THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE has a new look but won’t be dispensing with the theme and focus on the THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY side of what is happening in racing. The Whinge will continue to provide an opportunity for The Cynics to Have Their Say. Thanks again for your support for the most read column on this website and one of the most read on racing websites in the country. Our popularity continues to grow despite the bagging it cops from some high profile officials, especially in Queensland, who cannot cope with constructive criticism of any kind. We encourage supporters – and critics – to continue to contribute but plan to restrict the Whinge to less than 10 of the best items each week. Our message to those who continually bag us is simple: IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT YOU READ, THEN DON’T REVISIT THE WHINGE.
CAN THE STORY BE RIGHT THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A ‘POSITIVE’ IN QLD RACING? 
THIS email was sent to us from someone outside the inner-circle of racing in Queensland but who is well informed on what is happening there. If it happens to be correct then this is a matter that needs to be urgently addressed as the punters are being played for fools:
‘THERE’S an alarming and controversial story doing the rounds that such is the debacle behind the scenes that it is impossible for any trainer to return a positive swab in racing in Queensland at present.
It is being alleged that those in the know are keeping a lid on the issue for fear it will be no-holds-barred from those prepared to take advantage of an industry and administration that is well and truly on the ropes.
Of course while Shadow Racing Minister Jann Stuckey is bleating about the industry paying tens of millions for a new Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, she is saying nothing about this. Chances are she doesn’t know.
But news has leaked from the Deagon Bunker that under the current Racing Act not a single horse racing in Queensland can return a positive swab. Racing Minister Grace Grace is probably unaware of the situation either and, if so, needs to be briefed on the issue.
Acting RQ CEO Ian Hall needs to make a statement confirming or denying the situation. It has been some time since there was a positive to anything significant in Queensland and we did have that period where there was a cloud over whether swabs of a serious nature could be sustained. In fact appeals were upheld on the basis of a laboratory technicality.
Whether the current situation is linked to that or not, one wonders what the supposed current Integrity Commissioner Jim O’Sullivan is doing about this or if he even knows it is occurring. One might say he has over-stayed his welcome in that role.
If it is impossible to get a positive surely the new Head of Integrity Jamie Dart would be aware of this. Perhaps he’s too busy taking ‘selfies’ with members of the Royal family at the Magic Millions – a Facebook speciality.
Does this mean that stewards were just going through the motions when they made such a big deal about all those horses that were swabbed at the country’s richest race day – the Magic Millions?
If so, punters are being played for fools and once again the racing industry in Queensland is ‘a furlong in front’ as the biggest joke in the country.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: IF anyone from the Racing Minister to the Acting CEO of RQ or the Head of Integrity wishes to set the record straight on this we would be interested in printing their response. If we don’t, I guess we can assume the information is correct. I am reliably informed that it is a ‘problem that is being worked on and hopefully will soon be rectified’. Really!
WHY THE WALL OF SILENCE ON WAGERING TURNOVER FROM MILLIONS DAY? 
WE’VE had several inquiries concerning the big Magic Millions race day and whilst the official crowd figure of 24,000 has been questioned by most, there is greater interest in why no betting turnover figures have been released.
As JASON CORNELL wrote in his column on the website ROAR:
‘YOU would think Racing Queensland would be cheering from the rooftops and provide a formal summary of a great event. Crowd figures and wagering turnover – the key metrics of a successful event.
But, nothing. Not a word. I would like to openly ask Racing Queensland, UBET, the Gold Coast Turf Club, Magic Millions and anybody with an interest in the well-being of Racing in Queensland to respond and get back to us with the figures.
Transparency and open communication and getting on the same page are some of the key statements coming from racing authorities in various states.’
Anyone who follows racing in Queensland knows that punter confidence is at an all-time low but this was a day when there were plenty of high profile horses, trainers and jockeys competing. There were nine races on the card compared to the normal eight on a Saturday in Brisbane which would have given Magic Millions a ‘leg’ start. But nothing about how good the betting turnover was on Australia’s richest race day.
Surely it’s not like the commercial in-confidence 30-year deal that the Kevin Dixon RQ Board did with Tattersall’s. Perhaps it’s just another UBET ‘dud’. You only have to look at the ‘holds’ published on SKY to see how badly that entity is travelling when compared to the popularity of the TABs in NSW and Victoria – not to mention the corporate bookmaking organizations that are reaping a small fortune out of Australian racing.
