OUR theme – THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY side of what has happened in racing over the past week continues in the Wednesday Whinge which feedback suggests is what our readers prefer. 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, which we particularly welcome in Queensland now that the Chairman and his hangers-on, especially those in the media, have suggested our too negative and attacked us over. Our increasingly popular feature, The Cynics Have Their Say, will continue to be a part of the Whinge.
THANKS TO OUR CRITICS FOR BOOSTING WEBSITE ‘HITS’ TO A RECORD LEVEL 
EDITOR’S NOTE: I had planned to respond to the latest bout of politically inspired attacks on myself and this website during the week but on sighting the latest figures decided against that course of action.
Instead I would like to thank those who believe they are putting their weights up with the ‘right people’ in racing in Queensland by sledging us for lifting the popularity of letsgohorseracing to a record level. Keep up the good work fellas. You can’t buy publicity like this.
To our growing number of loyal readers and contributors to the Wednesday Whinge we wish you a safe, happy and holy Christmas and a prosperous New Year when hopefully the wishes and dreams of you and your families on and off the track will come true.
There will be no Wednesday Whinge published until 2014 but don’t miss our New Year’s Racing Honors’ List during the holiday break.
CLAIMS POSITION OF RQ CHIEF GALLOPS STEWARD DECIDED BEFORE IT IS ADVERTISED 
WE have received several e-mails concerning the process for selection of a new Chairman of Stewards for thoroughbred racing in Queensland. These are the two that we elected to run hoping that the general message gets across:
CLIFF J of BRISBANE writes:
‘IF the appointment of John O’Shea as new trainer for Darley was the worst kept secret in Australian racing, the naming of Martin Knibbs as Chief Gallops Steward has to be the equivalent in Queensland.
From the time that RQ announced they would be promoting Wade Birch to a new role in charge of stewards and integrity for all three codes, the industry dogs have been barking that Knibbs will be in charge of the gallops.
That is a nice slap in the face for a talented young steward in Daniel Aurisch who, in the eyes of the punting public, has been doing a great job while Birch has been on holidays. But it seems he may have rattled the wrong cages.
Knibbs might have the international experience that Aurisch lacks but brings with him a past that some might consider controversial, especially during his days in harness racing when he was the subject of an inquiry and I must add cleared of those allegations.
As soon as certain media men started supporting Knibbs – and bagging decisions made by Aurisch – it was fairly obvious to those in the know in the racing industry in this state who is the anointed one from certain officials who seem to have a happy knack of getting their message across.
Just when we thought interference in integrity was one of the downsides of the Bob Bentley regime – after watching bosses like Bob Mason and Jamie Orchard in action – perhaps things haven’t changed all that much since Kevin Dixon took control.
Whatever happened to this separation of powers between administration and integrity? Should RQ be appointed the stewards when some of those involved in the process are racehorse owners with links to big stables?
I am not suggesting anything untoward but in racing all the boxes need to be ticked and this isn’t a good luck – especially for an industry that punters consider has been on the nose integrity wise for too long.’
AND this one from ALBERT W of REDCLIFFE: 
‘NOT for one moment would anyone believe that prominent members of the racing media would use their position to promote mates in official positions or bag others who are seen as fair game.
But there seems to be more than a coincidence attached to the bagging that a certain steward is copping in Queensland at present when you consider he is a prime candidate for a top job at the gallops.
Daniel Aurisch has been consistently potted over his strong stance on a number of issues, the latest only this week when Nathan Exelby posed the question in The Courier-Mail: Why do stewards persist with the charade of a rule that deals with change of riding tactics?
He was referring to an inquiry involving the tactics adopted on last race Doomben winner from Saturday in Stradon. Some might say rightly so. Others might say it was simply another bagging of a panel chaired by Aurisch.
It is no secret to those in the know that Aurisch is going head-to-head with Martin Knibbs – a close friend of some in the racing media – who is favourite for the job of Chief Steward for thoroughbred racing in Queensland.
Here’s hoping Aurisch doesn’t pay the price for his unpopularity in the eyes of some leading participants in the sport. No-one has forgotten the day way back when a certain top steward got the punt and the stakeholders and racing media went ballistic.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I have no association with nor do I really know either Martin Knibbs or Daniel Aurisch but there is no doubt certain members of the racing media are keen to see the former get the job. I understand (unconfirmed) that Nathan Exelby of The Courier-Mail once worked with Martin as a cadet steward and they have been good mates since. I am assured by Darren Condon the RQ CEO that no-one has been appointed as the ad for the job was only being drawn up this week. “It annoys me when people declare that some positions have been filled when we haven’t even talked to the candidates or made a decision,” Condon said. Point taken!
