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 focus of our new theme – THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY side of what has happened in racing over the past week continues in the new-look Wednesday Whinge which feedback suggests has been well received by our readers. It gives us an opportunity to provide some of the racing news that is now harder to access or simply isn’t run in the mainstream media because of space restrictions. That doesn’t mean we are steering clear of allowing our readers their weekly whinge on racing topics. This week contributors had their say on a variety of issues ranging from the financing of track upgrades in Queensland to the return from suspension of top jockey Damien Oliver; the Racing Inquiry that is underway in Queensland, the approach Terry Butts takes to writing his racing columns and the decision of police not to pursue charges in the Smoking Aces case.
WHY NOT PUT A LEVY ON POKER MACHINES TO FINANCE RACETRACK UPGRADES?
Albert W of BRISBANE sent this interesting e-mail:
‘BEFORE the need for track reconstruction at some major TAB venues in Queensland deteriorates into a political mud-slinging match here is a suggestion that perhaps the LNP could pinch from the former Labor Government.
We are continually told that Governments – of any political persuasion – do not have the funds to justify grants for the rebuilding of tracks and infrastructure, yet we see work being done that can best be described as ‘pork-barreling.’
In the Labor-Bentley Board era there was the Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, Mackay, Toowoomba cushion track etc. Since the LNP-Dixon Board took over projects have been approved again at Toowoomba, Cairns, Gold Coast, Beaudesert and Eagle Farm.
But there is the need for much promised work to be done at Townsville where the problem is highlighted almost every time the club races. Unfortunately, the TTC doesn’t have the same political clout as the TTC on the Downs (it helps to have mates in Dixon Square) and there is only so much Government money to go around when it comes to racing.
It is hard for politicians to justify millions in expenditure on racing projects when the need is great in schools and hospitals, yet that is what they have found for the Toowoomba gallops – now a wasted amount of almost $20 million in the eyes of many in the industry and the redevelopment of Albion Park harness racing (who knows what that will cost but the Government and the new Board is keen to appease the needs of a great supporter in trots king Kevin Seymour). And, of course, I haven’t mentioned how Gerry Harvey and his Magic Millionaires have ensured that both sides of politics support the spending of millions at the Gold Coast track.
Now rather than get into a political crap fight over what tracks should get financial support – and let’s face it, Eagle Farm is in desperate need of an upgrade as last Wednesday’s midweek meeting debacle proved – why doesn’t the LNP consider taking a leaf out of the Labor books?
It would have been within the last decade that then Deputy Premier and Sports Minister Terry Mackenroth convinced the Labor Government to complete the redevelopment of the Gabba by funding it through a levy on poker machines.
Premier of the Day, Peter Beattie, justified the move as a major winner which would provide ‘jobs in the tourist industry.’ If the upgrade of Eagle Farm can’t be justified by ensuring the future of an industry that provides employment for tens of thousands in horse racing, then nothing can.
I also have a feeling that poker machine funds were used in the redevelopment of Lang Park but I may be wrong. In any case why not implement a similar levy to finance the track redevelopments that need doing in Queensland racing? Even if it means allowing poker machines in betting auditoriums at some of the major tracks across the state.
After all it is the money that has been swallowed by poker machines from the pockets of the mums and dads of the state. It is still coming from the pockets of taxpayers but not directly.
It’s a darn side better idea than what big Russ Hinze did when he spent extravagantly as Racing Minister and borrowed the money off-shore to fund new grandstands at some of the most out of the way places in Queensland that stood as monuments to his term in office and hardly got used.
In fact he got the industry into so much debt that Bob Gibbs had to refinance the loans through Treasury when he became Racing Minister and it took years to free racing of that debt.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: WHAT a great idea. At least if you bet on the horses there is some chance of winning. Betting on the pokies you have next to none. Some might question that in Queensland racing. On that all I will say is it doesn’t matter how many new tracks they build – or find means of financing in the south-east in particular – until the powers-that-be do something to rebuild confidence in the punting product, racing in the north will continue to go downhill faster than an elevator with no brakes.
PUNTERS FAR FROM HAPPY AT STEWARDS APPROACH TO INCIDENTS AT DOOMBEN 
AND on the subject of integrity and stewarding of racing in Queensland we again received several e-mails after elements of the meeting at Doomben on Saturday turned into a punting fiasco. These are the two we have chosen to run as the majority was ‘too hot to handle.’
DAN T of IPSWICH wrote:
‘I used to think that your website and a couple of others had an axe to grind against Brisbane racing in particular with the constant criticism and questioning of what was happening on the track.
Now I agree with you wholeheartedly. I had my last bet on Brisbane racing on Saturday. They can’t bring on the big races in the south leading up to the spring quick enough for me. It might be tough finding a winner down there but at least I have confidence in the stewards controlling those meetings and believe I am getting a fairer run for my money.
I don’t feel that way in Brisbane. Before I am accused of suggesting that something untoward went on at Doomben on Saturday, that is not my intention. But here are the facts as I see them.
Style went around a week earlier, was well backed and never fired a shot. The track was a slow rating again on Saturday and the horse won impressively. In the space of a week it improved a dozen lengths. The only difference the week before was that it was first-up.
Now the stewards accepted the explanation that it was a different ‘slow’ at Eagle Farm to the one at Doomben. That’s fine but it doesn’t sit too well with those of us who backed the horse the previous week and on form couldn’t possibly come into it on Saturday.
Then we have the Lucky Hussler race which was won by the well backed stablemate of Style in Loaded which certainly looked the danger to the favorite. But again on form – and that is all the punters really have to rely on – Lucky Hussler had been racing much better horses.
He had been unlucky in the Queensland Guineas, the Daybreak Lover and the Sunshine Coast Guineas and looked a good thing in Saturday’s Tattersall’s Mile. That’s why the Fixed Odds operators opened him at $1.8 and Loaded at $4.2.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when Lucky Hussler eased to $3.2 in Fixed Odds betting in the lead-up to the race and said to my friends this horse must have lost a leg. It hadn’t but might as well have the way things turned out.
OK the punters have to accept the stewards’ decision that Brad Stewart ran into a lot of trouble on the horse – and he did – but without suggesting anything untoward on the part of the jockey those bookie boys certainly knew what they were doing in taking Lucky Hussler on.
That’s racing you might say – there’s good luck and there’s bad luck in running. The punters know the risks when they put their money down. But they just didn’t get a run for their money on this occasion and that’s what hits a raw nerve. It seems to happen all too often in Brisbane.
And this one from CHARLIE J of BRISBANE:
‘I am still smarting after being sucked in by the juicy odds the corporate bookmakers offered about Lucky Hussler in the main race at Doomben on Saturday.
It was too good to be true that a horse rated an odds-on chance in early betting could get out past the $3 mark and still win. And of course he didn’t.
We all know that he ran into plenty of bad luck and that the explanation of the jockey at the inquiry held later was accepted by stewards.
All I would like to know is if stewards went as far as looking at the betting activities on the race to see if there were any irregularities before they closed the inquiry?
I am not suggesting anything dishonest occurred here and am a great fan of Brad Stewart as a jockey. In fact I think he is one of the best in the country but from the point of view of a punter who had his hard earned on Lucky Hussler I would like to know why he drifted so alarmingly in the betting.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In relation to the last e-mail from Charlie, perhaps one of the reasons that Lucky Hussler drifted as he did was the confident support for Loaded, especially from a stable that was already cashed up after the Style win. Lucky Hussler seems to be one of those horses that gets himself into trouble. I, too, wonder if stewards looked at the betting activities on the race but assume they would have. Style was just a straight out form reversal and to simply accept that it was a different ‘slow’ track to the previous week is an insult to the punters – but that happens on a regular basis in Brisbane racing.
FORM REVERSAL BY MR O’CEIRIN PROVOKED THIS ILL-INFORMED E-MAIL 
THERE was also the form reversal from Mr O’Ceirin which prompted this e-mail from DICK K of BRISBANE:
‘You rant and rave a lot on your website about how bad racing integrity is in Queensland. Well how about giving your mate Terry Bailey and his panel in Victoria the serve they deserve over Mr O’Ceirin?
You might like to note that Ken Callander had plenty to say on the issue in his column in The Telegraph when he rightly wrote:
HOW'S this for a good look for racing?
Mr O'Ceirin starts a $1.60 odds-on favorite at Moonee Valley on June 29 and runs an inglorious sixth of eight.
He then goes interstate and, less than a fortnight later, lands a $7 to $5 plunge to win the $150,000 Grafton Cup at probably the biggest bush racing carnival in Australia.
The stipes grilled trainer Ciaron Maher, who among other things suggested the removal of blinkers may have helped the horse.
However, no action was taken. Punters who backed Mr O'Ceirin at the Valley did not get a refund.
If Mr O'Ceirin produces such a glaring example of inconsistency again, action has to be taken. Otherwise punters will find something better to do with their money and leisure time than betting on racehorses.
Perhaps to balance the ledger you should give this a run to show that it is not just Queensland where the form reversals occur.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks for the reminder Dick or should I add ‘Head’ to your name?
For starters Mr O’Ceirin didn’t produce his ‘form reversal win’ as you describe it in Victoria so it was a bit hard for that panel to ask any questions. But you might like to take this information aboard, or to get someone to read it to you:
Here is what trainer Ciairon Maher had to say in a ‘blog’ on the Racing Victoria website before the horse headed to Grafton:
'Looking ahead this week I’ve got Mr O’Ceirin heading interstate for the Grafton Cup on Thursday. He knocked a few people out of the quaddie last week at the Valley but he’s pulled up well since. The pace was fast, he pulled badly and we think he may have choked down. I think a tongue tie will go on (as it did), we’ll take the blinkers off and put pacifiers on to open him up a bit more and hopefully we can pull off the raid.’