WHAT PRICE IS TOO HIGH TO PAY FOR INTEGRITY – ESPECIALLY IN QLD RACING? 
BOB UNDERWOOD of BRISBANE poses an interesting question:
‘WHEN it comes to integrity in Queensland racing – which some maintain has been at an all-time low for too long now – no price is too high to pay.
It comes as no surprise that those who are bleating about the cost of the new Queensland Racing Integrity Unit are spearheaded by the former LNP Government.
One could argue it was the powerbrokers appointed by them to oversee the industry who failed dismally to protect the industry and the rights of punters and ensure the three codes were properly policed – the greyhound live baiting saga being a prime example.
Jann Stuckey, described by many insiders as the mouth-piece for the politically motivated Racing Unity Group, seems to know only marginally more about racing than her predecessor Steve ‘Furlong in Front’ Dickson and her protestations closely resemble what one would expect from former Chairman Kevin Dixon and some of his ‘sacked’ Board.
Instead of bleating about the prizemoney cuts – forced by the excesses of the people they had running the show – and how badly the Labor Government is handling the problem, Ms Stuckey should ask where it was inherited from. She only needs to look in the mirror and will see some of her LNP colleagues and their appointees.
Interestingly, there are some unusual tips doing the rounds about who is feeding Ms Stuckey her ‘inside’ information on racing. Now everyone expects it to be coming from Kilcoy and Hendra, but the latest suggesting a Toowoomba ‘wildcard’ would raise a few eye-brows.
Integrity is the cornerstone of any gambling industry. Drugs in racing is becoming a major problem, not only the controversial issue of cobalt use on horses but also apprentice jockeys – plenty of them from Queensland – falling foul to drug positives themselves.
Ask any punter who bets on racing in Queensland if he is happy with the integrity system and the majority will reply ‘no’. What’s the point of arguing over a silly 30-year deal done with the TAB if no-one wants to bet on the product?
Full marks to new Racing Minister Grace Grace and her Labor colleagues for agreeing to meet the extra costs of implementing an Integrity system that is long overdue in Queensland but don’t count on it stopping the bleating from Ms Stuckey and her LNP cronies – they won’t be happy until their mob is again running and ruining racing in this State.’
‘UNITY GROUP STARTED WITH A BIG BANG BUT IS BECOMING A FIZZER’ 
GLEN LOCKWOOD of SUNSHINE COAST sent this email:
‘THE new Queensland Racing Unity Group has had about as much impact and been about as successful as Lawrence Springborg at becoming Premier.
They came out swinging and made plenty of threats but failed to even ruffle the feathers of new Racing Minister Grace Grace. But like Laurie the Three Time Loser if at first you don't succeed, well try, try, try again.
So now that their demand for the immediate appointment of a new Board (or probably the reappointment of the Kevin Dixon one) has fallen on deaf ears, can we expect legal or industrial action?
Ms Grace might be a babe in the woods when it comes to racing but she has been advised by those in the know that the Unity Group is far from non-political – as it claims – and is being advised from those close to the LNP and some key identities they had running the industry.
As for industrial action, well how smart would that be? If stakeholders are eating the paint off the walls with the financial cuts being implemented by RQ, wouldn’t that worsen the situation?
Perhaps if the Unity Group focused on more important issues – like the ‘dud’ UBET deal, the need for a hard-hitting Integrity Commission and finding people to run the industry who aren’t politically motivated, racing in Queensland might get out of reverse gear.’
‘CALL FOR STEWARDS TO DOUBLE THE PENALTY ON LUKE TARRANT’ 
ALBERT WILLIAMS, a regular contributor from REDCLIFFE, weighs into the problem of apprentice jockeys returning positives to banned substances:
‘IF Luke Tarrant thinks his six month ban after testing positive to a cocaine related drug isn’t all that serious, perhaps stewards should revisit his penalty.
Tarrant’s posting on social media has caused uproar even among some of his fellow top jockeys, headed by Glen Boss, and one could argue he needs to be made an example of.