RQ CEO DESCRIBES AS ‘FABRICATION’ THE BLAMING OF TRACK FOR RACE MEETINGS SWITCH 
NEW Racing Queensland CEO Darren Condon was far from impressed by a story in The Courier-Mail this week criticizing the transfer of Summer Carnival meetings from Eagle Farm to Doomben.
“It’s very frustrating when matters like this are played out in the media. The suggestion that racing has been transferred to Doomben because of the Eagle Farm track is a complete fabrication,” Condon told letsgohorseracing.
“The real reason – and officials know it – was the erection of corporate marquees which can be left in place at Doomben for the Christmas period. RQ accepts the urgent need for an upgrade of the Eagle Farm track and we are doing everything possible to see that happen.”
Nathan Exelby, in his Courier-Mail story, claimed Eagle Farm had been rested to recuperate after hosing nine meetings in just over a month. Doomben will now race eight times in 29 days.
Exelby reported that: Trainers have taken aim at both the Brisbane Racing Club and Racing Queensland, demanding answers as to why Eagle Farm is being rested in the middle of Brisbane's second biggest carnival of the year.
He quoted BRC chairman Neville Bell as ‘sympathizing’ with the position of trainers, but saying it came back to funding being needed to upgrade the Eagle Farm course proper.
"Eagle Farm is the biggest strategic asset for the industry and after being a loyal servant for 140 years, it's now beyond its life span."
Letsgohorseracing understand that the problem has been accentuated by the fact that of the $110 million available through the Infrastructure Fund, $40 million has been allocated to the minor codes. Albion Park is a sore point with a lot of gallops stakeholders who believe the LNP Government and RQ Chairman Kevin Dixon are bowing to the wishes of harness ‘king pin’ Kevin Seymour who has so much political clout.
RQ is apparently prepared to provide $10 million to an Eagle Farm track upgrade but the BRC wants an additional $12 million for tunnels and on-course stabling which they are prepared to borrow. The major club shouldn’t have to do this but the work on the track needs to proceed urgently without being delayed by political games behind the scenes or in the racing media.
Another upgrade is due to be announced involving the Ipswich track in the next week or so. That comes hot on the heels of Townsville being granted funds which we are reliably informed was far below what officials wanted to do the work that is required at Cluden.
There is a call for RQ to provide turnover figures from all three codes so that the distribution of funds can be determined on the basis of where it is warranted and who deserves to receive the millions, based on performance rather than politics.
Apart from the handouts going to ‘political mates’ in harness racing becoming a major behind-the-scenes issues with some in the galloping fraternity there is still a good deal of ill-feeling at what the Toowoomba Turf Club has received which the cynics are claiming was pushed along because of the cosy relationship between Chairman Bob Frappell and his little buddy at RQ Kevin Dixon.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The new Turf Editor of The Courier-Mail has overnight gained the nickname behind the scenes in the industry as ‘Bart Exelby’ because of his apparent desire to kick up for the Brisbane Racing Club. Who cares? Trainer Rob Heathcote got it right when asked to comment on the Eagle Farm situation. “I’m not interest in the politics, just getting the fix done. It is essential because our showpiece track needs urgent replacement. This is a major economic contributor to this state and we need urgent Government help. Everybody knows it. It’s long overdue.” That says it all.
DIFFERENT MEDIA PERSPECTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTION OF PUNTERS? 
DANIEL J of GOLD COAST sent this e-mail:
‘YOU might call it a tale of two states – and it shows the difference when it comes to the media worrying about the interests of the punters as they should be.
Ken Callander praised Sydney stewards for grilling top jockeys Hugh Bowman and Glyn Schofield. “They need to ask hard questions and punters need to know the answers,” he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
But in Brisbane stewards were under fire for daring to question jockey Ryan Wiggins over the tactics he adopted on Stradon plunge winner of the last at Doomben.
Callander was referring to rides by Bowman on Fulminate at Canterbury on Friday night which is the subject of an adjourned inquiry and Schofield on The Alfonso, a good thing beaten in the first at Randwick on Satuday.
