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Richard Callander’s weekly racing column

Controversial pundit Richard Callander believes punters shouldn’t have to pay to get into racecourses and here’s why.

Racenet
8 min read
August 23, 2022 - 1:37PM
News Corp Racing and Sports Wagering Hub

Charging punters to go to the races is just wrong.

LET OUR CUSTOMERS IN FOR FREE

Open the gates. pleazzzzzzzzze.

Owners, trainers, jockeys, breeders, officials, bookies and staff, celebrities, half-celebrities and now influencers get in for free so why not the customers?

Fans are charged to go to the footy to watch the sport but that is where their financial responsibility stops.

Punters don’t go to the races to simply cheer for the sport of thoroughbreds running around, they go to bet and with every bet they place they are taxed which returns hundreds of millions to the industry with the race clubs getting a chop out every year.

In real terms the race clubs are double dipping.

When a punter walks onto a racetrack his or her contribution to racing hasn’t started.

We need them to bet and we encourage them to bet and we as an industry get rewarded when they bet.

And even if they are not betting, they are drinking and eating so why are we charging them to come and help our industry?

At Bathurst on Monday it was $10 to get in - come on.

I will concede on the major days – carnival days and country cups – a cover charge is perhaps warranted but surely the people who are responsible for the largest chunk of prizemoney in our sport deserve better.

Here’s an idea. Maybe patrons can get a refund when they show they have wagered a particular amount?

Instead of charging them what about we have a band at the front gate thanking them as they walk through?

Since Racing NSW announced a further $30 million in prizemoney which was greatly received by the participants and is an important cog in the chain for the wheel to turn I have read several articles on how others would have spent the money.

Every piece had one common theme, nothing for the punter.

“Appreciate what you have before you lose it. Too often, we value things only after it is gone”.

We as an industry might think there is an endless supply of punters but rest assured unless we offer a better deal the line will shorten.

Just look at those young Millennials – they love betting on the sporting codes.

Racing has more competition than ever.

SERIOUS ANIMAL BUT IS HE OUR BEST?

As James Cummings says, Anamoe is “a proper racehorse”.

His record now reads 17 starts for eight wins and more than $5,2 million in prizemoney.

His Group 1 record is 10 starts for four wins, four seconds, one third and a poor run in this year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes on a heavy (10).

The Group 1 record is fantastic with wins at the elite level at two, three and four.

And please note he has not run in any mickey mouse Group 1. He’s won the ATC Sires’ Produce, the Caulfield Guineas, the Rosehill Guineas and the Winx Stakes and he has been the runner-up in the Golden Slipper, the Golden Rose, the Cox Plate and the Randwick Guineas.

We are lucky as a stallion that we are getting to see him race on in his four-year-old season. Peter V’landys will be disappointed as Anamoe seems to be aiming at Melbourne’s Cox Plate on October 22 rather than the Golden Eagle on October 29, which is possibly understandable when you realise Vin Cox, Godolphin’s head man in Australia, is a committeeman of the VRC even though he resides in Sydney.

SWITCH THE GATES - WHO WINS?

Anamoe was awesome in winning the Group 1 Winx Stakes but if we switch his barrier with Fangirl does he still win?

Most will say yes but I’m inclined to get splinters by sitting on the fence.

Anamoe from gate one was able to get into a gun spot tracking the leaders and then show his acceleration at the 300m to put the race to bed very quickly.

From her gate Fangirl was forced back to last otherwise facing the likelihood of being posted three and four wide.

She was forced to start her finishing run from about the 400m yet on the line she was still closing the gap.

Fangirl ran the fastest last 600m of the race - 33.64 seconds while Anamoe clocked in at 33.82 seconds.

But with Anamoe only asked to sprint from the 300m it means little when discussing which horse produced the better run.

What I do know is that both will hard to beat in whatever they contest.

SYDNEY’S BIGGEST LOSS IN DECADES

Australian racing has had some very good stewards but in my time I doubt any as good as NSW chief stipe Marc Van Gestel.

You may think I am exaggerating but Van Gestel’s resignation from Racing NSW to take up a role overseas is the biggest loss to our industry in my time.

In my role with the NSW Trainers’ Association we have attempted everything imaginable over the past couple of months to change his mind and convince Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys to throw everything including the kitchen sink at him to stay.

Unfortunately it was a bridge too far and he will leave following the Golden Eagle meeting at Rosehill on Saturday 29 October.

Van Gestel has done a marvellous job in the six years he has been the boss.

He has the respect of both participants and punters, and it will be hard for Racing NSW to find his equal.

LESSONS FROM THE VALLEY

I don’t think we learned much on the heavy track at The Valley on Saturday.

Bella Nipotina showed class in the Carlyon Stakes (1000m) but it was only a six-horse field and with seven scratchings the race was a bit of a fizzer.

