‘Granddad would be turning in his grave’: Cockram lashes out at Caulfield ban

3 weeks ago 9

A devastated member of a well-known racing family is outraged that he has been banned “without reason” by the John Kanga-led Melbourne Racing Club from any involvement in a Caulfield race named in honour of his grandfather.

Bill Cockram says he has been blocked from attending the Caulfield Racecourse committee room this Saturday, despite having earlier been invited, and has been told he will not be allowed to help present the winner’s trophy for the group 3 Cockram Stakes.

Bill Cockram (second from right) with winning connections of the Cockram Stakes in 2017, won by Savanna Amour.

He claims the only explanation he was given, during a mid-week telephone call with MRC acting-CEO Tanya Fullarton, was that Kanga “did not feel comfortable” being in the same room.

Cockram said he had twice emailed the club this week, asking for a written explanation, but was yet to receive a response.

He believes the ban could be a result of a complaint he lodged with Racing Victoria’s integrity department last year against Kanga, the MRC chairman.

Kanga mentors Melbourne Cup-winning hoops Blake Shinn and Jye McNeil, and young trainer Dominic Sutton, offering career and management advice.

“I am completely and utterly gutted,” Cockram said of his ban. “I feel anxious. I’m so upset by it.

“My grandfather would be turning in his grave. His grandson has been erased from the family race.”

The Cockram Stakes, first run in 1992, was named after the late Wally Cockram, a well-known breeder and former vice-president of the Victorian Amateur Turf Club, which now trades as the MRC.

Bill Cockram (right) presents Mick Sharkie with the 2016 Cockram Stakes trophy won by Ocean Embers.

Cockram, who is developing a horse property at Inverleigh near Geelong, said he had been attending the committee room on Memsie Stakes day for than 20 years, ever since his father, Ted, handed down the family tradition.

He said he had been sent an invitation for this year’s race day, asking for the names of his three guests. He was taking his fiancee Natalee, his 25-year-old son Edward and his son’s partner Holly, who had spent $1000 on a new dress.

Cockram said Fullarton called him about 7.30 on Tuesday night to say “that her chairman, Mr Kanga, was uncomfortable with me being in the room, and that they do not want me to attend the committee room on Cockram Stakes day”.

“I was totally shocked and certainly taken aback by what had been just said to me, and I said, ‘Well, you need to present that to me in writing. I need a written direction from the club’,” Cockram said.

“And she said, ‘I will not be putting this in writing’.”

Cockram said he had also been accidentally sent an email, that was addressed to Fullarton, proving the MRC was doing “all things necessary to erase me from the race”.

He said those steps included banning him from the winner’s room and the mounting yard, as well as approaching Racing Victoria in an attempt to block his owner’s gold card to prevent entry into the course.

Cockram said he would not be going to Caulfield on Saturday.

“My son was supposed to be taking over the reins next year, and I was taking him through the process this year, as my father did,” he said.

Bill Cockram (far right) in the Caulfield mounting yard for the presentation of the 2019 Cockram Stakes.

“Why is my son not allowed to represent the family? If I am supposed to have done something, what on earth has Edward done? And they haven’t been able to answer that.”

Cockram said he had not been able to tell his 81-year-old father that he was blocked from the committee room.

In a statement to this masthead, the MRC said Cockram was not a member of the club.

“Out of respect for W.W. (Wally) Cockram’s contribution to the racing industry, Mr Cockram was offered a complimentary, fully catered luncheon in the Promenade Dining Room, the club’s premier dining facility, for him and five guests,” the statement said.

“An internal error led to Mr Cockram also being invited to the committee room. When the club sought to clarify this, he became rude and aggressive towards staff.

“As a result of this behaviour, his invitation to attend Memsie Stakes Day was revoked. Such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

“The club’s invitations to its premier facilities are at its discretion and may be withdrawn for anyone based on conduct.

“To be clear, at no time was Mr Cockram offered the opportunity to present the race trophy, which, by longstanding protocol, is done by the race sponsor. The club is disappointed by Mr Cockram’s behaviour.”

Cockram categorically denied being rude to staff. He said he had spoken to two staff members during the week and had been polite to both of them.

He agreed he was offered the Promenade luncheon, but said it was only after he was told not to attend the committee room, and he declined the offer because “the whole point of being there is to represent the family in the mounting yard and the winning room”.

“I have never been rude to staff in my entire life, let alone in this circumstance,” Cockram said.

“I totally say that comment is false. I have been treated with hostility by the club and not the other way around.

“I have not been rude to anybody, but I have demanded an explanation. There is no bad behaviour here.”

Cockram also claimed the club had contradicted itself.

“What their response is saying is that I have been removed from the committee room due to my behaviour towards staff. But I was removed before I spoke to anyone at the club. It was Tanya who rang me,” he said.

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