Racing

The Towong Turf Club has been recognised for the success of its annual race meeting with its nomination as the ‘Best Country Racing Event in 2023’. Returning for the first time since 2019, the awards will be presented at a gala event on Saturday. "We are absolutely thrilled to be nominated for the Kelly Sports Country Event of the Year," said Towong president, Al Mackinnon.

Shuttle stallions are highly valuable, male thoroughbred and standardbred horses who are ‘shuttled’ between the Northern and Southern hemisphere to mate and produce valuable offspring for the racing industry. Renowned for their race-track performance and historic pedigrees, these stallions will mate with some of Australia’s top broodmares.

Peter Hibberd. To be inducted into Racing Victoria’s jockey program is a dream for many aspiring jockeys. To win at your first race ride and join a very elite club, that is something else. Last Friday at the Donald racing centre all these dreams were realised when 25-year-old apprentice jockey Sarah Field won her first race at her first ride on the aptly-named Field Of Flutes.

Narrandera harness racing trainer Ellen Bartley now features in an American Harness Racing Update (HRU) publication. Born in Kyabram, Victoria, Bartley now resides in Narrandera and currently has 18 horses that she and her partner Blake Jones own and train.

Peter Hibberd. The association between the Charlton Harness Racing Club and Ames Australasia continued with the running of what has been one of their feature meetings of the year, Charlton celebrating the 4th of July, “Independence Day” race meeting ... Chief financial officer of Ames Australasia, Dale McGrath, has a very close connection to Charlton. Dale was born in Boston, but was on course to present a wide range of her company’s products to all winning trainers, which were certainly gratefully received.

Nhill-based Kermit Racing team recently completed their first event for 2023 at Winton Raceway, near Benalla ... Twenty-two cars finished the event, from 34 starters, with Kermit Racing finishing 17th overall and 8th in class.

The Melbourne Cup will be in Cunnamulla on Tuesday 19th September and Mayor Suzette Beresford is calling on the community to get involved and form a working committee to prepare and organise an event on the day ... In 2023, the $200,000 Cup will for the first-time visit Cunnamulla, former home to Darby McCarthy one of Australia's elite jockeys of the 1960s through to the 1980s.

Narrandera Race Club hosted an unexpected meeting on Sunday after an Albury meet was cancelled due to wet weather. The NRC received the call last week late Wednesday from Racing NSW to ask if they could host the meet instead.

A fiercely determined wind seemed to blow spectators away from the Donald racecourse on Saturday, leaving behind only die-hard fans and those in the industry to enjoy the quality racing on display. Aside from the wind, the weather was picture-perfect, and the track, rated a soft 7, was upgraded to a soft 6 early in the program, with the rail in the true position for the entire circuit.

Wean Picnic Races

Moruya Jockey Club

Lockhart's Jackson Strong became the most dominant rider in Moto X Best Trick History after winning at the X Games at Chiba, Japan, last month ... "Everyone’s been riding amazing tonight. I’m glad I was able to get the trick I’ve been practising...": Jackson Strong.

Narrandera reinsman Blake Jones has been a dominant force in the Riverina for quite some time and in the final race at Wagga last week the talented horseman achieved a significant goal in his driving career. Jones brought up his 1000th winner aboard the Bernie Kelly-trained Waratah Lou.

Andrew O'Toole. A record crowd of 600 racegoers converged on Hagan Park last Saturday for a tremendous day of racing action at the annual Two Cup Race Day held by the Tennant Turf Club ... Some 500 enthusiasts paid at the gate, and a host of sponsors, staff, owners, trainers, jockeys and stablehands combined to witness a tremendous day of racing action...

With two recent victories on the north coast under his belt, October Revolution is poised for further success in the Steeline Handicap at Port Macquarie on Tuesday ... The race meeting is a wonderful opportunity to recognise two remarkable local personalities in the shape of Kerrie Borger and Margaret De Gonneville.

Trainers, horses and jockeys from far and wide will converge on the Barkly for the Tennant Turf Club’s annual Two Cup Race Day on Saturday ... Some six races make up the card, with the first race getting underway at 1.01pm, while the last of the half-dozen, the $30,000 Ladbrokes & Remote Concrete NT Tennant Creek Cup over 1600m, will jump at 4.06pm.

Charles Sturt University academics are collaborating on an international project to investigate how racehorses express positive emotions in their interaction with humans. Researchers from Charles Sturt, EITITe Pūkenga in New Zealand and Hartpury University in the United Kingdom have secured funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) Equine Welfare Foundation for the three-year study.

Quill. They say that a change is as good as a holiday, and it certainly was refreshing to visit Warracknabeal Turf Club for the race meeting initially scheduled for Donald on Saturday. It was my first visit to this track and I was impressed by the warm welcome and hospitality, as well as the relaxed atmosphere at the slightly smaller facility. Though smaller in size than neighbouring Donald, the track was in exceptional condition, rated a good 4, and was a credit to track manager, Jake Jesse.

Bringing a new life into the world is always a special moment, and for Michael Dickson the opportunity to foal down a mare for the first time is a favourite memory. “It all went so well. That life came into the world and I was the only one assisting – I really enjoyed that”: Michael Dickson.

Donald and district racegoers and the wider racing community were devastated by the sudden loss of beloved jockey, Dean Holland, following an horrific fall during the opening race on Monday.

Local riders Riley Bloom and his best mate Layne Klippel scooped the pool at the Holbrook Motorcycle Sports Club ‘Leaping Logs’ competition on the weekend. Riley took out 1st place in the Junior Senior class, very closely followed by Layne in a memorable finish for the pair.

Cootamundra Picnic Race Club