mention apart from a warning being placed on Gotta Be Stylish.’
OUTRAGE AMONG BRITISH TRAINERS OVER GODOLPHIN STEROID SCANDAL
BRITISH trainers have expressed shock and outrage following the steroid scandal that has resulted in an eight-year ban of Godolphin trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni.
Though many refused to speak ‘on the record’ to The Guardian for fear of destroying relationships with Godolphin, the general consensus was shock that an employee of Sheikh Mohammed would break the rules so dramatically.
One trainer was offended as much by the competitive edge the doped horses may have gotten, as the ethics violation.
“I’m astonished, a big stable, big operation like that,” said Gay Kelleway of Exning near Newmarket. “It’s hard enough to beat them when they’re not on anything. They’re the most expensive, richest horses in the world. What chance have the little trainers got?”
The British horse racing industry, still in shock over the Godolphin steroid debacle, is facing yet another crisis as a second Newmarket trainer has admitted to using anabolic steroids on his horses.
According to a report in The Independent, Gerard Butler has informed the British Horseracing Authority that several of his horses have received treatment consisting of injecting steroids into injured joints. Butler indicated that possibly more than 100 horses across Newmarket may have been given the same treatment.
But unlike the case of Mahmood al-Zarooni, Butler told the press that the treatment was recommended by veterinarians, and was included in his official medical records that officials from the BHA have looked at, and that were returned to him without comment.
Butler, who is co-operating with the BHA, stressed that the steroids – which go by the trade name Sungate and contain the steroid stanozolol – were injected directly into the joint rather than into the muscle, as they are when used for performance enhancing reasons.
IMAGINE IF JIM O’SULLIVAN DID A SAL PERNA AND SOUGHT FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNTRY
WHAT sort of feedback do you think Jim O’Sullivan, the new Integrity Commissioner for Racing in Queensland would get if he followed the lead of his Victorian counterpart?
ABC NEWS reports that Victoria's Racing Integrity Commissioner, Sal Perna, says he will ask the state's racing bodies to increase prize money for country races.
Perna has been touring regional Victoria, hearing concerns from people involved in racing about the sport and how it is run.
He will pass that feedback on to the bodies that regulate horse racing, harness racing and greyhound racing.
Perna says people in regional Victoria are concerned the sport does not offer enough prize money to keep people involved.
"Once you step out of that hobby part into a business part, people rely on that to earn a living, so that's something that concerns them, whether that's enough or whether that's not enough," he said.
"So that's something that I'll bring back to the bodies.
"To attract people to the racing industry you must have sufficient prize money to enable them to give their 100 per cent commitment because this is a livelihood for a lot of people, particularly those who get in it in a small scale, as a family business for example."
AND FINALLY TO THE GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK
RACING QUEENSLAND LAUNCHES NATIONAL SEARCH FOR CEO – AT LAST
RACING Queensland has launched a national search for its inaugural Chief Executive Officer through Brisbane-based firm, Eden Ritchie Recruitment.
Less than a fortnight after Racing Minister Steve Dickson announced the inaugural Board members of RQ and the Code Control Boards, the search for a CEO has commenced.
Inaugural RQ Chairman Kevin Dixon believes this key appointment is vital for the Queensland racing industry.
“RQ will commence as Queensland’s Principal Racing Authority this Wednesday, May 1 and our first task is the key appointment of a Chief Executive Officer,” Dixon said.
“For over 12 months the Queensland industry has been without a permanent CEO and in this time Adam Carter has performed outstandingly in an acting CEO capacity, but it is now time to appoint a permanent CEO for the industry.”
This key appointment will provide strategic advice and critical support to the newly established Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board, trading as RQ, as well as the three Code Control Boards for thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing in order to optimally position the Queensland racing industry.
The advertisement for this role can be viewed at www.edenritchie.com.au, with applications closing on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
TOMMY BERRY BECOMES AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION IN HONG KONG
YOUNG Sydney jockey Tommy Berry became an overnight sensation in Hong Kong after winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Military Attack for trainer John Moore at his first day of riding there.
Hot on the heels of his triumphant autumn carnival which netted the Golden Slipper on Overreach and the Doncaster on Sacred Falls, Berry has found it is a very different scene in Honkers.
