The scandal racing can’t fix
The injustice facing racing’s never-ending drug saga is becoming greater by the day – and the incredible part of it all is that the sport seems incapable of protecting its own.
For a billion dollar industry, it’s an embarrassment.
Five trainers were forced to plead guilty for having a banned drug in their system. They claimed they didn’t do it, suggesting the substance may in fact be naturally produced by horses. It is a claim many [including Racing Victoria] now accept is possible, despite all five being fined by the legal system for presenting their horses to race with the substance.
This column earlier directly challenged Racing Victoria and its CEO Aaron Morrison to show leadership and tell the industry what it is doing to fix the mess.
Morrison, to his credit did so, giving Betsy an in-depth and detailed explanation of what he is doing both locally and nationally to find a solution. As a long-term solution, it is solid and constructive.
It includes a global study to find out why this is happening and has merit and promise. But he also noted that under the rules it must operate under, Racing Victoria must continue to take trainers whose horse have this substance in their system to court. To alter this rule, it’s an issue that requires a national fix.
In the meantime, the court cases keep coming – respected trainer Tom Dabernig is next in line. There was another interstate case recently too.
Let’s be clear – the racing industry essentially accepts its participants could be innocent of a serious charge and is using science to investigate, but because of the rules it creates, it has no choice but to prosecute anyway, threatening the livelihoods of many because they have zero flexibility.
It is an incredible situation and an inditement on an industry worth billions of dollars. If it was a criminal case, the matter wouldn’t even make day 1 of a trial.
But where is the outrage? How can we let this happen?
Where are the campaigns to help clear small businesses from attending court, despite an acceptance they have done nothing wrong?
As an industry, do we not care for our own?
Will it take a Maher, Waller or Waterhouse to be caught in the fiasco for people to start demanding action?
The Australian Trainers’ Association have sought meetings, answers and have lobbied – but is there a plan B?
If the same scenario was playing out, for arguments sake, with the jockeys, there would be a strike.
The Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association too no doubt will be watching closely – owners have forfeited prize money for a problem that again, could be simply because the science that would clear their trainers of any wrongdoing simply hasn’t caught up.
The injustice here is up there with some of the most bizarre stories I have covered across my career.
Credit to Morrison for essentially doing all he can to address the issue, but if this scenario isn’t worthy of rule change or national approach, then I don’t know what is.
Prize money safe in Victoria
Word is that prize money in Victoria will remain untouched. There will be savings, Betsy is told, potentially from around unprofitable meetings and other areas of the sport. It’s budget season down at Racing Victoria and it is usually a time self-interest reigns as clubs and participant groups fight over where the cash should be spent.
There’s a few closely watching the financial performance of the three race clubs too – what will the machinations be if a series of poor results are delivered?
As we predicted – Bloggsy heads to the Bool
Lock up your kegs and buffet breakfasts – Bloggsy aka Stephen Power is headed to the ‘Bool next week.
Betsy first reported his likely attendance at the Carnival weeks ago – but had a few nervous moments when the unofficial mayor of Warrnambool – racing’s Matty Stewart – said it wasn’t happening.
No Bool for Bloggsy boys https://t.co/YuMe3rPKAv
— matty stewart (@StewartMatty) April 15, 2026
We’re happy to report that Power is arriving in Melbourne on Friday.
Power, of course, covers racing in his own authentic way. He managed significant success during the Victorian Spring Carnival in 2025, showcasing the sport in a way other media has not.
Now, much of Victoria has bathed in an incredible run of weather of late. Nothing like the ‘Bool is known for.
Betsy is happy to report, however, that the traditionalists can breathe easy – the weather for next week looks terrible. Rain and cold Monday to get the track nice and wet before a cold week, including a balmy 13 degrees and more rain on Wednesday.
Stewart did deliver this update on the ‘Bool tack, however, which has struggled in recent years.
6 days and counting and I’ve never see the track look this good…they are now predicting a bit of ☔️🌦️ #thebool26 @Racing @brentzerafa @BenAsgariRacing @NigelCarmody @HKhutchi @racingblogger @YargiAmy @jackson_sw @GHoy06 @wboolracingclub pic.twitter.com/wuSbbbVh2i
— matty stewart (@StewartMatty) April 29, 2026
He’s a good one Goodwin
Need to declare early here that I’ve had a number of horses with young Victorian trainer Reece Goodwin over the years. And with enough success to keep coming back.
In a game where trust and communication help justify your investment, there isn’t much better. He has traditionally been known for finding tried gems for sale that have raced elsewhere but still have potential to win, and given his success [he recently hit 130 career wins], he has been to the sales and has some promising 2 year-olds coming through.
Goodwin notched up a curious milestone this week – his $3,000 purchase Magnardo notched up 8 straight wins after saluting at Mornington on Monday. We’re talking some picnics and BM56 races in the streak, but they still count!
‘’I just sort of picked her out myself and thought she was a horse worth taking a risk on. At that price, but as I got close to the picnic season, I sort of have a group of owners that always like to have a picnic horse. And I was running out of options, or running out of time to get one, so I sort of just said to these guys, ‘well, I’ve brought this mare’,’’ he told Betsy.
‘’She’s probably going a little bit better than picnic grade, but she’d probably be the perfect fit because she’s a maiden. And she can go there and sort of possibly win horse of the year.’’
And she did win the gong and has looked a terrific buy ever since. She started her unbeaten streak at a picnic meeting at Drouin, before dominating the local picnic circuit. She then went into benchmark territory, winning 3 at BM56 level, plus another picnic victory.
Now we’re not comparing her streak to others in higher grades this year – such as Autumn Glow – but Goodwin now admits he feels the nerves when she races.
‘’Before the race yesterday, I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous for a benchmark 56’’ he said.
‘’But obviously, when they continue to win, you can continue to build that sort of pressure that you want to send the horse out one hundred and ten percent.
‘’Obviously, they have to go up in weight or in grade. She hasn’t gone up in grade much, but she’s continued to go up in weight. So, yeah, a little bit of pressure involved there. I am not sure how Chris [Waller] and Pete [Moody] did it, obviously with their great mares … but it’s obviously a good problem to have.’’
Goodwin now looks set to compete at both ends of the racing spectrum, excited by a number of recent 2 year-old purchase his stable has made.
‘’I think Lovely Cut’s probably still the best performed in our stable, but we’ve got a couple of 2 year-olds I really like,’’ he said.
‘’One of them debuted last Thursday at Pakenham ran really well, Roseatic, she’s actually going to have a little break and come back for sort of the back end of winter.
‘’And then there is another filly Tuzmake, just got beat on debut at Pakenham, the horse that beat it has won twice since, one of them was a stakes race. They’re two fillies that we’re looking forward to getting back in the next few months.’’
All eyes and ears, no shame
Lawyers won’t let us name the person involved, but word is that a certain racing employee was the ‘eyes and ears’’ to their current employer, happily feeding the political instability of their old employee, without shame but with consequence to those who paid their salary.
