Bars at Roma St Station – the Spencer St of Brisbane – are filled with reputable dodgy types and other ratbags and reprobates who haven’t noticed that the second at Kyneton is suddenly the third at the Warrnambool dishlickas and by then there is absolutely no point in going back to work and little point in going [Read more]
It’s almost Summer – time for the Winterbottom Stakes
November 26, 2010 by 5 Comments
by Chris Riordan It is mighty hard to rouse much enthusiasm for the races this weekend. The quality of the fields has plummeted and fine weather – a drawcard for Friday Nights at The Valley or even the wonderful Woolamai picnics Saturday – looks unlikely again. I’ll be at Moonee Valley on Friday. 8 races, [Read more]
Almanac Racing: Ballarat Cup 2010
November 19, 2010 by 2 Comments
I met someone recently who was honestly astonished to learn that the races continued throughout the year. I’m unsure whether the more incredible part of this is the person’s belief or that I’d managed to cross paths with such a standpoint! Nevertheless, the marquees have, indeed, been dismantled so, in her skewed sense, she is [Read more]
Almanac Racing: Sandown Classic 2010
November 12, 2010 by 3 Comments
No matter how impressive a line-up they gather – and, it must admitted that this is a good meeting – Sandown’s premier day is a bit like a penny bunger after the fireworks display. Sportslovers have turned the page on their “Calendar of Events” – two GFs segued in to the Carnival; the golf’s on [Read more]
BART
November 11, 2010 by 1 Comment
By Sam Duncan It is a widely known fact among those who knows me that I love Bart. Rarely is there a horse in the Spring, trained by JB, who I’m not on. I was on Bart when I was eight years old, sitting on my Grandmother’s knee cheering home Let’s Elope to victory in [Read more]
A Well Oiled Oaks Day
November 9, 2010 by 14 Comments
Have you ever looked really closely at a well oiled machine? When you were younger did you ever take the head off a Holden 186 motor and marvel at the shiny mechanical thingies, all oiled up and tuned to perfection, ready to propel the Kingswood along? No? Me neither. But when I arrived at the [Read more]
Almanac Racing: Spring Carnival Final Day 2010
November 5, 2010 by 9 Comments
Bookies have, as usual, so far claimed the points at the annual “Flemington fill-up” and will be looking to top up at the outstanding fourth day of the “Festival”. Punters were losing confidence in a tricky track after some early blow-outs on Oaks Day but they rallied late to get a bank for a counter-attack [Read more]
London to a Brick
November 4, 2010 by 14 Comments
The spring carnival is a funny time of year. The mix of once a year punters with regular mugs makes for interesting conversations, the most notable being the wonderful use of racing terms that provide the veterans with an air of being all knowledgeable. I’ll start with a couple: Black Type Races – No it [Read more]
Punters argue the toss and come up with the goods (hopefully)
November 2, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Terrific lunch at the Clyde Hotel yesterday. Fine form analysis from the 40 revellers has led to two trifecta being placed, the winnings to go to a Salvation Army charity: Bet 1: Flexi-trifecta for $200 1 and 3 roved with the field. gives us 158% of the dividend Bet 2: the roughies flexi-trifecta for $200 [Read more]
Derby Day fills the rain gauge and the punting stash
November 1, 2010 by 3 Comments
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
October 29, 2010 by 9 Comments
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
October 25, 2010 by 6 Comments
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
October 22, 2010 by 2 Comments
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
October 22, 2010 by 16 Comments
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
October 18, 2010 by 4 Comments
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
October 15, 2010 by 31 Comments
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
October 14, 2010 by 37 Comments
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
October 14, 2010 by 2 Comments
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
October 8, 2010 by 20 Comments
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
October 7, 2010 by 10 Comments
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]
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