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.
BOB BENTLEY FIRES BACK AT CLAIMS HIS BOARD LEFT RQ CUPBOARD BARE 
BOB BENTLEY, the long-term chairman of Racing Queensland whose Board was replaced when Labor lost Government, awaits the findings of the latest Commission of Inquiry expected to be handed down next month.
Bentley could easily have walked away from the industry that he oversaw during a turbulent and controversial period but remains on the Board of the Tatts Group and has become increasingly annoyed by suggestions that the cupboard was bare when he departed RQ.
He asked letsgohorseracing if his side of the story could be published and like any other contributor to the Wednesday Whinge Bob has been provided with the space to have his say. If RQ or its Chairman Kevin Dixon wish to respond they have equal right of reply but we won’t be holding our breath.
Here is the BOB BENTLEY side of the FINANCIAL STORY at RACING QUEENSLAND:
I have recently had put to me that the former Board of Racing Queensland had left the cupboard bare. In other words the financial position of Racing Queensland was left with no funds in reserve, following the resignation of the former Board in April 2012.
The comment has again surfaced and unfortunately is being made by stakeholders who I thought had more commonsense and had the ability to cut through the spin and concentrate on the facts.
The racing website ‘letsgohorseracing’ published an article on the 10th of September 2012 and again on the 31st October 2012 in reply to a Bart Sinclair story published in The Courier-Mail dated 28th October 2012 where the newspaper article attempts to justify the staggering loss of $13.891 million recorded by the new Transitional Board of Racing Queensland chaired by Kevin Dixon.
The article and spin attempted to attribute the loss to decisions and spending by the former Board, with claims that the cupboard was bare on takeover.
This of course is nonsense and a complete fabrication. For the sake of clarity the facts should be repeated.
The financial position as at the 30th March 2012 can be verified as the figures are on the record.
Year to date SURPLUS $4,300,000
Year to date SURPLUS against budget $2,900,000
CASH on hand 30th March 2012 $13,047,000
Net ASSETS as at the 30TH June 2010 $96,912,000 [Revaluation to be taken 30th June 2012]
Funding Grants held CASH $5,800,000 [Grant for Gold Coast synthetic track]
INFRASTRUCTURE Grants CASH $13,602,000 [Held in cash for construction]
INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN $110,000,000 [Plan approved, funded over 5 years]
THE former Board forecast an operating deficit for the year to 30th June 2012 of $2.2 million predicated on a continuation of control, no change to policy direction, full payment of prizemoney for the advertised racing program for all codes and collection of outstanding race field fees from corporate bookmakers, betting exchanges and on-course bookmakers.
For the sake of full disclosure the decision to accept the resignations of key executive staff in late March would have added an additional $1.2 million to the forecast deficit to make the deficit for the year $3.4 million.
‘NO RESPONSE TO DISPUTE THE FACTS’ FROM KEVIN DIXON OR MEDIA SPIN DOCTORS 
THE deficit for the year ending 30th June 2012 was the first deficit recorded in NINE years while under the administration of the outgoing Board in April 2012. In results from June 2003 to June 2011 a substantial surplus was recorded.
The former directors had resolved at the previously scheduled budget review meeting in January 2012 to meet the forecast deficit from the adequate reserves held [$13 million cash] and review the administration costs going forward as a condition in the Amalgamation Agreement stipulated that no staff earning less than $100,000 could be retrenched. This impediment expired in June 2012.
There is no spin. These are the facts.
TO date there has been no response from (new RQ Chairman) Kevin Dixon to dispute that the above was not the correct position that the Transitional Board of Racing Queensland inherited from the former Board.
The only response was a letter from RQL lawyers threatening legal action if the former Board did not immediately return all Board papers and correspondence to RQL. This of course was done and this action subsequently put Board members at a serious disadvantage during the course of the Commission of Inquiry with no Board papers or correspondence for reference.
‘WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CASH UNDER KEVIN DIXON’S TRANSITIONAL BOARD?’ 