There seems to be a growing problem, especially among young jockeys in Queensland, which raises the question of whether those who are responsible for overseeing their welfare are doing their jobs or need to be replaced. Bring back Pam O’Neill!
But more to the point Max Presnell hit the nail on the head in a column piece in the Sydney Morning Herald when he posed the question whether apprentices can handle the big money they are receiving these days. It’s something the Jockeys’ Association might take a closer look at and I notice that Glen Prentice is doing just that. Good on him!’
EDITOR’S NOTE: WE have reproduced an excerpt from the MAX PRESNELL article written for FAIRFAX MEDIA that was referred to above:
IT’S been an unhappy New Year particularly with the Luke Tarrant drug burst. Second sucks but not as much as cocaine.
Twelve months ago Tarrant, now 21, was Australia's most promising jockey, notching the Villiers for Helen Page on Rudy at Randwick plus a Magic Millions with LeChef, but this week was disqualified for six months after producing a sample with a metabolite of the banned substance.
The Tarrant situation even dwarfs recent Sydney, very much in the doldrums, with the cobalt cloud Australia-wide ready to continue spewing its bile over the turf.
"Enjoy coke", the t-shirt on the horizon lately, seems to be the catchcry for jockeys in Queensland where the outstanding Stathi Katsidis died following a booze and dope binge in 2010. Katsidis was 10 years older than Tarrant.
Surely the well-being of young jockeys and apprentices is the responsibility of the racing industry.
Too much money is the problem according to Queensland Jockeys’ Association boss Glen Prentice who has been lobbying for changes to the Queensland system, which sees apprentices receive an income that can be as high as $300,000 a year.
"In Queensland, young riders now get all their money and often that can be a lot of cash very quickly," Prentice told the local media. "Apprentice jockeys are not like apprentice bakers — the apprentice jockeys can be exposed to big sums of money very quickly.
"That amount of cash ... can give these young minds some silly ideas. We have been begging the [Queensland] authorities to get trust funds going for apprentice jockeys."
Tarrant rides to "second sucks", the tattoo littered across his chest. Fortunately his latest misdemeanor isn't a life sentence.
Frankie Dettori was outed for six months in 2012 on a "prohibited substance" finding but last year was rated "the world's best jockey", certainly a title not earned in the 2015 Melbourne Cup.
RIDING THE CUP WINNER HAS CREATED A PREDCIAMENT FOR MICHELLE 
ARCHIE SWAN of MELBOURNE writes:
‘RIDING the winner of the Melbourne Cup could turn out to be the best and worst thing that ever happened for Michelle Payne.
She is being tugged in so many directions it must be hard for the new ‘poster girl’ of racing in this country to decide which is the right way to head.
Payne has always been a popular figure in racing – as has her family – but few other Melbourne Cup winning jockeys are more recognizable. Whether it was her ‘they can all get stuffed’ comment after the win or the link with her brother, Stevie, Michelle, is some way, has touched the hearts of many – inside and outside of the racing industry.
Good luck to the success she is now enjoying through her newfound profile – whether it is having a detrimental effect on her riding career or not. From an outsider’s perspective, she still seems to have her feet firmly on the ground.
Here’s hoping she continues to keep her feet on the ground and most of all does not allow herself to become a ‘poster girl’ for some of the fruit loop groups associated with the women’s rights movement who have jumped at an opportunity – in the opinion of many – to cash in on her popularity and exposure.’
ALLAN COOPER – A SAD LOSS – WAS UP THERE WITH THE BEST STEWARDS 
THIS is certainly not a Whinge but these days we get so many about stewards – or lack of integrity in racing – that we thought it was worth running something different.
It was sent by North Queenslander ROD KIDNER to colleague Terry Butts in response to his ‘Silks & Saddles’ article concerning the death of legendary steward ALLAN COOPER which reads:
‘I was very sorry to read your piece about the loss of the best Chief Stipe we have ever had in Queensland and you can throw them all in.
A few points of my dealings with this great stipe (Allan Cooper) who had the best understanding of the racing industry and what goes with it.
Years ago I won a race in Townsville and as the jockeys went in to weigh out, a leading rider, still riding now, called ‘protest’. Mr Cooper looked at the complaining rider and asked: ‘Are you sure? Take a minute, watch the replay and then tell me of your decision’. Guess what? No protest and it saved everyone a whole waste of time going over and over replays.
