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. The Whinge will continue to provide 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 and insist that no-one reads it. We encourage readers to continue to contribute but plan to restrict the Whinge to only eight or at the most 10 items as well as stories you may have missed in the mainstream media. That is what you seem to want. Feedback suggests that unless there is a major issue that the column at times is too long.
CHANCES OF CHRIS WALLER BEING OUTED WERE ‘A MILLION TO ONE’? 
DAVE MORRISON of MELBOURNE writes:
‘THE chances of Chris Waller being disqualified or suspended in the wake of the Junoob positive when he won The Metropolitan were, in my opinion and that of many others who follow racing closely, one million to one.
Whether the hefty $30,000 fine was sufficient penalty or not, Racing NSW could ill-afford to have Waller sitting on the sideline.
It came as no surprise that stewards and the racing media in Sydney were quick to defend the fine rather than a suspension emphasizing how the drug administered was not a ‘go fast’.
Ken Callander summed up the situation in his Daily Telegraph story this week when he suggested that had Waller been outed Sydney racing might have faced the prospect of fields with two or three runners instead of five or six.
How pathetic is that situation for one of the major racing centres in the country?’
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE’S the column item by KEN CALLANDER that the above email refers to:
HOW lucky are we Chris Waller was fined and not suspended after his horse Junoob returned a positive in the Group 1 Metropolitan?
If he had been outed we might have fields with two or three runners in Sydney instead of five and six.
No trainer in history has propped up the fields like Waller does, particularly at midweek meetings where we are continually confronted by fields of five, six and seven with Waller having two or three runners.
As regards the $30,000 fine — hefty but appropriate. Waller simply has to put it behind him and move on with life just as Tommy Smith, Bart Cummings, Gai Waterhouse and John Hawkes have done after positive findings.
The fact that Waller did not attend the inquiry with any legal representation, but simply put his hand up and said, “guilty” put a quick end to the matter.
It was a stable mistake not the administering of a “go fast”.
PLENTY OF QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED IN WALLER SWAB CASE 
STAN JENKINSON of BRISBANE sent this email on the same topic:
‘TERRY Butts, your columnist from the north, wouldn’t survive in the close-knit Sydney racing media with his honest appraisal of the Waller situation.
It was a breath of fresh air to read an objective view of the Junoob positive swab case.
Butts summed it up perfectly when he suggested there were plenty of questions that hadn’t been answered and don’t expect the stewards or the authorities at Racing NSW to answer them.
They can ill-afford to have Waller sitting on the sidelines. One wonders what the outcome would have been had the trainer of Junoob been a lesser light.
Were the rules bent in this case to suit Waller in relation to race day treatment, penalty and the presence of a prohibitive substance in a stable?
Chief steward Ray Murrihy was quick to defend the penalty. But is there a precedent that has been created here for any other trainer who might find himself in a similar predicament?’
NOT A WHIMPER FROM RQ STEWARDS IN RESPONSE TO PREDNISONE CLAIMS 
WE received several emails supporting the one received last week from owner Daryl Northfield and condemning Racing Queensland over its handling of the Prednisone positive swab issue.
The majority wanted to know if we had received a response to Northfield’s claims of injustice from RQ stewards. The answer is no – just a deadly silence – but we have come to expect that from RQ on controversial matters.
Rather than be repetitive we have decided to run just this one which hopefully gets the general message across:
FROM A PROMINENT STAKEHOLDER WHO ASKED THAT HIS IDENTITY BE WITHHELD:
‘I have been involved in the racing industry for more years than I care to remember in Queensland and like a lot of others I was gob-smacked by the way stewards appear to have handled the Prednisone positive swab inquiry involving trainer Tony Bita.
If the story as told by owner Daryl Northfield is correct – and the general industry feeling is that it will not be challenged by RQ – then they seem to have genuine claims of injustice and a lack of consistency in this case.
From what I can gather the only one who has challenged their story is a ‘parrot’ for RQ who writes under a non-de-plume on a racing blog site but everyone who knows who he is and his background in racing and politics question his credibility.
The majority are sympathetic of Bita and don’t blame him for walking away from the industry. But that’s how things work in racing in Queensland these days and until there is some change we just have to accept it or follow his lead.’
VICTORIA IS A FURLONG IN FRONT WHEN IT COMES TO RACING INTEGRITY 
PERCIVAL SMITH of MELBOURNE writes:
‘HOW much chance is there of the stewards in Sydney and Brisbane following the lead of their Melbourne counterparts at carnival time?
