MY CALL: THE CHADWICK SELECTION PROCESS DEBATE
By David Fowler | Tuesday, June 19, 2018
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.
Soon-to-be QRIC chairman of stewards Peter Chadwick's ownership share in an Australian racehorse became a major news story at the weekend.
The issue became turbulent after outgoing chairman of stewards Alan Reardon delivered an extraordinary broadside on Chadwick's selection process, primarily arguing Chadwick's ownership situation should have been disclosed at his interview with the three man selection panel.
He was damning of the integrity process and damning of QRIC's Ross Barnett.
Reardon has a fortnight to go in his contract. He had nothing to lose.
Yet despite this, for those who know Reardon well, these remarks that he knew would be printed were astonishing.
I like and respect Reardon but I suspect his spray may have deeper roots than the Chadwick matter.
And that may well be a pertinent issue for another day but the Chadwick "brouhaha" - and I use that word carefully - is the matter at hand.
I can't see anything wrong in this whole process.
While it seems peculiar, Chadwick was acting within the Singapore jurisdiction that allowed him ownership of a racehorse not under his control.
What tangible difference would this have made to the merit of his selection if it had been disclosed at the interview?
This is a key question and my answer is nil.
If he had not been selected, he would not have had to divest his share.
He was selected and then divested his share.
What has been done wrong?
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The point of consumption tax in the racing industry has been another significant news story "off track".
Queensland government's decision to install a POC at 15% will become effective from October which follows South Australia's implementation at the same rate a year ago.
Victoria (8%), New South Wales (10%), Western Australia (15%) and ACT (15%) will follow suit in January.
There are two stories competing for the same space on this issue.
The wagering providers are arguing ferociously against the tax per se and it's rate while the racing industries are arguing ferociously that the tax raised should be returned to the industry that it emanates from.
The wagering providers' bleating has consistently fallen of deaf ears as one state after another has adopted the tax.
Any wagering provider that keeps making the threat that the racing product of a particular,state will be diminished because of this tax should be noted carefully by punters.
Take your business elsewhere and see how long they maintain this stance.
If there was a monopoly on this sort of trade it may eventuate but while there is fierce competition in the market place, it won't.
The issue of where the tax revenue lands is a far more credible and serious issue.
South Australia is the only test case so far and it doesn't seem to have fared well with the racing industry not receiving a penny from the POC windfall.
The then Labor government's promise that the "industry would be no worse off" after the introduction of the tax has not been honored according to the controlling body's chief executive Jim Watters.
However a change of government in March may see that situation alter in the short term.
Discussions between Queensland's state government and the racing industry between now and October will be vital.
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One race meeting that hasn't received a lot of publicity is the Deagon picnic raceday on Sunday July 8.
This concept began in 2013 and was wonderfully successful during 2014 and 2015 but several issues saw the meeting shelved in 2016 and 2017.
But it's been reignited this year and provides a great community experience for those in the Deagon and Sandgate districts.
Not that it is restricted to people in those areas.
And there is no greater supporter than Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe who is also the Member for Sandgate.
Go to the Deagon Racing Club Facebook page for more information.
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GRAPEVINE:- The Everest might not be the only mountain to be climbed at Royal Randwick on October 13.
Stay tuned.
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