“Even when I walked out of the jockeys’ room after the last, what should have been a two-minute walk back home became half an hour because of media interviews and photos. The (racegoers) ask you to sign everything, from caps, T-shirts and racebooks,” Berry told the Daily Telegraph.
“I've had a fair bit of publicity of late, but in Hong Kong it’s totally different. As soon as you walk out the front door of your apartment and walk across the road to the track, people are taking photos. I walked the track more than four hours before the first race, and people were taking photos.”
Berry, who has been contracted to ride the final two months of the Hong Kong season, joked that he might have to fly his twin brother, fellow hoop Nathan Berry, to Hong Kong so he can pose for photos and sign autographs.
"I've got 10 weeks when I get home to think about it, but at this stage Australia is home, I'm only young and there's a lot I want to do," he said.
IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE BLACK CAVIAR WAS QUOTED AT $1.50 TO WIN ANYTHING
IT’s been a while since Black Caviar was quoted at $1.50 to win anything but that’s the price the undefeated super mare finds herself with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to be crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year.
In what is a budding sibling rivalry, Black Caviar faces her stiffest opposition from half-brother All Too Hard, who is into $3 to win the title after claiming his fourth G1 of the season last Saturday.
It’s A Dundeel ($7), recently retired Pierro ($26) and Appearance ($81) are the other runners in the market but it’s clearly a two-horse race.
“We’re not sure how Christmas lunch will go should All Too Hard take out the gong. Perhaps a bon bon will settle any differences? At the end of the day, it’s hard to see him getting the award ahead of the mighty mare but the fat lady hasn’t started warming her vocal chords yet,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.
SAME NAME BUT DIFFERENT BLOKE APPOINTED TO RACING QUEENSLAND BOARD
WE had several emails asking if the Michael Kelly appointed to the new thoroughbred Board of Racing Queensland was the same Michael Kelly who held high profile roles in the Racing Departments of Labor Ministers Merri Rose, Bob Gibbs and Robert Schwarten.
No they are not one in the same – by a country mile – and we stand corrected on this statement but believe that Mike Kelly, the high profile public servant, is still working for the Racing Department of Minister Steve Dickson.
Here is a story on Michael Kelly the new RQ Board member that was written recently by GLEN McCULLOUGH for THE CHRONICLE in TOOWOOMBA:
IT'S a case of one door closing and another opening for Dalby racing participant Michael Kelly as he prepares to take the reins as a co-leader of the Queensland thoroughbred industry.
Kelly last week was named deputy chairman alongside Kevin Dixon (chairman) and Peter Boyce on the three-man Queensland Thoroughbred Racing Board.
Kelly will be involved in key decision making on the future of racing across the state.
The Dalby accountant's entry into a new era for Queensland racing also marks the end of his lengthy stint of grass-roots race administration.
Kelly last night was required to tender his resignation as a Dalby & Northern Downs Jockey Club committee member.
It ends his 27-year official association with the club - with three of those as president and 23 as treasurer.
Kelly is confident his multi-faceted involvement in racing has given him the necessary grounding for his step up the ladder which has the backing of prominent industry groups.
"My family has always been involved in racing, but not to the same official extent as me," Kelly said.
"I remember first becoming interested in horse breeding when I read a book called The Brigadier when I was 14 or 15 years old.
"I later became a bookies clerk while I was at uni and my uncle Frank (Kelly) was a head strapper for JJ Atkins.
"I think I've got a fair bit of across-the-board knowledge in breeding, bookmaking, horse ownership and administration to offer the industry.
"I was encouraged to apply for the job by the Country Racing Association.
"The Queensland Trainers’ Association, Toowoomba Turf Club and Queensland Bookmakers Association also supported me in my application.
"I'm looking forward to starting work.
"One of the new board's big challenges will be to try and get everyone co-operating in working towards a plan that can maximize our industry's resources."
HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB BOSS WANTS STEROIDS BANNED INTERNATIONALLY
HONG Kong Jockey Club CEO, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, has urged leaders in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities to ban steroid use for training, referencing the recent scandal surrounding Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.
