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.
LETSGOHORSERACING’S TAKE ON THE ‘LEAKING’ OF ‘BIGGEST STORY OF DECADE’ 
WHEN it comes to racing in Queensland, the media – like everything else – is far from a level playing field.
The most awaited and important announcement arguably of the decade was to be made on Monday concerning the new prizemoney schedule in the wake of the landmark deal done by RQ with Tatts.
One would have assumed that in fairness to all sections of the media the release would have been made simultaneously. Despite guarantees from RQ that this would be the case, it was leaked to News Limited a day earlier. Where the leak came from remains a mystery – and RQ insists that it wasn’t from them.
If you are to believe the industry grapevine it was stage-managed for ‘Nostradamus’ by his former favorite ‘spin doctor’ down on the Farm. Take nothing from Brad Davidson of the Gold Coast Bulletin. It was a good ‘scoop’ and full marks to him.
From the point of view of this website we couldn’t care less how many ‘exclusives’ are ‘leaked’. What price positive publicity in this day and age?
We did however have better things to do than to attend the Monday briefing from ‘Nostradamus’ (he was the one that predicted months ago the $65,000 metropolitan prizemoney figure).
We prefer to get an independent assessment of the situation rather than listen to or read political and administrative propaganda.
One of those who was far from impressed by the treatment he received on the prizemoney announcement was my colleague Terry Butts from the North Queensland Register who on Sunday made RQ CEO Darren Condon aware of the deadline dilemma he was facing with his ‘Silks & Saddles’ column on Monday.
All he wanted was some information on how the extra prizemoney would affect clubs in the country and especially the north of the state, like Townsville. His column would not have appeared in any publication – including this website – until after the Monday announcement had been made.
Mr Condon denied his request and told Terry that the earliest he could get the information was 2pm Monday along with everyone else. “I then said I hope I don’t read it in tomorrow’s (Monday’s) Courier-Mail,” Butts told the CEO. “Guaranteed not,” was the reply.
Terry was far from happy and contacted Mr Condon first thing Monday after it appeared in The Courier-Mail but was again refused the information he required before the 2pm deadline. Butts told me he genuinely believed Mr Condon when he told him he was ‘gutted by what had happened’.
“Good luck to the Gold Coast Bulletin guy who got the story that was run in The Courier-Mail. It’s his job. But it’s not bloody fair,” Butts said.
CALLS FOR RQ O PROVIDE THE FIGURES THAT WEREN’T CONTAINED IN THE PROPOGANDA 
THERE was plenty of good news in the prizemoney announcement but it seems that not everyone is happy with the distribution deal and that is to be expected.
There are cries of favoritism and politicians in the north of the state are being called on to lodge protests with the Racing Minister and the LNP Government.
Many of the emails that we received contained the rider that most contributors want more information which RQ has promised but say they are still in the process of formulating a release containing the requested figures.
Letsgohorseracing was asked by readers and has requested the following information which was not contained in any of the media releases:
(1) WHAT will the total amount of prizemoney be that is distributed for the first year and how much will each code receive?
(2) WHAT was the total amount of prizemoney distributed for the previous year (before the stakes boost came into operation) and how much did each code receive?
(3) HOW much will each of the TAB gallops clubs receive more (in dollar value) per year compared to what they are currently racing for per year? We have been asked to run the comparisons of say what the Sunshine Coast raced for before and what they will race for in future along with the other TAB clubs.
(4) HOW many gallops meetings in total will be shown on SKY 2 (the reasons for this) and will these clubs race for extra money?
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Budget Estimates Hearing was told that the average annual distribution over the 30 years of the TAB deal would be $28.3 million but in the first year this would be $22.5 million - $15.5mn wagering and $7 million from race information fees. We have been told that not all of the $22.5 has been allocated at this stage. Feature races and carnival prizemoney increases were not included in Monday’s announcement.
‘RACING QUEENSLAND NEEDS A NAME CHANGE TO RACING BRISBANE’ 
THIS email from an INDUSRY LEADER in country Queensland sums up the feeling of many disgruntled stakeholders:
‘THE new prize money allocation leaves a lot to be desired.
Why have Rockhampton and Townsville been rated below Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba?
Mackay and Cairns rated lower still.
Racing Queensland needs a name change to Racing Brisbane, because that appears to be all they are worried about.
These new levels could be the beginning of the end for country racing.
Just look at the situation from an owners’ point of view. If you’re buying a horse, why not race it where you can get the best return?
Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns will do it tough. The prize money levels are lower, yet our expenses are higher. The cost of freight just to name one item puts us at a disadvantage.’
HOW MUCH OF THE $28 MILLION ALLOCATION HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED? 
AS an official of a race club in Queensland I ask that my identity be with-held for obvious reasons:
‘THE big question that needs to be answered by Racing Queensland – and perhaps your website can help here – is how much of the $28 million allocation from the TAB deal has been distributed in the first year?
