FORMER president Bob Frappell has topped the poll at the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Queensland Association elections just held.

Frappell, who stepped down from the chairmanship following his election to the Toowoomba Turf Club committee, received 129 votes followed by Gary Turkington 119 and Erica Bates on 107.

A media release distributed today by the TBQA reads:

SHADOW Racing Minister, Ray Stevens, has told State Parliament that the Racing Queensland Hall of Fame should be re-named the 'Hall of Infamy' following the controversial induction of RQ Chairman Bob Bentley.

Mr Stevens accused 'the Bligh Labor Government and the Minister ‘Not Responsible for Racing’, Mr Peter Lawlor, of continuing to let down Racing in Queensland by allowing the Chairman of Racing Queensland, Mr Bob Bentley to be inducted into the Racing ‘Hall of Fame’ on a recommendation from his own Bentley-controlled Board.

IN his widely-read weekly column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on criticism from Shadow Racing Minister Ray Stevens to the controversial induction of RQ Chairman Bob Bentley to the Hall of Fame.

Here is the Butts’ column which has become a popular feature on this web site.

THIS web-site continues to listen to what our readers have to say and has introduced a ‘Wednesday Whinge’ where you can express your feelings on racing industry issues of the past week. Just e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

This week the Bob Bentley Hall of Fame induction totally dominated the e-mail box. There was also a bagging for stand-in TVN Racing Review host, Terry Bailey; questions about how Jedi Starfighter saluted at Doomben at $201; and calls for a change of jockey for rising Queensland superstar Shoot Out.

NOT since we started the ‘Wednesday Whinge’ has an issue provoked more e-mails than the circumstances surrounding the appointment of Chairman Bob Bentley to the Racing Queensland Hall of Fame.

RACING Queensland Limited (RQL) today said any trainer who has been previously disciplined on a number of occasions for presenting runners with prohibited substances in their animals’ systems will now be asked to show cause before having their licence returned.

Director of integrity operations Mr Jamie Orchard said the strict new measure applies to all codes and has been in effect for the past six weeks.

THE appointment of Chairman Bob Bentley to the Racing Queensland Hall of Fame has attracted criticism mainly surrounding accusations that his name was not on the list of prospective inductees sent to industry stake-holders participating in the selection process.

The RQ Board insists proper process was followed and that it was made clear in writing to all panel members on the nomination form that the Awards Committee could add new inductees at its own discretion and that the final selection decision remained with that Committee.

THE 2009/10 racing season was capped off with the announcement of Shoot Out as the Queensland Horse of the Year on Saturday night.

As a three-year-old, Shoot Out won the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes, Group 1 Randwick Guineas, Group 1 AJC Derby before rounding out the season with a victory in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes.

FOLLOWING the conduct of the Cairns Cup Carnival in early August 2010, there has been considerable discussion in North Queensland regarding the state of the track at Cannon Park.

Subsequent to the Cairns Cup Carnival, Racing Queensland Limited facility maintenance and development manager, Mr Warren Williams, and an external turf consultant visited Cannon Park and developed a strategy in an endeavour to provide the best possible racing surface for the upcoming Cairns Amateur Carnival.

THIS web-site continues to listen to what our readers have to say and has introduced a ‘Wednesday Whinge’ where you can express your feelings on racing industry issues of the past week. Just e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Topics of e-mails received this week varied from response to the Racing Queensland decision concerning the holiday gift from the Toowoomba Turf Club to its former chairman, a wash-up of the Bowen races brawl; attacks on the Racing Victoria Chief Steward on a Facebook site and calls for a ‘tongue control bit’ to be placed on TVN panelist Richard Callander.

HERE is this week’s selection from the e-mail box: