This is a photo of the Unitab website from last Saturday where the trifecta was successfully tipped to readers for free on Race 5 at Eagle Farm. The trifecta paid $448.10 for a $1 unit on Unitab and the First 4 was also in the selected numbers and it paid just $6,439 for a one dollar unit on Unitab. In the other Brisbane race that was previewed it was advised Paprika "couldn't win" and that Readyor was "not much good" - and neither of those heavily backed runners, which started $3.10 and $4.40 respectively, ran a place. The Justracing article Friday night warned punters to be wary of Tinseltown and Lang in the Queensland Cup and gave explicit reasons why - and neither ran a place at $2.80 and $3.90 respectively.

Last Saturday Eagle Farm conducted an eight race programme on a track rated as a “good 3” for the entire meeting.

The main race on the card was the 3200-metre Queensland Cup and it developed into an interesting race to watch when the three horses that eventually ran the trifecta – Solid Billing, Dave The Dude and Mr Mayfair - established a big lead during the race, to the point where at the 600-metre mark, some of the backmarkers couldn’t have shot the leader Solid Billing with a scud missile. Judging by the overall time of 3.23.14 which is 7.44 seconds, or 44.64 lengths, off Sky Flyer’s track record established when he won the 1994 Brisbane Cup defeating Cool Credit and Cross Swords, we won’t be seeing any of the placegetters from this year’s Queensland Cup gracing the Flemington course proper on the first Tuesday in November, but at least we witnessed a race with a difference last Saturday.

In the scoops department, drivers should beware that apprentice Mitch Wood got his P-plate licence last Friday, so be sure to give him a wide berth if you see him on the highways or byways. Watch also for another scoop to emanate from the Wood household in the very near future. It will be another scoop for Justracing, if a competitor like Murdoch or Packer doesn’t offer bigger dollars for the story. Currently I am frontrunner to get the “scoop” with the present offer being “a hamburger and one of those watered down pre-mix Coke’s”. So eat your heart out Rupert and James.

The website got besieged by emails last week over two stories – firstly the trainers problems at Doomben and secondly the Brisbane Racing Club’s decision to not recognize the Owners card from 1/7/10 - and two typical email responses are reproduced below for readers. The writer’s names have been withheld - to save any comeback on the writers, who state they are both members of the BRC. The respective emails read:

Can you believe it, the BRC are now not accepting the QLD Owners Card anymore. Once again the owners, one of the most important elements of the racing industry, are being stooged by this same club who tried to take away our complimentary racebooks. Mind you, we're only allowed one racebook between the nine of us in our (racehorse) syndicate.

What could possibly be the reason behind not allowing owners of QLD thoroughbreds complimentary entry to the racecourse and members' enclosure? The owner is still probably going to have a meal and a few refreshing ales, along with a bet or two. All this contributes to the financial benefit of the club, yet they still need their $15 at the gate - what a crock!

I am a member of the BRC and am a huge fan of the recent, well overdue, renovations at Doomben; however for every step forward the club takes, they seem to immediately take two steps backwards.

Last week it was the debacle with the Doomben trainers, and now its this small but still meaningful issue. This is the same club that would not pro-rata the memberships fees when my fellow syndicate members wanted to join in May last year, therefore wanting to charge the full $330 in May and then again at the end of June; needless to say they didn't join.

While I'm on my high horse - what about the formation of the Young Members Committee? Being a young member, a horse owner, a keen racegoer and an active member of my community, I would have loved the opportunity to at least nominate to be part of the committee. But no, it seemed that the committee was handpicked 'in house', and is it coincidence that one member of the committee is the partner of a member of the BRC committee? I think not.

Anyway Phil, that's my rant. I'm not usually one to complain too much but this is just another step backwards by the BRC in my opinion, and for all the good that they do in encouraging people to come to the races they seem to continue to penalise the people who keep the industry going.

I know there's not much you can do and you're not the one I should be complaining to, but if you give the topic a bit of attention on your website it might make a few more people aware of some of these issues.

THEN THIS EMAIL ALSO CAME IN RE THE TRAINERS DEBATE. IT READ IN PART:

I thought the merger idea at Eagle Farm and Doomben was supposed to save a million dollars, or was that just talk? Surely some of that million bucks could go towards making a few new tie up stalls? And if they have not actually saved any money through the merger well if you bothered checking, you would be shocked to find that the three main staff of the BRC would be cumulatively earning between $800,000 and $900,000 dollars per annum in their total packages. Why doesn't someone in the media pen a story on that? Maybe if executives weren't paid such high salaries that would go a long way towards rectifying the $200,000 “trainers” dilemma? (Editor's footnote: I did not seek a response from the BRC on these emails, as I believe both sources of these emails to be what I would call "reliable".)

