(ROD GALLEGOS is a senior commentator with Sky Racing and Sky Sports Radio.)

An alcohol and drugs awareness seminar for apprentice jockeys, has been planned in the wake of damning revelations regarding positive drug tests. During the past year 500 drug tests were taken from licensed persons which yielded an astonishing 63 positives results. 

By implementing this program, Racing NSW is taking a powerful and positive step towards reining in an insidious incursion to modern day racing.

A sad fact of life was contained in a quote from Chief Steward Ray Murrihy regarding growing drug use: "It is very symbolic of a problem in society and a problem in racing." It was Murrihy who released the findings of the drug tests in the past year.

Making it compulsory for apprentices to undertake volunteer work at the Matthew Talbot Hostel will give them first hand experience of the ravages of drugs and will hopefully further deter any young riders from getting involved with drugs at any level. 

And for good measure Racing NSW will provide apprentices with access to a full-time psychologist for consultation in relation to any personal problems.

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AN 18-year-old from central Queensland, Luke Marlow, is a new voice that soon will be heard broadcasting racing on Sky Sports Radio and Sky Racing.

The passion Luke has for calling is evident: "Race calling is the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think of before I go to sleep".

He follows in the footsteps of Matthew Hill, Josh Fleming and Mitch Manners, previous John Tapp Scholarship winners, who have all now become highly respected callers. Matt Hill, recently became the premier Sydney racecaller when Ian Craig retired.

State of Origin note: Of the four scholarship winners three (Fleming, Manners and Marlow) are Queenslanders!

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IF patience has its just rewards, trainer Tracey Bartley deserves to celebrate a win for Sniper's Bullet in the Listed Civic Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

In a 47 start career, the seven-year-old Sniper's Bullet has had eight wins and 17 minor placings for almost $2.6million in stakes.

However, his racing glory has been punctuated, frustratingly, by long droughts. He won the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in 2007 but languished for almost two years before his winter double of the BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000.

Later that year he won twice at Group Three level in Perth but hasn't been in the winners' stall since.

Maybe country-based jockey Mathew Cahill will provide the good luck omen. Cahill hasn't been aboard Sniper's Bullet since July 2006 when he guided the gelding to victory in a Dubbo 2YO Handicap.

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THE elongated Queensland winter carnival continues with the Glasshouse Handicap and Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

In the same vein as Sniper's Bullet, the 2009 Golden Slipper winner, Phelan Ready has been unable to win a race since.

However, despite a wide alley, he gets his chance in the Glasshouse because, when resuming from a spell, he ran on resolutely from a rearward position to just fail behind Varenna Miss in the Group Two QTC Cup at Eagle Farm.

In the Caloundra Cup, a gelding with the rather melancholy name of Teary Eyed gets his chance.

In the Ipswich Cup a fortnight ago he was doing his best work at the finish to end up just behind the placegetters. Additionally he has won three times at 2200 metres and he has been placed at 2400 metres.