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. Our old mate ‘Godfrey Smith’ is back by popular demand and again pens his ‘Look Back at the Racing Week’. The Whinge will also include 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.

CURRENT RQ BOARD ‘INEPT AT COMMUNICATING WITH GREYHOUND COMMUNITY’

A sad indictment from a HIGH PROFILE and DISILLUSIONED GREYHOUND OWNER-BREEDER in QUEENSLAND:

‘I have to say firstly that I am a third generation greyhound owner and breeder and a current licensee so under no circumstances use my name.

I reluctantly send this to you because of the depressed nature of the greyhound racing industry in this State. There seems to be no other way to get opinions expressed about how badly this current government is handling racing in particular the greyhounds.

The fate of the industry was sealed about 5-6 years ago when the then chair of the independent greyhound authority gave in to Bob Bentley’s demands and amalgamated into what is now Racing Queensland.

We thought the industry was reasonably well handled by Mr Bentley. While he did not complete what he started, he gave the greyhound industry some confidence in the future.

He at least had the good manners to have communication with the greyhound people unlike this present board which just flatly refuses to acknowledge requests from representative groups about the future of the sport.

The current board seems inept at communicating with participants and the overall promotion of greyhound racing in this State is pathetic even though we have a board member who is employed by Radio TAB.

We get flooded every day with trot tips, trot segments and the dogs get nought. That says a lot for the marketing power of our board. Anyone watching last week’s Albion Park meeting for the heats of the Nationals would have seen a track, supposed to be our premier track, have all the appearances of a cemetery.

The starting boxes had no signage from sponsors and the winning post was no better. Here we had the premier track in Queensland with a stark single winning post, no signs etc and nothing to indicate it was an active and vibrant industry which it was pre-Dixon and Co.

It’s easy to see how we are the laughing stock of participants in other states. Have sponsors left the industry in droves or are the officials just too lazy to get off their backsides and find some sponsors?

Even a country track like Lismore shows how to market the product unlike the dismal pictures beamed across the Sky network which shows a total lack of any sponsorship (in Brisbane). This is despite the fact RQ has employed a so-called greyhound marketing manager in addition to an assistant. What do they do? They can’t even find sponsors.

Letters written to the board about the farcical situation with Cronulla Park go unanswered. They don’t even have the good manners to acknowledge that any correspondence has been received.

The Racing Minister Mr Dickson got up at the greyhound awards night to announce Cronulla Park would start being built in May. That was three months ago and nothing has happened.

No one can even show us a plan for the track although one board member told people that the track would be up and running in May 2015. People have as much faith in this as they do his tips, which is a sad indictment seeing that he is one of the trusted three selected to administer greyhound racing.

Once it used to be a happy place to attend a race meeting now it’s a misery. People have no confidence in the board or of anything Racing Queensland says or plans. Participants are fed up with the lies and deceit, the promises and announcements which never eventuate, the rudeness of RQ not to even acknowledge written requests.

It seems no surprise then to see the recent polls as to the support the Newman Government has. The greyhound industry does not have a lot of voting power but when a Government is going so bad you would like to think they would try to correct the sinking ship by giving the greyhound industry some optimism not a series of lies and unfulfilled promises.

To do that Newman or his minders need to sack the current greyhound board and put in three people who will stand up to Mr Dixon and make sure that “we run as one” does not mean the one stands for thoroughbreds, which is all Dixon is concerned about.’

 

BREEDING SCHEME REINFORCES THE ‘MYRIAD OF FOOLS’ WITHIN HALLS OF POWER

BRETT W, a regular Queensland racing contributor, writes:

‘LAST week’s announcement about the Queensland Thoroughbred Breeding Scheme reinforced to me that the LNP Government has a myriad of fools within its halls of power.

Many of us recognize that the Racing Minister clearly fits within this category, but Premier-to-be Tim Nichols has now been endorsed as well through his apparent stupidity last week.

In my view, below highlights why we should have concerns that Treasurer Tim is in control of our finances:

"As Treasurer, on behalf of the Government, I’m delighted to be able to support the expansion of the QTIS Scheme, that will see it rated as the best racing breeding scheme in the country," Mr Nicholls said.

Unfortunately for Tim, he or his advisers must have failed to see Racing Victoria’s announcement just last month, which highlighted that the VOBIS Scheme had been increased to $19.4 million. Importantly, the Racing Victoria media release clearly articulated the benefits of VOBIS as outlined below:

• Expansion of the exclusive VOBIS Gold Premier Race Series from 10 to 13 races with the inclusion of four-year-old only and combined three and four-year-old feature races;

• The 2014-15 VOBIS Gold Premier Race Series to offer $1.9 million in prize money and bonuses – up from $1.5 million this season;

• The addition of Pakenham as a regional host of a VOBIS Gold Premier Race, alongside Ballarat, Bendigo, Swan Hill, Wangaratta and Warrnambool, with a feature race for four-year-olds programmed at south eastern Victoria’s newest track on 26 April, 2015;

• Creation of a lucrative VOBIS Gold Breeders Raceday at Caulfield on 18 April, 2015, highlighted by the running of four races in the VOBIS Gold Premier Race Series;

• A total of $5 million in VOBIS Gold bonuses on offer next season – up from $3 million this season – with $20,000 bonuses available on 100 four-year-old races;

• An enticing $12.5 million in Super VOBIS bonuses will be programmed in 2014-15 which brings the total rewards on offer across the VOBIS schemes to a record $19.4 million.

Now if you are a Queensland owner trying to determine what benefits are associated with Racing Queensland’s announcement, GOOD LUCK!

You see, although Racing Victoria clearly outlined the additional benefits associated with VOBIS, Racing Queensland continues to treat its stakeholders with contempt and hasn’t provided any financial details within its announcement.

One questions why?

Recent history suggests to me that there is something in this deal that all stakeholders may not agree on. So as usual, Racing Queensland goes out with the big headline, but omits the detail.

Some cynics may think that the reason behind this announcement was that breeders want to get mares booked into their stallions on the back of the announcement, before all details of the announcement are revealed.

One thing did slip through the cracks of the media release, which was that although Racing Queensland requires owners to now pay fees to be part of the Scheme, after paying an inflated price for a Queensland-bred horse, THE BREEDERS ARE NOW GOING TO GET 6% OF OUR BONUS!

So much for the LNP suggesting it had changed its approach, and that it was going to be open and transparent, and listen to its stakeholders. I don’t think too many owners will be happy with what was announced last week. That is probably why not all details were provided to us.

Anyway, bring on March 2015, as this Government has again shown to me that it has no credibility whatsoever. Nor in my view does Racing Queensland who continues to withhold information from its stakeholders.’ 

 

And THIS EMAIL on the same topic from another regular contributor, JIM B:

WHY ARE ‘GREEDY BREEDERS’ GETTING FIRST CRACK AT EXTRA MONEY BEFORE OWNERS?

‘CAN anyone at Racing Queensland, or within the Queensland Government, please explain to me why the greedy thoroughbred breeders have got the first crack at the money from the Tatt’s deal?

To put things into perspective, thoroughbred, harness and greyhound owners and trainers are the lifeblood of the Queensland racing industry. Therefore, why before we learn our fate, have we had to endure Darren Condon and Tim Nichols telling us what they have done for the thoroughbred breeders?

This doesn’t make sense. Kevin Dixon told us all to hold tight and that all will be released in four to six weeks. We have all been patiently waiting, as we were requested, and then we get this release about the thoroughbred breeders.

From my perspective I have had enough of waiting. I have been promised so much from the Government and Kevin Dixon, now it is their time to deliver.

Mr Dixon told us that the funding had to be discussed and agreed in totality, and that this would take a few weeks. From my perspective, these few weeks are up, and if, as advised by Kevin Dixon, these issues needed to be considered in totality, there is no way that the extra money for the thoroughbred breeders could have been approved without the remaining allocation being considered and approved.

For this reason, why didn’t Racing Queensland just come out and tell us where the money is being spent? Why drip feed us? Why were the thoroughbred breeders first to know?

This is just another example of the farcical joke that has become Racing Queensland and the Queensland Government.

So much for WE RUN AS ONE. I hope that Mr Dixon has relinquished his thoroughbred breeding interests, and that this announcement could not be construed as him feathering his own nest, or that of his close friends.’

 

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE SUSTAINABILITY REVIEW – GONE WITHOUT A TRACE?

PAUL T raises an issue that Racing Queensland continues to ignore:

‘I note in the latest column of ‘Silks and Saddles” Terry Butts attributes a statement to Mr Condon of Racing Queensland that Queensland has too many Race Clubs and too many Race dates.

This comment, again attributed to Mr Condon, has appeared in a number of reports in various media outlets over the last month.

On 29 June 2012, Racing Queensland issued a press release announcing the appointment of Deloitte to conduct a Sustainability Review of Racing in Queensland.

In late 2012, I contacted Racing Queensland about five times to see if the Report had been completed and when it was to be released. I could not get a response from Racing Queensland that the Report even existed. I followed up the contact people at Deloitte to be advised the report had been completed and was with Racing Queensland.

I again tried Racing Queensland a couple of times in 2013 without success.

It would appear the Sustainability Review Report has sunk without trace.

Mr Condon’s comment about too many Race Clubs and too many Race dates would be, in my opinion, in line with the conclusions of the Deloitte Report into the Sustainability of Racing in Queensland.

It would be interesting to find out if the Deloitte Report is being used by Racing Queensland as a Blueprint for future planning with a major reduction of Racing Queensland funding of non-TAB racing.’

  

IS IT THE END OF THE SEYMOUR ERA OR WILL THE ‘HARNESS KING’ STILL CALL THE SHOTS?

ALBERT W of BRISBANE posed this question:

‘IS it the end of an era for harness racing in Queensland with administrative dynamo Kevin Seymour announcing his retirement, or will he remain the ‘non playing captain’ retaining control behind the scenes?

PHIL Purser was the only racing journalist with the balls to ‘get it right’ about the retirement of Kevin Seymour when he declared it ‘a good news story’ on his website, justracing.

No doubt when Mr Seymour’s ‘PR man’ arrives back from his duties at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow there will be a glowing tribute in The Courier-Mail to the harness racing achievements of the ‘great man’.

Alas there will be no mention of how the code has gone backwards during his all too lengthy term running the sport in Queensland. Nor will there be any mention about how the crowds have sadly dwindled away to next to nothing; or how the integrity of the sport is at an all-time low; or how Mr Seymour used his political influence with both sides of politics to ensure harness racing got far more than what it deserved when the TAB prizemoney distribution was shelled out.

Phil Purser was right to dispute the ‘eternal optimist’ in Seymour suggesting that he will depart harness racing where ‘the turnover is up and better horses are racing and there is more public confidence in the sport’.

Come on Kev – we’re not a bunch of morons – everyone knows how bad the code is travelling and about your only claim to fame is ‘controlling the media’ – from which you even have a ‘yes man’ ready to step into your shoes at Albion Park.

Rather than me rave on, let me conclude by saying that never were truer words spoken than those of Phil Purser when he declared:

‘I would happily suggest publicly that “harness racing in Queensland has been dying on the vine for the last decade or two to the point where the once vibrant industry that had tracks dotted right along the Queensland coast as far north as Cairns and as far west as Toowoomba, nowadays has been decimated to the point whereby it only has three current functional tracks, namely Albion Park, Redcliffe and Marburg and Marburg in a non-TAB track”. But then again, I guess the band did keep playing as the Titanic sank, so in racing it’s best to remain positive at all times.’

