Letsgohorseracing - Wednesday Whinge

Details: Published: 15 October 2013

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. This week the key topics include reports that the Tatts Group will repay Racing Queensland close to $100 million received in a controversial ‘deal with the Bentley Board; concerns over the losses being posted by Racing Queensland and lack of information in the annual reports; more comments on the Commission of Inquiry in Queensland and your feedback on a host of other topics.

Details: Published: 08 October 2013

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. This week the key topics were an angry response to the sacking of Nash Rawiller off Fiorente and a backlash against Gai Waterhouse; integrity comparisons between the east coast states and further attacks on the corporate bookmaking agencies. We continue our new section of ‘stories of interest’ that you may have missed during the past week courtesy of the major racing media.

Details: Published: 01 October 2013

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. This week the key topics were again the Commission of Inquiry in Queensland, the appeal win by top jockey Chris Munce, ramifications of stewards’ blunders in the north and is the Sydney racing media teeing off on the spring carnival early. We also have our new popular section of ‘stories of interest’ that you may have missed during the past week courtesy of the major racing media.

STEWARDS ENCOURAGED NOT TO BE DISCOURAGED BY MUNCE APPEAL WIN

IF this e-mail which arrived within hours of the Chris Munce appeal decision being handed down is any guide, it would seem that not everyone in racing was ready to bag the stewards for taking on a top jockey in Brisbane.

ALAN J of BRISBANE wrote:

‘THE fact that Chris Munce beat an improper riding charge on appeal came as no surprise to many in racing – and it had nothing to do with whether he was guilty or not.

The RDB took little time to throw out the month suspension that Munce incurred but in the court of public opinion the stewards won their share of respect from the racing public.

Chief Steward Daniel Aurisch and his panel deserve more than a bagging for having the courage to take on a jockey of Munce’s profile and popularity with officialdom. It happens far too infrequently, especially with some of the more high profile stipes.

Hopefully it will not discourage Aurisch and the stewards who worked that day not to back their opinion in future. Appeals Board chairman Judge Carter and his panel did not agree with them. With respect many in racing did.

Good luck to Chris for winning his appeal. One can only imagine how he would have reacted had his appeal been dismissed, especially considering the indignant attitude he adopted when charged, whether understandable in the circumstances or not.

When was the last time that a top jockey was dealt with by stewards on anything more than a careless riding charge in Brisbane? My friends and I follow racing closely and we cannot remember.

Looking through the records one would assume that Bobby El-Issa is the only ‘bad boy’ in the Brisbane race riding ranks and that is not meant to cast any aspersion on the integrity of Chris Munce or anyone in particular.

But if every time stewards attempt to take action against a leading rider it provokes a reaction and media frenzy to the degree that this case did, then some of us fear the racing police will believe they are just there to make up the numbers of a Saturday and might as well go through the motions and just enjoy the tea and scones at half-time.

EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE is a story by GRANTLEE KIEZA from THE COURIER-MAIL following yesterday’s appeal hearing:

CHAMPION jockey Chris Munce is free to ride at Eagle Farm tomorrow after winning his appeal against a month-long suspension.

Munce turned legal eagle yesterday to give an impassioned defence before the Racing Disciplinary Board at Eagle Farm against the ban over an incident in the final race at Doomben on Saturday, September 14.

He said he was relieved at the outcome and that the board, "all legal people", had seen the evidence clearly in his favor.

Stewards had found Munce guilty of improper riding, alleging he altered his riding action and whip use aboard Platinum Mint and made deliberate contact with Magic In Motion passing the winning post in the Ormiston College Old Collegians Plate (1350m).

Platinum Mint finished second to Anna Lizzie while Magic In Motion, ridden by apprentice Anthony Allen, finished third.

But Munce walked tall from the stewards' room yesterday after board chairman, former Supreme Court Judge Bill Carter and board members Paul James and Brock Miller took only a few minutes to consider all the evidence.

"We are of the clear view that the state of the evidence does not persuade us to that the inference that his changing whip movement was deliberate and intended for the purpose of striking either the other horse or jockey," Carter said.

Carter said video footage of the race finish should not have persuaded stewards to make that conclusion.

"Accordingly we are of the view that the appeal against the conviction for improper riding and the penalty imposed should be set aside.”

‘CHEATS WILL HAVE NOWHERE TO RUN LINE’ SOURCE OF AMUSEMENT FOR SOME

NIGEL K of SUNSHINE COAST writes:

‘ANYONE who knows anything about what is happening behind the scenes in racing in Queensland would have been rolling around the floor laughing at the story in last week’s Courier-Mail.

It started out: ‘Cheats will have nowhere to run under tough new measures introduced by Racing Queensland in a major crackdown on illegal activities.

"Trainers beware, that’s our message," RQ stewards chairman Wade Birch told The Courier-Mail. "We have brought in these tough new measures to ensure the race-going public see our sport being contested on a level playing field.”

Now the author of this item can be excused for knowing anything different as he seems to be a novice when it comes to turf writing. But Wade Birch is living with the fairies if he honestly believes the propaganda that came out of his mouth.

The philosophy is fine but the damage is done in the small print. Those prepared to ‘test the law’ would have been shaking in their boots when they read that a ‘Dad’s Army’ of former chief trot stewards would spearhead the integrity attack.

Three other full-time investigators – who remained nameless – will apparently attempt to copy the activities of the Compliance Assurance Team that has proved an overnight success story for Racing Victoria.

The industry will struggle to find anyone who believes the Queensland outfit will be anywhere near as affective. For starters it needed an appointee to run the show who ‘law-breakers’ feared. ‘

EDITOR’S NOTE: LET’S sit back and see what results the new team provide for racing in Queensland before being too critical. I am told that one of the first visits of those running the show will be to Victoria to see how the Compliance Assurance Team works in that state. They could pick a lot worse place to start and who knows if they wait a month or so their visit could coincide with Cup week when there is bound to be action aplenty.

BOUQUETS TO RACING INQUIRY FOR THREATENING ACTION AGAINST ROGUE ‘BLOG’

THERE have been many e-mails received concerning the Queensland Racing Commission of Inquiry – several of which we have used excerpts from below. Some unfortunately were outside the legal limits that we felt were acceptable to be published.

Letsgohorseracing was delighted to see the Inquiry issue a stern warning to the authors and contributors to a ‘blog’ monitoring proceedings that contained disparaging remarks about several witnesses.

This website has refused consistent requests over the years to introduce ‘chat rooms’ on racing because we have no control over the content. What we do believe is that if certain individuals are using blogs, or chat rooms, to get across ‘political’ messages about the Inquiry then they should be exposed.

HERE are the e-mails concerning the inquiry that we have chosen to use this week:

ARGUABLY THE WORST PERFORMANCE BY A WITNESS AT THE RACING INQUIRY

JOHN K of BRISBANE writes:

‘WHAT a difference an inquiry makes.

The charismatic one, Tony Hanmer, was far from the confident motivational speaker who performed so well in the witness box at the Daubney-Rafter Inquiry when it came to a far tougher line of questioning from James Bell QC before Commissioner Margaret White.

In fact Hanmer sounded alarmingly unsure, seemed confused when trying to answer simple questions, gave the impression that he had been backed into a corner more times than he would have liked, and to many who have been following the Inquiry closely, was one of the worst witnesses so far.

After hearing his explanation of the role that he performed as Chairman of Product Co, some of us are still unsure whether Hanmer was prepared to concede or not that Bob Bentley was in attendance at some meetings despite the fact that his signature was on the minutes.’

BILL LUDWIG EMERGED FROM THE RACING INQUIRY A ‘BIT OF A LIGHTWEIGHT’

AND this one from JASON J of GOLD COAST:

‘BILL Ludwig might be a Labor power-broker and union heavyweight but he came off second best at the Racing Inquiry.

When confronted by the ticklish questions from James Bell QC, big Bill huffed and puffed and finally did his block giving observers the impression that the Commissioner was far from impressed by his performance and antics.

Some of us have waited a long time to see the likes of Ludwig forced to answer the tough questions. What a pity the opportunity never arose at the last Inquiry to ask him about some of those loyal RQ employees who felt ‘sold out’ by their union of which he was the boss.

After hearing the reasons that Ludwig supported the ‘golden handshakes’ provided to those loyal servants of his and Bentley’s Board, all I can say is I am glad he is not a member of our Punters’ Club.

If he supported the payout deal because he believed that Labor would win the last election he has to be the worst judge in the world. If his knowledge of racing is as bad as his predictions in politics, one has to wonder whether he ever backs a winner.’

LITTLE WONDER THOSE WHO DISAGREED WITH BOB BENTLEY DIDN’T SURVIVE

AND this one from KEL C of BRISBANE:

‘AFTER listening to the evidence of Michael Lambert and Bill Andrews, it comes as little surprise that those two respected Board members didn’t survive under the chairmanship of Bob Bentley.

They told of trying to warn the then Board years ago of the implications legally of allowing Tattersalls to escape with tens of millions of dollars that belonged to the racing industry in Queensland.

One has to wonder if the price both paid was their demise from the Board. One also has to question what Board members like Tony Hanmer, Wayne Milner and Brad Ryan were doing when this was happening.

