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 the key topics of discussion were the tragic death of jockey Simone Montgomerie on Darwin Cup day; the ride of Frenchman Thomas Huet on Under The Sun and the attitude of trainer Gai Waterhouse at an inquiry into the tactics; some interesting e-mails on the appointment of a new CEO for Racing Queensland and many other topics.
STEWARDS SHOULD HAVE ‘FROG MARCHED’ LITTLE THOMAS DOWN THE GANG PLANK 
THE ride by French jockey Thomas Huet on Under the Sun in Saturday’s Listed Winter Challenge at Rosehill attracted an angry response from punters as did the reaction of trainer Gai Waterhouse to questions from stewards.
Here are two examples of the e-mails we received that hopefully gets the general message across:
SAM J of SYDNEY writes:
‘IT seems that the ‘First Lady’ of Australian racing believes she is beyond being questioned by stewards when it comes to the integrity of the sport.
Her response to probing by Chief Steward Ray Murrihy after the ‘slaughter job’ of stable jockey Thomas Huet on Under the Sun on Saturday provoked this incredible reply:
“I cannot see anything wrong with the ride. He made an executive decision when he was out there,” Waterhouse snapped. “I don't give instructions. I only offered my thoughts and told him that it races better on the speed.”
That response was up there with the ‘infamous’ comment of top jockey Michael Rodd some time back that: “We don’t care about the punters.”
Sorry guys, but it’s those same punters who ensure your survival in this game whether you want to accept it or not. Without them investing their hard-earned week in, week out, you would be out of a job.
Two of the top scribes in Sydney racing summer up the situation perfectly. Ken Callander in the Daily Telegraph labeled the Huet ride ‘a shocker’ and declared Under the Sun ‘on the nose in the betting ring.’
Max Presnell in the Sydney Morning Herald took the French approach to Huet and suggested his ride was ‘Les Miserable.’ He likened the explanation of Waterhouse that it was acceptable because Huet made an ‘executive decision’ to Marie Antoinette’s ‘let them eat cake.’
If the whole affair had not been so serious, it would have been funny. Instead of advising Huet that his ride ‘was not up to metropolitan standard,’ the Murrihy panel should have charged Huet with incompetence and given him enough time to return to ‘Frog Land’ for an extended holiday.’
And this one from ERNIE J of MELBOURNE: 
‘AUSTRALIAN racing’s favorite ‘mother and son’ must not have agreed on the tactics adopted on Under the Sun in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill last Saturday. Then again we all know they don’t discuss things of this delicate nature since the More Joyous inquiry.
In tipping his mum’s horse Under the Sun last Friday, Tom Waterhouse, the bookie with the million dollar smile, declared: ‘He maps to dictate in front.’ What a pity Tommy the Frog wasn’t listening.
Gai’s line that Frenchman Thomas Huet made an ‘executive decision’ which saw him trapped three wide while stablemate Kinnersley took up the pacemaker’s role, had some comparing the ‘First Lady’ to Pinocchio.
But the proof of the pudding for the punters was in the betting ring where Under the Sun drifted alarmingly from $2.8 to $4.8 and raced accordingly. The crystal balls those blokes possess are absolutely amazing.
That should be the subject of a stewards’ inquiry or perhaps Monsieur Huet should have been told at the barrier that his ride would be under close scrutiny in view of the fact that there was a distinct lack of interest in Under the Sun in the betting ring.
The ride was an absolute ‘shocker’ and to think that all Huet copped was a blast from the stewards is almost as unbelievable.
Isn’t there a charge that says something about ‘failing to position a horse to give it every possible chance of winning or obtaining the best possible place in the field?’
Come on Mr Murrihy show Gai Waterhouse who is running the show in Sydney racing – and that it isn’t her.
EDITOR’S NOTE: RATHER than me comment on this, here’s what two highly respected Sydney turf journalists wrote on the issue in their newspaper columns this week.
KEN CALLANDER in the SYDNEY TELEGRAPH:
UNDER The Sun was on the nose in the betting ring at Rosehill on Saturday long before Thomas Huet turned in a ride that can only be labelled a shocker.