It was also documented in the Caulfield stewards’ report on July 3 after a follow-up with Ciaron Maher that the trainer was of the opinion that Mr O’Ceirin had choked down at Moonee Valley.
You can’t be much clearer than that Dick!
STEWARDS NEED TO TAKE STRONGER ACTION AGAINST INCONSISTENT HORSES 
OLIVER M of SYDNEY wrote this e-mail:
‘WE have seen so many cases of inconsistency or form reversals from horses in every state in recent months that something more needs to be done by stewards.
Trainers have an endless list of excuses for poor performances or massive form improvements that they make it hard for the stewards to take action of any significance.
The big losers of course are the punters who backed them when they were fancied only to see them come out next start and win at double figure odds.
It goes on all the time and is a growing problem for the image of racing everywhere.
Perhaps the answer is to stand down inconsistent horses for a period of at least a month for first time offenders and increase the penalty if they continue to race in this manner.
If it is hurting the owner through the pocket he will put pressure on the trainer and hopefully at the end of the day we will see horses race more consistently or not be produced in races until they do.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: Inconsistent horses should at least be forced to trial before they race again which does occur on occasions. It has been pointed out to me how trainer John Manzelmann was advised after the Mackay meeting on July 4 that Bedrock Betty, which finished at the rear of the field, will be barred from competing in TAB events until the mare establishes some form in non-TAB status events. Interestingly, that was Mackay Newmarket day and the Chairman of Stewards on the day was North Queensland-based Karl Smith. But on the panel was Wade Birch, the state’s Chief Stipe, visiting from Brisbane. Here’s hoping he tells the rest of the stewards in the state to adopt a similar approach to inconsistent gallopers, especially in the south-east corner where form is near on impossible to follow.
HEROES WELCOME PROVIDED FOR RETURN OF DAMIEN AND GAI HARD TO FOLLOW 
RYAN J of SYDNEY sent this interesting e-mail:
‘IT’S a funny game racing when you consider the way it has welcomed Damien Oliver back to the fold after his eight-month suspension and Gai Waterhouse after her overseas holiday to forget the trauma of the More Joyous inquiry.
One suspects the racing media will also be rolling out the red carpet for Dan Nikolic, when and if, he ever gets the opportunity to return to the riding ranks in Victoria.
What a disgrace.
Oliver did the wrong thing and has admitted it. His iconic status in the eyes of the punting public is forever tarnished yet when he returns to riding trackwork they convene a special press conference to welcome him back.
Waterhouse might have escaped the More Joyous fiasco with a fine although there are side issues to that inquiry which stewards had claimed they would continue to investigate – we’re still awaiting that outcome. Hopefully it hasn’t been filed in the too hard basket.
‘The First Lady’ returns from her holiday and is treated as though nothing ever happened, especially by TVN interviewer Richard Callander whose suck-up to her last Saturday was almost sickening – only to be followed up by a similar exercise in his Daily Telegraph column by dad, Kenny.
These people should be forced to earn back the respect of the racing public and the punters, not welcomed with open arms by the media as though they are heroes returning from a hard fought but lost battle or holiday.
Yeah, racing is a funny game.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: THERE are some interesting comments about the past and the future from DAMIEN OLIVER in this MICHAEL MANLEY story in the HERALD SUN: 
DISGRACED jockey Damien Oliver says he has cut ties with punter and former friend Mark Hunter, feels sorry for trainer Robert Smerdon and is doing his utmost to restore his tarnished reputation as he returns from an eight-month suspension.
Oliver is not eligible to ride in a race for another two months, but returned to the saddle at trackwork on Monday. And he is hopeful that Thousand Guineas winner Commanding Jewel is the horse to return him to the spotlight for the right reasons this spring after he was reunited with the filly.
But more immediately he attempted to explain why he had breached the public's trust with his $11,000 bet on a rival horse.
''There's no doubt my reputation has copped a bit of a whack and it's up to me to win that back,'' he said. ''It's up to me to prove that I can be accepted into that industry again.''
But he defended claims his illegal bet had tarnished not only his reputation, but that of racing in general. ''In my experience, the overwhelming majority of people in racing are honest and hard-working,'' he said.
Oliver claimed the bet at Moonee Valley was the only one he had ever had and that he had never deliberately tried to lose a race. ''When I've ridden I've always ridden to get the best possible result for the owners and trainers and the people that ask me to do the job,'' he said. ''I'll continue to do that … the only way is to get back and ride winners.''
He said he felt sorry for Smerdon after learning the trainer had been slugged with a $10,000 fine for his role in the Miss Octopussy betting scandal. Smerdon was charged by Racing Victoria stewards and found guilty of inappropriate conduct for handing over Oliver's winnings as a favour to Hunter, and lost a VCAT appeal in June when trying to have the decision overturned. Oliver said the penalty was too harsh and Smerdon was unlucky to be caught in the crossfire.