Al Zarooni claimed that he did not know giving steroids to his horses was a violation of British regulations, since steroid use for training is permitted in some jurisdictions around the world.
Should rules be drawn up by the IFHA banning steroid use for training, countries which do not comply could face sanctions, according to Engelbrecht-Bresges, who is a vice chairman and member of the federation’s executive council.
“It is a real concern,” he said, according to a report by The Blood-Horse. “The recent doping case has significantly hurt the image of racing…this is a fundamental issue that will hurt the integrity and branding of the sport.”
And here are the e-mails that we have elected to run in full this week with apologies to those who missed out:
BECAUSE the Singelton-Waterhouse blow-up over More Joyous has attracted such huge coverage we have elected to run the following:
SURPRISE, SURPRISE – RACING NSW IS NOT INTERESTED IN A JUDICIAL INQUIRY
‘IT comes as no surprise that the hierarchy at Racing New South Wales will not allow a judicial inquiry into allegations concerning the Waterhouse family.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon does not believe a stewards’ inquiry will have the teeth to get to the bottom of this matter and says a judicial inquiry should be held so that John Singleton and others can ‘name names without fear of defamation.’
But Racing New South Wales has described his call as a ‘gross overreaction’ with CEO Peter V’Landys accusing the Senator of ‘attention seeking’. Now isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?
It is what most of us in racing who reside outside of NSW would expect from the likes of V’Landys. If it was happening in Victoria you can bet London to a Brick on that this bloke would be the first to support an inquiry.
One could even suggest that the Racing NSW tom-toms are beating: ‘Make this go away Mr Murrihy – and as quickly as possible.’ – Dan Curtis, Newcastle.
HERE’S the story that the above email refers to:
A CALL by independent senator Nick Xenophon for a judicial inquiry into allegations surrounding Sydney bookie Tom Waterhouse is a "gross over-reaction", Racing NSW says.
AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS reports that Senator Xenophon says such an inquiry is needed so names can be named without fear of defamation.
Entrepreneur John Singleton has sacked Waterhouse's mother Gai Waterhouse as his horse trainer, saying he had been told by friends the bookie was aware of a problem with Singleton's horse More Joyous, which finished second-last in a race at Randwick on Saturday.
Tom Waterhouse has threatened legal action against Singleton over the allegations, which Waterhouse has denied.
Senator Xenophon says the allegations need to be examined.
"I think the allegations made here are so serious ... you need something to clear the air," he told the Seven Network.
"The best and fairest way to deal with this is an inquiry with judicial powers."
Stewards will look to see whether bookmaker Tom Waterhouse had "privileged information" before More Joyous's dismal performance.
He said he didn't think a steward's inquiry would be able to get answers because it's unclear whether people giving evidence are protected against defamation.
But Racing NSW Chief Executive Officer Peter V'landys accused Senator Xenophon of attention-seeking.
"Mr Xenophon should allow due process and natural justice to take place before determining outcomes," he said.
"For him to come to a conclusion without due process is very disappointing and a gross over-reaction."
V'landys said the stewards' inquiry that started on Saturday and continues on Friday was the appropriate mechanism where everyone had the opportunity to present and substantiate their case.
"The outcome we want is one that will assure the public that we've used world's best practice in investigating it and that the right result has been achieved," V'landys said.
Senator Xenophon says he will also be pushing for parliament to look at the issue of conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest in racing.
LARRY PICKERING COMES OUT FIRING IN SUPPORT OF HIS GOOD MATE ‘SINGO’
‘MORE Joyous could have had 100 vets look at her before and after the race, they may not have seen the problem... because the problem was with the trainer, Gai Waterhouse.
According to reports, Gai said the horse had a sore neck that showed up in a blood count. That is simply not true.
Blood counts don’t necessarily indicate sore necks, but they do indicate a sore something and only via a high white cell count.
So, what was that blood count all about? A blood count, properly read, is a window to a horse’s well-being.
An elevated white cell count would only have told Gai there was something amiss, it certainly would not have told her what.
A heat-producing sore neck may or may not have been the reason for the elevation, it may have been something much more serious.
Regardless, I doubt that a sore neck will prove to have been More Joyous’s problem.
