THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE is back for 2014 in a new format. We won’t be dispensing with some of our old favorites and will continue to focus on THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY side of what has happened in racing over the past week. We will also provide an opportunity for The Cynics to Have Their Say. There will also be the stories that you might have missed in the week just ended especially with racing news now harder to access because of space limitations in the mainstream media. Wishing all our website supporters, readers and contributors to this column a prosperous and safe 2014 and may you find many winners.

 

BIGGEST CONTROVERSY OF THE RACING WEEK - if you happen to be a Queenslander:

ACCUSATIONS OF FAVORITISM BEING LEVELED AT RQ HIGH FLYERS IN LATEST DRAFT OF TAB RACE DATES

WHILST the spotlight has been firmly focused on the Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast a draft document of recommended TAB race dates has been doing the rounds and causing considerable controversy in some circles.

Accusations of favoritism are being fired at Racing Queensland after some clubs – seen to be close to certain people running the show – fared extremely well, while others seem to have been consigned to the scrap heap.

RQ officials have refused to provide a copy of the race date proposals, claiming these are for discussion purposes only, but that is only increasing the ill-feeling and the Board needs to step in and show the industry that the industry does ‘run as one’ and not ‘just for a select few clubs.’

Here are a few examples of the feedback we have received concerning the draft document of Queensland TAB dates for next year:

‘SURPRISE, surprise – Toowoomba and Kilcoy are the big winners from the TAB draft dates which RQ is reluctant to make public.

Anyone who has seen a copy will be flabbergasted at the treatment of some clubs compared to others. To call it a joke is an understatement.

Someone certainly wants to ensure that Toowoomba makes a success of its new track. They have already pumped millions into tracks and facilities at the joint, now the club is destined to get extra dates to ensure the turnover is boosted.

And if you want a prime example of political pork-barreling in racing just take a gander at what is proposed for Kilcoy. Ten TAB meetings a year on a track that resembles a saucer – they have to be kidding.

Terry Butts was right when he wrote ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same.’

It’s just a different set of clubs who are benefiting to the days when the Bentley Board were running the show. You might call it the clockwork orange of racing.’

 

AND THIS ONE:

‘WHO was the mug that suggested Townsville would get prime treatment under the new hierarchy of racing in Queensland because such a large number of appointees to the big Board hailed from the north?

The time has come for All Code Board representatives like Barry Taylor, Greg Hallam and Brad Steele to sit the little ‘king’ of racing in Queensland firmly back on his throne and show the industry that this organization is not a one-man band.

Townsville has been done a disservice from the time the Bentley Board left the building. They were better off under Bob the Builder. And to think that Kevin O’Keefe, the hard working and highly respected chairman of the TTC, was once a business associate and close friend of the new RQ boss. What went wrong?

Perhaps someone mistook Toowoomba for Townsville and diverted the funds in the wrong direction. Or is it that O’Keefe is his own man and doesn’t fawn over the new King of Queensland racing like his counterpart on the Downs?’

 

AND finally:

‘I am reliably informed that the draft TAB races date document is the first major project completed by the former Chief Betting Supervisor since he took over in his new role as Thoroughbred Racing Manager at RQ.

But let’s not totally blame him for this disaster. He was probably just following orders when it came to allocating more dates to some clubs and less to others.

The best thing the All Codes Board can do is shred the current document and start over. But that isn’t likely to happen if some of those clubs getting the nod for an outrageous number of extra meetings have the support of the Racing Minister and the RQ Chairman.

If this formula continues to be applied one could joke that we can expect the primary Saturday meeting in Queensland to one day be the Toowoomba Cup or even, heaven forbid, the Kilcoy Cup.

Then again if RQ loses its battle with Tattersall’s and the prizemoney continues to fall behind the southern states the quality of horses racing here will be of Toowoomba and Kilcoy standard.

Take a bow the two ‘Dickos’ – you continue to convert racing in Queensland into a laughing stock. Here’s hoping someone on the All Codes Board has the balls to show both of you the error of your ways.’

