Letsgohorseracing - Silks & Saddles

Details: Published: 28 August 2017; Created: 28 August 2017

by TERRY BUTTS of the NQ REGISTER

ONE set of statistics claim that our old mate ‘Butch’ Mules was 57 when he so sadly left us last week in the Barcaldine Hospital – and that he rode winners over 40 years for stakes earnings in excess of $2.35 million.

Stats meant nothing to Butch who was essentially a man’s man and lived by the day – not necessarily or strictly to the rules.

Roy ‘Butch’ Mules, from a family of 21, was born in Coonamble NSW but was a Queenslander from his dandruff to his bootlaces.

His was a colourful career – best described as sunshine and shadow – and perhaps crossing a few more dry gullies than lush lawns.

Details: Published: 21 August 2017; Created: 21 August 2017

By TERRY BUTTS of the NQ REGISTER

BREAKFAST With the Stars, the popular prelude to major racing carnivals in Australia, takes on a new dimension at the Cairns Amateurs in a fortnight.

While the immensely popular concept was designed to allow the rank and file to get up close and personal with the stars (horses included) on racecourses from Flemington to far-flung tracks around the country, the Cairns event this year will be devoid of horses.

That is no surprise really as horses and their handlers have always been backstage at the Cairns Amateurs, which in recent times is more about raving than racing. All fizz, fashion and frivolity – but a great social mardi gras nonetheless – if you are not so serious about the actual racing.

Details: Published: 14 August 2017; Created: 14 August 2017

By TERRY BUTTS of the NQ REGISTER

WHILE Queensland and to a lesser degree South Australian racing are on their knees with most of their licensees struggling to survive, foreign-owned corporate bookmaker Sportsbet revenue and customer numbers have far exceeded those of local giant Tabcorp and other competitors in the Australian market.

Sportsbet's underlying operating profit in the six months to June hit $75.7 million, according to a report in the Financial Review last week.

The results also revealed Sportsbet's active customers in Australia rose 13 per cent to 688,000, compared to the 475,000 customers Tabcorp revealed in its full 2017 financial results last week.

Little wonder Sportsbet so strongly opposed the Tabcorp merger with Tatts.