Were they just sitting in the corner, agreeing with Bentley and Ludwig, and playing with their thumbs while the industry was being sold down the drain to Tatts?

One assumes that eventually their side of that story will be told at the Inquiry. If not, it should be.

The question overwhelmingly being asked in the industry these days is: What did harness king Kevin Seymour know about this ‘sweetheart deal.’ After all he is the major shareholder in Tatts, on the Board of that Group and has a foot in the other camp as basically the de facto boss of harness racing in Queensland.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: AS that old saying goes: ‘It’s not over until the fat lady sings.’ But it was music to my ears to hear that RQ and Tatts are headed to court to settle their dispute over more than $120 million of industry funds that they didn’t have to pay over the past five years.

The song will only turn into a lullabye if RQ has the courage to turn their back on Tatts when it comes to the new TAB contract and goes with a rival that offers a better deal and moves racing in this country a step closer to a national tote to combat the corporate bookmaking agencies.

The award for the worst performance in the witness box so far goes hands down to Tony Terrific. Even Mal the Magnificent looked more confident but still took second prize in the grilling stakes.

RACING DISCIPLINARY BOARD APPLAUDED FOR DECISION IN COLAHAN CASE

PETER J of TOWNSVILLE sent this e-mail:

‘THE newly-established RDB in Queensland must have been far from impressed with the case presented by stewards in Townsville against Shane ‘Unit’ Colahan to throw out his six month disqualification so quickly.

Reasons for their decision have yet to be published on the Government website and many in the north cannot wait to read them. There was a groundswell of opinion in the local industry that Shane was harshly treated while others involved in the dispute simply walked away.

Judge Bill Carter, the RDB chairman, won plenty of friends in setting aside Colahan’s penalty and reportedly found there had been ‘bad blood’ between the Olivia Cairns and Bill Kenning stables. He wasn’t mistaken in that assessment.

Mr Carter was apparently far from impressed with the way this inquiry was handled which comes as no surprise – it happens all the time in the north.

The matter has been sent back to RQ to sort it out. It will be interesting to see if they take any further action or let sleeping dogs lie. Surely what Shane Colahan and his family (Olivia Cairns and child) have already suffered is sufficient penalty.’

And as for the licensee who has been running around suggesting that Shane should have got 12 months well he has really wound up with a dish full of egg on his face and should be thankful that the outcome of the inquiry was so one-sided.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: REGULAR followers of this column might remember a couple of e-mails that had Shane Colahan done and dusted before his appeal hearing even took place. As I said then – and will repeat now – Bill Carter and I have not always agreed on all things racing but he is a respected legal identity whose career I have watched for many decades. He has a wealth of experience and is highly respected by both sides of politics, but most of all anyone who appears before him at the RDB can expect the utmost fairness in the handling of their appeal and above all he knows racing and the law which is a big plus.

The Tribunal decision can now be accessed on the Government website and the Chairman sent a strong message to the control body concerning this matter in the panel’s appeal findings which read in part:

‘Before leaving the matter we wish to advise as follows. All of the circumstances relevant to the events in question are matters of the utmost concern and cannot but be prejudicial to the best interests of the racing industry.

The fact that two leading stables in any racing community conduct themselves and their business and relate to each other in an environment which was clearly toxic and characterized by overt personal animosity and intense feelings of ill will, cannot expect to go by default.

The fact that it occurred in Townsville - a racing centre which has long been regarded as a leading provincial centre - is an aggravating factor.

The material before the stewards includes the evidence of Mr Michael Charge, the CEO of the Townsville Turf Club. He and his staff, and no doubt the stewards as well, have been very properly concerned about the state of this relationship between these two trainers in particular and its impact on racing in Townsville. Mr Charge himself has attempted, but obviously to no avail, to mediate, if not reconcile the issues and the relevant parties. Clearly his best efforts have been in vain.

We are of the view therefore that it is our obligation to ensure that the thoroughbred control body and the principal racing authority, the Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board, are fully informed as to the conduct of these adult licensed persons in Townsville who have so conducted themselves in such a way as to become involved in a foolish and childish episode which can only tarnish the reputation of racing and that of the protagonists themselves.

Accordingly, I propose to send to the control body the transcript of evidence in this case and a copy of my remarks today. It will be for the licensing authority to consider all of the issues and for it to take such action, if any, as it may be advised.’

APPARENT INEFFICIENCIES IN THE STEWARD RANKS HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR COOPER RETURN

MARK P of TOWNSVILLE writes:

‘IF ever there was confirmation of the need for the return of an experienced and tough steward like Patrick Cooper to the stewarding ranks in North Queensland the past week has highlighted it.