   

THE EAST COAST SCENE:

QUEENSLAND

IT’S not too often that Racing Queensland gets bouquets from contributors to this column but that has been unanimously the case in relation to their rejection of an annual race on the Surfers Paradise beach as part of the Magic Millions carnival.

Here is an example that hopefully gets the message across:

‘MAGIC Millions is one big publicity circus and whether a race on the beach at Surfers Paradise would attract thousands of people it should not be allowed to occur.

RQ chairman Kevin Dickson is correct in declaring that the safety aspect outweighs the attraction and that there would be a real backlash from beach-goers.

But knowing the political clout that MM owner Gerry Harvey has, don’t write it off just yet. He will continue to push the proposal and appears to have the support of the Gold Coast Council.

Can’t you imagine the scene when SKY Channel crosses to David Fowler in his budgy smugglers or Steve Hawkins in his board shorts to call the race? Now that might be a gimmick worth pursuing on the glitter strip.

For some this promotion will revive memories of the blocked proposal by a former GCTC chairman Andrew Eggleston to conduct a race on the Gold Coast track involving bikini-clad beach babes.’

 

NEW SOUTH WALES

THERE was plenty of support for the call by James Cummings, the grandson of training legend Bart, for racing to launch itself out of the dark ages, embrace modern society and stop taking itself too seriously.

Here is one example that gets the message across:

‘James Cummings was spot on when he declared that those who set foot onto a racecourse in Australia these days can expect to take a step back in time.

Not enough is being done to promote the superstars of the sport and stewards are in too much of a hurry to penalize jockeys like Glen Boss for showing emotion.

I don’t totally agree with his thought that officialdom should dispense with coats and ties but there has to be a place at the track where everyone can attend and feel comfortable in the way they are dressed.

James Cummings is a breath of fresh air for the racing industry. It needs more like him with progressive ideas or we will continue to lose another generation of race-goers.’   

 

VICTORIA

IT would seem that most punters are content to go with the track ratings system being recommended by Racing Victoria and reject the suggestion from Australian Turf Club racecourse manager Lindsay Murphy that this would be a ‘backward step.’

Perhaps there may have been plenty of Victoria – New South Wales rivalry in the e-mails that we received but here is an example of the thinking of the contributors who saw fit to send in their views.

‘IS there anything that racing in NSW won’t do to bag Victoria?

It’s about time that Racing NSW accepted that Victoria is the pace-setter on all things racing in this country and started to get in step.

They are so hell-bent on rejecting any idea that comes from south of the border that it would seem Victoria will be forced to go it alone if they change the track ratings system for the betterment of the industry and the punters.

Now Ray Murrihy – who seems to have his nose out of joint because someone has made a suggestion without consulting him first – wants a meeting with owners, trainers and jockeys to get their views.  

It’s time you hung up that hat Razor.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: It probably needs to be said that Lindsay Murphy devised the current system of track ratings - a fast 1, good 2, good 3, dead 4, dead 5, slow 6, slow 7, heavy 8, heavy 9, and heavy 10. Victoria wants to simplify it to: firm, good to firm, good, yielding, soft and heavy. Sounds much simpler to me as a punter and form student but then again I’m just a dumb Queenslander.

 

THE NARCS HAVE THEIR SAY ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

TOP JOCKEY 'NOT SO REMORSEFUL' IT WOULD SEEM CONSIDERING HIS FLIPPANT ATTITUDE TO BIG BET

THERE were many of us at the Carbine Club luncheon at the Gold Coast who were far from impressed by the apparent flippant attitude of a top jockey, who I won’t name, to a betting controversy in which he was involved.

Whether what was said there should remain confidential or whether he was responding in jest, as has been suggested, the answer to one question was certainly inappropriate.

In fact it was so inappropriate that several of those at the lunch were suggesting the judge who ruled on the matter should be made aware of what was said.

