IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, reveals that there is not a problem with the financing for the upgrade to Cluden Park in Townsville.
Butts reports that the new Racing Minister Bill Byrne says it was unfortunate that the previous LNP Government had not signed off on the development before the election.
Here is the Butts’ column:
NO HICCUPS FOR CLUDEN UPGRADE – JUST UNFORTUANTE LNP DIDN’T FINALIZE PROJECT
IT was certainly a baptism of fire (and flood) for the incoming Minister for Racing, Rockhampton-based Bill Byrne.
Like all other Rocky residents he battled Cyclone Marcia and its aftermath over the weekend – but was back at his new desk at George Street headquarters early Monday.
With the greyhound racing industry under the microscope hard and swift decisions had to be made. And he obviously made them.
Also on his busy agenda was a plea from this writer for information on the Townsville upgrade that has been a source of rumour and innuendo since the change of Government.
There is concern among the Cluden staff for their job security, not to mention the concern of stakeholders – and the club itself. No racing means no money for all aspects of the industry.
But the good news is the new Minister is ‘on the job’- and word from his office is that it was ‘just unfortunate the previous government went to the election without finalising this issue’.
PUNTERS REJOICE AS AIDAN HOLT RETURNS TO THE COMEBACK TRAIL
PUNTERS who follow Queensland racing must be rejoicing to see Aidan Holt, the star apprentice of 2013, on the comeback trail.
The kid from Home Hill, who was hailed the next Zac Purton and compared to Michael Rodd, has been on the sidelines for the past 18 months due to a weight explosion.
He seriously considered walking away completely from the profession last year as his weight soared to over 70kg.
Aidan took a break but continued to ride work for one of his greatest supporters, Liam Birchley, at Eagle Farm. He also consulted dieticians and experts in weight control.
And with a fresh new outlook, a devotion to get back into the game that saw him spiral to the top in just a few short years, Aidan fittingly returned to the saddle at his home town on Saturday. He also rode at Cairns on Sunday but was back at Eagle Farm for Birchley on Monday.
It was a whirlwind trip and unfortunately not a successful one.
But for Aidan Holt who grew up under the wings and influence of his uncle, former leading Burdekin jockey and now successful Townsville trainer, Alby Molino, it was happy homecoming – and the ideal place and time to relaunch his career.
Holt left Townsville three years ago with little else but a burning ambition, but came under notice and radar of the top trainers.
He was then 48kg but with a physique that threatened even then.
But he made the most of it. In 2012 his score was 34-37-2 from 221 rides with an amazing 43% place rating. The next year it was 59-45-44 with an 18% win and 46% place figures.
Weight was starting to have its toll and in 2014 he only had 48 rides. After weeks of vomiting his breakfast to meet his weight commitments – and after several run-ins with stewards – Aidan finally called it quits. His figures for April last year were nine rides for three wins and two seconds.
But he is back and sooner than a lot of people thought. He is certainly a welcome addition to riding ranks in the city and while he has no intention of ‘forcing it’ he feels confident that he can shed a bit more and remain fit and healthy.
“I rode 59kg and pulled up fine. Better than I expected, actually – but I am in no hurry. I am just so happy to be back”.
And with stats like that…so are the punters!
‘SUPER’ SONJA RIDES FOUR OF THE SEVEN WINNERS ON CAIRNS CARD
AND while Aidan Holt is back in the saddle, Cairns apprentice ‘Super’ Sonja Wiseman is proving yet again that she is not just a pretty face.
Her performance at Cairns on Sunday was nothing short of superb. She had seven rides for four winners, two seconds and a third on the seven race card. Some sort of a record!
Four of the winners were for her master, Trevor Rowe, who is outstanding not just with his horses – but with his two apprentices Wiseman and Braydn Swaffer.
Sonja Wiseman won the Townsville jockeys’ premiership last year – as an apprentice – a feat not often achieved and she is well and truly off the mark this season.
She began her indentures in the south but under the guidance of her new master has developed into somewhat of a superstar – and has the stats to substantiate the raps.
From her last 100 rides Sonja has a win percentage of 22 and staggering place figures of 43%. She might have been a bit stiff not to land the last winner as well for her boss which would have given them five for the day.
Quite a feat and well deserved.
TRAINER DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE BUT SAYS HE WILL BE MADE AN EXAMPLE OF
TABLELANDS trainer Glen Baker reckons the testing facilities for the controversial Cobalt ‘must be flawed’.
“There has to be something wrong because I did not treat my horse with Cobalt. I don’t know what colour it is, or how it is administered”.
They are the words of the shell-shocked trainer who was told on Sunday morning that he had a positive after his stable star French Lesson won at Doomben last month.
“I am not guilty. Full stop,” Baker declared.
But he reckons it’s not going to help him.
“No doubt they will make an example of me.”
Baker was told by RQ Chief Stipe Allan Reardon on Sunday morning that he had a positive.
He also told Baker he could scratch his horse in the first race (his only runner) at Cairns that day.
“Why would I do that?” he asked Reardon.
The horse Pub Thug started favorite and finished a distant third.
“I wish I had let him scratch it,” Baker said later.
But the horse didn’t go unnoticed by the stewards either.
“They spent an hour getting a urine sample from him before the race. They eventually got it – but I don’t care anymore.
“I didn’t even go to the races. I went to the rodeo.
“I am just so sick in the stomach over it – and I am 100 per cent innocent.
“I didn’t give French Lesson anything but a vitamin.”
CALL FOR A NATIONAL BAN ON GREYHOUND RACING AFER EXPOSE
THE greyhound racing industry is certainly on the ropes with many influential members of the community calling for a national ban.
What the ABC 4 Cones revealed so graphically is indefensible.
Oddly, however, most in the game and many outside it ‘knew’ such practices as live baiting were part and parcel of greyhound racing. To some, in fact far too many, blooding a dog before a race was an accepted norm.
I doubt if many would accept the fact that a humanely killed rabbit, or any other pest, could be used as a lure. But what we saw on 4 Corners was totally not acceptable.
But the question remains. Does it only go on in the training complexes that were shown on TV?
Don’t think so.
“It goes on anywhere there is greyhound racing,” said one ex-trainer, who used to buy frozen rabbits from the supermarket, thaw them out and let his dogs eat them from a mechanical lure.
GREYHOUNDS WON’T BE MOVING FROM SHOWGROUNDS TO CLUDEN
AND on the subject of dogs – the much talked about move from the Townsville Showgrounds to Cluden Park racecourse, as proposed by the Bentley Board of Racing Queensland and confirmed as a possible scenario by the RQ current Board, has been debunked by Chris Condon, the Show Society CEO.
“It won't be happening,” said Condon, who added that the greyhounds were paying their way and happy to stay put at the Showgrounds site.
“And anyway, Cluden doesn’t want them out there.”
So now you know, in spite of the persistent rumours that a new track will be built in the swamp opposite the old NQRA building – current headquarters of RQ.
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..
