If the icy breeze was not enough of a shock for the hardy spectators at Forbury Park last night, Lawrence stock agent Brent Taylor got an even bigger shock after race 6.
Angel Falls found the quiet but chilly surroundings of Oamaru yesterday much more to her liking after a torrid autumn taking on the South Island's best fillies.
Way back when ... A few weeks ago, I brought you a few facts about horses winning off big marks. I've had a couple of phone calls since from racing fans recalling other horses who have won...
Jonny Cox would love to continue the fine Cox family tradition in some of Australasia's greatest trotting races.
Today, Dunedin - tomorrow, off to France. Not a bad way for Preeya Laud to spend her weekend.
Oamaru racecourse may not have been a welcoming place for horses or humans yesterday, but Timaru trainer Kevin Brosnahan is partial to the track.
Robbie Close's two drives at Forbury Park tonight are the perfect example of the old saying ''it's not what you know, it's who you know.''
Two Otago-trained horses are among the 37 nominations for the New Zealand Trotting Cup released yesterday by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club.
Mary Magdalene's near-virtuous racing manners could play a big part in her breaking her maiden status at the Oamaru Jockey Club's meeting in Oamaru today.
LAST SEASON
The weather was better suited to fish, but Andrew Faulks' team did not seem to mind the rain at the Forbury Park trials yesterday.
Right-arm pace bowler Sam Blakely is the final player to be offered a contract by the Otago Volts in the second round of domestic contracts, announced yesterday.
Two plum draws have given Geoff and Jude Knight a great chance to begin the Southland harness racing season in style tomorrow.
There is more than just finals preparation at stake in the Dunedin Thunder's double-header with the Canterbury Red Devils in Christchurch this weekend.
Meanwhile ...
What a cracking day at the Kurow Trotting Club's meeting on Sunday. The temperature (eventually) became quite pleasant, there was no wind, and the horses duly responded with some very quick times in one race.
British economist E.F. Schumacher was not referring to harness racing when he coined the phrase ''small is beautiful''.
A hit-out yesterday has left Aaron Bidlake very confident about the one supposed chink in Eric The Viking's armour before tomorrow's $75,000 Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton.
The quest for a fourth Grand National Steeplechase continues for Brian Anderton when High Forty takes his place in the 5600m feature tomorrow.
Racing/sports reporter Matt Smith is a rarity in the sports department - a man without an English Premier League football team to support. He was asked to rectify this horrid anomaly before the upcoming season, so he looked at the 20 contenders.
The name Wild Bill would suggest the son of Viking Ruler is a bit of a rogue around Wingatui.
