Quill to pen new chapter

Chief steward Scott Quill

TASMANIA’S chief thoroughbred steward Scott Quill dropped a bombshell on the Office of Racing Integrity yesterday when he announced his resignation to take up a position with Racing Victoria.

The popular steward will be based at Warrnambool and will be a part of the integrity team in that region.

Quill, who joined ORI as a casual steward 21 years ago and has been full-time for a decade, is widely regarded as the best chief steward in the state.

“I saw this as a great chance to further my career and while it will be sad to leave the state, this was too good an opportunity to pass up,” Quill said.

“At 41 I am only young in stewarding terms and I am heading to the best racing jurisdiction in Australia and possibly the world.”

Quill was born in Launceston and has rarely ventured far from the nest.

“This is a big move for me and the family, but it is one that we about.”

“My wife, Jennifer, is a teacher and she is looking forward to the change and our two children Nina (11) and Myra (nine) also excited about the move.”

Quill said that Tasmanian racing growth period.

“Covid set Tassie racing back a bit but we are working through that, and overall, I see a lot of positives moving forward with Tasmanian racing in general.” are very excited he leaves during a

Quill hit a hurdle earlier this year when he was moved sideways by ORI hierarchy over matters that led to the postponement of a race meeting at Elwick in March.

The meeting was abandoned due to the state of the track, but Quill had nothing to do with what transpired leading up to his arrival on course, his only failing was that he admitted to his superiors that he wasn’t a turf expert. He was subsequently asked to cover greyhound meetings as a fill-in for that code’s chairman of stewards who was on annual leave, but other stewards from that code could have filled the brief. Like a true professional, Quill took it on the chin and went about filling the greyhound role, but he was welcomed back with open arms by thoroughbred participants when he was returned to his rightful position as chair of thoroughbreds a few weeks later.

He wouldn’t buy into whether that issue had anything to do with him looking to further his career elsewhere.

Quill has given three months’ notice. His last meeting in Tasmania is likely to be the first of the new racing season in Devonport on August 1.