I had a horse nominated for Townsville on a Saturday and at Mareeba on the Monday of a long weekend. I forgot to scratch in time for Townsville and wanted to start in Mareeba. So I called the Chief Stipe and told him of my predicament, admitting it was my fault and ensuring him the horse was OK and fit and that I just forgot (to scratch from Townsville).
Commonsense prevailed. He accepted my word this time without a penalty, adding that he hoped it didn’t happen again.
I remember also approaching Mr Cooper at the Cairns races and telling him of a problem we had a the Mareeba Turf Club. His reply: “If you are at the Mareeba track early, about 5.30am tomorrow, I will check on it.’ He was there, saw the drainage problem and later that week a sum of $8,000 was in club funds for repairs.
We have seen them come and go but we will never see the likes of Allan Cooper again.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: In my younger days as a racing writer reporting for the Townsville Bulletin I got to see first-hand the job that Allan Cooper did and also took his advice on many racing issues and become a close friend. We ended up meeting on a weekly basis for lunch. I’ve seen some good – and some bad – stewards over the years in Queensland but none to rival the way he did his job or the respect he earned from all sections of the industry, including the punters. He was tough but fair. Our thoughts go out to his family, especially son, Patrick, who followed in Allan’s footsteps as a Chief Steward in NQ. It’s a pity there weren’t more like him in Queensland racing today. It certainly needs them.
THEY’RE EVEN FRAMING MARKETS ON RUPERT’S LATEST ‘HANDBAG’ 
JUST when you thought it was the Chinese who would bet on anything, it seems Australian punters are giving them a run for their money.
Sportsbet often posts interesting – and let's call these different – betting types. Here is their latest involving media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s engagement to former Mick Jagger’s ex Jerry Hall.
It reads:
Congratulations to Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall on their engagement!
It’ll be fourth time lucky for the media baron according to online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au, with $1.35 the price offered for the wedding to go ahead, and an almost certain $1.15 saying the happy couple will still be together on New Year’s Day 2017.
It promises to be one lavish ceremony but the market has New York as the $4 favorite to host the wedding just ahead of one of Mr Murdoch’s Superyachts at $5.
Rupert’s sons Lachlan ($6) and James ($7.50) are the picks to be Best Man. Tony Abbott ($26) and Mick Jagger ($101) aren’t quite as likely to be handing over the rings.
“Twenty-five years age difference is nothing in the world of celebrity relationships so we’re thinking this one’ll go the distance, as long as Jerry doesn’t walk down the aisle to Satisfaction,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Christian Jantzen.
Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
Location of Rupert and Jerry's Wedding
$4 New York
$5 On board one of Rupert's Superyachts
$6 London
$7.50 Saint Tropez
$8 Melbourne
$9 Sydney
$11 Paris
$11 Miami
$11 Bali
Best Man
$6 Lachlan Murdoch
$750 James Murdoch
$16 Roger Ailes
$16 Donald Trump
$21 James Packer
$21 David Gyngell
$26 Tony Abbott
$34 David Cameron
$51 Buzz Rothfield
$51 Leonardo DiCaprio
$51 Malcolm Turnbull
$101 Mick Jagger
Maid of Honour
$4 Elizabeth Jagger
$5 Georgia May Jagger
$7.50 Cyndy Hall
$21 Prudence Murdoch
$21 Elisabeth Murdoch
$34 Sarah Murdoch
$41 Grace Murdoch
$41 Chloe Murdoch
$81 Rebekah Brooks
$101 Anna Murdoch
$101 Wendi Deng
Will the Wedding go ahead?
$1.35 Yes
$3 No
Will they still be together on 1 January 2017?
$1.15 Yes
$5 No
What song will the bride walk down the aisle to?
$11 Little Moments - Charlotte Church
$11 Panis Angelicus - Charlotte Church
$21 Can't get no satisfaction - Rolling Stones
$21 She's a rainbow - Rolling Stones
$21 Paint it Black Rolling Stones
$41 Anybody Seen My Baby - Rolling Stones
$51 Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
$101 Rupert The Musical Theme Song
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.