Not surprisingly none of the Media Releases or statements from those at the top addressed this issue. Could it possibly be true that the stories doing the rounds are correct that only a little over half of that figure has actually been allocated?
If that isn’t the case would it be possible for RQ to tell us how much has and to break it down into the three codes along with the comparative figures for the TAB gallops tracks of what these clubs received last year to what they will get in the current year?
There is also the matter of the new distribution not kicking in until October and what happens to the millions saved in the interim. Does RQ just throw that into their piggy bank or will it be rightfully distributed to the industry?
Considering the new catch cry for TAB distribution is for clubs to ‘earn their keep’, one might suggest that the odds have been stacked in favor of some achieving the required goal while others will be battling with their arms tied behind their backs.
The massive prizemoney increases for the Brisbane Racing Club aside, it would appear that Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba have received specialized treatment. The latter comes as no surprise knowing the politics and how badly they are travelling at present.
They made plenty of noise about how well greyhound racing has fared. All that is happening there is that code is catching up on what it was deprived at the expense of harness racing for too long.
Little wonder Kevin Seymour fled the harness scene when you see the measly pickings that code received but to most who follow racing closely the red hots have had it too good for too long.
The greyhounds were overdue for a boost and whether it occurred because of the support of certain heavies for the man at the top, the industry supports this move. If harness racing is forced to meet certain levels to secure future funding, God help it because King Kevin no longer can.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: I am assured by RQ that any money made in interest from the distribution not beginning until October will be put back into the industry.
MINISTER AND RQ FACING MAJOR POLITICIAL BACKLASH FROM THE NORTH 
JACK K of TOWNSVILLE sent this email:
‘RQ head honcho Kevin Dixon labeled the prizemoney increase precipitated by the new TAB wagering agreement as a ‘monumental occasion’. Take it from me the gallops industry in North Queensland regards it as an insult.
Dixon and his great supporter, the Racing Minister (Steve Dickson) now face a political storm of monumental proportions with country clubs calling on local members of Parliament to lodge the strongest of protests on their behalf. It’s just another headache for Premier Campbell Newman whose chances of holding his seat are already sinking into the quick sand.
Feelings are running high from Rockhampton to Mackay and Townsville and Cairns, not to mention some bush clubs. They are reeling at the crumbs their clubs will receive from the so-called pot of gold compared to the bonanza handouts in the metropolitan area where the big winners were Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.
Townsville officials are seething at the perceived preferential treatment received by Toowoomba especially as many of their meetings have been relegated to the poison chalice of coverage on Sky 2.
Toowoomba is the basket case of racing in Queensland because of the failure of its new track but it seems RQ and the Government are determined to provide it with a safety net of endless meetings on Sky 1, healthy prizemoney increases and all the help it needs to ensure the critics are silenced.
Meanwhile, clubs like Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay and Cairns will be left to wither on the vine and do their best. Some highly respected officials are so peeved by the outcome that they are talking about walking away from the industry.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: EXCERPTS from this story by RHYS O’NEILL in the CAIRNS POST certainly clouds suggestions by the Racing Minister and the All Codes Board chairman that the distribution announcement has been universally welcomed.
PREMIERSHIP winning (Cairns) trainer Trevor Rowe has slammed Racing Queensland’s prizemoney boost as an ‘insult’, claiming it’s another clear indication of the Brisbane-centric focus.
Rowe, who recently claimed both the Far North and Cairns trainer premierships, said the increase is not nearly enough and is yet another slap in the face to the regional industry.
“To be quite honest I’m extremely disappointed,” he said. “We always welcome any increase but it seems that country areas are again on the backburner. I think a $1000 increase is an insult.
“In Southeast Queensland their prizemoney goes up $15,000 for one race and ours goes up $5000 for an entire five-race meet.
“I thought with all the hype we had with the new wagering agreement that we might go up to match Townsville with $10,000. And Townsville might jump to about $20,000.
“Once you take out the starter’s fee and other things it’s just small change that we’ll be getting. I am just gobsmacked.”
Rowe claims the inflated increases down south – which pulls Queensland’s prizemoney closer into line with NSW – pointed to RQ’s priorities. “The Minister for Racing came up here last month and promised changes. I told him, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’. It’s not just Cairns – it’s country racing that’s being neglected.
“The most important people are the owners and the ones up here don’t deserve any less than the ones living in Brisbane. The people in the Southeast might think I’m a whingeing country bumpkin but they can say whatever they like – the truth hurts. The committee has worked hard up here and they’re getting nothing for it.”
Cairns Jockey Club CEO Graham Thornton said “any increase is a good increase” but admitted he would have liked more.
“The real feedback is going to come from the stakeholders like the owners. If that’s all that’s on the table for us then we will have to work harder to build our case for things like sponsors.”
WHAT HAPPENS TO REVENUE EARNED BY RQ FROM FIRST THREE MONTHS? 
