Racing Confidential: Merging of Horse of Year awards, Hall of Fame a ‘commonsense’ decision

The Australian Horse of the Year awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremony will next year be a combined event before the spring carnival gets into full swing.

Super mare Pride Of Jenni was named Horse Of The Year for last season. Picture: Pat Scala / Racing Photos

The Australian Horse of the Year awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremony will next year be a combined event before the spring carnival gets into full swing.

Racing Australia is expected to soon confirm the commonsense decision to have the two functions on the same night in Brisbane on August 31.

The Hall of Fame was last held in 2023 and was also combined with Horse of the Year in Perth but in late November to coincide with their summer carnival.

Champion Anamoe was already at stud and had served more than 150 broodmares when he was voted Horse of the Year at the Perth awards night.

Pride Of Jenni was deservedly voted 2024 Horse of the Year in Adelaide on October 9 but many felt the awards ceremony should have been held earlier to acknowledge the mare’s achievements in the 2023-24 season.

Meanwhile, owner Tony Ottobre told Racing Confidential the now-retired Pride Of Jenni, who is recovering from a hamstring issue suffered during the Cox Plate, would be served by either Equinox or Kitasan Black in Japan next spring breeding season.

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GODOLPHIN trainer James Cummings might have set some sort of record with his second Sydney two-year-old trifecta of the season after Tempted led home stablemates Daphnes and Lipstick at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Cummings also achieved the feat at Randwick on October 26 when Comedy won the Kirkham Plate from Gaeilge and Lapis Lazuli.

“I’m happy to train another two-year-old trifecta but I would prefer a Golden Slipper quinella!’’ said Cummings, who managed a Slipper one-two with Kiamichi and Microphone in 2019.

A Street Boss - @JamesCummings88 / @godolphin trifecta with the well-backed Tempted getting the cash from stablemates Daphnes and
Lipstick in the Warwick Farm opener!

@ZacLloydx | @DarleyAus | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/tZfUdkrJnB

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 18, 2024

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THE inaugural Gold Coast Friday night race meeting could usher a new era of complementary night racing programming on the eastern seaboard.

Gold Coast hosts eight races under lights including the feature $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut for two-year-olds.

There are also night race meetings at Canterbury and Cranbourne on Friday.

The Gold Coast Turf Club has only planned two night meetings this season – the next is on January 24. But if racing under lights proves successful on the holiday strip then it would make sense if racing administrators co-ordinate an expanded Friday night program to include Canterbury, Gold Coast and Victorian meetings either at Moonee Valley or Cranbourne in coming seasons to engage punter interest and maximise betting turnover.

We’re just two sleeps away from the first-ever Silks Under The Stars Race Evening ⭐️ Gates Open 4pm & General Admission is FREE.

For last remaining hospitality packages 🎟️ https://t.co/EYp3wpd5Cnhttps://t.co/8TDBJ0s4tw

— Gold Coast Turf Club (@GCTurfClub) December 18, 2024

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INGLIS chief executive Mark Webster has led the many tributes for respected auctioneer Peter Heagney who passed away earlier this week.

“Peter Heagney was one of a kind, a brilliant auctioneer, a great horseman and an even better human being. It was a pleasure to work alongside Peter for so many years at Inglis, he was a mentor to many and respected by all,’’ Webster wrote on social media.

A service to celebrate Heagney’s remarkable life will be held at Inglis’ Oaklands Junction complex at 1pm on January 14. The service will be live streamed on the Inglis website.

Peter Heagney was one of a kind, a brilliant auctioneer, a great horseman and an even better human being. It was pleasure to work alongside Peter for so many years @inglis_sales , he was a mentor to many and respected by all. Sincere condolences to Peter’s wife Helen and family. https://t.co/AOBka9IVwi

— Mark Webster (@MarkWebsterCEO) December 15, 2024

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RACING Confidential would also like to acknowledge the surprise retirement from race riding of top jockey Sam Clipperton.

Clipperton, 30, announced earlier this week that he had ridden in his last race and was now going to “pursue other goals”.

A former two-time Sydney champion apprentice (2012-13, 2013-14), Clipperton, who also rode with success in Hong Kong for three years, rode 672 winners during his career including five at Group 1 level.

It was only 14 months ago when Clipperton achieved his biggest win as a jockey on Think About It in The Everest at Royal Randwick.

Sam Clipperton gets his 1st Group 1 for his old boss @RonQuinton aboard Peeping @rosehillgardens#racenetlivepic.twitter.com/hwzdAMFrVY

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) March 12, 2016

Originally published as Racing Confidential: Merging of Horse of Year awards, Hall of Fame a ‘commonsense’ decision