As much as I hate frigid winters in southwestern Pennsylvania, I’d rather be here than in Victoria, Australia where racing was cancelled today when temperatures reached 43C—that’s 109F to us folks who never embraced the metric system. With temperatures on Saturday there forecast in excess of 35C (95F) in the midst of the hottest spell in 100 years (thank you, global warming), the start time for the
G1 Lightning Stakes has been brought back to 2:46 p.m., or 10:46 p.m. EST here on Friday. If you are a fan of sprint races, you won’t want to miss this one, as six-time G1 winner
Apache Cat faces seven-time G1 winner
Weekend Hussler for the first time—and on the straight track at Flemington, to boot.
In the category of “it’s the same all over,” last year’s champion 2-year-old colt
Sebring will not race at three, and has been retired to stud due to a “
recurring soundness issue.” Disappointing, but not wholly unexpected. Trainer Gai Waterhouse offers a touching tribute to his short yet hugely successful career on
her blog. He’ll stand at Widden Stud which earlier this week lost star stallion
General Nediym to a
severe colic attack.
As much as I hate frigid winters in southwestern Pennsylvania, I’d rather be here than in Victoria, Australia where racing was cancelled today when temperatures reached 43C—that’s 109F to us folks who never embraced the metric system. With temperatures on Saturday there forecast in excess of 35C (95F) in the midst of the hottest spell in 100 years (thank you, global warming), the start time for the G1 Lightning Stakes has been brought back to 2:46 p.m., or 10:46 p.m. EST here on Friday. If you are a fan of sprint races, you won’t want to miss this one, as six-time G1 winner Apache Cat faces seven-time G1 winner Weekend Hussler for the first time—and on the straight track at Flemington, to boot. 
In the category of “it’s the same all over,” last year’s champion 2-year-old colt Sebring will not race at three, and has been retired to stud due to a “recurring soundness issue.” Disappointing, but not wholly unexpected. Trainer Gai Waterhouse offers a touching tribute to his short yet hugely successful career on her blog. He’ll stand at Widden Stud which earlier this week lost star stallion General Nediym to a severe colic attack.
Valerie,
ReplyDeleteWhat channel or website can I catch the Lightning Stakes?
BTW, how'd you get so caught up in horse racing down under?
Our cable provider only shows HRTV on Friday nights from 7 p.m. to midnight, and Australia is often on. Also, after they closed my in-town OTB parlor, I opened an account on Twinspires, and they show Australia. Just a matter of not being able to bet during the week while at work, and needing a release on Friday nights. Plus, I love turf racing, and the Aussies have big fields and good payoffs; I also have found I have a knack for picking winners there :)
ReplyDeleteIf you have Twinspires, you can watch it live there, or you can open a free account at Australia Racing, and watch the live feed online (plus see free PPs). Here's the link: http://www.australianracing.com/pages/members/31.php
You could try Big Pond racing at http://www.horseracing.bigpond.com/default.aspx
ReplyDeleteThey are my online live racing site of choice these days.
And you're right Valerie - it was damned hot here in Melbourne today and will continue tomorrow. Still, I love summer so you have expect a few days in the high 40s.
PS The Big Pond live racing facility is free
ReplyDeleteI am also looking forward to the Apache Cat/Weekend Hussler clash. Good times!
ReplyDeleteI'll bring the dip.
ReplyDeleteYou're on! Live blogging on Friday night sounds good.
ReplyDelete