THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE has a new look but won’t be dispensing with some of our old favorites and will continue to focus on THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY side of what has happened in racing over the past week. Our old mate ‘Godfrey Smith’ is back by popular demand and again pens his ‘Gripe of the Racing Week’. The Whinge will also include an opportunity for The Cynics to Have Their Say. Thanks again for your support for the most read column on this website. Our popularity continues to grow despite the bagging it is copping from one over-rated official and his cronies.
WONDERFUL INTIATIVE BY AJA FOLLOWING TRAGIC DEATH OF NATHAN BERRY 
WE would like to endorse and encourage racing stakeholders and the public to support the following intiative:
THE Australian Jockeys’ Association wishes to advise that following the recent passing of jockey Nathan Berry to Norse Syndrome, that the NATHAN BERRY FUND has been established to raise funds for research into ‘Norse Syndrome’, conducted by the Epilepsy Society of Australia, and to assist Mrs Whitney Berry.
Donations to the fund can be lodged with the ANZ Bank:
BSB: 012 097
Account No. 3899 69505
The AJA is pleased to advise, that to ‘kick the Fund off’, an agreement has been reached between the 4Tracks4Kids organisation and the National Jockeys Trust, to donate the proceeds from recent fund-raising, totalling $60,000 to the Nathan Berry Fund.
OUR E-MAIL OF THE WEEK comes from BRUCE WRIGHT, of MELBOURNE, a long-time horse racing enthusiast, who has obviously had a gut-full of the criticism of the sport and industry by one of the country’s most popular newspaper columnists.
PATRICK SMITH GIVES RACING ANOTHER BLAST IN OZ AND COPS A BLAST IN RETURN 
'EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion but will Patrick Smith of The Australian ever write anything positive about horse racing?
I am sick of the garbage his writes about racing and it upsets me so much that not only am I going to refuse to read it in future I will never buy The Australian again.
My message to all followers and participants of horse racing in this country is to boycott The Australian. It is struggling – like most newspapers – to attract readers and I plan to pretend that Patrick Smith does not exist.
With Anzac Day upon us it is important to remember that many wonderful and brave souls gave their lives so that we could live in a country where freedom of speech is so important to us.
Mr Smith is entitled to his opinion even if it is – in the opinion of many – for some strange reason biased against the success of horse racing.
What happened Paddy, can’t you back a winner or do you find it hard to accept that people can actually go to the races and enjoy themselves?’
EDITOR’S NOTE: Patrick Smith might not be everybody’s cup of tea but he is a great writer and very well read, as is The Australian. Here is his column from The Australian that obviously got up the nose of Bruce in case you missed it:
IT is hard to think of a sport more oblivious to the world in which it seeks to operate than thoroughbred racing. It is a pastime/industry that only connects with the greater community when the grog flows and the business is dressed up to party hard.
The advertisement that you can see now promoting the Randwick championship carnival seems at pains to celebrate everything bar the horse. The animal is an afterthought. Everything else takes precedence. Alcohol, punting, bores, wankers, snappy suits, cool guys and good-looking girls.
Racing applauds jumping events that already this season have caused one horse to be put down. It condones unrestrained whipping of horses in the dash to the line and bows to jockeys who would go on strike to protect that very right to whack their animals.
Last month jockey Stephen Baster struck his horse 17 times before the final 100m — 12 times more than permitted — and was fined just $1500. Baster also breached the rules of racing by striking his horse in consecutive strides before the 100m mark. His victory on Zululand earned him $6500 as a percentage of the prizemoney and whatever sling would have come his way for winning on the entire in a Group II race worth $134,000 for first.
What rules the industry has in place to protect its most important asset, the horses, it appears to treat them rather glibly. In this case anyway.
It is for reasons like whipping and jumps racing that the sport is increasingly inaccessible to the general public. Add to that the overriding concern, well considered or not, that all is not what it seems in the sport then it is little wonder that thoroughbred racing has become marginalised where once it was a dominant sporting interest.
Racing is a multi-billion-dollar betting industry that provides state and federal governments with about $1.5 billion in taxes. That will dwindle as the punters doubt the integrity of the racing and its results. As it is, betting on other sports is gaining significantly in the wagering market.
In Victoria, the stewards have demanded that they be given the keys to all stables so that when they appear to inspect the premises they can access them without delay. The element of surprise is limited if there is a delay fussing to get a foot in the door.
This new demand sits poorly with Peter Moody, one of the nation’s most successful trainers. It was Moody who meticulously took Black Caviar through her undefeated career of 25 races, including the famously courageous win in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot, England.
Moody has been very aggressive in response to the new stewards’ ruling. He has walked away from the Australian Trainers Association, not satisfied that it has fought the intrusion from the stewards with enough force.
“I’m all for integrity, I’m all for it, but I find it belittling to suggest that I have to hand over the keys to my stables to the stewards,” he said on Tuesday.
“Do I need to put security cameras up to watch the stewards come into my stables? The stewards have said they’re only going to come in when my people are present. How do I know that?
“And where does it stop? Do they want the keys to my house? My car? To my wife’s workplace? Where are we going to draw a line in the sand?’’
Moody is troubled that the move only fuels a public perception that to be a successful trainer you must be doing something shady. “I actually feel like a criminal. I feel I’ve got to prove that my horses are drug-free. I feel I’ve got to defend myself every time I go to the races. I shouldn’t,’’ he said.
As much as you might initially have sympathy for Moody’s position, the stewards have not overstepped their remit in asking for the keys to stables. No one is accusing Moody or any other trainer of cheating but the measures to protect the integrity and image of racing need to be exhaustive and invasive.
The trainers’ association and racing Victoria have reached an agreement that stewards cannot enter a property if it is unattended. If no staff are on hand the stewards must leave immediately. That is a fair compromise.
The request for access is barely an impost if you consider what our athletes, footballers, hockey players, basketballers — and the rest — are required to do to satisfy ASADA. If you are a registered sportsman or woman with ASADA then you must detail your presence every day and nominate an hour when you will be available for drug testing. Now that is a burden.
Moody feels that he is being set upon by the stewards, but he has a large stable and before yesterday had sent horses to the starter 378 times this season for 45 wins and prizemoney of $5.9 million. They are figures for metropolitan meetings only. Just by the size of his team it makes sense that his stable of horses will be tested more than a trainer with four horses in work at Gunbower.
The request for access to stables — formalised in a document sent to all trainers late last week — applies across Victoria. If you train a horse and have the property secured then you will need to ensure stewards have their own access to the property. It should be a national practice.
Moody, and no doubt other trainers, feel the demand is an imposition. The bigger imposition is training horses in a suspicious environment where the public is hesitant to own horses, reluctant to punt on them and prizemoney shrinks as a consequence. Only the strongest integrity measures remain racing’s best bet.
DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND GODREY RETURNS WITH HIS LOOK BACK AT THE RACING WEEK 
AFTER listening to your feedback we are continuing to change the style and format of the most read feature on this website – the Wednesday Whinge.
We have enticed our old mate ‘Godfrey Smith’ out of retirement and each Wednesday the Whinge will be spearheaded by ‘Godfrey’s Look Back at the Racing Week’. Some will not agree with his ‘tongue in cheek’ views on everything racing but love him or hate him – you’ll want to read what he has to say.
Here is his latest contribution:
TOOWOOMBA DESERVES A STAND-ALONE CARNIVAL SATURDAY FOR THE WEETWOOD & CUP 
IT would be easy to sit back and write a column bagging the proposal for a stand-alone Saturday to showcase one of the longest standing and most popular races in Queensland – the Toowoomba Weetwood.
Instead I would like to endorse the idea. If Gold Coast, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast are entitled to their days in the sun each winter carnival then why shouldn’t Toowoomba have one as well?
I would, however, add the proviso that Racing Queensland meets the needs of punters who do not want to make the long trip up the Range by scheduling a secondary fixture in Brisbane on the same day, perhaps for midweek stakes.
The decision by the Toowoomba Turf Club to move away from the traditional Thursday afternoon fixture for the Weetwood meeting has provoked a mixed reception from those who believe the public prefer the Thursday Show Holiday rather than a Saturday twilight fixture. Over the years that approach has proved super successful.
But the Saturday night experiment – which officials report attracted a crowd of 5,000 last weekend – was certainly a winner with the stay-at-home punter. It enabled SKY Channel to provide mounting yard coverage (with little other opposition) and the job done by presenter Bernadette Cooper with interviews and commentary was an excellent watch.
With the addition of the Toowoomba Cup – and perhaps another feature race on the card and some added prizemoney – the Weetwood meeting is worthy of stand-alone Saturday status during the carnival.
It would be interesting to see however just where it would fit with a May timeslot seeming the logical option where the feature races could be programmed as lead-ups to major winter events.
The granting of stand-alone once-a-year carnival meetings to provide something different for punters and a reward for successful major provincial clubs is increasing interstate and proving extremely popular.
Queensland is no different where Ipswich Cup day has been a huge success story and annually attracts a crowd to rival Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm (20,000-plus).
Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast might not boast similar crowd figures but are extremely popular stand-alone carnival meetings not to mention the Magic Millions in January.
The other option that might not be as popular with club officials but could be used as a stepping stone is a Sunday. Racing Queensland might look at this for the Weetwood and even races like the Townsville Cup.
The argument from the clubs will no doubt be that race-goers are reluctant to attend, especially those who want to party, because they have to go to work the next day.
That doesn’t appear to be a problem in Victoria where the majority of the country Cups are run on a Sunday and attract huge crowds. But if it is in Queensland perhaps they should try and find a Sunday where there is a Monday public holiday – not that many of those exist any longer.
There you go – a positive column – and not even one mention of the start that many believe Toowoomba will get with this proposal because the chairman of the club and his RQ counterpart get on so well.
EDITOR’S NOTE: ALAS not everyone agrees with what was written above and here’s one critical email we received concerning the Weetwood meeting and the SKY coverage from a loyal supporter of Toowoomba racing:
TOOWOOMBA KEPT CROWD AT A MINIMUM BY DESIGN – ‘WHO’S KIDDING WHO’? 
‘I have been attending the Weetwood meeting for more years than I care to remember but didn’t this year in protest at the Saturday night programming.
Friends of mine who did attend claim officials must have counted arms and legs to get their official figure of 5,100.
That aside the comments by new TTC CEO Blair Odgers were a bit difficult to fathom. He said the crowd was down on previous years BUT THAT WAS BY DESIGN.
Have you ever heard of a club deliberately trying not to attract as many patrons as possible?
Mr Odgers went on to tell the local media: “We were more focused on, rather than getting a manageable crowd and making sure it was a smoothly-run event.
“We really put a push on to avoid congestion at the gates (who’s he kidding?) which has worked really successfully and we had a steady and consistent flow for the first three or four hours of opening.
"There wasn't much more than a three or four minute wait for key services (food, drinks and facilities)."
The intentionally-targeted smaller crowd (can you imagine VRC officials restricting Melbourne Cup day to 40,000 fans?) allowed the club to iron out any issues and will next year look toward drawing back in the larger numbers.
“This was really about setting a solid platform for future successes," Mr Odgers said. “What systems and processes we had in place we can now step up and target the larger attendances (this is dreamland stuff).”
Have you ever heard a bigger load of garbage in your life? Does this bloke actually think they are going to have to put the ‘house full’ sign up in future? It comes as no surprise that he hails from Racing Queensland.
Back in the days when Neville Stewart ran the show they got twice as many as the crowd claimed here (more than 10,000 on a regular basis) and there were not problems controlling them at the gate or in the food and drink queues.
Now getting back to staying at home and watching the Weetwood card on Sky – that was a massive disappointment.
They should have called it ‘An evening with the Duff family hosted by Bernadette Cooper’. She had the old man, the son, the daughter-in-law and the kids all making a contribution. And even the Chairman of RQ got into the act tipping their horse. It was finger down the throat stuff.
Isn’t this the same clan that was dyed in the wool Bentley Board fans when Dr Bob was there and Labor was in power?’
THE EAST COAST SCENE
VICTORIA
STANCE BY PETER MOODY ON 'HANDING OVER STABLE KEYS' PROVOKES MIXED RESPONSE 
THE stance by Peter Moody against new integrity measures which require Victorian trainers to hand over the keys to their stables prompted mixed responses from readers.
Some questioned why Moody was reluctant to support the Australian Trainers’ Association on the issue. Others backed his opposition claiming it was an invasion of privacy and an attack on the integrity of some top trainers.
The stand-off between Moody and Racing Victoria ended a day before he faced the daunting prospect of testing the resolve of stewards with runners entered in three states.
RV Chairman of Stewards, Terry Bailey, said discussions between with Moody regarding the policy had been fruitful and had clarified the manner in which the new measures would be implemented.
IN a carefully worded statement, Bailey explained: “Any misunderstanding between the stewards and Peter Moody regarding the requirements of Rule 8B has now been resolved between both parties.”
But that only occurred after Moody had made a scathing attack on RVL and his training colleagues describing them as ‘spineless with a yellow streak down their backs’ when it came to backing his fight.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of trainers at Caulfield and Flemington. In private they are very much aghast and against this. Unfortunately in public they are spineless which doesn’t surprise me. When it comes to going to war there is a bit of a yellow streak down their backs,” Moody told Shane Anderson on RSN.
“There are a multitude of issues,” he said. "Are these people (stewards) above reproach? And with the amount of people around or on my property - staff, feed merchants, farriers and the like - I don't need to throw the keys to another group.
