FROM THE SHERIFF'S DESK: THERE ARE TIMES WHEN DRAWING COMPARISONS SERVES NO GOOD PURPOSE AT ALL

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

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.

Josh Cartwright received an eighteen month suspension on Monday for his now infamous ride at Senior Council at Morphettville on January 14.

Some have responded to that penalty by asking how Cartwright could receive the same penalty as James McDonald who reported placed a bet on one of his own winning mounts but who did not put any other rider in harm’s way through reckless riding, as arguably was the case in the Cartwright affair.

The bottom line is that there is no meaningful point in comparing penalties for completely different offences.

The imposing of penalties across the board, both in society and in domestic tribunals is a very inexact science.

Nobody has yet come up with a formula that can be easily followed by people in the street ... and that is the case with the Cartwright matter where the stewards have done some very unusual things with the point being that we, on the outside, are not privy to the precise reasons why they have made certain decisions.

For example Cartwright’s training licence has been suspended following a charge on a riding matter.

That is an interesting point to follow as would be the arguments they use to justify that decision.

No doubt all arguments and the evidence will have exercised the steward’s minds at the time but we don’t fully know the background.

Those reasons would probably have come out in appeals, where stewards would have to justify their finding, but it has been reported Cartwright will not be appealing his penalty.

Generally, there are a myriad of factors to be taken into account when assessing penalty.

Usually each case has different facts surrounding them. The reputation of the person before those penalising them has to be considered. Their demeanour during the course of the enquiry, their plea, their co-operation ... all of those things have to be considered which makes any outright comparison of different cases difficult enough it itself.

Trying to make that comparison with cases related to entirely different charges is even more difficult.

So, to repeat, whether it is Cartwright v McDonald or any other cases, the bottom line is that there is no meaningful point in comparing penalties for completely different offences.

To do so without having ALL of the facts available is a dangerous past-time.

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Winx’s winning sequence continued in emphatic fashion at Randwick on Monday.

The big feature about Winx is her ability to improve in the run whenever asked to do so at various times. Lots of horses can improve and close off a race strongly, but she seems to be able to improve ... and then ease up ... and then improve again.

That is clearly a unique attribute and that, coupled with here inherent ability, sets her above the rest.

I think it is very hard and also unnecessary to be comparing her performances to what horses have been doing in the United States ... as some seem intent on doing.

Since Winx finished third behind Arrogate and California Crome in the Longines Best Racehorse Awards we first heard how Winx is the best racehorse in the world on turf and now how she is the best drug free racehorse in the world.

As one scribe put it, ‘Winx is the best drug-free racehorse in the world because US superstars Arrogate and California Chrome were loaded up on home territory with Lasix, the diuretic and performance enhancer. Lasix is barred on race day in Australia. Surely winning without it should carry more kudos than dirt triumphs with it. Yet the recent Longines World's Best Racehorse assessment rated it superior, with Arrogate (134) and California Chrome (133) being placed above Winx (130).’

The argument is superfluous and I think it is unfortunate that it has been put in play.

Certainly Winx’s connections have not been drawn into this discussion, which is to their credit, as is everything they have done with the horse.

I don’t know that much can be achieved by claiming Winx is the best horse in the world, in whatever circumstances, and I don’t see the need to do so.

The undisputed fact is that she is great for racing and the people in Australia have embraced her and that scenario should be enjoyed by all.

I think the classic thing with Winx was in last year’s Cox Plate. A Sydney horse receiving the reception she did after winning that race was extraordinary.

You know, you can send a mountain of gold from Sydney to Melbourne and Melbourne people will probably say we better check it, it might be fool’s gold ... whereas they seemed to absolutely embrace Winx which made it a pretty special moment.

Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman, in interviews, have stated what a privilege it is to be part of the Winx adventure and, in a wider sense, that is something that is being shared by not only the greater racing community but also by the general public.

So does it really matter where Winx stands in relation to Arrogate and California Crome who are allowed to race under different drug rules?

Personally, and not least because there can be no definitive conclusion to that argument, I don’t see the need to go there!

Comparing horses from vastly different racing precincts is almost as dangerous as comparing jockey’s penalties for completely different offences.

There is no future in it!

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In last week’s column I wrote, ‘I just wonder where the national racing scene is going when this particular race (The Everest) is programmed to take place in Sydney on the first major day of the Melbourne Spring. It certainly does not bode well for future interstate relations. Clearly they were heading in different directions with certain management decisions even before today and I would think this is only going to strain those relations all the more ... which, from the sports point of view, is a big, big shame.’

There was quite a bit of positive reaction to my comments, particularly after Racing New South Wales’ CEO stated, with regard to announcement of The Everest race, that ‘we took no consultation with Racing Victoria because it's like Kentucky Fried Chicken consulting with McDonalds with a new product. It's no good telling your competitor what your concept is going to be.’

Again that disturbs me.

I’m all for healthy competition but, to me, healthy competition is great when you talk about AFL v NRL or NRL v Rugby Union and so on, but we are talking here about racing v racing ... one industry with the sport fighting amongst itself.

That can’t work in the long term and is not good for the sport at any time.

For all of their independent thought, states are really dependant on each other. New South Wales is allowed to bet on Victorian racing through their TAB’s etc without any charge being levied by Victoria ... and visa-versa of course.

On many, many days in New South Wales the highest turnover is on racing from interstate Victoria, so I think there is a very great need for the sport to work within itself and together.

They all should be pulling one way.

If they pull against each other it can’t be good and the sooner that fact is recognised, acknowledged and acted upon the better!