Letsgohorseracing - VIC & NSW

Details: Published: 28 August 2013; Created: 28 August 2013

MELBOURNE Racing Club chief executive Brodie Arnhold wants to celebrate the spring carnival with a feature group 1 finale on each major race day, announcing on Tuesday the club would run Saturday's star-studded group 1 Memsie Stakes as the last of an eight-race program.

MICHAEL SHARKIE reports in THE AGE that although the news caught trainer Mark Kavanagh on the hop, with fears the Caulfield track may be too firm for the reappearance of his unbeaten mare Atlantic Jewel, news of a Memsie Stakes closer was well received by the industry.

It could lead to a widespread revamp of the structure of group 1 race days. ''We're looking to do it all spring carnival, a feature group 1 to end each day,'' Arnhold said. ''There's some really compelling data in terms of turnover in that timeslot to say that it is worth giving it a go. Look at greyhounds and the terrific growth in market share they have had in that timeslot. We need to have a presence there.

Details: Published: 22 August 2013; Created: 22 August 2013

THEY never met on the racetrack but superstar siblings Black Caviar and All Too Hard will battle it out for one of Victorian racing’s highest accolades on Sunday night, 1 September.

Racing Victoria (RV) on Thursday unveiled the glamour pair and Sportingbet Cox Plate winner Ocean Park as the three finalists for the 2013 Victorian Racehorse of the Year Award presented by TVN.

The award, which is voted on by members of the media, takes into account performances on Victorian tracks only during the 2012-13 season which commenced on 1 August 2012.

Details: Published: 06 August 2013; Created: 06 August 2013

THE countdown to Victoria’s 2013 Spring Racing Carnival has officially begun with today’s closure of nominations for four of the Carnival’s marquee races.

Entries have been taken for the following races which are among the highlights of Australia’s premier racing, social and fashion event which runs from 21 September to 24 November:

Details: Published: 27 July 2013; Created: 27 July 2013

SYDNEY'S biggest punter, Eddie Hayson, is one step away from being banned from betting on any sport in Australia if he refuses to answer questions from racing stewards over his involvement in the controversial More Joyous affair.

RAY THOMAS reports in the DAILY TELEGRAPH that Racing NSW issued Hayson with a "show-cause" why he should not be warned off racetracks after the high profile punter and brothel owner has repeatedly refused to reveal the identities of two sources he said provided information about More Joyous's fitness prior to her poor run in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 27.

Hayson has previously informed Racing NSW Stewards that one of those persons had a connection to the stables of Gai Waterhouse, the trainer of More Joyous.

Details: Published: 14 July 2013; Created: 14 July 2013

EARLIER this year when Sydney's racing heavyweights Gai Waterhouse and John Singleton publicly clashed over the wellbeing or otherwise of outstanding race mare More Joyous, most in Melbourne viewed the affair as a very public spat that would never be aired in the corridors of Victorian racing.

PAT BARTLEY reports in the SUNDAY AGE that accusations and finger-pointing from former footballers, jockeys and a young, ambitious bookmaker wasn't the way things were done in Melbourne. However, in early 1969 Melbourne racing was consumed by a steamy affair of its own, both on the racecourse and off.

Details: Published: 13 July 2013; Created: 13 July 2013

An investigation has been launched by Racing NSW stewards in to the bona fides of Al Dhafra's trainer.

BRENT ZERAFA reports for TVN that following a random tip-off and subsequent surveillance, stewards are satisfied that Al Dhafra is not being trained by Wayne Hudd at Goulburn, who is noted as the registered trainer.

Details: Published: 10 July 2013; Created: 10 July 2013

THE rules governing the use of the whip in Australian racing have been revisited recently more times than your wealthy great aunt. But new research indicates strongly that another visit is required. The accepted understanding in this country of whip use and its effects are about to be seriously challenged.

PATRICK SMITH reports in THE AUSTRALIAN that the research, conducted by the University of Sydney, indicates that the nation’s whip rules have been formulated on a flawed understanding and perception of how different styles of whip riding affect profoundly the force of the impact on the horse’s rump.

Details: Published: 28 June 2013; Created: 28 June 2013

RACING Victoria stewards are investigating a rash of positive samples in various stables across the state to hyoscine and atropine.

BRENDAN CORMICK reports in THE AUSTRALIAN that trainers from Geelong to Cranbourne are eagerly awaiting the outcome of recently taken samples that will clear the affected horses to resume racing.

Details: Published: 25 June 2013; Created: 25 June 2013

STEWARDS were too cautious with Damien Oliver but there is no evidence that Oliver cut a deal with Racing Victoria.

MATT STEWART reports in the HERALD SUN that these are the key points of integrity commissioner Sal Perna's review of the handling of the Oliver betting case, relating to his $10,000 bet on Miss Octopussy in a race at Moonee Valley in October 2010.

Details: Published: 24 June 2013; Created: 24 June 2013

VICTORIAN racing received good news today when the Supreme Court opened the way for a massive $6 million saving from the state government's poker machine levy.

ROD NICHOLSON reports for the HERALD SUN that racing had feared the savage cut to its projected $13 million season's profit when the government demanded a full year's levy for its poker machine operations for 2012/13, rather than the pro-rata levy for the 46 days it operated until August 15 last year.