International Racing

Think I'll have an early visit to my scratcher tonight and get up early to watch three or four races from Moonee Valley on ATR tomorrow morning.

 

ATR are showing only the Cox Plate from Moonee Valley

The other Aussie racing is from Randwick (I've been to the races there), Albury (ditto), Kembla Grange and Armadale,

 

Thanks; will only have to 'rise' about 06.30!

 

As a former visitor with my Mum to the 'smaller' racetracks in Germany I was wondering how the lesser tracks in Australia, say Albury, compare with the main courses? I ask as some of our more enjoyable evenings at the horse racing were spent at Neuss (just across the Rhein from Dusseldorf) where the atmosphere reminded me more of greyhound racing in the UK. Everybody seemed to know each other, the locals were extremely friendly and very interested where and how we had heard of 'their' track. We especially enjoyed visiting this gem on either Christmas Eve or New Years Eve.

My Mum also enjoyed our visits to Maisons-Laffitte just outside Paris because she adored the wee town as soon as you got off the local train and a particular brasserie where we ate a couple of times.

Cheers.

 

Jeez. this reminds me of many years ago during my 'money making' days when I would be up 'early' to view the big races leading up to the Melbourne Cup. I could check the race 'live' then place ante post bets on 'The Cup' at the greater prices offered by the UK bookies.

I am pretty sure my work colleagues wondered why I would turn up half asleep and consistently leaving the office in the early afternoon and falling asleep on the bus home!

Happy days.

 

Each year Kenny, we have better than 3,000 meetings spread across 360 registered racecourses. Because we love a race meeting and because we're so spread out as a country, we need lots of small, country meetings. And for me,they're the best. I can't stand the big crowds of the major carnivals anymore, so it's all country stuff for me.

With the exception of those "inland" courses which are miles from anywhere, (and as dry as buggery) the tracks are mostly turf. And as you mentioned Kenny, the atmosphere and crowds seem more pleasant. Now that I'm well aged, the thought of attending a city course makes me cringe, so I doubt that I'll ever set foot on a major track again.

 

Half an hour to go, and I'm a bag of nerves already. Need a cuppa.

 

Just had a wee look at 'Oddschecker'. Looks like nine or ten meetings in Australia today!

 

Man, this picking winners is easy when you are NOT laying any money down!

 

What a horse.

 

As promised, a



to all Winx supporters.

A truly great racing mare, a brilliant victory. My old Benbatl did himself proud and was probably the best race he has ever run, and he is a Group 1 performer, for sure. Could not make it to the front in this very hot race, but Oisin did not restrain him, and he ran his race out perfectly. No excuses, beaten by a superb racehorse!

The atmosphere was just incredible! Horseracing at its best.

Got to make myself a full English breakfast to help me calm down!

Edit: Really should mention, saw it live on Racing Australia site. They did me proud, great picture in top HDi quality. They really captured the incredible packed crowd atmosphere too. Wow! This is a great horse race!

 

Well said; enjoy your 'fry up'.

 

You had it pegged right all along Oddy.

 

Yeah Oddy, I've been chatting with Swanny and Kenny in conversations. It was said there that it was a cracker of a ride.

 

I really don't think Benbatl feels he has been 'spanked', bullshit. Anyway, why bring a form of sex into it? 'Spanked' indeed!

 

There were some interesting comments from an Australian chap on the ATR coverage following the Cox Plate.

He seemed very confident that Winx was far superior to So You Think who, if my aging and still recovering memory serves me well, is the only non sprinting Australian horse to visit Europe during recent years. I suppose the comparison is appropriate despite 10 furlongs being at the top end of the mare's span and at the bottom end the colt's optimum racing distances.

 

So You Think was a pretty decent race horse, but not as good as the press in Australia made him out to be. At one stage they were rating him the best since Phar Lap, which was utter garbage. I've been following racing since a child, so we're looking at 60 or so years, and in that time I doubt that I've seen a better Australian horse than Kingston Town. We've had the pleasure of reveling in the deeds of Black Caviar and Winx, but each was/is a specialist at a preferred distance. Black Caviar at sprinting and Winx at middle distance. Kingston Town won in Group company from 1200m to 3200m.

I know it's unfair to compare horses, but here goes. I think Winx has the wood on So You Think at anywhere up to 2400m, but I'm not too sure about Kingston Town though. Because of the freshness of the situation, it's all too easy to place Winx atop everyone, but we all though the same about Kingston Town. Winx is news today, Kingston Town was news 36 years ago. Time fades memories, and sadly, it also appears to fade ability in the eyes on many.

 

4 Cox plates, some achievement. Great mare and a historic moment for everyone there.