JIM M of GOLD COAST asks:
‘CAN someone tell me what is happening with the revenue earned by Racing Queensland between 1 July and the date for implementation of the new prizemoney schedule – 1 October 2014?
There are rumblings in the industry that Racing Queensland had their distribution strategy sorted since the deal was announced, but that they held the announcement back, and then the subsequent implementation, with a view to putting money directly into their coffers.
If what they have been spruiking is right three months worth of the $28 million additional funding adds up to $7 million. What a healthy nest egg for Racing Queensland.
Can you please ask Racing Queensland what is happening with this revenue, and why it isn’t being distributed to stakeholders?’
WHY WAS TOOWOOMBA SEGREGATED FROM REMAINDER OF PROVINCIAL TAB VENUES? 
AN ex-racing enthusiast from TOOWOOMBA, JIM M, writes:
‘CAN someone explain to industry stakeholders why Toowoomba has been segregated from the remainder of the Provincial TAB venues in South-East Queensland in the recently released prizemoney distribution?
I have been associated with the Toowoomba Turf Club for a long period and I recall the days when Allen Volz was in charge of the Club, and all Clubs had discretion as to the amount of Club funds allocated to prizemoney.
Messrs Dixon and Condon (All Codes Chairman and RQ CEO) would do well to research these days as it will highlight that the Toowoomba Turf Club led the way from the Provincial Clubs in returns to owners from discretionary funds.
It appears to me that we have been lumbered with a lemon of a track by Racing Queensland, which has led to poor field sizes and wagering returns, which then in turn has played against us in the amount of prizemoney we are allocated.
Something needs to be done about this injustice! Racing Queensland decided the track we were given and now we are paying the penalty.
Firstly, someone from the Toowoomba Turf Club must contact Government and get the prizemoney allocation overturned and get Toowoomba back on the same footing as Ipswich, Caloundra and the Gold Coast.
Secondly, someone from the Toowoomba Turf Club must contact Government and get Racing Queensland to fix the debacle that is the Strathayr track in Toowoomba.
There is no way an 18m wide grass track can sustain weekly racing in a climate such as Toowoomba. Should nothing be done to correct the inequity with prizemoney and the track debacle, Toowoomba will die a slow death.
I know the Chairman of the Toowoomba Turf Club is tight with the Chairman of the All Codes Board who just helped out the Breeders, of which the TTC Chairmen is a member, but he needs to step up to the plate on this one and get this sorted out as a matter of urgency, or more stakeholders will be heading down the range and not returning.’
PUZZLED WHY MACKAY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SINGLED OUT FOR BAD TREATMENT 
JOHN G of NORTH QUEENSLAND writes:
‘ALTHOUGH I congratulate Racing Queensland on the new prizemoney increases, I cannot for the life of me understand the decision to pay more prizemoney in Rockhampton and Townsville to that offered in Mackay.
Mackay is a central link between the northern TAB Clubs and it defies logic why Racing Queensland would want to differentiate between these Clubs.
The trainers in Mackay are rightfully upset and this can only further reduce the number of trainers travelling from Rockhampton and Townsville to Mackay meetings.
I mean the key issue is that trainers based in Mackay have to travel due to the number of meetings we are allocated, but yet there is now a reduced incentive for the Rockhampton and Townsville trainers to support our meetings.
Thanks for the help Racing Queensland. It seems to me that after our recent race date reduction and now this decision, that the powers that be are hell bent of seeing the demise of racing in Mackay.
I am also concerned that Racing Queensland has removed five Tuesday dates from Mackay and replaced these with five Sky 2 meetings. This will represent a reduction in prizemoney on these meetings of $4,000. That’s right, these meetings reduce in prizemoney, nothing mentioned about this in the media release. Had these meetings been maintained as Tuesday Sky 1 dates we would have been $14,000 better off per meeting!
From what I am led to believe Kevin Dixon has a very close relationship from his breeding days with the Chairman of the Townsville Turf Club and the Rockhampton Jockey Club, both of whom I understand were big supporters of his stud.
Let’s hope we don’t see an increase in dates in Townsville and Rockhampton following the demise of racing in Mackay?
I also recall the Mackay Turf Club having close ties to the Bentley regime, whilst the Deputy Opposition Leader hails from this area. I hope this is not being held against the stakeholders residing in Mackay, although nothing surprises me with the types of retribution being handed out these days.’
NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY WITH THE NEW QTIS SCHEME ANNOUNCED BY RQ 
FROM a HIGH PROFILE industry official in the country:
‘THE new QTIS Scheme announced by RQ is disappointing.
A letter distributed by RQ CEO Darren Condon says it starts in August 2015. So that means RQ receives 12 months of income from the TAB before they have to increase the benefits for QTIS.
Earlier this year RQ was vocally promoting the new QTIS Scheme and encouraging buyers to buy yearling at this year’s sale. Now we find the increase benefit only starts for yearlings bought in 2015.