In the betting ring it was a race between bookies in the last five minutes of betting to get Under The Sun’s price out. That Under The Sun eased from $2.80 to $4.80 was not the main talking point between punters, it was the “late mail” that saw him get from $3.80 to $4.80 in the last few minutes of betting that had tongues wagging.
Huet’s ride was incredible. At his previous start, when he won, he had no trouble in leading Kinnersley on Under The Sun, but this time he let Kinnersley and Bold Glance cross him and then, inexplicably, he gave up his rails spot to ease across their heels and race three deep outside the lead.Gai Waterhouse might not have thought there was much wrong with the ride but everybody else at Rosehill thought it a good idea if Huet hopped on the next plane back to Paris.
Under The Sun’s previous start win was on a slow track, but of his previous six wins, three were on good tracks and three on dead tracks.
The stewards gave Huet a double- barrel blast for the ride and rightly so, but was much established? What happens next time, does Under The Sun lead, does he sit three deep outside the leaders or does he drop out and come from last?
IF you haven’t seen a replay of the Winter Challenge from Rosehill try and do so. Forget Under The Sun’s run that is done and dusted and watch the ride by Jason Collett on the winner Coup Ay Tee.
Talk about a daredevil and having nerves of steel, the kid took a run between horses that Evel Knievel would have baulked at. As for the favourite Bayrir don’t forget he hadn’t raced at shorter than 1800m before Saturday and will come into his own in middle-distance races.
AND MAX PRESNELL in the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: 
THE Thomas Huet ride on Under The Sun, itemized by chief steward Ray Murrihy, in the Winter Challenge to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday was Les Miserable.
The explanation by trainer Gai Waterhouse that it was acceptable because the French jockey made an ''executive decision'' was in the category of Marie Antoinette's ''let them eat cake''.
Under The Sun eased from $2.80 to $4.80, not a good look but hardly condemning enough for the Bastille.
Huet was expected to take advantage of the slow pace that eventuated but stablemate, outsider Kinnersley with no opposition from Under The Sun, took up the running. Kinnersley was beaten a half-length in third, Under The Sun was beaten two lengths into seventh, good considering his wide passage.
In tipping Under The Sun on Friday, Tom Waterhouse said he ''maps to dictate in front''.
Had La Perouse charted a similar course he would have landed at Port Arthur, not Botany Bay.
The Waterhouse counsel, the plausible Mark Newnham, who would make Napoleon look good at Waterloo, said in the inquiry a ''smack around the bum'' made all the difference to Kinnersley. No doubt Huet will benefit from the same treatment.
Coincidentally, on Friday, I mentioned the recommendation by Gai Waterhouse of a racing magazine, Kingsley Klarion, published by trainer Mark Johnston. Waterhouse is still working on a title but her own magazine, possibly The Gai Gazette, will be out later this week.
IT’S NO APRIL FOOL’S DAY JOKE, THE CEO WILL COMMENT ON DAY-TO-DAY RQ AFFAIRS 
HARRY G of BRISBANE sent this e-mail:
‘WHEN I read the report by Terry Butts in his Silks & Saddles column on your website I looked at the calendar to ensure that it was the beginning of August and not April.
His glowing profile on Darren Condon, the new CEO of RQ, gave the industry reason for optimism but only a fool would believe the suggestion that Chairman Kevin Dixon will take a back-seat role when it comes to statements on day-to-day issues.
If that’s what Condon told Butts then he must have been watching too many movies when he was working at the cinema for all those years during his absence from the racing scene.
With all due respects, Condon hails from a racing background where his family would have told him: ‘recognize early who is the boss and you will survive forever’. He cut his teeth during the days when the Queensland Turf Club ran the show with a ‘my way or the highway attitude.’
After a sabbatical from racing – when he worked with a movie company – Darren returned to the racing fold as first lieutenant to Stephen Ferguson at the Brisbane Racing Club where he would have been only too aware once again who was calling the shots.
Coincidentally, his boss during some of that time was none other than Kevin Dixon before he left the BRC to take up the interim Chairmanship of Racing Queensland.
To suggest that Condon would independently make statements on important day-to-day issues affecting racing without first consulting his RQ boss – on this occasion Mr Dixon – is akin to suggesting racing in Brisbane is squeaky clean.