AND this one from LINDSAY K of BRISBANE on the same topic:

‘GREAT CONTRIBUTION THAT SEYMOUR MADE CAME AT A COST TO OTHER CODES’

‘THE greatest contribution that Kevin Seymour made to harness racing in Queensland during his decades of control came at a cost to the gallops and especially greyhound racing.

The dog industry will be rejoicing his departure which was overdue when he became the biggest shareholder in the Queensland TAB and on the Board of Tattersalls. If that wasn’t a conflict of interest then none will ever exist in racing in Queensland.

With all due respects to what he supposedly achieved as the ‘king of harness racing in Queensland’ Mr Seymour would have been lost without his ability to influence the political decisions made concerning the overall racing industry and was just one of the trimmings of his multi-millionaire business status which saw those running the State scared to offend him.

Bob Gibbs was the exception and didn’t miss him at one stage of his term as Racing Minister but the influence soon returned and has continued over both spectrums of politics.

Harness racing has prevailed – or should I say, survived – at the expense of greyhound racing which has proven far more successful and popular in recent times but has been treated second rate while the ‘red hots’ have enjoyed the lion’s share of the distribution to the minor codes.

Will we see that change now that Seymour has decided to retire from his administrative duties? Not likely, especially when you look at a couple of the weak-kneed replacements who won’t cough without asking his permission first.

There has been a suggestion that in the breakdown of the ‘pot of gold’ distribution to the three codes from this ‘amazing’ new TAB agreement brokered by the Racing Minister and the RQ Chairman harness and dogs will received 12.5 per cent each.

Can someone explain to me how that is fair? For starters the gallops will be getting a drop in percentage from what they received previously, even if in money terms they get much more. Greyhounds will be up. But harness is hardly receiving a distribution comparable to what they return to the industry turnover-wise, as was promised beforehand.

Kevin Seymour might be gone but he’ll still be pulling the strings harness wise and influencing what happens in the other codes as well while we have a Government that panders to his likes and appoints racing Board directors who are told to do likewise.’

 

‘ALL THE INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS GET IS THE PROPOGANDA THAT RQ PUMPS OUT’

JIM M of GOLD COAST wrote:

‘AS an industry participant I have had a gutful of not getting useful information from Racing Queensland.

All we get is the rubbish they want to put out to persuade us they are doing a good job.

Well that’s great! Pour resources into putting out media releases to tell us how good they are and about all those wonderful things Racing Queensland is doing.

But when there is a material change to their greyhound pages on their website do they put out a statement to tell us what is happening and when and what the changes are? No! Too busy putting together all the rubbish they want to feed to us.

If we were customers and had a choice to get our product from someone else in Queensland, we would, and Racing Queensland would go broke.

Why couldn't someone have found the time to advise us of what was coming? Instead we are informed after the changes are made?

It is high time the Government stepped in to sort Racing Queensland out because at the moment the place is not doing the Government any favors at all and it will be costing the LNP votes on a daily basis.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: THERE’S no chance of the Government stepping up to sort RQ out Jim. They think the job that the ‘one man band’ – Little King Kev – is doing, is just fine. Then again compare what he’s doing to that of the Racing Minister and he’s a genius.

 

WHAT ODDS TVN GIVES ‘BIG RICHIE’ NOTHING MORE THAN A SLAP ACROSS THE KNUCKLES?

WE received several emails concerning the on-air ‘gaffe’ by Richard Callander on TVN last Saturday but rather than be repetitive have run just the one gripe which hopefully gets the general message across.

LEANNE K of SYDNEY writes:

‘SURPRISE, surprise! Big ‘Richie’ Callander has put his hoof down his neck yet again with an inappropriate comment on the TVN race day coverage that has offended a lot of people.

Will TVN take the necessary action to penalize the outspoken one for his offensive behavior? Not likely – he’s got too much start being the son of a gun who seems to call plenty of shots still with the TVN heavies.

How must Carolyn Searcy feel after being shot out of a canon because they wanted to bring Jason Richardson onto the race day hosting team? She is a mile in front of Callander – knows her stuff racing-wise, is very articulate and never talks through her pocket or speaks inappropriately to snare a headline.