Joke or not, it’s a far cry from the ‘learning by your mistakes’ stories that endlessly flowed from the major newspapers when this hoop returned from his stint on the sideline.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I assume the above email refers to a column item written by Terry Butts this week where he quoted a segment from the Magic Millions Carbine Club lunch that reportedly went something like this:

INTERVIEWER: That incident last year whereby you admitted to having $10,000 on the favorite in a race in which you rode the second favorite. In hindsight, would you do anything different?

ANSWER: Yes...I would get someone to do it who wouldn’t give me up.

 

IS A CASHED-UP HARNESS IDENTITY BUILDING THE TURNOVER AND WINNING BIG?

WITH the minor codes certain to battle hard for their share of the TAB pie in the new distribution formula in Queensland there is an interesting story doing the rounds.

One would hope that this story has lost nothing in the telling but the information is coming from sources in high places that suggest it is close to the mark.

A cashed-up harness racing identity is betting up big on the local trots on TattsBet in an effort to boost turnover to prove that code deserves a bigger slice of the distribution pie than the greyhounds.

To make matters worse the story suggests that the big punter is being provided with a set of ‘well informed’ selections to ensure his investments also reap some handsome dividends.

Greyhounds in Queensland currently get a smaller share of the TAB distribution than harness racing despite the fact that code holds much more in betting turnover. There have been strong behind-the-scenes moves to rectify that situation under the new agreement.

But, as so often happens in harness racing in Queensland, political intervention, influence and interference seems to continually ensure that the dogs run last.    

As they say at the gallops: It could only happen at the ‘red hots’ in Queensland.

 

NOTHING LIKE BROTHERLY LOVE – IT SEEMS – ON AND OFF THE TRACK

THERE were several e-mails received concerning the Magic Millions and the Nine Network coverage of the day but some were a little too offensive to run. It seems that not everyone agrees with the feel-good stories on the event run in the mainstream media. Here is an example of our feedback:

‘MUCH was written about the perfect ride of Nathan Berry on Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic winner Unencumbered but there has been plenty of comment – and criticism – of the handling of Echo Girl by his brother, Tommy. Here is one example:

The owners of Unencumbered are apparently upset at a snub they received from officialdom after their win in the big race at the Gold Coast last Saturday.

While Gai Waterhouse and Denise Martin’s Thoroughbred owners were being given the red carpet treatment of champagne and caviar after their earlier successes, it would seem the Unencumbered camp were lucky to celebrate with cold party pies and saggy chips.

There are many of us though who believe they should be sending a ‘sling’ to the connections of Echo Gal – the Waterhouse filly that has helped their bank balance immensely during this Queensland visit.

She was the one on which Chris Munce adopted suicidal tactics and ran Oakleigh Girl into the ground in the McLachlan Stakes won by Unencumbered at Doomben and then in the Magic Millions Echo Gal was out three deep attacking for the lead and providing the pace that set the Classic up for Unencumbered at the Coast on Saturday.

This time it was winning jockey Nathan Berry’s brother, Tommy, who was aboard Echo Girl. I heard a TV comment by Nathan where his brother told him how to ride the race to win. With all due respects perhaps Tommy should have focused a bit more on his own tactics.

I would also like to point out a feature of the race that was highlighted by Phil Purser of Justracing and didn’t go unnoticed by many who take a closer look at the replays. Whilst this frantic pace was set up front with Echo Girl doing all the donkey work out wide, why was it necessary for Tommy to look back to his inside on straightening just before twin brother Nathan came though to hit the lead and run away with the big race.

Not a whimper from the stewards as to why this happened which is another reason punters don’t want to bet on races in Queensland. It is my opinion – and that of many others – that had this occurred in Sydney or Melbourne questions would have been asked.

