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 ‘Look Back at 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 some officials who cannot cope with constructive criticism.
BIT OF A SHOCK FOR THE INDUSTRY ON READING THE ESTIMATES HEARING REPORT 
BRETT W of BRISBANE writes:
‘YOU will appreciate as an owner I have an avid interest in the money which is coming from the new Tatts deal to the racing industry.
When the initial media release came out from Tim Nicholls and Steve Dickson it appeared that we were on track to receive about $28 million per year.
The Tatts ASX announcement hosed that down a bit but I was still left trying to make some assumptions, so I couldn’t be sure.
I am told that Racing Queensland CEO Darren Condon reported at Estimates recently that the money coming to the industry from the new Tatts deal in year one is about $15 million, plus money coming from wagering operators for race fields which would have been in place anyway I assume.
Please tell me my information is wrong and that after all the fanfare and heavy taxation reductions provided by the Government to Tatts that we are getting much more than about $15 million from the new deal with Tatts in year one.
My mail is often wrong and I am hoping that it is way off beam on this occasion as well.’
JUST ANOTHER ‘RAMBLING PERFORMANCE’ BY RACING MINISTER AT ESTIMATES HEARING 
TRACEY H of GOLD COAST sent this email:
‘THERE are two matters I would like to raise in the hope that you might post this article in this week’s column.
Firstly, after having read your Whinge column on numerous occasions now I would like to congratulate you on exposing so much material that we in the industry do not have available to us.
Racing Queensland should consider you hosting their website to keep fresh news appearing.
These days we are basically told by our administrators that good things will happen and because of one thing or another, information can’t be released. I think this is rubbish and what we get from our racing writers in the local rag is what they are told to write.
Anyway, thank you for your attempts to keep them honest as your Whinge column has become a reliable source of useful information for many people.
The second point I would like to address is that of our Racing Minister. When he came along, I, like a lot of other people, were filled with hope. Hope that he would take an interest, hope that he would be a good strong Minister for the industry, hope that he would give racing a real edge.
After a couple of years our hope has run out. His rambling performance at Estimates recently was typical of what we have been exposed to all too often.
His inability to garner support from the industry is, in my opinion, typified by two statements that keep resonating with me.
His first was that the new Toowoomba track was one of his greatest achievements. Even his most ardent supporters know that the new track has failed miserably, is in terrible condition, and it is only pride and another $6-$7 million dollars stopping him from getting it fixed up properly.
He, and his Racing Department, needs to have an independent look at what failed at Toowoomba to make sure more infrastructure funding is not wasted in a similar way. The industry can hardly afford the same type of stuff up at Eagle Farm. I say put pride aside and learn from this mistake at Toowoomba and make sure it doesn’t happen again elsewhere.
His second clanger, and likely the one that he will be most remembered for, is that we in Queensland will be in front of NSW and Victoria. It was truly a classic, and of course absolute rubbish. I am not sure how he fixes this one but maybe he needs to come out and attempt to clarify it somehow. Because, as long as he leaves the unqualified statement sitting there, it will rightfully continue to haunt him and remain as confirmation that he is simply way out of his depth.’
HERE’S WHAT RQ HAS TO SAY – YOU DECIDE IF IT’S ALL SMOKES AND MIRRORS 
EDITOR’S NOTE: Well as you can see from yesterday’s Media Release from RQ they are still convinced the new TAB deal was a ‘block-buster’ – or are they?
Here is the release:
RACING Queensland CEO Darren Condon says the state will continue to run the broadest racing product in the country under the new wagering agreement with Tatts Group.
Mr Condon said the industry had sent a clear message to Racing Queensland that it wanted to maintain a broad racing product and the organisation would continue to deliver it.
“We have listened to our participants and it is critical we find the right balance of support for our regional clubs and our metropolitan and carnival products,” he said.
“There has been a lot of discussion about prize money, and naturally people look towards the southern states for comparisons, but headline prize money is the wrong benchmark to measure the strength of our racing product.
“We have 62 per cent of the population and economy of New South Wales, which gives them access to significantly more funding and wagering turnover. Put simply, to achieve the same headline prize money we would need to run 62 per cent of the number of races.
