Author Topic: QRIC (Read 37836 times)

Peter Mair · « 2018-Jun-18, 01:48 PM **Reply #250** »

Merging state racing industries

........... looking ahead, there is no separate future for racing in Queensland and South Australia.

It is not good policy for either state to be wasting, on redundant racing, the takeout from their residents punting mainly on races in Victoria and NSW.

Ideally, both these states would be looking to merge their racing operations with NSW and Victoria and hammering out a program of high-quality, metropolitan carnival racing to be run locally occasionally.

gunbower · « 2018-Jun-18, 07:44 PM **Reply #251** »

QRIC is run by some ex-Queensland coppers who know little to nothing about Racing. They are what is best known colloquially as "plods" . Can you imagine a serious police officer such as some one like Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin or his ilk being seriously concerned about the minor matters that these plods at QRIC absorb themselves with every day. Of course not. The plods have simply achieved their level of competence. Serious police work would be far too challenging and therefore a useless State Government has foisted them on the Racing Industry at a huge cost to the taxpayer.

Arsenal · « 2018-Jun-19, 10:09 AM **Reply #252** »

The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing .We are told Peter Charwick leaves Singapore for QRIC in September that's from the horse's mouth,,,,Singapore Turf Club release .......another report has him starting here on 1st August while Terry Bailey is reported to be Chief steward in Singapore in July.......who knows what's going on ...from what I hear the CCC would refer any concerns about the process of Chadwick's appointment to the relevant agency ...and they would monitor the matter...like a half back get the ball ..problem in this case ......out of the scrum......and the agency that is responsible investigates itself.

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Jun-26, 02:52 PM **Reply #253** »

Nothing in this week’s edition of the QGG on the appointment of Peter Chadwick to the position of Chief Stipendiary Steward with QRIC or any update on whether Allan Reardon is going to the CCC following the disclosure Mr Chadwick had a small 2% overseas ownership interest which he is in the process of divesting. Thanks to Nathan Exelby who broke the story in the SM we were informed the horse in question is Royal Phoenix trained by Team Hawkes in Australia.

This information only came to light after it was announced that Mr. Chadwick was the successful applicant for this position, QRIC overlooking several experienced stewards currently employed.....causing Allan Reardon to publicly denounce the appointment process .

QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett is on record as stating he was aware of Mr Chadwick having this overseas racehorse ownership but apparently did not inform the other selection panel members....Mr. Chadwick’s ownership only appears to have been made known after he was advised of his appointment .

Mr Barnett claimed that Mr Chadwick was entitled to have ownership in the horse as it was permitted by the rules of the Singapore Turf Club.

On checking the Rules of the Malayan Racing Association I was unable to find any such rule. On contacting the Malayan Racing Association for them to refer me to the relevant Rule of Racing….. Mr Allan Wee Yuan, Assistant Manager ( Racing Registry & Development) replied on 20th June asking whether I was referring to stipendiary stewards or racing stewards. …..but he didn’t answer my question.
As yet I have had no further advice from him….. IMO it is logical to conclude there is no such rule as asserted to by Mr. Barnett

Under The Malayan Racing Association the Rules refer to these groups of stewards namely...... Professional Racing Stewards, Racing Stewards, Stipendiary Stewards...
It is clear that under Part X111 Rule 157 (1)
Members of the panel of Stewards shall have no interest in horse or race
157 (1) No member of the panel of Stewards participating in official duties of any race or in any inquiry, investigation or hearing arising from or in connection with any race shall (1/8/12):

1. have an interest in any bet in any horse entered for that race; or (1/8/12)
2. have an interest in any horse, whether by himself or through his immediate family, servant or agent, which is entered for that race. (1/8/12)

The definitions of the various classes of stewards is of little help in determining the question asked but not answered by the Malayan Racing Association but I’m guessing that stewards appointed by local committees could possibly be drawn from persons who themselves own or have family connections to racehorse ownership in Singapore.

While there is no rule of the MRA as asserted to allowing stewards to have ownership of horses racing overseas it seems to me that in the absence of any rule both Messrs Chadwick and Barnett have by inference asserted that this supposed rule permitting ownership .....which doesn’t exist.... must be an unwritten one.

The question is does this bring the appointment process into disrepute as claimed by Allan Reardon or is it just another mistaken belief that could reasonably be relied on without affecting the final outcome whether Mr Chadwick is/was the best person for the job?

As stated previously I have no axe to grind against Peter Chadwick although I am surprised with his background of stewarding in Australia he would think it a good decision to invest in a share of a racehorse in Australia while holding down a stewards job hisself.

Possibly there's more to come.

Since filing the above post a few hours ago I've just received further information from another official from Singapore Mr Tan Kuo Ping (Head Racing Information & liaison) as follows :-

"The employment contracts in Singapore Turf Club forbid employees from having any interest in horses within the Malayan Racing Association (MRA) circuit. The MRA comprises of Singapore Turf Club, Selangor Turf Club, Perak Turf Club and Penang Turf Club.

There is silent rule regarding ownership of horses outside the MRA circuit. Hope this is what you are looking for.