THE QUESTION HAS NOT BEEN ANSWERED: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CASH AND FINANCIAL POSITION UNDER KEVIN DIXON’S TRANSITIONAL BOARD OF RACING QUEENSLAND?
The question can be answered in part by the massive grants to the Brisbane Race Club, previously chaired by Kevin Dixon for the nine months leading up to his appointment as chair of the Transitional Board of Racing Queensland, that amounted to two years of additional administration subsidy totaling $1,851 million. This was in addition to the $900,000 provided by Racing Queensland annually.
This additional grant, according to the minutes, was approved at the Board meeting of the 10th May 2012 only 10 days after Kevin Dixon took control of Racing Queensland.
There was also the out of court settlement of the unfair dismissal case of former RQ director Kerry Watson that was not disclosed to the industry.
And there was the settlement of the claim by the Harness Board and Kevin Seymour on a case that had very limited success if it proceeded to court. This settlement was not disclosed but believed to be substantial.
‘UNWARRANTED GRANTS’ TO KEV’S ‘BOOT SCOOTING’ BUDDY AT TOOWOOMBA 
IN my opinion there were also ‘unwarranted grants’ to Kevin Dixon’s ‘Boot Scooting’ buddy, Bob Frappell, to pay track maintenance costs that were clearly the responsibility of the Toowoomba Turf Club, and not the industry.
This clearly depleted reserves that were left to Kevin Dixon’s Transitional Racing Board.
Toowoomba was also the recipient of further undisclosed largess with the industry paying for additional capital works that the club had commissioned outside the scope of the funding of the synthetic track funding agreement for the 900m shute. This was provided by Racing Queensland on the condition that the club would repay the cost of works.
The decision and business case, if there is one, to rip up the cushion track at Toowoomba and replace it with a $7 million grass track should be examined. The cushion track came with a guarantee from the manufacturer for seven years provided the track was maintained properly. If, as is being claimed, the track failed, why was the guarantee not invoked?
The new grass surface is without question first rate, not withstanding that the track is too tight and could not qualify as a metropolitan racecourse. The track performs best when there is a reliable supply of water available, a key requirement for a StrathAyr grass surface.
(Chairman) Bob Frappell has told stakeholders and his committee that he holds a guarantee from the Toowoomba City Council for continuous water supply for 15 years. I understand from discussion with stakeholders in Toowoomba that the water guarantee given by the Toowoomba City Council has a qualifying clause that should the city again experience severe drought then the guarantee no longer applies.
Droughts and water shortages are not a passing phenomenon. The climate in the start of 2014 is already hot and dry. If the situation arises, will the Toowoomba City Council put the need for the grass track to be watered over the need of the citizens? I think not.
The question that other clubs and stakeholders are asking is: Will Kevin Dixon pick up the tab for his old ‘boot scooting’ mate Bob Frappell for the cost of the water and what will happen if the water is no longer available?
What is Plan B?
Chairman Bob Frappell should comment on this and produce the letter he claims was given by the Toowoomba City Council as well as the cost per litre of water supplied and the additional annual cost to the Toowoomba Turf Club.
The revenue side is interesting as the case that was being pursued by the Government and supported by the former board of RQL against bookmakers who had failed to pay their race field fees was dropped without any comment. That revenue was lost to the racing industry.
It stands to reason that handouts of industry funds to clubs who are in reality private members clubs and the overseeing of massive changes in policy and direction have taken its toll on the financial health of the industry.
The time has come for the spin to stop, for the Board to take responsibility for their decisions and to man up and accept that the Transitional Board was not left with the cupboard bare.The industry had a firm financial legacy to commence operations by any judgmental standards.
CONTROVERSY OF THE RACING WEEK
NATHAN DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM RUMORS ABOUT FOOTBALLER AT RACES 
WE are reliably informed that Racing Queensland stewards are well aware of allegations from industry stakeholders and rank and file punters that a former football star linked to one of Australia’s leading punters has been conveying messages to certain jockeys as they are going to the barriers.
