‘What a clown show’: Dr Turf slams Racing Victoria job cuts By Danny Russel Sport commentator John Rothfield has slammed Racing Victoria’s decision to axe on-air media talent in a cost-cutting move that brings the curtain down on Terry Bailey’s race-calling career. Racing Victoria sacked 15 per cent of its administration and media workforce this week as the industry continues to deal with an $11.8 million financial year loss and falling wagering profits - down 5 per cent on the past financial year.   Racing Victoria has called time on Terry Bailey’s calling career.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES Two inside sources not qualified to speak on behalf of Racing Victoria said Bailey, the state’s No.2 caller behind Matt Hill, was told on Tuesday he would no longer call races for Racing.com. The sources said other names to be leaving Racing.com included trackside presenter James Tzaferis and reporter Ben Sporle. Editor-in-chief and general manager of content Paul Tatnell has announced his departure via social media. The sources said Bailey was still in conversations with Racing Victoria to continue his weekly Racing.com program Tuesdays With Terry. Rothfield, known as “Dr Turf”, lashed out after news of the cuts spread this week, saying good, talented people had paid the price for “third-rate executives endorsed by a self-interested board”. “What a clown show Racing Victoria is,” Dr Turf posted on X.“Set fire to $90m in prize money hikes and the disastrous ASM [All-Star Mile] then slash and burn, call it a ‘restructure’ and hope that no one will notice.” While Racing Victoria declined to name those who had lost their jobs this week, it confirmed the cuts to this masthead. “The Racing Victoria executive team has undertaken a comprehensive review of the structure, resources and operations of the RV Group over recent months,” Racing Victoria said in a statement. “As a result, a number of roles across all levels and divisions of the RV Group, including the recently integrated RV-owned media businesses, will not be a part of the future structure.” Dr Turf, who has worked as a panellist on Racing.com’s Saturday Contenders, doubled down on his criticism of Racing Victoria this week on his regular podcast, The Bald and The Beautiful, with Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett. “I don’t want to talk about the amateurish, appalling administration of racing in this state and the media platforms such as RSN and Racing.com and the ineptitude that oversees them,” Dr Turf said. “I don’t want to go there, Kevin. I don’t want to talk about these no-hopers. They are totally out of their depth. “They are not capable of taking racing forward into the 21st century, and we’re stuck with them. “But I don’t want to talk about them, Kevin. I don’t want to denigrate them or suggest that I’m not fully behind them.” When pushed further by Bartlett, Dr Turf said racing was in a “precarious state”. “It’s a shit show, Racing Victoria. It’s an absolute shit show,” he said. Racing Victoria indicated late last year the industry aimed to save $10 million over the next 12 months by streamlining its media businesses as well as reviewing race programming. Racing.com staff were moved from their Docklands office back to Racing Victoria’s Flemington headquarters. Racing.com CEO Peter Campbell’s position was made redundant and RV appointed former Entain (Ladbrokes) media strategist Andy Hoad as executive general manager of media, content and marketing. The changes also saw RSN CEO Bernard Saundry step down. He is now chairman of Harness Racing Victoria. “We recognise that this is a tough time for those whose role is no longer required,” Racing Victoria said. “These are people who have given great service to the RV Group and the Victorian racing industry. “We thank them for their service and will continue to support them as they transition to their next career move, including via our employee assistance program. “Ultimately, this restructure is designed to place the RV Group, and thereafter the broader industry, on more stable footing to address the current challenges.” The industry’s racing radio station, Racing & Sport Network (RSN), was unaffected by this week’s cuts as it continues to service three codes – gallops, harness and greyhounds. But, as reported by this masthead in March, SEN chief Craig Hutchison has been circling to take over the struggling station, which lost its $3 million annual TAB sponsorship in August last year. Racing Victoria outbid Hutchison when RSN was last up for grabs in 2021. At the time RSN was valued at $7.5 million.   Former Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES Changes continue to sweep the racing industry since the COVID bubble burst and sent wagering turnover spiralling back to pre-COVID levels. Former CEO Andrew Jones was brought into Racing Victoria as an agent of change in July 2022, but he upset traditionalists with haste to introduce innovations such as interactive jockey earpieces and relaxed dress codes as well as announcing minor prizemoney cuts for the 2023/24 season. Jonathan Munz, chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association, repeatedly called for Jones to be sacked. Munz’s owners association also called a special general meeting in February 2024 in a failed attempt to spill the industry board because directors continued to back Jones. Jones later resigned, as did his executives Ben Amarfio and Matt Welsh.

Can you check R8 please.. BB Result seems light.