First we had the case of Shane Colahan, whose six months disqualification was thrown out on appeal. He should never have been dealt with so harshly by stewards after a dust-up at Cluden trackwork, which was hardly one-sided according to many and all he was doing was defending the mother of his child.

Then we had another farce, again involving stewards at Cluden, when the jockey of the runner-up in the final race last Tuesday could not protest because correct weight had been declared. An apology from the Chief Steward – said to be one of Queensland’s stars on the rise – was hardly good enough.

To make more of a joke of the situation RQ with-held the prizemoney, then a week after correct weight was declared held a protest hearing at today’s (Tuesday’s) race meeting. How’s that for Irish logic.

The sooner they put a broom through the stewarding ranks in the north in particular and return Patrick Cooper, regardless of whether some of his colleagues like it or not, the better off the industry will be.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: NO doubt the suggestion that Patrick Cooper should return to the stewarding ranks will upset the usual suspects – and some of his colleagues. The sooner RQ bites the bullet and sends an SOS to Cooper the quicker the image of integrity in racing in the north will improve. In fact I believe that Cooper would have made a far more effective leader of the Integrity Unit set up by RQ recently than Norm Torpey. What happened at the protest hearing held yesterday at Cluden remains a mystery as it has not been included in the stewards’ report from that venue. However, we did notice that RQ Chief Steward Wade Birch was on the panel.

SYDNEY RACING MEDIA OFF TO AN EARLY START BAGGING THE SPRING CARNIVAL

DOUG V of MELBOURNE sent this e-mail:

‘IT must be Melbourne Cup time again. The Sydney racing media have pulled out the big guns and opened fire on everything Victorian.

They dined out last year when a controversy-riddled Spring Carnival still managed to make its Sydney rival looks second rate and attracted record crowds not to mention the massive turnover.

This time the scribes from across the border have gone on the attack early. Damien Oliver is the one again caught in the cross-fire. One wonders what little mischief making story they can work on next.

Come on guys. Instead of trying to belittle the best racing carnival in the world why don’t you be a shade objective and direct some criticism at your own backyard – where odds-on favorites from the big stables continue to fail; the ‘first lady of racing’ spits the dummy every time she faces a please explain from the stewards; not to mention the missed opportunity for Sydney racing to showcase Group 1 racing on AFL grand final day.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE are a couple of items the above e-mail is no doubt referring to:

KEN CALLANDER wrote in his column in the DAILY TELEGRAPH:

WHILE the Chairman and the CEO of Racing Victoria are chauffeuring Damien Oliver around Melbourne to make life as easy as possible for the leading jockey will somebody explain to them the most important people in racing are the punters.

To allow Oliver to take a suspension early after accepting rides for Caulfield yesterday so that he would not miss the Caulfield Guineas meeting on October 12 they did not consider punters who had bet on the Caulfield meeting at the TAB Fixed Odds prices on Friday.

Without punters there would be no racing. Along with owners they keep the industry going.

I also thought a suspension was supposed to be a punishment, not an inconvenience.

Having said that, it is not Oliver who is principally to blame (although not considering his supporters was selfish). It is the rule that allows him to do it.

Melbourne racing leads Australia in so many ways and the Melbourne Cup carnival is sensational, but in integrity and customer support in Melbourne is sadly lacking.

AND BRENT ZERAFA, writing in the SUNDAY TELEGRAPH:

THE Mexicans have got it completely wrong when it comes to jockey suspensions.

Damien Oliver got time for his ride on Mr Moet at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Under the rules down south, Ollie was allowed start his suspension immediately, missing yesterday's Mornington action and today's Caulfield meeting, where he was due to ride Charlie Boy in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).

But too bad if you had backed Charlie Boy thinking Oliver was going to ride. The bloke could win on a broom at the moment.

Fortunately for Charlie Boy's trainer Gerald Ryan, he was able to get Michael Rodd at the last minute.

But with two days notice, how many trainers would have been left scrambling for a decent hoop for a big race?

Just ask Chris Waller. Should Oliver fail to have his suspension downgraded - yes, he's appealing the severity - Waller will be in need of a jockey to ride Royal Descent in next Saturday's Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.

Oliver wanted to start early so he wouldn't miss the Caulfield Guineas meeting. He has every right because of the rules in place.

But now everybody else is inconvenienced.

In NSW, jockeys have to fulfil their riding commitments for the next nine days before starting a suspension.

That would have meant Ryan had Ollie for Charlie Boy, and Waller had him for Royal Descent.

Chief steward Ray Murrihy said in NSW it was the stewards - not jockeys - who decided when a suspension started.

"The rule here is if you've got engagements, you need to fulfil them," Murrihy said.