“Both horses were hot favourites and, from the stands, both rides did not look great as the horses steamed home from last on the turn to run second,” Callander commented.
Trainer David Vandyke obviously agreed that the Bowman ride on Fulminate was below the top jockeys’ normal high standards. He was critical of the ride and has sacked Bowman.
As for the question posed by Nathan Exelby of The Courier-Mail as to why stewards persist ‘with the charade of a rule’ that deal with change of riding tactics. Well mate, the reason is it is there to protect the punters – something you should be dong in your job as well instead of putting your weights up with those who you think are more important to your image in racing.
EDITOR’S NOTE: KEN Callander shoots from the hip – on behalf of the punters – and that is why he is the most popular racing columnist in the country. To be fair to Nathan Exelby he did say the decision by stewards in the Stradon tactics inquiry was a ‘sensible one’ and many of the points that he raised were legitimate. We just can’t lose sight of the fact that Stradon did led at a breakneck pace after a lead battle and that there was no notification of a change in tactics (which obviously weren’t expected to pan out that way). But stewards would not have been doing their job if they didn’t question what happened. As for the Sydney situation they were two ‘slaughter jobs’ that needed to be probed.
THE NARCS HAVE THEIR SAY
THE CAMERAS WERE OUT OF FILM AND THE SP BLACKOUT AT A TAB TRACK 
CHARLIE P of TOOWOOMBA writes:
HERE are a couple of pieces of behind-the-scenes gossip that you probably won’t be prepared to run but I can assure you that they come from the right sources.
You won’t be reading about these in the metropolitan dailies and there will be plenty of denials but I can assure you my sources are impeccable.
‘THIS sounds like fairytale stuff but I am assured by a respected official who should know that it is correct. Members of an integrity team recently decided to spy on a stable where they had mail that the trainer was tubing his horses.
They sought the permission of neighbors to set up surveillance cameras directed at the stables in questions and duly caught the trainer and his associate tubing a horse.
Unfortunately when they got back to the office and checked the evidence there was no film in the camera. Can you believe that?
AND the other story is the reason behind corporate bookies refusing to bet SP odds at a major TAB track in south-east Queensland.
They claim to have been burnt too many times because the SPs returned were up to two and three points longer than what was available.
There are calls for RQ to investigate and there are some interesting stories concerning certain bookies taking advantage of the situation. It needs to be looked into.’
TONY WONKA STORY RAISES CONCERNING CENSORSHIP ISSUES FOR RQ 
WE received a number of complimentary e-mails congratulating us on running the greyhound feature by Tony Wonka that RQ refused to publish. Here is one example that sums up the rest:
NAME with-held for obvious reasons:
Congratulations to letsgohorseracing for airing Tony's comments.
I dared have an opinion on the Greyhound Data Forum and not only did RQ remove this thread, I received a warning letter from RQ signed by the Chief Steward.
The essence of this letter from RQ virtually informed me that if I dared to speak against RQ my license would be in jeopardy.
Apparently I was not the only one to receive such letter and although I have requested a copy of my comment on this Forum (I don't have a copy) my request has fallen on deaf ears. The reason for this thread being closed down is ‘legal action pending’.
Certain RQ officials are just bullies and I applaud you for taking a stance against such tactics.
Unfortunately, I have decided that until such time as I decide to hand over my license (I have been licensed for over 40 years), it seems like I cannot afford to have an opinion on the state of greyhound racing in Queensland or my retirement from this sport I love may be imminent.
Sad isn't it?
Keep up the good journalism.’
CONFUSED BY ‘HIDDEN MESSAGES’ IN STORIES IN SISTER INTERSTATE NEWSPAPERS 
BARNEY H of TOOWOOMBA wrote:
‘OVER the past few days I have been quite confused with messages coming from the stables of sister newspapers.
The first of what I would call ‘hidden messages’ emerged from the pen of ‘Jimmy’ Rule, a scribe from a Melbourne daily.
‘Jimmy’ (named after a famous non race horse) led with his famous story on a Punting Club destroying $200 million.
His exclusive, I believed at first, was taken from a court case in Sydney but when I had a second look at the yarn I found a major difference.
Some joker, name unknown, had allegedly suggested to Racing Victoria four years ago that the Punting Club was headed for trouble.
Apparently this part of the story fell on deaf ears.