As for the Corporate Communications contact, the information below is correct."ENDS

Giddy Up

[/b]

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-01, 11:44 AM **Reply #254** »

REARDON ISN’T DONE YET

L to R Reid Sanders,Terry Bailey, Allan Reardon, Greg Rudolph and Ray Murrihy. Picture Trackside Photography.

ALLAN Reardon completed his tenure as Queensland’s chief steward at Caloundra yesterday but insists he still has more to offer the industry.

Reardon’s contract with QRIC expired yesterday, with his chief steward role set to be taken by Singapore-based Peter Chadwick next month. Daniel Aurisch will act in the chair until Chadwick starts.

Reardon gave QRIC and Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett an extraordinary roasting last month, effectively acting as his resignation letter from the commission.

Last week at Doomben, the Brisbane Racing Club convened a testimonial for Reardon and made him an honorary member of the club – the first steward to receive such an accolade.

The function garnered a who’s who of stewards in Australia, with Ray Murrihy, Terry Bailey, Reid Sanders and Greg Rudolph flying in, along with many of his colleagues on the Queensland panel.

Former colleagues Kim Kelly and Steve Railton sent messages of congratulations from Hong Kong.

“With due respect to the many great stewards I have worked with over the years, (Reardon) was the greatest reader of a race that I’ve ever encountered,” Kelly wrote.

“As a young cadet steward, it was something I aspired to.

“Queensland racing is poorer for Allan’s departure but richer for him having given so much over many years.”

Murrihy said he had known Reardon for more than 30 years and described Wednesday’s gatherins as the “creme de la creme of stewards around Australia”.

“We’ve all got a lot of admiration for what you’ve done and it’s been a great pleasure to come up and be part of the day,” Murrihy said.

Reardon said: “I thought there would be three people here. I’d like to thank you all for attending. It’s just been brilliant.

“I’m not sure where we go in our future, but I would still like to continue on in some way in the industry.”

There's a vacancy in Victoria if he could handle the weather.

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-02, 08:37 AM **Reply #255** »

QRIC stewards lose out on Grant Dixon charges in a QCAT hearing before Ian Hanger QC who I consulted once in my former profession and he provided very sound advice.
In Dixon's case he observed in the Baron Jujon case "Mere errors of judgement in the running of the race should not be penalised unless the conduct can be described as blameworthy. Having listened to Mr Dixon, and Mr Farquharson and considering the transcript of the Steward’s Inquiry and decision, I am not comfortably satisfied that the conduct of Mr Dixon can be considered worthy of blame.
[34] I allow the appeal and set aside the decision of the stewards.

https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QCAT/2018/183

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-02, 09:05 AM **Reply #256** »

Appeals process again snookers commission CM Nathan Exelby

THE miserable strike rate of the QRIC at the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal continued last week when top harness driver Grant Dixon had two charges against him dropped.

Dixon had been handed suspensions of six and eight weeks relating to two different drives that stewards deemed unacceptable, but QCAT member Ian Hanger set aside both, which were both heard at the same appeal.

Although the specific rule differs between harness and thoroughbred racing, the Dixon charges had a similar theme to last week’s two month ban handed to Damian Browne.

Comments made by Hanger underline how difficult it is for stewards to maintain a charge of this kind when appeals are taken to QCAT.

“Mere errors of judgment in the running of the race should not be penalised unless the conduct can be described as blameworthy,” Hanger wrote.

“Having listened to Mr Dixon, and Mr (David) Farquharson (harness racing chief steward) and considering the transcript of the steward’s inquiry and decision, I am not comfortably satisfied that the conduct of Mr Dixon can be considered worthy of blame.

“I have listened to the evidence, viewed the video from each angle and searched for conduct that might be described as blameworthy on the part of Mr Dixon.

“I take into account that he is the person who knows the horse; the fact that he formed the opinion that the extra lap plus the horse’s personality had placed it at a slight disadvantage, the fact that at the end of the race its pulse was much higher than it would normally be at the end of a race and the fact that it is Mr Dixon who must make the split second decisions that are required in the course of a race.

“I am not comfortably satisfied that Mr Dixon drove in an unacceptable manner.”

In summing up the case, Hanger also made the suggestion that QRIC would be better served seeking independent specialist witnesses.

“It would be more appropriate to call as a witness an independent expert who is not associated with the decision making process,” he wrote.

Browne will appeal his two month suspension, with the matter no doubt destined to end up in the hearing rooms of QCAT.ENDS

Mr Hanger's suggestion that "QRIC would be better served seeking independent specialist witnesses.

“It would be more appropriate to call as a witness an independent expert who is not associated with the decision making process,” ...apparently referring to the chief steward supporting the stewards decision ....... it might be difficult for QRIC to find someone who fits the criteria of an "independent expert "

Giddy Up

the bishop · « 2018-Jul-02, 09:26 AM **Reply #257** »

Agree with your sentiments that stewards are on a hiding on nothing with QCAT appeals...the comment by the Commissioner regarding "independent experts/witnesses" further complicates the issue.
With due respect to QCAT, their findings over a long period highlight an abject lack of knowledge or empathy with the racing/harness/greyhound industry.
On another subject _ the Damien Browne suspension _ it is interesting to note the groundswell of media sympathy for the jockey.
David Fowler went in to bat for Browne on Press Room this morning with a strong argument EXCEPT he failed to mention that two vet examinations of the horse in question post-race revealed nothing amiss.
We cry out for integrity but it seems stewards are being bashed pillar to post at every opportunity.

