It’s been fun getting to know a bit more about Australia’s trainers and in our latest Quick Questions interview we have a chat with Sparta Racing’s Emma-Lee Browne. What is your first racing memory? I remember everyone watching Horlicks win the Japan Cup. Who is your favourite horse and why?… Read More »
Fresh off his achievement of recording his 500th winner (Tycoon Artie at Wagga on Tuesday), John Kissick took some time to answer our Quick Questions… What is your first racing memory? As an eight-year-old kid a trainer took me to Cessnock races and Greg Ryan signed my race book; I… Read More »
The Freedman family is one of racing’s most famous and our latest Quick Questions participant is Richard Freedman… What is your first racing memory? I was very young, and my Dad placed a bet on the daily double for me and told me I won. Can’t remember which track or… Read More »
A trainer who makes his presence felt on the track and on social media, Mitch Beer is our latest Quick Questions subject… What is your first racing memory? Getting dropped off to school kindergarten in a horse truck. Who is your favourite horse and why? Mnementh, he was no superstar… Read More »
In recovery mode from injury, star jockey Blake Shinn took time to answer a few of our Quick Questions… What is your first racing memory? Vintage Crop winning the 1993 Melbourne Cup. Who is your favourite horse and why? Happy Clapper. I adored him and so did the fans because… Read More »
In our last series of Quick Questions we find out more about the in-form trainer Gavin Bedggood… What is your first racing memory? Having Champagne in the 1998 Melbourne Cup sweep – or my dad taking me to the Moonee Valley trots in the 90s. Who is your favourite horse… Read More »
In our continuing series of quick questions with racing personalities, we find out a bit more about trainer Grahame Begg. What is your first racing memory? I was at the AJC Derby at Randwick when Divide And Rule won, trained by my father and ridden by Darby McCarthy. Who is… Read More »
We are starting a series of rapid fire questions with racing personalities, and we kick off with popular trainer Robbie Griffiths. What is your first racing memory? Think Big winning the 1974 Melbourne Cup Who is your favourite horse and why? Spring Theme and Go Raami both were so influential… Read More »
Everyone knows the stories of the greats of the turf, the deeds of Phar Lap, Tulloch, Winx, Black Caviar, Manikato, Makybe Diva, Carbine, Bernborough and Kingston Town firmly etched in the minds of racing fans. But there are plenty of horses whose achievements go unheralded. We take a look at… Read More »
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh secured his fifth Group 3 Jennian Homes Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki on Sunday with emerging talent Ammirati, though this victory proved unlike any other in his impressive resume. Marsh had previously won the three-year-old feature with Lucia Valentina (2013), Crown Prosecutor (2018), Scorpz (2019) and… Read More »
Additional information has come to light following the frightening incident at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, Louisiana, on Nov. 22, where a field of fast-moving Quarter Horses were forced to dodge an oncoming ambulance traveling along the inside rail. This might well be the most terrifying near miss I’ve ever seen… Read More »
Jockey Dylan Kitts has been banned for nine years after being found guilty of deliberately preventing a horse from winning at Worcester in July 2023. The 24-year-old rider, along with associate John Higgins — who received a 12-year disqualification — was sanctioned at a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary panel… Read More »
It was this week 35 years ago that trainer David Hayes took on the world with Better Loosen Up, taking a daring trip across the globe to become the first Australian trainer to win the world’s richest race, the Japan Cup. “What a day that was!” David said, still justifiably… Read More »
A serious incident was narrowly avoided at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, Louisiana, when an ambulance assigned to provide medical support for jockeys inadvertently drove the wrong way into the path of a field of high-speed Quarter Horses during Saturday night’s eighth race. The final race of the evening featured eight… Read More »
Ka Ying Rising extended his winning streak to 15 in dazzling style on Sunday, cruising through his Hong Kong return exactly as anticipated. The The Everest winner was sent out at virtually unbackable odds for the G2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) and delivered accordingly, putting a clear gap on his… Read More »
With Asfoora again in the news crowned European Champion Sprinter (the third Australian horse awarded that honour) in the prestigious Cartier Awards, it is timely to take a look at some of the other great performances by Australian horses on the international stage; memories of four fabulous home grown (and… Read More »
Now you don’t see that every day. It brings a whole new slant to the whip use story. It happened as the field straightened for home in the fourth race at the Gold Coast when a slight shift out by the eventual winner Dirty Dancing carried Aratirti, the mount of… Read More »
Harry Skelton’s trademark ‘skelecopter’ celebration made a triumphant return as he and brother Dan extended their grip on the major autumn jumps features with a thrilling victory for Panic Attack in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Skelton flung his arms out wide in his familiar aeroplane-style salute as Bryan Drew’s… Read More »
Lyrics ‘N’ Song might have a long way to go to emulate her famous mother, but the chestnut filly gave the notebook a nudge with an eye-catching victory in the Challenge Plate over 1200m at Cranbourne on Friday night. Lyrics ‘N’ Song is the first foal of Melody Belle, who… Read More »
The racing community is in shock following the tragic death of 19-year-old apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes, who passed away just hours after taking his final ride. Jakes was a respected and well-liked member of the weighing room and had been riding for leading trainer George Boughey. He had been scheduled… Read More »