Now over the weekend ‘Jimmy’ ups the ante. His informant just happens to be a barrister.
Does this make a difference? Please ‘Jimmy,’ name your source – I just want to cross him off my list if I ever need legal advice.
A barrister, who is aware of a possible crime being committed and reports it to a domestic tribunal, needs to be given the wide birth.
As for the second story in a sister interstate newspaper it suggested that stewards have a hide to ask questions on the change of tactics prior to a race.
Well this one makes me wonder if there isn’t more to his story. It smells like a ‘back stabbing’ job to me.’
WITH THESE SORT OF QUALIFICATIONS ONLY THE BEST OF THE BEST NEED APPLY 
DAVID J of BRISBANE writes:
‘THIS is an excerpt from advertisement that I read during the week for a leading position in racing in Queensland.
The requirements left me a shade gob-smoked. It reads:
Purposeful, competitive and visionary driver of change to lead a large situational-operational transformation in Queensland’s commercial entertainment market.
- Extraordinary opportunity for high performing commercial leader
- Long-term commitment is envisaged, Brisbane base
- Significant rewards competitive with national benchmarks
Hardy, hands-on leader to drive growth and develop base diversity.
This time-honored Queensland entertainment enterprise is poised for development from a sturdy multi-million dollar membership business into a huge, multi-strand enterprise incorporating public venues, entertainment, hospitality, events and more.
So, the requirement is for a long-term leader who can offer continual operational upgrading, first-rate commercial acumen and a sure pair of hands.
Working with strong specialist support teams and a multi-skilled Board, the new CEO will bring all the leadership, strategic and change management capabilities needed to objectively review the business as is.
While managing existing processes, you will identify effective new methods and opportunities, implement the growth plan and drive the operational engine into spirited new and diverse commercial markets.
The ad goes on but all I can see is little wonder they needed a change!’
STORIES THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK 
KENSINGTON TRACK LABELED ‘CRAP AND RUBBISH’ AFTER VILLIERS MEETING
THE honeymoon is offically over for the $1.6 million Kensington track with Saturday's surface labelled "crap" and "rubbish".
CHRISTIAN NICOLUSSI reports for the DAILY TELEGRAPH that despite being hailed as one of the best tracks in Australia after racing returned there on October 7, the Kensington deck was about as forgiving as nearby Alison Rd.
Trainer Joe Pride was filthy with the surface, and said he would have left his team of horses at home had he known it would be so hard. His veteran stayer Maluckyday was so sore that his summer campaign has now been aborted.
Fellow trainer David Payne also noted his only runner for the afternoon, Dowdstown Charlie, "jarred up".
Pride asked why Kensington wasn't given more watering, and the fact six class records were run on Saturday backed up his argument.
"I would have kept my horses at home had I known that's what I was going to get yesterday," Pride said.
"It was rubbish to turn that out, just crap.
"I had four horses run yesterday, and three times the jockeys came back and said the track was too hard.
"I don't see how it was good for punters. If you weren't on the fence or on the pace you couldn't win. They were running fields of 14, but it might as well have been six because eight horses couldn't win.
"We all know the track can cope with water, so why not give it a good soak during the week?
"They (the Australian Turf Club officials) ask the jockeys what they think of the surface, but they don't ask the trainers because they might hear what they don't necessarily want to hear. They even ask the winning jockey how it feels, but of course they're going to say the track feels right.
"Maluckyday is stiff and sore. I've spent a lot of time getting him into the right frame of mind to win races, but I've done damage to him mentally and physically he's sore. I feel bad for sending him around."
Pride will inform stewards about how his team were worse for wear after Saturday. He said he would have complained even if he had won the feature Villiers Stakes with hard-luck story Destiny's Kiss, or the Christmas Cup with Maluckyday.
Leading trainer Chris Waller said of the Kensington track: "It does look like a firm surface, but it's a track we have to get used to. I'd compare it to Caulfield and Flemington, which can also dry very quickly and also at time be too firm. Maybe we can work with the club about getting more water on it."
Randwick track boss Nevesh Ramdhani was surprised when told about the trainers' gripes, saying: "I spoke to a few jockeys and they told me it felt great. It would have got five or six mils a day of water, and all up 40mls for the week."
The Villiers Stakes meeting was only switched to the Kensington track because the Randwick course proper was deemed not "optimum".