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-02, 06:11 PM **Reply #258** »

Quote from: the bishop on 2018-Jul-02, 09:26 AM

Agree with your sentiments that stewards are on a hiding on nothing with QCAT appeals...the comment by the Commissioner regarding "independent experts/witnesses" further complicates the issue.
With due respect to QCAT, their findings over a long period highlight an abject lack of knowledge or empathy with the racing/harness/greyhound industry.
On another subject _ the Damien Browne suspension _ it is interesting to note the groundswell of media sympathy for the jockey.
David Fowler went in to bat for Browne on Press Room this morning with a strong argument EXCEPT he failed to mention that two vet examinations of the horse in question post-race revealed nothing amiss.
We cry out for integrity but it seems stewards are being bashed pillar to post at every opportunity.

Yes it must be a very frustrating job stewarding trying to apply the rules particularly since the "not blameworthy ruling" first saw the light of day many moons ago..... if memory serves me right it was first adopted in QLD by the late Bill Carter QC on the Racing Appeal Tribunal who followed a decision in NSW which was the first I had heard of it.......Damien Browne has previously been successful under the not blameworthy rule when represented by counsel or solicitor while at or about the same time Bobby El Issa who made the mistake of representing hisself failed to raise the not blameworthy defence and went down for the count.

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-02, 07:08 PM **Reply #259** »

Checking the QRIC website for published results of Internal Reviews ....there aren't any since 3 May ..inconceivable that all or any penalties handed out in the past two months haven't been appealed to Mr Ashby.

Giddy Up

deepthroat · « 2018-Jul-03, 12:26 PM **Reply #260** »

I wonder if Mr Ashby is even still around

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-06, 08:44 PM **Reply #261** »

Minister for Local Government, Minister for Racing and Minister
for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
Friday, July 06, 2018
Three-year licensing for racing trainers gets the go-ahead
Queensland’s thoroughbred, harness and greyhound trainers are set to benefit from an
improved licensing system which will deliver three-year licensing and online licence renewal.
Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the changes from the previous annual licensing system
were a win for Queensland trainers.
“Instead of renewing their licences each year, Queensland trainers will hold a licence for a
period of three years before they’re required to renew,” he said.
“In addition to this extended licence period, thoroughbred trainer licence categories have
been simplified to assist in the licensing and renewal process.
“These are sensible changes that will reduce the administrative burden for Queensland
trainers without sacrificing the integrity of the licence system.”
Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said the changes were being
implemented after a consultation with the industry and a year-long trial of three-year
licensing for stable hands and kennel attendants.
“The consultation period resulted in mostly positive feedback from trainers who told us
they’re happy the administrative burden of licensing would be reduced by this change,” he
said.
“Three-year licensing just makes sense and will make the licensing process and renewal
easier for trainers.
“It means trainers will spend less time filling out forms, and it will free up QRIC resources to
give staff more time to deliver other services to our clients.”
Relevant racing participants will receive information about the changes via email and will be
able to follow the link to the relevant online portal on the QRIC website to make their
payments when they are due.
The new three-year licence changes for all trainers are being implemented from the current
licence renewal period.
Thoroughbred, Harness and Greyhound trainers are encouraged to visit the QRIC website for
further licensing and registration information @ www.qric.qld.gov.au or phone 1300 087 021.
Media contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548

Giddy Up

gunbower · « 2018-Jul-06, 10:26 PM **Reply #262** »

Heartening to read that the so called "Super Cop" and self promoting future Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service is all over the really big issues confronting crime in the Sunshine State. Gee if he can manage to rort his expense account they might even name part of a grandstand at a major racetrack after him. Much like they are trying to do with that dill who used to be on the payroll in
Queensland for far too long. Nothing much changes in the Moonlight State as time passes by.

wily ole dog · « 2018-Jul-07, 07:38 AM **Reply #263** »

Quote from: the bishop on 2018-Jul-02, 09:26 AM

Agree with your sentiments that stewards are on a hiding on nothing with QCAT appeals...the comment by the Commissioner regarding "independent experts/witnesses" further complicates the issue.
With due respect to QCAT, their findings over a long period highlight an abject lack of knowledge or empathy with the racing/harness/greyhound industry.
On another subject _ the Damien Browne suspension _ it is interesting to note the groundswell of media sympathy for the jockey.
David Fowler went in to bat for Browne on Press Room this morning with a strong argument EXCEPT he failed to mention that two vet examinations of the horse in question post-race revealed nothing amiss.
We cry out for integrity but it seems stewards are being bashed pillar to post at every opportunity.

Mr Fowler used to post here from memory. If he still reads he might want to counter that

David??