White cells, (Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils and Basinophils) are also known as leukocytes and become elevated for a reason:
It means the bone marrow is busy producing an over-supply of reparative white cells in the process of attempting to heal something... but what?
A suspected sore neck muscle is a very bold guess, particularly if deciding whether a horse should start or not.
Gai’s decision was to start the horse, therefore Singo and the stewards should have been informed of the circumstances. They weren't and if they were the horse would not have started.
Elevated white cells can mean anything from a stone bruise to tissue damage. They can indicate a slight cut or even the middle and latter stages of pregnancy.
Unless a vet has foreknowledge of the problem or knows exactly what he is looking for, it might be no more than a guess.
A rule for me when I was training horses was this: All starters must have a blood count. A high white cell count or a low haemoglobin (red cell) count and the horse did not start.
No ifs or buts, the horse did not start! There was something wrong... and it appears even a bookie knows that much.
I am not being protective of my good friend of 40 years, but what has been made public so far indicates to me that Singo is 100% right.
If I was a bookie, I would take bets ‘til my nose bled on a horse with a high white cell count, because it is likely to run poorly.
And that’s Singo’s case right there... he wasn’t told! He didn’t know! He heard about it via Gai’s bookmaker son, Tom, telling someone else.
How would YOU feel?
[Before you tell me to pull my head in, I studied equine pathology for 2 years, worked with one of Australia’s top vets and ran my own private pathology unit.] – Larry Pickering, Gold Coast.
HERE’S HOW SOME OF OUR READERS REACTED TO THE MORE JOYOUS DEBACLE & HOUDINI ACT BY CHRIS WALLER
HERE’S what some of our e-mailers had to say (in brief) about two of the biggest and most controversial news stories of the week emanating from Sydney and involving champion trainers Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller:
ON THE WATERHOUSE FAMILY, MORE JOYOUS AND JOHN SINGLETON
IT of SYDNEY: “JOHN Singleton might wear his heart on his sleeve where More Joyous is concerned but he continues to carry on like a petulant school-boy and handles defeat very badly.
If he was so concerned about the comments relayed to him and allegedly spoken by Tom Waterhouse then he should have insisted that Gai Waterhouse scratch More Joyous.
There is no excuse for Waterhouse failing to advise stewards of the treatment received by More Joyous. It was the favorite for a Group One and regardless of how serious she felt it was, there was a responsibility of her part as the trainer to let the stewards and the punters know there had been a problem.
Whatever happens in this case, the unacceptable mix involving the Waterhouse family where Gai is a champion trainer, her husband Robbie is a leading bookmaker and young Tom is successfully following in his footsteps will continue to exist unimpeded.
AW of RANDWICK: ‘The conflict of interest that has existed for far too long between top trainer and leading bookmaker will continue to dog Sydney racing until something is done about it.’
RAY MURRIHY on the above topic: “As the courts have ruled, you can’t deny a person a license on the basis of their association with another licensee.”
JOHN SINGLETON: “At least in this divorce I don’t lose half my assets.”
KL of MELBOURNE: “If sportsbet were prepared to refund $150,000 to punters who backed More Joyous, why didn’t Tom Waterhouse get into the public relations spirit and do the same thing?”
IB of BRISBANE: “I am not a Ray Murrihy fan. He will be enjoying all the publicity of the More Joyous drama but will the resolution to this inquiry be in the best interests of the punters. I don’t think so.”
JB of the GOLD COAST: “Isn’t it amazing the newspapers can’t find sufficient space to publicize the positive things that happen in racing but the minute there’s a controversy the covering is FBI (front, back and inside).”
YP of NEWCASTLE: “If ‘Singo’ is relying on Andrew Johns and Malcolm Johnston (which they have denied) for his inside information, then the More Joyous inquiry is going nowhere.”
BM of SYDNEY: “Gerry Harvey is right. ‘Singo’ has to learn to lose gracefully, regardless of the circumstances. He knew the connection between Gai and Robbie when he put his horses with her. It’s a bit late now to be blowing up about it. It would also be nice if he could refrain from using expletives every time he talks.”
