IN his widely-read column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on a QCAT decision involving a race 15 months ago that has revealed an embarrassing blunder by a long-time swabbing attendant in Cairns.
The story raises questions over the reasons for the delay in QCAT handing down decisions and concerns over the credibility of supposed experienced swabbing identities used by Racing Queensland.
Butts also reports on legislation before the Queensland Parliament this week to appoint a RAD Board similar to Victoria to replace the current First Level Appeals Body in Queensland and of plans for the RQ Board to meet three times a year in country venues.
Here is the Butts column:
QCAT FOUND CJC SWAB ATTENDANT MADE A REAL ‘MESSINGHAM’ OF PROCEDURE
WELL known Cairns owner, Donnie Martin reckons he has yet another reason to walk away from the game he has supported for many years after a QCAT decision last week that required him to return the winning prize-money of a race run 15 months ago.
It also prompted him to question, if ‘we are on level playing field?’
It all stems from a swab taken from John Manzelmann’s horse Rocket On By after it won at the Cairns Amateurs way back in September 2011.
The swab proved positive to Prednisone, the trainer was fined $10,000 and Grand Silence the runner-up and part-owned by Donnie was promoted to first and the winning prize-money paid out.
Manzelmann however appealed on guilt and penalty and it was heard by QCAT in January this year. The appeal was upheld.
The appeal body found that the Cairns Jockey Club’s swab attendant (Claude Robert Massingham) had erred in the swab taking procedure.
The QCAT decision was actually made on September 6, but oddly the respective parties were not notified until just last week.
MASSINGHAM ADMITTED USING A TEA TOWEL TO CLEAN URINE COLLECTION BOWL
CRITICAL to the decision was evidence by Massingham that he had used a tea towel to clean the urine collection sample bowl instead of disposable paper towels as required under the rules.
And questions were raised whether he had in fact been wearing rubber gloves when the urine sample was taken from the horse.
In his affidavit Massingham said he had been a swab official for 20 years and had ‘a thorough understanding of the Racing Animal Welfare and Integrity Board’s Collection Procedures.’
When asked about Appendix 8 of the Collection Procedures which deals with the cleaning and preparation of utensils, Massingham stated however that he ‘did not know the rule in particular.’
He was then taken through Appendix 8 step by step by Brisbane=based counsel for Manzelmann, Scott Neaves.
To say Donnie Martin is not a happy man would be an understatement.
“Here we have a trainer who gets away with a positive swab due to a technicality, because Queensland Racing does not have their race day staff fully trained in procedure,” Donnie said.
“It took 14 months to get an outcome, and then we were informed of this decision only this week, when the hearing was two months ago.
“Is it a matter of the best brief wins?” he asked.
LEGISLATION GOES TO PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK THAT WILL CHANGE RACING APPEALS
WELL there might be better news on the appeals front after the State Parliament rises on Wednesday.
Legislation is expected to be passed that will totally change the way racing appeals are heard in this state.
It is expected a Board similar to Victoria’s RAD will replace the First Levels Appeals Panel that currently hears and adjudicates on appeals by licensees. It remains unsure at this stage whether QCAT will continue to hear racing appeals at the next level.
And by the way - does this QCAT decision and the admission by Massingham that he uses a tea towel instead of disposable paper towels open the gate for any other swabs that might have returned positives in the 20 years he has been the swabbing attendant?
Let’s wait and see!
TOWNSVILLE TO HOST DECEMBER BOARD MEETING OF RACING QUEENSLAND
THE other good news for the country is that Townsville will be host the December board meeting of Racing Queensland.
Chairman Kevin Dixon has confirmed that the monthly Board meeting will be held on December 18, which coincides with a race day at Cluden.
It is the first of what the Chairman hopes will be regular Board meetings – perhaps three a year – in centres outside Brisbane.
Dixon said it will be a good hands-on experience for the Board and he hopes to speak to local licensees during the visit.
And you never know – there just might be good news for the Townsville Turf Club and Cluden to emerge from the meeting.
TOUGH-AS-TEAK LADY TRAINER HAS BEEN IN THE WARS IN THE NORTH
SPARE a thought for Olivia Cairns.
This tough-as-teak trainer recently gave birth to baby Quade, just two days after she drove a truck-load of horses to Mackay and back in the one day.
Apparently she got to the hospital in the nick of time, had the baby, and was soon back at her stable doing what she does best – prepare a team of 30-odd horses.
Since his arrival young Quade hasn’t missed a race meeting either, including a week at the recent Ewan meeting where mother and son had a ball.
But on Saturday, while still recovering from a very recent hernia operation, Olivia was kicked by one of her horses at Ingham.
She was conveyed to Townsville Hospital by ambulance with two broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and in a ‘bloody lot of pain.’ She is expected to undergo more surgery this week
Talk about a tough trot!
PETER MOODY MUCH MORE AT HOME IN THE ISA THAN AT ROYAL ASCOT
PETER Moody was in Mt Isa last Saturday enjoying the renowned north west hospitality.