Newitt: Jenni disappointing Darcy Cosgriff@Darcy_Cosgriff   4:59pm     A A A Pride Of Jenni. (Image: Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher said Pride Of Jenni recovered slowly from her Group 1 Doomben Cup defeat but appears to be physically ok otherwise. The star mare led at a fast tempo as usual, but was flat-footed as Antino swarmed to the lead, and faded to finish third-last. “She’s pulled up ok – a little bit of a slow recovery, but she has had a crack,” Maher said. “I don’t think anything was beating Antino today, by the way he went and the way he won. But Jenni’s physically ok. “She’s had a hard run, but everything seems ok. She’s sound, and apart from her heart rate (being) a little bit high, she’s ok.” Jockey Craig Newitt said Pride Of Jenni was “disappointing” , comparing the performance to her G1 Australian Cup defeat two starts ago. The superstar mare was a touch slow away from barrier one, and while she was able to push up and travel well through the early and middle stages, Pride Of Jenni was found wanting when Antino sailed past in the straight. Newitt said his mount was slightly agitated pre-race, possibly due to the big crowd assembled at Doomben. “Disappointing. She was a little bit cantankerous pre-race today, probably just in front of the crowd," he said. “She stepped slowly, so I had to ask her to muster up. She got into a good rhythm, and everything was fine. “Got to about the 1000 and started to quicken her up – a little bit like Flemington a couple of starts ago – got to the bottom pretty quick. “She showed a bit of fight when straightening but when Antino went past so quickly, it was almost like the white flag went up.” Maher remained tight-lipped regarding Pride Of Jenni’s future, but said he would discuss it with owners Tony and Lynn Ottobre in the coming days. “If she didn’t race again, she’s done plenty,” he said. “I’ll have a chat with Tony and Lynn and see what they want to do... she’s a super mare, you don’t like to see them get beat. “But, you know, it’s horse racing – it certainly wasn’t our day today.”

He had to much to say too a bit like JE here, they should just call the races and not have opinions on things that are nothing to do with calling the races. We couldn't be so lucky as to lose a few of our so called "presenters"...🤣

I know see Terry Bailey has been asked to piss off with Victoria's Racing.Com along with a couple of other presenters. Concerning times.   Could we see come here to NZ in a scarce job?

The link doesn't appear to work 😢

She was very ordinary to say the least...way below her best...even her biggest fans would have to agree....wouldnt be surprised  if she bled again, was gone 800 from home.

https://mediarqs.skyracing.com.au/Race_Replay/2025/05/20250524DOOR08_V.mp4?hdnts=exp=1748070727~acl=/*~hmac=41bfaf38acc8116de63e41d93d4233a45e7b210bb02bf657a46ca9c6a2ae21aa  

Are you wanting to register them, as the opportunity is about to arise for the first time in 5 years?

You really need to take your hand off it and let it breath, for your own overall health. 

See you all next week for everyone's favourite format - the LGL (Lay) format.

Quarter final draw in the H2H comp Pegasus vs Houlahan Sayer vs Koriokaramea Catalano vs Kloppite Von Cettes vs Reacher

Well I see the 600mtr boxes are to return to Addington well what a mistake that will be for Dog welfare. When the track was rebuild a year or so ago it was agreed by GRNZ to remove these boxes as they were having a major impact on this area of the track. Now with abit of whinging from a hand full of trainers the Club is trying to bring them back they have gone ahead and paid to have an old set of Boxes refurbished. They have done this with no consultation with the RIB or GRNZ so much for animal welfare we love our dogs they love to race BULLSHIT ITS ABOUT GREED 

Total $$$$ Comp standings after Week 3     ENTRANT Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 TOTAL 1 Houlahan              711           1,045             597            2,353 2 Dogzstar              604                20          1,530            2,154 3 Gubellini           1,060              347             636            2,043 4 Say No More           1,085              334             549            1,968 5 Ponderosa           1,084              280             561            1,925 6 Pak Star           1,030              223             583            1,836 7 Richie              692              717             377            1,786 8 Kloppite              796              366             490            1,653 9 Peter RS              575              677             384            1,636 10 Reacher              660              460             483            1,603 11 Winner              385                 -            1,148            1,533 12 Catalano              524              352             628            1,504 13 Von Cettes              570              531             327            1,428 14 Lucasduke              334              231             827            1,392 15 Al Feilding              699              460             232            1,391 16 Pegasus              646              138             587            1,371 17 Basil brush              636              397             296            1,328 18 Black Kirrama              822                78             421            1,321 19 Sayer              620              399             281            1,300 20 Joan              639              231             405            1,274 21 Scooby              562              336             342            1,240 22 Arjay              687              264             283            1,234 23 Blaird              586              394             245            1,225 24 Kilcoyne              663              307             252            1,221 25 Pure Steel              559              307             246            1,112 26 Montydrum              353              316             408            1,077 27 Koriokaramea              543              215             311            1,069 28 Foxmerts              633                69             361            1,063 29 Jayar              675                98             263            1,036 30 Mr Gee              573              288             171            1,032 31 Chestnut              513              321             151                985 32 Seakem              722                18             236                976 33 Seddon              412              197             360                969 34 Ohokaman              487              140             338                965 35 Sunlineboy              646                61             250                957 36 Insider              433                 -               514                947 37 Mikenz              718              136                  854 38 Manfield              254                42             370                666 39 Nomates              450                    450 40 Kiwignome                239             194                433 41 Pete Lane              429                    429 42 Aaron                135             231                366 43 Jack              212                    212