HR of MELBOURNE: “Tom Waterhouse is articulate and we admire him for defending his mum. But could someone ask him if dad Robbie had anything to say to him about More Joyous – whether he thought the mare could win or not.”
AND ON THE CHRIS WALLER POSITIVE SWAB PENALTY ESCAPE:
GD of BRISBANE: “IT wasn’t a good look, regardless of the circumstances, when Chris Waller escaped penalty after horses he trained returned four positive swabs.
What made the matter worse was the fact that the stewards and Waller have apparently known about this situation for months but nothing has been made public.
Waller horses carry millions of dollars in investments every week. In the interests of the industry and the punters there was surely a need to make concerns about feed contamination public.
One could pose the question: If Waller felt his horses were returning positives because there was something in the feed, wasn’t he still responsible – under the rules – for taking a runner to the track that had a prohibited substance in its system? After all the horses involved were disqualified from the races they contested.
Whether the feed company was to blame or not the problem with this situation involving Waller is that many battling trainers who have faced the wrath of the rules and the stewards after horses returned positives are feeling that the playing field isn’t as level as it should be.”
AA of GRAFTON: “My son-in-law and his family struggled to survive after he was disqualified over a positive swab. His defense was contamination of the feed but the stewards weren’t as interested in his right as those of Chris Waller.”
CJ of SYDNEY: “There is a groundswell of opinion in the racing industry in NSW that they moved heaven and earth to help Waller out of his rather embarrassing situation with those positive swabs.”
MS of MELBOURNE: “If this Waller swab business goes back to the latter months of last year how come the industry and the punters were not informed by the authorities that there was a problem? Surely with so many of his horses well in the betting every race day of every week they were entitled to know.”
SS of SYDNEY: “As expected the racing media were keen to applaud how swiftly Ray Murrihy and his panel dealt with the Chris Waller swab situation. But it makes you wonder on delving into the fine print and discovering the problems stem back to October and November of last year.”
SJ of BRISBANE: “I am sick of hearing that Waller had too much control over the swab case because he is a leading trainer. If other trainers took the time to investigate why their horses are returning positive swabs then they might enjoy the same outcome.”
‘DISGUST’ AT DECISION HANDED DOWN BY JUDGE AT NIKITA McLEAN APPEAL
‘I read with some interest and a great deal of disgust the decision handed down by Judge Lewis and his panel when dealing with the Nikita McLean appeal.
The severity of the stewards’ punishment was the centre of her appeal for giving her sister a ‘touch up’ and telling the Steward to ‘F… off’ when directed to attend an inquiry.
There is little or nothing anyone would want to do or say about the coverage that appeared in the local fish and chip wrapper under the hand of Matt Stewart. His professionalism on this topic, in my opinion, leaves a lot to be desired.
As far as Judge Lewis is concerned, well to put it bluntly, he is well past his prime.
I can understand why he has been given the job that he is in. I am certain there is nowhere else for him to go.
Whatever state the racing industry in Victoria is in at present just hasn’t happened overnight.
With all due respect I believe that this particular jurist has played his role in stuffing it up.
In the McLean case penalty had to take her record into account – and for this type of offence it was not good.
If Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna is ever going to make headway in cleaning up the mess from days gone by, Judge Lewis should be his ‘first cab off the rank.’– John Hardcourt, Melbourne.
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE is the story by MATT STEWART in the HERALD-SUN that seems to have upset John so much:
STEWARDS are good at some things, like sticking to rules and protocols, and clumsy at others.
Stewards might argue they are not paid to be nannies, not taught to be softies.
But a softer touch would have prevented them from copping a bake from Judge Russell Lewis at yesterday's Nikita McLean appeal.
A few kind measured words, delivered with a soft hand on the shoulder, may even have prevented McLean from belting her sister, Jackie Beriman.
The stewards who ran the now infamous Hamilton race meeting earlier this month were robotic in their handling of a delicate situation.
McLean was upset and an upset jockey in the volatile environment of a racetrack -- where racing is dangerous and jockeys' rooms claustrophobic -- can be a powder keg.
McLean had stormed out of the stewards' room during an inquiry, upset that her sister had (according to McLean) made up a story that McLean had kicked her.
