It is considered the sport of kings, but an investigation into two prominent identities in Queensland country horse racing has sent the industry spiralling and cast a long shadow over outback events.
Earlier this month, two Queensland bush racing figures were suspended days before the iconic Birdsville Races for the alleged use of illegal equipment known as a jigger.
A jigger is a handheld taser-like device designed to give a horse an electric shock to condition it to run faster.
The devices are banned in horse racing, but insiders believe they may be used more commonly than thought.
Longreach Racing Club president Andrew Watts said the incident shook the industry in western Queensland.
"You always hear the street corner whispers of who's doing what," he said.
"It's like a family … when these types of events happen it really draws attention particularly to our region and casts a shadow over the whole industry."
A 'loosely' held secret
Equine vet and former head of Equine Veterinarians Australia, Frank Condon, said the use of illegal equipment such as jiggers was cruel and unnecessary.
"It's obviously quite painful," Dr Condon said.
"The horse is stimulated by an electric shock in conjunction with a cue … so the horse is conditioned to associate the pressure of the whip handle on the neck with an electric shock."
But he said the use of the equipment was a loosely held secret in country racing.
"You're racing less often, you're out of the gaze of stewards … the stewards aren't there to check on them and bust them," he said.
"The high-profile races that have a lot more eyes on them talk a lot about integrity. Integrity doesn't extend into places where there's less money."
The alleged incident on the Birdsville racetrack days before the September event was unwittingly captured and posted to social media by a bush racing photographer.
In the hours afterwards, the photo went viral, catching the attention of keen-eyed racing stewards and prompting one of outback horse racing's largest probes by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC).
Australian Trainers Association Queensland state executive Cameron Partington said any sort of activity that would be cruel or harmful to a horse was "totally frowned upon" in the industry.
"Equine welfare is extremely important to us," he said.
Mr Partington said the reputation and financial pressures of the sport were extreme on jockeys and trainers.
"You'd like to think it's not out there, but you have to be on your guard that it could be," Mr Partington said.
He said the vast majority of trainers cared about their animals and would not inflict harm on them.
"It's a tough environment to make a living in … those pressures can make people do things they wouldn't have done previously," he said.
Racing watchdog questioned
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission was established in 2016 in the wake of the greyhound live-baiting scandal.
It receives about $31 million in state grant funding every year.
It has the power to investigate, suspend, and ban racing participants found to be doing the wrong thing.
Mr Watts said the Birdsville incident called the functioning of the integrity commission into question.
"They should be having a good hard look at themselves, maybe [have] a few early morning sessions at track work," he said.
But Mr Partington said it was too early to cast blame.
"What we're really talking about is a picture that was put on social media," he said.
"A picture can paint a thousand words and at the moment we've got no words and it's up to the investigatory people to find out."
Mr Watts said the alleged incident highlighted the need for more oversight, including additional track managers at country racing events.
"A lot of our race clubs are purely voluntary and don't have the funds or the backing to do something like that," he said.
"It comes down to Racing Queensland and QRIC working together to have people on the ground out here.
QRIC commissioner Shane Gillard said the organisation worked with all its stakeholders to ensure the integrity of racing and animal welfare was upheld.
"While the majority of racing participants do the right thing and uphold the rules of racing, it is those who break the rules that the commission aims to bring to account to ensure the integrity and safety of all racing participants and animals, and the perception of the betting public," he said.
Inquiry remains ongoing
The QRIC investigation into the alleged incident at Birdsville is expected to take several months.
Both racing identities have been asked to show cause and other witnesses will be called to give evidence.
"A stewards' inquiry remains ongoing," Mr Gillard said.
"The specifics of the investigation are a matter for the commission at this stage but will be published when complete."
If both participants are found to be guilty, they could face life bans from the sport.
"[If they are found guilty] it should basically end your career," Mr Partington said.