''I thought Robert [Smerdon] was hardly done by. He virtually had nothing to do with it at all and I certainly feel sorry for Robert. I might be riding a lot of free trackwork for him and hopefully I can repay him with a few winners.''
Oliver said the Leon Corstens-trained filly Commanding Jewel was noticeably stronger heading into the new season and barely comparable to the light-framed filly that triumphed at Caulfield 12 months ago.
''It's great to be back and great to be back on such a nice one like Commanding Jewel. I haven't been on her since last spring but she's really developed and matured and it's just nice to be back on her.''
DAN THE ‘CAT WITH NINE LIVES’ LIVES TO FIGHT YET ANOTHER DAY 
GW of BENDIGO sent this e-mail:
‘THE cat with nine lives has done it again – or has he?
Jockey Dan the Man Nikolic will not be charged after a police investigation into race-fixing allegations that involved his mount Smoking Aces at Cranbourne in April 2011.
The authorities decided there was insufficient evidence to lay charges against Nikolic or his trainer brother, John, who enjoyed feature race success with his stable newcomer Hour of Peril at Grafton last Sunday.
John Nikolic was quick to bag stewards for ‘destroying the riding career’ and ‘trashing the reputation’ of his brother. One could argue that in other areas Dan has done a pretty good job on that himself.
As for the comment ‘we’re vindicated’ well they might be in the eyes of the police but from a stewards’ perspective the Smoking Aces inquiry is far from over.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: JUDGING by the amount of e-mails critical of him that we receive, many people in racing are not a big fan of the way that Dan Nikolic behaves when it comes to the authorities. HERE are a couple of stories that obviously prompted the above e-mail:
MARK BUTLER reported in the HERALD SUN that champion jockey Danny Nikolic will not be charged after a police investigation into explosive race-fixing claims.
Nikolic and his horse trainer brother John have been the subject of a major inquiry by organised crime detectives into allegations a race at Cranbourne was fixed in April, 2011.
The race, won by Nikolic’s mount Smoking Aces, wound up the at the centre of inquiries by police and racing authorities.
A brief of evidence by Purana taskforce detectives was submitted last year to the Office of Public Prosecutions.
The OPP’s advice was that there was insufficient evidence to lay charges.
The scandal sent shockwaves through the racing industry but John Nikolic told the Herald Sun he never doubted there would be no prosecution.
He said it was too late for his brother, whose riding career had been destroyed.
“His reputation’s been absolutely trashed,” John Nikolic said.
“We’re vindicated but you have to be annoyed that your reputation can be totally trashed. To date, not one fact has come to light supporting any allegations.”
Allegations the Cranbourne race was rigged surfaced during a homicide squad investigation into the 2011 murder of racing identity Les Samba months earlier.
Mr Samba’s daughter, Victoria, was formerly married to Nikolic.
A Victoria Police statement issued today said: “Detectives from Purana Taskforce have completed a thorough investigation into allegations of race fixing and money laundering in relation to a number of horse races in 2011 and 2012.
“On advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions, no charges will be laid.
“Where legislation permits, and on advice from the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office, Victoria Police will supply documentation to the Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner to assist their investigation into
this matter.”
John Nikolic on Sunday trained his first winner since the reinstatement of his trainer’s licence when Hour of Peril saluted in the Maclean Cup at Grafton in northern New South Wales.
He said he and his brother would not contemplate any kind of legal action.
“My brother’s seen more than enough courts,” John Nikolic said.
BUT in another news bulletin RACING VICTORIA reported that its stewards are continuing their investigation into the Smoking Aces races at Cranbourne in April 2011 despite police yesterday closing the book on the case.
Jockey Danny Nikolic, his brother John and jockey Mark Zahra were told by police no criminal proceedings would be pursued.
The police made the decision on the advice of the Office of Public Prosecutions.
Victoria Police have also stopped their investigations into two other races.
"The Smoking Aces investigation has always remained active pending new information, so when VicPol furnishes us with new information it will resume," RVL chief executive Bernard Saundry said yesterday.
He said stewards requested access to information on the other two races and could open inquiries if they felt it appropriate.
IT’S TIME THE POLICE STARTED HELPING THE STEWARDS WITH RACING INVESTIGATIONS
AND this interesting comment, also in some ways related to the controversial Nikolic brothers from KJ in BRISBANE:
‘AS most that follow the legal side of racing closely would now be aware there are two different levels of proof required in a Criminal Court and that of a domestic court or tribunal.
Although these days in Melbourne it seems to be the reverse.
Firstly, in a criminal court the accused can only be found guilty of a charge if the case is cut and dry. Otherwise the defendant must be given the benefit of any doubt.
Secondly, in a domestic court a person can be found guilty if ‘on the balance of probability’ he or she has committed an offence. This level of proof does not have to be as high as that required in any criminal case.
But it seems the gap is closing.