McLean was upset about that and upset that her estranged husband, Brad, who resides in her house and pays no rent, had tapped her on the bum with his whip.
So when a steward ordered her back to the stewards' room just before she was about to mount up for race six, McLean was never going to respond with a smile.
She told them to eff off.
It was her sister and her husband who put McLean in tears that day but the stewards, by not sensing the mood properly and dealing with it accordingly, contributed to her volatility.
A few months back, another stewards' panel booted injured apprentice Katelyn Mallyon out of the female jockeys' room.
They pointed to the rule book, utterly ignoring the bigger picture of a kid who needed the reassurance of her peers and her workplace as she embarked on her recovery.
Mallyon was devastated.
The stewards didn't just handle the race meeting badly regarding McLean.
They had the option of merely charging McLean -- for whacking her sister and ignoring a directive; their specialty -- and handballing her to the appeals board for penalty.
Instead, they used robot logic and gave her five months and winced as the judge halved it.
MANY IN AUSTRALIAN RACING PUZZLED BY ATA STAND ON ANABOLIC STEROIDS
‘WHY would the Australian Trainers’ Association not want a ban on the use of anabolic steroids?
It was good to see some probing questions asked of ATA boss Colin Alderson by Shane Anderson on RSN and didn’t the poor old fellow get a few burrs in the saddle trying to keep his cool while answering?
If the trainers of Australia have nothing to hide – as Alderson insists – they should have no problem accepting an anabolic steroid ban.
Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy thinks it should be discussed at the highest level. Paul Bittar, formerly with Racing Victoria and now working for the British Horseracing Authority, believes likewise.
And what happens to horses from Australia that head to England for the Royal Ascot meet – will different rules apply to them?’ – Jim Keats, Sydney.
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE’S a story that MATT STEWART wrote on this issue in the HERALD SUN:
THE racing industry would feel the wrath of trainers if Australia adopted Europe and Japan's ban on the use of anabolic steroids on horses.
Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy and Racing Victoria chief vet Brian Stewart said yesterday a ban on steroids might be inevitable, in light of the Godolphin scandal in England.
Eleven top horses trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni at Newmarket have tested positive to steroids.
It has been described as one of the greatest racing scandals in British history.
Murrihy said racing might face serious perception issues if it continued to allow the use of steroids, at odds with other bodies around the world.
“Given the bigger sporting story, Lance Armstrong and the like, it might be the debate racing has to have,” Murrihy said.
Australian Trainers’ Association president Colin Alderson warned of a backlash, saying sensible use of steroids had no sinister connotation, adding they were a significant cost benefit to owners.
"Racehorses need every bit of help -- we can't even give them an aspro," Alderson said.
"You give a horse a dose of steroids to help it thrive out in the paddock, you can bring it back earlier and start earning some money earlier for the owner.
"This would be a complete over-reaction, an over-kill. Why should we ban steroids because of one isolated incident in the UK?"
Alderson said the tendency for Australian trainers to geld colts meant horses needed an artificial replacement for natural hormones.
It is rare for colts to be gelded in Britain and Japan.
"You ban it and the scallywags will still find a way to get around it," Alderson said.
Top trainer David Hayes said he would comply with a ban, adding he rarely used steroids on his horses.
But Hayes said a compromise might be the occasional use of steroids, with an application to stewards and veterinary supervision.
AND this story by MICHAEL LYNCH in the MELBOURNE AGE provides some answers to the query concerning Australian horses heading to Royal Ascot.
AUSTRALIAN trainers planning to raid Royal Ascot might have to brace themselves for a grilling on their use of anabolic steroids, as the fallout from the Godolphin doping scandal spreads.
Some British racing identities, including English Derby-winning trainer Roger Charlton, have voiced their concern over rules that allow Australian trainers to treat horses with anabolics ''out of competition'', and are querying whether their horses might be competing against Australian challengers on a level playing field.
Australian sprinters such as Choisir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast, Ortensia and Black Caviar have all won big sprints in England, while others such as So You Think, Starspangledbanner and Starcraft have also been successful on the world stage after transferring to European stables.
Brian Stewart, the head of veterinary and welfare services with Racing Victoria, expects English authorities to scrutinise Australian challengers carefully given that Britain is leading the campaign for drug-free racing and the outlawing of steroids and any performance-enhancing substances.