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-07, 09:08 AM **Reply #264** »

Wily I think Dave has given up on us he hasn't been on the forum for months but you can catch his top rating radio show Press Room on Radio TAB each Monday at 8.30am and if you miss that there's Audio Boom if you happen to be gainfully employed early Monday while others of us are just sitting doing nothing very useful.....and a word of advice lighten up on Peter Mair your comments are bordering on harassment if you don't have anything useful to say and you obviously don't like him just use the ignore button.......hate isn't helpful

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-09, 08:56 AM **Reply #265** »

Today in the CM Nathan Exelby exposes the evidence collected by QRIC stewards into the charges against leading trainer Ben Currie and his father Mark.......this isn't a report on the stewards inquiry conducted behind closed doors but obtained by the CM through getting access to QCAT files folowing Mark Currie's disqualification bypassing the Internal Review process ...most unusual but I assume the documents are public and are available under QCAT rules......strange that QRIC hasn't released whatever they have on Ben Currie
to his legal team....there'll be a blow up over releasing this if I'm any judge.....the story has video of the alleged top ups but to see those you need to log into the online edition of the Courier Mail.

View on page
NATHAN EXELBY TAKES YOU INSIDE THE INQUIRY THAT’S HIT QLD’S TOP TRAINER BEN CURRIE
NATHAN EXELBY
@xlbnathan_cmail

BEN Currie has been Queensland’s leading trainer for the past two seasons, with his runners winning 250 races out of his Toowoomba stables.

But on April 7 this year, stewards raided one of his barns before the running of that day’s Toowoomba Weetwood Handicap.

Since that day it has become one of the longest-running inquiries in Queensland racing.

Investigators claimed to witness suspicious activity in the stable, alleging the illegal raceday treatment of six horses that were to race that day.

They later retrieved CCTV footage from the stable and after viewing that footage, issued a string of charges. Stewards have also alleged raceday treatments took place at the same stables on Saturday, March 24.

As a result of those inquiries, Currie stablehand Greg Britnell was disqualified for 18 months over 15 charges relating to race-day treatment. Cameron Schwenke was suspended for three months for assisting in race-day treatments and Silde Canda was suspended for three months for giving false evidence.

Currie’s father Mark was disqualified for two years relating to 16 charges.

Ben Currie is facing 31 charges relating to a string of alleged offences, pertaining to March 24, April 7 and a number of other activities.

A date is yet to be fixed on when those charges will be determined.

Currie was stood down from training, but won a stay of proceedings application with QCAT in June.

Late last month Mark Currie was granted a stay of proceedings until his appeal is heard by QCAT at a date yet to be determined.

LEGAL ARGUMENTS

ALL of the stewards’ inquiries have been held behind closed doors, with no access to media.

But with Mark Currie’s stay application, documents related to the case were filed with QCAT and The Courier-Mail can reveal both the content of the CCTV footage and transcripts from the numerous inquiries that have taken place since Mark Currie was first questioned on April 7.

In an affidavit to QCAT lodged for his stay of proceedings hearing, Mark Currie said he and his son operate Currie Racing as a partnership and the operation of that business was his primary income.

“I know that my inability to assist my son Ben in training procedures will have a detrimental effect on the operation of our business as well as our financial status and business operations,” he wrote.

In submissions prepared by his legal representatives, Butler McDermott Lawyers, for a stewards hearing on May 21, Currie claimed it was impossible for stewards to give him a fair hearing.

“It is submitted the stewards in this hearing are biased in the sense they cannot be seen to be acting fairly, reasonably or independently, because they have conducted enquiries relating to two stable hands as well as Mark Currie and Ben Currie and they have already found two stable hands guilty of offences,” the statement read.

“It is submitted the panel is so badly infected by a lack of independence that stewards ought to disqualify themselves from these proceedings.”

Currie claimed he should be found not guilty of the charges because he did not administer medication.

“The finding should be one of not guilty because boost paste is a vitamin and it is not a substance in the way in which the stewards are purporting to use the rule relating to medication or substance,” the submission said.

In contrast, stewards say the fact it was a boost paste is irrelevant, because it still amounted to a race-day treatment.

Among the stewards’ evidence is an advertisement placed in Race Magazine (the official calendar for the Queensland thoroughbred industry), detailing rules around raceday treatments, under the heading “Routes of Administration of Medication.”

“ANY SUBSTANCE administered by injection, stomach tube, paste, dose syringe, topical application or by inhalation, amongst any other routes of administration, WILL BE CONSIDERED A MEDICATION. Only normal feeding and supplementation that can be used by the horse voluntarily eating or drinking the feedstuff can be acceptable on the day of racing. NOTE: All injections are subject to a rule not permitting them within one clear day.”

I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Mark Currie was interviewed by QRIC’s integrity regulation unit manager Tracey Pelling at Clifford Park on April 12 when he acknowledged horses could not be administered boost paste via a syringe on raceday:

MC: Boost goes Tuesday, Thursdays, or whenever they gallop. Vitamin C, about the same. And the turmeric every day. That’s with the racing part cut out.

TP: Every day?

MC: Well, not when you’re going into a race, you’ve got to cut off on a Thursday.

TP: Yeah, OK. So you know that rule?

MC: Yeah.

Currie is then shown vision of stable employee Greg Britnell using syringes to treat horses in the Hursley Road stable. Currie says it would be either Vitamin C or boost in the syringes.

TP: So is that – like normal practice?

MC: Not race day it’s not, no.

TP: So what happened?

MC: How would I know? I wasn’t there. You’ve got to trust people. That’s the way it is.

