Derby Day fills the rain gauge and the punting stash

I live in a wonderful neighbourhood. There may well be a few too many Pies supporters who have ostentatiously positioned Collingwood garden gnomes in their Westgarth yards. But I like how they have applied the black and white paint themselves. (Some probably got a grant to do it.) I don’t like that Theo said, “Go [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Derby Day 2010

The odd thing about Derby Day is that the so-called (and, since 1855, time-honoured)signature race is rarely the highlight of a star-studded programme. Such is again the case this Saturday at Flemington where the “support” card overwhelms the 3 yr old’s “Blue Riband”. On a day littered with Group races, it seems odd that the [Read more]

The Mug’s Cox Plate Review

Let me just distract you from the major betting sites for a moment or two while sitting there at your desk wondering whether Moment of Clarity can win the Coonabarrabran Cup this arvo and how you’re going to sneak out of the office to get to the Trans-Australian Bank to see it. And get on. [Read more]

The Mug’s Cox Plate Preview

  Not sure where to start it’s been so long since I put pen to racing paper. Not too many wins to report either which is about to change, now that Cox Plate Day has become one of mine: thanks to Gallic and El Segundo and Wally F. Beaver about a decade ago. I spotted [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Cox Plate 2010

The Cox Plate is always a Spring highlight and this year’s installment, with its dramatic build-up,  will produce a memorable race for the big crowd expected to pack the Moonee Ponds amphitheatre. Excitement has necessarily been tempered by news of the tragic death of jockey Stathi Katsidis, another wasted talent gone too soon. There’ll be [Read more]

Melbourne Cup lunch at the Clyde

You are invited to the Loose Men Charities/Almanac Melbourne Cup Lunch: Monday, November 1 from 12.30pm at The Clyde Hotel, Carlton $40 drinks at bar prices RSVP essential – [email protected] Traditionally, and very noisily, at this lunch we raise some cash through a raffle (the prizes for which are world class). We invest the proceedings in [Read more]

Almanac Racing: CAULFIELD CUP DAY 2010

The key question for punters, of course, is what sort of track will be dished up at Caulfield for Cup Day this Saturday? Swoopers were doomed last week and then the track chopped to Heavy at the irrelevant midweeker (which must go). We’ve had perfect drying weather today (Thursday) but the forecast is dire! It [Read more]

Horse Names

It’s not always easy to name a horse. Some owners “cop out”, using an unimaginative combo of the sire and dam. Others try a clumsy mix of owners’ names – think Makybe Diva. Some “luck in” – legend has it that, after 99 rejections, Century was submitted and he became a track and stud star with a brilliant name [Read more]

TAB time

The spindly gait of Les, skinny, leathery Les, takes him down Pakington St to his local TAB. Les has coat-hanger shoulders, dark Brylcreemed hair, and teeth stained from 50 years of tobacco. “G’d morning’ Ron,” he says, greeting the manager. Les looks up to the boards, checking the columns of numbers and names. Dad staples [Read more]

Almanac Racing: GUINEAS DAY 2010

Guineas Day already. As much as I’ve looked forward to it for months, it still comes as a shock that, with liniment still lingering, we’re launched headlong in to my favourite day at The Heath. It doesn’t look a vintage Caulfield Guineas (R7) this year – think Testa Rossa and Redoute’s Choice eyeballing up the [Read more]

Gunbower Races 2010

Standing  in  the  main  street  of  Echuca  on  the  first  Friday  in  October,  I  ponder  which  upcoming    event  is  generating  the  most  excitement.  Whilst  there  are  several  shops  displaying  St. Kilda  and  Collingwood    colours  and  footy  gear,    one  shop  window  has  a  desperate  plea  painted  on  it-  “Tickets  wanted  for  Deni  Ute  Muster”.  As  utes  [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Turnbull Stakes 2010

This is one of the great racing weekends on the Australian Calendar. We’ll be flicking between Randwick and the MCG on Saturday to keep abreast of Sydney’s classic card, including four Group Ones amongst a litany of race names that resonate with turf followers…The Gimcrack, Craven Plate, Roman Consul, Flight Stakes, Spring Champion Stakes, Metrop, [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Manikato Stakes night

It’s great to be excited about some sport this weekend – with the Bulldogs’ slow death finally certified, I can focus on Moonee Valley’s terrific meeting on Friday night without any diarised distractions. Get there if you can – the races are just 30 mins apart, with a companion card at Canterbury – and Group [Read more]

Almanac Racing- Underwood Stakes

After Underwood Stakes Day punters have generally sorted their priorities for the major Spring prizes. That is not to say that priorities can’t change radically over the forthcoming weeks, but if the shorties salute tomorrow, the favs for the Guineas, both Cups and the Plate will be entrenched. The next race day here at the [Read more]

Almanac Racing: DatoTanChinNam Day

There can be very few good reasons for any keen racing fan not to be at Money Valley this Saturday. Unfortunately, in their greed and excitement, administrators have scheduled a 9 race programme – too many for bookies, punters, caterers, drinkers, tipsters…- but I’d recommend at the very least getting down there in time to [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Craiglee Stakes Day

I used to love Craiglee Stakes Day, though that was a double-edged sword. We’d jokingly say that it suited Doggies fans perfectly coming one Saturday after our season finished and allowing us to get to Flemington and see the freshly-weighted Spring stars step out over a mile and, in the Ascot Vale, watch the former [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Memsie Day

Accept my indulgence, those of you who’ve not followed the bland circuit of winter’s racing and can’t countenance the thrill I needed to share when I opened my Winning Post this (Thursday) afternoon. Fortunately Tom was home from school – the FOXtelly suspiciously warm  – and doing a passable impression of trying some Math homework.  [Read more]

Almanac racing- Crockett and McKenzie meeting at MV 2010

This Saturday’s Moonee Valley card is a bit of a letdown after the excitement of Group One horses last weekend, but we’ll have to wait until The Memsie meeting next week for another juicy offering in Melbourne. Warwick Farm will be the focus of Australian racing with an excellent Quaddy. The major caveat on Sydney [Read more]

Almanac Racing: J. J. Liston meeting

A fascinating day’s racing is in store for those who venture to Caulfield this Saturday with some seriously good horses returning only to be confronted with a heavy track and some strong winter performers. The punt, therefore, looks a tricky prospect but my advice is to study the parade ring, look at the racing pattern [Read more]

Almanac Racing: A new season beckons

A rider must accompany this rant, warning that I have overnight returned from an extended visit to Darwin which encompassed the last three days of their Carnival. My best tip, therefore, is to book early and go next year. Great fun is assured, but it can be tough going and may have taken its toll [Read more]