Horse Racing

36 Vote

Picnic Races Racing Write, 5 days ago Sport > Horse Racing Picnic racing has a long history in Victoria and dates back to the eighteen hundreds. It is the poor (in practical and monetary terms) cousin to the high stakes racing held at the premier Victorian racetracks of Flemington, Caulfield, Moonee Valley... [Click here to read more]

26 Vote

Sea The Stars of World Thoroughbreds Racing Write, 9 days ago Sport > Horse Racing The World Thoroughbred Rankings have just been released. (photo: Boris Horvat) There is no doubt - and no controversy entertained - that Sea The Stars is deservedly in number one position. His dominance on the world scene evident with his... [Click here to read more]

38 Vote

Star of the Spring: Irish Lights Racing Write, 13 days ago Sport > Horse Racing IRISH LIGHTS 3 year old bay filly by Fastnet Rock out of Aspen Falls (USA). (photographs by Neil Murray) This exciting filly was a star of the Melbourne Spring. She would win three consecutive races (from four starts) with her... [Click here to read more]

27 Vote

Zenyatta!! Racing Write, 20 days ago Sport > Horse Racing Zenyatta today produced an historic and electrifying performance to win the Breeders Cup Classic (Group One - 2000m). (photo: Jae C. Hong AP) She remains undefeated after 14 starts. She is the only female to win the Breeders Cup... [Click here to read more]

28 Vote

Images from Melbourne Spring Racing Racing Write, 26 days ago Sport > Horse Racing On the eve of the running of the 2009 Melbourne Cup it's time for a brief photographic look back at some of the stars, and some of the highlights of the Spring so far. Each of these images is courtesy of Neil Murray. Legendary trainer,... [Click here to read more]

22 Vote

Bookmakers take the punt on Spring Racing Carnival profits Sport Talk, 46 days ago, 2 comments Sport > Horse Racing Spring Carnival is here again and punters are salivating at the generous promotions up for grabs. Casual gamblers may not realise it but Australian booking companies have a love affair with gambling themselves - gambling away their profits! In... [Click here to read more]

34 Vote

Sour note in Prix Vermeille Racing Write, 75 days ago, 1 comment Sport > Horse Racing The 2008 Group One Prix Vermeille (2400 metres) was won by Zarkava. The 2009 running of the Prix Vermeille was much anticipated given the appearance of new French champion filly Stacelita, who is treading the same path as Zarkava last year, trying... [Click here to read more]

25 Vote

Trojan Horse Racing Write, 78 days ago Sport > Horse Racing If the Australian Racing Board (ARB) was in charge of promoting the case for, and benefits of, measures instigated to combat the effects of global warming, we would end up with a pretty hot planet, pretty quickly. They would most likely pander to... [Click here to read more]

35 Vote

Jockey Strike Racing Write, 79 days ago Sport > Horse Racing Jockeys around the nation went on strike today to protest against the inability of the ARB to be more flexible in allowing a slight modification to the new whip rules. As I stated in a previous post, it is a wish to have all jockeys able to ride... [Click here to read more]

35 Vote

Predatory Pricer Racing Write, 87 days ago Sport > Horse Racing When you breed a champion you have high hopes for any future progeny that the dam may produce. (photo: Neil Murray) Takeover Target rose from obscurity to champion status - and in the process the breeding career of his dam Shady Stream... [Click here to read more]

34 Vote

Whip Controversy Racing Write, 94 days ago Sport > Horse Racing The introduction of the new whip regulations continue to create a storm of protest, unrest, and disbelief, within the ranks of jockeys past and present. Those now retired are thankful that it is not something with which they had to contend - and the... [Click here to read more]

39 Vote

Melbourne Cup nominations: early thoughts Racing Write, 103 days ago, 2 comments Sport > Horse Racing While the weights are still to be announced, the nominations for the 2009 Melbourne Cup have already created (as they always do) great interest and speculation. (photo: The Age) Many of those nominated will fall by the wayside. Some will... [Click here to read more]

43 Vote

Callow and the persuader Racing Write, 108 days ago Sport > Horse Racing The introduction of padded whips, and new guidelines for use, have already come in for great criticism by jockeys across the nation. (photo: Neil Murray) The penalties already imposed (very little time for bedding down and transition)... [Click here to read more]

34 Vote

Zenyatta: unbeaten after twelve starts Racing Write, 109 days ago Sport > Horse Racing Zenyatta kept her unbeaten run intact with her first photo-finish victory in twelve career wins with a last stride arrival to claim the Grade (Group) One Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (1 116th mile) at Del Mar last Sunday. [Click here to read more]

50 Vote

Two Sadlers and a snake Racing Write, 112 days ago Sport > Horse Racing There are five horses nominated for the 2009 Melbourne Cup trained by John Sadler. (photo: Benoit & Associates) These are: CEst La Guerre Efficient Renewable Zipping and Black Mamba. The first four are trained by John... [Click here to read more]

53 Vote

Clash of the Titans? Racing Write, 116 days ago Sport > Horse Racing Watching Rachel Alexandra travel sweetly over the sloppy dirt (and puddles) to easily win the Group One Haskell Invitational last Sunday, you wonder if there is a track created that could nullify her brilliance. Sweeping over the sticky dirt of... [Click here to read more]

46 Vote

Averages and Exceptions Racing Write, 118 days ago Sport > Horse Racing Recently in Melbourne and Sydney there has been much discussion about the number of starts that Lucky Elmo (New South Wales) and Stoneblack (Victoria) have had in their 2 year old season. That discussion pushed further into focus this... [Click here to read more]

44 Vote

Last stride victory - and a deadheat Racing Write, 122 days ago Sport > Horse Racing Lee Freedman won the Victorian Metropolitan Trainers Premiership at the very last opportunity - the last race of the current season - run at Sandown Lakeside today. Charzoo, perfectly ridden by 3kg apprentice Nathan Rose, cleared away in the... [Click here to read more]

33 Vote

Dexter Dunn it... first driver or jockey to achieve 200 wins... The Writer's Lounge, 125 days ago Sport > Horse Racing Teenager Dexter Dunn became the first New Zealand harness racing driver to achieve 200 wins in a season by winning the fifth race at Addington, Christchurch, on Friday night. Dunn, 19, was left stranded on 199 wins at Cambridge, Waikato,... [Click here to read more]

45 Vote

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes preview Racing Write, 127 days ago Sport > Horse Racing Sir Michael Stoute appears to have a mortgage on the Group One King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes to be run at Ascot this Saturday. He is represented by three very strong chances - including the first and second favourites, Conduit and... [Click here to read more]