THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE has a new look but won’t be dispensing with the theme and focus on the THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY side of what is happening in racing. 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 and one of the most read on racing websites in the country. Our popularity continues to grow despite the bagging it cops from some high profile officials, especially in Queensland, who cannot cope with constructive criticism of any kind. We encourage supporters – and critics – to continue to contribute but plan to restrict the Whinge to less than 10 of the best items each week. Our message to those who continually bag us is simple: IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT YOU READ, THEN DON’T REVISIT THE WHINGE.
‘THE ONLY WAY SKY CHANNEL AND RACING NSW CAN BE NO 1 IS WITH A MONOPOLY’ 
GLEN MORRIS of MELBOURNE isn’t too happy about the threatened SKY blackout of Victorian racing:
‘PUNTERS will be the innocent pawns in a media rights tug of war if Sky Channel pulls the pin on Victorian racing from next week.
The more my mates and I see how Sky does business the less we like the joint and if Tabcorp are party to this business decision, more like intimidation, then we will be taking our punting business elsewhere in future.
Sky just wants to have a monopoly. But they are poor losers and even worse winners. Since the demise of TVN all they have done is treated Victorian racing like crap. When the officials in that state say enough is enough and decide to do their future broadcast business with an arm of the Seven Network then Sky, or should I say Tabcorp, blows a gasket.
Here’s hoping Seven West can get up and running sooner than the expected date of August. Even facing major turnover slumps if Victorian racing isn’t shown by Sky, here’s hoping officials stand their ground and refuse to be ‘blackmailed’ into rejecting the Seven offer.
This ‘big stick’ mentality at Sky, one suspects some Racing NSW influence in all of this, is unacceptable. But it’s what you come to expect from entities that can only finish No 1 if they have a monopoly – sound familiar with racing north of the border where Victoria is concerned?
So back to where I started the big losers in all of this will be the punters – throughout the country – and the industry stakeholders in Victoria. Here’s hoping some smart legal eagle can find a loophole and take out a court injunction to prevent the Sky blackout until Seven West is up and running.’
SKY PUMPING UP THE CROWD AT DOOMBEN ON STRADBROKE DAY
FRED STEVENS of GOLD COAST write: 
‘I lasted about one race trying to watch the SKY coverage of Stradbroke Day.
The first big turn off was the groveling from race-caller Alan Thomas. If you were to believe his statements there were 20,000 on course before the first race.
Of course the crowd was going to look bigger than it really was trying to cram one of Stradbroke size into the jam-tin at Doomben rather than the open spaces of Eagle Farm.
The official result was apparently 16,000 which is several thousand down on a normal Stradbroke – so why the big wank so early in the day.
It got even worse as the races progressed with SKY immediately switching to the Sydney enclosure to see a bunch of second raters wandering around rather than the post-race action from Stradbroke day.
SKY is a DUD and it’s good to see that Racing Victoria have decided to go with the Seven Network. It’s a nice backhander for the dills at Sky and Racing NSW after the way they have treated Victorian racing and its followers since the demise of TVN.
And just one last word on the 16,000 that turned out for the biggest race day of the year in Brisbane. I’ll bet they get more than that at the Ipswich Cup meeting next Saturday. And by the way that is about a third of what they would expect at a weekly home game of the Broncos – not their biggest event of the year and it can be watched live on TV as well – so don’t use that old chestnut as an excuse.’
‘LITTLE KING KEV A VICTIM OF POLITICAL BASTARDRY OR MAJOR MEMORY LAPSE?’ 
DAN PIERCE of BRISBANE made this interesting contribution on the turmoil at RQ:
‘I have listened to all the interpretations of the MacSporran Commission findings and of course was subjected to the mandatory staged interview with (sacked RQ Chairman) Kevin Dixon on ABC radio, which I suspect was scripted and organized by his media mate Bart Sinclair.
The ABC interview records Dixon lamenting his dismissal as a victim of political bastardry. Strange comment as prior to the change of Government we were informed by The Courier Mail in January that he was A-political. Kevin must have had a convenient major memory lapse, as he was himself, an LNP political appointment.