This website reported on the concerns being expressed in calls and emails to us in two paragraphs well down in a story involving the appointment of a new Chief Steward for the gallops in Queensland and it prompted an angry response from one quarter.
We received a telephone call from Nathan Long, a former Sydney first grade footballer, who told us that industry figures were identifying him as the person involved. Long felt the report was unfair and wanted to make it clear that it was not him and that he was doing nothing wrong on his day at the races.
Long believes because he is ‘the only footballer who goes to the races that people recognize’ they immediately assumed the report referred to him. We told him he was ‘sparring at shadows’ and that it didn’t identify any specific footballer and highlighted the fact that there are plenty of former football stars that like the track and a punt.
Nathan said the specific allegation concerning a favorite that got beaten on Magic Millions Day could not have involved him as he wasn’t there because of the big crowd. “I love going to the track and I know many jockeys but I’m dirty about these suggestions,” he said.
Our mail is that RQ stewards are looking at SKY footage of horses going to the start in races at several south-east Queensland tracks to see if they can identify any contact over the fence between a racegoer and two leading jockeys in particular.
As for the favorite that got beaten at the Gold Coast we have looked at the footage of that race and it will be very interesting to see how that horse performs when next produced.
And with regards to Nathan Long we appreciate him calling in to put his side of the story forward and wish him well in his post-football life and punting exploits.
THE EAST COAST SCENE:
QUEENSLAND
HOW DID TATTS MANAGE TO SECURE A WAGERING LICENSE IN QLD UNTIL 2098? 
RACING stakeholders are confused by the news that international corporate bookmakers will be invited to bet alongside TattsBet in a bid to open the betting market in Queensland.
RQ announced this week that it had distributed an expressions-of-interest prospectus to the world's biggest bookmakers seeking their views to transform Queensland's race betting landscape.
An exclusivity agreement which restricts Tatts as the only totalizator at pubs, clubs and racetracks ends on June 30, paving the way for a transformation of race betting in Queensland.
Racing Queensland chief executive Darren Condon told Daniel Meers of The Courier-Mail that the opportunities for agencies were limitless. “These opportunities do not present themselves very often. We have to look at the best possible outcome for the industry moving forward.”
What has confused stakeholders is the revelation that Tatts has a license until 2098 and will remain at the forefront of the betting scene in Queensland regardless of the outcome of the move to add competition to the equation when they lose exclusivity in June.
They want to know who did this deal back in the days when the TAB agreement was first sealed when Peter Beattie was the Labor Premier and Bob Gibbs the Racing Minister.
MARKET investors were unfazed by news that Tatts potentially faces more competition in Queensland.
Tatts said it hopes to strike a deal with RQ to extend its exclusive hold on ‘bricks and mortar’ retail outlets for race wagering in the state.
The Brisbane-based company said it had ongoing talks to extend the exclusivity beyond June 30 even though its race wagering license is good through to 2098.
NEW SOUTH WALES
JIMMY IN SHORT PANTS WAS TOO MUCH FOR MARSHALL MURRIHY TO COPE WITH 
YOU might recall that last week in this column 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.
James called on racing officialdom to dispense with coats and ties in a move to attract people – especially the younger generation – back to the track wearing attire in which they felt comfortable.
Practicing what he preached Cummings junior rocked up to the races at Randwick on Saturday dressed in a pair of shorts and to suggest that Chief Steward Ray Murrihy was far from impressed would be an understatement.
James didn’t have a runner on the day but was trackside to see Eurozone gallop with stablemate Benedire between races.
The dress code for members requires men to wear pants, shirts and ties, even though the rules on ties were relaxed at Sydney’s racing headquarters last Saturday.
“I told James to never wear the shorts again,” Murrihy told Christian Nicolussi of the Daily Telegraph. “I told him I don't care if he’s taking horses to the Trangie picnics, the shorts must go.”
