Given I am a racing journalist and the industry is in a state of panic over whip regulations both here and in Australia, you may think it would make for a timely topic for my weekly column. No thank you.
How about this week we focus on the positives, especially after my two previous columns have focused on two challenges our game is facing — so let’s take a local look at the good things that have been happening.
Anyone who has ever been within 3m of a horse knows our game can deliver the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Sureasyouwereborn’s health scare and failure in the New Zealand Cup and recovery to win the Southland Crystals must be a prime example of that.
Jacob Lowry is proving once again he is absolute class in the saddle. The jockey has picked up five wins in his past two race meetings. This has taken his season’s winning strike rate to 5.67. That rate is the best of any jockey in New Zealand who has ridden in more than 10 races this season.
Phil Williamson proved once again why he is rated a trotting genius by returning Phils Gift to the winner’s circle. The 9yr-old had not won since December 2013. While we are on the subject of Oamaru trainers turning around the fortunes of older horses, how could we not mention Eion Latimer? He is a master at putting new life into tried horses who have had plenty of starts for other stables. He scored a quinella at Forbury with veterans Spirit Of Chronos and Chief Kapai and also won with 5yr-old Mickey Jay. Gee, he is going to be dangerous when he’s a 10yr-old.
Although Friday’s host club posted a loss for the last financial year, it was great to hear from three men who sound determined to make Forbury Park a sustainable racing venue. Gerald Cayford, Peter Gillespie and Rodney Moore presented their thoughts on how the club could return its figures to the black.
It seems to me the club and board are determined to tackle the club’s challenges head-on and already have a series of plans in place to make its future sustainable.
While on the subject of local clubs, I contacted Otago clubs during the week to get all of the information about meetings they are holding over the Christmas-New Year period. It is such a positive to be able to see all of the great ideas clubs have and then the hard work that goes into putting them into action. From the conversations I have had, I can’t see why the Otago racing circuit won’t be an absolute cracker this season.
These are just a handful of good stories from the last week. If you hear of more people doing great things in racing, email me!
Feedback appreciated
Thank you for the feedback during the week about last week’s column. All of the emails and comments I received were from racegoers who supported the idea the industry could look outside of spectator fees to cover the costs cost of race meetings. Please feel free to email me about this issue or any racing matters.
Turner Into Gold
Black Athena paced roughly and was not able to be driven out, finishing in fourth last week. While that is a nice story, it didn’t return us any money which what we are here for.
Mossdale Conner looks extremely well placed in race 3 at Addington tonight. Let’s hope he can turn around the woeful start to this column’s weekly tip. Happy trails.