The integrity system and framework that Dixon inherited when he took control of RQL in April 2012 had, in the eyes of many, worked efficiently and with integrity. Despite this, in the first three months of his chairmanship, Dixon made wholesale changes, such as dismissing the investigative arm and dismissing highly qualified retired police officers experienced in investigative work and returned that work to rank and file stewards who are not trained or capable of conducting a credible investigation.
I am led to believe that Office of Racing staff were either made redundant or transferred by the LNP Government leaving a vacuum of knowledge while the Director and Head of the Science Centre was forced to resign.
Dixon made changes to integrity for no good reason. The existing integrity system was working well. The Office Of Racing was ever vigilant, the Science Centre for drug testing was accountable and fiercely independent.
The changes were made without proper consideration of risk, or meaningful consultation with those who possessed the experience.
The MacSporran Report Section 231 makes reference to the work load of Darren Condon. “In fairness to Mr Condon, the roll of CEO of RQ, which carried responsibility for all three codes of racing, responsible to one Board but also attending individual code meetings, may be a task beyond the capability of any one person.”
This is an observation of the Commissioner. From those I have spoke to in the Bob Bentley administration I am told that the former CEO of RQL, Malcolm Tuttle, handled the position comfortably, wrote lengthy reports and submissions to Cabinet and in addition self educated himself in gaining extra qualifications. He did so with less staff and considerably less than the $300,000 plus salary being paid to Mr Condon.
Tuttle had to contend with almost a daily barrage of negative media undermining staff moral, all politically motivated. Not so with Mr Condon. In three years I have not seen one negative mainstream media blitz prior to the greyhound debacle.
The question that needs to be asked is: Was his performance properly monitored by Kevin Dixon and the All Codes Board? This is a fundamental function of any Board and especially the Chairman.
Let’s cut to the chase and see what the MacSporran investigation found.
The conclusions predominately highlight the failure of RQL as a regulator to fulfill its duties under the Act. The live baiting issues involving the greyhound industry are, arguably, the result of a board and management out of their depth.
The whole thrust of the Commission report is the control and administration of responsible and transparent integrity. This responsibility rests solely with the All Codes Board chaired by Kevin Dixon.
The MacSporran Commission report covers many incidents and issues that lead up the following statement that is impossible to refute;
Extract from MacSporran Commission Report Section 270:
“It should be clearly understood that the narrative outlined above is given simply to illustrate the fundamental failure in RQL's system for regulation and maintenance of integrity within the industry. The specific examples are referenced to give color and meaning to the more important conclusion which is that there has been a gross systemic failure. The detailed reasons for this conclusion are set out later in the report.”
Section 271:
“In reaching its conclusions the Commission has been acutely aware of the dangers of employing the wisdom of hindsight and has looked beyond the examples referred to above to determine whether they are isolated instances detracting from a system of regulation which is otherwise functioning effectively.
“It has been concluded that the examples quoted are consistent with the failures one would expect to see where the overall system of regulation is fundamentally flawed.”
All the spin and excuses do not hide poor management and inexperience.’
WHAT PRICE INTEGRITY WHEN IT PROTECTS THE PUNTERS AND STAKEHOLDERS? 
ALBERT WILLIAMS of REDCLIFFE, a regular contributor to the Whinge, writes:
‘WE’VE been subjected to a lot of bleating – mainly from The Courier-Mail – over the dismissal of Kevin Dixon and his RQ cronies and that was bound to happen.
But what gets right up my nose is their questioning of the money that will be spent to ramp up integrity of not only greyhound racing but the three codes.
No price can be placed on integrity when it involves protection of the punters and the stakeholders. One has to question if the dogs had been better policed over the years would the current scandal have occurred?
Of course the gallops and ‘red hots’ are keen to distance themselves from the dogs. Why wouldn’t they be at this time? But let’s face it harness and thoroughbreds have not been squeaky clean over the years either. No-one has forgotten Fine Cotton and the trots has, and continues to be, riddled with controversy and dramas.
The Courier-Mail continues to question the cost of implementing new all-code integrity measures such as the appointment of a full-time Integrity Commissioner and the hiring of extra police to carry out investigations that stewards obviously have found beyond their capabilities.
