The ongoing saga between jockey Danny Nikolic and Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey has gone on long enough.
The time has now come for Racing Victoria to categorically put an end to the issue by either standing down Bailey as chief steward, or banning Nikolic from riding in Victoria.
The latest of the dramas occurred at Seymour on September 4 when Bailey alleged Nikolic made a threat against his family and subsequently banned the jockey indefinitely.
When fronted by the media, Nikolic denied making the threat, instead alleging Bailey taunted him saying, ”I’ve told you I was going to f––k your career.”
Nikolic was booked to ride four-time G1 winning mare Mosheen on Satuday at Flemington in the Bobby Lewis Stakes, and has had to be replaced by Mark Zahra.
This continuing he-said-she-said drama dates back to 2009 when stewards, headed by Terry Bailey, commenced an inquiry into 21 of Nikolic’s rides. The inquiry was deemed to be career-threatening at the time as it was believed Nikolic was not giving his mounts every chance of winning.
Nikolic was laid with nine charges associated with improper practices and conduct prejudicial to the image of racing. He appealed the penalty and was successful after pleading guilty to lesser charges totalling a fine of $3000.
From this hearing, damage had been done to Nikolic’s image and Bailey had been discredited after his initial charges were thrown out by the appeals board. Both had a vendetta against the other.
Nikolic again made headlines in October of 2010 when he drank a beer behind the barriers during a Ballarat meet. He claimed he was just rinsing his mouth and was issued a $200 fine.
The biggest headline came a month after that when Nikolic and Bailey had a heated exchange in the Flemington steward’s room after Bailey confiscated Nikolic’s riding vest after a race.
After conducting a scrupulous inspection of the vest, Bailey deemed it to be modified beyond Racing Victoria standards and issued at $1000 fine.
Bailey then ordered Nikolic to front Racing Victoria for his behaviour in the steward’s room.
Nikolic deemed Bailey a “disgrace” and felt he had been unfairly targeted by the chief steward who had the authority to suspend Nikolic for dangerous riding where he felt fit, a charge which is extremely inconsistent.
Nikolic has been the subject of an ongoing police inquiry into the integrity of racing in Victoria: the Smoking Aces scandal in which Nikolic is alleged to have conspired with others to ensure his mount would win a race at Cranbourne.
Nikolic, aboard Smoking Aces, went on to win the race and family friends of the jockey won over $200,000.
After failing to have his indefinite riding suspension overturned, Nikolic must wait until Wednesday to front Racing Victoria, who must end this ongoing saga between its chief steward and one of Victoria’s decorated jockeys.
They must either uphold the decision by Bailey, banning Nikolic from riding in Victoria, or they must overturn Bailey’s decision and stand down Terry Bailey as the Racing Victoria chief steward.
If Nikolic’s punishment is again overturned by Racing Victoria, it may be a further blow to the credibility of Bailey.
It has become clear that these two egos cannot coexist, and there is an obvious conflict of interest.
One of them has to go, and Racing Victoria must make the call on Wednesday.
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