Come on Buttsy, we know that your good mate Barry Taylor played a key role in the appointment of Condon, but surely he too isn’t being fooled into believing that RQ will run like a ‘real’ Board and deliver proper powers to their CEO.
This is racing in Queensland mate – it just doesn’t happen that way.’
And this one from a long-time racing official who prefers that we don’t reveal his identity: 
‘LET me explain at the outset that over the years I have worked with the majority of the CEOs of Queensland Racing or Racing Queensland, including the newest, Darren Condon, when he was involved at Eagle Farm.
So I think I qualify to comment on the new appointment as my association dates back to the era of John Coughlan, Greg Honchin and Kevin Haseman. And I have seen others come and go, like Jeremy Turner and Malcolm Tuttle.
Over the years the problem has been that the CEO has not been allowed to do his job properly because the QR or RQ Chairman has interfered and wanted to operate as an Executive Chairman.
One could argue that some appointments were made on the basis of them being a CEO who lacked the ability to do the job properly, largely because they were ‘yes men’ or would stand in the corner when told to and cover the backsides of the chairman.
There were several cases where those who didn’t toe the line or tried to do the ‘real’ job of a CEO were shown the door.
Whilst I think there are some unanswered questions about the appointment process that eventually saw Darren Condon a somewhat surprise appointment as the latest CEO, I believe he is up to the challenge.
But to have the industry believe that the Board has given him the responsibility of handling the day-to-day dealings with the media and the industry remains to be seen. Knowing how Kevin Dixon operates, I cannot imagine any CEO keen to survive in the current political climate at RQ making a statement without consulting him first.
On the subject of the appointment there are concerning stories of high profile identities from interstate, two in particular from Victoria, who were interested in the CEO job that withdrew from the race because they were told by ‘key industry people’ in Queensland that Stephen Ferguson from the BRC was a ‘shoe in.’
One has to question the circumstances surrounding the decision by Condon to apply, especially when he would have known that his then boss was supposedly the ‘pea’ for the job. It just doesn’t make much sense if you understand the politics of Queensland racing, especially where the QTC or their replacement, the BRC, is concerned.
From my viewpoint – and I have seen him in action as well – it was a good decision to steer clear of Ferguson. Not because he doesn’t have the talent to do the job but for those of us outside of Brisbane the thought of Dixon and Ferguson back together running RQ was not in the best interests of the industry as a whole.
The concern now for those I have spoken to is how much influence Ferguson will still have on Condon. He apparently likes to think he is still a major cog in the wheel that runs RQ or more to the point whether Condon will take his orders from the Board and not simply the chairman.
This is a situation that the new Board needs to sort out whether Kevin has the numbers or not. For too long RQ Boards in the past – especially during the Bentley era – have become ‘one man’ bands. The industry is too big for that and there is a need to look at the bigger picture.
If the Board in general has directed the chairman to let the new CEO do his job properly, then full marks and good luck to them. Time will tell but knowing Dixon I doubt that will be allowed to occur.
Too many decisions that were made during the interim period of his Board need to be reversed and nothing seems to be happening in that area where the new Board is concerned. (One that should have is the new track at Toowoomba where I am told work is lagging behind and it is a disaster waiting to happen – but that’s another story).
Let me say if there is an energetic young official with the determination to reverse the current plight of racing in Queensland then I am sure it is Darren Condon. But he will need a magic wand.
Condon faces a major challenge. Time will tell whether the Board would have been better to have sought a CEO with no ties to racing in Queensland. But let’s give him a go to produce the fresh ideas that he no doubt has. It will be a pleasant change.
Few CEOs of the past were up to the job. Malcolm Tuttle had no hope in my opinion and should never have been appointed. The industry should never have lost Jeremy Turner – we can thank Bob Bentley for that.
Here’s hoping Darren doesn’t fall on his sword because he decides to run the lines of his chairman or is still influenced by his former boss at the BRC, rather than that of the Board as a whole.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: THE first task that confronts Darren Condon in his new role is negotiating a path through the treacherous minefield that is racing politics in Queensland. RQ needs fresh blood. As long as he gives stakeholders a hearing and treats everyone – including the racing media – on an equal footing he will have the support of this website.
