IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, raises industry concerns about how Racing Queensland can be ‘too broke’ to conduct the annual Awards Night but can still afford to throw a ‘truck load’ of at the Magic Millions big day in January and suggests it smacks of ‘double standards’.
Butts also questions the fairness of a $15,000 fine imposed on trainer John McNair when stewards concede he did not administer the drug ICE to his horse.
Here is the Butts column:
TOO BROKE FOR THE AWARDS NIGHT BUT NOT FOR AN RQ HANDOUT TO MAGIC MILLIONS
TALKING of double standards – the rank and file are more than miffed and mystified that Racing Queensland is so broke it has cancelled the annual Awards function this year. But it has the funds to conduct a $10 million race day at the Gold Coast in January – to be known as the WOBM.
This is part of the announcement sent by email sent out last week:
The stage is set for a spectacular first instalment of Australia’s richest race meeting with further details released for the revamped $10 million Magic Millions Race Day program on January 9 next year.
You would honestly think it had come from the pen of the former Racing Minister Steve (furlong in front) Dickson. But it was from the one of the new kids down on the block at Deagon, Ross Gove.
It was forwarded within the same week that RQ announced it had no money for the Awards Night, and had just received an urgent $500,000 plea from Cairns for track repairs. Among other urgent requests that we believe are piling up (without response) in the in-box of those who are supposedly running the show these days at Deagon – organized chaos, according to those who have to deal with RQ on a regular or daily basis.
The media release went on: The annual Magic Millions Carnival, one of Queensland’s premier events, will cement its standing as the epicentre of Australian summer racing with the exciting addition of two new races, the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS Open (1300m) for Magic Millions and QTIS registered horses of all ages and the $250,000 Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m).
As well as these program additions, substantially, prizemoney will double for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas to $2 million. Major increases in purses to the Magic Millions Cup, Sprint, Fillies and Mares Handicap and Trophy (Stayers Cup) will see seven races on the program offering $1 million or more with prizemoney distributed from first to last. And there’s more… more...and more- but surely that’ll do.
And if you are wondering….WOBM?
Waste of Bloody Money!
Money that has been pitch-forked at the Gold Coast( described recently by a top jockey as a goat track) while horses and riders risk their necks at the Cairns upcoming carnivals that mean as much to the locals as it does to the glitterati that assembles at the Gold Coast.
At Cairns, incidentally – all the prizemoney – albeit a pittance by comparison – stays mostly at home.
Not a good decision RQ – please don’t whinge about lack of money to racing folk outside the golden triangle.
STEWARDS CONVINCED McNAIR DIDN’T ADMINISTER DRUG BUT IT COST HIM $15,000
THOSE who followed then John McNair case will not be surprised to learn that the trainer has appealed the somewhat excessive $15,000 fine for having a horse that tested positive to ICE.
NSW stewards announced this extreme penalty at the same time they declared McNair had no idea how the horse received it – or who administered it.
But, importantly, the stewards were quite convinced it wasn’t the trainer.
It transpires that stewards acted on a telephone call which cannot be traced. Stewards swooped on McNair’s stable and tested several horses on the morning of March 16. One of them, Normandy, engaged at Newcastle that day, proved positive to the illegal drug.
McNair was charged with presenting a horse to the races with methamphetamine and amphetamine in its system.
Stewards were satisfied however McNair had no knowledge that Normandy had been administered with the drug.
So why should he be punished at all?
Apparently it is for lack of stable security, though since the incident, McNair has spent $5,000 on an upgrade – which surely should have been considered when assessing penalty.
According to a Fairfax Report, McNair was shocked at the level of the fine.
He said: “I did nothing wrong and I have spent $5,000 putting on security in the stables. I didn't think something like this would happen.”
TRAINERS’ ASSOCIATION HIGHLIGHTS INADEQUACIES IN SECURITY AT STABLES AND TRACKS
NSW Trainers’ Association CEO, Steve McMahon, says many trainers are on properties and don't have security and, ‘with a drug such as ICE – it is as easy as putting it over the tongue of a horse.’
He also is worried about the security of stalls on many country tracks.
“There are many race tracks across country racing in NSW that do not have CCTV or adequate security due to the costs involved,” McMahon said.
“It's a bit rich to fine McNair. The costs of CCTV and/or security guards would add an extraordinary impost to trainers and owners.”
McNair's appeal will be heard later this month.
A precedent was set for a fine being overturned in 2005 after Gai Waterhouse’s galloper Love You Honey tested positive to cocaine.
And then there was the Chris Waller horse winning a Group 1 (beating the stablemate) that proved positive. He copped a fine but was still able to pay the fine with his winning trainer’s percentage.
DO THE ‘SHEIKS’ HAVE TO PROVIDE BANK DETAILS LIKE ALL THE OTHER OWNERS
A well-publicized ‘barney’ between old comrades, Graeme Rogerson and Gerry Harvey, has led to a change of rules that has got the NSW Owners’ Association a bit stirred.
Racing Australia announced a change that now requires ALL owners to provide bank details and the move has prompted NSWROA vice-chairman, Peter Beer, to question whether “sheiks, eminent people and large owners who resist providing credit card details will be stopped from racing their horses”.
He suggested any exception to the rule would be creating double standards.
And many would have to agree.
Watch this space!
FOR THE FIRST TIME HORSES AT THE EWAN MEETING WILL BE CORN-FED
IN the end it had nothing to do with a clash with Ladies Day at the Cluden winter carnival or differing views of the race club committee. But Ewan has broken an 88 year tradition.
This year’s iconic Queensland meeting will be for corn-fed horses – for the first time.
It is an end of an era for grass-fed professional racing in Queensland. But it was decision forced upon the club by the deadly drought.
The club will still race against Townsville on Saturday September 19 with a five race card and while the crowd is unlikely to be affected – jockeys, trainers and bookmakers will have to make a choice.
The Sunday meeting still in school holiday time should see Ewan a mecca for all sports lovers – and those intent of having a good time – in a very unique and popular setting, way out bush.
OLD RIVALS HEAD WEIGHTS OF ACAIRNS CUP LACKING VISITING HORSES
OLD rivals Junee Boy and Seafight will head the weights for this week's Cairns Cup which is highlighted by the lack of visiting horses.
Mackay trainer, John Manzelmann, has five of the 13 entries but none of them of the calibre of his last year's winner Payteevee now campaigning in the Northern Territory.
Top jockey Robert Thompson is expected to re-unite with Seafight in the Cup and will be one of the certain favourites judging by recent performances.
Peter Cullen, who has been aboard the Ryan-trained veteran, will stick with Aldren which has also been consistent in lead-up races and likely to be third on the handicap.
The Roy Chillemi stable will be represented by the in-form Fields of Tuscany.
Fields for both Saturday and Sunday (Cup day) are above expectations. It is now up to the weather!
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..
