IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, questions how the new regime at Racing Queensland can downgrade and reduce prizemoney for meetings in the north whilst supporting $5 million of industry funds being poured into the Magic Millions Day at the Gold Coast in January.

Butts also reveals another incident involving the ‘brave’ corporate bookmakers who have closed down the account of a punter simply because he was proving too successful.

Here is his column:

ANOTHER BACK-HANDER FOR COUNTRY RACING FROM NEWLOOK RQ

HOPES that the new regime at Deagon would be more considerate than previous Queensland Racing Boards to the needs of the north took a sharp nosedive last week.

Immediately after the announcement that the Cluden track opening would be delayed two weeks came the bombshell – the September 5 meeting that had been programmed as the opening day of the Townsville Winter Carnival would be transferred to Bowen 

That is bad enough – but the meeting was downgraded to a non-TAB fixture now offering a third of the prizemoney that was on offer at Townsville.

Come on RQ – that is a no-no. In fact it’s a snub. It’s bad enough being forced to race on a track that many trainers describe as ‘like a cement road’.

The common cry is why wasn’t the TAB meeting transferred to Mackay – a renowned and popular TAB track. Why the downgrade to country prizemoney status?

If the answer is to save money, then the question must be asked again:

Why should RQ tip $5 million into a race day at the Gold Coast in January?

NEW POWERS-THAT-BE SHOULD REVERSE MAGIC MILLIONS HANDOUT

OF course the decision to subsidise Magic Millions grandiose plan to the tune of $5 million a year for five years was made by the previous Government and the previous RQ Board.

However, the same Government made a lot of decisions that have been rescinded by the new crew at Deagon. So should this.

It offers doubtful benefit for the industry outside the golden triangle. And for breeders who - some might argue - have far too much influence in racing Australia-wide.

 If Magic Millions want the biggest one-day event in the country – let Gerry and his pacemakers pay for it – full stop!

This is money RQ, by its own admission, can ill-afford and should not go ahead at the expense of all stakeholders state-wide.

 After the debacle at Atherton when a TAB meeting was transferred there and the prizemoney reduced to the country level, RQ under Kevin Dixon gave an assurance that in future all TAB meetings would be transferred to TAB tracks.

It would be an understatement to say trainers and owners are disappointed with the decision to downgrade what was the traditional Lightning Handicap day to Bowen. But to reduce the prizemoney is just way over the top.

There is obviously a two-tier system still in operation at Deagon and we all know who is on the bottom rung.

RQ just cannot get it right.

CORPORATE BOOKMAKERS CONTINUE TO BE A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES

NOR can the authorities that govern corporate bookmakers get it right. It is like flogging a dead horse, really.

The corporate bookies are a law unto themselves and it is time someone acted.

This is the latest. Punter signs up with the new kid on the block, ClassicBet, that operates out of Sydney, promises the world and gives you an atlas…..that’s if you are just a little bit smarter than the average each way punter. But if you back winners or even look as though you might be a winner-backer, you will get a letter just like this:

We are contacting you today to advise that a business decision has been taken by our senior traders and I must inform you that your account has been closed and no further business will be extended on your behalf. Your remaining balance will be processed back to you and can take up to 3-6 days if your ID and banking details have already been supplied. Should circumstances change we will contact you,

Regards Classicbet support.

For the record, the punter had been betting with ClassicBet for five weeks and won about $2000.

It’s just another case of ‘Come bet with us - but please don’t win.’

MACKAY CUP WINNER HOLDONTOYAHORSES HAS BEEN RETIRED TO STUD

MACKAY Cup winner, Holdontoyahorses, has been retired and will be mated with new Queensland sire Bel Esprit.

The oddly-named mare would have been a definite threat in the northern Cups this year but owners had already booked her into the celebrated stallion that will stand his first season in Queensland.

New trainer Russell Adair tried to buy the mare and keep her racing for another year but was unable to clinch the deal.

There is a dearth of staying material this year for the Cups and that was clearly evidenced at Cairns last week when veteran Seafight surprised all, including connections, with his win in the Cup over restricted class stablemates from the Manzelmann stables.

LADY TRAINER STAR OF INNISFAIL BANANA DAY WITH FOUR WINNERS

IT was the biggest Banana Day race meeting at Innisfail in history.

It was also the biggest day ever for local trainer Leanne Ashford who saddled up a remarkable four winners on the six race card and took the quinella on the feature race – the Banana Cup.

Leeanne only has a small string of horses on the Pease Park track but her record is quite impressive. Her Cup winner, Blowin’ Your Mind, has only been in the stable a few weeks but has obviously relished the new surrounds and was never going to be beaten on Saturday.

There was a fair bit of emotion during the presentation ceremony of her first winner, Book A Flight, which is owned by the Tobler family who are still getting over the shocking Ravenshoe tragedy in which they were involved.

Later in the day they saw Gladius chase home stablemate Blowin' Your Mind in the Cup.  

More than 2500 attended the meeting, including 250 backpackers who have become regulars at the Innisfail meetings. As usual they had a ball. Five busloads of the visitors mainly employed on the nearby sugar and banana farms made it their ‘day out’ and kept the patrons amused and the nine bookies busy.

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..