Being a proud Victorian I would suggest – next to none.
Little wonder racing in Victoria is leading the way when it comes to integrity and that many punters regard Sydney and Brisbane, in particular, as ‘no go’ zones.
During the spring carnival RV stewards performed 772 race day raids more than double last year.
Can you imagine the blokes in Brisbane doing even 22 during the Winter Carnival up there and I won’t even mention Sydney where the big go is a ‘walk through’ of the stable areas on race morning akin to ‘coming ready or not’?
Little wonder the latest spring carnival in Victorian has been declared the cleanest ever. It just shows why punters have more confidence in betting on the product in that state.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE’S an interesting story by ROD NICHOLSON in the MELBOURNE HERALD on the above topic:
THE Melbourne spring carnival was the cleanest ever as stewards launched unprecedented testing of horses and jockeys and came up without a single drug offence.
No horse in or out-of-competition returned a positive swab and no jockey returned a positive to drugs or alcohol.
Chief steward Terry Bailey reports that 771 out-of-competition tests were collected during the 217 races at 24 feature meeting from Memsie Stakes day on August 30 to the Ballarat Cup meeting on November 22.
That was up from 511 the previous carnival, which itself was double the number of tests in 2012.
Seven major stables were placed in lockdown and all horses on those premises were tested.
And several covert operations were conducted on stables — where no compliance breaches were detected.
“It was the best ever as far as compliance is concerned. Everyone obviously is getting the message that we want, expect and demand drug-free racing,” Bailey said.
“It was also encouraging because we had 96 individual trainers from Victoria, interstate and overseas win races at the carnival, and everyone complied with our rules.
“The internationals were given the ground rules when they arrived and (compliance officer) Kane Ashby went to Werribee to tell them what they could and could not do. It worked really well.
“We boosted the number of tests and enforced security for the major races and I cannot remember a better carnival.
“You can always do better and we will continue our pursuit of drug-free racing and hope that everyone continues to abide by the rules like they did this carnival,” he said.
Racing Victoria vets took 2780 blood tests and urine samples during the period, and all Group 1 runners were subjected to out-of-competition testing, some on multiple occasions.
All starters in the Caulfield Cup, Caulfield Guineas, Cox Plate, Victorian Derby and Crown Oaks had security guards from 5 o’clock on race morning until their arrival on course. Melbourne Cup runners were under 24 hour security before the big race.
Stewards undertook 772 race day stable raids (up from 347 last year) and only minor compliance breaches (hoof oil) were detected.
“That was the only minor problem. There is the normal hoof oil which is used to dress the horse up for the race and that is no problem. But a lot can have a therapeutic affect and cannot be used on raceday, which is a problem. We will work harder to ensure trainers are fully aware of their responsibilities in this area,” Bailey said.
Several stables throughout the carnival were subject to the presence of compliance security guards from 5am to horse’s arrival on course ensuring compliance with the rules.
Jockeys also were under the microscope. A total of 94 were drug tested and another 71 were given alcohol tests.
None registered a positive to either.
Bailey said the only disappointments of the carnival were out of stewards’ control.
“We had a couple of jockeys outed for improper riding early in the carnival and then of course you had the unfortunate deaths of Admire Rakti and Araldo on Cup Day.
“But that is out of our hands and overall it is the best carnival in terms of integrity that I’ve known in 10 years.”
SHOULD THE RACING MINISTER SACK THE APPEALS PANEL IN WAKE OF DECISION? 
BILL CROWLEY of BRISBANE writes:
‘LIKE a lot of others across the three codes of racing I am still reeling at the decision of the Queensland Racing Disciplinary Board following an appeal by harness trainer-driver Justin Abbott.
How the Board saw fit to quash cumulative disqualifications against Abbott who laid his horse Foldem to lose on Betfair will remain one of the greatest mysteries of all time.
The fact remains – despite the Board ruling – that Abbott backed his horse to lose and that is simply not acceptable in racing.
At first I was prepared to give the panel the benefit of the doubt that they might not understand what Betfair is all about and how it works.
But then I read where one member of the panel that handed down this decision was Darryl Kays, a veteran harness racing steward who I understand helped draft some of the rules of racing in Queensland.