We keep hearing about this legion of supporters who love the style of big Richard. What style is that? Talking over the top of people to get his message across, shouting down the microphone in glee every time his mate Chris Waller wins a race, even with a stable second string that has cost the ‘mug’ punters yet again, or getting the only opinion across the TVN air waves that he thinks counts – his own.

The racing public has had a gutful of Callander and so have a growing number of those involved in the industry. It’s time TVN stopped showing favoritism and sent a message to all their hosts that this sort of comment is unacceptable by standing big Richie down – without pay – to the end of the spring carnival.

But the chances of that happening are one million to one!’

EDITOR’S NOTE: HERE is a report on the above controversy by DARYL TIMMS in the HERALD SUN – interestingly it came out of the Melbourne racing media and not Sydney where Callander is based.

TVN presenter Richard Callander could be stood down for making an inappropriate comment during live coverage of Saturday’s Rosehill meeting.

Although TVN published an apology on its Racing Network website late yesterday, it did not name the offender.

Callander used his Twitter account to apologise late on Sunday.

I made a comment yesterday that I apologised immediately 4 that may have offended & wasn't up to @TVNTVN standard I apologise to all Richard

In a statement the network said: “TVN is aware of an inappropriate comment used during the Live Racing Broadcast on Saturday.

“The comment made is not acceptable and TVN does not condone its use. The channel is reviewing the situation and will be addressing the issue with the presenter involved.

We apologise for any offence caused to any of our valued viewers.”

TVN did not reveal what Callander said, but Channel 7 AFL commentator Brian Taylor was recently attacked after calling Geelong star Harry Taylor a “big poofter” on live television.

He was stood down from his radio duties last month and forced to undergo counselling.

Taylor was at the centre of a social media storm when he made the gay slur during Seven’s Saturday night pre-match coverage of last month’s Sydney and Carlton game.

Despite calls for him to be sacked, he returned after agreeing to counselling. He apologised at the time.

 

SUNSHINE COAST DECLARED ‘DEADLIEST’ BY COALITION FOR PROTECTION OF RACEHORSES

TERRY J of SUNSHINE COAST sent this email:

‘BECAUSE I believe that a lot of horse racing people would not have heard this report on the ABC AM program I write in the hope that you will give it a run in your widely-read column.

I am a great fan of the gallops – have been for years – but have watched and listened to all this political crap trap about how wonderful the new racing infrastructure is since the LNP Government and the new control Board came to power.

The ABC report covers racing throughout the nation but it is indeed alarming to hear that the track where most horses have died is the Sunshine Coast and this is an area that I suggest Racing Queensland should be addressing more seriously.

Here is what was reported:

ELIZABETH JACKSON: An animal welfare group has named two Queensland tracks as the deadliest for race horses in Australia.

The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses has compiled a report detailing the number of horses that have died in races - or shortly after - over the past 12 months.

It says six horses died racing on the Sunshine Coast and five died at the Gold Coast.

From Brisbane, here's Stephanie Smail.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: The report shows 125 horses have died on the racetrack or shortly after, in the past 12 months.

It states the most common cause of death was a so-called catastrophic leg injury.

Ward Young is from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses.

He says, on average a horse has died on an Australian racetrack every three days since last July.

WARD YOUNG: We think there is a culture of acceptance in racing to accept that this is just part of the game. Whereas we'd like to look a bit deeper and to try and come up with some of the reasons why we think horses are dying in horse racing so that we can try and address those into the future and reduce that number to as low as possible.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: New South Wales recorded the most racehorse deaths, with a total of 41. Victoria recorded 34.

But the report declares the Sunshine Coast has the most lethal track in Australia with six horses dying in the past 12 months.

Ward Young says more research is needed to determine why more horses died at that track than others interstate.

He argues racing horses too young can be a killer.

