In 2017 drivers Shane Graham and Matthew Neilson were charged with the criminal offence of race (match) fixing, and banned from the sport.
As a result of police and QRIC incompetence they were some years later cleared of the charges, and had their licenses and status in the sport restored.
It’s a crying shame, for last night in the Lord Mayor’s Cup at Albion Park they did it again.
Turnitup opened as the $1.95 in the betting, and blew out to $3.50.
It is trained by Darren Weeks, and driven by Shane Graham.
Speech is Silver is trained by Vicki Rasmussen, who was also arrested for match fixing and cleared.
Weeks is Rasmussen’s sister Kylie’s partner.
Her horse was backed from $13 into $9.50, and was driven by Matthew Neilson.
Turnitup is the fastest beginner in Queensland.
It flew the gate and led easily, with the pole marker Northview Hustler on its back, and Speech of Silver on his.
Graham ran them through the lead time and the first two quarters in about average splits for Open company class, going 36.9, 29.4 and 28.6, with no pressure at all to its outside.
Then without any cause or rational reason, at the 800 metre mark Neilson put his foot to the floor and the pedal to the medal, and took off like a startled gazelle.
He did it to break up the field and drop the horse in the death, so that his stablemate – different name, same jockey – could slip up the inside and get off the fence.
Shane Graham knew full well that Turnitup is weak in the straight over 2138 metres if he runs a real quick third split.
He also knows that Speech of Silver has a devastating finish off a fast pace.
That’s why after he took off he turned around to make sure that it was coming through on Northview Hustler’s back.
He was setting the race up for it.
Graham is a cheat, a low down, selfish, dirty dog of one too. He doesn’t give a rats arse about the punters who had backed his horse in good faith, and were relying on him to drive it to the best of his and it’s ability. All he cares about is him. It’s all crooks ever care about really. Me, me, me.
He is also a close mate and speed dil buddy of the Albion Park CEO Scott Steele, which tells you plenty, none of it good.
The inevitable happened.
Turnitup folded up in the straight.
Speech Is Silver steamed home over the top and won.
The Stewards didn’t say or ask a thing.
I wish the new QRIC Commissioner would hurry up and start in the job.
He has a hell of a lot to do, on all sides of the fence.
As for the punters?
Fuck the trots.
Who wants to like a sport that doesn’t like them, or bet on a code that is $1.35 to screw you?
When’s the next at the dogs?
Editor’s note – No I am not talking through my kick. I don’t bet on the Albion Park trots anymore. Why would anyone?
Further note – Due to the effects of 3 joints and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue I somehow muddled the drivers up in my head and had Graham on Neilson’s, and Neilson on Graham’s. Sorry fellas. I won’t mix it up next time when you swap roles.
I also put Darren Weeks with the wrong sister. Sorry there Sir. I was having a shocker all round last night. At least it wasn’t Natalie.