MY CALL - THE STEWARDS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
By David Fowler | Tuesday, July 5, 2016
David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.
The $10,000 fine delivered by Racing NSW stewards to controversial Internet personality Glen Pollett presents me with a moral dilemma.
Pollett made some disparaging remarks about jockeys' welfare in a preview show on puntershow.com.au early last month.
It wasn't tasteful but that's nothing new for this program which deliberately sets out to be edgy and politically incorrect.
It can be amusing, it can be over the top, but if nothing else it is generally consistent in its approach.
Notwithstanding, Pollett was apologetic and remorseful at the inquiry before being hit with the $10k fine with half of it suspended.
What struck me as odd, and disturbing, was Pollett was not licenced. In other words, not bound by the rules of racing.
The case made for action was that Pollett has a strong profile in New South Wales racing. I find that a flimsy defence from the stipes side of the fence.
A strong profile? Maybe within the beltway but I would seriously doubt if the punter in the local TAB would have ever heard of him.
This brings me to the central point. You may not like what is said but our democracy allows it to be said.
Surely the steward’s role is to be the policemen of the racetrack rather than the arbiters of social comment.
The precedent becomes even more sinister because obviously not being licenced is no buffer to stewards' attention to your behaviour.
I'm no fan of Pollett but I'm also no fan of rulemakers exercising powers under the cloak of social responsibility.
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Sarah Moody was also slapped down for an unfavorable tweet regarding Racing Victoria chief stipe Terry Bailey and the RV integrity department.
The legitimacy of the $1500 fine was that she was licenced as an owner and stable hand.
Its tongue in cheek content was obvious to all but Racing Victoria ploughed ahead with their politically correct badges shining brightly.
Don't get me wrong. I can appreciate letting these things slip through to the keeper would give succour to an "open season" approach.
But I still worry that the get square mentality is often tucked away in these official admonishments.
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The Queensland Racing Industry Commission began last Friday.
Despite a thorough check of their website, the identity of the internal reviewer is still not known.
Commissioner Ross Barnett said at a forum last month the reviewer would be announced before the start of QRIC's operations.
Maybe I'm missing something.
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GRAPEVINE
* Hearing the bust-up of a senior jockey and a boutique trainer.
A feature race during the carnival precipitated the parting of the ways.
And the loss of the horse in question is also being touted.
* Expect a significant departure from the Queensland racing media within the next few weeks.
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