Now I was never a great fan of Kays, despite his high respect and great reputation. This decision has not improved my opinion of him one iota.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: I guess we don’t know whether it was a unanimous decision. But someone should explain to our Racing Minister how terrible this decision was. He could win a lot of friends in racing by terminating the appointments of the panel members from the QRDB.
NATIONAL TOTE THE ANSWER IN WAKE OF CO-MINGLING OF HONG KONG POOLS
JIM DOUGLAS of SYDNEY writes:
‘THE message to Australian racing authorities following the success of the co-mingling of pools between the TAB in Victoria and the Hong Kong Jockey Club is loud and clear.
The time is overdue for an amalgamation of the pools of the three big TABs in Australia. It would be the first good fight back against the corporate bookmaking attack on our industry.
The Asian Racing Federation has said during the week that it will lobby Governments to prevent unauthorized betting on its race meetings – especially Hong Kong.
Perhaps Australia should join forces and try to end this parasitic trend whereby corporate bookmaking agencies are shooting up everywhere and putting next to nothing back into the industry they are betting on.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: Australian racing authorities have already moved to tackle the issue of unauthorized international wagering. The Abbott Government announced in October the formation of an illegal offshore wagering working group. Federal minister Kevin Andrews has pledged to stamp out illegal offshore wagering operators who are fielding on Australian racing and sport. He has also warned against operators moving offshore to avoid race-fields legislation obligations.
‘WHO CARES WHAT SKY DOES – AS LONG AS WE CAN WATCH TVN’? 
TERRY ADAMS of MELBOURNE writes:
‘DOES anyone care if Victorian racing is blacked out from SKY over the holiday period providing punters can still watch the action on TVN?
Let’s face it – the majority of us that stay at home and watch the races from the comfort of our lounge room prefer to tune into TVN in any case.
Punters generally could not care less about the on-going battle between TVN and SKY over who's got the biggest ‘you know what’.
All they want is the coverage and less comment from the so-called ‘experts’ so that they can have their bets and watch how these fare.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: I guess the above email was in reference to this AT THE TRACK column piece by CHRISTIAN NICOLUSSI in the SUNDAY TELEGRAPH:
TENSIONS between TVN and Sky Racing are reaching boiling point — again — as both parties try to thrash out a suitable fee for vision rights before Christmas.
The situation has become so frustrating that there’s even talk of Sydney and Victorian racing being blacked out from Sky at some stage over the holidays.
Blackout is a dirty word with punters.
Who can forget a decade ago when the Sydney action was yanked off the Sky screens?
A blackout these days wouldn’t be as harsh because TVN is shown in all homes on the basic Foxtel package, as well as all pubs and clubs.
TVN boss Bruce Mann told At The Track on Saturday: “Negotiations are ongoing, and as long as they’ve gone, both parties have had varying perspectives as to the valuation (of the rights).
“Time will tell whether we agree.’’
Sky Racing’s boss Brendan Parnell told us: “We’re trying to bring a new long-term deal to fruition rather than (sign off) on these short-term rollovers.’’
Sky has been paying TVN every three months. As Parnell said, they want something much longer.
Depending on which side you talk to, a suitable fee for the vision is between $30 million and $40 million.
It’s a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation.
Sky knows how important Sydney and Melbourne races are to boosting TAB turnover.
If TVN exclusively shows all the footage, punters would be exposed to no shortage of advertisements from corporate bookies.
However, TVN also rely on Sky’s coin to covers plenty of expenses. The owners of TVN, the Victorian race clubs and Australian Turf Club, also rely on money received from TAB turnover.
Who says TV is glamorous?
CALL FOR ‘BIG RICHIE’ TO DECLARE HIS CONFLICT OF INTEREST 
BARRY ANDERSON of GOLD COAST writes:
‘APPRENTICE Luke Tarrant won’t forget his first major win in Sydney for more reasons that one.
The young Queenslander almost underdid his great ride on Rudy in the Villiers by returning to scale light.
He blamed the near-miss on ‘a couple of trips to the toilet before the race’.
Tarrant had to weigh-in twice, calling for the bridle before the all clear was declared on Rudy’s long neck win in the Group 2 from I’m Imposing.
As the drama unfolded those watching the action on TVN could have done without the biased comments of Richard Callander who is a part-owner of I’m Imposing.
