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Letter of the Week

Switching to sport

As a long-time racegoer, punter and purchaser of the Winning Post and Sportsman, I’ve been going to the races since 1975 and find the decision to not alter the new whip rule is doing irreparable damage across the whole industry. This has the potential to do more damage than EI ever did.

The industry is being held to ransom and it is high time that the industry as a whole galvanise and take back control of racing. After all, trainers, jockeys and owners are putting not only their money but their heart and soul into the industry. For Andrew Harding to come out in public and treat jockeys’ and trainers’ pleas with disdain shows that he’s not only out of touch with these participants but he also fails to realise this decision jeopardises the coming spring carnival and racing’s future. How, after this, can racing participants and the ARB work together? The fallout from this decision is that their relationship will become untenable.

Therefore racing participants should move a vote of no confidence in the Australian Racing Board and that it be dissolved. There is no better time than now for industry participants to take control of their future and form a national peak body to steer the industry in the right direction, rather than have the belligerent attitude shown by Andrew Harding of the ARB.

Australian racing has survived for more than 150 years but its very existence is now in the hands of this man. Australian racing deserves better. A new direction is very much needed.

For many years I’ve purchased both racing papers, looking forward to studying the form and reading stories to find that elusive winner, but I cannot see the use in buying these papers (nothing personal — both outstanding publications) if I as a punter am not getting a fair go, not to mention owners and trainers.

I also bet on sports, as do many of my punting friends, and as a result of this decision we’ll focus on sports betting in future — that is until the jockeys’ and racing participants’ wishes are met.

Rod Saunders
Padstow (NSW)
Today's Racing
Friday 29 March
Saturday 30 March
Sunday 31 March