Massive news out of Australia yesterday afternoon.
After a lengthy special commission of inquiry into the greyhound racing industry following the live baiting scandal last year, New South Wales premier Mike Baird announced the greyhound racing industry will cease to exist in NSW from this time next year - July 1, 2017, to be precise.
Greyhound Racing NSW has responded by suspending greyhound racing across the state for seven days from last night..
The announcement means at least 1000 people in the NSW will be looking for new jobs and 6000 owners will be looking for what to do with their dogs - be it find a home for them or transfer them to other states.
You can't help but feel that a number of trainers (not a majority but enough to be a concern) signed the code's death warrant when their live baiting methods (using live animals as a lure for greyhounds in training) and mass greyhound graves were uncovered by Australian TV.
. . . in Aussie's biggest market
Greyhound racing is legal in just eight countries in the world but in Australia and New Zealand it has been thriving in the past decade when it has encroached significantly into harness racing's market share.
Greyhound Racing New Zealand commissioned an independent report in 2013 which highlighted some shortcomings.
In order to front-foot suggestions of a ban in New Zealand, it might be a time for another independent report to ensure the industry is doing everything possible to put on a sport which cares for the welfare of the animals which provide the betting product.
The questions won't end here - not just for greyhound racing, but the equine codes.
All three codes need to make sure they have their houses in order when the gaze turns to them.
Down to the wire?
Maybe.
So a few trophies can be locked away. Matt Cameron has gone on holiday and conceded the jockeys' premiership to Lisa Allpress, tweeting a photo of bottle of quality champagne he graciously intended to give to her.
Dexter Dunn had the drivers' premiership bundled up ages ago so the only slightly tricky ones seem to be the two trainers' premiership in the equine code.
Te Akau's team of Stephen Autridge and our own Jamie Richards SHOULD have the thoroughbred premiership sewn up with an eight-win after yesterday's racing over Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, but the harness trainers' premiership is a little more intriguing.
The Purdon-Rasmussen stable had an eight-win lead over Robert Dunn's team after last night's Forbury Park meeting, but the number of All Stars runners in the next three weeks could probably be counted on a maximum of two hands.
Lazy Fiver
Ana was scratched last week.
That's practically as good as a win for me these days.
Wobbegong is an overdue maiden winner and could help Nathan Williamson to creep closer to 100 wins in race 3 at Oamaru on Sunday.
