August 2014 QROA E-Newsletter

QROA Report

QROA has reached a new agreement with the Brisbane Racing Club in relation to benefits provided to QROA members by the BRC the details of the new agreement are as per below.

The BRC agree to:
“Provide to QROA members those reciprocal raceday privileges currently extended to members of other principal race clubs. Such privileges consist of a complimentary pass to the Members’ Reserve on all BRC racedays, plus the opportunity to purchase an additional pass. QROA members will obtain privileges on presentation of a current QROA membership card and proof of identity at the BRC Raceday Office. It is emphasised that the privileges do not include access to the Members’ car-park, or racecourse admission, or access to other areas restricted to BRC members and their guests (eg Derby Bar at Eagle Farm).”

Payment of Jockeys’ Superannuation

Racing Queensland has assured QROA that owners will not be expected to pay contributions to the forthcoming entitlement for jockeys to receive superannuation. At our recent meeting with Darren Condon he advised QROA that owners’ monies were not part of the equation in meeting this new racing cost.

Payment of Trainers’ Work Cover Costs

Racing Queensland has also assured QROA that trainers’ work cover costs are the trainer’s responsibility.

Darren Condon advised QROA that he has told trainers that work cover is part of their cost structure and not an item of owners’ costs.

New QROA Website

QROA has commissioned a new website with an integrated automatic membership renewal system which should streamline the operations of the association’s administration. The current site has experienced some difficulties recently creating delays with updates to the site.

New Members

QROA welcomes the following new members:

Bruno and Maria Dvonovich Slacks Creek, Mr and Mrs J McDonald Oxenford, Mr and Mrs Gleeson Northgate, Ron and Leanne Heilbronn Morayfield, Guy and Natalie Parkin Caloundra, Jeff and Julie Leaver Rockhampton, Andrea Watson and Daniel Coffey Tanah Merah, James Scully New Farm, Alastair Stewart Toowoomba, Belinda and Nicholas Cooper Carindale, Michael Ghelfi Ingham, William Millet Kanimbula, Geoffrey Harrison Beerwah, Barry and Rachel Le Neuf Cairns, Helen and Peter Moore Mt Sheridan, Steven and Eileen McDonald Mareeba, Daniel Thorne White Rock, Deborah Rogers Agnes Waters, Gary and Amy Palmer Eidsvold.

Disputed Trainer’s Accounts - the Owners’ Perspective

All industries face the problem of accounts rendered for services which the client disputes.

During the discussions on the auto payment system QROA was deluged by complaints from owners about trainers’ accounts and services. Overwhelmingly owners said they would give up racing horses if they were required to automatically pay trainers accounts.

Owners had no faith in, and were uninterested in the idea of a Risa dispute resolution system – the details of which were never provided.

The feedback QROA received from owners on the auto payment system was so strong that the association took the matter up as the main issue facing owners. QROA has had far more complaints about this system than any other single issue.

The QROA 4TAB adverting campaign during the Magic Millions January carnival was highly successful with Darren Condon receiving a large number of phone calls and emails. QROA would like to acknowledge the extra time and effort Darren spent over and above his normal workload answering the many calls he received from our campaign. Since this campaign the ARB have dropped the auto payment system as a priority and QROA has played a part in this outcome.

The racing community is fortunate enough to have its own enforcement officers, the stewarts, who are able to facilitate disputes between owners and trainers. Unfortunately, we are seeing more instances of cases where the stewarts are having to say to owners that they should call the police in order to facilitate the release of horses from trainers’ stables. Trainers do not have a legal lien over either a racehorse or an ID card in cases where the account is in dispute. The ID card for a racehorse is the possession of the studbook and they require that the ID card travel with the horse. In the case of disputed accounts both parties have the same commercial rights as in other industries in that they can take the matter to QCAT for resolution without the need to incur solicitor’s costs.

