October
DecemberWe need clarity
I was intrigued on hearing Mr Lloyd Williams say on Radio 4TAB on Monday November 17 that he gives the orders on the training of his horses and his staff, including the registered trainer, Mr Hickmott, carry them out. My only concern with this is whether the Rules of Racing are being applied equally to all involved in the industry. I believe it is in the public interest for this situation to be clarified.
On January 28 1998 I appealed, as a trainer, against a decision of the stewards to fine me for employing an unregistered person.
The circumstances were that an owner led his own horse, which I trained, off a racecourse after it had raced.
Mr Andrew Harding, the present CEO of the Australian Racing Board, appeared as legal representative for the stewards and outlined that anyone wishing to be involved in the training of racehorses needs to be registered as a stablehand.
In page 15 of the appeal transcript, Mr Harding says: "There is no sovereign right of an owner to train his horse or to be involved in its training, to be involved in its custody, management, training or working whilst that horse is under the responsibility of a licensed trainer.
"That trainer has an obligation created by Local Rule 43 to only allow to take part in the custody, management, training and working, a registered person. There are no sovereign rights in owners. They are not a special case."
At page 14 of the transcript Mr Harding further referred to Australian Racing Rule 85 (a), which states: "A person shall not train a horse for any race unless he is a licensed person."
The authority found my alleged offence was merely a technical breach of the rules and stated that in the interests of justice a reprimand was appropriate and waived the fine of $200.
Only one trainer at a time can effectively claim to train one particular horse, by furnishing a stable return for that horse.
We can therefore assume that Mr Williams and his son are registered stablehands of Mr Hickmott, the licensed trainer.
Mr Williams’s son said on Sky Channel on Sunday November 22 that only one person can be shown in the racebook as the trainer, which is correct, but the question is, is it accurate?
As far as I’m aware there is no provision in the Rules of Racing for the cute designation of "team training".
I recall one particular owner-trainer losing his permit to train in NSW when the stewards ascertained that he was not the actual trainer and had been hiding behind stablehands for years, with these men doing the actual training and him being shown in the racebook as the trainer..
There now has to be a perception in the public mind and in the minds of other industry participants that preferential treatment is given to Mr Williams in regard to the training of his horses.
Mr Williams is obviously a very skilled horse trainer, but he has apparently chosen not to take out an owner’s permit to train.
One has to admire Mr Williams’s openness on the matter, with no attempt to deceive anyone. He makes a very worthwhile contribution to the racing industry. His stable is well run and the horses receive proper care and attention. The horses perform in races successfully and consistently and the public can bet on them with confidence.
The stewards have, by reports in the press, made an investigation and have apparently okayed the operation. If some special authorisation has been given, perhaps other industry participants should know what that is. Interesting to say the least.
Pittsworth (Qld)