''We have not received anything from the [British Horseracing Authority] about this, but it would not be a surprise if they did raise some questions and concerns,'' he said on Monday.
''There are different rules and regulations across many racing jurisdictions but there is a growing push for a global standard which would outlaw the use of anabolic steroids in horses. It is an issue which is in my opinion likely to grow.''
Flemington trainer Danny O'Brien is targeting the Royal Ascot sprints with Shamexpress, while the connections of Black Caviar's half-brother, All Too Hard, who returned to racing with victory in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, are considering the group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot in June.
Last week, one of Godolphin's two Newmarket-based trainers, Mahmood Al Zarooni, was banned for eight years after admitting that 15 horses in his Moulton Paddocks complex had been treated with anabolic steroids.
Charlton, who won the English and French derbies with Quest For Fame and Sanglamore in his first season as a trainer in 1990 and has enjoyed a steady stream of big race wins since, has asked about the testing of any Australian horses who compete at Royal Ascot this summer and argues that international racing rules need to be harmonised to prevent anomalies in preparation.
''British racing is the cleanest racing in the world, we're proud of that, and that is demonstrated by how few positive tests there are,'' he told the Racing Post.
''Most of those positive tests - and I've had one - are when the wrong food or bucket is given; negligence if you like, they are not deliberate.
''I think there is a debate about steroids and all we want, whether human or horses, is a level playing field, and I think it's unfortunate that animals or humans are given steroids.''
The paper reported that Charlton subsequently told British racing broadcaster Channel Four: ''I think it would be fair if we had the same rules. I can appreciate different countries have different rules. You are allowed to use them in Dubai but not Europe. It would be much nicer if none of us used them.
''We want international competition. Dubai has been fantastic for racing. I would like more Australians to come to Royal Ascot, it's good fun. But I'm posing the debate that I'd like to have a level playing field.''
BRC MEMBERS UPSET ABOUT LACK OF PUBLIC HOLIDAY MEETINGS
‘AS long standing members of the Queensland and Brisbane Turf Clubs (now the BRC) we write to express our concerns at the lack of public holiday racing at Eagle Farm and Doomben.
Anzac Day was once a popular race meeting in Brisbane but it seems that what the members want no longer matters when it comes to the determination of the financial bottom line of the new merged club.
Whatever happened to the days when the old diggers would end up at the races and have their annual two-up game after the last?
Where do they go now – probably the services clubs, the same place that many punters and regular race-goers of the past are now heading every Saturday?
I am told that racing in Queensland copped a nice bagging interstate on radio when they were discussing the race meetings on Anzac Day – Flemington in Melbourne, Warwick Farm in Sydney (only because Randwick is under-going major redevelopment) and Beaudesert in Queensland.
What an embarrassment and that isn’t meant to be a reflection on the good folk of Beaudesert who are entitled to race on Anzac Day as well. But there needs to be city racing.
We are told that the reason behind the lack of public holiday racing in Brisbane is because of the wages that have to be paid.
If that is the case why then do they continue to race on these days in Sydney and Melbourne – perhaps they are smarter at running their shows more profitably?’ – Names with-held by request as we want to continue to enjoy our day at the races.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Your e-mail is timely gents. I just happened to catch the tail end of an informative interview with RQ Chairman Kevin Dixon with David Fowler on Racing Radio. He explained how unprofitable these meetings are and how the new powers that be are keen to make an ‘event’ of racing on public holidays. Dixon gave as examples the Sunshine Coast racing at peak holiday times; Beaudesert, where there are many retirees living, proving an even more popular venue than Brisbane on Anzac Day; Ipswich racing on Labour Day etc. It makes sense. The only downside is that the TAB turnover on an Eagle Farm or Doomben meeting would have been far better than Beaudesert (where they attracted a huge crowd) on Anzac Day. The upside however, as Dixon pointed out, is that an Anzac Day meeting in Brisbane would have detracted from the fields for Doomben last Saturday, which were good, as should be expected on the eve of the carnival.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in the above e-mails should not be interpreted as those of JOHN LINGARD, the owner-editor 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.