Police investigate shooting at home of Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey
UPDATE: A BIKIE prowled outside the house of a senior racing investigator a week before the home of his boss, Terry Bailey, was raked with bullets.
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UPDATE: A BIKIE prowled outside the house of a senior racing investigator a week before the home of his boss, Terry Bailey, was raked with bullets.
The racing world has been stunned by the frightening attack on the Templestowe house of chief steward Terry Bailey, coming on the eve of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Bailey was relaxing with his wife and teenage daughters in the back yard when bullets from a semi-automatic gun tore into the front door at 9.20pm Sunday.
No-one was injured.
Police have been told that about a week earlier, a bikie wearing gang colours rode suspiciously past the home of Racing Victoria head of integrity Dayle Brown.
The Herald Sun has been told the man paid particular attention to Brown’s property.
Investigators from the Victoria Police armed crime squad have been told of the visit as they look into the attack on Bailey’s house.
It is also understood Bailey received death threats about two months before shots were fired into his Templestowe home last night.
Speaking outside his home today, Mr Bailey said he “just heard some loud noises”.
“I was pretty angry. There’s no need for that - it’s below the belt,” he said.
Asked if he thought the shooting was linked to the racing industry, he said: “I don’t have any other interests in life so I presume this is the common denominator.”
“It’s a job we’re in and we’ve had similar incidents over the years. We’re accustomed to it now.”
Mr Bailey said he was “absolutely committed” to carrying on with his job.
“There are 900 trainers in Victoria, a lot of people relying on us to make sure the place is run on a level playing field and we’ll keep doing that,” he said.
“I’m not going to walk away from that. The show must go on.”
Witness: Bailey was ready with baseball bat
Neighbour Paul Evans said Mr Bailey emerged from the house a few minutes after the shooting with a baseball bat.
Mr Evans said he heard about four or five shots.
He came out of his house and searched the alleyway but did not see anyone.
He then saw Mr Bailey and his wife at the front of their house.
Mr Evans said the flyscreen door was “ripped to shreds” and “there were bullet shells on the ground outside the door”.
“Someone has walked right up to the front door,” he said.
“It was a lot louder than firecrackers, a lot louder.”
Mr Evans said he knew Mr Bailey well and that he had received death threats a couple of months ago.
“I saw undercover police outside his home for three or four days,” Mr Evans said.
“They were there around the clock.
“I asked him what was going on and he said he had received death threats because of the industry he was in.”
Mr Evans said he spoke to Bailey after the attack, who told him that the industry “gets a lot of press, because he (Mr Bailey) takes livelihoods away from people”.
“He was extremely shaken up last night,” Mr Evans said.
The Herald Sun understands there have been no known threats to Mr Bailey that have been investigated.
Another neighbour, Daniel Martinez, said the shots were so loud it “felt like someone banging on the window” of his house.
He saw the bullet cases and said the gun used would have been a handgun.
The front door of the property is at the side of the home meaning the gunman would have had to get out of any vehicle.
The house faces a sports oval and has an alleyway running along the side of it.
Racing authority: ‘Nothing will deter us’
Racing Victoria chief Bernard Saundry said his thoughts were with Mr Bailey and his family.
“It’s despicable the act that has been undertaken last night,” he said.
“And we want police to make sure that the appropriate people are caught and brought to justice, but the show must go on.”
Dayle Brown, Executive General Manager of Integrity and Racing Victoria, vowed the incident would not influence investigations into the industry.
“We’ll keep investigating the racing industry without fear or favour,” he said.
“We’ll treat everyone equally, by the rules as they need to be abided. Nothing will deter us from doing so. Terry will spend the day with his family and be back at work tomorrow.”
Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna said it was disturbing anyone would open fire on a racing official’s home.
“It looks like it was deliberate rather than random. Racing Victoria are going to put in place security measures to look after him and his family,” he said.
“The guy is doing his job. For someone to do that is disgusting.’’
Minister: Security beefed up for Bailey
Speaking at the launch of the Melbourne Cup this morning, Racing Minister Martin Pakula described the attack as “appalling” but said Bailey was “one tough cookie” who would bounce back.
“The attack on Terry Bailey’s house is a great concern to the racing industry,” he said.
“The matter is now in the hands of the police and extra security is in place for Terry and his family.
“If anybody thinks that Terry Bailey or the racing integrity department will be deterred in any way (from doing their jobs) they have another thing coming.
“The stewards, Racing Victoria and the Government will not be deterred from making sure our industry is clean.
“Terry Bailey is one of the toughest cookies I know. He will be concerned for the safety of his family but will not be dissuaded from his duties.”
Racing industry: Shock, anger at attack
Racing industry officials are hoping that police are able to establish leads by the end of the day as to the motivation behind the shooting.
Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy said the racing world was behind Bailey.
“It’s a very low point when an official is subjected to that kind of criminal activity, particularly as it involves his family,” Mr Murrihy said.
“This is totally criminal and unacceptable,” he said.
Chief vet Brian Stewart had no idea what might have motivated the shooting.
“I’d only be speculating, I’m shocked,” he said.
Leading trainer Gai Waterhouse has lashed whoever is responsible for the attack.
“Terry Bailey is a very good man and he is doing his job,” she said.
“He should be allowed to get on and do it, and not be driven mad by some idiot wanting to shoot at his home and shoot at him. It’s terrible.”
Racing commentator Jason Richardson said the entire incident was terrifying.
“It is frightening. He’s got a young family. He is a policeman of the industry, and for his family to be in danger because of his profession is (horrifying),” he said on SEN.
“Anyone who knows Terry — I’ve found him to be an extremely fair, hard, but very fair human being. For his work to endanger his family just staggers belief.”
Mr Bailey has been a central figure in cracking down on integrity issues in the sport.
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