ONE of country racing's most popular trainers, Taree-based Bindi Cheers, is planning to hand her training licence back to Racing NSW stewards in protest after a spat with officials from the north coast club and stipes in the region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cheers, who has for years successfully managed a small team with a unique training method of backing horses up on short breaks, has railed against the Taree-Wingam Race Club over issues primarily stemming from maintenance of the track and occupational health and safety.
She lent her name to a petition signed by trainers protesting against their treatment by the club and, in addition, individually signed a damning cover letter attached.
Cheers told Fairfax Media she plans to stop training soon and will surrender her licence "whenever Mr Murrihy wants it".
"People don't see both sides of racing and there is another side to it," she said. "Something needs to happen. It seems these people are untouchable and the club has now singled me out because I signed a petition and are saying I was the one that led the campaign."
When contacted on Saturday Taree-Wingham Race Club chairman Greg Coleman said he was unaware of Cheers' intention to stop training and acknowledged the club had never been asked about governance issues from the ruling body.
"There was a petition put around and allegations made, but they [Cheers and her solicitor] were not able to provide any evidence to the allegations made," Coleman said. "We naturally asked for an apology and she refused to do so. Racing NSW monitors our governance and we've never had an issue with Racing NSW. We take our governance very seriously."
Racing NSW stewards are known to have been monitoring the situation for some time, with particular focus on whether maintenance of the Taree track fits workplace health and safety regulations. Club officials maintain it is.
"We're certainly interested in workplace health and safety and we're looking at the particular situation," chief steward Ray Murrihy said.
Cheers' imminent exit from training comes when her stable is arguably at the peak of its powers. Iron horse Phrases, which scored the trainer her first stakes winner during the autumn carnival, has developed a cult following in recent times.