ATA QUEENSLAND BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The next meeting of the ATA will be on Thursday 6th of September, and this will also be our AGM and the presentation of the 2012 Wayne Wilson Medal. It will be held at the Hamilton Hotel from 10.30am and you need to let Cameron Partington know on 0433-329-395 if you are attending as lunch will be provided. As usual a variety of issues will be on the agenda, and from this meeting we will take the important points forward to a meeting with Racing Queensland for discussion.

WORKCOVER

WorkCover has been a challenging topic for the last few years, and in late July, Racing Qld announced a new system.

With trainers being rebated 60% of their premiums and then these funds recovered via the collection of a $15 starters fee, it was deemed to be the most satisfactory method by Racing Qld.

The ATA is currently in a process of negotiation with Racing Qld, in particular reviewing the need to charge a Base Fee of $300 to those trainers who have premiums that produce rebates less than the Base Fee being charged. Racing Qld have advised us that the new system will be reviewed each year with changes to the amounts of rebate percentage, base fees and starters fees as the industry may require.

No doubt this will continue to be a hot topic as many trainers have different views and are individually affected in both positive and negative ways.

OUTCOME OF MEETING AT SUNSHINE COAST TURF CLUB

In July the ATA organised a meeting at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club and local trainers were given the opportunity to have an open forum with Racing Qld Chairman Mr Kevin Dixon. The meeting gave those who find it difficult to get to Brisbane for our quarterly meetings the opportunity to be involved and have their say, particularly as the focus was on local issues.

Issues discussed included future increases to provincial prize-money, night racing, on-course stabling plans, future of the cushion track and wet weather policy for transferring of meetings. Trainers came away from the meeting much better informed and certainly were given the chance to have their say.

A question raised at the meeting was asking about the Public Liability Insurance included in a trainer’s licence and what it represented.

This Summary is to provide an overview of the more important features and to provide a basic understanding of the coverage provided. It in no way alters the policy terms and conditions and this should be referred to in relation to any specific circumstance. The entire policy can be viewed or downloaded from the ATA website www.austrainers.com.au

Public Liability
The policy represents a contract of insurance by which the Insurer agrees to Indemnify (protect) the Insured (you) for all amounts you become LEGALLY liable to pay as compensation for Personal Injury, and/or Damage to Property happening during the currency of the policy, and within the Geographic Limits and caused by an Occurrence in connection with the Business. (all words starting with a capital are defined words in the policy and the meaning may be wider than the common understanding of the meaning).

Basically this means that if you have a demand, whether verbal, by letter, writ, summons, or similar, from a third party, (other than an employee or family member) then the policy will apply. The Cover Limit is $20,000,000 each incident, except for Horses in your care where the limit is $5,000,000 in any one year. Because the Policy covers your LEGAL LIABILITY, at law, the person alleging you are liable to pay damages has to prove their case, therefore it is a Policy Condition that you do not admit liability, and assist Insurers in defending you. Legal Costs are also covered by the Policy.

The Policy covers a gap in any motor insurance policy covering a float, in that injury to the horse(s) being floated is included in this Policy. The most common claims involve Horses and motor vehicles, with approximately 70% of all claims in the past 15 years being of this type.

Simple small claims are typically a horse kicking a car as it is being walked, or is being loaded onto a float: large claims may involve a horse escaping from a racecourse or stables and colliding with a motor vehicle resulting in death of the horse, severe damage to the vehicle, and injuries (sometimes fatal) to the occupants. In these cases Claimants can be the owners of the horse, owner or insurer of the vehicle, work-cover, and the occupants of the vehicle or their dependents. The latter type of claims have sometimes exceeded $5,000,000.

Claims often involve other industry participants, jockeys, other trainers, farriers, owners, and racecourse staff. This can sometimes create problems in complying with Policy Conditions as it is almost instinctive to say “ Sorry, that was my fault” a correct response might be “Sorry that happened, I will report it to my insurance company.”

Professional Indemnity
The policy coverage is $250,000 in any one year and an Excess of $2500 applies to each claim. The Policy covers legal liability for financial loss as a result of you breaching your professional duty. It is important to remember that claims under this policy must be made and notified during the policy year.

2012 AMBASSADOR TRAVEL RACETREE WAYNE WILSON MEDAL

The 2012 Ambassador Travel Racetree Wayne Wilson Medal has been won for the month of July by Donald Baker with BRADBURY CHOCOLATE.

This now 4yo Mare, nicknamed the ‘Black Caviar of the Bush’, made it 7 straight wins when she stormed home from last on a bog track to win at Doomben.

Being purchased as a birthday present for his partner Peta, and costing just $800, this former buck-jumper had not even galloped on a turf track when she took on the city stars. BRADBURY CHOCOLATE is family owned and is trained at Don’s property just outside Toowoomba. Don has only been training about 5 years, and thinks ‘Chocolate’ is as good as his quality mare Russeting who won 8 races and over $500,000.

The 12 monthly winners will be in the running for the 2012 Wayne Wilson Medal. The Medal is proudly promoted by the ATA and sponsored by Ambassador Travel and Racetree, with the winner receiving an all inclusive trip for two to the 2012 Cox Plate along with of course, the Wayne Wilson Medal. Thanks once again to our sponsors www.ambassadortravel.com.au and www.racetree.com.au

The Ambassador Travel Racetree Wayne Wilson Medal 2011-12

August : Tony Gollan, TEMPLE OF BOOM winning the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Hcp at Flemington

September : Robert Heathcote, BUFFERING and WOORIM winning at Mooney Valley

October : Brian Wakefield, NUPTSE winning at Rosehill

November : Jason McLachan, FACILE TIGRE winning the Listed Always Welcome Stakes at Flemington

December : David Lawlor, winning Sat Metro Double at Eagle Farm inc Listed Phelan Ready Stakes

January : Peter Balzen, winning the 3yo Magic Millions Guineas with PUNCH ON.

February : Robert Heathcote, WOORIM winning the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.

March : Stuart Kendrick, DOUBTFILLY winning the QTIS 600 2yo race at the Gold Coast.

April : Tony Gollan, TEMPLE OF BOOM winning the Group 1 Galaxy at Randwick.

May : Brian Smith, HUME winning the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben.

June : Kelso Wood, SIZZLING winning the Group 1 T.J Smith at Eagle Farm.

July : Donald Baker, BRADBURY CHOCOLATE 7th straight win at Doomben.

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One of the major benefits of being a member of the ATA is having a support network to go to if you have problems or concerns. We can’t solve them all, but we will take your issue on board and try and negotiate on your behalf where we can. Whatever the problem contact us and we will at the least, point you in the right direction. If you are not a member yet, now is the right time to join. Call Cameron Partington on 0433-329-395 or email ataqld@austrainers.com.au for any further information about the Queensland Branch of the Australian Trainers Association.