AUSTRALIAN racing lost its innocence late on Sunday night when an unknown person fired six bullets into the front door of Victorian chief steward Terry Bailey's home.
PATRICK BARTLEY reports for FAIRFAX MEDIA that it was a message sent with anger and intent to challenge the authority of horse racing's head integrity officer.
We have had cars of stipendiary stewards in Australia bombed in the past but they were planted by people knowing there was no one in them. We have had letters and phone calls of threats from those who felt aggrieved at judgments that have been passed down by Bailey and his panel. However, on Sunday night, someone gave notice that they would go to extreme lengths to be heard.
Bailey has his detractors but even his harshest critics were shocked and clearly moved by the scant regard for life. Bailey is a tough man and will not take a backward step when it comes to his job. However, like us all, he has a limit. During an appeal hearing some 18 months ago, Bailey was in the stand for over three days and, during cross-examination, openly wept at the thought of his family being the target of revenge.
Stipendiary stewards are a close-knit group. They don't, for obvious reasons, fraternise with those in the industry because one day they know their paths will cross. They're very dependent on loyalty between each member of the panel.
From the days of becoming cadet stewards, they rarely get a weekend off. They travel the length and breadth of the state and work out of stewards' rooms that are just redeveloped storerooms. They experience none of the lavish French champagne-filled committee rooms race club members have become accustomed to.
They don't come with law degrees or diplomas in science. Much of it is learnt on the run and within a short time, many of them are exposed to the fierce cross-examination of highly paid QCs.
Some people lose races on protest and never forgive them. Jockeys get rubbed out before major races and they stand accused for the loss.
Bailey spoke on Monday morning, deeply concerned that his wife and children could come so close to a cowardly maniac.
He makes no apology for his fierce stand against wrongdoers in this state and will not shy away from building a new culture for Victorian racing, which includes a fierce attack on drug-related matters.
He made sweeping changes as chief steward in harness racing, including identifying and prosecuting those involved in the notorious Blue Magic drug cases.
In his time as the head steward in Victorian racing, he has made rule changes which make it almost impossible to dope a horse and race.
These changes include no alkalising agents within 24 hours of race day. This was specifically aimed at trainers that were "milk-shaking" their horses.
Other changes include no joint cortisone injections inside 10 days of a race, no intravenous injections in the 24 hours preceding race days.
Twelve months ago, Bailey was party to an Australian rule of racing banning anabolic steroids, which brought Australia in line with the rest of the world, particularly Europe.
The most serious of the changes involve setting a cobalt threshold in April last year, which has netted five leading trainers.
The cobalt cases are just beginning to play out in Victoria. The first of the cases, with the Hope training partnership, is currently in front of the RAD Board.
Bailey has shown he is prepared to take on anyone to clean up the industry. He clashed with international trainer Aidan O'Brien in 2007 when he demanded he return to Flemington because of the performances of his horses in the Melbourne Cup of that year.
He also disqualified jockey Danny Nikolic after the rider threatened him in 2012 at a Seymour race meeting.
Bailey is here for the long fight and it will take some doing for him not to declare correct weight this Saturday on Derby Day.