“I am genuinely concerned for my integrity. I think my record speaks for itself. Stewards have never been denied access to my stables.
“I have privately had support from trainers, however my colleagues who I work with every day and I call friends seem spineless on the matter. They don’t want to be criticized.”
RV has advised that whilst the request for the provision of keys, pin codes and/or swipe cards has been made of Flemington and Caulfield-based trainers only at this time, this policy will apply throughout Victoria where stewards indentify difficulties in accessing the stables of licensed persons.
Assurances have been given that the keys, pin codes and swipe cards supplied by trainers will be secured in a safe in a restricted area within RV’s Integrity Department which is under 24 hour security surveillance. Access to stables will only be acquired in the presence of the trainer or a stable representative.
Here are two examples of the mixed response to this issue from readers which hopefully gets both sides of the argument across:
THE first from a reader north of the Victorian border: 
'FULL marks to Racing Victoria for protecting the interests of all parties in racing, especially the punters, with these new integrity measures which guarantees them unimpeded access to training properties.
Any trainer – no matter how big or small – who isn’t prepared to co-operate with this should have his license revoked. This is a security measure that the Australian Racing Board – if it had the balls – should introduce nationally.
But you won’t see the same the same thing happening in New South Wales or Queensland.
Max Presnell has already reported in the Sydney Morning Herald that Racing NSW stewards will continue with their ‘coming ready or not’ walk through of stabling complexes on the morning of feature race meetings. What a joke.
Presnell wrote that Ray Murrihy, the Racing NSW Chief Steward, has ‘no intention of following Terry Bailey’s hard line over stable keys’.
“We wouldn’t go into any premises without a trainer or representative,” Murrihy was quoted as saying.
Strangely I thought that was what RVL had given an assurance on. Bailey, the RVL Chief Stipe, is seeking quick stable access for his Integrity Squad, to ensure there is no skulduggery behind closed doors.
Yet Murrihy is happy to have his stewards walking through stables at every major racing centre in and around Sydney like they did on the morning of Day One of The Championships. Sorry Razor but that measure does not fill the punters with confidence that nothing is happening before you arrive or after you leave.
And as for Queensland – where the punters reckon anything goes – well integrity is rated little short of a joke both locally and interstate.
We Run As One is the theme up there so don’t expect the authorities to be rattling the cages of the trainers. The critics claim there is no chance of integrity units scaling fences up there. That annoys those in the know especially when horses seem to perform very well after a sojourn at one particular property.
Then when you have this cushy situation where certain people in authority regularly sit down and socialize with certain licensees on a regular basis why wouldn’t they be regarded as the best thing since sliced bread.
Yes, the less said about integrity and integrity measures in racing in Queensland the better.
Perhaps if Peter Moody doesn’t like what is happening in Victoria he should relocate to his old stamping ground. There is no chance of anything that might upset him happening up there.
And this one from a contributor in Victoria: 
‘I was fortunate to read an article on what may well be regarded as an intelligent contribution to the Peter Moody and the ‘stable keys’ issue.
In part the summation on the Moody position reads as follows:
“In short, the police cannot change their regulations to go marching into private property and neither I believe can the stewards.
Judicial precedent over centuries makes it clear what controls are in place and what is acceptable right of access.”
That poses the question: What are the stewards’ ‘acceptable right of access’?
I would have thought that Australian Rule of Racing (ARR) 8 B covers this very point.
Without going into the rule in its entirety I felt the pre-amble to the three sub sections to the rule is self explanatory.
“The stewards have the authority, agreed to by the trainer when he takes out his license, to enter at any time the premises occupied by or under the control of a licensed person.
The best way for Moody and other trainers to beat the system is NOT to take out a license.
In conclusion, I am seeking advice on the author of the following saying. My late grandfather went to his grave convinced it was ‘penned’ by Max Presnell.
I QUOTE: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.”
I am told in Max’s case he added, with the aid of his dry humor, the following:
“The most deluded are those who choose to ignore what they already know.”
In conclusion letsgohorseracing might not be flavor of the month – or season – with the new powers-that-be at Racing Queensland but keep up the good work. Without the Wednesday Whinge each week life would be very boring.’
NEW SOUTH WALES
SYDNEY OFFICIALS ARE KIDDING IF THEY THINK THE CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL UPSTAGE THE CUP CARNIVAL 
IT came as no surprise that the Sydney racing media would wax lyrical about the success of The Championships – their attempt to compete, or some might say usurp, the Melbourne Cup carnival.