MUCH TRAVELLED QUEENSLAND STEWARD APOINTED CHAIRMAN IN NORTHERN TERRITORY 
DAVID Hensler will replace the retiring Chairman of Stewards, Lindsay Lane, as head of Northern Territory thoroughbred racing’s integrity unit early next year.
TRNT Chairman Justin Coleman made the announcement on Thursday, citing Hensler, the current deputy Chairman of Stewards at Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA), as the perfect replacement for the long-serving Lane.
“David brings all the necessary skills and experience to the role of NT Chairman of Stewards,” said Mr Coleman. “Lindsay (Lane) will be a very hard act to follow, but I am supremely confident that David will prove a more than worthy replacement.”
Lane has been something of a fixture in the Top End, having completed some 19 years as head of integrity since relocating from Victoria in 1994. He has been at the helm during a period of real growth in Territory racing, and his standing among his peers throughout Australia speaks volumes for the role he has so ably undertaken.
Hensler, similarly, brings a wealth of stewarding experience to the Territory. He began his career as a steward in his native Queensland, holding down Chairman of Steward roles in Cairns, Rockhampton and on the Gold Coast before joining RWWA as Deputy Chairman of Stewards in 2004.
As well as his high-ranking role on the Stewards’ panel, David has in recent years been an integral part of RWWA’s Occupational Health and Safety compliance team, undertaking regular racecourse audits to ensure they meet the minimum standards required.
Married with two daughters, David is very excited about his move to the Territory and the task facing him as TRNT’s Chairman of Stewards.
“I am very much looking forward to moving to Darwin and heading the Integrity Department in the Northern Territory,” he said.
“I have taken a keen interest in all Territory racing, watching the Sky Channel coverage, and as well as the Top End clubs, I look forward to working with the Alice Springs region Chairman of Stewards David Westover and attending Alice Springs and Tennant Creek on a regular basis.
“Stewarding has been my career for 25 years and I relish the challenge this new position will bring. During my career I have been able to not only draw experience from the most respected Stewards at home and abroad, but also hone my skills in the area of OHS and how it applies to the industry.
“The Darwin Cup Carnival has become a hugely successful event not only for the Territory but on the Australasian racing calendar, and I am excited to be involved with such an iconic meeting.”
ARE THE MAJOR HORSE SALES IN THE COUNTRY STILL ‘RIDDLED WITH RORTS’? 
IN theory, a horse auction isn't much different than a house auction.
MATT STEWART reports for the HERALD SUN that you have a vendor, an auction house and bidders.
The difference is that one industry cleaned itself up and some critics say the other is still riddled with rorts.
Dummy bidders, for instance, have been shooed from property auctions because real estate agents face enormous penalties if such false bidders are found to be acting on behalf of the agent and the vendor.
In horse sales, they reckon dummy bidders are everywhere.
Any horse, from the bottom of the barrel five grander to the glamorous multi-million-dollar star lot, might have a bidding non-buyer pushing up the price, working for a 'sling.'
Prominent breeder David Moodie says the best intentions of most are being tarnished by the poor practices of many.
It's been going on for centuries, Moodie says, and is a blight on an industry that could well do without more blights, especially given the recent alleged shenanigans of Mr Bill Vlahos.
"There are bad practices going on and horse sales have a long history of it,'' Moodie said. "Most sales are genuine and most people can buy with confidence but there are rorts and they have to be cleaned up.
"They cleaned up real estate auctions, now we've got to clean up these horse auctions.''
Not that long ago a leading owner and leading trainer fell out badly over an accusation that the trainer was copping secret commissions at yearling sales.
Moodie reckons any horse to be sold at auction should come with declarations of interest from would-be buyers.
He says vendors should be clear-cut, not agents acting on behalf of vague third parties.
"We need to know who's actually standing behind the sale,'' he said.
"The great cloud over the industry is that in some cases no-one really knows who the vendor is. There can be great conflict of interest, an overlap, between the vendor and the purchaser.
"Is there money changing hands before the sale? Are purchasers purchasing a horse on the sly as a weanling, running it up (at the sale) as a yearling? Are the prices genuine?''
He says the horse sale component of the racing industry is not scrutinised enough by racing's controlling bodies.
Moodie, a Racing Victoria board member, reckons Racing Victoria, and probably the Australian Racing Board, could take a greater advocacy role with horse sales.
He said the practice of sales companies allowing buyers lengthy periods of credit "was their business'' but seemed risky business practice.
