MY CALL: STEWARDING DRAMA. IT'S LIKE REFEREES BEING SHOWN THE RED CARD INSTEAD OF THE PLAYERS

By David Fowler | Tuesday, March 28, 2017

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 latest stewarding drama at QRIC raises an interesting point.

Integrity Regulation Unit boss Norm Torpey has been stood aside. That’s right, “aside” and not “stood down”.

This in isolation probably wouldn’t draw the crabs but with the Jamie Dart case unsolved and the recent David Farquharson sacking, it now joins a concerning line.

There are no leaks on this one. It’s steel trap stuff.

Yet, ironically, it could be a mountain out of a molehill situation.

QRIC proudly declares it welcomes complaints from the public. Almost courts it you could say.

There is always an inherent danger in such a process. Think of settling scores.

But there’s another concern. How far can a vexatious claim go back and still be treated with possible ramifications?

Few of us are lily white but they say you can at least learn from your mistakes.

Norm Torpey was dismissed by the Queensland Harness Racing board as its chairman of stewards in November 2005.

I’m not saying the Torpey case falls into this basket but I’m also not saying it doesn’t.

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Nathan Exelby’s expose that punters bet more at Eagle Farm than Doomben did surprise me.

But in another way, it didn’t.

Let’s look at the wider society for a moment.

Issues like same sex marriage and climate change are favourite topics at dinner parties and in coffee shops.

Yet they’re rarely discussed around the family dinner table.

Apply this to racing.

There’s much conversation within the beltway about the Eagle Farm track situation.

But does the run-of-the-mill punter give a “rats” when he or she bets on Saturday.

Apparently not.

And that doesn’t surprise me.

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Can Jameka make any impression on Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday week?

I reckon she can but I think I’m the only one considering it.

The drop back to 2400m to 2000m is not ideal but she is one good mare. Her BMW demolition was outstanding.

This is not a putdown of Winx but the Jameka benchmark would be interesting.

Would she beat Jameka by seven which was the champion mare’s margin in the George Ryder ?

If she does I wouldn’t dare raise the issue again.

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I’m predicting Jeff Lloyd will ride 140 metropolitan winners this season.

He is currently at 103 with only one win needed to break Chris Munce’s metropolitan riding record.

You read the figure here first.

David Fowler