RAY THOMAS led the charge in the DAILY TELEGRAPH quoting Racing NSW boss John Messara.
WORLD-class racing, big fields and surging betting turnover — Sydney has backed a winner with The Championships.
This is the view of Racing NSW chairman John Messara, one of the driving forces behind the new-look Sydney autumn carnival, after a successful launch of the series at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
“The opening day exceeded our expectations,’’ Messara said. “Despite the conditions, it was still a very successful and satisfying day. There was some fantastic racing, the atmosphere and vibe at the track was electric, and the wagering turnover results was the icing on the cake.”
Messara said the success of Saturday provides further positive signs for the revitalization of NSW racing. This is only the beginning, we will build on this in terms of stakes money and other initiatives,’’ he said.
ANDREW WEBSTER reported in the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD that four months ago, when The Championships were unveiled, few knew what the concept was about.
In a short period of time, though, they have come to be known as two days of world-class racing at Royal Randwick, featuring the country's best horses, international raiders and jockeys, with no less than $18.2 million in prizemoney on offer.
It’s no Melbourne Cup. Maybe not even a Cox Plate. But it’s a very good start, and something racing officials and the NSW government are heavily banking on.
“It’s imperative for Sydney racing, but it’s more than that,” Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said. “For too long, Sydney has been robbed of events. For too long, we’ve run second on events to Melbourne, from the Australian Open tennis to the Melbourne Cup. This is going to be, in the future, Sydney’s major event.”
But it was a column item by the Sydney racing media’s favorite son, MAX PRESNELL for FAIRFAX MEDIA, that not surprisingly got up the nose of some Victorians who were quick to respond.
Presnell wrote (in part):
The global aspect doesn’t necessarily turn me on.
Saturday’s opening day of The Championships was outstanding because of the locals, with assistance from Melbourne, not visitors.
Yes, it was at least as good as the once great Randwick Sydney Easter carnivals, but the two invitees, Gordon Lord Byron from Ireland and Japan’s Hana’s Gold, hardly made a major impact.
Certainly the affable Tom Hogan, trainer of Gordon Lord Byron, is no load to carry, nor is the “magic man” Joao Moreira, renowned for his saddle expertise in Asia.
Perhaps it will be argued that being the inaugural Championships, they were only a start and floodgates will open for visitors.
But, unlike the Melbourne Cup, do we really need them?
And on our horses touring abroad, didn’t you like the quote of Mick Price, trainer of Lankan Rupee: ”Unless they put the prizemoney up, I don’t see the point in going overseas . . . we might still have him for five or six years if handled properly.”
Here is one Victorian response to the above that should convey the message of most we received: 
‘POOR old Max couldn’t help himself. Rather than concede The Championships will never measure up to the standard of the Melbourne Cup he drops this clanger: ‘Who needs the international invaders.
One could argue they have been the making of the Melbourne Cup. Imagine the Hong Kong International without the visitors.
If you don’t really need the visitors from overseas or elsewhere for that matter why put on this huge prizemoney Max?
Perhaps Sydney racing should remain in its big rut – wet weather and all at the time they program their biggest races – and just make it a major event when the top local stables collect all the big cash.
Same as, traditional, stuck in the mud attitude, that’s the Max we have come to love and adore in Victoria on all things bagging our great state and pumping up racing in NSW where the Sydney carnival will never be competitive with our wonderful Melbourne Cup.
Horses retire, jockeys retire, officials retire, what happens to worn out old racing writers Max? They just rave on forever.’
QUEENSLAND
SOME OF US IN RACING IN QUEENSLAND DIDN’T REPEAT KINDERGARTEN EIGHT TIMES 
IT’S little wonder that Queensland – especially its racing industry – is the butt of many jokes interstate and one might argue that some of those running the show don’t help its cause.
Comedian Vince Sorrenti dropped this pearler during his routine at the Young Professionals of Racing Luncheon in Sydney last week:
“Queensland has won the (State of) Origin series eight years in a row. The only other thing they do eight years in a row is ... kindergarten.”
Winners can laugh and losers can please themselves Vince and when it comes to racing in Queensland the stakeholders may yet have reason to smile
There has been plenty of interstate chatter about the new integrity measures being introduced in Victoria and whether they would ever happen in NSW or particularly Queensland.
We can continue to blame poor prizemoney for the upset results that continue to occur at the TAB tracks in south-east Queensland but at the end of the day punters – big and small – have no confidence in the product.
That will only change when the perception is removed that stewards are gun shy after losing too many appeals and reluctant to pursue some high profile stables because of their links to key identities.