“Based on the most recent national data, our return to owners was 60 per cent of that of New South Wales prior to the new wagering deal and we will exceed that 62 per cent benchmark this financial year.
“Yet, in the same period, we delivered 736 thoroughbred meetings to their 759 – that is 96 per cent of meetings despite the difference in population.
“To compare vastly different products based on headline prize money presupposes we run the same number of races and have the same population as the southern states and we simply do not.
“We will be improving our headline prize money but that cannot be our sole benchmark because our products are structured completely differently.”
Mr Condon said Queensland’s market was the most decentralised in Australia with 56 per cent of non-TAB thoroughbred meetings run by Racing Queensland.
“We do not shy away from that because that is what the industry has told us it wants,” he said.
“We have to get the balance absolutely right with the new agreement in place and it would be unwise for us to announce initiatives without due diligence and proper consideration.”
Mr Condon said cumulative prize money across the three codes had already increased by 7 per cent since the LNP Government came to power and further increases would soon be announced.
“The way the new deal is structured means the benefit to the industry will continue to increase year on year, to deliver sustainable growth and build a racing product that this state has never seen before,” Mr Condon said.
“There will be prize money increases and we are very close to completing the process, but we want every participant in Queensland to have an opportunity to benefit from this increased revenue.”
Key points:
Cumulative prize money across the three codes has increased by 7 per cent since the LNP Government came to power.
In 2012-13, Queensland ran 291 non-TAB meetings to New South Wales’ 137 and Victoria’s 58.
In 2013-14, RQ contributed $3.16 million above the legislated 5.32% of the net Product and Program fee to country racing.
On the back of the new wagering deal and increases to race information fees, Racing Queensland stands to receive $22 million in additional revenue in 2014-15.
ALBERT W of BRISBANE sent this very informative and interesting email: 
‘NOTHING APPEARS TO BE LIKE WHAT IT USED TO IN THE WORLD OF QLD HORSE RACING’
‘AS a former racing participant I have been interested to watch the news reports of the new product agreement (in Queensland) and the apparent benefits it will have for the future of racing.
I am also a spectator of a racing website where the contributors continually speak of the golden days of racing. There appears to be an increasing view that when it comes to horse racing, nothing appears like what it used to be.
Spectators and participants both at the track and punting are on the way down on what they were a few years ago. The powers that be seek not to examine and improve the quality of racing but mistakenly attempt to address its shortcomings by short attention gimmickry.
Racing Queensland seems to be so obsessed with where it wants to be that it has stopped paying attention to where it is. Instead of focusing on being the best for participants, fans and supporters, it seems it wants to be the best for club racing committee members, non participants, fans and supporters. The end result being that they are staying away and long time fans are joining them. Perhaps we can stop concentrating on what racing administrators think will make racing more popular and concentrate on what will make racing better.
Feckless committee members bemoan the industry's poor administration but, take no responsibility for losing the crowds which used to attend race meetings. The industry has been forced to become a government owned entity to try to re-invent itself without realizing that its new managing owners will naturally use racing as a tool of policy not as a beneficiary to the industry, encouraging a vortex of declining income while preaching a reality of growth fuelled by vapor. Racing can't compete with other sports because it has no national voice, vision or national administration.
Tennis Australia woke up on match point. Racing seems to have slept through the alarm!
Make it better and popularity will follow.
In case this sounds like sour grapes from an old participant for whom everything was better in my day - something is better because it is better.
It is not better just because it is new.’
‘STILL NO CLARIFICATION’ FROM TOOWOOMBA TURF CLUB ON APPOINTMENTS 
JOHN G of NORTH QUEENSLAND sent this email:
‘I wrote to your website last month to express my concern that the Toowoomba Turf Club was advertising for no fewer than eight new positions, so close to the appointment of a new Chief Executive and Operations Manager.
I have just reviewed the Toowoomba Turf Club website to ascertain whether the Committee followed through with these engagements, and I am in disbelief and hope you can set me straight.
