Talkin' Sport - hosted by Graeme Hughes, Gavin Robertson, Brett Papworth and Peter Tunks

The first of Sky Racing's new channels, Sky Racing2, will go live on Tuesday 30 March as the first stage in Sky's racing vision revolution.

Sky Racing2 will feature more than 80 thoroughbred, harness and greyhound meetings will feature more than 80 thoroughbred, harness and greyhound meetings each week. Of these, 35 will be new race meetings and more than half of those will be Australian.

Sky Racing is creating a new world of racing vision in 2010 with the introduction of two new channels, to complement the existing Sky Racing channel. The three channels are:

Sky Racing1 (Channel 519, FOXTEL and AUSTAR): Existing Sky Racing channel, which will continue to give viewers comprehensive Australian thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing coverage.

Sky Racing2 (Channel 520, FOXTEL and AUSTAR): Will offer viewers expanded coverage and choice of national and international thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing. Along with Sky Racing1, it will provide vision of all TAB races.

Sky Racing World (Channel 521, FOXTEL and AUSTAR): A superior thoroughbred racing channel, capturing the best racing action from Australia and around the world.

The launch of Sky Racing World will take place in early May, as part of the second stage in the rollout of the new Sky Racing channels.

Sky Racing Chief Operating Officer Brendan Parnell said: "It's the start of a new era in race broadcasting in Australia.

The launch of Sky Racing2 will give Australian punters watching racing more choice than ever before. As expected, we have had significant interest from race clubs wanting to be part of Sky Racing's channel expansion.

The launch of the new Sky Racing channels is part of Tabcorp's long-term strategy to expand racing choice for its customers and to provide superior showcasing of racing".

The culmination of the strategy has been made possible through FOXTEL and AUSTAR's new generation channel expansion.

FOXTEL and AUSTAR will announce pricing for Sky Racing2 and Sky Racing World this month. Sky Racing1 will remain on the base package.

To accommodate the launch of Sky Racing2, new retail displays are currently being installed in hotels, clubs and TAB agencies around Australia. The vast majority of NSW and Victorian pubs, clubs and TAB agencies will have Sky Racing2 available at launch date. The roll out in other states and territories is progressing well, with many venues preparing to make Sky Racing2 available to their patrons.

About Sky Racing

Sky Racing is Australia's number 1 racing network and a world leader in multi-venue race broadcasting, telecasting more than 65,000 races each year. Sky is currently broadcast to 2.2 million Australian homes, more than 5,000 commercial venues, as well as around the globe. Sky Racing is the most watched channel on the

Subscription TV platform for Men 40+ (Saturday/Sunday midday-3pm) and is consistently in the three most watched channels on Subscription TV on Saturdays (12 to 5.30pm) for Men 25+.

WHAT WILL BE ON SKY RACING2

Channel 520 FOXTEL and AUSTAR More than 80 race meetings per week, including:

Additional Australian racing

o New thoroughbred meetings from New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia

o Three new Australian harness meetings each week

o Ten new Australian greyhound meetings each week

Complete international racing coverage

o All Hong Kong thoroughbred races on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday

o All New Zealand thoroughbred races on Wednesday to Sunday.

o Seven new New Zealand harness and greyhound meetings each week

o All Singapore thoroughbred races on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Feature Race Coverage

o Extended coverage of selected Australian thoroughbred, greyhound and harness feature race meetings, including interviews, parade yard and expert commentary.

The full Sky Racing2 schedule will be outlined closer to launch date.

Changing of the Guard has other things on his mind.
By Talkin Sport Monday, 1 March 2010
High profile import Changingoftheguard is facing the unkindest cut of all if the stallion doesn't satisfy trainer David Hayes with his trackwork on Tuesday.

Changingoftheguard
Photo

Hayes will decide after Tuesday's gallop if Changingofthe guard is to be a member of his team in Saturday's $1 million Australian Cup at Flemington.

If the gallop and attitude of the import is not satisfactory Hayes will not hesitate to pull him out of the Australian Cup and order that he be gelded and spelled until the spring.

Hayes is concerned that Changingoftheguard

does not have his mind on racing when he gets around other horses. He becomes easily aroused and Hayes says he then is not in the right physical or mental condition to perform on the track.

