04.08.2008, THE GREAT RACING SURVEY

By Ray Thomas

August 01, 2008 12:00am

WEEKEND Hussler is almost a universal choice as the nation’s best racehorse, Corey Brown the most outstanding jockey, and Gai Waterhouse is rated the leading trainer.

These are just some of the findings of The Daily Telegraph’s poll on the major issues in the racing industry.

Nearly 200 racing identities, including trainers, jockeys, owners, journalists and officials, were asked to contribute to the survey, and more than 100 responded by deadline.

Some of the more pertinent replies have been included in the results but are not attributed, due to the confidentiality of the poll.

YOUR SAY
The Daily Telegraph is offering readers a chance to have their say on the issues facing NSW racing. Go to the end of the story for details.

WHICH is the best racehorse in Australia? Weekend Hussler (93%), Apache Cat (3%), Takeover Target (2%). Sebring and Light Fantastic also polled votes. 

WHO is the best trainer in Australia? Gai Waterhouse (15%), Bart Cummings (13%), Chris Waller (11%), Peter Snowden (10%), David Hayes (10%), Lee Freedman (8%), John Hawkes (6%), John O’Shea (6%), Mick Price (5%). 

Other trainers who received multiple votes included Guy Walter, Anthony Cummings and Bruce McLachlan.

WHO is the best jockey in Australia? Corey Brown (19%), Darren Beadman (15%), Blake Shinn (12%), Damien Oliver (10%), Glen Boss (10%). 

Others to receive multiple votes included Nash Rawiller, Craig Williams, Michael Rodd, Steven Arnold, Hugh Bowman, Danny Nikolic and Craig Newitt.

WHO is Sydney’s best trainer? Gai Waterhouse (21%), Bart Cummings (15%), Chris Waller (15%), Peter Snowden (12%), John Hawkes (10%), John O’Shea (10%), Guy Walter (8%). 

Others to receive multiple votes were David Payne, Anthony Cummings and Gerald Ryan.

WHO is Sydney’s best jockey? Corey Brown (25%), Blake Shinn (18%), Darren Beadman (15%), Nash Rawiller (13%), Glen Boss (10%). 

Others to receive multiple votes included Danny Nikolic, Hugh Bowman, Glyn Schofield, Jeff Lloyd and Larry Cassidy.

WHICH race do you most want to win? Melbourne Cup (48%), Golden Slipper (19%), Doncaster Handicap (14%), AJC Australian Derby (10%), W.S. Cox Plate (5%) and The BMW (2%). 

SHOULD there be an all-weather racetrack in Sydney? Yes: 67%. No: 33% 

SHOULD Warwick Farm be turned into an industry centre for the training of horses and an academy for jockeys and staff? Yes: 57%. No: 43% 

SHOULD Canterbury be sold? Yes: 12%. No: 88% 

WHAT is your favourite racetrack? Randwick (53%), Flemington (20%), Rosehill (18%). Other tracks to receive multiple votes included Canterbury and Hawkesbury. 

DO you like ratings-based programming? Yes: 11%. No: 89% 

ARE you satisfied with the process to select the new board for Racing NSW? Yes: 64%. No: 36% 

SHOULD Canterbury night racing be switched to Friday or Saturday night? Yes: 88%. No: 12% 

SHOULD the AJC and STC merge? Yes: 42%. No: 58% 

SHOULD there be a merger of some provincial race clubs? Yes: 47%. No: 53% 

SHOULD there be race club mergers in country areas? Yes: 74%. No: 26% 

SHOULD jockeys be fined big sums rather than be given lengthy suspensions during major race carnivals? Yes: 15%. No: 85% 

ARE stewards’ penalties for careless riding too harsh? Yes: 8%. No: 92% 

WERE you satisfied with the NSW Government’s handling of the equine influenza outbreak?Yes: 20%. No: 80% 

WERE you satisfied with the performance of Racing NSW during EI? Yes: 94%. No: 6% 

SHOULD corporate bookmakers and betting exchanges pay a fee to operate on NSW racing?Yes: 91%. No: 9% 

IS there too much racing? Yes: 35%. No: 65% 

WHICH racing TV channel do you watch the most – Sky Channel or TVN? Sky Channel 47%. TVN 53% 

WHO is your favourite media personality involved with racing? Ron Dufficy (Sky Channel) received the most votes ahead of (in order) Ken Callander (The Daily Telegraph), Caroline Searcy (TVN), Tony Brassel (Sky Channel), Bruce Clark (TVN), Andrew Bensley (2KY), Richard Callander (TVN), Greg Radley (2KY), Gary Crispe (Racing And Sports), Max Presnell (SMH) and Mark Shean (TVN). 