The ‘big boy’ should have declared a major conflict of interest and not weighed in with his opinion. Then again he never has been one for applying a tongue tie at the appropriate time.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: In defense of big Richie I did hear him say that the winner was too good but he just wished that it had carried the right weight. It was just the frustration of being an owner going so close and losing a big race in those circumstances I guess.
GOOD TO SEE LEE GIVING IT TO NINE WORK OVER SACKING OF DAUGHTER 
SALLY ADAMS of MELBOURNE sent this email:
‘I just wanted to comment on the decision by the Nine Network to sack the daughter of Hall of Fame trainer Emma Freedman.
Lee summed up the feelings of many in racing when he tweeted: ‘Congratulations to CH 9 for firing Emma Freedman in a cost cutting measure. Wonder what they'll do to the ones with no talent?’
Emma, who thought she was on the verge of taking on more important hosting duties over the summer, was part of a cost cutting purge by the network.
She showed during her appearances as the Weekend Today weather presenter and a regular on Wide World of Sports that another network will soon scoop up her talents.’
STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN THE MAINSTREAM RACING MEDIA 
HONG KONG MOVE TO ATTRACT MORE OVERSEAS STARS TO BIG DAY
THE Hong Kong Jockey Club does not fear "Japan Cup syndrome", but plans another lift in prize money and a redoubling of efforts to attract top overseas stars to its annual showpiece after local heroes again eclipsed the foreigners on Sunday.
ALAN AITKEN reports in the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST that the club added HK$11 million to bring prize money for the Longines Hong Kong International Races this year to HK$83 million, but locals kept more than 73 per cent - almost HK$61 million - at home, in winning three events for the second successive year.
Chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges says that is a powerful reinforcement of club policies more than a decade old and designed to raise the standard of Hong Kong's racehorses, but also a double-edged sword.
"It's wonderful to celebrate success and our policy to have more world-class horses here has obviously worked," he said. "But it is a small concern how we attract overseas horses."
In the earliest days of the internationals, the club placed ceilings on the past performances of visiting horses to maintain race competitiveness, but the foreigners were still too strong on balance.
Over time, those restrictions were removed as the locals improved, then bonuses were offered to owners to further encourage the acquisition of class horses and the result now is that Hong Kong runners dominate the day.
The obvious comparison is with the Japan Cup, which underwent similar phases and the home contingent is now so strong that top quality visitors are almost impossible to attract.
"I wouldn't say we are in the same position as Japan, where they have really no chance to be successful," Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
"At our meeting, if you bring a horse like Flintshire, you can still win. And if you look at the Japanese sprinter, Straight Girl, she was unlucky from a bad draw.
"Criterion and Cirrus Des Aigles ran very well in the Cup, on ground that was perhaps firmer than Cirrus Des Aigles likes. It's not correct to say they aren't competitive, even if they did not win."
But, with a growing list of international dates around the globe, the club is aware it must compete strongly to attract depth.
"Part of that is more prize money, and we will look at that for next year, but we need to think how we make it attractive in as many ways as we can," Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
"On Sunday, I had discussions with overseas trainers and owners and asked why some people would put a horse in a stallion parade instead of running here. It comes back to the world seeing you win here and creating added value in your horse. It is not only about prize money."
The absence of the absolute best from Hong Kong has in some cases been connected to the notion that winning here did nothing for a horse's stud value, but defeat was a serious negative.
The paradox of it becoming harder to win in Hong Kong at least works to eliminate that notion, so winning becomes an enhancement to value and defeat no longer a disgrace.
"In this regard our partners Longines, with the creation of the world's best horse rankings, helps," Engelbrecht-Bresges said. "It has elevated and highlighted the quality of horses from non-traditional centres - and Hong Kong is in that category - so people take notice.
"And it combines with Dubai, where our horses do meet Europeans in a neutral territory and where I think our horses will be very competitive in 2015. This global view takes three to five years to change the mindset so people bring their very best and it can create more stud value, especially considering the dual hemisphere picture."
Racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe described this global commercial showcase effect after Flintshire scored the first Hong Kong win for one of the world's biggest owner-breeders, Juddmonte Farms' Prince Khalid bin Abdullah al-Saud.
"And he is absolutely right," Engelbrecht-Bresges said. "This is where east meets west, north meets south. Look at Criterion, his performance has absolutely increased his stud value perception in Australia.
"We have a platform where everyone can come and run and be comfortable, without the underlying issues there are, for example, with the Breeders' Cup."
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.