WARD YOUNG: Seven per cent of horses who broke down were actually two years of age, which we think is significant in itself. But to find that more than 50 per cent of the horses who did break down later on in life were raced as two year olds confirms what we've been saying for a long time, that racing them while they were too young and underdeveloped simply predisposes them to breakdowns in the future.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: The racing industry has hit back.

Peter McGauran from the Australian Racing Board says the number of horse deaths is minimal compared to the tens of thousands that raced.

He argues it is safe to race two-year-old horses.

PETER MCGAURAN: The science is now in that racing horses as two years olds, if they're mature enough, is to their advantage because it increases bone density and strengthens bones. Horses that do not race as two-year-old are possibly more susceptible to bone fractures later on.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: Wade Birch from Racing Queensland says the industry works hard to ensure the welfare of horses is maintained at every stage of their racing career.

He points out nearly 5,000 horses have run at the Sunshine Coast in the past year and six have died.

WADE BIRCH: In life there's a risk if you do anything whether you're human or horse; there's a risk that you may well be injured whether you're playing football or you're competing in a sport of any kind, there is a risk to any sort of activity. Horse racing is no different to any other event, whether it's equestrian events or cross country events. There is some kind of risk of injury to horses.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: Ward Young says more investigation is needed into the death of race horses on Australian tracks and how they can be prevented.

WARD YOUNG: We hope to get a few more sets of data over years to come and then hopefully this information will lead to world class animal welfare and much needed change for animals in the racing industry.

In conclusion might I say that I was disgusted by the flippant response of the RQ Chief Steward (Wade Birch) that there is an element of risk in anything. Might I suggest Mr Birch that the ‘element of risk’ you speak of is far greater for a racehorse every time it steps onto the track at the Sunshine Coast? One would have thought you are negligent in your duty of care to protect these wonderful thoroughbreds if you do nothing about the statistical nightmare presented.’

 

‘AT THE END OF THE DAY THE ONLY BIG WINNER FROM THE TAB DEAL IS TATTS’

CLEM K of NORTH QUEENSLAND writes:

‘HERE’S hoping the new CEO of Racing Queensland is being paid plenty considering these some-might-say ‘silly statements’ he continues to make on behalf of the hierarchy.

How many heavies does it take to change a light bulb at the Deagon bunker?

They’ve got the ‘loot’ from the new ‘you beaut’ TAB deal with Tattersalls yet RQ are still pussy-footing around with the distribution formula.

What’s the problem – are they waiting for their ‘spin doctor’ to return from holidays to ensure the best slant possible is put on the announcement in the local rag?

Or are they working out how to sell the deal to the greyhound industry and explain how that code might have caught up but is still on a par distribution wise with harness racing which they have out-performed for some time?

Darren Condon says RQ just wants to get the formula ‘right’. If they can’t get it ‘right’ by now, they never will. Many suspect there is another reason for the delay but such is the secrecy with which racing runs under Chairman Kevin Dixon that the industry continues to be kept in the dark and fed you know what.

I read where Mr Condon – and obviously his boss – are ‘somewhat peeved’ at the negative publicity surrounding the new Tatts deal. That provoked another ridiculous statement from the CEO.

‘Just because it’s a good deal for Tatt’s doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad deal for racing.’

It doesn’t – but look beyond the ‘smoke and mirrors’ and the ‘political and official propaganda’ and one has to ask if it’s as good as they would have the industry believe.

Yes the three codes will be better off – but they would want to be considering it is a 30-year deal with a betting provider in Tattersalls that doesn’t rate with most punters.

And at the end of the day there is only one big winner in this deal – ask any analyst or independent financial expert – and that is Tatts – regardless of what Messrs Condon and Dixon would have the industry believe.’

 

REFUSAL TO IMPLEMENT FINDINGS AN INSULT TO THOSE WHO RAN RACING INQUIRY

OSCAR J of SUNSHINE COAST sent this email:

‘MY friends and I have been associated with racing in Queensland for a long time and have seen a series of racing inquiries – all of them politically motivated – but are gob-smacked at the refusal of the LNP Government to implement some of the hard-line recommendations of the latest one that they implemented.