Head of Integrity Wade Birch blamed a lack of resources and staff for the failure to police live baiting. They can’t have it both ways – either they are capable of doing the job or they need extra staff to ensure that job gets done.
There are so many sources of income for Racing Queensland these days – from TAB deals to payments from corporate bookmakers and returns from race fields legislation and intellectual property rights, that surely the most important aspect of all – INTEGRITY – is worth paying for. There should be no affect on prizemoney with the income streams now available to Racing Queensland.’
WHAT DOES DOG RACING IN QLD HAVE IN COMMON WITH A CORPORATE ENTITY? 
JOHN MORTON of GATTON sent this contribution:
WHAT does greyhound racing in Queensland have in common with a corporate entity?
If you take the time to read the report just handed down by the Commission of Inquiry into Greyhound Racing in Queensland, might I suggest you will be absolutely gob smacked?
The scathing report on administrative control of the industry over the preceding three years covered many pages of the report, with an outcome any person appointed to the All Codes Board and independent code related Boards should be ashamed to acknowledge.
It appears to me they introduced a set of policy and rules which were so draconian, even they themselves could not understand or follow, and, in my opinion, that has brought the industry to where it is today – fighting to stay alive in Queensland.
I have not been to any Greyhound races in Brisbane for a long time, so I thought I would go to Albion Park last week. With so many trainers warned off for life I was wondering who might be there I now know.
Surprisingly, I met a person whom I had not seen for a long time and we had a chat about what was going on in Queensland Racing. He then said to me: “Have you heard the latest rumor?” Now as you know Greyhound Racing has always survived on rumor mongering, not many of them correct, so I asked: “What’s the latest?”
To my surprise he told me that it was being alleged that $50,000 had gone missing and a male staffer from a greyhound club had been sacked. Now that pricked my ears as I knew of a similar situation several years ago where a much larger sum was involved and a female staffer working for a club received a jail sentence if I recall rightly. I understand that last time this occurred no restitution was received and the amount of the loss appeared in the Financial Statements of the Club.
I believed an investigation was requested into the operations of the Club at that time, by the then Chairman of the All Codes Board. Deloites were appointed to do this investigation. When the report was received, it was common knowledge it was scathing of the administration of the club concerned. This problem seems to be growing in greyhound clubs. Many would be aware that just recently a number of staff suddenly left a near Brisbane club.
If this rumor has legs, the industry – all three codes – need to know, what the hell is going on and what are those responsible for policing this doing about it? Many want to know why police have not been called in to investigate this matter. I doubt if Deloites will be called on again as they would probably say: ‘Save your money. You obviously did not read our last report. If you did this would not have happened again.”
I will leave you to draw your own conclusions. If it has legs then this is another situation that cannot afford to be swept under the carpet – especially with the spotlight firmly focused on greyhound racing at present.’
FROM ONE OF OUR SPIES IN THE DEAGON BUNKER
‘SURELY IF CONDON IS SHOWN THE DOOR, BIRCH HAS TO GO AS WELL!’ 
THE big question being asked in the Bunker is: How did Wade Birch manage to survive as Head of Integrity if Darren Condon gets shown the door as CEO as expected?
The thoughts behind the scenes are that Birch should not be too convinced he has done the Great Houdini as the axe will fall on him when the new Integrity Unit is put in place. Most are hoping so.
Last week he had a hook-up with stewards and told them that he was back but would probably be slotting into his old role of RQ Chairman of Stewards. That suggests Allan Reardon is ready to jump ship after the carnival.
Birch has obviously realized that his chance of holding down the position of Head of Integrity position is next to none. Under the ‘clean slate policy’ one would have thought the same should apply to the Chairman of Stewards role.
INQUIRY REVEALED HOW RQ CONSIDERED SENDING TEAM TO JAPAN 
THE exhibits from RQ CEO Darren Condon's evidence to the MacSporran Inquiry make interesting reading.
We sympathize that the CEO of Racing Queensland was enormously pressed under the duties he had to perform running the control body.
At a Board meeting on 21st October 2014, these duties did not prevent him from requesting that he and a group of Control Body executives travel to Japan, all expenses paid in December, to promote the Stradbroke race day at an Austrade event in Tokyo.
