Sal’s Preview: Round Zero and some big Autumn racing

Sal’s back. He previews the first games in the AFL season and the big racedays at Flemington and Randwick.

Almanac Horseracing: A bad day at the Bell Races (1954)

Damien Morgan from the Darling Downs has been delving into racing history. A Trove search revealed a crazy meeting at Bell in 1954. Here’s what happened.

Almanac Horseracing (and Investment): The Muse is musing on yearling sales

With the Blue Diamond on tomorrow, and the Golden Slipper not far away, The Muse turns his critical eye to yearling sales.

Almanac Melbourne Cup: The time-honoured trifecta think-tank and other absurdities

Last night’s think-tank has generated this report, with these selections.

Almanac Melbourne Cup Think-tank: The time-honoured Almanac trifecta

The Melbourne Cup Eve get-together (via Microsoft Teams) is on again from 7.30pm Vic time tonight (Monday). All welcome. Deatils are in this post.

Almanac Lunch: Cox Plate Eve with Con Marasco (Oct 27)

You are invited to lunch with legendary racing identity Con Marasco of ‘Punter to Punter’ fame. Join us at the Royal Melbourne Hotel on Friday, October 27.

Almanac Racing: Sal’s Preview – Caulfield Cup: Going for gold!

With one of the big programs of the Spring Carnival this weekend, Sal Ciardulli casts his eye over the Caulfield Cup program and picks a winner or two for punters.

Almanac Racing: Sal’s Preview – Caulfield Guineas Preview: Step into Steparty? Yes or No

Big weekend of racing as Sal Ciardulli places his tips for the Caulfield Guineas meeting and The Everest in Randwick.

RIP Dean Holland

Punters build relationships with jockeys – from afar. They may never meet them. Matt O’Hanlon admired Dean Holland and is deeply saddened by his tragic death in a race fall.

Almanac Punting: The Muse is musing on the modern-day tout

The Muse is punting and drinking and smoking and musing on the standard of tipping from so-called experts.

Almanac Melbourne Cup Trifecta

It was a productive Melbourne Cup lunch yesterday at the North Fitzroy Arms where pontifications resulted in two trifectas.

Almanac Melbourne Cup Eve Lunch: Have a feed and a few beers and help pick the trifecta

Come to another Melbourne Cup Eve soiree at the North Fitzroy Arms on Monday October 31.

Footy Almanac Odd Friday Lunch (Oct 21): Lynlea and Cyril Small celebrating the great champion Vo Rogue

What a privilege to welcome Lynlea and Cyril Small to lunch on October 21 to talk about Vo Rogue and his team. This will be a cracking afternoon.

Almanac Horseracing: Vo Rogue Tawny

Ahh, the fine Australian tradition of celebrating racehorses with commemorative releases of Tawny. With thanks to Jason Buffier and Lynlea Small.

Sal’s Caulfield Cup Day Preview (with a few comments on the AFL trade period thrown in)

Sal Ciardulli likes Benaud in the Caulfield Cup and Nature Strip in The Everest. I couldn’t help but notice his story is precisely 1111 words long. Is there something in that?

Almanac Horseracing – Sal’s Preview: Caulfield Guineas Day

Sal Ciardulli has his eye in for Caulfield Guineas Day as the Melbourne Spring Carnival gets into full swing.

Sal’s Racing Preview: Turnbull Stakes and Epsom Day

Sal Ciardulli has kept an eye on the races throughout the footy finals and has been studying the form. He acknowledges the Cats premiership while Vowing and Declaring a few winners for Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington and Epsom Day at Randwick.

The Great 2022 Free Rail Travel Challenge – Part 3: Mildura Cup

Roger Lowrey is back on the trains with Part 3 off ‘The Great 2022 Free Rail Travel Challenge’, and he’s heading to the Murray for the Mildura Cup.

The Great 2022 Free Rail Travel Challenge: Part 2 – Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase

RDL hit the tracks again en route to another of Victoria’s wonderful tracks of a different kind – Warrnambool Racecourse (The Bool).

Almanac Tributes: An interview with Jack Styring

A genuine legend of the Australian turf, the racing gods declared correct weight on the life of renowned racecaller Jack Styring with his passing on February 9th, at the grand age of 92. Recorded back in 2014, Jack graciously opened his home to John Harms and Steve Baker to reflect on his time behind the microphone and the binoculars.