Further, stewards can stop a horse from racing in special circumstances but that may not occur in every dispute case. Basically it is RQ’s policy that initially all matters that concern civil debts or partnerships should be addressed through civil law remedies. However RQ would support in the recovery of money to the person or business that has obtained a civil decision in their favor. RQ’s involvement in such circumstances could include arranging a payment plan or prohibiting an owner’s horse/s from competing or a trainer not being allowed to start a horse until the matter if fully resolved.

National Owners Issues

There are a number of issues which the national owners council, ATROC, chairman Michael Inglis has been negotiating with the relevant authorities and the position on two of the key issues is as follows.

Jockey’s Superannuation

The ATO is likely to rule that the Jockeys are entitled to Super and that the PRA’s and or Race Clubs will be liable for payments .Originally the ATO was looking to owners for these monies . The Jockeys are not presently pressing for retrospective payments. It as a positive that ATROC was invited to participate as the national body in what is clearly a national issue.

Corticosteroids

Michael Inglis attended a meeting in Melbourne 17 February chaired by Peter McGauran CEO of the ARB where various Industry bodies were represented. This followed a meeting in Sydney the previous week. There is no doubt the evidence supporting the requirement of a stand down period for horses following joint injection of corticosteroids is at best anecdotal .The papers relied on by the ARB and its vets seem flawed .Nevertheless it seems that the ARB will introduce the rule requiring a horse to stand down from racing and trialling following injection .This will fall into line with most other jurisdictions including Honk Kong and Singapore. Stand down periods vary it is likely that there will be a compromise on the currently proposed 10 days. A stand down period of 5 clear days would be the best result and would permit horses to back up from week to week. It is anticipated that 7 or 8 days is the more likely result which would still allow a horse to race fortnightly. All industry participants complained about the lack of consultation before the rule was drafted and circulated.

QROA Sponsors the Women In Racing Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Queensland Racing Industry

The WIR Award for outstanding contributions made to the industry by women was previously sponsored by Racing Queensland but discontinued by Racing Queensland last year. The award was last won by Kerrina King in 2012.

QROA and WIR have reinvigorated the award and it will now be an annual event sponsored by QROA for the recognition of women’s contribution to racing in Queensland.

The winner for 2014 is Val Hayward (pictured above) a senior member of the Magic Millions Company.

Pictured below is Jennifer Bartels and Baslyn Beal Directors of Women In Racing awarding the 2014 trophy to Barry Bowditch from Magic Millions on behalf of Val Hayward (who was attending the Asian Racing Conference) with the 2012 winner Kerrina King at the Late Mail Luncheon for the WRC.

Women Owners

WOMEN owners continue to play a major role in Queensland racing. In the past few months there have been a large number of women owners in the news during the winter carnival.

Just a few of the successful women included Grania McAlpine (pictured below left) and her partner in the smart three year old, Tinto, Annabelle Raff (pictured right) who is a first time owner.

Grania and Annabelle have been ecstatic about Tinto's performance this season . Tinto winning the Gold Coast Bracelet Listed then on to the Golden Roses Gr2 placed 2nd , then to go onto win the Queensland Oaks Gr1. Tinto is spelling now and will resume with the Magic Millions Stayers Cup 2015 her next assignment.

Another successful woman owner is Judy Clairs has also had success with two handy gallopers: Sagatona and Missy Longstocking.

Jan Clark who has owned horses in Queensland for three decades was also successful with her galloper Tears. The Clark colours have been carried to victory by dozens of horses in the past decades.

So it was interesting to note that it is exactly 100 years since the first women was recorded as having owned a Group One winner in Brisbane. The winner was Cajou who won the 1914 Brisbane Cup (then the equivalent of a Group One race) who was owned by Mrs C Ruwald. Unfortunately, because it was at the outbreak of WW1 I have been unable to come up with much more about Mrs Ruwald. However, Cajou was a very good stayer who also won races in Sydney.

The most successful Queensland owner was probably Mim Hedley who had more than 100 wins with horses she owned. The best of them was the 1969 Brisbane Cup winner in Cachondeo.

Therefore it is great to see current women carrying on what is now a 100 year tradition.

