- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
In February, the Australian Racing Board (ARB) responded to last spring’s Damien Oliver betting scandal by drawing what it called “a line the sand”.
Once again the ARB needs to get drawing after Racing NSW fined Gai Waterhouse a miserly $5500 for her role in the More Joyous inquiry.
In the Oliver inquiry, Racing Victoria stewards initially handed down an eight-month disqualification as well as a further two-month suspension after Oliver pled guilty to placing a successful $10,000 wager on a rival horse in an October 2010 race.
Conveniently, the sentence allowed Oliver to recommence riding at this year’s Spring Carnival – the standout period in the Australian racing season.
The ARB said the penalty was inadequate and took a stance that aimed at cleaning up racing. It introduced a minimum two-year disqualification for any jockey that bets on a horse in the same race they ride in.
This is how Dayle Brown, head of Racing Victoria’s Integrity Services Department, described the changes in Febraury: “There is no place in racing for dishonesty and the introduction of minimum penalties for serious offences sends a clear message to all that it will not be tolerated in Victoria and throughout Australia.
“Increased periods of disqualification are indicative of the industry’s refusal to tolerate people who flout the Rules of Racing and thus damage the image and reputation of the sport.
“The new regime of minimum penalties represents a line in the sand and serves as a strong deterrent to those considering undermining the sport,” he said.
Brown’s comments (which could easily apply to the More Joyous inquiry) make Racing NSW look soft. Just like Oliver, Gai Waterhouse was found to be have undermined racing.
Yesterday, Gai was deemed to be guilty and fined a total of $5500 for failing to inform stewards, and have up-to-date treatment records, regarding heat found in More Joyous’ neck in the days before April 27’s All Aged Stakes.
So it’s perplexing to see Waterhouse’s light fines accompanied by Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy claiming that there needs to be “elements of deterrence” in the penalty he handed down.
Sadly, there is no deterrence here – this is a slap on the wrist for actions that have had racing on the front page for a month. The light sentence is almost as big an indictment as the ones Waterhouse was found guilty of.
Racing NSW had an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. In making a statement on sentence, they could have upheld the integrity of racing – the very fabric of the sport.
These soft penalties have shut the door on that idea. Racing NSW weren’t brave enough to affect change in the industry. Racing’s rot will continue.
And yet Racing NSW is made to look weaker by the numerous aggravating circumstances that permeate Waterhouse’s involvement in the More Joyous case.
It emerged at yesterday’s hearing that More Joyous was lame on the Tuesday before her disappointing fifth-place finish (as a drifting odds-on favourite) in the Queen of the Turf Stakes on Golden Slipper Day.
Again Waterhouse failed to inform stewards of the issue and fresh charges may be laid regarding that race, which was the mare’s final hit-out before the All Aged Stakes.
According to Waterhouse, More Joyous only ran well once in her three-race autumn preparation – when a first-up second to Pierro in the Canterbury Stakes. I’ve no doubt Gai is right.
But from the champion trainer’s point of view, it is purely coincidental that the mare’s best run – that second to Pierro – was the only time More Joyous went to the races fit and well. Waterhouse maintains Joyous had her chance to win both the Queen of the Turf and All Aged.
Waterhouse blamed the firmness of the Randwick track and a poor ride for the mare’s second last in the All Aged.
Unfortunately, Gai needs to realise that’s not the issue – it doesn’t come close to her dishonesty in failing to inform stewards of the heat in the mare’s neck.
And just for the record, I’ve got no idea how Gai can blame jockey Nash Rawiller.
Rawiller’s All Aged ride won full marks from me – More Joyous was given every chance by the hoop. Gai has thrown an unfair, cheap shot at her stable rider.
Waterhouse then went a step further – she tried to justify her actions by delcaring More Joyous just one of a number of her runners in recent months to have raced without stewards knowing about setbacks suffered in the immediate lead-up to a race.
Again by way of justification, Gai said some of those horses had won.
Waterhouse has shown clear disregard for the rules. She was dishonest and not the least bit remorseful. This is clearly not a once-off situation, as she herself has admitted.
Instead – and this is the most ironic bit of the whole saga – Gai is brushed with a $5500 fine which is thousands less than the stable pocketed in prize-money for More Joyous’ second-place finish in the Canterbury Stakes, and no doubt less lost by the many punters who would’ve fancied the great mare.
Unfortunately, stewards have been unable to cut-through the mire and make a bold decision. The question is now – can the ARB come to racing’s rescue again?
Have you ever tried your skills in a Racing daily fantasy competition? Put your best picks to the test for one day and see if you can scoop the pot with Draftstars. Looking for great odds on racing and sport? PlayUp is your best bet. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.