"Inglis (sales company) can run its business as it sees fit but you wonder if they shouldn't be looking long and hard at carrying six or seven million dollars worth of debt from (failed syndicate) BC3.''
There is no evidence the sale of "Jimmy'' was anything-but legitimate.
There were, however, some unusual elements to the sale of Black Caviar's $5 million half-brother at this year's Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.
Again, these elements prove nothing.
There was another colt at the sale that all the experts reckoned was the "star'' lot.
After a spirited bidding duel, mainly between giants Coolmore and Emirates Park, Emirates bought the Fastnet Rock colt for $4 million.
Jimmy cost a million more than the Fastnet Rock yet the main players weren't interested. Many were put off after vets "knocked'' Jimmy in the days leading into the sale.
Talk at the sale was that Jimmy would be a $5 million colt - well before he walked through the ring and leapt quickly to an Australasian record figure.
Jimmy's new owners were strangely quiet after they'd bought into racing royalty. Most would have been high-fiving and forming a merry conga line, although there are reports of popping champagne corks after the sale.
But that's an aside.
Jimmy was bought and sold the way so many horses are bought and sold, all above board within the accepted horse auction parameters.
There was a vendor, bidders and an auction house. A little bit like a house sale.
HUGE RESPONSE TO GREYHOUND STORY HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR RQ TO ADDRESS ISSUES 
WE had a huge response to the story written by Tony Wonka on the state of the greyhound industry that Racing Queensland refused to run in their official magazine The Chase because it was deemed ‘too negative.’
It’s a bit of a farce when they call for comments from industry participants on the We Run As One website and the minute someone writes something a shade controversial or critical it is immediately censored.
Here are excerpts from what Tony wrote:
“If statistics provided by Greyhounds Australia Limited is any guide, the Queensland greyhound industry over the past six years is in total decline. A six year comparison for the period 2008-2013 of race meetings, number of starters, prize money distributed and registered trainers compared with those from Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, Queensland runs a long last in all aspects.
It’s probably not a great surprise to many given the administration of racing in Queensland in the past decade was under the Bentley regime and the focus of a recent Commission of Inquiry into the administration of racing in that period.
Not only did greyhound racing suffer but thoroughbreds and harness racing did not fare any better, both are in decline but the perilous state of greyhound racing in Queensland is concerning, not only for industry participants but it should also be under the microscope of Racing Queensland’s new look board.”
One anomaly that the Wonka feature highlighted that should be of great concern to the thoroughbred and harness codes is this:
In most other States prize money is distributed on a ‘user’ pays basis. That is, the percentage of overall turnover which each code represents is the basis for distribution. For example in Victoria, turnover on greyhounds last year was about 15% and that was the portion of distribution made as prize money. In South Australia the position is similar as in NSW.
In Queensland the situation is completely reversed.
While turnover on greyhound racing is about 14% and just on 10% for harness racing, the distribution of funds is, for some inexplicable reason, reversed. Harness racing shares about 14% of distribution and greyhounds only 10%. In dollar terms this represents about $3 million annually lost as prize money due to the greyhound code.
The matter of code wagering performance is of concern, not only because the scenario where harness racing receives a higher distribution than the income it brings in as turnover, has been in existence for years, it would seem that there is not going to be any change in the future.
One would think that if an industry needs support in the form of additional prize money, eg harness racing, then a ‘like’ industry should provide that support. You don’t find many greyhounds eating chaff, being plated and being loaded onto horse floats. Logically you don’t see trotters eating kibble or chasing lures. If the harness racing industry needed support, one would think that that support would come from the thoroughbred code instead of the greyhound industry.
Even in its annual report for 2012/13, Racing Queensland indicated that more people are involved in the greyhound industry than harness yet for some reason known only to the board of Racing Queensland, the greyhound code, unlike in most other States, does not get prize money based on its turnover.
During the current Commission of Inquiry into the administration of Queensland racing, former RQ CEO Malcolm Tuttle highlighted the problems existing within RQ regarding the harness-greyhound funding malaise.
In a signed affidavit Mr Tuttle talks about this when reviewing in his opinion of the problems confronting RQ moving forward. “There is the matter of code wagering performance. Harness racing for example underperforms compared to its inter-code share of wagering revenue and its benefit is at a cost to the greyhound code. When the interchange share of wagering revenue is raised in a harness context there is considerable push back. This is another top order or tier 1 issue,” Tuttle commented.