Has the ‘We Run As One’ campaign sent the wrong message that too many key players in the industry in Queensland are ‘in bed together’? As absurd as that sounds, it is a suggestion that is continually raised.
Whether the two ‘Dickos’ can wave their magical wand come June 30 and all of a sudden the ‘pot of gold’ at the end of the racing rainbow will rescue the stakeholders of Queensland and an industry facing dire financial consequences remains to be seen.
But one suspects the item on this topic last week by Godfrey Smith in the Wednesday Whinge might have been very close to the mark. Here’s a refresher on some of what he wrote:
‘Forget all the rhetoric and the court battle that is looming, Tatts can ill-afford to lose this (new TAB) contract. Their share price would fall through the floor. It wouldn’t look good for the new CEO who is at the front-line of the negotiations.
We keep hearing all this propaganda about the massive job being done by the two Dickos single-handedly negotiating this great deal and of the pot of gold that lies at the end of the racing rainbow for the three codes when it is finalized.
But the fact remains that they are getting plenty of help behind the scenes and when the industry is called on by their mates in the media to do everything but induct them into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame for the great result they have achieved, letsgohorseracing will be telling you about the unsung behind the scenes heroes.
Racing in Queensland is destined for a major financial windfall. It will move them much closer to the southern states in prizemoney distributed.”
My mail is that the amount of money being talked about in the new Product Fee deal will move Queensland within reach of NSW prizemoney-wise (hence the statement by the Minister that we can come from a furlong behind).’
Coincidentally or not, during the week letsgohorseracing got a telephone call – or what might be interpreted as a timely reminder – from a Government lawyer protecting the interests of the behind-the-scenes negotiations in the new Product Fee agreement involving Racing Queensland.
He just wanted to advise us (and any other racing commentator) about speculation on the process and that anyone in a position to know what is happening behind the scenes could be in big trouble for leaking information.
We are told his call stemmed from a meeting of the RQ Board during the week. His suggestion to letsgohorseracing was that before writing anything we should check it out first with RQ.
Yeah, sure, and they are going to brief us on the progress or outcome of confidential negotiations with the TAB and other betting agencies that have made expressions of interest. Pigs might fly and we don’t believe in fairies in the garden.
But what we do believe – even more confidently now – is that our mail is right and that the ‘pot of gold’ is a step closer. Just how the pie will be sliced is a major worry but a few too many key people got a burr in the saddle over what was written for it to be off the target.
As for the confidentiality of the process, well perhaps the Government lawyer should have a chat with the Racing Minister. He was the one that opened this can of worms providing just enough information to speculate on.
Isn’t that what racing is all about – speculation – on and off the track. No Government, lawyers, or little King at RQ who wants to steal all the spotlight for the big job done in negotiating this deal all for himself is going to silence certain sections of the media hellbent on ensuring the stakeholders who was really responsible for what was – or will be – eventually delivered.
THE NARCS HAVE THEIR SAY ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
WHEN IT COMES TO GREYHOUND RACING IN QLD – IS BENJAMIN BUTTON A BABE YET? 
HEADLINED in April’s greyhound’s Chase magazine was “RQ Chairman praises industry growth.”
Let’s put that under the microscope.
A search of a previous GRA 2006 publication of prize money shows a winning payment at Capalaba as $400. This is in 2014 the current prize money for winning.
Recently, this year, the winner of the Bob Vernon Memorial final received $400. In 2012 the same final was worth $1000. Gee is this real growth or is it signs of Benjamin Button.
The master stroke came when the RQ chairman was able to pummel the Labor Government by showing a massive 32 per cent increase in prize money by the current Government to $11 million - their brilliance was startling, absolutely brilliant.
The thoroughbred fraternity must be asking of this miracle loaves and fishes worker: Where is our 32 per cent?
My, my how chests must have burst with pride at this dig at political opponents. One could see campaign medals festooning their chests.
I turn the focus knob closer to gain a clearer picture when, lo and behold, I spy, in a Greyhounds Limited Annual Report 2009 that the greyhound industry received $13, 873,526 as their share of Product and Program Fees.
Let’s allow a couple of million for administration. But this was achieved before Rockhampton and Townsville obtained TAB status which would only boost the earnings. The chairperson has managed to spin shrinkage as growth.
Is Benjamin Buttons a babe yet?
IT’S NOT EASY BEING A PUNTER ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIKE BACKING FAVORITES 
‘THANK you for the opportunity to have a bitch about three things in three states.
As a regular punter what pisses me off is when I hear a trainer say he doesn’t think his horse can win.
