In today's Straight Shorts, Racing Queensland has a new board member, Sam Bergerson recognised at New Zealand industry awards, Gavelhouse auction open, South Australian Jockey Club welcomes two new directors.
Greyhound administrator Heath joins Racing Queensland board
The Queensland government has appointed a new director to the Racing Queensland (RQ) board.
Prominent greyhound figure Gary Heath will replace long-serving director Dale Cartwright.
Heath is a successful greyhound trainer and the longstanding president of the Townsville Greyhound Racing Club.
He has been a driving force behind the growth of greyhound racing in North Queensland, overseeing the introduction of a second weekly race meeting in Townsville while bolstering local participation and increasing community engagement.
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander says Heath has joined the Racing Queensland Board at a pivotal moment.
The Crisafulli government is in the process of a landmark review into all aspects of the Queensland racing industry.
“The review aims to ensure the long-term viability and success of the racing industry, deliver fit for purpose infrastructure, and ensure animal welfare and integrity are of the highest priorities,” Mander said.
Te Akau co-trainer Bergerson honoured at Entain awards
Trainer Sam Bergerson has been recognised by his peers when receiving the top gong at the New Zealand Entain Industry Excellence Awards.
Bergerson is part of the Te Akau Racing juggernaut, training in partnership with Mark Walker for the last two seasons, securing the trainers’ premiership last season and leads this year’s premiership with 127 wins and more than $9.1 million in stakes earnings.
The 31-year-old’s achievements were recognised on Sunday night, receiving the Equine Licence Holder Excellence Award before being bestowed the overall Supreme Entain Excellence Award.
Bergerson received $10,000 as a category winner and an additional $5000 as the Entain Excellence Award winner, as well as a $5000 education package.
Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle has been immersed in racing from a young age and she was recognised for her individual contribution to the industry.
A daughter of Hall of Fame jockey and Group 1-winning trainer Lance O’Sullivan, O’Sullivan Doyle took out the National Racing Woman of the Year category for her pursuits in marketing and communications, alongside work as a presenter and ambassador.
Cambridge Stud’s assistant yearling manager Alice Jeffries received the Newcomer Excellence Award.
Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Tauranga, Jeffries’ father Warwick Jeffries delved into breeding on a small scale and was rewarded in a big way, breeding glamour mare Legarto out of his mare Geordie Girl.
Before she was a three-time Group 1 winner and $2 million earner, much of Legarto’s handling and early education was conducted by Jeffries, who took her through the sales ring at Karaka in 2021 where she was knocked down to Ancroft Stud for $90,000.
National Online Breeding Stock Sale up and running
Bidding is open for Gavelhouse Plus' 87-Lot National Online Breeding Stock Sale in New Zealand.
The catalogue features a selection of young and proven mares as well as shares in stallions Reliable Man, Santos, Shamexpress and Wrote. Among the catalogue are 32 in-foal mares who have been covered by stallions such as Hello Youmzain, Ace High, Hellbent, Bivouac, Ardrossan, Shamexpress, Profondo, Per Incancto and Noverre.
"This annual sale of premium breeding stock holds plenty of appeal for breeders looking to source commercial mares. There are 11 stakes-performers catalogued, and no less than nine black-type producers also on offer," New Zealand Bloodstock representative Patrick Cunningham said.
“With the calibre of stallion currently available in New Zealand, now is a terrific time to invest in some quality bloodlines that could prove very prosperous either through the sales ring or racetrack in future.”
Bidding will close on the Gavelhouse Plus platform at 7pm NZ time on Wednesday, July 9.
New directors for South Australian Jockey Club
The South Australian Jockey Club has announced two key board appointments.
Nicolle Rantanen-Reynolds and Matt Lloyde will join the SAJC as directors, subject to approval by Consumer and Business Services (CBS) under governance requirements.
“We’re thrilled to welcome two highly accomplished professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge, leadership and racing industry insight to the SAJC board,” chair Judith Jones said.
Rantanen-Reynolds is highly experienced in governance, finance, and strategic oversight.
She is president of the Grange Golf Club and chair of Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory.
Rantanen-Reynolds also serves on the boards of Racing Australia and Golf Australia.
Lloyde is a senior executive with more than 20 years’ experience in national commercial leadership, digital innovation, and stakeholder engagement.
As an independent director, Lloyd also brings extensive board experience from Racing SA, Community Business Bureau, Tennis Australia, and Netball South Australia.
Racing Australia to move IT systems to the cloud
The Racing Australia website and associated domains and services will be out of action for up to 10 hours from 7pm next Monday.
The organisation will move all of its existing systems from an on-premise data centre to the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure following a three-month assessment and testing process.
The relocation of the data will also impact sites including the Australian Stud Book, Stable Assist, XML services and secure FTP data services.
Principal Racing Authority webpages that are hosted by Racing Australia will also be down during the transfer.
Racing Australia is encouraging participants wishing to transfer ownership, licensing, nominations, acceptances, gear changes and scratchings to do so prior to the 7pm deadline.
The sites are expected to be back up and running by 5am on July 8.
Tassie apprentice makes instant impression in Victoria
Tasmanian apprentice Jackson Radley has been rewarded for a Victorian cameo that could lead to an extended mainland stay during the next 12 months.
Radley had six rides for Lindsay Park at Pakenham on Monday and landed two winners for the Hayes brothers.
The 19-year-old is second on the Tasmanian jockeys’ premiership behind Anthony Darmanin with 46 winners.
After he was narrowly beaten on Emmcee ($3.20) in the opening event, Radley went one better two races later on the $2.80 favourite Idleonby.
Tasmanian apprentice Jackson Radley secures his first win in Victoria aboard an impressive maiden winner in Idleonby 💪
— Racing.com (@Racing) June 30, 2025
@stowaustralia pic.twitter.com/iImLsEUy3g
He closed out the meeting to help stable veteran Reset The Jazz ended a long absence from the winners’ list.
Radley said he hoped he could come to Victoria on loan to the Ben, Will and JD Hayes stable this winter.
But that plan was likely to be put on hold for 12 months, although more one-off trips are likely.
"If the boys are happy and if they give me a few rides whenever they need a claim, I would be happy to do so," Radley told Racing.com after winning on Idleonby.