We believe Premier Campbell Newman, Treasurer Tim Nicholls, Racing Minister Steve Dickson and the RQ Board, led by Kevin Dixon, have insulted Commissioner Margaret White and senior counsel James Bell QC by ‘playing politics’ with the findings.

The ‘supreme’ insult was the decision of the Racing Minister to ignore a recommendation that Kevin Dixon be stood aside as Chairman of the All Codes Board to avoid any suggestions of a conflict in his ‘independence’ because he heads the board responsible for running the thoroughbred sector as well.

Adding to that ‘insult’ was the decision not to follow the recommendation of the Inquiry findings and pursue legal action against Tattersalls – instead dropping that court matter, not telling the industry who paid the costs and jumping into bed with the gambling giant after calling for ‘expressions of interest’ from corporate agencies which was obviously a waste of time and money.

We would argue that no Commissioner of a Racing Inquiry in Queensland has commanded industry respect to the degree that Margaret White did. Her findings deserved a better fate than being consigned to the political scrap heap after referring the Bentley Board to ASIC where there has still been no outcome.

And nor is there likely to be one against them after RQ failed to pursue further court action against Tatts. It’s all too silly and farcical for words – but that’s racing run by Dickson and Dixon and remote-controlled by ‘Tim the Toolman’.

Normally there is a reward for the Commissioner of a Racing Inquiry from the Government who appointed them. Messrs Daubney and Rafter were elevated to the bench after their work on the Labor-Government inspired Inquiry some years ago.

Interestingly Justice Martin Daubney has been in the ‘news’ lately in other areas than racing.

The Courier-Mail reported that the Supreme Court judge had admitted to lobbying incoming Chief Justice Tim Carmody not to accept the controversial appointment.

Justice Daubney admitted speaking to Judge Carmody with the ‘unanimous authorization’ of all Supreme Court judges. He declined to say exactly what was discussed, or confirm whether there were discussions over a plan to invite Judge Carmody to join the court as a judge, but not the chief.

Senior LNP Government sources said Justice Daubney’s role as a kind of judicial envoy was inappropriate and intrusive, and accused him of meddling in government business beyond the court’s authority.

We then had Justice Daubney ‘abused’ in an unacceptable verbal volley of foul language by a man on attempted murder charges. One might suggest that he copped a similar volley – not as foul and behind-the-scenes – from some in racing after handing down the findings in that Racing Inquiry during the Labor and Bentley era.

It’s all very interesting in the seedy world of racing and politics in Queensland.’

EDITOR’S NOTE: THOSE still concerned about the failure of the Government to remove Kevin Dixon as Chairman of the All Codes Board had better get used to him running the show. A couple of ‘yes men’ are about to be appointed to replace Barry Taylor and Brad Steele who resigned in frustration from the ‘one man band’. There is also a tip that Dixon is being groomed to replace John Messara as Chairman of the Australian Racing Board – the toothless tiger than refuses to do anything about the corporate bookmaking takeover by pushing for a National TAB in this country.

For those who are interested in the unacceptable court room attack on Justice Martin Daubney here is a report on proceedings by RAE WILSON in the CQ NEWS:

AN explosion of filthy language more likely to be heard in a bar or on a rugby field than in a supreme court spewed from the mouth of a man on attempted murder charges.

David Allan Baker, who also uses the surname Baldwin, had just sacked his solicitor which resulted in his entire legal team withdrawing just before his trial was about to begin.

What followed was a tirade directed at Justice Martin Daubney where he called the judge a "silly old c***", "fatso" and "lardarse".

He told the justice to "stick your trial up your f***ing arse" and told him to order a pizza too.

Despite Baldwin interrupting the justice at every turn, usually swearing, Justice Daubney remained calm.

"Yeah, I don't know what you're f***in' talking about, you silly old c***," Baker said.

"Thank you for that submission," Justice Daubney said.