I find it happens a lot in Victoria with Mick Price, who seems a terribly nice guy when interviewed, but is often very negative about his chances.
Over the last couple of years I have found that the more negative Mick is, the more often they win. The latest example was his pre-race ‘knock’ on Lankan Rupee in the T J Smith because of the wet track. Not only did it come out and win but it bolted in.
My bitch about Sydney racing is that Gai Waterhouse always declares her horses ‘good things’ for an up-coming feature race and her strike rate is pretty ordinary when it comes to tipping. With Chris Waller he has a terrible record when asked to select from multiple stable chances in a race.
With racing in Brisbane the best thing I can say after years of trying to find a winner there is – steel clear. Favorites have a disgraceful record on a Saturday and if you happen to like a bet on a Sunday the fancied runners at the Sunshine Coast have a bad habit of missing the start – can’t help bad luck I guess.
I am starting to think that something suggested on your website some time ago might be the way to go when it comes to punting. Select the horses you think can win then back them to lose with Betfair.’
THE PRINCE LAMPOONED BY PUNTERS FOR DISRUPTING VICTORIAN RACE COVERAGE 
WITH $9.4 million in prizemoney up for grabs and The Championships putting racing and Sydney to the forefront of the sporting spotlight, who in the hell played the Prince William tribute video halfway through race four in Melbourne?
Please don’t laugh, wrote KEN CALLANDER in his column in the DAILY TELEGRAPH, I don’t like to see the Prince lampooned and blasted by the punters throughout the track, but that’s what happened.
The race was cut on the closed-circuit television with the field ready to swing into the home straight and Prince William appeared on all screens.
Punters had no idea whether they had won or lost.
The exact same thing happened at Rosehill three weeks ago when a Melbourne race was cut short for the national anthem.
Darren Pearce, the Australian Turf Club chief executive, told me after that fiasco it would never happen again. Unfortunately, it has and this time in trumps.
Racing’s hierarchy surely realises people go to the races to punt and by punting they pay for the prizemoney that owners race for week after week. Your customers have to come first.
Surely they could have got it right for The Championships.
THINGS ‘FAR FROM HAPPY IN DIXIELAND’ BETWEEN CHAPPIES OVER-SEEING THE TRACKS 
THIS is the latest offering we have received from one of our spies in the Deagon bunker.
He tells us:
THINGS are far from happy here at Dixieland especially with those responsible for ensuring the tracks are in as good a condition as possible considering the work that some need done of them.
To say feelings are running high between those largely responsible for the conditions of the tracks would be an understatement. They certainly aren’t playing the ‘We Run As One’ game and something has got to give sooner or later.
Stress levels are such that one of the high profile track specialists recently visited hospital with high blood pressure. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree where another is concerned and if he didn’t have the support of ‘you know who’ most reckon he would struggle to survive.
Then there’s the situation within the stewards’ ranks where there is a feeling that RQ should consider re-opening an office out in the central west. It is costing an absolute fortune flying staff to and from some of these meetings and centres. The figures would have to justify the permanent positioning of a steward out there again.
We can also report that the CEO is continuing his baptism of fire but has decided to hitch his wagon to the Chairman rather than anyone else on the Board in the belief that the two Dickos as you call them will deliver on the TAB deal – even though everyone knows they are getting plenty of help inside and outside the building in their battle with Tatts.
BARRY BALDWIN PROVING ‘MOST POPULAR’ LOCAL TRAINER AT LATE MAIL LUNCHEON 
BARRY Baldwin, one of Queensland’s ‘rock stars of racing’ has been the ‘best backed’ trainer at this year’s Late Mail Luncheon® in Brisbane with owners clamoring to get a hold of a seat at one of two dedicated tables.
Baldwin could be described as having flown the barriers, jumping straight to the front and is currently leading the rest of the trainers by six lengths coming around the turn and into the home straight.
And given the Group 1 champion company he is in, it’s been a pretty good effort from the likeable Queenslander who has attracted the support of Rod Peacock from Shelly Hancox Racing and their many owners.
Relative newcomer and city winning trainer, Caitlin Lavin from the Sunshine Coast, is doing the chasing with plenty of tickets on her table snapped up already.
Tony Gollan and Daniel Meagher have engaged in a bumping duel from the time they jumped with Gollan determined not to let Meagher into the clear for a run.
The racing luncheon event of the year has gained enormous momentum since being announced earlier this year with more than 20 of Queensland’s best trainers and their wives joining the celebration on Friday May 9 at Sofitel Brisbane Central.
“I've been really humbled by the positive response we have had from both participants and punters and we're working hard to deliver a day to remember,” said Event Director Mark Scaife.