TP: So you’re saying he’s done this off his own bat?

MC: Well I don’t know. I’ve got no idea. You can only monitor so much.

TP: So the race-day horses that were at your stables that day were Boomwaa (scratched), Gully Command, Publishing Power, Hang, Givus A Cuddle, Ruettiger, With A Promise. What can you tell us about what you’ve seen now?

MC: Well, nothing I can say. It’s all there in black and white. But how do you know which horses they were?

TP: Because we – I – they’ve identified them.

MC: Yeah, but you don’t know whether they’re the same horses. You didn’t turn up there until later.

TP: We’ve interviewed them (Greg Britnell and Cameron Schwenke). MC: Righto, Whatever you reckon.

Currie appeared at a stewards inquiry in Brisbane the following day, where chief steward Allan Reardon continued a similar line of questioning relating to the same footage of Britnell allegedly treating those horses on April 7.

AR: They’re not going into feeds, are they? MC: Oh, no. AR: They’re going into the horse’s mouth. Do you agree with that? MC: Yeah, he did do a fair few horses there. AR: So it’s not going in the feed. MC: No, I know.

Later, during the same session Currie told stewards: “I’ll just take the responsibility.”

AR: But you’re not listed as the trainer, your son is, Ben. MC: Yeah, I know. But I’m there running that part for him. You’ve got to take some responsibility, haven’t you?

A week later Currie again returned to the QRIC offices, this time where stewards were armed with footage on the morning of Saturday, March 24.

AR: … You agree that Gully Command’s been treated on that day? MC: Yep. AR: Is there anything you’d like to say before the team here review further footage? MC: No. I’ll just take it – I’ll take responsibility for it.

Stewards then issue the charges relating to alleged race-day treatment of Gully Command, Publishing Power, Hang, With A Promise and Givus A Cuddle on March 24. The charges continue pertaining to April 7, but Currie interjects when the charge relating to that day’s Toowoomba Guineas winner Hang is read out.

MC: Not Hang. AR: Not Hang? MC: No. I’m not accepting Hang. Wasn’t done. Not accepting that. There’s no proof Hang was done. Steward Ian Brown: On what basis do you say Hang wasn’t treated as compared to the others? MC: Hang had it in his feed. Brown: But the remaining horses listed in those charges, the paste wasn’t put in the feed? MC: I’m not, um, arguing about anything. I’m just saying I will be doing something about Hang.

The inquiry continued on Friday, May 11, when Currie told stewards he would be making no further comments based on legal advice.

MC: I’ve asked for representation here today. (You) denied it. I’ve got no more comment until I’m represented and it’s a fair playing field. I don’t understand any of the charges. I need representation.

THE PUNISHMENT

On May 21, stewards handed Currie a two-year disqualification.

“The CCTV footage recovered from the Hursley Rd stables provides a window into the practice engaged in by yourself and other employees of Currie Racing,” Reardon said. “Your actions on 24 March in front of Mr Britnell and other employees suggests that race-day administration of medication contrary to the rules is not uncommon.

“The industry is relying on the belief that all horses are competing on a level playing field. Your actions clearly seek to undermine this belief by obtaining an unfair "advantage.”