"He is far too amorous," Hayes reported. "His mind is on other things and he's not embarrassed to show it and you can't run like that.

"When there's not many horses around he works like a star but he has proven difficult on race day.

"He will have to please me in trackwork on Tuesday to run in the Australian Cup.

“If he doesn't he will be gelded straight away and set for the spring.”

Hayes said even is Changingoftheguard does start on Saturday he will still be gelded after the race.

Changingoftheguard, purchased by stable clients from the UK, has been a headache horse for Hayes since he joined his team last spring with the aim of starting in the Melbourne Cup in November.

However after the Irish import served his quarantine at Sandown he had fitness issues that placed Hayes in conflict with officials.

The issues came to a head on the morning of the Melbourne Cup when Racing Victoria vets ordered his scratching from the Melbourne Cup despite Hayes protesting that the horse was not lame.

Hayes publicly labelled the vets "knuckleheads", an outburst that cost him a $2000 fine.

Hayes is set to play a big hand in the Australian Cup with another import Our Aqaleem, Zagreb and Extra Zero to represent the stable.

Larry was on time.
By Talkin Sport Thursday, 25 February 2010
Larry's Never Late has won Wednesday's Group Three $300,000 Launceston Cup which was marred by pre-race controversy when the favourite De Fine Lago was scratched by stewards who ruled the gelding was lame.

The seven-horse field, following the scratching of Grand Destiny on Tuesday and the late withdrawal of De Fine Lago, was the smallest in Launceston Cup history .

The pre-Cup drama started when Tasmanian Turf Club stewards, chaired by Wade Hadley, withdrew De Fine Lago, saying the Hobart Cup runner-up was lame.

The club's veterinary surgeon said De Fine Lago had quartered the inside heel of the near foreleg.

Trainer Tony Vasil made a request to stewards that race rider Damien Oliver canter him around to the barrier before the race.

"If stewards thought he was lame so be it, scratch him, I was that confident he'd be okay," the Caulfield trainer said.

However his request was refused.

"I'm bitterly disappointed and annoyed," Vasil said.

"The owners have spent the best part of $9,000 to bring him here for nothing. I thought he had the race at his mercy and to be pulled out in these circumstances is quite ... I won't even say.

"In their view they believe the horse is lame, but I've had the horse here a couple of days, I rode him myself yesterday (Tuesday) at Longford.

"I'm not a mug. I've been training horses for a fair while.

"I know a horse that is lame and what's not. He has got an abrasion on the bowl of his heel. If you push it, yes he'll react to it.

"But his action, all you've got to do is get him out on the grass and bowl him off and he'd be fine."

The victory of Larry's Never Late was a triumph for Mt Eliza trainer Rod Douglas who also won the Listed Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) with Zabeel filly Coulis last Sunday, and Melbourne jockey Ben Melham.

Melham said the win was equal to his previous best which was the 2009 Group Three Coongy Handicap at Caulfield aboard Baughurst.

Sent out at $4.20, Larry's Never Late was well ridden by Melham in a muddling-run race and went on to score by 2-1/4 lengths from Dream Pedlar ($4.70) with Growl ($1.70 fav) 5-1/2 lengths away third.

Douglas said he was confident the Pentire four-year-old could turn the tables on Hobart Cup (2200m) winner Growl after finishing fourth in that race.

"Shocking only just beat him for second in the Queensland Derby," Douglas said.

"Growl has won one race in three years so I thought it would be a miracle if he won two in a row."

Larry's Never Late is out of the Zabeel mare Laebeel who was runner-up to Sky Heights in the 1999 Caulfield Cup.

The four-year-old gelding, raced by Jonathan Munz's Pinecliff Racing Syndicate, hadn't won since taking out the Hamilton Cup (2200m) as a three-year-old on a slow track in April last year.

Last season he contested three Derbys, finishing sixth to Rebel Raider in the 2008 Victoria Derby, fourth to the same horse in the 2009 SA Derby and third to Court Ruler in the Queensland Derby.

Douglas said Larry's Never Late was still in the Group Two Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 8.

"But we might give him a break and take him to Queensland for the winter," he said.

The gelding has won six races and been placed in another four of 23 starts.