The website highlights the new Marketing Officer in Lisa Frappell. As I am unfamiliar with Mr Frappell's family, can you please confirm for me that Lisa is no relation to Bob, and that the name of the Marketing Officer is an unfortunate coincidence, and that Bob hasn't started employing his relatives?
One would hope that the recent issues with the horse in the pool would highlight to Bob that these types of conflicts have the potential to jeopardize the integrity of the Club. For this reason I am hopeful that this is just an unfortunate coincidence.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: I am unaware of any appointments at Toowoomba. Lisa is the daughter-in-law of the chairman but that should not disqualify her from taking up this appointment, if that is the case. She is very talented and qualified for the appointment. And before someone else points it out to me the ‘horse in the pool’ incident did get a clear bill of health for all involved by the inquiry into that unfortunate death
‘WHEN IS RQ GOING TO REMEDY THE DISASTER THAT CONTINUES AT TOOWOOMBA?’ 
JIM B of the DARLING DOWNS writes again seeking some clarification:
‘I have written to you on many occasions with concerns regarding the current state of the Toowoomba track.
I have been monitoring your website and the Racing Queensland website and have not seen any announcements on how Racing Queensland and the Toowoomba Turf Club are proposing to remedy this current disaster.
Again on Saturday we were subjected to just six races on this $7 million disgrace.
I have checked the Bureau of Meteorology and it highlights that the Toowoomba airport has received just 7mm of rain this month.
Can anyone explain why we raced on another Dead 5 on Saturday and why only one of the six races broke 38 seconds for the final 600m?
This track is racing worse and worse each week and I can’t understand why Racing Queensland or the Racing Minister is not acknowledging this and advising stakeholders on how the are going to remedy this serious issue.
For the record the times for the last 600 metres on Saturday were: 38.92; 37.48; 38.33; 39.62; 38.01; 38.01.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: YOU should know by now Jim how things work at RQ. If it is constructive criticism of any kind that they don’t want to hear then any complaint is simply ignored.
DESPERATE NEED FOR FUNDING FOR NEW RACECOURSE IN TOWNSVILLE 
AND this contribution was also forthcoming from JOHN G of NORTH QUEENSLAND:
‘WE are in desperate need of funding for our racecourse in Townsville and I know there has been some talk about us getting some now the industry has got more money plus there was over $100 million for infrastructure.
I had a look at the Racing Queensland website under the infrastructure strategy and there is a lot of very old information there and I couldn’t see Townsville listed to get any.
I know that there were a lot of plans for work to be done out of the $100 million and that changed when Eagle Farm got around $22 million, but I can’t see anywhere on the RQ website what has been funded out of the $100 million and what has been planned to be funded out of the new money.
If anyone at Racing Queensland can explain what has been funded out of the $100 million and what is left and where Townsville fits in that would be appreciated.
A simple table would do the trick and would save me sifting through all the old stuff on their website.
I don’t know why it is so hard to get some detail about things that should be straight forward. The facts might not look pretty but at least we would be informed.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: INTERESTINGLY in the ‘Silks & Saddles’ column this week Terry Butts quotes TTC Chairman Kevin O’Keefe as saying if they don’t have a new track there may be no Townsville Cup next year. Butts also voiced a timely warning to the LNP Government that the Stafford by-election result should be viewed as a timely wake-up call.
DANIEL MEERS WILL BE SADLY MISSED BY THE RACING INDUSTRY IN QUEENSLAND 
M WESTON of CHEVRON ISLAND sent this email:
‘THE departure of Courier-Mail journalist Daniel Meers to be The Daily Telegraph’'s man in Canberra is a big loss to the Queensland racing industry.
He was never afraid to ask the tough questions or throw a bomb when needed.
I'm a member of the Gold Coast Turf Club. He did a lot of good in fighting for the city when he worked at the Gold Coast Bulletin.
He also helped a number of jockeys out.
Let’s hope The Courier-Mail's racing coverage holds those in authority to account in the future.
Racing Queensland needs to have someone to answer to. Daniel did a good job at making sure they answered.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: DANIEL has set his sights on greener pastures than being a turf journalist and good luck to him. The story goes he wasn’t exactly flavor of the month with Racing Queensland or one of his former colleagues who everyone knows has to ‘suck up to survive’.