He of course trains horses for the well known local Huddy family and accepted the club’s invitation to attend a sportsmens’ night after the races at Buchanan Park.
It was a long day. He presented trophies all day. managed to watch his charge Kulgrinda win at the Valley and then was VIP at the sell0out dinner held after the last.
And, typical of the town, stumps were not declared until well into the wee hours.
But Pete was at home among the bushies.
He kept them entertained with stories of life in the big smoke and on the international racing stages.
Of course Black Caviar got a mention or ten. But it was really down to earth stuff in a language that everyone understood and lapped-up like a blue heeler pup.
The scene might have been far removed from the top hat and tails of Royal Ascot but there is no doubt ‘Moods’ enjoyed every minute – even the helicopter ride on Sunday morning and brekkie with his old mate, the veteran bush jockey Keith Ballard, who over the years shared a gully or two with the premier trainer.
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY WEEK FOR CHARACTERS FROM THE NORTH
MELBOURNE CUP week was a case of the good, the bad, and the ugly for some racing identities from north and western Queensland.
For trainer Nathan Schofield it was downright ugly.
He was caught drenching tube in one hand and a bowl of warm water in the other in the stable of his horse Beseech a couple of hours before they were to depart for what should have been the trainer’s dream come true – to have runner at Flemington on Cup day.
But alas it was not to be. Stewards obviously acting on a tip-off nabbed him.
It has been noted that Nathan received far less sympathy than Damien Oliver and others at the hastily prepared inquiry – and even less at his fast-tracked appeal against severity.
He was literally cast to the scrap heap after no-one, not a single soul, accepted his story that he was merely ‘rehydrating his dehydrated horse.’
CHANCE MEETING WITH ‘SINGO’ HEADING OUT AFTER OAKS WIN OF DEAR DEMI
ON a far happier note was Andrew Saunders and his Mt Isa mates as they departed Flemington after the Oaks.
They walked out the gate alongside owner John Singleton proudly carrying the Oaks trophy he had won earlier that day with Dear Demi.
Said Andrew (as you might expect country lads to do): ‘Good on ya Singo!’
“Thanks mate. Where you boys from?” asked Singo, obviously smelling the gum leaves.
“Mt Isa.
“Oh mate, you’ve come a million miles, here let’s have a pic together.”
And so they did. That’s them from left: John Roberts, Andrew Saunders, Singo and Graeme Saunders, a leading Mt Isa bookie and businessman.
THE BAD LACK THAT PLAGUES OUTSTANDINGLY SURELY HAS TO END SOON
AND the ‘Bad’ was all about the bad luck that continues to plague Andrew’s horse Outstandingly.
Without doubt he is the unluckiest and most travelled (by road) horse in the country.
After the Townsville carnival in July, where he ran fifth, beaten less than a neck in the Cleveland Bay, a race he arguably should have won last year, he turned up in Birdsville where he earned some travelling exes winning the Open flying.
Since Townsville he has also raced in Brisbane and Sydney and then Melbourne.
According to Andrew he should have finished a lot closer on Cup day.
Hughie Bowman jumped off and said: ‘Keep him here – he will win one for sure.’
So Stevie Arnold had the mount last Friday week at Mooney Valley and those who saw the race would agree he was again very unlucky.
Trainer Jay Morris left him in the capable hands of Damien Wiliams at Cranbourne and the tough old campaigner is due to run at the weekend hopefully with better luck.
His visit to Flemington was not overlooked by the media either. Trainer Jay’s interview on the Channel 7 coverage generated a lot of laughs.
“I see he has been racing on all these dirt tracks. How he will handle the turf at Flemington today?” Jay was asked.
“Oh I don’t know. He will probably jump out and immediately start picking the grass,” answered Jay, as quick as a flash.
DON’T COUNT ON THE SUNDAY PAPERS TO PRINT THE RACE RESULTS
THERE is no disputing that the racing media coverage is decreasing, not only in this state but all over, especially when it comes to providing results and previews of meetings.
The Racing Queensland website and the somewhat controversial RISA have adopted the role of supplying results. But they can only publish what is provided to them.
There appears to be some slackness by some country race clubs to provide them with details. This was in evidence last weekend with both Blackall and Ingham not having their results posted.
Atherton and Mt Isa results were progressively displayed on RISA throughout the day. Surely if these clubs can do it so can Ingham and others.
It should be part of their race club responsibilities as readers can no longer rely on the Sunday press which this weekend were happy to publish Traralgon dogs and Albury trots results – but no Ingham or Blackall races.
WHY CAN’T SOME OF THESE COUNTRY QUEENSLAND CLUBS RACE ON SUNDAYS?
AND why didn’t either Atherton or Ingham race on Sunday?
Both clubs rely on virtually the same bank or horses and jockeys.
Surely there would be benefits for everyone to have raced on separate days.
And there is no denying Sunday is popular with families in the north, particularly in the summer months.
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..