How disappointing is that – and what about the people who bought yearlings this year on the promise things were getting better?
Some of the improvements to the QTIS Scheme are good, but they should have started the improvements this year.
It was also of concern that the announcement of the new prize money levels was delayed for so long. It makes one wonder about this great 30-year deal.
The new deal should have been out there for scrutiny first to let the industry know the details before any announcement was made.’
WINNING POST ON A 'LOSER' REFUSING TO ACCEPT AD CRITICISING CORPORATE BOOKIES 
BARNIE J of MELBOURNE writes:
‘WHY is it that the minute the racing industry gets involved in the ownership or major advertising contracts with sections of the media you can close up shop on any chance of objectivity in the coverage?
The latest example involves the now racing industry-owned publication, Winning Post, which reportedly refused advertising space to a racehorse trainer who was prepared to pay to express his views on corporate bookmakers.
Bendigo-based trainer Paul Banks told The Age that he first attempted to have his thoughts on corporate bookmakers and their impact on Australian racing published in a letters-to-the-editor column in the Winning Post, but the copy that appeared was so changed from the original version that he decided to book a page advertisement (in last week’s edition).
Banks told Patrick Bartley of Melbourne’s The Age newspaper:
“I'm so upset about what the corporate bookmakers are doing to our game and our business. I don't think some trainers have the time to look closely at the economic problems they bring to our industry and I want to put our case.
“When my editorial was slashed I thought I won’t be pushed aside and contacted the paper and they agreed to give me the back cover for a page ad. I agreed to pay $1900 but soon after my copy arrived at Winning Post it was knocked back.”
How rich is it when an industry stakeholder is denied freedom of expression while Winning Post publishes up to 20 advertisements funded by corporate bookies through its newspaper. And to tone down what he had to say about these parasites in a Letter to the Editor is just plain immoral. Whatever happened to freedom of the press?
The Age story also suggested that there had been complaints from within the industry that a staff member of the publication has been writing positive stories about the Melbourne Racing Club and its chairman Mike Symons without placing a disclaimer that Symons is on the board of Winning Post.
It comes as no surprise that Winning Post and TVN general manager, Stephen Dole, did not return calls to The Age which would have given him the opportunity to explain this stance. It’s hard to defend the indefensible.
Might I suggest that to be fair this sort of media behaviour isn’t restricted to Winning Post? You only have to look at the attitude of the major newspapers to criticising the TABs throughout the country who fund their massive form guides.
And what about the racing radio stations who see their role as simply promoting the industry and its officials whether there needs to be constructive criticism or not?
I am from Queensland originally and the least said about the attitude of The Courier-Mail and Radio 4TAB the better. The Tattersall’s deal with Racing Queensland has got nothing more than positive coverage despite the fact that the ‘independent experts’ rate it a ‘dud deal’.
And under the guise of ‘industry information’ we have a ‘propaganda slot’ on a regular basis with the RQ Chairman on the radio station where those doing the interviewing are, in the opinion of most in the industry, not prepared to ask the tough questions.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS is a favourite hobby horse of mine but rather than rave on all I will say is that the ‘suck up and survive’ mentality of the mainstream racing media is why websites like justracing and letsgohorseracing continue to attract ‘hits’ and ‘contributors’ in record numbers.
‘TIME WE SHUNTED BREEDERS AND GOT SOMEONE LIKE JEFF KENNETT TO RUN THE ARB’ 
ALBERT W of BRISBANE writes:
‘WOW, what a breath of fresh air former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett is. Racing needs someone with his thought process running the show instead some of the weak-kneed individuals currently at the helm of leading industry bodies like the ARB.
Here are just a few examples from a controversial speech Mr Kennett made at a Racing Victoria Industry Day that made a lot of sense.
(1) Australian racing needs a national independent racing board for the future prosperity of the industry. “I would like to see people who are genuinely independent and not have a background in racing,” he said. “You need a small, independent board that can bring best practices together to understand that this industry is just not about racing, but it is about setting standard. It’s about ensuring people are fairly treated.”
(2) Corporate bookmakers are a ‘cancer in our society’. Mr Kennett believes if corporate bookmakers are allowed to exercise their will as they currently do, the racing industry would not exist in five years. “We will end up like the UK or the US where we have a spring carnival and everything else will drop away. Their one objective is to destroy the major contributor of revenue to RVL (the TAB). And, they will do it if they’re allowed to run unfettered as they are at the moment. They are a cancer in our society. They are a cancer, they are destroying your industry and they will destroy most sports.”
(3) The racing industry as it is currently structured is unsustainable beyond seven years. “I have come to the conclusion if the industry continues as it is currently structured it is unsustainable beyond five, six, seven years.” Mr Kennett said costs were rising much faster than revenue, which would place a lot more stress on the industry as a whole. “It’s important that the industry comes together and makes a decision quickly. If you don’t do it, the industry in five to seven years will have shrunk dramatically.”