Here is the story by TERRY BUTTS that promoted the above e-mails: 
IN a show of confidence in the crucial appointment of Darren Condon, the Board of Racing Queensland has reportedly delegated responsibility for public comments on every day racing matters solely to the new Chief Executive Officer.
The Board is sending a message to the industry that this is very much ‘a hands-on role’ and Condon is well aware of the tough and difficult times ahead for an industry embroiled in a Commission of Inquiry, along with some delicate negotiations with TAB and SKY that could well seal the fate of racing in Queensland.
But Condon is confident that he can rise to the challenge and says he is ready for the fight. Many in the industry believe that the former deputy to Stephen Ferguson at the Brisbane Racing Club is the right choice to take the ‘hottest seat’ in the industry.
Condon has a strong racing background, being a grandson of veteran Toowoomba trainer, Barry Squair, formerly from Townsville. He is also closely related to the Laing family which has a long and rich history with racing in this state.
After beginning his career in racing, Darren has spent 14 years in the film and entertainment industry which should hold him in good stead for his current role, as racing administration today is increasingly reliant on the entrepreneurial skills of its leaders.
EDITOR’S COMMENT ON THE TRAGIC DEATH OF SIMONE MONTGOMERIE
HAVING been at the track – working as a turf journalist – on the day that a jockey died in a race, I can only struggle to imagine the impact such an event must have on fellow riders, not to mention family and friends. It left me numb and I have never forgotten that moment.
It was Doomben in 1992 and none of us standing outside the jockeys’ room waiting for the next race could have imagined the scene that was to follow as the ever smiling and infectious Leanne Crook passed us by with a cheerful ‘hi guys’ as she headed to the scales.
Less than a half hour later Leanne lay on the track in the home straight – the latest fatality in a list that has now reached 502 in the riding ranks since the early 1800s.
As the club doctor fumbled for his medical bag, he asked Chief Steward in Brisbane of that time, Ray Murrihy: ‘Do you need me.’ An ashen-faced Murrihy replied: ‘You had better come down.’ It was obvious there was little that anyone could do.
Racing continued on that day and I often wondered why. To be fair official news that Leanne had been killed was not relayed to the media until hours later after her family had been informed. So rather than have them read that into the abandonment of the meeting racing proceeded but it must have been tough for her colleagues who deep down would have known she was gone.
In the latest tragedy to befall the racing industry – the one involving Simone Montgomery at the Darwin Cup meeting – it seemed quite bizarre that only two days earlier the National Day of Remembrance had been held where jockeys paid tribute to their fallen comrades.
The death of Simone, 26 and the mother of two, has not only touched the racing fraternity in this country but she has been remembered overseas – like at the Cumbrian racetrack at Carlisle where they held a minute’s silence before racing began.
Simone may not have been a household name in Australian racing but she obviously won the hearts of the hundreds who came into contact with her – like champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy from their pony club days at Streaky Bay in South Australia.
The outpouring of grief on social media after news emerged that Simone had died in that terrible fall was astonishing. Comments were posted by high profile racing identities, close friends and even complete strangers.
“Words cannot describe the feelings of people around Australia. It is one of the most tragic circumstances that can possibly happen,” Des O’Keefe, general manager of the National Jockeys’ Association told Shane Anderson on RSN in Melbourne.
“We need to pause to reflect the contribution that jockeys make. It is ironic and tragic after Moonee Valley on Saturday when the families of four young riders lost in Victoria since 2001 joined in our national day to remember them that this could happen again.”
DARWIN CUP PRIZEMONEY DONATED TO LAUNCH THE FUND TO ASSIST SIMONE’S FAMILY 
WHAT a wonderful gesture by the Northern Territory Government and Darwin Turf Club in making a major contribution to a launch the fund that has been established to assist the family of Simone Montgomerie.
Darwin Turf Club officials announced yesterday that they would not attempt to reschedule the Cup with the $200,000 prizemoney to go to Montgomerie's family, a decision that will be wholeheartedly applauded by the racing industry nationally.
The Northern Territory Government voted unanimously to make a $50,000 donation to the fund.
“This was a tragic accident during the Territory's biggest sporting event. It has shocked the community and we are anxious to support Simone's family in any way we can,” NT Chief Minister Adam Giles said.
