Three races in a row at Wingatui on Saturday - three late scratchings. With smallish fields and the meeting taking third-tier status, that's probably the last thing the Otago Racing Club needed. But, as I said to Jess Davidson on TAB Trackside Radio on Tuesday (shameless plug), it's just the nature of working with animals.
Crafty Love didn't get a fair start, but Hey Delilah and Mal D'Amour refused to load, with the latter gouging the pools of plenty of turnover. As I mentioned in my story in Monday's paper (although thanks to Michael Pitman for alerting me to the possibility of big refunds), just over $41,000 had to be refunded to punters, with the investment in the First4 pool dropping from about $24,000 to $5000. Ouch.
Sprinting to glory
Good to see the Forbury Park sprint series is back. It was last tried in April and May, with Highview Anwell emerging as the winner in the final. There's an added bonus for winners of the heats this time round, with the owners of the winning horse winning a free service to former speedy star Stunin Cullen, who now stands at stud at Pinelea Farm. The three heats are on November 7, November 30 and December 12, and the final is to be held at the club's Wednesday night meeting on December 17.
Act like a pro
There are a few punters out there who would rather see the end of amateur drivers' races as totalisator events at harness racing meetings. Me? I don't mind it so much, and the driving has definitely improved since the first tote race about five years ago. But some of the participants aren't helping themselves and the image of the amateur ranks. In the last 12 months or so, I've noticed a few incidents pop up in the stipendiary stewards' reports.
The latest one came at Motukarara on Sunday, where a ''verbal exchange'' took place when two drivers were returning to the stable enclosure. Several of the amateur drivers from around the country are ex-professionals, and it would be a good idea - especially for the amateur driving movement - if those professional attitudes were maintained both on and off the course.
Off to the paddock
That's me for a week. No column on October 10, as I'll be studying the form for a day at the Gold Coast races on Saturday, along with other Queensland-based activities.
I'm off on Tuesday and back on board on Wednesday, October 15, but some of the other chaps in the sports department are just itching to get their hands on a racing story while I'm away, so don't be afraid to contact them.
Lazy Fiver
Regular service resumed when Sunny Ruby ran sixth, although considering she broke more times than one of those toys inside a cheap Christmas cracker, she looks like she should win a race when she puts it all together. Forgive Southern Power's slow start last time, and have a crack in race 1 at Riccarton tomorrow.