Hussler back to the paddock.
By Talkin Sport Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Weekend Hussler is going back to the paddockafter pulling up lame in his comback run at Caulfield last Saturday.

Racing Victoria stewards told the seven time Group I winner's trainer Ross McDonald that a veterinary certificate of fitness was required prior to the gelding racing again after he finished 11th in the Group I Oakleigh Plate .

McDonald elected to spell Weekend Hussler immediately and retry to reserrect the horse's career later in the year.

In 2008, Weekend Hussler was named the Australian Horse of the Year after winning six Group I races during the 2007/08 racing season.

His victories came in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Newmarket Handicap (1200m), Caulfield and Randwick Guineas (1600m) George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Overall Weekend Hussler has started 21 times for 12 wins and a placing, with stakes earnings of more than $3 million.
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Victorian horse trainer charged.
By Talkin Sport Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Racing Victoria stewards have charged trainer Rodney Douglas over comments he made in a televised interview at the Mornington Cup meeting on February 17.

Douglas has been charged under AR175A that relates to a licensed person being responsible for conduct prejudicial to the image, or interests or welfare of racing.

Stewards have alleged Douglas engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the image and interests of racing via comments made about the stewards in a TVN interview at Mornington.

The charge will be heard before the RAD Board on a date to be fixed.This may have some affect on future interviews on track..

Douglas is enjoying a fine run of success, winning the Hareeba Stakes at Mornington and the Tasmanian Oaks at Mowbray in the past week.

Betfair news.
By Talkin Sport Monday, 22 February 2010

2004

Betfair signs a joint venture agreement with Australia's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited.

2006

February

Betfair awarded a non-exclusive licence by the Tasmanian Gaming Commission to conduct Australia's first betting exchange. Betfair begins recruitment of operational staff.

June/July

The market operations team manages its first market and shortly after the first telephone betting calls are taken by Betfair Australia staff.

August

The first bet is matched on the Australian exchange. There have since been 348,085,579 bets placed and more than two million calls have been taken. More than 370,000 unique markets have been settled.

2007

October

Australian Racing Board amends Australian Rules of Racing to remove the ban on betting exchanges being used on race courses.

2008

March

In a landmark case under section 92 of the Constitution (dealing with freedom of trade between the States) the High Court unanimously rules in Betfair's favour, rendering invalid WA's laws banning WA residents from using betting exchanges.

April

Betfair announces agency agreement with Tote Tasmania to allow Betfair customers to bet directly with Tote Tasmania (into the SuperTAB pool) via their Betfair accounts.

October

In response to further section 92 proceedings issued by Betfair, the NSW and Victorian governments announce that they will remove long-standing restrictions on advertising by licensed interstate wagering companies. Competition begins.

November

Melbourne's Sandown Racecourse is renamed Betfair Park in a three-year sponsorship deal.

2009

January

Verdasco vs Nadal Australian Open Tennis Semi Final reaches a record $56 million in matched bets.

Betfair signs sponsorship agreements with 15 new race clubs and with Greyhound Racing NSW.

Betfair Announces a 10 year agreement ..
By Talkin Sport Monday, 22 February 2010
Another milestone in the Betfair Australia story was reached today as the company announced an in-principle agreement with the Tasmanian Government to keep its operations there for a further 10 years.

“Today's announcement is an important step towards providing long-term certainty for Betfair in Australia and its Tasmanian workforce,” said Betfair Australia's CEO, Andrew Twaits.

“We were under a lot of pressure to prove ourselves as a company here in Australia, and we've well and truly done that. In the last four years, we've helped to reshape the wagering landscape in areas of integrity, harm minimisation and industry funding for racing and sports. Importantly, we've also encouraged a better deal for punters.

“This agreement is a big step forward for the future of racing, not only in Tasmania, but right across Australia. Our contribution to both racing and sports has been significant and we look forward to continuing our commitment right across the country.”

The new agreement is subject to various conditions including approval by the Tasmanian Gaming Commission and legislation being passed by the new parliament to reduce the tax on betting exchanges to 5% of gross revenue.

Betfair Australia commenced operations at its Hobart headquarters in February 2006 after it became the first betting exchange to be licensed in Australia. Today the business employs 135 staff, matches more than 1 million bets a day and has 135,000 Australian and New Zealand customers.