Sunshine Coast Turf Club

The Sunshine Coast continues to go ahead as a training centre and it is interesting to note two of the biggest owners in the state have their horses there. The Dovedeen Pty Ltd syndicate has about a dozen horses with Len Treloar and they have been having a lot of success of late. Darby Racing has about 10 horses with Stuart Kendrick at the Corbould Park complex.

Dovedeen is managed by Evan Hartley who has been a well known figure in Queensland racing for many years. It is a perfect combination with Treloar who is gradually building up a full head of steam since relocating from Singapore about five years ago. Kendrick and Darby are also proving a formidable team and have some very nice horses. The best is probably Zellaro who looks a stayer of some promise but they also have the smart two year old Celestial Dragon. Kendrick, who originally trained in Mackay, is one of many younger trainers looking at the long term by setting up on the coast.

Racing Queensland Limited has spent a lot of money on the infrastructure at Corbould Park and it is paying off. The complex is ideal for trainers, no matter how big their teams, and also has the benefit of being in a more relaxed area.

There are another five or six big teams at Caloundra and a good sprinkling of kiwi invaders so we are sure to be seeing more and more Sunshine Coast horses in the metropolitan winners circle. The Sunshine Coast is also becoming a base for more and more southern owners to stable their horses during the winter carnival. The Sunshine Coast Turf Club is a supporter of QROA and provides four free entry passes to financial QROA members per year.

QROA enjoys similar support from all Queensland TAB clubs except Toowomba.

Money for Eagle Farm Upgrade

The Queensland Racehorse Owners Association was thrilled with the news Eagle Farm is to have a major overhaul. The government announced on Stradbroke day that $22 million would be spent on the racetrack by next winter carnival. It will be the first time that major money has been spent on Eagle Farm since 1972. It is an amazing statistic but shows how the track has done a wonderful job without much upkeep. The work will include the reconstruction of the racing surface which has had its critics in recent times. It will also see major work on the inside the track for stabling and training facilities.

The government hopes that better facilities and a track at will stimulate wagering growth on the venue. Eagle Farm makes up a large percentage of the betting turnover on Queensland so it makes sense to spend money on it. The upgrade is part of an overall plan to make Eagle Farm not just a racetrack but a centre with shops, a motel and business houses. In the long term the major source of funds will no longer be racing but rather business.

The QROA has been pushing for the upgrade for some time and we congratulate Racing Queensland on obtaining the funding.

Wayne Wilson

It is with sorrow that QROA notes the passing of Wayne Wilson and our thoughts are with his family. Wayne was not only an outstanding race caller but he was also an avid race horse owner and a staunch long term member of QROA.

Wayne owned more than 30 racehorses in his time going back to a smart creeker called Turf Style in the 1970s. He had many other good horses including Ranch Heiress, Do You Remember, Persian Purse, Vainquer, Bold and Grey. Do You Remember and Ranch Heiress both won the McDougall Stakes which was Wayne's favourite race. Wayne also bred from many of his mares and Do You Remember was a very good broodmare.

However, just as importantly Wayne was a great supporter of owners' rights. He often highlighted the importance of owners and how they should be treated. On many occasions he publically stated that without owners there would be no racing. Having a high profile owner willing to go public with problems was always a major plus. Wayne also often had positive ideas to boost the industry with the most recent the Deagon picnics. It was one of his proudest moments when the race day became a reality last year with a sell out crowd.

Wayne fought cancer for nearly 15 years but always had a cheerful word for owners when they won races at tracks from Eagle Farm to Kilcoy. He will be long remembered and it was pleasing to hear a race is likely to be named after him.

Sir Moments

The winter carnival always produces some touching stories about owners and the wins of Sir Moment were up there with the best. Sir Moments won the Queensland Guineas and Daybreak Lover Hcp to give him the Eagle Farm three year old double. Sir Moments is owned by a Proven Thoroughbreds Syndicate managed by the late Guy Walter’s brother Jamie.