THE Australian Jockeys’ Association wasted no time lending its support in an hour of need. General Manager Des O’Keefe and OH&S officer, former jockey Kevin Ring, flew to Darwin yesterday to liaise with race officials and Simone’s family.
The Association will be supported them through the National Jockeys’ Trust established to provide financial and other support for jockeys and their families in the event of serious injury or death.
“An accident like this is a traumatic experience for all those involved, Simone’s family and friends, jockeys and the wider racing community,” said AJA CEO Paul Innes.
“Simone was a very popular jockey, both in the Northern Territory and South Australia, where she undertook her apprenticeship. Our thoughts are with her family and colleagues at this time.”
General Manager Des O’Keefe told RSN: “It is not that we can do a lot but it is important that we have a presence up there to let the family know that we will do everything we can to help.
The National Jockeys' Trust is taking donations via its website, www.njt.org.au, while those who wish to donate directly to the Montgomerie Fund can do so via a Westpac Bank account in the name of: ‘The Mongomerie Fund’ - BSB 035-302 Account No. 418752.
DIDN’T RUDD REALIZE WHEN HE CALLED THE ELECTION THAT IT WAS BIRDSVILLE CUP DAY? 
AMONG those least impressed by the decision of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to select Saturday, September 7, for the Federal election has been the Birdsville Race Club. It coincides with their famous Cup day meeting.
THE ABC reports that the Birdsville Race Club says it is hoping the September 7 election date will not deter visitors to the renowned race meeting in outback Queensland.
The September 7 poll will coincide with the running of the famous Birdsville Cup.
The town's population is expected to swell from 100 to more than 6,000 for the event.
Race club president David Brook says he would be hoping people lodge a postal vote before travelling.
"It'll be an interesting logistical exercise for the electoral commission," he said.
"I believe there is [the] intention of having a polling booth in Birdsville, at least there was initially, and hopefully it will still be here."
He says a polling booth has not always been available in the town in past elections.
"Sometimes there hasn't been, but I think this time with the large crowd that we expect, there will be a need to have one," he said.
"I hope that people will still travel to Birdsville for the races rather than stay in their home towns in order to vote, I hope they can come to Birdsville and cast a vote.
"Hopefully they will allow absentee voting for other electorates."
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) says it is considering options to cater for the several thousand voters expected in Birdsville for the poll.
AEC spokeswoman Vicki Kapernick says there will be a polling booth, but people are also encouraged to vote early.
"There always is a static polling booth open on election day at Birdsville for federal elections and we'll have a look at what other options there are available," she said.
"People that are planning to go to the Birdsville Races will be able to vote before they leave home.
"That early voting will start in major regional centres from August 20."
PUNTERS AGREE THEY SHOULD TURN OFF THE LIFE SUPPORT ON BRISBANE RACING 
MAL J of the GOLD COAST writes:
‘THE suggestion your website made of punters calling for the life support of Brisbane racing to be turned off best sums up the current situation.
They can blame the rough results and form reversals on bad horses, tracks improving after the wet, racing circumstances or lack of luck in running but that doesn’t alter the fact that favorites have a dismal record.
Remember a year ago when all the odds-on favorites were getting beaten in Brisbane – I think it was a record number for the previous season – and the apologists blamed that on false favorites.
Are market framers and punters in Brisbane that bad at judging the form that they continually get it wrong or is there a need for stronger action to be taken by stewards?
This has gone on for far too long and it is being reflected in the turnover on Brisbane racing whether officials want to admit it or not.
With the spring carnival fast-approaching more and more punters are going to turn their backs on racing in Queensland despite the fact that the bigger races provide a greater challenge but at least in the main the horses run to form and there is better value.
Where is the value if you see a horse like Keep It Moist land a plunge one Saturday when the race is arguably set up for it to win then come out at odds-on a week later, enjoy a much better run in transit, but fail to finish in the first three?
Stewards conduct inquiries into form reversals or improved performances but seem hamstrung in the action that they can take. Perhaps the answer is banishing inconsistent performers to the non-TAB meetings until they show that punters will get a fair run for their money at TAB fixtures.