VICTORIA
INTERSTATE RIVALRY WITH RATINGS SYSTEM DEBATE BIGGER THAN BEN HUR 
THE ratings system debate is bigger than Ben Hur with New South Wales continuing to burr up over Victorian suggestions for change.
Respected Sydney Daily Telegraph columnist Ken Callander weighed in with an attack on those south of the border this week which prompted a couple of nasty responses to the Whinge.
Here’s what Ken had to say on the issue:
THE one innovation in recent years that has worked perfectly is the track ratings system of 1-10 covering all conditions from concrete hard (1) to a quagmire (10).
Now the Victorians want to change the system to fall in line with the Pommies. They are sending up a delegation on Thursday to speak with their counterparts in NSW.
They should be sent home as soon as they get here and told up here in Sydney we are happy with the system and punters understand the difference between a five and an eight much easier than they do when confronted with double Dutch like slow to yielding.
Who do these Victorians think they are and who cares what they think in England? If we sat on our hands and followed England, where racing is on a fast downhill spiral, we still would not have introduced barrier stalls.
As for the Victorian racing industry, don't forget they were the people who were happy to fall in line with international thinking and watch Chris Munce rot in jail for tipping and then serve another suspension when he was released.
These same people, the Victorians, then thought it was OK to only suspend a leading jockey for 10 months for having $10,000 on a horse in a race in which he was riding. What a joke.
While our boys are talking to these dreamers from the south on Thursday why don't they bring up the track at Caulfield last Wednesday which saw all horses head to the outside rail on a hot day when there had been no rain? Why? Because the track had been doctored (excessively watered) and to hell with the punters that were expected to bet on it.
Punters are everything to Australian racing and the Caulfield races should have been called off after one or two races.
Victorians water their tracks excessively probably because the Pommies like ‘give’ in the ground.
Luckily the local delegation consists of Ray Murrihy, Lindsay Murphy and Scott Kennedy, all strong men who won't cop rubbish from the southerners. Backing them up is their boss, Mr Iron Fist himself, Peter Vlandys, a man who nobody has ever accused of being weak.
CALLANDER COLUMN TAKING TO TASK BY ANGRY CONTRIBUTORS FROM VICTORIA 
HERE are a couple of the responses to the Callander column from south of the border that should get the general message across from the angry Victorians:
‘I read with a great deal of humor the Ken Callander column on the ‘Cheeky Victorians’ wanting to join the rest of the world when it comes to racing issues.
Talk about having a journalist taking a ‘long bow’ to the facts, well this story is something I am unable to believe has come from the ‘pen’ of Ken Callander.
I will always respect Ken for his ‘no prisoners’ attitude.
Unlike his big son, Richie and that lass Freedman, both of whom should be barred from the TV screen, Ken’s handling of the truth has never come into question as far as I am concerned.
In this instance his journalistic license can only be saved from suspension because of his great sense of humor.
Ken – Q: “Who do these Victorians think they are? (Expecting NSW to allow changes in the track rating system)
Query – I take it Ken that if NSW doesn’t approve of any racing amendments the rest of the country will have to live with it.
Ken – Q: “Poor old Chris Munce – how dare you Victorians and the REST OF THE COUNTRY uphold their obligations to international racing?”
Query – I assume Ken that it is highly questionable for Australia to abide by ‘international rules of racing’.
Further, an alleged ‘poor man’ who has been left ‘busted’ from his ordeal is entitled to purchase an up-market home in one of the most affluent suburbs in the country.
Ken – Q: “While out boys are talking to these dreamers from down south etc.”
Query – It would appear that the suggestion did come from down south and the opposition has come from the ‘ego chamber’ in the NSW stewards' room. There is no doubt this is a personality issue.
These bloody Poms are getting blamed for everything. The UK is only a small part of this equation. Victoria obviously realize from their experiences, something NSW has never gone through, that they (RVL) have to market overseas and adjust accordingly. The high flyers and big spenders will be a major share of our betting dollar.