I liked the determination of Fast Witness in winning the McKenzie Stakes and Clarity was entitled to plenty of praise for winning a set weight fillies’ race in her debut appearance.

Clarity, by former star So You Think, is going to burst into the rankings for the good three-year-old fillies’ races and I am surprised she is still at $51 for the Thousand Guineas.

I’m told corporate bookies all over the country were high fiving their staff and shouting three cheers for Blaike McDougall after he won the first two races at The Valley on Clarity at $19 and Virtuous Circle at $26.

McDougall was a class above his opposition on the southern New South Wales tracks before switching to Melbourne and it is good to see he is doing well.

LUCKLESS? REALLY

I don’t go along with the theory the $3 favourite In Secret was unlucky behind Zougotcha in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes.

Sure In Secret was held up momentarily in the straight, but very few horses have an uninterrupted passage and she made little ground when she was clear to be still beaten a 1-1/4 lengths.

No doubt In Secret is a classy girl and she is sure to win her share of black- type races.

The pair are set to clash again over the same course in the Furious Stakes on Saturday week.

I’m looking forward to it, and I doubt my bookie mates will be betting double figure odds about the Zoustar filly this time.

SPECIAL DAY TO WIN A RACE

Debbie Kepitis, one of the major part owners of Winx, would have been ecstatic to win a race on Winx Stakes Day on Saturday with Niffler.

The daughter of Tavistock has now won five from 12 and there is plenty more to come.

THERE ARE WINNERS AND LOSERS

Danny O’Brien did well to win first-up with the former Perth star Showmanship at Randwick on Saturday.

Showmanship was superb but he is going to find it harder as we get deeper into the spring and the quality of his opposition improves.

But don’t dare bag Showmanship.

He has one statistic that guarantees he will be hard to beat wherever he runs, he has raced 10 times for eight wins.

In the racing game there are winners and there are the others.

EARLY BETTING COSTLY WITH INSIDE OFF

The problems with betting early in the week was shown up by So United in the second at Randwick on Saturday.

So United started at $4 and finished 15 lengths last to Impulsar over 2400 metres.

Stewards reported post-race that So United had blood in one nostril and will now be spelled.

It is fair to say with the stewards’ information on board, whatever the conditions, he would have finished well down the track.

However, one of the reasons So United was so hard in the market was he was the race’s only leader.

If punters had known the inside section of the track had to be avoided at all costs he would have started closer to $10.

FEATHER IN THE CAP FOR HAWKESBURY

Hawkesbury’s new CEO James Heddo and track manager Ricky Johnston were like kids in a lolly shop on Monday morning at Hawkesbury when the first heat lined up at the trials.

It was a feather in the cap for the club to have such a quality line up of thoroughbreds.

The headliners were the local Duais and superstar Zaaki.

Multiple Group 1 winner and All-Star Mile winner Zaaki which has amassed more than $7 million in prizemoney looked to trial like a bomb under a firm hold from James McDonald.

Duais who was sensationally scratched from the Winx Stakes on the weekend due to an irregular heartbeat stepped out to clear the air.

She stretched her legs and is back on track according to Edward Cummings.

Edward’s brother James trialled three horses Roheryn, Alcyone and two time Group 2 winner Character.

War Eternal from the Bjorn Baker yard won the trial and while Top Ranked finished at the tail you can expect to see him figure in the Group 1 features over the spring.

UMMMMMMMM

  • A former well-known jockey is having another throw at the stumps as he recently applied for his riders licence. Wonder what the betting is?
  • If you tip a horse and it gets beat cop it. A tipster carrying on that every tip of theirs that gets beaten was unlucky and should have won is wearing thin.
  • Who is more informed to give punters valuable information so they can form an opinion and wager on the races, owners or trainers? We love owners but seriously ask the trainer.

BLACKBOOKER - A WIN IS COMING

HIGHLAND BLAZE – It was only Sale on a Sunday, but I think if we follow this son of Highland Reel we will be rewarded. He looks very raw and immature and isn’t sure what the racing caper is all about, but I think he’s got a motor. I’m jumping on the bandwagon.

VILLA TINO – The winner was too quick for him but gee I liked the debut of Villa Tino at Hawkesbury last week. From the 150m to home he ran past some good individuals and ran the winner to 1-3/4 lengths.

TYPHOON BAY – The son of So You Think debuted last week and although safely held back in fourth, his run was full or merit. Ron Quinton is considered a patient trainer and in time this gelding will win his share of races.

VONZITHER – I think this four-year-old mare is just starting to hit her straps. Vonzither may not be a champ but after only seven starts and one win under her belt I am sure she is going well enough to grab another win or two.

Originally published as Richard Callander’s weekly racing column

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