Certainly something needs to be done. Racing relies on turnover and betting ring confidence. In Brisbane at present – whether the apologists for the form reversals want to admit it or not – there is none and the joint is going backwards.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: If there is no confidence in the product then racing in Queensland is stuffed. They can change Boards, increase prizemoney, appoint Integrity Commissioners or blame rogue websites, until they clean up their act on the track racing in Brisbane will continue to be a ‘wealth hazard’ for punters.
NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE LIKES OF MOODY TO EXPAND IN SYDNEY RATHER THAN RESIST 
NIGEL S of MELBOURNE sent this e-mail:
‘I was disappointed to read where Ken Callander in his weekly column (in the Sydney Telegraph) was critical of the Australian Turf Club move to encourage Peter Moody to expand his stable in Sydney.
Would Kenny be happier if it were left to the likes of Waller, Waterhouse and Snowden to dominate in Sydney without some fresh competition, while officialdom basically force the smaller trainers out of their city bases with performance requirements?
I think he also mentioned Kiwi trainer John Sargent in his criticism of the ATC ‘seeming to have bent over backwards’ in providing first-rate complexes at Randwick.
The same thing is happening in Melbourne where some would suggest that Chris Waller has received ‘start’ from officials in his bid for stabling.
Rather than criticize, perhaps we should all accept that at the end of the day the more big trainers, the more competitive the racing environment.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: I think the message that Ken was trying to convey was that he hoped Moody and Sergeant would justify the decision of the ATC in supporting their bid for more boxes. Here is what he wrote:
I KNOW racing is an industry and not a sport, but the Australian Turf Club seems to have bent over backwards in giving Peter Moody and John Sargent first-rate complexes of 24 boxes each at Randwick and I only hope the two trainers produce the Sydney runners and winners to justify the generosity.
AND here’s another take on the story by CHRIS ROOTS in the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:
WALLER, Moody, Hayes and Snowden, backed by the power of Darley, are set to battle for the Sydney and Melbourne trainers' titles this season as the face of Australian racing begins to change.
There have been a number of successful two-state operations in the past and Gary Portelli, Anthony Cummings and Bart Cummings have all had yards in both racing centres in recent years.
However, they have never had the power to challenge for both premierships. This season, we might have four trainers who can challenge, given a bigger spread of winners.
The premier trainers from Sydney and Melbourne, Chris Waller and Peter Moody, took small steps into each other's domains last season.
Both master operators have been able to consistently train winners from satellite stables away from their home base and it would not surprise if either of them made significant inroads on foreign ground.
Darley's Peter Snowden has managed Australia's biggest racing and breeding venture to lead all trainers in the country by wins. He gets his share of success in both Sydney and Melbourne but couldn't challenge Waller and Moody for the metropolitan championships.
That could change this season, with the likelihood that winners are going to spread around a bit more – especially as David Hayes's Euroa training base showing signs of becoming a power, like Lindsay Park in years gone by.
The changing face of racing should see more flying visits to Sydney for barrier trials, like Glen Boss and Damien Oliver have made in recent times.
Being part of the best team can only help riders. Josh Parr formed a good partnership with Moody in Sydney and Victorian hoops would be foolish to annoy Waller.
He has a simple philosophy when it comes to choosing his jockeys – find the best available. But groundwork can form partnerships that will be rewarding to both parties, hence Oliver riding at Rosehill on Monday morning.
The Sydney premiership should stay in Waller's hands. He has numbers on his side and even though the Melbourne option will see him send more than a couple south, it's hard to see anyone else training more than 100 winners in Sydney.
Snowden and Gai Waterhouse will once again get their share of winners. Waterhouse has a good strike rate and will look for her next star after the retirement of More Joyous and Pierro.
Moody, who has 24 boxes at Randwick, is targeting around 30 to 40 winners in Sydney, which will make him competitive, while Hayes has already shown a liking to bring horses to Sydney.
It will only add to the strength of Sydney racing, with trainers like Joe Pride, John O'Shea, Guy Walter and Anthony Cummings sure to hold their places.
It is hard to see a record season but Waller should get his 100 winners for the year.
Down in Melbourne, it is not a stretch to think that any one of five trainers could win the title. Moody and Hayes are getting plenty of mentions but don't count out Robert Smerdon, Mick Price or Anthony Freedman, who is on-course at Flemington this season.
