08/02/2026
RACING'S INSTANT " PROTECTED SPECIES "
February 9
On this day 55 years ago I started work at the NZ Racing Conference in Wellington as a junior clerk. The dream job for a racing-mad 16 year-old straight out of school. A fluke that started with an inquiring letter mid-December when given eviction notice by an angry mother in Auckland.
There were 2 years at the Racing Conference, with most weekends being spent in the stables of Otaki. Soon after 3.8 years of journalism with NZ Herald, then a wander in Australia, which included 5 months working in Melbourne stables. And writing a weekly column for Sunday News back home. Thereafter no future really. I'd been party to some amazing skullduggery and rigged races in both countries, but that wouldn't happen if you weren't on the inside. That all changed with the discovery of Astrology in London, October 1981.
February 1971 had a very bad smell around the NZRC. Beginning when an open sprinter named Sharda finished 4th in his resuming race at Awapuni in mid-December, 1970.The judicial committee decided that Sharda hadn't been allowed to run on his merits. 16 year-old apprentice jockey John Skinner was suspended for 4 days and Sharda's trainer Clem Bowry received a mere $50 fine.
Stipendiary stewards Phil Reid and George Tattersall were filthy. They knew the Bowry formula: He didn't think Sharda was fit enough to win and was having a quiet run to tune him up for a punt over New Year. Bowry would have told the young apprentice to sit quietly and he'd get the ride next time when Sharda would be much fitter and the money was on.Bowry deserved more than a $50 fine !
PRESIDENTIAL INTERFERENCE
So chief stipe Reid lodged an appeal against the leniency of both punishments. But there was a big problem with Bob Whyte, the NZRC president from a noble Wellington racing family. Crafty Clem Bowry's 6-horse team included Mr Whyte's filly Topsy, who was being set for a hometown triumph in the Wellington Oaks of late January !
Big Bob decided that Phil Reid's appeal announcement be embargoed until after the Wellington Oaks, so Bowry's concentration wouldn't be affected. Topsy only finished 4th. The appeal was heard in Hamilton early February, J S Skinner copping a 3 months suspension and C A Bowry being totally exonerated. In those days judicial committees were selected from club stewards. Not a popular job, because those raceday " judges " were unable to have a bet or get on the p**s. There were plenty of rorts and controversial decisions, with judiciary people favouring their club mates' horses at inquiries. And a thriving old boys network.
The great fate that took youthful me to Wellington had me spending time with Bowry's family and a lot more with the Skinners, who lived 200 metres apart in Otaki. My first success as a strapper was with a Bowry winner in February 1972, the next in January 1973 with John riding a winner for his father Alby Skinner. John's been married for 50+ years, most of it in Brisbane, with 3 kids. Every year we have a 40-50 minutes phone call remembering the characters of yesteryear.
THE PROTECTED SPECIES
The Clem Bowry matter was my introduction to an industry icon-- the " protected species. " I would discover and expose many worse cases in the next 55 years. Favours have always been very common for the rich and famous in racing, as well as their serfs.
There was the horrific pack r**e of a 14 year-old Matamata girl in 1976 by a dozen stablehands. Some were banned and blacklisted, but the 5 who worked for notable trainer Dave O'Sullivan were exonerated-------separate s*x scandals around Te Akau and 15 year-old girls, one involving a $30K payout-------the matter of racecourse inspector being a guest at a trainer's wedding, then having to charge him with serious misconduct 2 months later !
Revelations were made about a prominent harness racing professional s*xually abusing male employees. This led to his being charged by the police and sentenced to Home Detention, after officials had initially tried to sweep it under the carpet -----revelations also about the official handicapper being in a betting syndicate, the same handicapper who lowered a steeplechaser's weight by 2kg on the insistence of a jockey. ( I happened to be the winning steeplechaser's strapper that day.)
There were some ripper ticket clipper stories. One that opened a can of Waikato worms, and a trio had to repay $600K they'd swindled from gullible syndicate members.--- The " P " epidemic which caused Matamata to be renamed Methametha, and a hideous 3 against one bashing by Moroney-Ormsby employees that was covered up. ------ A spate of unchecked domestic and industrial violence involving Takanini licence holders. There was a near tearful racecourse inspector almost sobbing down the phone over " things you write about me on your website. "
He was told that if he did his job properly, it wouldn't happen.
Never in all of those years have I owned a share in a racehorse. I was more interested in the human race than the horse race, whence the need to fight for the underdog and expose corruption. Overall, wonderful experiences with the mates and memories, and money made from the Astrological racing system. Which shattered the industry's long-standing rule about " no such thing as a certainty " in Friday Flash in July 1990 and later on Trackside Channel.
www.donmurrayastrologer.com holds the World Record for long-range prophecy---- the trainer ( Wayne Hillis ) labelled for Melbourne Cup day 2017, 5 years, 4 months and 3 days in advance, when his only starter returned $9.80 for the win at Ellerslie.
Thank you, NZ Racing.
DON MURRAY Champion astrologer & tipster | Don Murray Astrologer | http://www.donmurrayastrologer.com/news.html