Racing NSW’s John Messara wants more nationalistic approach after ‘ludicrous’ day of race scheduling

RACING NSW chairman John Messara has written to his Victorian counterpart, imploring both states to take a more nationalistic approach after a “ludicrous” day of race scheduling on Saturday.

Funeral for bookmaker Col Tidy on Monday.

RACING NSW chairman John Messara has written to his Victorian counterpart, David Moodie, imploring both states take a more nationalistic approach after a “ludicrous” day of race scheduling on Saturday.

Messara was at Royal Randwick and saw first-hand the frustration and angst of punters upset that some Caulfield races could not be televised live due to the clash of race times.

Ron Dufficy’s snapshot from Royal Randwick

Machinegun Jubs hoping to fire on return

The logjam was caused by Racing Victoria’s decision to run its races half an hour apart rather than the usual 35-40 minute gaps, and this inevitably had an impact on the coverage of race meetings on the already-crowded Saturday schedule.

A furious Messara described Saturday’s race times clashes as “very unsatisfactory and ludicrous”.

“We don’t want to see another day like it,’’ Messara told The Daily Telegraph yesterday. “These race times clashes have to stop.’’

Victoria’s racing administrators have every right to try new innovations but it was a very insular move changing race times on a Saturday, the sport’s showcase race day, as it was simply not fair on other jurisdictions and most importantly, punters.

Racing is a marginalised sport these days and with so much competition for the gambling and leisure dollar, it needs to adopt a broader, national view on issues such as race times rather than be divided by state boundaries.

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AN announcement is expected as early as today confirming at least four internationals runners for The Championships in Sydney during the autumn.

It is understood the majority of overseas runners will be from Japan but at least one Hong Kong-trained galloper is a potential Sydney autumn carnival raider.

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Funeral for bookmaker Col Tidy on Monday.

THE funeral service for former legendary Sydney bookmaker, Col Tidy, will be held at St Brigid’s Church, Coogee, from 2pm Monday.

There has been a lot of very complimentary things said and written about Tidy since his passing, all well-deserved, with perhaps Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys summing it up best.

“Col Tidy held tremendous respect throughout the racing industry not just as an astute bookmaker, but as an absolute gentleman,” V’landys said.

“You would never hear a bad word about Col who worked for a long time in a tough and competitive bookmaking industry. He will be sorely missed by many and our condolences go out to his wife Helen and their extended family.”

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Twist Tops with Tommy Berry aboard.

TWIST Tops may not have been as impressive as Extreme Choice in their feature juvenile wins last Saturday but the former was particularly courageous to endure a tough run and win the Inglis Classic at Royal Randwick.

Trainer Kris Lees, who prepared a winning double at the Randwick meeting with Felines also scoring, said Twist Tops will be given her chance to qualify for the Golden Slipper in the Sweet Embrace Stakes later this month.

Felines as won three Randwick 1000m races over summer and Lees intends to set the mare for the Challenge Stakes over her favourite course and distance during the autumn carnival.

At Caulfield, Extreme Choice was dominant in the Chairman’s Stakes to maintain his unbeaten record and he is a clear favourite for the Blue Diamond Stakes.

But boom Sydney youngsters Defcon and Calliope get an opportunity to impress their Blue Diamond claims at Caulfield next Saturday.

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Exciting to see Minx back in action

WINX, the hot favourite to win Horse of the Year this season after her outstanding wins in the Epsom Handicap and Cox Plate during the spring, only had an exhibition gallop at Randwick but it was exciting to see the champion mare back in action.

Trainer Chris Waller is likely to run Winx first-up in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick next Saturday.

Only two horses have won the Cox Plate-Apollo Stakes double — Sunline who managed the feat twice in 1999-2000 and again in 2000-01, while Red Anchor won both races in 1984-85.

It is worth noting Sunline and Red Anchor were voted Horse of the Year those same seasons.

Originally published as Racing NSW’s John Messara wants more nationalistic approach after ‘ludicrous’ day of race scheduling