Waller could be the joker in the pack because, as he has shown in Sydney, he builds from season to season and his systems work.
OUR ‘PLUG’ FOR NEW RQ WEBSITE ATTRACTS ACCUSATIONS OF HYPOCRISY 
SEVERAL e-mailers gave us a nice bagging – one suggested we were hypocritical – in providing a plug for the new RQ website – www.werunasone.com.au.
Our piece was very much tongue-in-cheek. As we said ‘imitation is the greatest form of flattery’, and we believe they have taken a leaf from our popular initiative, the Wednesday Whinge.
For that we applaud them. It is time the industry started listening to objective criticism – some officials certainly aren’t interested in hearing what e-mailers have to say on our site.
I doubt what they have to say to www.werrunasone.com.au will make any difference in the overall scheme of things at RQ.
Here’s what one e-mailer had to say to us which probably sums up the thoughts of others:
‘WHY would letsgohorseracing want to promote the werunasone website when you have been so critical of the concept? It smacks of hypocrisy.
In one breath you are saying that the industry will never be united and the next you are applauding the concept on a website that is prepared to listen to the whinges of industry stake-holders. You can’t have it both ways.
Why Racing Queensland would want to waste money on a project like this beggar’s belief. They already have a website, which most believe is pretty useless. Why not upgrade it, rather than spend more money on another that then doesn’t get promoted by RQ in any way, either in a Media Release or on their official website. It’s just plain dumb.
Then they invite key media identities to write ‘opinion pieces’ that the industry can comment on. It is interesting to note that those selected include two that race horses with Kevin Dixon and another who is regarded as one of the biggest ‘yes men’ of the mainstream media.
So there is little hope of too much objective criticism emerging from as they put ‘respected people’ in the industry. The question is being asked: Are they being paid for their contributions?
This whole project is a farce. Letsgohorseracing got it right when they labeled werunasone lets all pull together – that perfectly sums up the situation in Queensland racing.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: In response to this, in the words of the song, I say it best when I say nothing at all.
‘AT THE TRACK’ IN THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH – ARGUABLY THE BEST RACING COLUMN IN OZ 
LETSGOHORSERACING wants to give another plug – we’re in a charitable mood this week, it must have been those winners we backed in Brisbane on Saturday – to arguably the best racing column in the country.
It appears on a Sunday in the Telegraph in Sydney – was formerly written by Brent Zerafa before he joined TVN and is now compiled by the talented Christian Nicolussi. It is called At The Track and is a great read.
Here is one of the items that Christian ran last Sunday which we felt was worth reproducing:
NATHAN Tinkler sure was an ordinary punter.
At the Track was given the chance to sift through pages and pages of court documents that detailed Tinkler's often lean betting trot with Luxbet.
The Daily Telegraph reported last week the betting agency had chased Tinkler for $179,200 in the Northern Territory Supreme Court at the start of the year.
The bets and figures make for fascinating reading.
For instance, on Emirates Stakes Day at Flemington back in 2010, Tinkler had $60,000 on his horse Trusting to win the Group 1 feature at odds ranging from $9.50 to $13. There was also $35,000 on Galizani to win the staying race at the same meeting, and another $30,000 on Schipper to get the cash on the same afternoon at Randwick. All three horses lost.
On another occasion, mining magnate Tinkler had four $20,000 bets on Onemorenomore to win the 2009 Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m), only for the horse to finish third to Road To Rock.
On April 9, 2011, he dropped $93,700 in a few hours betting at Randwick, Doomben and Morphettville.
It wasn't all doom and gloom, however. He turned $20,000 into $200,000 when Happy Hippy saluted at Sandown. And he won $366,000 on former Kiwi mare Adulterer when she led all the way at Moonee Valley.
Another horse, Saint Encosta, who got the cash yesterday at Doomben - and is now raced by Tinkler's old man, Les Tinkler - also landed a decent $142,500 return for Nathan in 2011 at Randwick.
Tinkler backed a lot of his own horses. He believed if you paid top dollar, your horses should run accordingly, said those close to him. If the horses didn't run well, he wasn't afraid to let his jockeys and staffers know what he thought. One jockey we know has kept some of the expletive-laden emails, which are way too rude to print in this column.