"It doesn't provide a proper deterrent (if you can start it straight away). The stewards are the ones who start and finish the (suspension) dates.

"If an owner or trainer has engaged someone, they shouldn't be forced to look for the tenth, 12th or even 16th best jockey that is still left without a ride."

It's a stinker of a rule.

IS IT A ‘MISSION IMPOSSIBLE’ TO BOOST THE IMAGE OF HARNESS RACING IN QUEENSLAND?

BARRY K of GOLD COAST writes:

‘SOMEONE needs to tell the new powers that be at RQ that it will be a mission impossible to boost the image of harness racing in Queensland.

When commenting on a new multi-million dollar facility for the minor code to be built on the Gold Coast, RQ CEO Darren Condon told the Sydney Morning Herald: ‘We are looking at this as a chance to rejuvenate the sport up here.’

One wonders if he believes that more wasted millions on Albion Park will also achieve this pipe-dream. And perhaps someone should ask him if that’s at the expense of the thoroughbred industry and if he is aware of just what percentage the trots and dogs contribute in turnover compared to the gallops.’

AND this one from JACK R of BRISBANE:

‘SO Kevin Dixon and his merry band of men are going to spend $22 million on new facilities for harness and greyhound racing at the Gold Coast.

What’s second prize - an upgraded toilet block behind the public stand at Eagle Farm?

It’s time these guys now running racing in Queensland got their priorities right.

Some of the bigger gallops tracks which contribute the lion’s share of TAB turnover are crying out for infrastructure improvements and they seem more concerned about the minor codes.

Is someone involved with harness racing that has influence with the LNP Government or are they doing this out of the goodness of the hearts?

If, and when, racing in Queensland wins the fight with the Tatts Group for this $100 million or more that is rightfully theirs, here’s hoping it isn’t squandered away on racetrack and facility improvements.

It needs to go toward prizemoney and they need to walk away from any new TAB deal with Tatts. Only then will the real racing in Queensland – the thoroughbreds – recover from the doldrums it has been in for too long and have a fighting chance of competing with the southern states.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE is a story on the closure of Parklands at the Gold Coast by CHRIS ROOTS in the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:

PARKLANDS on the Gold Coast has become the third track to close its doors in the past three years.

The site will become the village for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and harness racing is heading for a new home in the hinterland.

"We are looking at this as a chance to rejuvenate the sport up here," Racing Queensland chief executive Darren Condon said.

"We are consulting within the industry on the sort of track we are going to build, but we have to find a site. It will be on the Gold Coast near the expressway to make it easier for everyone to get the track."

The honor of winning the last at Parklands went to trainer Grant Dixon and Lionsixchristiansnil.

Condon said there were plans to upgrade Albion Park. "It is our flagship track and we want to return the public facilities to flagship quality," Condon said.

Racing Queensland will try a grass-track series at Toowoomba, Kilcoy and Esk later in the year.

"This concept came about when the board was discussing ways to return trotting to the country by utilizing existing infrastructure," Racing Queensland board member Brad Steele said.

"Harness racing on turf is quite popular in New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom and as the thoroughbred clubs were supportive of the concept, we agreed that we should push ahead and make these meetings happen."

ANONYMOUS OFFICIAL RECKONS ‘SPEW BAGS’ WERE NEED AT AWARDS NIGHT

ON the subject of the annual Queensland Racing Awards Night last Saturday we received this little gem from a prominent official who was in attendance but understandably didn’t want to be identified:

‘WHEN they decorated the tables for the Awards’ Night last Saturday one important item was missing.

There should have been at least two or three ‘spew bags’ or a ‘chuck bucket’ allotted to each table to accommodate those who were ready to ‘throw up’ before the speeches were anywhere near over.

Those of us who have been there and back from the era of Bob Bentley through to the new boys in town from the Kevin Dixon brigade are pretty well hardened to the politics of racing functions.

But to watch the increasingly embarrassing Racing Minister Steve Dickson – or more to the point listen to him – over the past two annual Awards Night has been finger down the throat stuff.

Last year he famously told us how under the new Government and control body racing in Queensland would become the pace-setter for the nation. If only he had glanced at the looks on some of the faces around the room – they didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

This year it was a resounding vote of confidence in ‘his man’ – the new Chairman of everything racing in Queensland – Kevin Dixon and what a wonderful job he is doing.

By the time Steve had finished lavishing political praise on the guy with the same moniker, albeit spelt differently, even the subject of his affection must have been feeling a shade embarrassed.

It prompted a colleague of some official standing in racing at my table to lean over and whisper in my ear – ‘Where’s a big chukky bag when you need one.’