SUPPORT FOR THE WEBSITES THAT RQ RECKONS NO-ONE IN THE INDUSTRY READS 
PETER JAMES of NORTH QUEENSLAND wrote:
‘I read the article about the future direction of your website when you put it up last week and just wanted to let you know that I look forward every week to Silks and Saddles and the Wednesday Whinge, as do many others up this way.
The feel-good dross churned out and the ‘we run as one crap’ from Deagon can't hold a candle to your content.
I have always found your site timely, accurate and well balanced.
I particularly like your right of reply policy - funny no-one much seems to take up the privilege!
It must be difficult to keep your chin up when the bully boys are circling but without your ability to dish up the FACTS it would be a poorer world for the ‘mushrooms’.
Indeed I find that I only visit your site and Just Racing to satisfy my needs. PLEASE continue to "keep the bastards honest" and good luck with you new endeavors.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: THANKS for the support Peter and despite the drivel that comes from some at RQ and their supporters, websites like ours and justracing are well read. We will continue to do our best to protect the industry stakeholders and the punters who keep racing afloat in Queensland.
THE ARMCHAIR CRITICS
IT SEEMS THAT NOT EVERYONE IS A FAN OF ‘CHAMPION’ TRAINER CHRIS WALLER 
KELLY J of MELBOURNE sent this email:
‘CHRIS Waller, the one-time Kiwi battler who has re-written the history books with his training efforts in Sydney racing, needs to take a step back and smell the roses.
The once-humble Waller, who burst into tears every time he trained a Group 1 winner, now seems to be having too much to say on some contentious issues.
A la Gai Waterhouse, Waller took umbrage at being questioned at a stewards’ inquiry at Randwick last Saturday week and declared ‘I’m not here to explain the riding tactics on my horses.’
You might be training plenty of winners – and getting a very easy run from your mates in the racing media when your favorites get rolled and one of your outsiders wins the race after being backed – but surely you aren’t above being queried by stewards.
Punters have had a gutful of the situation where Sydney racing relies on the Waller stable to prop up its meetings and the continuing situation of multiple stable runners and results that are more than a shade hard to follow.
In his latest outburst Waller has rubbished calls to cap stable sizes or restrict the number of horses one trainer can start in a race.
One could argue such a rule would be a restriction of trade. If that’s the case the time has arrived to bracket stable runners in the betting to ensure that the punters are protected because they certainly aren’t at present.
The way things are going in Sydney racing it won’t be long before the ‘small’ trainers are forced out. They are already struggling to survive as Waller, Waterhouse and Darley continue to dominate.
It’s just not a healthy situation and something that the authorities need to address – if they have the courage to tackle the ‘big three’.
And might I say the comments by Ray Murrihy (Racing NSW Chief Steward) supporting Waller were, in my opinion, far from timely considering the action taken by a senior colleague when he was on leave.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE’S a story on the above issue by CHRISTIAN NICOLUSSI, who is quickly looming as the best read racing writer in the country, for his articles in the SYDNEY TELEGRAPH:
CHRIS Waller has rubbished calls to cap stable sizes or restrict the number of horses one trainer can start in a race.
The divide in the Sydney training ranks continues to grow, with Waller, Gai Waterhouse and Darley gradually increasing their number of winners each season.
The powerhouse trio have already racked up 309 winners this season with still four meetings remaining. Last year that figure was 322, which featured an extra 10 meetings, while there were 291.5 winners in 2012 and 289.5 winners prior to that.
Now there are fears the gap between the “haves’’ and “have nots’’ will only lead to a handful of big stables operating in town in a decade.
To make Sydney a more level playing field, Group 1-winning trainer Jason Coyle has suggested putting a cap on the size of stables, which is the practice in Hong Kong.
Mindful not to pot Waller or Darley’s achievements, Coyle said the salary cap had made the NRL a level playing field, and if something similar was adopted in racing, “you’d see some outstanding horseman and trainers step up’’.
Fellow Group 1 trainers Joe Pride and Clarry Conners suggested putting a limit on the number of starters a trainer has in the one race could be an option. Group 1 races, however, should be excluded.
