IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, goes into bat for Jamie Dart who has been under siege since his appointment as acting Head of Integrity for Racing Queensland.
Butts, a veteran racing journalist and long-time trainer, declares his support for Dart both as a steward and a person questioning the credentials and reasons behind those who are bagging him.
Here is his column:
‘SLUR’ CAMPAIGN AGAINST DART PROMOTION ‘QUITE REPULSIVE’
THIS columnist is appalled at the negative campaign that has been launched against Jamie Dart since his elevation to Head of Integrity.
In fact it is quite repulsive and aired by people for reasons unknown.
To blame him for the live baiting crisis while he was at the time Chief Greyhound Steward is akin to blaming Terry Bailey in Melbourne for the Cobalt fiasco – just plain nonsense.
Dart left Townsville a few years ago with an unblemished reputation as a steward and – importantly as a person.
He does not deserve the bagging he is getting from people who quite frankly just wouldn’t know.
He is a worthy replacement as Head of Integrity and besides was recommended for the post by the very senior police officer who had the task of investigating the live baiting scandal – and everyone involved.
Dart doesn’t have to take his hat off to anyone.
And, on the subject of Racing Queensland, there has been some comings and goings at the Deagon bunker too.
Long-time senior official (Chief Financial Officer) Adam Carter is no longer an employee, which comes as a major surprise. Track ‘expert’ Bill Schuck has also reportedly been told that his services are also no longer required.
SOME COUNTRY CLUBS SAFE BUT WHAT ABOUT A LOT OF OTHERS?
RACING Minster Bill Byrne gave a commitment during a recent Queensland Parliament sittings to protect the established one day a year race clubs in the bush from any changes in the much awaited Queensland Racing review which due to be announced any day.
It was some relief for clubs like Laura, Cooktown, Mackinlay, Oak Park and Mt Garnet to mention just a few, and if the Minister is true to his word the clubs can thank their State Member Rob Katter.
But there is still great concern for other country racing participants with rumours abound that Longreach for instance might lose half of its race dates next year.
The feeling out west is that the Minister is not overly sympathetic to their cause. There is a genuine fear the strategic clubs (some a century old) will be dealt some rough cards in the Government carve-up designed to save money.
Their trump card however is Rob Katter, the popular and outspoken leader of the Katter party, who by his own admission on ABC Radio last week said the KAP has some “leverage with this current government”.
He was still hopeful the cuts in race dates, clubs and prizemoney will not proceed.
“It would totally ruin the racing industry in the west.”
COUNTRY OFFICIALS DUMP RACING MINISTER AND APPROACH TREASURER
AND it seems that the clubs under threat have changed tack. There is a George street rumour that opponents to the planned changes are by-passing the Minister and now expressing their concerns directly to the Treasurer.
Labor, already damaged by the episodes of Independent Billy ‘Flash’ Gordon, can ill afford to lose KAP support as it continues to govern with a precariously low majority.
The George Street rumour has the Racing Minister on the ropes as Racing Queensland – still without a CEO or Boards to control the three codes of racing – is losing the confidence of stakeholders and the punting public by the day.
Last week, at their annual conference in Toowoomba, the powerful Local Government Association of Queensland voted unanimously to support the Country Racing Club’s bid to stay afloat.
“Just leave us alone,” was the passionate plea to Government from Gary Peoples, chairman of the Country Racing Association.
And the LGAQ said the same.
Mr Peoples made the valid point that it costs $9.2mn to run country racing for a year.
“RQ spends more than $10mn on the Magic Millions day alone.”
Country clubs cannot afford to lose a single race day – and the Premier cannot afford to lose Katter.
That simple!
SUCCESSFUL TOWNSVILLE AMATEURS FITTING FINALE TO NQ CARNIVAL
A highly successful Townsville Amateurs meeting on Saturday brought the curtain down on feature race days in the north for this year.
It was truly a fitting finale.
It was back to the old Cox Plate day for Townsville which has battled to stay afloat in recent years and the change of date to August hasn’t really helped.
But there was a touch of the ‘old’ at Cluden last Saturday and the overloaded car park was testimony that the Amateurs, once the north’s most favoured race day, might be back.
PALLARENDA STAKES WINNER MOST POPULAR SINCE NEW TRACK OPENED
A highlight of this year’s Townsville Amateurs was the running of the time-honoured Pallarenda Stakes for two-year-olds. The race got caught up in the Cluden track reconstruction and was added to this year’s Amateurs program.
The winner of the fillies division was perhaps the most popular win at Cluden since the re-opening. A Jet Spur speedster named Liker overcame all difficulties to score a very impressive win for trainer George Coleman. It was his first runner since Zulu Rising four years ago.
There were emotional scenes post-race as the other part owner (with Del Coleman), is Mrs Tanya Cranston, a daughter of Bobby McKenna, another NQ legend of yesteryear – and nowadays Liker’s forever doting strapper.
George, who put the polish on the brilliant Prince Hervey and many others in the 1960s, hasn’t had a horse since suffering a stroke. But the decision to purchase Liker with old mate Bobby McKenna at the Magic Millions in January has provided a perfect elixir of life for the duo known affectionately around the traps as Cluden’s version of the famous ‘odd couple’, Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau.
The only downside to the win was the Coleman colours – red and green stripes that caused a crowd reaction from the diehard supporters of the Rabbitohs.
George has been a vocal and vehement supporter of Cowboys since Day 1 – and doesn’t relish any connection or association with South Sydney. So be warned!
And where to now for the two-year-old winners?
Well, straight to the paddock for there are simply no races programmed for two-year-old winners – anywhere in the north.
It’s hardly an incentive to buy yearlings and race them up here.
USE OF WHIP BACK IN THE HEADLINES – EVEN IN NORTH QUEENSLAND
THE use of the whip is back in the headlines and North Queensland’s Chief Steward Sam Woolaston has put the jockeys on notice that the new rules come into play on December 1 and will be enforced.
Jockeys have already been called in and last weekend senior apprentice Lee Attard was ordered back to the RQ Riding Academy when he claimed at an inquiry that he wasn’t proficient using the whip in his left hand.
But what should be studied is the use of whips on two-years-olds. It is not a pretty sight. Nor is the flogging of steeplechasers down the straight at the end of two miles or longer.
It is not suggested the whip be banned altogether – but if authorities are really serious why not reduce the length by several inches. That should be universal – not just the rule in South Africa which produces some of the world’s best riders.
And not one of them is recognised or renowned as ‘whip jockeys’.
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..