(4) AND he took aim at Racing Victoria’s handling of the Damien Oliver betting scandal admitting he was ‘bewildered at the penalty meted out’. “How in God’s name did this organisation allow Damien Oliver to get off with an eight month suspension is beyond me. If he had been in Hong Kong he probably would have been jailed. He certainly would not have been allowed to stand down for eight weeks (sic months) during the non racing season in order to come back for the base of the carnival.” Kennett noted that Oliver was saluted at (Sunday) night’s Scobie Breasley Medal count where he won a seventh medal. “Unbelievable. How you allow it to happen I have no bloody idea?”
Will what Jeff Kennett had to say fall on deaf ears with the majority of officialdom? Of course it will! Can you imagine those ‘happy breeders’ running racing at the ARB wanting to see that body become independent or major clubs stop using top jockeys like Damien Oliver and Jim Cassidy whose careers are dotted with controversy from promoting their carnivals? Not likely.
That is why nothing will ever change and the situation with the corporate bookies has been allowed to reach the stage it has where they are threatening the very future of racing in this country.
Yes, racing desperately needs someone with the thought process of Jeff Kennett calling the shots in Australia but the chances of that happening are one million to one.
DOOMBEN NEEDS TO BE RIGHT TO STEP UP TO PLATE IN ABSENCE OF EAGLE FARM
BRETT W of BRISBANE sent this email:
‘IT was with concern that I read an article in The Courier Mail on Thursday August 14 under the hand of scribe, Nathan Exelby.
The article reported on a ‘spectacular effort’ by rider Tegan Harrison to stay in the saddle after the start of a race from the 1000m at the Doomben racecourse.
My concern is not driven by Tegan Harrison’s effort to stay in the saddle, but by comments attributed to the Chief Steward later in the article.
The 1000m start is described as, ‘a bad start’ and given the context of the article it can only mean it is dangerous, or at least more dangerous than other starts.
The article then goes on to say that a submission ‘may’ be made to the Racing Queensland programmers.
A problem with Eagle Farm being out of action is also referred to in the article.
You see the real issue here is the complete breakdown of the separation of powers and a clouding of authority. If the Chief Steward and his panel are of the view that a start is unsafe, I suggest their clear responsibility is to report that to the appropriate Board and not have a chat with programmers about it.
The integrity function and the responsibilities in respect to safety that sit squarely within that function should not be blurred and influenced by imperatives of a commercial nature.
Simply because a start was deemed safe many years ago does not mean that today, with the heightened safety standards employed by the industry, the same start is considered safe by current standards.
If the view is that a start is unsafe, then make the call as you see it to the appropriate Board. Do not leave it until it is too late.
A Chief Steward and his panel have considerable responsibilities and one of those is to report on matters as they see them.
Unfortunately, in the absence of the appropriate Board dealing with this issue of safety, the Government will have to step in and fix it.
When the Government is sorting this one out for Racing Queensland it might also take the time to have a look at other areas that are being compromised – that is if it has any interest and the ability to do so.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: YOU make some valid points Brett but the likelihood of Wade Birch rocking the boat with those who appointed him Chief of Everything Integrity is a million to one. The safety issue is indeed even more concerning when you consider the amount of racing that Doomben is set to endure during Eagle Farm’s redevelopment.
DOES THE P B LAWRENCE DESERVE GROUP STATUS IN CURRENT PROGRAMMING? 
GARY J of MELBOURNE writes:
‘THE P B Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield has lost its identity the way the spring program is structured now. The Memsie will be a far better guide.
Last Saturday’s renewal was a classic example. The result posed more questions than answers.
You would hardly want to be putting too much faith in the spring prospects of Puissance De Lune and Ladari on the basis of their disappointing efforts.
Star Rolling had never placed let alone won at three previous first-up appearances and had to overcome a wide alley. Runner-up Spillway had never won under 2000m let alone at 1400m yet he went within a short half head of victory.
From the time Puissance De Lune was posted three wide at his first run from a long spell he was going to be in trouble. But Ladari just isn’t suited to weight-for-age racing and might be better suited in a handicap.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: PUISSANCE DE LUNE was forced to race three wide and LADARI was never going to be at his best for the comeback run according to trainer Peter Moody, so I wouldn’t be sacking either so quickly. Having said that SPILLWAY carried a lot of condition and he is undoubtedly the horse to follow from a Cup viewpoint. The run of FORETELLER was also very encouraging.
BOUQUETS TO GRANT MORGAN FOR SPEAKING OUT ABOUT HANDICAPPING 
ALEX K of BRISBANE writes:
‘I haven’t contributed to the Wednesday Whinge before but would like to congratulate Grant Morgan from the Racehorse Owners’ Association for having the courage to speak out about the handicapping system in Queensland.
As an owner I support his belief that it is forces our top horses to race interstate. One knows it is not wise to criticize Racing Queensland and no doubt a big bucket of you know what will at same stage drop on the head of Grant for daring to speak the truth.
