RAY MURRIHY has a lifetime of experience in racing and has put this knowledge to good use during his career as a stipendiary steward. As GRAEME KELLY reports in this profile, Ray has also been quick to embrace the changes to his profession and has won praise for his role at the head of the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Board’s stewards’ panel.

POLICING racing was once much easier than it is these days and it’s part of the industry’s folklore that in years gone by stewards meted out their own form of punishment in their own way.

  Rather than going through onerous inquiries they would, when displeased, have a quiet word with those concerned. It is said this would result in an owner, trainer, jockey or horse spending a month or two or three on an enforced holiday away from racing.

Nowadays this dictatorial form of redress, while probably still practical, would just not be tolerated.

  As a result, in these less authoritarian times, a steward needs to have the transparency of a Supreme Court judge and the patience of Job as well as a thorough understanding of racing...the complete story appears in the magazine