Image: Racing Queensland
It remains a bit of a baptism of fire for new Queensland Racing chief steward Josh Adams, whose appointment to the state’s top stewarding role was confirmed by Queensland Racing integrity commissioner Shane Gillard last week.
The announcement also confirmed that Adams will take over from Interim Chief Steward Dan Aurisch with immediate effect. Aurisch had filled that role since former steward Peter Chadwick resigned and left the building overnight.
Adams has certainly had no time to settle into the role, as he is currently leading the steward’s inquiry into the shocking events that took place in the build-up to the Birdsville races at the end of August, when a photo posted on social media social media appeared to reveal jockey Ric McMahon. holding an electric device (a jigger) when riding a horse trained by Todd Austin to track work.
That inquest, which has so far covered three days of evidence, has produced particularly startling claims from McMahon, who has thrown Austin under the bus, placing the blame squarely on the trainer for allegedly producing the jigger, only for his lawyer Austin to basically counter with an attack on McMahon’s credibility as a witness, citing a list of previous indiscretions by McMahon designed to cast doubt on his evidence.
The photographer who took the photo in question and a bookie friendly to McMahon were also questioned at this stage amid a fairly intense legal battle between McMahon’s legal representative, Gabe Hutchinson, and his legal counsel Austin, Jim Murdoch… in an environment under Adam’s authority, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with the position that Adams holds, both in this particular investigation and in his overall role moving forward.
Initially, immediately following Chadwick’s departure, a press release from the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission on 15 September stated that the search for a new Chief Steward was to be conducted worldwide, but ultimately their decision for the best man for the post reverted to an internal decision. appointment Adams obtained the post.
This is a major meeting concluded in the Queensland racing world.
Another appointment in a significant role remains to be made in the coming months after Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell announced earlier this month that he would be leaving the organization next autumn.
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