The benefits of this expensive exercise did not seem to be apparent at Doomben last Saturday. Perhaps that’s because the ‘junket’ never eventuated as the Tokyo Austrade event was cancelled after the death in the Melbourne Cup of Japanese stayer Admire Ratki.
RQ FINANCE ‘GURU’ DOES A SOMMERSAULT TO RIVAL PETER BEATTIE 
DOWN here in the Bunker plenty is being spoken about the role that Finance ‘guru’ Adam Carter is playing now that KPMG has been appointed to administer affairs prior to a new Board being appointed.
Carter, you might remember, got well and truly off-side with his old bosses from the Bentley Board when he sided with Kevin Dixon and company at the White Commission of Inquiry. They were dirty that he went on holidays and could not be made available for cross-examination on some of his evidence.
Those of us watching things unfold in the Bunker cannot believe the somersault with pike of Peter Beattie proportions that Carter has now completed. He is wearing a path to the Administrator’s office and some say has provided some very damning financial material which hasn’t helped the Dixon Board.
Interesting times!
DRAMA LOOMING OVER RE-APPOINTMENT OF A STEWARD FROM INTERSTATE 
THE sooner this new Integrity broom is put through Racing Queensland the better.
There is plenty of drama behind the scenes down here about plans to re-hire a former steward who ran into some major problems with a female counterpart interstate.
Anyone who wants to google the guy’s name (edited out of this for legal reasons) you can read all about what happened in NSW.
It’s just what the current Integrity Department of RQ needs – like a dose of measles.
And to think we are hearing stories that Wade Birch is going to survive the latest dramas of the ‘live baiting’ scandal. Don’t know where those reports are coming from – certainly not from people in the know on what is likely to happen when the broom goes through Integrity and the Stewards’ Panels at RQ.
AN INTERESTING WHINGE PREDICTION THAT CERTAINLY PROVED SPOT ON 
IN light of the recommendations of the MacSporran Inquiry, implemented immediately by the new Government, we thought it might be interesting to look back at a contribution to the Wednesday Whinge in recent months made by a regular critic of the Dixon hierarchy, which read:
‘I have been reading various postings relating to the financial performance of Racing Queensland and to be candid it looks as though the Queensland industry is heading for a train smash.
It is alarming that no performance figures are available for the next four months to 31st January 2015. It would be reasonable to suspect that this performance has probably deteriorated considerably.
In this age of computer generated statistics any business the size of Racing Queensland should have figures available for the Board to review at every meeting for progress against budget monitored.
Tattsbet produce turnover and revenue figures and make them available to Racing Queensland within 14 days of the end of the previous month.
I question why these are not made available at the very least following each Racing Queensland Board meeting.
There is nothing confidential in performance figures. We have been kept in the dark for too long, treated like mushrooms. ‘Kept in the dark and covered with s.....’
Reviewing the performance against budget as at the 31st October 2014 now four months out of date:
Revenue down 7.8%
Product Fees down 14.9%
Total Wagering Revenue down 9.9%
Total Turnover down 15.8%
Prizemoney paid down 4.7%
This performance is hardly the substance of ‘Good Dreams’, going to bed knowing the industry is in safe hands with Kevin Dixon in charge.
The on-going loss of critical cash flow and the depletion of reserves left by the previous Board of $14 million are added to the losses of 2013 and 2014 of $10 million. This makes cumulative losses of industry funds of $24 million. Rather a spectacular failure when you consider what $24 million to prizemoney could have achieved.
The projected loss for 2015 is estimated at between $8 and $9 million if current trends continue as above. This is highly likely when Kevin Dixon seems plrepared to approve 12 meetings for Deagon and Home Hill on Sky1 on Saturday and Kilcoy being the No 1 and only meeting in Queensland on Sky1 on Sunday.
Current prizemoney levels must come under severe pressure with this performance.
The Kevin Dixon Board must take responsibility for the waste at Toowoomba, the lack of performance and the possible cumulative loss of industry funds that will amount to $33 million if the projected loss of $9 million in 2015 eventuates. It has all happened on his watch.
