Are we in for a shock-horror corruption expose - or a fizzer with nothing to it? These are the intriguing questions to emerge as latest reports indicate that some of Australia's top jockeys are being ordered to answer questions about their knowledge of suspected race fixing as part of an inquiry launched by racing stewards this week. The Age says the inquiry was 'initiated' by Racing Victoria chief investigator Dayle Brown and chief steward Terry Bailey, but it will be undertaken by an independe
Are we in for a shock-horror corruption expose - or a fizzer with nothing to it? These are the intriguing questions to emerge as latest reports indicate that some of Australia's top jockeys are being ordered to answer questions about their knowledge of suspected race fixing as part of an inquiry launched by racing stewards this week. The Age says the inquiry was 'initiated' by Racing Victoria chief investigator Dayle Brown and chief steward Terry Bailey, but it will be undertaken by an independent panel because of B and B's involvement in overlapping inquiries. It adds: 'The stewards have the power to summon licensed racing figures - including jockeys and trainers - to answer questions, and several top jockeys have already been issued with notices to attend hearings. It is the second inquiry into race fixing to be launched this month, with Victoria's Racing Integrity Commissioner, Sal Perna, undertaking his own independent inquiry.
NZ jockey James McDonald is joining the 59,000+ Kiwis who leave NZ and call Australia home each year. He's moving to Sydney next week after committing to a permanent move to Australia. McDonald is one of the best jockeys to emerge from the Shaky Isles for many years, though whether he will measure up to the likes of Jim Cassidy, Brent Thomson, Shane Dye and Greg Childs (to name a handful) remains to be seen. Some 'experts' are going a bit over the top in ranking McDonald ahead of such greats. Sure, he's a top rider and he'll do well - but, in my book, he is NOT the best. Not yet, anyway.