Things to know today
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Racing NSW will consult country clubs on new Financial Management Minimum Standards and a revised education and support framework, chair Saranne Cooke told the Country Conference in Sydney on Friday. A regional track management support model will sit alongside the existing curator traineeship, helping stewards and experienced managers lift racing and training surfaces and reduce abandonments, and a traineeship for aspiring race club administrators is in development. Venue standards for Country B and C clubs already cover governance, financial policies, monthly compliance reporting and up to two venue audits a year (The Straight) |
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Col Hodges has won the Simon Nivison Special Achievement Award at Racing NSW’s country awards in Sydney, the central western broadcaster absent because he was calling races at Dubbo when it was announced. Matt Dunn of Murwillumbah was named country trainer and Pierre Boudvillain country jockey, with Jacob Stiff premier apprentice and Leandro Ribeiro premier picnic jockey. Murrumbidgee Turf Club at Wagga and Gundagai-Adelong Race Club took the two TAB race club awards, and Deepwater Jockey Club was recognised for outstanding achievement among community and picnic clubs (The Straight) |
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Equimillion runs through to Monday at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park, the fourth edition of the retired thoroughbred competition carrying more than $1 million in Racing NSW prize money across dressage, show horse, show jumping and eventing. Nominations rose 24 per cent to 640 (The Straight, Newcastle Herald) |
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Tim Mander has set out the integrity protections in Queensland’s proposed merger of Racing Queensland and the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission into a single statutory body. An independent chief integrity officer could not be dismissed by the board or the chief executive, would rank alongside the chief executive, report to the minister and the board, file quarterly reports on integrity and animal welfare resourcing, and raise anything touching public confidence with the minister immediately. An integrity and welfare subcommittee would take in board members and independent representatives, and the Racing Appeals Panel keeps its review and appeal functions. The proposal remains subject to consultation and parliamentary committee review (The Straight) |
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The Western Australian Racing Trainers Association has called the 12 month disqualification handed to Grant and Alana Williams manifestly excessive, saying that without adjudication of the rules of racing that is fair and proportionate those rules become draconian in nature. The pair pleaded guilty to a presentation charge after Starry Heights returned ritalinic acid, and have said they will appeal the severity and seek a stay. The 29 days they were stood down in January count towards the term, allowing them to reapply for licences on 29 August 2027. No appeal has been heard and no hearing has concluded (The Straight) |
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A one per cent share in Ninja is in the Inglis October Early Online Sale, bidding on the 263 lot catalogue closing at 10am on 7 October. The four-year-old son of Farnan has won five of ten starts for Michael Freedman, among them the Group 2 Missile Stakes, the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes and the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate, and last won at Randwick on 8 August. He races for John Camilleri and Fairway Thoroughbreds and is confirmed for The Everest at Royal Randwick. The same sale carries the Group 3 winner Oh Diamond Lil and a 5 per cent share in the Group 2 winner Cherry Bomshell (The Straight) |
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Royal Accord won a two-year-old trial at Rosehill on Friday morning by about a length from the Ole Kirk colt Macho, who had blinkers on for the first time. The Home Affairs colt broke smartly from gate two for Team Hawkes and Tyler Shiller, settled on the fence and travelled comfortably before responding when asked. He cost $300,000 at Magic Millions, bought by International Thoroughbred Solutions from Newgate Farm, and is the first foal of the Lonhro mare Yumi, from the Black Caviar family. Black Caviar shareholders and Neil Werrett are among his owners (Breednet) |
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Shaune Ritchie expects Tajana to improve in Saturday’s Group 3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes at Hawera, the Darci Brahma mare having placed first up over 1300 metres at Ellerslie last month and drawn barrier one. Ritchie said she had a month between runs and just peaked on her run last time, and that he felt she went through to win, though she can be sluggish from the gates. He has Tuxedo aimed at the Five Diamonds in Sydney next month (The Straight) |
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SEN launches Giddy Up Saturday today, a two hour Saturday morning racing programme with Miles Pfitzner and Mick Gannon on 7two, 7plus, the SEN App and SEN Fanatic, starting at 9.30am in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, 9am in Adelaide and 7.30am in Perth. It pairs Australian previews, Melbourne and Sydney in particular, with live New Zealand coverage. Chief executive Craig Hutchison said being available on those platforms means fans can watch or listen wherever their Saturday takes them (The Straight) |
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