Waller, who will saddle-up five runners in the one race at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow, didn’t hold back when it came to the issue of capping stable or race numbers.
“If it was a case of me restricting other trainers from having runners in races, I’d enter the debate, but this is absolute nonsense,’’ Waller told The Daily Telegraph.
“It’s not my fault owners want horses with me. It’s not my fault I can keep my horses in work longer than some other trainers.
“A trainer like Gai really supports the breeding industry, she gets a lot of owners into the sport, so why would you penalise her for doing all that work? If Gai wants to have six runners in a Golden Slipper, let her.
“Jason Coyle is too good a trainer to be worrying about petty things like this. What next, will we stop city trainers racing at country tracks?’’
Robbie Waterhouse, the leading rails bookie — and Gai Waterhouse’s husband — backed up Waller, and said punters wanted to back the best trainers and horses.
“I think it would be the most awful thing for racing to limit the stable sizes,’’ said Waterhouse. “Big (stable) numbers in the one race don’t stifle betting, because people want to back who they want to back.’’
Coyle was being interviewed by The Daily Telegraph for a big feature during the week, and when asked about the Sydney scene, he floated the idea of stable caps.
Conners conceded the big stables were only getting stronger, and putting a cap on the number of starters had “merit’’.
Darley was this week rebranded Godolphin, the parent company run by Sheikh Mohammed, with the move designed to have an even greater presence Down Under.
‘DOES ANYONE OUTSIDE SYDNEY CARE IF THE ‘PUMPER’ HANGS UP HIS SADDLE?’
RALPH K of MELBOURNE joined the cynics have their say:
‘DOES anyone outside of Sydney racing really care whether ‘Pumper’ Cassidy returns to race riding or not?
Racing NSW have been prepared to turn their back for too long on the downsides of his career and their use of Cassidy to promote carnivals on the basis of his achievements is, in the opinion of many outside the state, quite questionable.
Cassidy was right when he tweeted: ‘I am not sure when I will be back. Racing will go on with or without me.’ HE HAS NEVER SPOKEN a truer word.
Here’s my message from a Melbourne punter who won’t back a horse that you ride ‘Pumper’: Do us all a favour and hang up your saddle. We won’t miss you one bit.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ouch! That was a bit rough Ralph. I assume you are talking through your pocket. In any case here’s the column item by CHRISTIAN NICOLUSSI from the DAILY TELEGRAPH that prompted the above attack:
JIMMY Cassidy caused a stir this week when he hinted he might not return to racing.
The Pumper has been enjoying a well-earned break, and on Sunday night posted on his Facebook page: ``I’m not sure when I will be back as racing will go on with or without me’’.
Racing Confidential contacted Cassidy the next day, worried we’d seen the last of the champion rider.
While he still wasn’t sure of a return date, Cassidy said he would definitely be back for the spring.
``I have to go up to Broome in early August, I’m a guest speaker at their Carbine Club lunch, and then I’ll make a decision after that. But I’m definitely coming back,’’ Cassidy said.
PERHAPS THERE WERE TOO MANY OTHER SEEDS TO PLAN BY THE SPIN DOCTORS 
NOEL K of BRISBANE writes:
‘DID you notice how there was very little publicity in the mainstream racing media in Queensland about the success or otherwise of the recent Winter Carnival?
Might I suggest that is because it was an absolute flop – certainly a disappointment when compared to some of the better carnivals of recent years?
It wouldn’t matter how much prizemoney Queensland was boosted by or what incentives they offered to get the better horses here, it is struggling to compete with the bigger interstate carnivals and feature overseas meetings.
In the opinion of many the carnival in Queensland goes for too long. A good way of shortening and making it more popular would be to run a couple of Super Saturdays and move meetings like Ipswich, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast to feature Sundays.’
NOW HERE’S A NEW SLANT ON WHERE THAT TURNOVER BOOST CAME FROM IN TOOWOOMBA 
TONY J of TOOWOOMBA writes:
‘SOME of these officials in racing never cease to amaze me.
The claims by officials of the Toowoomba Turf Club, Racing Queensland and even the Racing Minister about turnover on the new track appear to have been ‘much ado about nothing.’