Obviously the coppers were flying in the Smoking Aces case but all they had was a ‘pair of twos’ and it came as no surprise that the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled there was not enough evidence to support charges being laid.
Here’s hoping that Victoria police will provide the stewards of Racing Victoria the information needed to ensure in future that they can do their jobs instead of tying their hands behind their backs.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: ADRIAN DUNN reported for TVN that VICTORIA Police will provide to the Racing Integrity Commissioner and Racing Victoria, where legislation permits and on advice from the Victorian Government’s solicitor’s office, documents to assist their investigations.
In its release today, Victoria Police noted that detectives from Purana Taskforce had completed a thorough investigation into allegations of race fixing and money laundering in relation to a number of races in 2011 and 2012.
Victoria Police said on advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions, no charges would be laid.
“Where legislation permits, and on advice from the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office, Victoria Police will supply documentation to the Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner and Racing Victoria to assist their investigation into this matter,” the press release concluded.
Disqualified jockey Danny Nikolic, his brother John and jockey Mark Zahra today were contacted by police with the news.
The three were told that acting on advice from the OPP that Victoria Police would not be taking the matter any further.
Police also confirmed that inquiries into two other races would also not be proceeding.
Police opened an inquiry into the win of Smoking Aces, ridden by Nikolic, at Cranbourne in February 2011, in August last year.
HERE’S HOPING THE LATEST COMMISSION OF INQUIRY NETS SOME RESULTS 
MM of ROCKHAMPTON sent this e-mail:
‘WITH almost 100 witnesses subpoenaed to appear and more than 14,000 documents provided one would hope the latest Commission of Inquiry into Racing in Queensland produces a result of benefit to the industry.
Once again racing in Queensland is at the centre of controversy – the butt of many interstate jokes – and engulfed in a political war involving rival groups within the industry.
The question that needs to be addressed by the Commission is how just how much political gamesmanship is at stake between the former Labor Government and its success from the LNP in the allegations that will be made.
At least Counsel Assisting the inquiry, James Bell, QC, has been quick to highlight the fact that the racing industry throws up all sorts of allegations which are sometimes found to be untrue.
“The racing industry is particularly driven with rumor and gossip,” Mr Bell told the initial public hearing of the Inquiry on Monday.
There are suggestions an application may be made for an extension of the inquiry and that some confidential information will be heard in camera. No doubt has been set for the public hearings to occur.
If the Commission is to send a message that this is not a ‘political witch-hunt’ on behalf of the LNP Government for the Labor-aligned Bob Bentley Board, then steps need to be taken from the outset to ensure some witnesses are not just ‘using the inquiry’ for that purpose.
If that doesn’t occur then it is going to develop into a mud-slinging match with the Bentley Board likely to fight back with all guns blazing if they are backed into a corner.
That could prove very messy and embarrassing for the industry in Queensland which doesn’t need any more bad publicity. It is already regarded as a standing joke by the racing public and stake-holders from other parts of the country.
EDITOR’S NOTE: RACING has long been a political hot potato in Queensland and nothing much has changed over the past two decades. The issues that certainly need to be resolved – from an industry perspective – are those involving the contracts for the cushion tracks, the golden handshakes for the loyal servants of the Bentley Board and it would be nice to see some questions answered in relation to the new track at Toowoomba and plans for Albion Park, especially the situation that involved selling the place and relocating the trots and dogs to Deagon, a proposal which the new Government quickly canned.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BECOMING A STANDING JOKE UNDER NEW QLD GOVERNMENT
And this one from regular contributor JIM C of GREENBANK:
‘WE have the shroud of Turin outlining Christ’s features, the shroud of Lewinsky highlighting elbow and knee impressions and we have our own shroud, the secrecy veiling Racing Queensland.
Alison Sandy in The Courier-Mail 15-16 June 2013 on proposed changes to the Right to Information Act wrote “….. slow to move on a law that offers many loopholes to agencies might have something to hide.”
Alison went on to nominate Queensland Racing Ltd (now RQL) “which Bleijie was keen on in Opposition, was to extend the Act to include Government-owned corporations such as Queensland Racing Ltd.”
In Tuesday’s CM (16/07/2013) Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie was quoted as saying: “Queenslanders have a right to know where their tax dollars are being spent.”
I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. Bleijie is faithful 100%. We wait to judge if these rights are incorporated into future RTI for RQL.
If not, the shroud will have changed to a hoodie, conveniently masking blusters as the occasion warrants.
It is desired that Commissioner White makes, in her final submissions, a request to change the Laws that will permit RTI to be made available from RQL in the expectation that more transparent information will hopefully prevent further cloaking so that the bull terrier jaws lockdown of details by RQL, such as future track plans, may be prized open.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Freedom of Information is threatening to degenerate into a joke under the new LNP Government in Queensland. As usual Jim your e-mail is entertaining and informative. Here’s hoping it bears some fruit from the right quarters but I wouldn’t be holding my breath.