THE VIDEO EXPLAINED
CCTV footage taken from Ben Currie’s Hursley Road stable in Toowoomba and what stewards allege happened on March 24. Note: The time listed in the right hand corner of the footage is 22 hours behind real time. This was established by investigators based on the actual time they entered the stables on the morning of April 7.
March 24
4.33am: Mark Currie appears in stables. Greg Britnell emerges from feed bin area holding white syringes in both hands.
Currie takes a syringe from Britnell and removes cap with mouth and enters box of Hang. Britnell distributes other syringes in front of boxes of Publishing Power, Gully Command and Givus A Cuddle.
4.35am: Mark Currie administers syringe orally to Hang. Currie exits box and Britnell walks towards him holding three white syringes.
4.36am: Mark Currie picks up white syringe off ground and enters box of Gully Command and allegedly administers syringe orally. Exits box and throws white syringe.
4.38am: Mark Currie picks up syringe in front of Publishing Power’s box and enters. Moves to back of box. Exits box and throws syringe.
4.39am: Mark Currie picks up syringe in front of Givus A Cuddle’s box and enters. Throws syringe from box.
8.09am: Mark Currie enters screen, retrieves a white syringe from under ice boots, puts it in his right pocket and walks to box of Gully Command. Currie then allegedly treats horse, exits box with horse and hands syringe to Britnell. Uses towel to wipe the muzzle of horse. Then rubs his thumb on left side jugular vein of horse before leading it onto the float truck.
Stewards allege the following happened on March 24 (not shown on video above):
9.29am: Britnell enters box of Hang and allegedly treats horse.
9.30am: Britnell enters box of Givus A Cuddle and allegedly treats horse.
9.33am: Britnell enters box of Publishing Power and allegedly treats horse.
Stewards allege the following happened on April 7 (not shown on video above):
3.49-3.57am: Greg Britnell enters boxes of:
Boomwaa (who was scratched from racing that day): Orally inserts white syringe into horse’s mouth, wipes muzzle area with towel.
Gully Command: Vision of Britnell leaving box with syringe in hand.
Ruetigger: Allegedly administers syringe.
Publishing Power: Footage unclear, syringe visible in hand exiting.
Givus A Cuddle: Administers syringe orally.
Hang: Disappears from view, exits with towel and syringe visible.
With A Promise: Administers ‘something’ orally.
6.55am: After running through stables with white syringe in each hand Greg Britnell enters boxes of:
Boomwaa: Disappears from view.
Gully Command: Appears to administer syringe orally.
Ruettiger: Obscured.
Publishing Power: Obscured. Exits and runs down laneway with syringe clearly visible.
Givus A Cuddle: Disappears from view. Exits holding syringe.
Hang: Disappears from view. Exits with syringe in left hand. QRIC alleges horse shows behaviour consistent with having been orally administered something.
LEGAL ARGUMENTS
In an Affidavit to QCAT lodged for his Stay of Proceedings hearing, Mark Currie said he and his son operate Currie Racing as a partnership and the operation of that business is his primary income.
“I know that my inability to assist my son Ben in training procedures will have a detrimental effect on the operation of our business as well as our financial status and business operations,” he wrote.
In submissions prepared by his legal representatives, Butler McDermott Lawyers, for a stewards hearing on May 21, Currie claimed it was impossible for stewards to give him a fair hearing.
“It is submitted the stewards in this hearing are biased in the sense they cannot be seen to be acting fairly, reasonably or independently, because they have conducted enquiries relating to two stable hands as well as Mark Currie and Ben Currie and they have already found two stable hands guilty of offences,” the statement read.
“It is submitted the panel is so badly infected by a lack of independence that stewards ought to disqualify themselves from these proceedings.”
Currie claimed he should be found not guilty of the charges because he did not administer medication.
“The finding should be one of not guilty because boost paste is a vitamin and it is not a substance in the way in which the stewards are purporting to use the rule relating to medication or substance,” the submission said.
In contrast, stewards say the fact it was a Boost Paste is irrelevant, because it still amounted to a race-day treatment.
Amongst the stewards evidence is an advertisement placed in Race Magazine (the official calendar for the Queensland Thoroughbred industry), detailing rules around race-day treatments, under the heading “Routes of Administration of Medication”.
“ANY SUBSTANCE administered by injection, stomach tube, paste, dose syringe, topical application or by inhalation, amongst any other routes of administration, WILL BE CONSIDERED A MEDICATION. Only normal feeding and supplementation that can be used by the horse voluntarily eating or drinking the feedstuff can be acceptable on the day of racing. NOTE: All injections are subject to a rule not permitting them within one clear day.”
CCTV: Mark Currie allegedly administers syringe orally to Hang.

Giddy Up

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-10, 07:44 PM **Reply #266** »

Still no new Internal Reviews put up on the QRIC website since 3 May...has to be something wrong ....and they're not telling us what it is ......but there have been three young women two stablehands and one work rider tested positive to banned substances coke .meth ..cannabis the coke girl got 6 months as did the one on meth with the possibility of a 2 month reduction but the one on weed was let off with a 3 month disqualification.

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018_06_July_Stewards_Report_Laura-Hartley.pdf

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018_04_July_Stewards_Report_Angela-Blanch.pdf

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018_03_July_Stewards_Report_Amanda-Smith.pdf

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Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-11, 08:05 PM **Reply #267** »

Media release
11 July 2018
Ben Currie hearing scheduled to resume next month

Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards will reconvene their Inquiry into the
charges issued against Toowoomba Trainer Ben Currie on 13 August.

Commissioner Ross Barnett said Mr Currie’s hearing where he faced 31 breaches of the Australian
Rules of Racing was adjourned at his request on 28 May 2018 to prepare his defence.

“The brief of evidence has now been presented to Mr Currie through his legal representatives and
upon review Stewards have discontinued three charges not relating to his alleged activities on 24
March and 7 April,” he said.

“Mr Currie now has the opportunity to prepare his submissions, respond to the charges by 27 July
and appear before the Stewards for the scheduled resumption of the Inquiry on 13 August.

“In association with the ongoing investigation into Trainer Ben Currie, I wish to clarify the public
statements made by Mr Currie in relation to prizemoney that was withheld after the Toowoomba
Weetwood Day race meeting on 7 April.

“The Weetwood Day prizemoney has not been released to the connections of those horses that
remain the subject of the continuing investigation into Mr Currie’s alleged activities,” Mr Barnett
said.
ENDS.

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gunbower · « 2018-Jul-11, 09:22 PM **Reply #268** »

These " Keystone " cops who run the Government organization called QRIC wouldn't have a clue which way is up . Here we have video evidence of the stable foreman allegedly breaking the most obvious rule of racing and yet these clowns say it is ok to keep training till August before they can get around to running an Enquiry. Why would punters bet in races where this stable has runners ? You would be on a hiding to nothing. Time this QRIC mopb folded their tent and moved on. They really are just a laughing stock.

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-12, 08:18 PM **Reply #269** »

“The Weetwood Day prizemoney has not been released to the connections of those horses that
remain the subject of the continuing investigation into Mr Currie’s alleged activities,” Mr Barnett
said.....that was yesterday today the story is reversed with apologies.