The company has also contributed more than $5m in product fees directly to racing and sports as well as nearly $8m in sponsorships. In Tasmania Betfair has contributed in excess of $20m to the local economy.

Starspangledbanner heading to England after impressive win in Oakleigh Plate
By Talkin Sport Saturday, 20 February 2010

Exciting colt Starspangledbanner scored his second Group I win in three starts when he prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.

The Choisir three-year-old, prepared by Leon Corstens, won the Group I Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10 before being spelled and was fourth to Nicconi as favourite when resuming in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on January 30.

Starspangledbanner will now get the chance to emulate his sire by winning at Royal Ascot in England.

Choisir won the GroupII King's Stand Stakes (1000m) and Group I Golden Jubilee (1200m) at Ascot in 2003.

Gai gets Cannonball.
By Talkin Sport Wednesday, 10 February 2010
American sprinter Cannonball has joined the Gai Waterhouse stable.

Cannonball
Photo by Racing and Sports

The friendship Waterhouse has struck up with Cannonball's Florida-based trainer Wesley Ward has resulted in Sydney's glamour trainer taking charge of the sprinter's preparation for the $1 million Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 6.

Waterhouse met Ward at Royal Ascot last year where the American made history winning two two-year-old races. Waterhouse was enthralled by the American trainer's success and his renowned reputation with two-year-olds in America.

She visited his Florida training base late last year to learn more about his techniques and expert staff from his stable have visited Sydney to help with the education of her two-year-olds.

Cannonball

, who has been based in Melbourne since his arrival in Australia, will be transferred to Waterhouse's Randwick stables today.

He will have two weeks of training under Waterhouse's supervision at Randwick before she sends him back to Melbourne for the Newmarket.

Plans for Cannonball after the Newmarket are undecided. He could stay with Waterhouse for the Sydney autumn carnival or may travel to Dubai where he will rejoin the Ward team.

Waterhouse said she was flattered that Ward had transferred Cannonball into her care.

Cannonball, after racing in the International Sprint in Hong King in December, arrived in Melbourne in late December under the care of Ward's foreman Declan Murphy.

He made his Australian debut in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on January 30, finishing ninth behind Nicconi.

The five-year-old has won four races from 21 starts and has attained a high international rating with G1 placings in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf in 2007 and last year's Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

Munce heading home.
By Talkin Sport Thursday, 4 February 2010
Chris Munce will return to his home state later this year.

Photo by Racing and Sports

Munce, originally from Queensland, and his partner Cathy have been based in Sydney for 15 years according to the jockey but had always planned on one day returning north.

With the big Patinack Farm team expanding its Gold Coast stable to as many as 60 horses in the near future Munce felt is was a good time to make the move.

“When the opportunity arose to come up and do a bit of riding for Patinack we thought it was probably the right time to do it,” Munce said.

Munce said he has been discussing the Gold Coast expansion of the Patinack operation with principal Nathan Tinkler since early January and would do much of the work for the stable.

But he would also travel interstate to the major carnivals.

Munce's 40 Group One races include the 1998 Melbourne Cup on Jezabeel

The Japanese maybe back for our cup.
By Talkin Sport Tuesday, 2 February 2010
The Japanese may be back for the 2010 Melbourne Cup after Australia's Department of Agriculture has given the country the all clear.

Photo by Bronwen Healy

It's been four years since Delta Blues and Pop Rock quinellaed the Melbourne Cup but the following year Equine Influenza swept through the country and had Japan banned from entering Australia.

Racing Victoria racing operations manager Leigh Jordon said the Department of Agriculture has now lifted the ban, pending some stable inspections, and he hoped the Japanese horses would return for this year's Cup.

"The import risk assessment that they (the Department of Agriculture) circulated has Japan to be treated as a normal country," Jordon said.

"It's great news that Japan is now back in the fold and they will be able to send horses again to our spring carnival."

Jordon told the Herald Sun the most likely Yoshida horse to target the Melbourne Cup was Group 1 winner Dream Journey.

Robl takes a fall.
By Talkin Sport Friday, 29 January 2010
Jockey Peter Robl is likely to miss most of the autumn carnival after suffering a suspected broken collarbone in a race fall at Canterbury on Thursday night.