I couldn’t have agreed more.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: WHO knows, if RQ successfully wins the fight for over $100 million from Tattersall’s the premonition of the Racing Minister of two years ago might well come to pass. A cashed-up racing in Queensland may well rival New South Wales and Victoria in the stakes race. Then you may even see the likes of Waller, Waterhouse, Moody, Snowden and company looking to open satellite stables in the north to chase the new pot of gold.

ALL THE AWARD WINNERS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA

AND for those who missed it in the mainstream media, here is a Media Release on what happened at the Awards Night:

THE 2012/13 racing season was capped off with the announcement of Buffering as the Queensland Horse of the Year last Saturday night for the second consecutive year.

The Robert Heathcote-trained gelding had a cracking five-year-old season racing in some of the country’s top features including the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap and Group 1 Doomben 10,000.

He also won three Group 2 races throughout the season including the Victory Stakes, the Schillaci Stakes and the A.J. Moir Stakes.

The Horse of the Year award was accepted at the 2013 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards Night on Saturday, September 28 at the Tattersalls Club by connections and trainer, Robert Heathcote.

Hosted by Racing Queensland, the awards recognise the season’s achievements in the thoroughbred racing industry.

Kelso Wood was the recipient of the Queensland Trainer of the Year, nominated alongside Robert Heathcote, Kelly Schweida and John Thompson. The Eagle Farm-based trainer had a standout season with stable stars Sizzling, Real Surreal, Belltone and Someday.

Michael Cahill earned the title of Queensland Jockey of the Year ahead of fellow nominees Damian Browne and Chris Munce. Cahill also won the Metropolitan Jockeys Premiership Award with over 150 wins and 200 placings across the state. Furthermore, he tied for first place with champion hoop Nash Rawiller in the Australian Metropolitan Jockeys Premiership, riding 86 Metropolitan winners in 2012/13.

Tegan Harrison was also recognised on the industry’s night of nights winning the RQ Gold Award presented by RQ Chairman Kevin Dixon. As an apprentice, Tegan placed fourth overall in the Queensland Jockey’s Premiership and in doing so, broke the record for the most ever winners ridden by a female in metropolitan company in Queensland. Adding to her merit, Tegan had over two months out of the saddle for various reasons, meaning she achieved the above in less than 10 months.

The 2013 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards winners include:

Queensland Horse of the Year – Buffering sponsored by Sky Racing
Queensland Trainer of the Year – Kelso Wood sponsored by Magic Millions
Queensland Jockey of the Year – Michael Cahill sponsored by TattsBet
RQ Gold Award – Tegan Harrison
Stallion of the Year – Show A Heart
Queensland Broodmare of the Year – Pentamerous
Queensland 2YO Horse of the Year – Real Surreal
Queensland 3YO Horse of the Year – Sizzling
Queensland 4YO & Older Horse of the Year – Buffering
Metropolitan Premiership Trainer of the Year – Robert Heathcote
Metropolitan Premiership Jockey of the Year – Michael Cahill
Metropolitan Premiership Horse of the Year - Transporter
Provincial Premiership Trainer of the Year – John Manzelmann
Provincial Premiership Jockey of the Year – Adrian Coome
Provincial Premiership Horse of the Year – Our Boy Malachi
Country Premiership Trainer of the Year – Todd Austin
Country Premiership Jockey of the Year – Shane Egan
Country Premiership Horse of the Year – Unique Fuse
Champion First Season Stallion – Real Saga
Champion 2YO Stallion – Real Saga
Outstanding Club Marketing Award – Cairns Jockey Club
Community Club Engagement Award – Brisbane Racing Club
Outstanding Racing photo – Graham Potter for ‘Winning- an emotion for all ages’
Outstanding Racing story – SKY Racing for ‘Lending a helping hand’

Racing Queensland Hall of Fame

This year Racing Queensland restructured the Queensland Hall of Fame. Moving forward, a minimum of four nominees will be inducted into four categories in order to ensure an industry participant is honored across every category, every year. The four categories are horse, jockey, trainer and associate.

Racing Queensland Hall of Fame: Horse

Smokey Eyes

Originally standing in Victoria at T.J. Macknamara’s Highfield Stud, Smokey Eyes was sold off to Lyndhurst Stud in 1957 and is regarded as Queensland’s most successful sire.

The chestnut son of Stardust (the same sire as the mighty Star Kingdom), Smokey Eyes was Australia’s leading sire numerically six times.

Smokey Eyes is credited as the dam sire of over 1000 winners of 4700 races and produced 25 Stakes winners in Queensland, including Eye Liner and Bright Shadow.