Just as an aside I would like to highlight the fact that there has been little coverage of what Grant had to say in The Courier-Mail – then again the Chairman’s ‘boy’ is back at his desk and I guess we can’t expect to hear too much about it when the red carpet is rolled out for the ‘little big man’ on his regular visit to 4TAB to promote the great job he is doing.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: INTERESTING email but I’ll steer clear of commenting. Here is the story referred to from AAP that I imagine was written by MARK OBERHARDT:
LEADING syndicator Grant Morgan has joined the chorus of critics questioning whether the Queensland handicapping system is driving top horses to race interstate.
Morgan said he was bemused how promising galloper Harada Bay got 2kg over the minimum for his open company debut in the Stanley River Thoroughbreds Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The benchmark rating system and the need for a minimum topweight has been widely criticised by Queensland trainers and owners, a problem compounded by the difference in rating systems between Queensland and NSW.
There have again been complaints about the weights for Harada Bay's race with Morgan leading the way.
Morgan is Queensland's biggest syndicator and his Ontrack Thoroughbreds have 30 horses across the three eastern states.
Harada Bay is considered one of the most promising restricted-class horses in Queensland having won his way through to open company with six wins.
He has 56kg on Saturday and is giving weight to several horses who have won more races or scored in black-type company.
Morgan believes owners should be encouraged to work their horses through their grades and then get the limit in open company races.
"Of course if they have won a restricted black-type race you wouldn't expect that," he said.
"But I can't come to terms with how a horse who is in effect still a Class 6 horse can have 2kg over the limit in an open company race.
"He can still probably win with this weight but what worries me is the weight he will get next time."
Morgan said if Harada Bay won he could expect to get 57.5kg or 58kg at his next open company start in Brisbane.
"In effect they are weighting the good up-and-coming horses out of open company Brisbane racing," he said.
He also pointed out that NSW and Queensland had different rating systems which seemed to favour NSW horses.
"In effect they (NSW) rate down and we rate up," he said.
Morgan and Harada Bay's trainers - The Meagher Racing Partnership - have resisted the temptation to claim and have stuck with senior jockey Jim Byrne.
EKKA DAY MIGHT BE BIG FOR THE BRC BUT NOT FOR THE OLD-TIMERS 
FROM an OLD-TIMER who is saddened by what racing has degenerated to:
‘WHAT a pity the rain didn’t arrive a few days earlier and give the ‘ferals’ who turned out for their annual ‘piss up’ on Ekka Day at the races at Doomben a good drenching.
Instead it waited for Saturday and exposed the weaknesses of Eagle Farm. The rain was hardly a drenching yet the track deteriorated from dead to unable to be raced on within a few hours.
But back to Wednesday and we heard how wonderful it was to see near-record numbers – 18,000 or so – pack Doomben to the rafters.
And it was pointed out to us there wasn’t a drawcard like Black Caviar to lure them to the track. No mention was made of how many of those 18,000 made a trip to the tote rather than the bar or how many could stand up at the end of the day.
They could run Ekka Day from seven to midnight and the drunks and ‘ferals’ would still turn out in force. It’s a poor excuse for running a race meeting but that’s what racing has degenerated to these days.’
AS AN ‘INDEPENDENT’ IS KEVIN DIXON ‘INELIGIBLE’ TO SIT ON ARB? 
PERCY S of BRISBANE sent this email:
‘I read with interest the article on your website late last week outlining how Mr Kevin Dixon has stood down from his role as Chairman of the Queensland Thoroughbred Racing Board in order to take up the position as an independent Chairman of the All Codes Boad of Racing Queensland.
I think it is commendable of Mr Dixon to face up to his conflict of interest. More credit should be given to him for taking this stance.
As a result of this move it is apparent Mr Dixon will no longer be able to fulfill his role as a member of the Australian Racing Board.
He obviously would recognize the role of an INDEPENDENT CHAIRMAN would disqualify him from retaining his seat on the National body.
For Mr Dixon to continue in his ARB Board position would create a ‘gutter type stench’ that not even (previous chairman) Mr Bentley could achieve and that is saying something.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: PIGS might fly Percy if you think ‘little king Kev’ will relinquish his role on the ARB for which he is reportedly being groomed to take over as chairman when John Messara’s term ends. They will find a way of ‘bending the rules’ to ensure he remains on the ARB Board – that’s one certainty you can back in.
AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN HOW GREYHOUND RACING IS NOT CONSIDERED VIABLE 
TRACEY H of BUNDABERG sent this email:
‘AS per one of your previous posts I am at a loss to explain why David Van Der Giessen from Racing Queensland advised our stakeholders on 25 June 2014 that greyhound racing was not currently viable?
For those who can’t remember, please find listed below the email from David Van Der Giessen to the Bundaberg Greyhound Club.
From: David van der Giessen
Sent: Wednesday, 25 June 2014 1:10 PM
To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;
Dear Bundaberg GRC
As you have seen from recent Racing Queensland correspondence, the club has lost some race meetings for next financial year.