Tony Wonka got it right when he declared (and this is probably a prime reason why they didn’t want to run his story:
The powers that be at Racing Queensland have a duty to uphold their greatly promoted ‘We race as one’ theme. If they want to prop up harness racing, then do so but not at the expense of the greyhound code.
In 2014, Racing Queensland terminates its wagering agreement with Tatts. A new deal will be sought and it is to be hoped that when making that deal Racing Queensland acknowledges the misgivings of the past and realises that unless something is done to improve the lot of greyhound racing in this State it will dwindle into oblivion.
WARNING FROM THE HONG KONG CHIEF STIPE ‘FELL ON DEAF EARS’ 
One of the visiting jockeys during Hong Kong international week, who perhaps had reason to keep his usual stony face about it, broke into a giggle during chief steward Kim Kelly's laying down of the law over careless or reckless riding prior to the big races.
ALAN AITKEN reports in the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST that the source of his uncontainable mirth was that Kelly had gone through the exact same process prior to the IJC meeting at Happy Valley (a few nights earlier), with negligible effect.
Caution was thrown to the wind at several points during the IJC, the opening leg in particular providing some highlight reel moments, and yet the hand of the law came down gently, with the fist slammed only for offences outside of the IJC.
Locally licensed Colm O'Donoghue and visiting IJC rider Christophe Soumillon were penalised for their efforts in the fourth race, before the IJC began. (Though Soumillon was apparently bemused that he could at one instance be banned for trying too hard at the 150m and also for not trying hard enough and dropping his hands 100m later, it is not the most interesting riding offence we've seen. Several years ago, on a track in Malaysia, a jockey was given time, all on the same ride, for careless riding, not allowing his horse to run on its merits and a positive to cannabis.)
The impotence of the stewards on Wednesday's incidents involving interference was frighteningly out of character, and we would hate to think that there are any tacit understandings that the high profile jockeys attending such invitations contests are treated as koalas - a protected species.
If that's the agreement under which they participate then we can do without them - there are plenty of good jockeys in the world, and nobody is good enough to deserve special dispensation from safety concerns.
The IJC has been mercifully free of falls, the last being Eddy Lai Wai-ming's first turn tumble from Carizzo Creek at the turn out of the straight seven years ago.
That occurred in the final leg of that series but what might have been the consequences of a faller or two in the first leg? If a rider is hurt and unable to continue, you can't exactly throw the colours into the jockeys' room and add to the IJC the name of whoever picks them up - not quite in the spirit of the thing. And what's the situation with insurance anyway for those jockeys who come just for the IJC events?
The other stewarding moment that raised some eyebrows was the month handed out to Tommy Berry for dropping his hands on Sunday - there are divided views on whether it actually did cost Smart Man second place but, while we side with the stewards on that, just, we weren't surprised Berry has appealed against the extent of the penalty.
This is a quinella-betting environment and so missing second is nearly as important as missing first, but a month's holiday has usually been reserved in the past for a very different kind of offence. Also, the penalty had echoes of Corey Nakatani's careless riding case after the 2001 Hong Kong Mile. The rider was suspended for five Hong Kong race days, which would see him out from December 18 to January 10 - fair enough except he was not going to be riding in Hong Kong but in California, where he would have races every day under normal circumstances, so the penalty is more like a 23-day suspension.
Ultimately, a compromise was reached. Berry's situation in Australia would not be quite as bad, but certainly looked overkill and outside the spirit of what the stewards intended.
While on the IJC, it had its share of pizzazz and showtime before the kick-off, then very little as it progressed and there were visiting journalists who wondered why more was not made of the competition aside from a top and tail.
Could there be more interface with the winning jockeys, for instance?
More of a bridge between the famous competing names and the fans at the course, at home and overseas? Providing more than one language for interviews with an outrider after the line is a clear obstacle to making this work, but it's worth thinking about. Could there also be more of a facility for getting a few words from the riders between races as the contest goes on - just something to give it a sense of being a continuing theme throughout the meeting.
And then there was inability to hold a post-contest press conference because riders had mounts in the final race. Perhaps the club might lose the extra race - nine events had a greedy look to it and detracted anyway from the meeting's purported centrepiece - and then still be able to start a little earlier than usual, but make the time allowance for extras like post-race words and a post-contest speeches.
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