FROM THE SHERIFF'S DESK - DIRECTOR OF STEWARDING WILL BE A POSITION OF CRITICAL INFLUENCE

By John Schreck | Wednesday, October 5, 2016

John Schreck, a former Chief Steward in both Sydney and Hong Kong, has seen both the colourful and the dark sides of racing. His wealth of experience and his deep knowledge of racing matters across the board is unquestioned and the reputation he built as a racing ‘lawman’ remains firmly entrenched in racing’s history. Shreck’s personal blog, ‘From the Sheriff’s Desk', appears exclusively on HRO.

HRO Comment: This week's edition of 'From the Sheriff's Desk' was written before news filtered down late on Wednesday afternoon that Jamie Dart has been appointed as Director of Stewarding, Licensing and Registration. While that appointment has still to be officially confirmed, the content of John Schreck's blog still applies, irrespective of the person appointed and, as such, it is published here without any alteration.

Speculation is starting to build in Queensland regarding the pending appointment of the Director of Stewarding, Licensing and Registration at QRIC.

Racing Queensland already has a new Chairman and a new CEO and the appointment of the Director of Stewarding will be a very important one.

Perception is terribly important around horse racing. If the perception is a poor one ... that things are not managed as well as they ought to be ... that perception is very difficult to reverse.

People have to perceive that the sport is being managed properly from an integrity point of view and that doesn’t necessarily mean rubbing people out all of the time. It is much better for stewards to have co-operation from participants than confrontation ... much, much better.

If the person they appoint at QRIC can encourage the participants to cooperate with authorities that is better than getting someone in there who is going to blow the sport up. There is need, of course, when someone pops their head up and does something stupid, it has to be lopped off ... but the appointment of this particular person and their philosophy is going to have a huge impact on the sport moving forward.

As I’ve said, it doesn’t have to be a heavy handed approach all of the time. That can be avoided for the most part if an environment of mutual regard is established. I’ve always called it mutual regard. I don’t like the word respect ... that is a different matter altogether.

I always insisted that participants conducted themselves with courtesy and dignity and I endeavoured to always do the same with them. That clearly defined interaction procedure leads to positive working environment ... as far as it goes.

So much can be contained in that situation. I mean in my time there were opportunities to say to a trainer that the particular substance you are giving a horses is close to being over the line, so you better come back a couple of days.

That brings me back to the theory I firmly believe in ... namely that prevention is better than cure, if it can be managed that way.

That was a philosophy that was drummed into me many years ago and is one which I still think applies today.

I remember years ago in Melbourne Doctor John Burke, who was one of the best racing veterinarians there has ever been, was most emphatic that trainers should never be ambushed with changes of analytical techniques.

Of course that didn’t include thing like elephant juice and that sort of thing. You would go for the jugular with that but with the normal course of analytical work trainers should be kept informed.

The best value for the sport is for everybody can work together ... if it is possible. Both sides of the fence have to link up in a manner which is for the good of the sport
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The sport is bigger than anybody that is in it. The game is bigger than the player and the all of the players in the sport need to remember that.

The bottom line is that the Director of Stewarding can be one of critical influence so, when appointed, it will be very interesting to see what that person brings to the party!

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Finding out that extent of the loss suffered by Racing Queensland in the last year was quite disturbing.

The recorded loss was $21.8 million.

You hear day after day after day from the government that we all have to live with our means. That applies to country, to all individual households and all business’, such as the racing industry.

If you don’t live within your budget or within your means you eventually go broke.

So somehow, the financial situation at Racing Queensland ... a loss like that ... has to be arrested and it has to be turned around quickly.

I certainly don’t envy the people who have to achieve that but we all know that it has to be done otherwise a critical point will be reached from which it will be difficult to make a comeback.

Is Racing Queensland there already?

I don’t know ... but a loss of $21.8 million. That certainly is hell of a lot of money on the wrong side of the ledger!