IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, has been a major critic of the Cairns track but credit where credit is due and that is what he delivers after Saturday’s racing.
Butts also reports how heavy-hitting owner Tom Hedley has weighed in to the debate on the future of the Cairns track with some interesting recommendations that are being reported whether he likes it or not.
Here is the Butts column:
CAIRNS TRACK SILENCED THE CRITICS AFTER A WEEK OF CONTROVERSY
THE focus was firmly on Cannon Park Cairns on Saturday, after a week of controversy and mixed opinion on how the track would play after being dumped with 360 tons of sand.
There were high emotions and clear divisions among the far north racing folk. Some trainers scratched in protest – but the club was left with a 10-race card nevertheless.
And the end result must have been more than pleasing for those who dared to do what others said was foolhardy.
Yes, there were some complaints at the end of the day – but it seems the plaudits outweighed them.
Even jockey Peter Cullen, a long-time critic of Cannon Park, said: “Overall it was pretty good. It was definitely a Heavy 10 around the back – but the last 900m was as good as you’d wish for”.
The track was officially rated a Good 4 – but in the old (and far better track classification system) it would have been rated a genuine Dead.
Another relieved man was Chief Stipe Sam Woolaston, who, in fact, approved the addition of the sand last week – and copped some criticism.
“The river sand helped bind the track and it certainly wasn’t as slippery as it has been,” he reported.
“I am not saying it was ideal – there was some kick-back – but the surface couldn’t have been too bad.
“We ran five races over the same class and distance as the previous meeting and four of those races were run in faster time on Saturday”, he said.
And so much for the expressed fear of eye injury – trainer Trevor Rowe saddled up 17 horses and only two had to be treated for minor eye damage.
Further (and in fairness), it must be stated that winners came from all positions – some led, some came from last and some from midfield. There was little, if any bias.
HIGH PROFILE OWNER FLEXING HIS MUSCLE ON FUTURE OF CAIRNS TRACK
FORMER high profile owner and mega businessman Tom Hedley is again flexing his muscle – albeit behind the scenes – and is rumoured to have been in discussions with the current committee over the future of Cannon Park.
His first recommendation was a submission for more funds to complete the drainage work. That was sent off on Saturday morning to the Racing Minister with copies to the RQ Interim CEO, State Treasurer and all pollies within cooee of Cairns.
It has recently been revealed that the drainage work which was part the $2.6 million grant by RQ in 2012 for a track upgrade was never completed, though RQ (in the Bentley era) reportedly signed off on it.
It’s estimated the unfinished work will cost between $500,000 and $750,000.
If there was any bias at all in Cairns last week it was for horses in the powerful local stable of Trevor Rowe. He saddled up a remarkable five winners (plus a few placings) and his two star stable apprentices Sonja Weisman and Braydn Waffer rode half the program. He had no complaints with the surface.
SUNSHINE COAST FEATURE WINNER TRIUMPH FOR FATHER AND SON
JARED Wehlow wasn’t even born when the Sunshine Coast track was opened with much fanfare 30 years ago. But he was there on Saturday – in the winner’s stall after his newly-acquired Daph ‘n’ Alf blitzed them in the Anniversary Cup.
And the cheeky young son of veteran trainer Greg Wehlow quipped afterwards: “Dad builds ‘em and I paint ém’.
It was a big day for the Wehlow’s. Father Greg has trained the gelding all along but sent him back to Rockhampton with Jared after his previous win at Mackay on July 4.
“There was nothing up here – I refuse to race at Cairns – so I sent him to Jared who is only a day out of Brisbane.
Not that Daph minds a bit of travel. There wouldn’t be a more travelled horse (by road) in the country in the past six months.
Father Greg himself a confessed nomad was trackside on Saturday to share the spoils, (no show without Punch) and so was Jared’s only sister Danielle, who flew down from Nauru where she helps to look after the asylum seekers.
Yes, there was much celebration as the owner-breeder Greg McLeod, who named the horse after his mum and dad, is known for his penchant for both a punt and a party and in either order.
‘BULLY BOY’ TABCORP FACING ANOTHER CRISIS – IN THE FEDERAL COURT
TABCORP, the so-called bully boy blamed for the great divide in the shameful racing television coverage (it is the majority owner of SKY), is now facing another crisis in the Federal Court in which, can you believe the old Cowboys-Bulldogs betting scandal will be relived?
AUSTRAC, the Government regulatory body, has alleged more than 100 breaches of the law by TABCORP, including a betting plunge on a NRL Cowboys versus Bulldogs game in 2010 that caused bookmakers to suspend betting.
AUSTRAC head Paul Jevtovic said TABCORP faces a Federal Court trial and $17 million in fines over its failure to tell the Government’s counter terrorism financing regulator that more than 30 TAB accounts were opened in false names and used to filter fraudulent credit card funds for organized crime figures.
A Fairfax article last week said “The AUSTRAC law suit identifies the betting plunge on the NRL Cowboys-Bulldogs game on August 21 2010 as one of the multiple suspicious transactions that were never reported. The unexpected plunge on the first scoring play of the game in which the Cowboys kicked a penalty goal was backed in from $13 to $7 within hours of the match and caused bookmakers to suspend betting.
AUSTRAC alleges that despite reporting the matter to NSW Police, TABCORP failed to lodge a suspicious matter report as required by law”.
Fairfax continued: “The Federal Court action by the regulator is a serious blow to the image of Australia’s best known wagering operator, who, in recent times, has managed to embroil itself in a number of controversies including the media rights debacle with Racing Victoria, which still remains unresolved and carries the pathetically apologetic daily message on SKY at TABCORP agencies excusing their non-live coverage of Victorian racing.
“If TABCORP is not in crisis management over this latest controversy, then it should be. Questions should and must be asked of its management”, the Fairfax report concluded.
DEATH OF ONE OF THE GREAT GUYS OF AUSTRALIAN RACING
PETER Gumbleton, one of the great guys of racing, passed away after a long illness last week at Gunnedah (NSW).
‘Gumbo’, as he was universally known, was also a great rider and listed among his wins are the 1963 Brisbane Cup (Campo) and 1966 Doomben Cup (Pterylaw) among others.
He had a long association with Queensland, being apprenticed to the famous Western Queensland trainer Cockey Easton.
Later he based for a short time at Innisfail before venturing to Melbourne and later Hong Kong where he rode with considerable success in the mid-1970s.
He returned to Australia and settled on a property near Gilgandra where he continued his involvement in racing as a trainer and club committeeman. He is survived by his Hong Kong born wife Susan.
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..