Media release 12 July 2018 QRIC clarifies Weetwood payment information The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) has issued an apology for incorrect information it distributed yesterday regarding the withholding of Weetwood Day prizemoney payments to the connections of horses identified as the subject of a current Stewards’ Inquiry. Commissioner Ross Barnett said yesterday that Weetwood Day prizemoney had not been released to the connections of those horses, (Hang and Givus a Cuddle) which were among the horses subject to an ongoing Stewards’ Inquiry. “After further clarification was sought and received today from Racing Queensland we can now clarify that while the connections have received their prizemoney, the 10 per cent trainers share due to Trainer Ben Currie remains withheld until the current inquiry is completed. “I apologise for the inaccuracy of the information contained in yesterday’s release,” Mr Barnett said. ENDS

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Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-12, 08:26 PM **Reply #270** »

Finally there's been some movement at the station the Internal Reviews have moved from 3 May to the 5 June with four decisions released...results QRIC stewards 4 applicants 0

The case of Silde Canda an employee of Ben Currie who refused to hand over his telephone to investigators is the most interesting while the fourth reference Denis Moulds doesn't have any reasons attached only that his application for a licence was refused and that decision was confirmed by Mr Ashby why we have no idea.

" The reviewer finds, considering the false and misleading evidence was
part of a larger scale investigation into potential serious offences under the Australian Rules of Racing, finds the
penalty imposed in all circumstances to be lenient. The reviewer therefore carefully considered the prospect of
amending the penalty by way of increase. Subsequent to such careful consideration, and taking into account the
Applicant’s guilty plea, previous clean disciplinary history and relationship with Mr Benjamin Currie, is not completely
satisfied an increase in penalty is warranted in all of the circumstances and accordingly confirms the original decision" extract from Canda's decision.

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/INTERNAL-REVIEW-DECISION-SILDE-CANDA.pdf

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/INTERNAL-REVIEW-DECISION-EMMA-BELL.pdf

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/INTERNAL-REVIEW-DECISION-BENJAMIN-CURRIE.pdf

"The Applicant sought a review of the original charge and penalty on the basis the Applicant had pleaded his innocence
from the beginning of the matter, there was insufficient evidence (specifically the lack of photo or video evidence)
and that only one witness was able to identify the horses as being trained by the Applicant".......didn't go too well ......working horses on Good Friday when the track was closed was probably an economic decision by the club hardly for religious reasons...horses need to be exercised but only Currie didn't observe the restriction.

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/decision/denis-moulds/

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Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-13, 08:14 AM **Reply #271** »

Since posting the four results released by QRIC yesterday I discovered another 6 all updated 12th July but heard and determined during the month of May.....only one Dale Evans got some joy penalty reduced by 50% the rest stewards 5.5 applicant 0.5 and there are no reasons for decision on Mr Evans so that makes two where only the decision is published without reasons . why is this so?

In the case of Tiffani Brooker the opening statement is incorrect.....stating "The Applicant, Ms Tiffani Brooker, rider of JUNGLE EDGE in Race 8 at the Brisbane Racing Club on 28 April 2018, was found guilty of a charge under Australian Rule of Racing 137(a")....she rode Monsieur Gustave. a minor error unimportant in the outcome.

Clinton Garland lost his appeal being outed for 18 months for a cobalt positive despite the spirited defence submissions of his brief solicitors Butler McDermott which fell on deaf ears....while Leigh Wanless pinged for cobalt getting 12 months but no joy for him challenging the process.

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/INTERNAL-REVIEW-DECISION-TIFFANI-BROOKER.pdf

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/decision/dale-evans-3/

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/INTERNAL-REVIEW-DECISION-CLINTON-GARLAND.pdf

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/INTERNAL-REVIEW-DECISION-LEIGH-WANLESS.pdf

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/INTERNAL-REVIEW-DECISION-WANDERSON-DAVILA.pdf

https://www.qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/INTERNAL-REVIEW-DECISION-BONNIE-THOMSON-.pdf

Garland and Wanless decisions hold the most interesting facts and evidence....both well worth a read.

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arthur · « 2018-Jul-13, 08:05 PM **Reply #272** »

Bookies have been officially warned by QRIC against betting on the camel races at Bedourie . .

Can't see a problem . . PROVIDED THAT . .

You gamble responsibly

What's next . . 'Swy' on ANZAC Day

Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-14, 09:16 AM **Reply #273** »

Horse trainer Mark Currie’s lawyer: ‘Racing stewards were not prepared to be objective’
Nathan Exelby – Racing editor, The Courier-Mail
July 13, 2018 4:09pm

MARK Currie’s legal representatives have claimed the disqualified trainer has been denied fairness by stewards and been subjected to “duplicitous” charges.

Currie, who works in the stables of his son Ben, is appealing a two-year ban handed down by QRIC stewards in May. He has since successfully applied for a stay of proceedings and is now waiting his appeal hearing at QCAT.

His lawyer Peter Boyce, of Butler McDermott Lawyers, says that one of the grounds of the appeal alleges the inquiry stewards were not prepared to be objective.

“It’s fine to throw a lot of charges at him, but they have to give proper particulars and they have to also make findings,” Boyce said.