As discussed with committee members over the last week, this decision had nothing to do with the performance of your club. The long and the short of the story is that the Greyhound industry in Queensland each year is currently running at loss. The QGRB in conjunction with Operations, need to look at ways of reducing costs in order to make the industry viable for the future.
Over the past 5 years, there has been increases in prize money and increases in appearance fees, but unfortunately there has not been an increase in revenue streams that have supported this. All non-TAB clubs had an equal number of race meetings taken off them. On top of this, three TAB meetings normally allocated to Albion Park for the year have also been taken away.
These tough decisions were made to ensure we can continue to race at all of our current venues.
I’d like to thank the Bundaberg GRC committee for their ongoing work and the level of improvement that has been displayed across the business.
Now greyhounds have just been allocated a 35% increase in prize money, why wouldn’t the decision to remove Non-TAB dates have been held over until the prize money allocation was considered?
From my perspective I would much prefer to have the lost dates returned and our prize money spread across these meetings. Everyone involved in our industry knows that you need weekly racing to keep dogs fit and that anything short of this will lead to a decline in our industry in regional areas.
Racing Queensland should revisit this ludicrous decision of David Van Der Diessen and have this problem fixed so that we can resume our previous racing schedule. As mentioned this won’t cost any additional money as I feel the majority would be happy to spread our new allocation across our previous meeting allocation.’
WESTERN QUEENSLAND TRAINER A CRANKY CUSTOMER AFTER HIS VANUATU VISIT 
From PETER B of DARLING DOWNS:
‘PLENTY of racetrack gossip about the leading western Queensland trainer enjoying his honeymoon at Vanuatu last week when he was spearheaded in a driving tackle by a hoppy-legged Toowoomba trainer straight into the lagoon swimming pool, mobile phone and all went for a drink?
Further problems followed for the honeymooning trainer when after disembarking from Flight 69 from Vanuatu he decided to empty the contents of a packet of rice used to dry out the mobile phone into the rubbish container at the airport before clearing customs
Camera surveillance by AFP and customs officials led to the trainer being told to return all the way from western Queensland for further questioning over the import of illegal or contaminated food.
Lucky his mate and fellow trainer from nearby Toowoomba was able to intervene and sort things out to save the embarrassed trainer from a few sleepless nights.’
EDITOR'S NOTE: I am reliably informed that customs did not contact the trainer - it was a female friend of a mate - a big hoax and it worked.
STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN THE MAINSTREAM RACING MEDIA
ALLEGATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AGAINST VICTORIAN RACING MINISTER 
VICTORIAN Premier Denis Napthine’s position as Racing Minister was used to promote and attend a Liberal Party fundraiser in which the part owners of champion racehorse Black Caviar were the headline act, sparking allegations of a serious conflict of interest.
JOHN FERGUSON reports in THE AUSTRALIAN Dr Napthine attended the event to help a Liberal candidate win a seat in parliament at the November 29 election in an electorate embroiled in controversy over the source of some donations.
The Australian can reveal the Premier was the star attraction at the dinner held on August 2 by Liberal candidate Amanda Stapledon in the marginal outer-suburban electorate of Narre Warren North.
Dr Napthine’s image and ministerial portfolios were plastered on Ms Stapledon’s invitation calling on the Liberal faithful to attend a “Black Caviar Dinner’’ at Slippery Jacks restaurant in the outer southeastern suburbs, with the retired horse’s co-owners Jannene and Colin Madden.
Dr Napthine allowed his name to be used for the fundraiser just days after The Australian exposed a bitter rift in the Liberal Party in the area, amid questions over the sourcing of tens of thousands of dollars of donations in two seats. Alarmed members complained to party headquarters about what they claimed was a lack of transparency over donations, although the party has denied any wrongdoing, as has Ms Stapledon.
Despite this, the party was forced to strip control of electoral donations from the Narre Warren North and nearby Cranbourne branches after bitter recriminations about how money was being raised, leading to Victorian Liberal director Damien Mantach being secretly taped at a party meeting.
Dr Napthine’s refusal to step away from horse industry-related fundraising comes soon after he was forced to defend his decision to spruik for bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse to work in the betting ring while Mr Waterhouse’s wife, Gai, headlined a Liberal Party fundraiser in his electorate. Dr Napthine was accused of attempting to reverse a betting ring ban on Mr Waterhouse at Warrnambool’s May carnival. The Premier also faced questions over a $1.5 million government grant to a Warrnambool business and racing identity with which he owned racehorse Spin The Bottle.
Labor yesterday slammed the decision by Dr Napthine to ignore questions over his dual role as Racing Minister and Premier, and to allow the title to be used to help raise money for the Liberal Party. The invitation clearly states that Dr Napthine is Racing Minister and that attendees would be in the company of the Madden family, part-owners of Black Caviar.