The industry needs the following questions answered:
1. IS Racing Queensland going to adhere to the current prizemoney levels? If so, where will the cash flow come from as there are no reserves, performance is dire and 2015 looks like posting a record loss of $8 to $9 million on current trends?
2. IS the Board going to continue paying less in total by reducing the number of meetings and races run? This, of course, disadvantages the stakeholders with less. Prizemoney paid in total is down 4.7% or $800,000 for the four months ending 31st October 2014. Will this trend continue?
There are no ‘happy days ahead’.’
‘BRISBANE CUP HAS DEGENERATED INTO A WINTER CARNIVAL DISASTER’ 
CLEM GILLESPIE of BRISBANE sent this email:
‘WHAT a disaster the Brisbane Cup has developed into as a race.
It has lost all the attraction that it once had as a two-miler on the national carnival circuit.
I read where one website editor described the Stradbroke field, running for a ridiculous $2 million in prizemoney, as a glorified field of Welter horses.
Well I wonder how he would describe the Brisbane Cup which threw up a bolter result with the out-of-form Jet Set Lad getting the chocolates at 40-1. Can’t that stable produce a form reversal winner with little said by stewards?
And on the subject of form reversals Srikandi must be the biggest in recent Group One history after the Stradbroke. Was that the same horse that went around at Doomben a week earlier? Little wonder the punters don’t want to bet in Brisbane.’
EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE’S a story by PATRICK BARTLEY in THE AGE this week concerning the BRISBANE CUP:
DESPITE Queensland's ongoing racing industry upheavals, executives from the same state are hoping that the once well thought of Brisbane Cup can revert to its original distance of 3200m after another lack-lustre event last Saturday.
Some years ago, Queensland racing officials decided to cut the race in distance from 3200m to 2400m, hoping to attract a higher quality field. However, the plan has backfired and many are fearful that the race's growing irrelevance will continue unless the distance is changed.
Fairfax Media understands that an internal analysis of the Brisbane Cup will begin shortly, with consideration now being given to reverting the race to the original two miles (3200m).
Western Australia and Queensland broke away from the other states in reducing the distance of their major drawcard of the year with disappointing results largely followed.
With Queensland Racing in turmoil after the government stepped in and drastically changed the administration structure, some are worried that the state's main race day will also come off second best. With more international horses arriving in Australia each year, the need for 3200m races has increased dramatically in the past decade.
Saturday's Brisbane Cup was run over 2200m and won by battling 40-1 chance Jetset Lad, who also missed the start and still managed to beat a moderate collection of stayers, but is far from the level of stayer Queensland is looking for.
And just when international interest was heightened in the $2 million Stradbroke Hcp, there are now genuine fears the prizemoney for that state's flagship race could also be cut.
Last week the Queensland Government sacked the boards of Racing, Harness and Greyhound Racing and replaced them with a board of seven, of which four will be government appointees with another board member coming from each of the three codes.
Some are suggesting Queensland Racing, thanks to years of political instability, may now fall decades behind racing clubs across Australia.
BOUQUETS FOR JIM RUNDLE AND NEW QUEENSLAND TRAINERS’ ASSOCIATION 
DENNIS HEINEMANN, a SUNSHINE COAST trainer, sent this email:
‘IT was great to see Jim Rundle spending a couple of hours in deep conversation with trainers at Caloundra racetrack on a Saturday morning recently.
Jim was no doubt pushing his Queensland Trainers’ Association barrow, but seemed to be welcomed by all and sundry.
If we waited for the ATA to justify their membership fees and actually get off their bums and listen to ALL trainers we would no doubt grow old waiting!
A few things discussed were:
1. Trainers getting a “Product Fee” for every horse taken to the races, equal to the Jockeys’ Riding Fee. This would go some way towards compensating trainers for the long hours of unpaid time given to the industry on race days (usually 6 – 10 hours).
2. Where possible an area be set aside for trainers to entertain owners and prospective owners on race days. This would enable them to dissect race replays and explain their horse’s performance in a civilized area. For this to work an area capable of seating 30 – 40 people would be required. In this way, all owners (winning and losing) would have a chance to celebrate and commiserate in a designated comfortable area.