“It’s not that no one asked them before they made any findings. They have a duty to be fair and reasonable.

Horse racing trainer Mark Currie has since successfully applied for a stay of proceedings and is now waiting his appeal hearing at QCAT.
“It’s one thing to be an investigator, but if you are going to sit in judgment on someone you have to put a different hat on and realise we need to be fair and reasonable.”

Boyce said the current system has shortcomings because “we need a different judge and jury.”

“It wouldn’t matter so much if they were just playing around with little penalties here and there, but these are people’s livelihoods,” he said.

Boyce contends some of the 16 charges stewards found Currie guilty of were duplicitous because “you can’t be convicted of the same offence twice.”

Boyce believes QRIC has put a “slur on the Currie name” and pointed to this week’s backflip on prizemoney being distributed as an example.

“The swabs taken by stewards have all come back clear and no charges have arisen out of those swabs. The slur of those swabs still remain,” he said.

Peter Boyce believes QRIC has put a “slur on the Currie name”. Mark Currie works in the stables of his trainer son Ben Currie, pictured. Pictu Trackside Photography
On Monday, The Courier-Mail revealed CCTV footage of Mark Currie allegedly illegally treating horses on race days of March 24 and April 7.

Currie was given two 12 month bans, to be served cumulatively, under AR178E(1), that being “no person without the permission of the Stewards may administer or cause to be administered any medication to a horse on race day prior to such horse running in a race.”

Two nine month bans issued under AR175a are to be served concurrently.

“What is in issue here is what is meant by the words: “medication and “administration.” At no point in the decision of the Stewards is a positive finding made that by our client providing or allowing to be provided to the horses a Vitamin Boost constituted the administration of or a medication in contravention of Rule 178E(1) of the Australian Rules of Racing,” Boyce said.

QRIC’s Integrity Regulation Unit manager Tracey Pelling. Pictu AAP Image/Josh Woning
In making their case for the offence under AR178E(1), stewards will point to AR1, where “Medication” is defined as “any treatment with drugs or other substances.”

When interviewed by QRIC’s Integrity Regulation Unit Manager Tracey Pelling on April 12, Currie indicated he was aware of a rule that prohibited the treatment of a horse on race day.

“You’ve got to cut off on a Thursday (for a Saturday race), he said.

The Australian Trainers Association distributed a note of explanation last October, pertaining to race day treatments.

“Broadly speaking, the term medications means ALL treatments, whether they are therapeutics purchased over the counter, eg gels, ointments, vitamins, etc, a self mix application or preparation (including pastes), or medicines prescribed by veterinarians, are NOT permitted to be administered to racehorses on Race Day, unless permitted by Stewards,” the notice read.

Stewards tabled as evidence an advertisement in RACE Magazine detailing the rules around race day treatment, but Boyce said “there is no law that says any publication in the magazine is taken to be read by all licensed persons.”ENDS

Seeing that Nathan had an exclusive on the alleged race day treatments the QRIC side of the story it's only fair that Currie gets the same opportunity to put his case in the public arena......it'll be up to QCAT to decide whether the charges have been made out and if so is the penalty appropriate.....was the video evidence obtained by QRIC stewards obtained according to law ...I recall in one prosecution the Court ruled the live baiting videos were ruled inadmissible ...presumably QRIC would have learned not to go down that path in Currie's case.

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Arsenal · « 2018-Jul-15, 09:33 AM **Reply #274** »

CONFUSION REIGNS ( Extract from Nathan Exelby's The Verdict SM today)

THURSDAY’S red-faced press release issued by QRIC regarding prizemoney for Ben Currie-trained horses on Weetwood Day was a lamentable day in the two-year history of the commission.

There was confusion between QRIC and RQ over prizemoney being released for the horses involved in the long-running inquiry, the most notable of which is Toowoomba Guineas winner Hang.

QRIC had ordered the prizemoney to be withheld, but RQ later paid it when the swabs came back as clear.

Integrity commissioner Ross Barnett questioned RQ on Wednesday and issued a release refuting that it had been paid, but it turned out the wires had been crossed with RQ, which had paid the money, but withheld Currie’s 10 per cent trainer’s entitlement of the winnings.

This issue highlights how QRIC’s relationship with RQ could best be described as “clunky”.

Given the time it has been in operation and the money being spent on it, participants are entitled to expect better.ENDS

I think it's understandable that RQ would release the prize money once the swabs came back clear obviously a misunderstanding of QRIC's intent but on what grounds could RQ have not released the prizemoney to the owners?

Also of importance is the Forfeit List ...persons who owe RQ and once on the Forfeit list they are in the same position as disqualified persons ....maintaining The Forfeit List is the responsibility of the control body in the states here it's RQ but enforcement lies with QRIC for the local licensees RQ hasn't the power to enforce the rules despite the fact that ARB rules apply all over the country ..you owe in one state then you are supposed to be disqualified all over ....but it appears there's no co-operation between the states otherwise how could any interstate trainers who are on the QLD list continuing to train with impunity and possibly visa versa......and why hasn't RQ enlisted QRIC to act on those within its jurisdiction........or why wouldn't QRIC act on its own motion so to speak ..does it have to be prodded like a reluctant bride

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