Another Proven Thoroughbreds galloper in Dragon Flyer was Guy Walter’s final winner having won at Goulburn two days before he died. Jamie Walter delivered the eulogy at Guy Walter's funeral and was able to be on hand to see Sir Moments win the Guineas 24 hours later.

By the top sire Choisir, Sir Moments cost $40,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sales but now looks like being a cheap buy. The impressive thing about Sir Moments' wins were his barnstorming finishes. He came from an impossible position to win the Guineas and ran an unbelievable final sectional to win the Daybreak Lover.

Trainer Steve O'Dea is one of the young guns at Eagle Farm and has now won nine Listed races and a Group two with the Guineas. Jamie Walter has put a lot of faith in O'Dea who impressed him when training a horse named Go Cart five years ago. Sir Moments looks certain to be a major player in next year's winter carnival.

The Jamie Walter-O'Dea combination also looks set for a bright future.

The Kling Family

The Kling family have a long relationship with Gold Coast trainer Noel Doyle and it is a combination which has resulted in some very successful horses. They don't come much better than Doyle who has put the polish on top gallopers such as Stylish Century and Kinjite.

The Klings have stuck with him over the years for great results and look on course for even more with the two year old filly Aimee. She was one of the finds of the Brisbane summer racing and is looming as a real chance for the winter races such as the Group 2 BRC Sires Produce and the Group 1 J J Atkins Stakes. The Klings recently retired Aimee's older brother Noble Jester but she should more than fill the void. Their best horse has been Celtic Dancer who won the Group 2 QTC Cup and will hopefully strike some wet tracks this winter.

Another family concern which has been going well are the Lawlors.

Trainer David Lawlor has won a dozen city races this season with horses such as Borehole, Nagoora Burr and Architect.

They are all raced by members of his family which gives him an extra thrill after each win.

Owner Andrew Grant Taylor

The good form of Cape Kidnappers during the winter was just reward for owner-breeder Andrew Grant Taylor. The Kelly Schweida trained son of top sire Commands came of age by winning several races including the Chief de Beers Hcp and the Lightning. Cape Kidnappers was bred by Grant-Taylor and Rob Zuttion who sent the good mare Kidnapper to stud after injury ruined her racetrack career.

The pair retained Cape Kidnappers to race with their friend Tony Havig, who has a share in another of Schweida's smart horses in Agitate. Grant-Taylor always thought Kidnapper would be a Group class mare. Kidnapper ran three class records in a month before injury struck and she had to be prematurely retired. Her son Cape Kidnappers has also done a great job because he has had a lot of leg problems. His wins are a credit to trainer Schweida who has nursed him along and picked the right races for him.

It is a prime example of an owner being rewarded for having faith in a horse and getting the trainer to handle the galloper.

Sad Losses

Queensland's owners ranks lost two outstanding men recently and it would be remiss of us not to pay tribute to them. While Rob Atkinson and Larry Pratt were both better known in different racing fields they were also successful owners in their time.

Atkinson died aged 76 and left a legacy for the breeding industry which will be long remembered.

He and his son Jim had a successful stud operation at Furlong Stud, near Toowoomba, and Rob's brother Alan is also well known in racing circles. Perhaps the best known horse bred by the Atkinsons was Brief Embrace who was by stallion Irgun. Brief Embrace three black type races in Melbourne and was second in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes behind Bel Esprit in 2002.

The stud also produced the Group 1 winner Gold Trail who took out the 2009 Galaxy at Randwick and later won in New Zealand. Rob Atkinson had a great knowledge of pedigrees and was often asked for his opinion by other breeders.

Pratt, aged 78 when he died, was the national voice of Queensland racing for three decades in his role as the ABC's Brisbane race caller. He was also one of the first to be seen in a racing television show.

But he was always proud of his record as an owner and often boasted he never owned a horse that didn't win although he often added they "didn't win much."

Atkinson and Pratt were from a different generation of owners but will always be remembered kindly.

Royal Ascot

Pictured below is John Messara, Chairman of the Australian Racing Board and owner of Arrowfield Stud and his wife, Kristine at Royal Ascot in June.