Today on the websites, as is customary, there is something for everyone. On the www.brisbaneracing.com.au website there is the research from 1880’s newspapers by Robyn Ryan over Lyndhurst Stud, on www.sydneyracing.com.au there is an article from a Turf Monthly in 1981 which shows nothing much has changed in the incestuous world of racing in 29 years, whilst on www.melbourneracing.com.au there are photos and articles from Melton and Albion Park harness racing over the last week.

From the Eagle Farm betting ring leading rails bookmaker Lindsay Gallagher reported:

Race 1 – Decibella $4.60, Shakeva $26.00 and Nostrum $7.50

Decibella touched $4.80 in betting and ran at $4.60, with just general cash money arriving for the Toowoomba trained mare.

Tisani Boy was backed from $10 into $8 and he was probably the worst result for most bookies on the race, but he got touched out in a photo for third.

Sir Monashee was backed from $9 into $6 on the phones and there was also some money about for Newcastle mare Withoutme, so it wasn’t a big betting race to start the day off, but it was nevertheless a losing race.

Race 2 – I’m Ruthless $6.00, Equable $5.00 and Fasdehere $4.60

This winner I’m Ruthless was specked around the $7 mark and the runner-up was also specked around the $5 quote.

Third placed Fasdehere was probably the worst result in my book and in one bet alone took out $20,000.

Tootsie Zynsky was specked at long odds and Unser attracted general cash money and Furhnatic was specked as well, so they backed a few in the race and it was a race some bookies won on – and others lost on the race.

Race 3 – Bianca Jewel $3.00, Cavaliered $5.00 and Devinardi $9.50

Bianca Jewel was the best backed runner and she firmed from $3.40 into $3 following plenty of phone call interest from punters wanting to back her.

Big Ken The Celt was a bit unlucky and got caught a bit wide and ran a good race, but there was no money around for him.

Cavaliered was also heavily backed and firmed from $7.50 into $5 and only got beaten narrowly in a tight finish.

By this time punters had their eye in.

Race 4 – Milanesa $4.60, Startsmeup $2.40 and Belltone $19.00

There was good money on the phones for this winner Milanesa. We put up $6.50 and she was the first backed runner and she shortened up to run at $4.60 at post time.

Money did come for Startsmeup on the phones at $2.50, so you could lay both gallopers well, but they ran the quinella, so it was hard to win on the race, particularly when there was no money for anything else in the race.

Race 5 – Firebolt $2.40, Sir Kingsford $6.50 and Gaze On $51.00

Kiwi galloper Firebolt won easily and whilst he eased in the betting there was cash money about for him and his victory was a bad result for me personally, as the only other horse that I could lay for any money was Malandrina at $7.50 on the phones, but she never looked likely.

Race 6 – Bold Glance $10.00, Joint Chiefs $12.00 and Conquering Queen $4.00

This was a spirited betting race.

Each-way money arrived for Conquering Queen at $4.40.

Daunting Lad was specked.

Paprika was the best backed runner and she firmed from $3.90 and I even laid her well at $3.20 late in betting.

Sydney visitor Readyor was backed late at $4.40, so they backed a few in the race and it was a winning race.

Race 7 – Solid Billing $5.50, Dave The Dude $8.00 and Mr Mayfair $61.00

Money arrived on the phones for this winner Solid Billing.

Lang was backed and Court Ruler attracted specking.

Tinseltown was backed late in betting at $2.90 and the biggest single bet I laid on him at that quote was a bet of $10,000, which made the result more palatable, and again it was a mixed result with some fielders winning on the race and some losing.

Race 8 – Listen Son $9.00, Lochiel $7.50 and Rokatoko $4.00

This winner Listen Son firmed from $10 into $9, but personally I didn’t lay the horse, so he provided a good winning result to finish the day.

There was some money for Lochiel and Rokatoko was well backed on the phones at $4.80.

Topweight Funtantes was backed at $15 and a roughie Web Of Love was specked at $41.

Tunahog finished up very well backed late in betting and good money arrived for the previously unbeaten galloper, to the point where you could virtually get what you wanted out of him.

Another unbeaten runner Zippy Lou attracted $2,000 bets along the rails, so they did back all the promising young horses.

Most bookmakers went home winning when they got out of jail on the last race.

Lindsay will be fielding at Eagle Farm on Wednesday (the meeting has apparently been transferred from Doomben), Ipswich on Friday and then he’s back to Doomben on Saturday and the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

Don’t forget if you would like to visit Lindsay on the web to read his latest rant, cop a free tip, or view his latest bonus offer to new clients, you can do all that and more by visiting him at www.thevipclub.com.au.