SHOULD the AJC keep Easter race dates? Yes: 46%. No: 54% 

SHOULD the AJC abandon its week-long autumn carnival and race over three successive Saturdays? Yes: 77%. No: 23% 

SHOULD Sydney’s two race clubs finance northern hemisphere participation for the Sydney autumn carnival? Yes: 5%. No: 95% 

ARE prizemoney levels for our major races too high? Yes: 52%. No: 48% 

SHOULD major race prizemoney be spread more evenly across the racing sectors? Yes: 46%. No: 54% 

SHOULD race clubs use discretionary powers to select big race fields? Yes: 10%. No: 90% 

HOW can Sydney and NSW racing be improved?

 Some selected answers:

“Free entry.”

“I feel trainers and jockeys should be promoted more. If we are seen doing promotions it will help get more people to the sport. Get our faces out there and get people interested in racing.”“By increasing prizemoney and reducing the layers of administration.” 

“The two Sydney clubs should merge immediately and put back into the industry the cost savings.”“Better programming and more races for stayers. Scrap the electronic ratings system and bring back a handicapper, as there are too many inconsistencies.” 

“Greater focus on Saturday racing and improved programming.”HOW can Racing NSW be more effective?“Programming is a shambles and staying races must be encouraged – don’t fall for the supply and demand bulls. . . , as a long-term guaranteed program of staying races would promote the demand.” 

“Select a talented board with proven performance and allow them to lead the industry.”“Less board members.”

“As an organisation, it is already a streamlined body with extremely high productivity. Coupled with a new board with a mandate for industry building, it will go from strength to strength.”“Take over the day-to-day administration from all race clubs in NSW.” 

“By increasing prizemoney.”“Put forward a reform plan.” 

“I think they do a good job and have come a long way over the past few years.”“Put more money into promoting the sport.” 

WHAT is your biggest gripe in racing? “People pushing their obvious vested interests.” 

“The whingers – there is much to like about our product.”“Sunday racing.” 

“Small race fields.”“Jockeys not riding to instructions.” 

“The training tracks are not good enough.”“That the sense of purpose that was so evident during EI is not present as often as it could be.” 

“Inexpert, inarticulate journalism – almost purely punt-driven with minimal knowledge, experience or love of horses.”“Stewards suspending jockeys too easily – especially when it really counts at carnival time.” 

WHAT is the biggest threat to racing?

“The biggest threat to racing is every other form of gambling and entertainment in the community, whether on TV or live.”

“A dysfunctional board and corporate bookmakers/Betfair – TAB is the lifeblood of racing and must be protected.”“The NSW Government.”

 “Critical labour shortages are affecting growth in the industry and resulting in a shortage of talented and skilled workers.”“Betfair.”

 “Self-interest driving decisions for the industry, and securing a funding model for the industry in a deregulated wagering world.”“The saturation of racing and the little coverage on free-to-air the sport receives outside of carnival times.”

 “Wagering operators exploiting NSW race fields without paying and threatening the viability of the NSW racing industry.”“The biggest threat to racing, as the average Australian knows it, is the sport being put on for the rich and big players with the little bloke forgotten about.”

YOUR SAY

The Daily Telegraph is offering readers a chance to have their say on the issues facing NSW racing.

You can answer the same questions that appear in today’s poll. Simply cut and paste the questions from this story, answer them, and send them by email to Ray Thomas. You can also fax your answers.

Email: thomasra@dailytelegraph.com.au or fax on (02) 9288 3391.

The results of the public poll will be published in next Friday’s edition of The Daily Telegraph.

04.08.2008, IRISH STAYER AT CROSSROADS ON SATURDAY

The Chris Waller-trained English import Big Al Hazim is looking to make it back-to-back wins at Rosehill on Saturday in the Blacktown Workers Handicap (2000m).

Rosehill-based Waller is concerned by the prospect of slow conditions, despite the gelding demonstrating a strong rain affected-track record.

“He’s doing everything right, but he’d appreciate a firmer track,” Waller said.

“Last start he showed he’s got a turn of foot.

“The start before that he ran second on a slow track, and he didn’t quite have that acceleration.

“So hopefully it will dry out, but in general he’s going good.”

The Irish stayer has recently been in the best form of his Australian career, but his performance on Saturday will determine what the future holds, with Waller tossing up between options for the gelding in the coming months.

“We could go for the Wyong Cup (2100m) [September 5],” Waller said.

“More importantly we’d go for the Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick [October 4], but the timing’s all wrong.

“We’ll reassess after Saturday. If he goes well, we’ll back off and have one run into the Metropolitan.”

Waller has five starters in Saturday’s meeting, and is confident Grizz will find his fifth win in the Mounties Group Handicap (2400m), with a significant drop in class after finishing close behind some of the best stayers of recent months.

“This is the perfect race for Grizz,” Waller said.

“He’s back to the 2400m. It’s the right race for him.”

In race two, the Wenty Leagues Club Handicap (1300m), Scission has drawn well after being unlucky in her last two starts, while Danz in Paris will carry 52kg after Mitchell Beadman’s claim.

Humma has been nominated in the third and fifth events, and has claims having finished a close third behind At My Command last start at Rosehill on July 19.