KEY POINTS:
Chief racecourse inspector John McKenzie is seeking legal advice over allegations that he lied in his initial inquiries into the Bernard Dyke TAB betting ticket case currently before the Judicial Control Authority.
McKenzie is extremely upset over allegations made during the hearing before the Judicial Control Authority in Cambridge on Monday and Tuesday.
McKenzie told the Herald yesterday: "I am seeking legal advice over allegations I told lies during my inquiries.
"And when informed by witnesses I had not told lies, Bernard Dyke did not produce witnesses to establish that I had."
The case, brought by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, alleges dishonesty on the part of Bernard Dyke, a Cambridge trainer, in that he took no measures to advise the TAB outlet that he had been wrongly issued with a betting ticket to the value of $16,320, when he had intended to spend $60.
Dyke's lawyer Tony Ryan alleged McKenzie had lied when he denied that he had originally told Dyke that he would "make the matter go away" if some restitution was made.
"I am not prepared to allow a lawyer to describe me as a liar," said McKenzie. "I don't think that behaviour is acceptable."
The JCA reserved its decision on the case.
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The Poms have said 'no' to changing their rules about team riding.
It has always been a part of English racing, but the screams of 'unfair' have become louder in recent weeks.
A blatant case was in the group one Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot when Honoured Guest set the pace for stablemate Haradasun then moved away from the rail, interfered with two other runners and Haradasun, having his last raceday start, got up to win by a lip for the Coolmore boys.
Haradasun's trainer Aidan O'Brien was similarly accused when Honoured Guest's jockey David McCabe did exactly the same thing for his boss in last weekend's Irish Derby.
The British Horseracing Board said it has no intention of reviewing the rules.
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New Zealand galloper Black Mamba has won a group two event at Hollywood Park near Los Angeles.
The Black Minnaloushe mare won the US$150,000 ($200,000) event over 2000m at the weekend.
Black Mamba ran fifth in the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham last season, when trained by Murray Baker at Cambridge, before being sold to America.
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This is from the files of "you're kidding".
The New South Wales Government, the TAB and Tabcorp are being sued for $4.7 million for allowing a punter to punt.
Yep, that's right.
Christopher Fitzsimons describes himself as a chronic punter and says the TAB should never have allowed him to bet $14 million over a five-year period with his investments backed by a credit card owned by his daughter.
And he says the TAB should not have accepted an agreement signed by Fitzsimons to direct debit an account held jointly by his wife and daughter when neither were aware of the agreement.
Hello. Whose responsibility was it to tell them? It's this - I can't look after myself so I'm suing you for not doing it.
Only a lawyer could come up with that one. Oh, that's right, Fitzsimons is a lawyer. He's suspended.
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World champion Curlin took the first steps towards an assault on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when he pleased connections in a make-or-break workout on turf at Churchill Downs.
Rated the world's top racehorse by international handicappers, the winner of the Dubai World Cup and Breeders' Cup went through his paces on grass for the first time yesterday.
The 4-year-old finished a neck clear of a stablemate over 1400m in what trainer Steve Asmussen described as "a very good time".
Asmussen said it was likely to be the horse's only workout on the surface before he contests the Arlington Handicap at Arlington or the Man O'War Stakes at Belmont before his Arc campaign.
Regular rider Robby Albarado, as usual, spoke in glowing terms about Curlin.
"The way he's going now, I think he'll run over anything - any type of surface," he said. "We were a bit concerned that he might not adjust. He worked to our expectations."
Since winning in Dubai, Curlin has raced only once, winning the Stephen Foster Handicap last month by 4 1/4 lengths on dirt after which connections announced he would race on turf with a view to tackling the Arc.
Asmussen indicated that if the trial was successful Curlin could go to Europe as soon as possible to prepare for the Arc, possibly running in the Prix Foy two weeks before.
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The board of the BrisbaneTurf Club has strongly urged its members to merge with the Queensland Turf Club.
That's episode 32.
They got right to the line last time - which isn't that long ago - but couldn't topple over.
It's a no-brainer to have two racetracks, Eagle Farm and Doomben, across the road from each other and struggling financially when a merger would see both prosper. The BTC is tipped to lose $A1 million ($1.27 million) this year.
- NZPA, AAP