BITS AND PIECES
CONTROVERSIAL RACING IDENTITY TO GIVE EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY
STANDBY for some fireworks with one of the most controversial racing identities in Queensland subpoenaed to give evidence at the Racing Commission of Inquiry.
The new powers-that-be at Racing Queensland and some of their club official mates will be choking on their corn flakes when they hear the list of names of those giving evidence.
We can’t reveal the name of the witness but he has some explosive evidence to present which concerns the goings-on at a certain controversial TAB club.
JOCKEY MANAGER KEEN TO TAKE ON ZAC PURTON 
YOU have to give the jockey manager, who shall remain nameless, full marks for trying to promote his new business.
He sent a message to Zac Purton in Hong Kong offering to manage him when he returns to Australia.
About the only thing Zac will be doing back in OZ for a couple of years at least is holiday. In the off-season next year he is hoping to take up a riding contract in Asia.
HIGH PROFILE ‘BAGGER’ DIDN’T GET THE ANSWERS HE WAS AFTER
HIGH profile racing official from Melbourne with an apparent dislike for a former Queenslander now working in his home state tried to compile a ‘dirt file’ on said individual during a Winter carnival visit.
It seems ‘Mr Snoopy’ didn’t get the answers he was looking for. The positive responses saw him head south with his tail between his legs.
What he shame he didn’t stick to what he does best – promoting himself with the Racing Minister in his own jurisdiction and not worrying about how someone else does their job.
TOO TIRED AFTER WEDDING TO FOCUS ON TRACKWORK
A controversial jockey on the comeback trail surprised a top trainer when he told him recently he would be absent from trackwork for almost a week.
Why, questioned the trainer. Because I’m attending the wedding of a star footballer and it might take me a few days to recover, came the reply.
Then again weddings are in the air. A prominent Queensland steward recently flew to Prague to attend the nuptials of a good mate who formerly worked to Sky Channel.
MOODY AND WALLER MOVE A POSITIVE IN TWO STATES
THERE has been plenty of comment on plans by Peter Moody to expand to Sydney and Chris Waller to build up his team in Melbourne.
Moody has conceded it may cost him the Melbourne premiership but that isn’t likely to happen with Waller in Sydney.
It is good for the industry in two states with extra competition but not so good news for Gai Waterhouse who is talking about reclaiming her metropolitan trainers’ title, especially with more competition from Moody as well in the new season.
PRO PUNTER DECLARES BET365 A ‘LEGEND IN ITS OWN LUNCHTIME’ 
MARK L of GOLD COAST sent this e-mail:
‘AS a professional punter who enjoys the challenge let me assure you that Bet365 is a legend in its own lunchtime.
While you are losing they will accept your bets – in the thousands – but the moment you start to win they reduce your investment to an amount that borders on the ridiculous.
Rather than promote themselves as the ‘world’s biggest on-line sports bookmaker’ they should use the description of the ‘world’s weakest.’
And speaking of weakness, what about the gutless Northern Territory Gaming Commission that allows corporate betting agencies like Bet365 to do as they like?
There should be a national body formed to oversee their operation – come on Federal Government or Australian Racing Board. How about doing your job and protecting the punters?
Better still the authorities should move heaven and earth to establish one tote in this country. If they think it would create a monopoly that is wrong. What it would do is represent a real threat to the corporate operators whose profits go overseas.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: THE sooner we get a national tote in Australia to compete with the corporate bookmaking agencies the better. Unfortunately the last time it was raised the competition body claimed it would create a monopoly. Someone needs to remind them that whilst there are corporates operating in this country – and channeling their profits off-shore – there will never be a monopoly. As far as the rejection of bets and closure of accounts from winning punters then requirements need to be introduced whereby corporate bookmakers have to bet to lose a substantial amount – similar to what occurs most places, except for the joke that currently exists in Queensland where you are only guaranteed to get on for a hot pie under the new RQ rules.
RACING MEDIA NEEDS MORE COLUMNISTS WITH THE COURAGE OF TERRY BUTTS 
HAL T of TOWNSVILLE wrote:
‘WE need more racing columnists in this country like Terry Butts who are prepared to call a spade a spade.
Butts might not be based in the big smoke but he monitors what is happening there and is prepared to keep officialdom on their toes.
One assumes he wouldn’t survive if he was writing for one of the bigger media outlets. Too many racing writers and commentators of the new brigade want to ingratiate themselves with the ‘big names’ and ‘wheelers and dealers’ in racing.
That means turning a blind eye to most forms of criticism, steering clear of any comments that might cause their profile to be burnt and being able to rub shoulders with officialdom who declare them ‘good blokes’ because of the way they write.
Butts has plenty of support for his stand on the SKY-TVN deals; the political decisions that saw Toowoomba get two new tracks at a cost of almost $20 million to the industry; the need for a national tote to combat the corporate bookies; the perceived favoritism shown to some clubs by the new broom at Racing Queensland; and most of all for declaring the latest Racing Minister in Queensland (Steve Dickson) a boofhead who should have stuck to running caravan parks.