Smokey Eyes was Queensland’s leading sire on 15 separate occasions and was retired from stud at 25.

Racing Queensland Hall of Fame: Jockey

Mel Schumacher

Mel “The Shoe” Schumacher had a long career spanning almost half a century, the pinnacle of which was winning the Melbourne Cup on Baystone in 1958.

Australia’s one-time form jockey has an enviable list of wins including the Golden Slipper, Doomben 10,000, AJC Derby, Australian Cup, AJC Epsom, VRC Sires’ and the George Main Stakes.

Riding more than 2000 winners throughout his career, Schumacher was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall-Of-Fame in 2009.

Racing Queensland Hall of Fame: Trainer

Roy Dawson

Former jockey Roy Dawson turned his hand to training in the 1950s and a partnership with the Lambert family and Wattle Brae Stud saw his career blossom.

Dawson’s best horse was Scomeld who won the Wakeful-VRC Oaks double in 1978. Training winners of the Doomben Cup, QTC Guineas, QTC Oaks, Prime Minister’s Cup, Dawson also owned and bred the 1975 AJC Metropolitan winner Bon Teint.

Racing Queensland Hall of Fame: Associate

Wayne Wilson

Wayne Wilson started his calling career in Gladstone in 1960 at the young age of 12. After 42 years in the industry, Wayne is the longest serving radio race caller in Queensland and has called an estimated 30,000 races.

Wayne is privileged to be the only caller in Australia to have called all three major race carnivals; the Queensland Winter Carnival, the Melbourne Spring Carnival (including the Melbourne Cup) and the Sydney Autumn Carnival (including the Golden Slipper and Doncaster).

His most famous calls are both in the P.J. O'Shea Stakes with one won by Rough Habit and in the other a half length covered a field of nine at the finish.

Wayne has also been an owner of note and raced more than a dozen horses in Brisbane including Do You Remember, Ranch Heiress, Rocker and Persian Purse. Wayne has also been a regular on television and hosts BRC TV, the on track television program.

MELBOURNIAN NOT IMPRESSED BY PRESNELL SWIP AT MOONEE VALLEY

DANIEL S of MELBOURNE wrote:

‘IT’S time Fairfax Media pensioned off poor old Max Presnell – he continues to live in the dark ages.

Now he’s against the changes to the Cox Plate, the final race becoming the day’s feature and the late finish on the Valley for the night season opener.

We all know that Max likes to write about what happened in the past. He’s still living there so he has to. We also know that he’s so steeped in tradition that he cannot see the point of change. And we also suspect that 10pm for a feature race would be way past his bed-time.

Get with the times – drag yourself into the 21^st century – or do racing a favor and retire Max.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE’S what Max wrote that got up the nose of the Victorian e-mailer:

PURISTS such as Bill Stutt and Ian McEwen, who turned the Cox Plate into the weight-for-age championship of Australasia, would be aghast at the new-age Moonee Valley.

Yes, the trend is for the main event to end the program, but the Moir Stakes on Friday night scheduled for 10pm? Obviously this is more of an after-party than a racing experience, raising the question of just where the "Valley of the Kings" is going.

The Stutt Stakes, run on Friday night, was named after the former chairman and certainly neither he nor his chief executive, McEwen, would have been paying the expenses for second-rate imports to clutter up the Cox Plate this year.

Recent arrival Mull Of Killough, here for the Moonee Valley engagement, has only achieved group 3 status in Europe, so former quality control isn't being maintained.

The Moonee Valley Racing Club knocked back the entry of Melbourne Cup winner Black Knight because he was, in the words of McEwen, "only a handicapper".

For decades, too, the Cox Plate went without a sponsor because McEwen deemed there wasn't one worthy of the privilege.

SOME of the news from various media sources that you may have missed in racing over the past week:

RACING VICTORIA TO CELEBRATE LIFE OF A LEGEND AT RACEHORSE OF YEAR AWARDS

RACING Victoria will celebrate the amazing career of Australian racing’s most famous identity, Bart Cummings, as part of the Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards incorporating the Launch of the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne this Thursday night, 3 October.

The man dubbed ‘The Cups King’ will attend the evening at Peninsula, Docklands which will incorporate a celebration of his contribution to the sport having registered 60 years as a trainer in May.

The celebration will include a video montage of the 85-year-old’s career feats, including the final stages of some of his most thrilling victories, excerpts from interviews and rarely seen vision, along with a phantom call by Greg Miles of Cummings’ greatest horses and a special announcement.

As part of its celebration of Cummings’ career and contribution to racing, RV today launches ‘Bart – A Celebration of 60 Years’ at www.springracingcarnival.com.au, featuring replays of Cummings’ Melbourne Cup victories and an image gallery.

