IN his widely-read weekly column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS tells of a ‘dust-up’ between two racing and political heavyweights which stole the spotlight at the Bowen races last weekend.
Here is the Butts’ column which has become a popular feature on this web site.
BOWEN RACES HAD IT ALL – EAT YOUR HEART OUT FRED BROPHY!
THE only thing missing from the Bowen races last Saturday was Fred Brophy’s boxing tent.
It would apparently have come in handy when the race club chairman Cyril Vains and political heavyweight, Mayor of Whitsunday and hot favorite to win the seat of Dawson next week, Mike Brunker, clashed in the car park.
Big Mike turned up with his bus and plenty of placards flogging tips on how to vote on Saturday. And he picked the right spot because there were plenty of punters.
Yet, not everyone appreciated his presence. Club president Mr Vains, for one, objected.
Meanwhile, Doug Robins, the club treasurer and a few security staff not only gave Mike the nod to display his placards, but offered to help. But chairman Mr Vains reacted differently. Much differently!
According to Mike, Mr Vains “offered me out” when he approached him in the betting ring, and allegedly hurled abuse as Mike walked away to the bus.
“Then he king hit me,” Mike alleges.
Big Mike said he didn’t have a chance to retaliate, or as he said, “sit him on his bum” because security immediately swooped.
Far from being escorted off the track by police as reported, he said: “I simply packed up and went home”.
Police were not and never have been involved. In fact, the town’s top cop first heard about the incident on the evening news bulletin.
Yes, strange things do happen in the little town of Bowen By The Sea.
There are two branches of the ALP, just as there are two sailing clubs, two pony clubs, two entertainment centres, a string of unsolved murders, and then there’s the person who nobbled this year’s multi million-dollar tomato crop.
But back to Mike - he belongs to the Queen’s Beach ALP branch. He “thinks” Mr Vains is a member of the other.
RACING WAS STILL AT ITS BEST IN BOWEN
IN fairness, however, it must be stated it was a top race meeting.
The track was the best I have ever seen it, and spectators and punters bused in from all over the district – Airlie Beach and Proserpine included.
Bookies worked in cramped conditions, such was the crowd size, and their holds were boosted somewhat by a tote breakdown early in the day which ‘robbed’ the TAB of considerable turnover.
Andrew Cox took riding honors with a double including the feature, the Ben Bolt Cup, with a daring ride on Posting.
It was a great day and the tips are getting on Bunker – if not for Dawson, then for the rematch.
He might win the first, though it will be close, but is a living certainty in the other. Ask him.
END OF A TRADITION IN THE WEST
THIS weekend will sadly see the end of a tradition out west. Sedan Dip races will go ahead but not as a registered meeting.
The club which has raced for 61 years on a picturesque site on the banks of the Cloncurry River, 130km north of Julia Creek, severed relationships with Racing Queensland and will, according to secretary Tenial Cody, “go it alone” for the first time on Saturday.
She said the club simply couldn’t afford to bring the racecourse up to the standard required by Racing Queensland.
“It was case of put up or shut up. We had no intention of shutting the gates so we have done what other clubs have done out west. We will have an unregistered meeting. It won’t – worry us in the slightest,” she said.
And the decision among members and the committee was unanimous. The races will go on. The ladies will dress up for the fashions stakes and the horses will come from stations near and far. And they will be ridden by jillaroos and jackaroos who have never seen a starting gate.
There won’t be a bookie (registered, that is) but there will be calcuttas on each race and “some form of tote”.
Add to that a bar and a band and a big barbecue after the last and – well, what more do you want?
With Almaden and Normanton already racing unregistered, it could be the start of something new – an unregistered racing circuit.
CAIRNS TRACK WILL BE UNDER SCRUTINY
THE National Occupational Health and Safety officer for the Australian Jockeys Association is monitoring the state of the Cairns track in the wake of the recent two-day Cup meeting which drew several complaints from jockeys.
And, the officer, Kevin Ring, said jockeys will not ride at the up-coming Cairns Amateur meeting if the track is not up to standard.
Jockeys complained bitterly after 100 metres of coarse beach sand was placed on the course proper (on the instruction of a committeeman) for last week’s meeting that allegedly caused injuries to both horses and jockeys. One horse had to be put down.
Racing Queensland’s statewide track manager Warren Williams has been in Cairns overseeing repair work, but the jury is still out on whether it will be ready and safe for the amateurs.
According to one prominent Cairns racing personality, the track is “stuffed” and he says that’s the general opinion of all the local trainers as well.
“It should have been sold when we had the chance. No matter what they do now, it’s only a band-aid,” he said.
Mr Ring said jockeys would inspect the track and will not ride if it is not completely rectified and rated safe. “It’s that simple,” he said.
Already some trainers have vowed to stay away.
APPEAL FOR JOCKEY INJURED IN OAK PARK FALL
RACING stalwarts across the north and north-west have organized an appeal for injured jockey Dot Slack- Smith, who remains in Townsville Hospital after an horrendous race fall at the Oak Park meeting last month.
While the popular Richmond-based jockey recovers in rehab, and is expected to undergo intense treatment for many more months on the slow road to recovery, her many hundreds of friends, acquaintances, colleagues and contacts are digging deep.
An account has been opened at the Commonwealth Bank for cash donations, but one of the organizers, Jim Swift of Charters Towers, said all types of donations will be accepted.
The North Queensland Register has donated a Phil Richmond painting to be auctioned at the Townsville Amateurs recovery on Sunday, with all proceeds going to the appeal.
Last Saturday at Muttaburra, Ian Elliott donated a semi-load of hay (40 bales) that was knocked down to John Kendall for $1920 ($48 a bale).
At Julia Creek, the entire gate takings of $750 were donated to the appeal, and at Corfield last Saturday week, a raffle and collection netted $1267 for the appeal.
“It is a great start,” Jim said. On Saturday there will be a collection desk at the Townsville Amateurs and another has been planned for the Cairns Amateurs next month.
Dot Slack-Smith, one of the best-known names in Queensland bush racing, has ridden over 500 winners since she commenced at an amateur in 1985. She switched to professional status when the rules changed a few years ago and has ridden winners on all north and north-western tracks – except Oak Park.
Husband Rob said she had one last wish to ride a winner at Oak Park and was hopeful of achieving that this year.
But the dream was not to be. She came off a horse named Flipper McCartney near the 600m mark after apparently losing a strip iron much earlier in the race.
At 53, she is a devoted housewife, mother and friend to so many in the racing game and in the entire western cattle grazing fraternity.
*Dot Slack Smith Appeal – BSB: 064 805. A/c:10198315.
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