3. How to get Racing Queensland to accept the Queensland Trainers’ Association (largest Association by membership numbers) as a legitimate entity in the undustry – thus widening the trainers’ input base.
One upside is that Jim was more than impressed with the great layout of Corbould Park and the training facilities supplied and, in particular, the beautiful lawns and gardens, so kudos to Murray and his staff!’
A COUPLE OF STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED ON RACING IN THE TERRITORY 
CHRISTOPHER WALSH reports in the NT NEWS that Treasurer Dave Tollner has denounced the Darwin Turf Club and the Territory horse racing industry as a bunch of ungrateful “nags” who are “blowing $15 million a year”.
The comments come on the heels of Mr Tollner’s reported musings about moving the Fannie Bay racetrack to Hidden Valley to make way for apartment complexes, as first reported in the NT News.
Mr Tollner said on Mix 104.9 yesterday that the horse racing industry did not bring in near as much money to the economy as the Government gives them in funding, and raised questions about their financial management practices.
“Tell me what industry government funds $15 million a year?” he asked. “It seems to me a bit cute at the moment that the nags run around worrying about where they might be moved to rather than worrying about how their own personal management of finances are going.
“How much does local horse racing bring into the Northern Territory Government? I put it to you that it’s not even a sliver of the $15 million.
“I’m very concerned as the Treasurer how they can be blowing $15 million a year and still have their hand out for more.”
But figures provided to the NT News from the Economic Impact Evaluation by IER Pty Ltd in 2012 estimate the racing industry generates more than $204 million in direct expenditure with more than 72 per cent of that expenditure occurring in Darwin. The report also suggested the racing industry sustains the employment of 1200 full-time equivalent jobs.
Thoroughbred Racing NT and the Darwin Turf Club declined interview requests yesterday but issued a statement. It’s expected the club and its peak body will meet with Government officials next week.
“The Treasurer’s comments today do not seem to take into account the available information,” the statement said.
“Thoroughbred Racing NT is currently involved in discussions with the NT Government about the level of funding. The discussions are proceeding on a confidential basis and it is surprising that the Treasurer has gone public with his comments before the process is completed.
“We are confident that, like governments elsewhere in Australia, the NT Government will come to understand how much value racing gives as a source of revenue and a community resource.”
EARLY WARNING THAT ‘DRUG CHEATS’ SHOULD STEER CLEAR OF DARWIN CUP 
AND DOUG BOOTH reports in the NT NEWS that drug cheats aren’t welcome at the Darwin Cup Carnival.
That was the strong message (last week) from Thoroughbred Racing NT chairman of stewards David Hensler.
“Our goal is to ensure a level playing field for all industry participants and punters alike at this year’s Darwin Cup Carnival,” he said.
TRNT conducted an audit of race-day strategies to ensure ongoing compliance with the Rules of Racing. It was in response to the disqualification of the 2014 Darwin Cup winner Saturday Sorcerer following a positive swab. This led to trainer Stuart Gower’s two-year ban.
“This audit confirmed that the Integrity Department has the right protocols in place to catch and prosecute those who attempt to seek an unfair advantage in racing,” Hensler said.
The TRNT Board is also throwing its weight behind further compliance measures for races in this year’s Carnival. “I’m sure trainers will have this in the back of their minds when they present horses to race up here,” he said.
With the co-operation of Racing Victoria Limited, in particular RVL chairman of stewards Terry Bailey, two members of the RVL compliance team will be seconded to join the TRNT stewards’ panel for the five days encompassing the final two meetings of the Carnival.
“This will not only bolster our surveillance and supervision of all horses engaged to race at the stables and on-course, but will also allow for out-of-competition testing,” Hensler said.
In addition, the TRNT Board will fund an advanced swabbing strategy. This means every horse in the eight feature races throughout the Carnival will be tested with samples subjected to the same stringent analysis as the winner of every race in the Northern Territory.
“It will be as if all horses have won the race. We have budgeted on nearly 100 being tested,” Hensler said.
The TRNT Board has shown its commitment, applying this strategy for feature races at the recent Alice Springs Cup Carnival, with all samples analysed returning no abnormalities.
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.
