At The Track: Finally some New Year cheer in bitter TVN/Sky dispute
TVN is set to allow Sky Racing to broadcast NSW gallops to TAB outlets as soon as New Year’s Day to lessen the impact on punters during racing’s television war.
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TVN is set to allow Sky Racing to broadcast Sydney and NSW gallops to home viewers and TAB outlets as soon as New Year’s Day to lessen the impact on punters during racing’s bitter television war.
If arrangements can be made in time, Thursday’s Tattersalls Club Cup meeting from Randwick could be telecast on Sky Racing channel 519 into homes, TAB agencies, pubs and clubs.
Within a month, Sky Racing, if successful in getting Sydney and Melbourne racing broadcast rights, is planning to use channel 521 to present the main gallops meetings from Sydney with a TVN-style presentation including pre- and post-race interviews with trainers, jockeys and industry figures.
The decision of NSW and Victorian shareholders to split from TVN means each state is responsible for the distribution of its broadcast and digital media rights.
It is understood a meeting with NSW race clubs is scheduled for Monday to determine how to maximise revenues from broadcast media rights but it is likely Sky Racing will be the vision provider for NSW racing.
Claims the split is “amicable” isn’t accurate as there has been simmering tensions between both states for months and they have boiled over since the shock Boxing Day announcement.
TVN says its “business will continue to operate and serve the racing industry while the TVN shareholders determine the future of the operation” with some suggestions Victoria may even go it alone with its own broadcast channel.
But how a Victorian-only thoroughbred broadcast channel could be financially sustainable remains unclear, particularly if the standoff with Tabcorp, owners of Sky Racing, continues.
Industry heavyweights Peter V’landys (Racing NSW) and Darren Pearce (Australian Turf Club) have indicated opportunities for re-employment will be made to TVN’s NSW presenters and producers.
No elbow room to pursue suspension appeal
HALL of Fame jockey Jim Cassidy conceded he is unlikely to appeal against his one-month ban for using an “errant elbow” on a rival runner at Randwick on Boxing Day.
“There is not much point appealing,’’ Cassidy said with a hint of frustration in his voice.
“But I’ll use the time to spend with family. We have decided to go to the Caribbean for a holiday.’’
Racing NSW stewards banned Cassidy after he was found to have raised his elbow to push another horse off his mount during a race.
Melbourne ‘fence jumper’ gets grounded at Canterbury
IF Mr Humphries doesn’t make it on the flat, then he has a future as a jumper.
As the spectacular images show, Melbourne youngster Mr Humphries has a very good leap on him as he easily clears the fence into vacant land at the top of the walkway into the parade ring.
Mr Humphries took fright in the mounting yard before the two-year-old race at Canterbury on Saturday and dumped Blake Shinn.
Fortunately, both horse and jockey escaped injury but stewards had no alternative but to scratch the colt.
It was an expensive exercise for connections of Mr Humphries with their colt travelling from Melbourne and not even getting to race.
Canterbury hits the spot in festive period
THE Canterbury crowd figure was only 3183 but it felt like a lot more for the rare Sydney Saturday meeting at the city’s inner-western track.
Most trainers, jockeys and punters interviewed by At The Track liked the break in routine from Randwick or Rosehill.
There was a good vibe at Canterbury and came after more than 10,000 attended the Summer Cup meeting at Randwick on Boxing Day.
However, don’t expect too many more Saturday race dates for Canterbury as the track is Sydney’s main midweek venue.
There is also the likelihood that Canterbury will be the quarantine stabling and training facility for international gallopers here for The Championships next autumn.
Sprint series popularity a summer winner
THE ATC’s Summer Sprint Series has certainly added interest to Sydney racing.
The first two legs of the series, the Starlight Stakes and Razor Sharp Handicap, were won brilliantly by the “Rockhampton Rocket” Our Boy Malachi, while the Canterbury Classic was won in an exciting finish by Barbed on Saturday.
The final two races of the Summer Sprint Series, the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford and the Carrington Stakes at Randwick are run next month.
This innovation has certainly ensured quality sprint fields and added real interest to Sydney racing during a traditionally quiet period of the season.
There are suggestions the ATC will increase prizemoney for all five races next season — each is a Listed event worth $100,000 — and possibly also add a special bonus for the most successful sprinter across the five races.
The success of the five-race sprint series has also prompted suggestions the ATC should consider something similar for the middle distance horses and stayers.
Tuesday inquiry start date to be More Precise
SAMANTHA Clenton, the outstanding apprentice, will front Racing NSW stewards on Tuesday at a readjourned inquiry into her ride on More Precise at Hawkesbury this month.
Nine just doesn’t sit well with family
IN a freakish occurrence, Ball Of Muscle’s followed an identical career path to his older brothers, Terravista and Tiger Tees, when beaten at Canterbury Park on Saturday.
Ball Of Muscle had won six of his first eight starts and was sent out favourite for the Canterbury Park Classic only to be run down in the final few strides by Barbed.
Incredibly, Terravista and Tiger Tees won six of their first eight races — and were beaten at their ninth start.
This is one for Ripley’s.
Team Hawkes get up Head full of steam
TEAM Hawkes produced one of the most outstanding juveniles to race so far this season when Headwater romped away to an easy debut win at Moonee Valley.
Headwater’s win was so impressive he was elevated to the top of Blue Diamond betting and equal favouritism with Ottoman for the Golden Slipper.
Headwater, a son of Exceed And Excel, cost $500,000 but already he looks a cheap buy. His three-year-old half-brother Emaratee (by Fastnet Rock) was purchased for $4 million as a yearling.
Co-trainer John Hawkes said Emaratee is coming along nicely and is due to trial in about two weeks.
Cavallo ticks off the Boxing Day card
ANTHONY Cavallo, one of NSW’s hardest-working jockeys, can always say he rode the card.
Cavallo won the only four races run at Wellington on Boxing Day as the fifth race was abandoned.
The much-travelling jockey rode at Scone on Saturday, is back at Orange on Sunday and is due to ride at Gosford on Monday.
Silent flicks certain to be a winner
IT’S not often we like to admit the Poms have shown us up but this is a good idea.
The aristocratic Jockey Club of England realises its future relies on educating the masses about a sport filled with unique phrases and complex rules.
“If you marginalise it too much, the sport in the end will inevitably suffer,” said Simon Bazalgette, chief executive of the London-based Jockey Club.
So from this month, racing terminology is being explained on big screens at English race meetings.
Bazalgette concedes not everyone will embrace moves to open up the sport beyond the typically affluent audiences.
“A lot of people probably quite like the fact they know certain things a lot of the general public do not know,” Bazalgette said.
“We want to engage the wider part of the audience who are there for a good day out, for whom racing is part of the theatre of the day, but perhaps they are not really engaging with it as a sport.”
Horse racing is Britain’s second biggest spectator sport after football but the Jockey Club believes that around 80 per cent of racegoers have little or no knowledge about just what they are seeing and hearing.
The seven short films, which were inspired by explainer videos at 2012 London Olympic venues, are all silent so as not to intrude on the raceday atmosphere, but the purpose of the videos are to provide a better understanding of horse racing and possibly stimulate betting turnover by encouraging more frequent visits from casual spectators, and then keeping them engaged through the year.
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