Some tickets are still available for sale starting from $190 inc GST for trainers and owners with a handful of tables of 10 left. Bookings via Telephone - 0409 473 541 or Email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN THE MAINSTREAM RACING MEDIA
RVL MAINTAINS ITS INTEGRITY UNITS ACTS IN BEST INTERESTS OF ALL IN INDUSTRY 
RACING Victoria has reaffirmed that its integrity unit acts in the best interests of all industry participants, after leading Victorian trainer Peter Moody on Tuesday questioned the tactics of the unit on radio station RSN.
LAURA BANKS reports in THE AGE that Moody took exception to a recent request by RV stewards to hand over the keys to his Caulfield stables, in line with requests made to other trainers to ensure stewards have unhindered access to all stables throughout Victoria.
Stewards said the measure had been introduced to ensure appropriate stable practices were being followed.
Moody said he had resigned from the Australian Trainers’ Association over the matter, because he felt the organisation was not representing the interests of members.
''I’m all for integrity, I’m all for it, but I just find it belittling to suggest that I need to hand over the keys to my stable to the stewards,'' he told RSN.
''I think we do need [ramped up] integrity matters, but to what degree? Where does it start, and end?''
RV's executive general manager of integrity, Dayle Brown, said later on RSN that the initiative was designed to ensure timely access for all stewards' inspections.
''Approximately 20 stables gave our compliance assurance team unlimited access to their facilities in June 2013, so this initiative is simply an extension of the work already being done to protect the integrity of Victorian thoroughbred racing,'' he said.
''The request for unlimited access was put forward following a number of incidents where members of the compliance assurance team were prevented from gaining access to stables, severely restricting them in their duties.
"By requesting unhindered access from all stables, we’re simply ensuring everyone is on a level playing field. We have provided assurances regarding stable entry, and inspections will only be conducted when a representative from the stable is present.''
Brown said RV was at the forefront of integrity management in Australian racing and was committed to protecting Victorian racing by implementing best practice integrity assurance processes.
RV has so far conducted 622 stable inspections during the 2013-14 racing season, up from 339 last season. The significant increase is due to an expansion of the compliance assurance team, with two former Victoria Police detectives joining the unit in May last year.
THE BRC MEDIA RELEASE THAT DIDN’T SEEM TO INTEREST THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA 
THE racing media in general largely ignored this Media Release from the Brisbane Racing Club so we decided to give it a free plug even if mates of people in high places at RQ are suggesting a boycott of our website (without much success if the latest figures are any gauge):
EXPERIENCE the Sport of Kings during the Channel Seven Brisbane Racing Carnival for as little as $20. So, frock up, brush off your suits, polish your shoes, break out your best ties and go online at www.brc.com.au to purchase the hottest ticket in town.
Brisbane Racing Club CEO Dave Whimpey, said there’s at least 42 reasons why the 2014 Channel Seven Brisbane Racing Carnival should be your first choice this winter.
“For five weeks, Brisbane will come alive with 15 celebrations and 42 races that will capture the imagination of the racing public and everyone who enjoys fashion, food and entertainment,” Mr Whimpey said.
This year there will be more than $8.8mn in prize money up for grabs and a selection of some of the best Group 1 racehorses Australasia has on offer.
The Brisbane Racing Club also has a host of hospitality packages, starting at just $65, available for racegoers who want to make their Channel Seven Brisbane Racing Carnival experience a special memory.
“Tickets to the carnivals' most exclusive marquee, the James Boag's Premium Birdcage, which features a viewing deck, feature garden and day beds, are still available,” Mr Whimpey said .
“Where else can you sample food created by award winning ARIA chefs while sipping Bollinger champagne just metres from the racetrack and be seen.”
The Channel Seven Brisbane Racing Carnival begins at Doomben Racecourse with the Group One weight-for-age Bundaberg Distilling Co. BTC Cup on Saturday May 10.
Tickets to all five days of the carnival are available at www.brc.com.au
Event dates:
* May 10, 2014 Bundaberg Distilling Co. BTC Cup Day
* May 17, 2014 Doomben Cup Day
* May 24, 2014 James Boag's Premium Doomben 10,000 Day
* May 31, 2014 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks Day
* June 7, 2014 AAMI Stradbroke Day
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in the above e-mails should not be interpreted as those of JOHN LINGARD, the owner-editor of the letsgohorseracing web-site. That is why he has added an ‘EDITOR’S NOTE’. Every endeavor is made to verify the authenticity of contributors. We welcome any reasonable and constructive responses from parties or individuals.