Revelations in the southern media (that’s the one south of the border that doesn’t just write propaganda to suit its mates at RQ) have shown that the suggestions punters were jumping out of trees to bet on Toowoomba meeting was more than a shade misleading.
It was more the result of the betting activities of one specific big punter, who has been called ‘the Jeweller’ and this guy has been linked in recent stories in the Sydney media to an alleged gold bullion tax scam.
Illness and a run of outs has seen ‘the Jeweller’ disappear off the Downs racing scene in recent times and finally the local rag has seen fit to run a story clarifying the situation concerning that boost in betting confidence on the new Clifford Park track.
But the quotes of the week that have many of us who have been around racing in Toowoomba for a long time shaking our heads have come from club president Bob Frappell.
Bob has told the Chronicle in Toowoomba that ‘the Jeweller’ – better known as Robert Bourke – was ‘a much-loved patron of Clifford Park and was sorely missed.’
“He’s a nice, personable bloke and we’re sorry he’s not there at the moment,” Frappell was quoted as saying. “He came to the club and punted and we were happy to increase our turnover. Where the money came from I don’t know. But he doesn’t owe any money to the Turf Club.”
And the minute we started questioning a few things – that have since been raised in the interstate newspapers – Frappell’s good mate and protector on the local scene was abusing and threatening to anyone who dared to criticize the Chairman.
What Frappell should have been doing – along with his good mate from RQ – is apologizing to the industry for misleading them about how popular the new track had become betting wise when as it turns out the action at the station was a one-hit punting wonder.
EDITOR’S NOTE: FOR the record here is a story written by CHRIS CALCINO in THE CHRONICLE, headlined THE JEWELLER, THE GOLD AND TOOWOOMBA BOOKIES:
LUCK has dried up for the man they called "the Jeweller", a Toowoomba racing punter linked to a $65 million gold bullion tax scam.
Robert Bourke was a trader in precious metals and a well-known gambler known to drop more than $100,000 in a single sitting at Clifford Park Racecourse.
The Toowoomba Turf Club loved having him there; his big spending substantially increasing turnover.
He disappeared from the Toowoomba racing scene a few months ago and is now all-but bankrupt, following an Australian Tax Office investigation into one of the country's biggest tax fraud cases on record.
Court documents in two civil actions against Bourke and other parties have shed light on the case.
In a sworn affidavit to the Supreme Court, Bourke said he was owed more than $11million by gold trading company M.A.K. Precious Metals, run by Melbourne-based businessman Michael Kukulka.
A civil claim to that effect has been dismissed on a technicality, but Bourke is making further attempts to recover the alleged debt.
Bourke claimed to be a "middle man" in a network of gold traders involving regular trades up to hundreds of kilograms of gold each week.
He said he had not been paid for millions of dollars worth of gold, despite its delivery.
According to his affadavit, he provided pure gold bullion which unbeknownst to him was later written off as scrap gold by recipients further up the line.
The action would allow GST to be claimed on the metal - with pure gold bullion, GST is not applicable.
The wheels fell off when the authorities launched 14 separate raids in New South Wales over evidence of a $65million tax con.
Bourke said he had received death threats against himself and his family, including his three children.
He claimed to have taped two anonymous phone calls using a hand-held recording device, transcripts of which were provided to the court.
"I have been asked to pass on a message as a reminder to come up with a paper trail if you want to see any of your money - do you understand what I'm talking about?" one transcript read.
"Don't worry about any of the gold, it is gone, it is long gone, no one has it and I want you to consider your three children and understand precisely what I am talking about."
Bourke is suffering terminal cancer and is believed to be seeking experimental treatment.
He has been closely involved with Toowoomba horse trainer Ben Currie, who was overseas and unable to be contacted.
Sources confirmed Bourke still had substantial debts to book keepers in Toowoomba though some efforts had been made to pay them off.
Toowoomba Turf Club chairman Bob Frappell said Bourke was a much-loved patron of Clifford Park and was sorely missed.
"He's a nice, personable bloke and we're sorry he's not there at the moment," Mr Frappell said.
"He came to the club and punted and we were happy to increase our turnover. Where the money came from I don't know. But he doesn't owe any money to the Turf Club."
Authorities are still working to recover the missing $65million.
STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED IN THE MAINSTREAM RACING MEDIA
BIG OZ RACES TO BE BROADCASTER INTO NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES 
SOME of Australia's most important races, including the Melbourne and Caulfield cups, could be broadcast into non-English-speaking countries with racecallers from those countries describing the events of this year's spring carnival in their native tongues.
PATRICK BARTLEY reports for THE AGE that the move by Racing Victoria is modeled on the AFL's multicultural round.
Racing Victoria officials confirmed on Friday they were investigating the possibility of races such as the Melbourne Cup being broadcast in several different languages, in keeping with the AFL's concept of having its grand final described by a number of people from non-English-speaking countries.
"If showcasing our biggest races in other languages helps engage in new fans within the Victorian community then, as an industry, we should be open to exploring that part of our future strategies," RVL chief executive Bernard Saundry said.
''We acknowledge the good work the AFL has done in expanding their multicultural footprint in the community and there are lessons in their success for all major sports, including thoroughbred racing.
"Thoroughbred racing is a truly international sport with a fast-growing profile in Asia and this naturally presents opportunities for diversity across all sectors of the sport here in Australia.
''We have a diverse workforce in Victoria, with an increasing Irish, English and European representation, and we are keen to build upon the diversity through our workforce development programs."
With Racing Victoria determined to internationalise its spring carnival, the AFL concept is an appealing one.
"The AFL must be complimented,'' Saundry said. ''Their multicultural weekend of football plus their other excellent moves in this area have been terrific. However the AFL are trying to get into these new markets, but horse racing is already in them and now we've got to cross-pollinate the whole program."
It is understood that talks to have non-English-speaking racecallers at Flemington at the spring have progressed well. The callers would either be based trackside or at the studios of Channel 7, the spring carnival broadcaster.
"Racing has many great stories to tell and together with the clubs we need to ensure that we are providing for opportunities from any culture to enjoy the thrill of thoroughbred racing,'' Saundry said.
"As a short-term example, Racing Victoria and the clubs are currently building a new digital platform to showcase the industry, one that specifically has the capability to be multilingual, as it expands in the future."
Since Vintage Crop's victory in 1993, the Melbourne Cup and now other races, such as the Caulfield Cup, have become truly international and RVL recognises the benefit of having its feature races broadcast to non-English-speaking countries, and be able to follow it in their native tongue.
HORSES TESTING POSITIVE TO MORPHINE IN THE UK 
A huge story involving horses testing positive to morphine is unfolding in the UK.
NEALE DONNELLEY reports for the RACING NETWORK and TVN that the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) yesterday reported it had five positive tests to morphine from horses “under the care of various trainers”, but it fell short of naming those trainers.
The BHA has also not ruled out the possibility the morphine positives are linked to feed contamination, or, that there will be more positive results to come.
A BHA statement said:
"The British Horseracing Authority has been notified by LGC analytical laboratory that a number of post-race samples obtained from recent race meetings have been found, upon analysis of the 'A' samples, to have present in them morphine, a prohibited substance on raceday under the rules.
"BHA have received certificates of analysis to this effect. In total five horses under the care of various trainers have so far been reported to show the presence of morphine in their ‘A' samples.
"BHA will not make public any information regarding the identity of the horses, trainers or owners, the races they competed in or the dates on which the samples were taken until all necessary processes - including counter analysis of respective ‘B' samples if requested by those connected with any of the horses, and our own investigations - are completed.
"BHA are investigating whether - owing to the cluster of the cases and the substance involved - there may be any link between the cases and, if so, what that link might be.
"Owing to the shared characteristics of these cases it is not possible to rule out the reporting of further positive detections from post-race samples obtained in recent weeks.
"BHA have been in communication with the National Trainers Federation (NTF) and trainers of the horses in question on this matter.
"Once all processes have been completed the cases will be put before a disciplinary panel who will decide what action, if any, should be taken.
"This may include the disqualification of the horses in question from the relevant races."
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.