I can see in years to come whereby big race clubs like MRC will be flying punters in for the day. There is nothing like education.
Ken – Q: “A smack at RVL over the sentence handed down to Damien Oliver. You didn’t mention whatever happened to those questions that were going to be asked of a leading Sydney jockey which your family has close ties to.”
Come on Kenny. I don’t want to accuse you of a conflict of interest but how about looking at the track ratings question objectively rather than throwing up other issues to cloud the one at hand.’
AND THIS ONE: 
‘SURPRISE, surprise Ken Callander goes into bat for Ray Murrihy and Peter V’landys. By the way which one of them actually runs the show when it comes to integrity in racing in NSW?
Let’s face it this is all about Marshall Murrihy not being able to cope with change that he hasn’t suggested, especially when it comes from a steward who is recognized as doing a better job than him by the punters of this country.
Callander raises the Chris Munce issue. It was Racing NSW that breached international agreements and refused to fall in line with what had happened in Hong Kong where the rules are difference and Munce broke them.
It was Racing NSW that rolled out the red carpet to Munce. They can jump up and down all they like about racing in Victoria. Ask any punter where they prefer to bet. What is happening on the track in Sydney these days is on the nose and nothing is being done about it. The professionals refuse to bet there anymore.
Even Callander has been raising issues about beaten favorites and the rides of certain jockeys. No this whole issue is not really about track ratings. It is about which top steward has the biggest ….. and whether NSW racing is better than Victoria.’
THE NARCS HAVE THEIR SAY ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
OXYGEN TANK NEEDED FOR PUNTERS AS WELL AS ANOTHER EXCUSE EMERGES 
THERE are so many excuses for failures and improvements – especially by favorites and rank outsiders – that punters have little hope in racing. Here is an example of the feedback that we received on this topic:
‘MAX Presnell raised an interesting issue in his column (in the Sydney Morning Herald) this week about breathing difficulties being blamed for horses performing below their best.
The easing favorite Atmospherical – we learn after the race from the stable – had been making a noise in her gallops – finished a struggling fourth.
The trainer of plunge runner Charge Account told the media before that horse ran seventh at Randwick on Saturday that he had been ‘breathing heavily in workouts’.
Months down the track we now discover that Victoria Derby favorite Savvy Nature – which was beaten over 20 lengths – had a breathing problem which obviously didn’t affect him in the lead-up to the big race.
It’s simply not good enough and as Presnell suggested greater clarification regarding ‘oxygen intake’ and ‘breathing problems’ is needed to protect the punters. It’s hard enough backing a winner as it is.’
PICKERING POST INVOLVING QLD RACING IDENTITIES COULD HAVE LEGAL AFTERMATH 
LARRY Pickering has long been – and in the eyes of many – will always be an institution and a great favorite in this country as a cartoonist.
These days he is building a great following as well with his Pickering Post – where he shoots from the hip at some of the country’s leading figures, especially politicians.
In one of his latest ‘posts’ doing the rounds two former leading racing identities in Bill Ludwig and Bob Bentley are the subject of a workout Pickering-style.
For legal reasons we dare not reproduce the Pickering Post in its entirety but here are excerpts that our lawyers have allowed us to use:
THE Bligh Government, before it was thrown out, handed unaccounted-for millions to Ludwig’s Queensland Racing.
In 1999, Beattie’s Government privatised the TAB and sold it for the bargain basement price of $262 Million.
Who they sold it to (the shareholders) reads like a who’s who of Labor (word edited out), including Queensland Racing’s Bob Bentley, who (comments edited for legal reasons).
UNiTAB now clears in excess of $100 million per year.
Ludwig’s gifted dollars are converted to numbers and those numbers are converted to power.
Power enabled the unholy alliance of Richo’s and Bob Carr’s NSW Right, Victoria’s Socialist Left and Ludwig’s QLD AWU to present us with a delightful three years of Julia Gillard.
The list of who Julia duly repaid is a long one.’