Points Comp standings after Week 3   ENTRANT Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 TOTAL 1 Gubellini 38 29 35 102 2 Kloppite 35 37 27 99 3 Say No More 40 28 29 97 4 Reacher 26 38 26 90 5 Ponderosa 39 20 30 89 6 Houlahan 32 22 33 87 7 Catalano 11 36 34 81 8 Pak Star 37 5 31 73 9 Al Feilding 31 38 4 73 10 Kilcoyne 27 34 9 70 11 Pegasus 24 14 32 70 12 Joan 23 23 23 69 13 Black Kirrama 36 6 25 67 14 Scooby 14 35 17 66 15 Basil brush 22 30 13 65 16 Sayer 20 31 11 62 17 Von Cettes 15 32 15 62 18 Richie 30 9 21 60 19 Peter RS 17 21 22 60 20 Dogzstar 19 2 38 59 21 Arjay 29 17 12 58 22 Seddon 5 33 18 56 23 Jayar 28 15 10 53 24 Montydrum 3 26 24 53 25 Foxmerts 21 11 19 51 26 Lucasduke 2 12 36 50 27 Seakem 34 10 5 49 28 Blaird 18 25 6 49 29 Pure Steel 13 24 7 44 30 Koriokaramea 12 16 14 42 31 Winner 4 1 37 42 32 Mikenz 33 7   40 33 Sunlineboy 25 4 8 37 34 Chestnut 10 27 0 37 35 Mr Gee 16 18 1 35 36 Insider 7 0 28 35 37 Ohokaman 9 8 16 33 38 Manfield 1 3 20 24 39 Kiwignome   19 2 21 40 Aaron   13 3 16 41 Nomates 8     8 42 Pete Lane 6     6 43 Jack 0     0

Gee there's some amazing handicappers in this group. Well done all and hope you also plundered the tote. Thnx SNM for the lightning fast results in a format where any one race result could turn the tables upside down.

H2H results Say No More $548.80   Pegasus $587.40 Houlahan $597.00   Mr Gee $170.50           Pure Steel $246.10   Sayer $281.40 Jayar $263.40   Koriokaramea $311.10           Kilcoyne $251.50   Catalano $628.40 Richie $376.90   Kloppite $490.40           Al Feilding $231.60   Von Cettes $327.30 Reacher $482.70   Chestnut $150.60

Week 3 - Doomben R9 - Final race A low scoring final race and Dogzstar runs out a resounding winner of this round, with the other Winner and Lucasduke filling the other podium spots. NAME LATEST RACE TOTAL Dogzstar 33.00 1529.70 Winner 16.50 1147.90 Lucasduke 16.50 826.80 Gubellini 33.00 635.90 Catalano 16.50 628.40 Houlahan 16.50 597.00 Pegasus 33.00 587.40 Pak Star 33.00 583.00 Ponderosa 33.00 560.60 Say No More 16.50 548.80 Insider 0.00 514.00 Kloppite 16.50 490.40 Reacher 33.00 482.70 Black Kirrama 33.00 421.10 Montydrum 16.50 408.40 Joan 16.50 404.50 Peter RS 16.50 383.50 Richie 33.00 376.90 Manfield 0.00 369.50 Foxmerts 33.00 360.50 Seddon 16.50 360.10 Scooby 33.00 341.70 Ohokaman 16.50 338.20 Von Cettes 16.50 327.30 Koriokaramea 0.00 311.10 Basil brush 0.00 295.80 Arjay 16.50 282.80 Sayer 16.50 281.40 Jayar 33.00 263.40 Kilcoyne 16.50 251.50 Sunlineboy 44.00 250.00 Pure Steel 0.00 246.10 Blaird 0.00 245.20 Seakem 16.50 235.70 Al Feilding 33.00 231.60 Aaron 0.00 231.10 Kiwignome 0.00 194.10 Mr Gee 0.00 170.50 Chestnut 0.00 150.60

Doubt it Charlie.  They'll say it was a 'one off' run and she'll be o.k. next time.

You'd like to think so.