October
SeptemberSoftly, softly
I listened to both Peter Moody and Terry Bailey and am surprised trainers and stewards don’t work together on integrity.
In my trade I am scrutinised and audited by two different bodies. I try my best but if things go wrong these bodies advise and help me. If I ignore advice and fail to comply, then I am duly penalised.
Integrity works both ways, so why don’t the stewards work with the trainers quietly behind the scenes? If a horse is found to have a positive swab, then it’s obviously disqualified and the trainer receives a fine. Thereafter both parties work for a solution. (How did this horse produce a positive swab?)
If the trainer continues to breach the rules, severe penalties are imposed. Then perhaps the media could be informed.
Nowadays the media are informed well before investigations are finished, with devastating results.
Bailey points out that the police use all sorts of measures. But the police have trained detectives quietly investigating tipoffs for months before the media are told.
Bailey needs to work with trainers. A take-no-prisoners attitude is doing the industry no good.
Warragul (Vic)