But why spoil the big day and the big race with a controversial inquiry.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: Perhaps the reason that Tommy Berry looked back is covered in this section of the Stewards’ Report which reads:

Passing the 400m CELESTIAL DRAGON which was weakening had to be eased when tightened for room between INVISIBLE and CYCLONE (B. Shinn), which shifted out slightly after becoming awkward on the heels of UNENCUMBERED. STROAK which was following also had to be steadied and alter course.

Stewards certainly didn’t miss the concluding stages of the Nathan Berry ride when he was fined $500 for making a celebratory gesture. In the circumstances it was arguably the appropriate penalty.

 

‘NINE NETWORK SHOULD HAVE APPLIED TONGUE TIES TO EMMA AND RICHIE’

‘AS hard as I tried to sit through the Channel Nine coverage of the Millions from the Gold Coast on Saturday it was Emma Freedman and Richard Callander that wore me down.

I couldn’t believe how many of my mates felt the same way about cute little Emma who is fine until she opens her mouth. The same could apply to Richard, but I would hardly call the big fella cute.

If both had tongue ties applied and had left the commentary to the likes of the talented Cameron Williams and the articulate Francesca Cumani, the coverage would have been great. Then again if that had happened there would have been no point the other pair being there.

I am not a fan of Bernadette Cooper either. Why she continues to pop up at venues from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, Perth and all points in between is beyond belief. Someone at Sky must like her.

What I can’t work out is how TVN could spare Callander from his duties in Sydney racing to be part of the Nine coverage. One would have thought it should be one dog one bone when it comes to the racing media.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: I think the criticism is a bit harsh. The gorgeous Emma and big Richie provided a nice blend with Cam and Francesca. What did get up my nose was the time duration between races at Flemington to fit in with the presentations at the Gold Coast on Millions day. But we had better get used to it. Television coverage continues to dictate what happens in racing these days.

THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN reported on the ‘big night out’ which ended in strife for Campbell Brown, a part-owner of Sweet Idea and his mate for Channel 9, Anthony Mithen, who was part of the coverage and master of ceremonies for the post-race presentations on Saturday:

AFL bad boy Campbell Brown's three-year stint on the Gold Coast came to an unimpressive end when he allegedly charged a police officer in a Broadbeach nightclub.

The 30-year-old was celebrating the win of Sweet Idea, a horse he part owns, in the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas on Saturday when the early morning incident occurred.

Brown was seen drinking alcohol from the winner's trophy at the Gold Coast Turf Club and partied with friends for several hours before getting into trouble with police at East nightclub in Broadbeach at 1.25am.

According to police, Brown was charged with obstructing police after charging an officer in the popular nightclub. Brown then refused to leave the premises.

Channel 9 racing commentator Anthony Mithen, 41, was also involved in the nightclub incident and was charged with obstructing police.

Brown laughed off comments by the media after Saturday's race win that he should not party too hard or he might be arrested.

Aside from the winning stake, it is believed he netted $45,000 on the punt thanks to the horse.

It is not the first time Brown has made headlines for all the wrong ­reasons.

He was axed from the Suns last year after punching teammate ­Steven May following the club's pre-season camp in Arizona.

Brown was also removed from the Suns' leadership group in 2011 after being involved in a bar fight during the club's end-of-season trip to Thailand.

On the weekend, Brown and Mithen were arrested by Taskforce Takeback officers, who were out in force targeting public drunkness.

Acting chief superintendent Des Lacy said police would take action against anybody misbehaving, regardless of who they were.

"It doesn't matter who you are, you have to follow the law," he said.

"It's at the discretion of the premises who they let in and if they refuse somebody entry then that person can't go in.

"These places are regulated for a reason and that's to keep people safe."

Brown was given a notice to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on the charge on February 4.

Brown took to Twitter yesterday to put across his own version of events, saying "media reports of a scuffle with police are inaccurate".

"There was a misunderstanding trying to enter a venue but I was not in a scuffle".

Brown told friends that he clashed with undercover police when they stopped him from going back inside the nightclub to retrieve his wife and credit card. Mithen would not comment when contacted yesterday (Monday).

 

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.