HORSING AROUND HAS TO BE FUN WITH VETS LIKE THIS ON CALL IN SYDNEY RACING 
AT THE TRACK also reported that Sydney racing has a new gorgeous veterinarian and we can’t help but pinch this one.
Blonde stunner Josie Gollan was spotted in action on Saturday, helping out Racing NSW vet Craig Suann. It was her first day working at Rosehill.
At the Track asked Suann where he'd been hiding Gollan. He said he had a team of part-time vets who helped out on weekends.
"Can we request Jodie work every week?’ we asked Suann, who replied, "You'll have to ask her."
Dressed in a red suit jacket, black pants and cool sunnies, Gollan will easily hold her own in the Group 1 glamour stakes this spring.
BIG BRIAN PACKED A MIGHTY PUNCH IN THE BETTING RING BUT FOUND CHUBBY COULD HIT HARDER 
MUCH has been written about legendary Brisbane bookmaker Brian Ogilvie, who died on the Gold Coast early this week and a huge turn-out is expected at his funeral on Friday.
Ken Callander, writing in the Sydney Telegraph, described Brian as probably the biggest bookie in Queensland’s history and a more dominant figure at Eagle Farm and Doomben than Terry Page, Dominic Beirne or Bill Waterhouse were in Sydney or John Griffiths, Albert Smith or Mark Read were in Melbourne.
Brian held more money in his bag for a period of over 30 years than the rest of the Brisbane rails bookies combined. He was a larger-than-life figure who enjoyed the good times and the lean times and he was sought out by every big punter that travelled north from the south for the Brisbane carnivals.
He bet the likes of Frank Duval and Felipe Ysmael, but loved to tell the stories of his clashes in his early days with John Wren jnr, son of the legendary John Wren of Power Without Glory fame.
He was a terrific bloke – loved for his generosity – but there is one story that hasn’t been told in the many tales about his colorful life as a bookie. That was the day he and another late, great of the Brisbane ring in Con ‘Chubby’ Holloway traded blows after the last.
It was a dispute over prices that had been boiling over for some time – or so we are told – and on this occasion Brian, the former footballer who managed boxer Hector Thompson, came off second best. He reckoned Chubby, the ex-wharfie, must have hit him with a knuckle buster – it did that much damage.
HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST STEWARD TO GRACE THE TURN IN QUEENSLAND 
WE can’t let the week pass without a belated happy birthday to one of our favorite stewards, the Townsville-based Alan Cooper, who turned 80 last week.
Cooper was highly respected except by one particular high profile racing journalist who he sat on his behind when he marched without permission into the Townsville jockeys’ room, a practice he was accustomed to in Brisbane.
He was feared by licensees but adopted an attitude on many occasions of issuing a warning to offenders ‘not to take his authority for granted.’
It worked very well and Cooper ran arguably the best ship in the state when he was in charge in the north during an era of some top stewards.
Cooper has not been in the best of health but when it comes to racing issues his opinion is still highly sought after and he is still as sharp as a tack.
His dream now is that his son, Patrick, returns to the fold as a steward after being badly treated by a former RQ administration and some of his colleagues.
At a time when racing in Queensland needs a good ‘clean out’ in the eyes of many punters, it would be a step in the right direction for RQ to bite the bullet, ignore the protestations of some intimidated former colleagues and reappoint Patrick Cooper.
He might always live in the shadow of Alan but that’s a pretty good place to be.
WE’RE ONLY AS GOOD AS OUR LAST SET OF TIPS BUT WE’LL KEEP ON TRYING 
IT seems our decision at letsgohorseracing to dispense with TOP FOUR RATINGS in a specific state each Saturday and replace them with a SATURDAY SIX PACK has proved popular.
Our first step down the new track last weekend netted two winners, Dayita and Velrosso; two placings in Love For Ransom and Gundy Son; and two failures in Vizhaka and Keep It Moist (what were we thinking tipping a favorite in Brisbane?).
We will attempt to steer clear of the favorites in future and provide value in our Saturday Six Pack. There are no ‘get rich guarantees’ when it comes to our tips but at least they are FREE.
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.