Keep up the good work Terry Butts. There are plenty who cannot wait to read your column every week – and thanks to letsgohorseracing for running it as well.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: The ‘Silks & Saddles’ column that we run, courtesy of one of Australia’s leading rural newspapers, the North Queensland Register, is among the most popular features on our website. Unfortunately there are few surviving ‘dinosaurs’ of an era in turf writing where you wrote what you thought was in the interests of the punting public rather than what might endear oneself with officialdom.
RACING MINISTER AND HIS ADVISORS NEED A TIMELY WAKE-UP CALL 
BOB S of BRISBANE writes:
‘BOUQUETS to Terry Butts for declaring the Racing Minister of Queensland what he is in the eyes of most in the industry and brickbats to the mainstream media for steering clear of criticizing him.
We have had some terrible appointments over the years in the portfolio responsible for the racing industry in Queensland and Steve Dickson is up there with the worst of them.
He continues to show his complete lack of knowledge of an industry that reaps millions for the Government and employs tens of thousands. Little wonder it is going downhill with Steve Dickson the Racing Minister and the residents of Dixon Square (a reference to the RQ Chairman made by Terry Butts) running the show.
Who can forget that embarrassing statement by the Racing Minister that within a few years he hoped to see Queensland become the leading state in Australian racing? What were they serving at that awards night?
And his latest little gem about the future of racing in Queensland resting with the country and regional centres without making any mention of the city.
Scoring cheap political points by getting your mates in race clubs to give the former Board of RQ a roasting at the latest Racing Inquiry is hardly an endorsement of how well the industry is travelling.
In fact it is going backwards – there has been little or no move at the stations toward across the board prizemoney in Brisbane and the major south-east tracks to try and peg back the stakes being offered in Sydney, Melbourne and NSW in particular.
There has been no move to improve the integrity of racing in Queensland, especially the south-east, where punter confidence is at an all-time low. What has the new Racing Integrity Commissioner achieved since he was appointed apart from announcing a junket, sorry information gathering tour around the state?
Yes, when it comes to the turn of Kevin Dixon’s mate Bob Frappell to give evidence at the inquiry, he will be in there bagging the crap out of Bob Bentley over the cushion track at Toowoomba and insisting that the industry was barnstormed into it.
Now we have another new track – what a waste of money – being installed at Toowoomba, which Frappell is happy to be remembered for during his era as Chairman, when racing on the Downs will continue to struggle for survival.
Just have a look at the turnover figures when the Sunshine Coast went twilight on Saturday night. They were a disgrace. But like everything else that is bad about racing in Queensland don’t expect to hear too much about it in the mainstream media.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: TERRY Butts copped plenty from the former Racing Queensland when Jamie Orchard was the Integrity Manager. Stewards tried to use their powers over him as a licensee (trainer) and accused him of bringing the industry into disrepute when he wrote a critical article quoting another trainer in his column. The Appeals Tribunal ruled that Butts was working as a racing journalist and that the stewards had no right to deal with him. He has continued to adopt the same principles in his column despite that major, drawn-out trauma, which did nothing for his health which at times suffered. Buttsy bounced back from a bad falls when he tripped over an obstacle on a footpath on Saturday night to train a winner at Cluden on Tuesday which ended a bit of a drought for him.
WARNED OFF PUNTER AND TIPSTER ON TRIAL OVER UK BETTING SCAM
WE noticed this interesting article in the RACING POST
JOHN McCracken , the punter and tipster who was effectively warned off for life in 2004 for refusing to co-operate with a race-fixing investigation, went on trial on Monday over his alleged involvement in a £5 million betting scam.
McCracken, 47, unemployed, of Brighton, appeared at Lewes Crown Court with fellow defendants Matthew Thole, 40, a company director and racing tipster, from Cardiff, and self-employed John Brice, 40, of Hove. All three men denied charges of conspiracy to defraud.
It is alleged that more than £5m was obtained by the defendants as a result of their convincing hundreds of individuals across the UK to invest in non-existent betting brochure schemes between April 30, 2003, and February 13, 2008.
Prosecuting, Mark Cotter told the court that brochures under several names – including that of McCracken – were sent unsolicited to thousands of addresses across the UK.
Cotter said: “It is a safe inference that all the campaigns were scams.”
HOW CAN RACING VICTORIA JUSTIFY EXPENDITURE ON REJUVENATION OF JUMPS RACING? 
SANDRA M of MELBOURNE writes:
‘HOW can they justify the amount of money being pumped into the rejuvenation of jumps racing when the biggest feature hurdle event can attract only four starters?
Of course the jumps lobby, with support from their mates in the racing media, was quick to publicize ‘the wonderful win by Black and Bent.’
Give us a break – he was once a great jumper – but the Grand National win was almost akin to a Steven Bradbury gold medal performance. He won the big race by default.