In another exchange, Baker asked the justice if he wanted "a Mickey Mouse badge".

"Stick it on your fat chest? Hey? What do you want? A Mickey Mouse badge. Come on fatso, what have you got to say for that?," Baker said.

APN could not publish these comments previously because it could have been prejudicial to the man's trial if a juror had read it.

Baker was about to move to Gladstone to work when he stabbed his former girlfriend in the heart with a knife at her Bray Park home on November 2, 2009.

A jury found him guilty late on Thursday.

He was sentenced to 15 years jail on Friday.

The transcript of his rant has been sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions for its consideration.

 

VICTORIANS HAVE A MESSAGE FOR PETER V’LANDYS – HANDS OFF OUR RACING!

PAUL Z of MELBOURNE sent this email:

‘YET another knee-jerk reaction from the Racing NSW administrator who many believe has far too much influence behind the scenes in racing in this country.

Let me tell you there are plenty south of the NSW border who fear that Peter V’Landys, through his power base the ARB Chairman John Messara, is having his two bob’s worth about the way racing is being run in Victoria.

It wouldn’t surprise us if it was happening in Queensland where another former breeder is running the show and being touted as the likely replacement for Messara when he steps down from the ARB chairmanship.

No-one in Victoria cares about that. The ARB is a toothless tiger. But when an official like Mr V’Landys is feared to have some influence on racing this side of the border it is a source of concern.

How could anyone in Victoria – regardless of the circumstances during their little seaside chats during fishing expeditions – listen to the likes of V’Landys when you look at the state of racing in NSW, or Sydney in particular, where Saturday racing has degenerated into a joke.

In case you missed the new owners and trainers in NSW recently labeled a decision by Racing NSW (make that V’landys) to change the benchmarks of four races, three on Saturdays, later this month as ‘a knee-jerk reaction’ to small race fields.

Mr V’landys to take the unusual step of apologizing for the late, but what he considered necessary, changes to the August program. It’s one hell of a balls-up in NSW racing.

 And to think that V’landys would like to tell us how to run racing in Victoria when you look at Saturday’s Flemington card which has attracted a nomination of 248 horses – a figure they can only dream of in Sudney.

And Racing Victoria’s decision to program a ninth race worth $40,000 in prizemoney has again proved popular, with 47 horses nominated for the Benchmark 78 over 1200 metres. Last week the $40,000 race drew 43 entries, of which 14 were acceptors on Wednesday.

The message is loud and clear to Messrs V’Landys and Messara: Get your own house in order before you start trying to tell others how to run theirs!’

 

STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN THE MAINSTREAM RACING MEDIA

AUSTRALIAN FAVORITE FOR VRC ROLE AFTERE QUITTING BRITISH RACING POST

FORMER Australian racing executive Paul Bittar has emerged as one of the front runners for the prize position of chief executive of the Victoria Racing Club.

PATRICK BARTLEY reports in THE AGE that Bittar recently ended his contract as chief executive of the British Horseracing Board and is understood to be planning a return to Australia.

  With an extensive racing knowledge, Bittar is warming in calculations for the $800,000-plus a year position. He formerly worked with Racing NSW and Racing Victoria as well as spending time with racing in New Zealand. Bittar left Racing Victoria suddenly prior to the current incumbent Bernie Saundry being appointed to the position.

Current acting CEO Julian Sullivan is also believed to be on the short list for the position. Sullivan, who has raced, owned and bred racehorses, has played a significant role in taking the four-day spring carnival to the heights that has made the event one of the foremost racing fixtures in the world.

Sullivan has driven the VRC's promotion of race meetings across the year and his event management skills has seen the administrator considered one of the most proficient operators in the racing world.

A new CEO is expected to be announced in September with the successful candidate having to work specifically on the building of a new stand at Flemington.

The position as head of the VRC has changed considerably in recent years, with Racing Victoria absorbing much of the negotiations with wagering leaving executives to concentrate on racing matters.

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