Labor scrutiny of government spokesman Martin Pakula said Dr Napthine was a repeat offender who had failed to understand the concept of a conflict of interest.
“After the Waterhouse debacle in Warrnambool, Dr Napthine should have learned that the racing portfolio doesn’t exist for the purpose of procuring donations for the Liberal Party,’’ Mr Pakula said.
“Sadly, it looks like he hasn’t learned a thing.
“ He needs to explain exactly what role he played and how it’s consistent with his ultimate responsibility for regulating the industry.’’
Dr Napthine said his attendance was justified and he had offloaded Spin The Bottle.
“Attendance at this event was entirely appropriate and adheres to our code of conduct,’’ a spokesman said. “The Premier divested his interest in Spin The Bottle due to her form and age as advised by the trainer.’’
Dr Napthine failed to answer a series of questions about fundraising in that area, including whether he had any say in the invitation that went to guests and whether he was satisfied with the fundraising that was undertaken in the area.
The latest Galaxy poll puts the Napthine government for the first time back within reach of victory at the election, behind Labor 52-48 on two-party-preferred terms.
COURT BATTLE HAS ERUPTED OVER SPIDER BITE DEATH OF CAVIAR’S HALF BROTHER 
A $5 MILLION court battle has erupted over the spider bite death of Black Caviar’s half-brother, Jimmy.
STEPHEN DRILL reports for the HERALD SUN that breeder Rick Jamieson is being pursued for his share of the insurance payout over the horse’s death late last year.
Bloodstock agents Inglis claim they owned the colt when he died and paid for his vet bills.
But Mr Jamieson is standing firm, saying he paid $500,000 for a 10 per cent stake in the animal and the money is his.
Australia’s leading bloodstock agent, Inglis, has lodged a claim in the NSW Supreme Court.
The court battle is the latest twist in the Bill Vlahos punting club scandal, where more than 1000 punters were stripped of $140 million in a scam that is under investigation by the fraud squad.
Inglis is listed as plaintiff in court documents, while BC3 Thoroughbreds, Mr Jamieson and his company, Gilgai Farms, and Philip Prendergast, who paid $500,000 for a 10 per cent share, are defendants.
Mr Jamieson and Mr Prendergast say Inglis has no claim on the insurance money after they paid their premiums in good faith, according to the documents. Inglis claimed it was the owner of the horse when it died because it had been paid only $825,000 for $5 million purchase.
“On 29 December 2013 Lot 131 (Jimmy the horse) was euthanised with the consent of the plaintiff and the underwriters of the insurance policy,” Inglis’s statement of claim says.
“By letter dated 22 January 2014 the administrators by their solicitors agreed that Inglis, if it paid the veterinary invoices relating to the treatment of Lot 131, could be reimbursed for the payment of such invoices from the proceeds of the insurance policy.”
Inglis claims a security it placed on the horse puts it to the top of the list of creditors.
“That security has priority to any claim made by any of the defendants in these proceedings.”
There were high hopes that Jimmy could emulate some of the success of Black Caviar and also have huge potential as a top-priced stallion.
BC3 Thoroughbreds has since dropped its claim on the insurance payout.
The horse sold for a record $5 million in Sydney last year.
PLANS FOR GREYHOUND TRACK AT SLACK CREEK SCRAPPED 
THE JIMBOOMBA TIMES reports that the Logan City Council will write to Premier Campbell Newman requesting plans to build a greyhound track at Slacks Creek be scrapped.
The decision was made at a recent meeting of the planning and development committee, where council received legal advice that it does not have the power to rescind the 2011 approval of the track's development application.
Councillors resolved to write to the Premier, "requesting that based on the concerns raised by residents, the proposed greyhound racing facility at Cronulla Park, Slacks Creek not proceed and that the funding be spent on more appropriate projects in Logan".
Yet Deputy Mayor and greyhound enthusiast Conncillor Russell Lutton says the letter is a "waste of time" as the development is already too far advanced.
"The track is pretty well designed and the principal contractor has been or is about to be awarded,” he said.
Cr Lutton said the track's construction is due to begin in October and if all goes to plan the first races will be held in July 2015.
Cr Lutton said he did not argue against the motion when it arose at last week's ordinary council meeting, as he knew the numbers were against him, but he had not changed his position of support for the track.
"It was a silly motion, it's going nowhere and it just makes us look like fools," he said.
Council previously wrote to Sports Minister Steve Dickson, calling for the track to be a designed as a multi-use facility. Mr Dickson responded to council in a letter dated June 30 and recommended Council contact Racing Queensland (RQ) directly.
"The Cronulla Park project is being managed independently by RQ, as the control body for greyhound racing," he wrote.
Cr Lutton said although Cricket Australia had proposed putting a pitch in the centre of the track, he believed the track would be RQ's first priority.
"Their brief is to get the track up and running, that is the crucial need for the greyhound racing industry," he said. "The community facilities will come in later.”
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