Now with high profile identities like Racing Minister Denis Napthine (his electorate just happens to be in the centre of jumps country at Warrnambool) and Mike Symons (chairman of the Melbourne Race Club and a part-owner of Black And Bent) behind the push, it is little wonder more industry money is being wasted saving a sport that was gone long ago.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: THE Grand National was still an exciting race and the call of Greg Miles a terrific one even if he did – like the rest of us – declare his doubt in the run that BLACK AND BENT could win. Critics of jumps racing need to realize that without this section of the sport some of these magnificent horses would be destined for the knackery. HERE’S a story which the above e-mail probably refers to:
MICHAEL MANLEY reported in the HERALD SUN that RACING Victoria is not going to panic after only four horses contested Sunday's Grand National Hurdle at Sandown.
RVL jumps manager Paul Bloodworth said the number of jumpers increasing this season should have a flow-on affect in the next couple of years.
Bloodworth pointed out the GN Hurdle was a quality race with a proven star in Black And Bent and the promising Wells.
"With Wells being a kilo and a half over the minimum and also Macedonian being on the minimum, it probably kept a few away," Bloodworth said.
Winner Black And Bent is now headed for a spell.
Smerdon didn't dismiss the notion of Black And Bent racing over fences next year.
‘WHIP BASHING’ AUTHOR UNDER FIRE FROM RACING STAKEHOLDERS 
WE received several e-mails from racing stakeholders protesting another ‘whip bashing’ story by PATRICK SMITH in THE AUSTRALIAN which were a shade too defamatory to run.
Racing fans need to accept that it’s a free country, Patrick is entitled to his opinion, and there was some breaking news in his latest attack.
Here is what he wrote that again upset them:
THE rules governing the use of the whip in Australian racing have been revisited recently more times than your wealthy great aunt. But new research indicates strongly that another visit is required. The accepted understanding in this country of whip use and its effects are about to be seriously challenged.
The research, conducted by the University of Sydney, indicates that the nation’s whip rules have been formulated on a flawed understanding and perception of how different styles of whip riding affect profoundly the force of the impact on the horse’s rump.
The rules allow for jockeys to hit their horses with the whip held in a backhand manner (as you might hold a ski pole) without reservation at any stage of the race so long as the horse has a realistic chance of being competitive at the finish.
A jockey using the whip in a forehand manner (like holding a tennis racquet) can use the whip just five times – and not in consecutive strides – before the 100m and then he can lash the horse as many times as he can before reaching the winning post.
The research paper, peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior (sic), notes of the Australian rules, which differentiate between the amount of backhand and forehand whip use: “This seems to imply that backhand whip use is less closely scrutinised, which may have profound implications for horse welfare.”
The data for the experiment was gathered by having jockeys strike a pressure-detection pad embedded on a static model horse with left and right hands and using forehand and backhand grips.
The six jockeys (four male, two female) were asked to use the whip as though they were in contention to win a race.
Analysis of the data allowed the researchers to reach this conclusion: “The current results show that action (forehand versus backhand) does not influence force on impact when using the non-dominant hand. However, when using the dominant hand, these jockeys struck with more force in the backhand. This result challenges the current focus on welfare concerns around forehand whip strikes. Rules of racing that limit only forehand whip use cannot be relied upon to safeguard horse welfare.”
First author on the paper was Professor Paul McGreevy, who previously conducted studies into the effect of whipping and the arbitrary scrutiny of where horses are struck.
McGreevy told The Australian yesterday: “We already know that 70 per cent of whip use is in the backhand and therefore immune to any limits under the 2009 rules. This paper shows that backhand whip strikes land with more force than forehand strikes.
It also shows how whip impacts vary radically from one jockey to another. This underlines the difficulty for the ARB as it attempts to argue about equitable use of the whip.
“In essence, the data points to a howling loophole in the rules that prompt jockeys to use the whip in the style that probably does more harm,” he said.
The findings of this latest research are controversial. Senior jockey Corey Brown has previously contended that hitting with a backhand grip is only a third as powerful as a forehand strike.
Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy confirmed to The Australian that stewards had become concerned with the increase in backhand use of the whip since the rule changes and had approached the jockey association to moderate the practice. Murrihy claims education programs since run by the stewards and the jockey body have helped reduce backhand use.
Murrihy agreed there had been very little research into the whip and its ramifications and he said the stewards would look forward to studying the University of Sydney analysis.
The Australian Racing Board, which supports the current rules enthusiastically, has established its own research. ARB secretary Peter McGauran said the board had engaged in a program to understand the impact of the whip with Charles Sturt University. McGauran said the results were expected soon.
McGauran said an increase in backhand use of the whip was expected after the 2009 rule change limited the amount of times jockeys could strike their mounts in a forehand manner.
“But a backhand strike is more a slap rather than the forceful forehand action given the position of the jockey and the movement of the arm.”
As researchers get a better picture of the action of the whip on horses, surely it is getting harder for a civilised nation to allow the abuse to continue.
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.