The celebration will be extended across the week on www.springracingcarnival.com.au with industry tributes, engaging competitions and a commemorative wall for the public to share their Cummings highlights and pay tribute to the doyen of Australian racing.

Cummings, who has recently entered into a training partnership with grandson James Cummings, has built an unrivalled reputation in racing and Australian sport which has been underpinned by incredible success on the racetrack.

He not only boasts a record haul of 12 Melbourne Cups, but also seven Caulfield Cups, five Cox Plates, four Golden Slippers and more than 50 Oaks and Derbies. His stable stars have become household names and include Let’s Elope, Saintly, Leilani, So You Think, Galilee and Light Fingers.

CABLE TELEVISION EXECUTIVE APPOINTED NEW CEO OF TVN

RENOWNED cable television executive Bruce Mann has been appointed Chief Executiove Officer of ThoroughVision Pty Ltd (TVN).

BRENDAN CORMICK reported in THE AUSTRALIAN that Mann has an extensive track record in media, programming, production and marketing in Australia and the United States.

He spent more than a decade as CEO of XYZnetworks, a joint venture between Foxtel and Austar, which owned, managed and or distributed 12 subscription television channels.

TVN chairman Peter Fekete said Mann will leverage the company’s assets to build on its brand and the production capabilities of its broadcast platforms, including new media products such as TVN’s mobile and internet racing platforms.

“TVN plays a crucial role in bringing thoroughbred racing to Australian consumers via commercial and subscription TV, digitally via Racing Network, and its joint venture with Telstra. TVN also maintains positions in print through offerings such as Best Bets and Winning Post,” Mann said.

“Horse racing is an iconic Australian pastime; Victorian and NSW thoroughbred racing is an exceptional product with a loyal audience. I’m excited to be joining TVN to drive its next stage of growth, particularly given the opportunity for extending its digital strategy and international footprint.”

TVN manages broadcast rights for all thoroughbred racing in Victoria and New South Wales, and is pursuing other rights in Australia and globally.

SPRING carnival plans for top Brisbane sprinter Better Than Ready are in disarray after he was injured in a trackwork scare.

SCHWEIDA RELIEVED THAT BETTER THAN READY SURVIVED CRASH EVEN IF IT MEANS MISSING SPRING

TRAINER Kelly Schweida could only look on in horror as he watched Better Than Ready crash through the outside running rail when he shied at an unidentified object while working on the Doomben course proper on Monday.

RAY THOMAS reports in the DAILY TELEGRAPH that the four-year-old suffered several cuts to his chest, which required eight stitches, and his legs but Schweida initially feared the worst.

“One of his testicles was up in his belly and there was a lot of blood but fortunately it dropped down after a couple of minutes," he said.

“When I first saw him it didn’t look good especially when I thought he was missing one testicle but we can count our lucky stars he’s still with us and the vet thinks he’s dodged a bullet."

Schweida had planned to fly Better Than Ready to Melbourne on Thursday to prepare for the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.

However Better Than Ready will be unable to return to serious trackwork for another week which puts his spring campaign in limbo.

Schweida said Better Than Ready was showing no signs of distress when he was taken for a walk on Tuesday morning and the trainer was confident he could recover quickly.

LINK WITH HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB INCREASES INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT

A collaborative marketing campaign between the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Racing Victoria could increase international involvement in major races other than the Caulfield and Melbourne cups during the spring carnival.

MICHAEL SHARKIE reports in THE AGE that as the first shipment of 10 horses arrives in Melbourne from Newmarket in England this week, RV chiefs are excited that at least six of them will contest other races, including the Cox Plate (Side Glance and Mull Of Killough), Manikato Stakes (Lucky Nine), Toorak Handicap (Trevieres), and Herbert Power Stakes (Forgotten Voice, Ruscello). Havana Gold, who arrives in the second shipment, will contest the Emirates Stakes.

Although 2013 has the potential to be a breakthrough carnival, RV's international recruitment officer Leigh Jordon said it was still a tough task convincing foreign trainers to target races outside of the Caulfield and Melbourne cups.

But co-operation with the HKJC could force European stables to consider campaigning through a mega-Australasian carnival during spring and summer, targeting group 1 sprint and 1600-metres races before racing on to the Hong Kong International meeting in early December.

"It makes sense to look at working together to get the best horses coming to this region," Jordon said.

"Once these European horses go international they tend to stay on that circuit, travelling from country to country for major races. Our spring carnival leads perfectly into Hong Kong in December.

"Whether it's achievable is yet to be seen, but it would give both jurisdictions a two-fold package to promote with big prizemoney on offer and a natural progression between races."

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.