Peter Robl
Photo by Racing and Sports

Robl was rushed to hosital after his mount Heilei came down at the 600m in the fourth race.

Heilei was racing outside the leader when the gelding suddenly lost ground and then crashed to the turf.

Robl was catapulted out of the saddle but was conscious when ambulance officers reached him.

He was treated on the track before he transferred to Canterbury Hospital for x-rays and observation.

Stewards reported that Heilei may have fallen as the result of a bleeding attack.

Heilei had to be put down after the fall.

It is the second serious injury for Robl since he moved to Sydney two years ago.

The former leading southern districts rider, who rides for Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm stable, suffered a broken vertebrae in a Rosehill fall in 2008.

Racing to win retired..
By Talkin Sport Friday, 15 January 2010
Multiple Group One winner Racing To Win has been retired.

Racing To Win
Photo by Racing and Sports

A tendon injury suffered in Hong Kong last month has brought down the curtain to the popular grey's impressive career.

Trained by John O'Shea, Racing To Win

won 13 of his 30 starts and amassed more than $3.7 million prizemoney.

"He was a very good horse to me, naturally he's going to be difficult to replace," O'Shea said.

"He's had a wonderful career and when at the top of his game, sure he is a horse deserving of admiration."

Owned by Trevor Stuckey and Penny Yan, Racing To Win began racing in June of 2005 when he won on debut as a late 2YO.

He blossomed in the autumn of his three-year-old season, winning the George Ryder Stakes-Doncaster Handicap Group One double.

In the spring of 2006, he added the G1 George Main Stakes and G1 Epsom Handicap to his record.

He was injured in the Cox Plate of that year as favourite and spent more than a year away from racing but returned in the autumn of 2008 to win the G1 All-Aged Stakes.

Racing To Win may become a mount for clerk of the course on Sydney tracks if he suffers no long term tendon problems.

Sky Racing and Aushorse form a winning partnership.
By Talkin Sport. Tuesday, 8 December 2009

Sky Racing and Aushorse have today announced a partnership that will significantly boost the promotion of Australian thoroughbred racing and breeding around the world.

Sky Racing will become Aushorse's exclusive international media partner, bringing arange of benefits to both organisations.

As part of the partnership, Sky Racing will produce a 30-minute television program for Aushorse that will be exported and broadcast on a monthly basis, initially in Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand and South Africa.

The program, Australian Thoroughbreds, will be broadcast on these countries' respective racing channels. It will promote the deeds of Australian-bred thoroughbreds and build awareness about the benefits of buying our horses.

The content of Australian Thoroughbreds will be unique to each market and will highlight the winning results of Australian-bred racehorses competing in that jurisdiction, as well other stories highlighting Australian successes around the world.

Sky Racing will produce the program and distribute it through its international partners. The first episode will be broadcast in Singapore this Thursday.“Aushorse is delighted to be forming this alliance with Sky Racing. Sky showcases thoroughbred racing to a domestic and a growing international audience and through its coverage plays an essential role in promoting the Australian-bred thoroughbred,” said Aushorse Chief Executive Officer Peter McGauran.

“Australian-bred racehorses have a world-class reputation. Thirty-six of the 287 highest rated horses in the world were bred in Australia and through Australian Thoroughbreds we will be able to highlight the success of our gallopers to a greater audience.”Sky Racing Chief Operating Officer Brendan Parnell said: “Australian racing and breeding has a great story to tell the world and Sky Racing is proud to be able to partner with Aushorse to tell it. Thoroughbreds we will be able to highlight the success of our gallopers to a greater audience.” Sky Racing Chief Operating Officer Brendan Parnell said: “Australian racing and breeding has a great story to tell the world and Sky Racing is proud to be able to partner with Aushorse to tell it.

“Sky Racing has long played an important role in promoting Australian racing locally and internationally and we are pleased to be extending this through the production and distribution of Australian Thoroughbreds.”

Beadman Returns
By Talkin Sport Tuesday, 8 December 2009

Young master Mitchell Beadman returns to the saddle this weekend..

There is no doubting his ability , if Mitchell can keep things together off the racetrack, the racing world may well see another Beadman leading the field into the winners stalls..Like all young sports people ,reaching their potential is their Mt Everest.