February 6, 2014
by Ross Stanley
The Nanango Race Club is expressing its heart-felt thanks to its staunch supporters by making its February 14 meeting a free entry day.
Originally the gesture was to apply to each lady that was accompanied by a beau, but the club’s now decided to expand it to everyone.
The extended offer will be appreciated by patrons who put up with gremlins intermittently interrupting power supplies at Lee Park in recent times.
The good news is that arrangements are in hand for a back-up generator to handle peak demands.
Free admission also provides a great opportunity for total newcomers to open their hearts and let the excitement of horse-racing jump in.
Guys and gals are advised not to send someone they fancy the traditional unsigned Valentine’s card – it makes perfect sense to simply invite them to the races instead.
If the couple get dressed up in the “Twist of Pink Romance” Moffattdale Ridge Fashion Theme, they could win $100 and a trophy!
Female early-birds will also receive a keepsake rose.
The $10 per head saved on the usual admission cost can be used at the Pink Champagne Bar.
The only thing that could make it a better date would be backing five winners!
The prospect of going solo to the track should be no deterrent either.
The ice can be broken by asking a possible “selection” to explain the wording on a race book page.
There is nothing wrong in loitering in the betting ring and asking a fine filly or colt of your choice to tell you how to place a bet.
Studying the “form” is the first step towards making effective speed-dating conversations.
Anyway, watch this space next week for some ways of finding those useful five winners.
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Vale Hay List
If he had been born a few years earlier or later, the Statue of Liberty gelding Hay List (24 August 2005-3 February 2015) may have been a supreme champion.
However he certainly made a name for himself with his challenges to Black Caviar’s domination and in his own right.
The tough pacy sprinter, four times runner-up to the grand mare, is especially remembered for his thrilling attempt to bring her undone in the 2011 T.J.Smith Stakes at Randwick.
In that tussle, as Black Caviar charged home, he pinned his ears back as he dug desperately to find fuel in his tank.
The son of the Is It True mare Sing Hallelujah also beat all bar Black Caviar in two Flemington Lightnings (2011-12) and the exciting 2011 Doomben BTC Cup (1200m).
His Group One victories were the 2010 Manikato Stakes, 2011 All Aged Stakes and the 2012 VRC Newmarket with 58.5 kg when he nosed out Buffering.
Hay List won his first eight straight in Perth.
At his second run in the east for the John McNair stable, he produced an awesome display, scoring by five panels in the 2010 Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Overall, his 28 outings yielded 15 wins and six seconds for $2,560,000 in earnings.
Arguably the injury-prone galloper should have been retired after his 23rd start.
He had a year off between 23 March 2012 and 16 March 2013 and failed to run a place in his last two preparations.
The Gosford based gelding was perpetually plagued by hoof issues and ultimately laminitis led to euthanasia on Tuesday.
Hay List is a Wikipedia entrant and his Facebook site on Friday showed 2300 likes.
His half sister by So You Think is listed in the Inglis Easter sale.
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The Roads Ahead
Nanango’s race day coincides with Melbourne’s renewal of the C F Orr Stakes and the Blue Diamond Preludes.
The VRC Black Caviar Lightning will be run on 21 February while Protectionist, the Melbourne Cup winner, resumes hostilities in the Peter Young Stakes (Gr 2, 1800m ) at Caulfield on the Blue Diamond Stakes card a week later.
Flemington holds the carnival spotlight with its Australian Guineas, Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup to be decided on the first two Saturdays in March.
The Sydney Carnival is headed by Golden Slipper Day with its five Group Ones on 21 March and The Championships, Randwick’s indulgently luxurious extravaganza, that has more than $20 million in prize money and 8 Group One titles up for grabs on 4-11 April.