We understand this Pickering Post has been referred to the lawyers of a couple of high profile political and racing identities.
IS RQ READY TO APPOINT THE FIRST FEMALE CHAIRMAN OF STEWARDS IN THE NORTH? 
COULD racing in Queensland soon be the first state in the country to have a female Chairman of Stewards?
That’s what the drums are beating within the Deagon Bunker and they are referring to a former Queenslander who is looking to returning home from the southern states where she started her stewarding career.
Our reliable sources inform us that the no-nonsense lady steward is on the short list for the Chief Steward’s job in Townsville.
News from the Deagon Bunker is that experienced steward Allan Reardon, who has been on the interview panel, was impressed with the way she did her job when he work alongside her interstate.
It will be interesting to see how she butts heads with some of the warring factions in Townsville where RQ has been told to clean up its act – that’s if she gets the job ahead of the likes of Gary Palmer and Patrick Cooper.
As for the role of Chief Steward at RQ gallops to replace Wade Birch who has been elevated to a more senior integrity position, well that has turned into an absolute chook raffle.
The Deagon bookies have original favorite Martin Knibbs easing badly in the latest betting while Daniel Aurisch is at a ‘write your own ticket’ quote. The story goes there is plenty of resistance from within to the Colonel – Reid Sanders – returning to the role he once held. Perhaps that is way the applications were extended. Could it be that RQ is looking OS for the right person for the job?
‘DO THE TRAINERS HAVE MORE START WITH OFFICIALDOM AT RQ THAN THE OWNERS?’ 
‘AS a person who has raced horses in Queensland for many years I would like to know why the Owners’ Association does not seem to have the same clout with some of those at the helm than the Trainers.
My trainer showed me the agenda for the Trainers’ Association meeting this week and it made for interesting read:
12.15 : Tea/Coffee/Lunch on arrival.
12.30 : Meeting Open – Trainers only, general business & brief discussion on some of the issues to be addressed.
* Race-day Treatments (amendment to Rule for penalty & clarification on definition of treatments)
* Apprentice System (concerns/problems/feedback)
* Bad Publicity (recent MM media farce)
* Owner Contracts/Debt Management
* New rulings (AR.64M Intra-articulate steroids)
* Prize-money payments to syndications
1.30 : RQ Communication & Programming - Mark Sweeney
1.50 : RQ Stewards Update - Wade Birch
2.10 : RQ Chairman's Update - Kevin Dixon
2.45 : BRC Update - Andrew Moore
3.00 : General Business – items to take forward to next RQ Forum.
I was very interested to see the wide range of people from the RQ Chairman down that make themselves available to speak to the Trainers’ Association. When was the last time the Owners equivalent was afforded the same privileges.
The thing that annoys me most is that politically the Trainers were very close to the Bentley Board and now they seemed to have jumped ship just as effectively and appear to have plenty of start with the new Board. But that’s racing in Queensland I guess.’
CAUGHT IN THE RACE DATES CROSSFIRE OUR TERRY CRUISES OFF TO SOUTH AFRICA 
OUR scribe in the north, Terry Butts, caught in the crossfire after going into bat for clubs harshly treated in the race dates draft for next season, slipped quietly out of the country at the weekend.
Butts fired for the hip in his hard-hitting Silks & Saddles column last week questioning the apparent unfairness in the proposed race dates between clubs like Townsville and the Sunshine Coast compared to Toowoomba and Kilcoy.
He was criticized for suggesting – what the majority of stakeholders believe – that some clubs – especially Toowoomba – have too much start with some people running the show at RQ.
Butts was once again just reporting the facts – something that doesn’t win you Brownie Points with certain identities in racing in Queensland.
He flew out to Capetown, will be attending the races in South Africa, before cruising back to Australia aboard the Queen Mary. Times are tough for a racehorse trainer and freelance journalist in the north of Queensland.
WE APOLOGIZE TO the late arrival emails concerning the BRC'S latest appointment that missed our WW deadline but will run those next week.
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.
