Col Tuck's Racing Review

"She came, She saw, She conquered". Not everything in this world lives up to the hype but Black Caviar does not fit into that category after a dynamic win in race record time in the Darley T J Smith Stakes.
 
From the time she entered the parade ring all eyes were only on 1 horse.
 
This Saturday the local heroine More Joyous will strut her stuff at Royal Randwick in the Emirates Doncaster Mile and the girls have set the pace so far in the carnival with Shamrocker becoming the first filly in 22 years to win the Derby. She will also return to headquarters this week to try for the Derby/Oaks double last completed by Research in 1989. Victorian Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse will also be in the field so once again it should be a wonderful clash between two outstanding fillies.

The Group 1 schedule for Saturday will be completed with the speedsters in the Group 1 Galaxy. Victorian trained mare Ortensia will be returning for the race and be joined by Oakleigh Plate winner Eagle Falls, recent Rosehill winner Swift Alliance and the well performed Sister Madly and Shrapnel amongst others.
 

Win a $50k Bet thanks to TAB Spotsbet!

Thanks to TAB Sportsbet, one lucky trackside guest on Emirates Doncaster Day will win a $50,000 bet on the Group 1 Emirates Doncaster Mile, so head to Royal Randwick on Saturday 16 April, Emirates Doncaster Day for your chance to win big!!

For your chance to WIN simply fill out an entry form on your arrival to the track!

Entry forms will be available at all racecourse entries and need to be placed into the barrels either at the entrance points and at the Meeting Tree. Entries close at 2.40pm sharp with the winner drawn at 2.45pm.

Cocktail Party

A record 1,500 Members and their guests attended the Annual AJC Members' Cocktail Party at Royal Randwick on Wednesday.  This is a much anticipated event and those who attended were not disappointed.

Life Membership badges were presented to Mr David Hall, Mr Ross Smyth-Kirk and Mr Ron Finemore, AO, all previous AJC Chairmen and Hon Kevin Greene former Minister for Racing & Gaming.

Click here to view photos from this evening.

Schweppes Sydney Cup Day

Schweppes Sydney Cup Day on Easter Saturday is a day to come and witness more Group 1 racing with the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Schweppes Sydney Cup and $2.3 million in prize money up for grabs. Bring the family and come and celebrate the final day of the 2011 Sydney Carnival in style with activities galore for the little ones including pony rides, a petting zoo, face painters, and even a visit by the Easter bunny!

 We still have some fabulous hospitality and dining options available in the Galaxy Room – Please call Jo Balzen on 9663 8517 to inquire or book.

Sydney Cricket Ground Trust

The SCGT advise that ATC Members have the ability to purchase tickets to the following

St George-Illawarra Dragons v Bulldogs – Sunday 10 April
Sydney Cricket Ground
Gates open: 12.30
Main game commences: 3pm

Asian Champions League – Wednesday 13 April
Sydney FC v Kashima Antlers
Sydney Football Stadium
Gates open: 6.30pm
Game commences: 8pm

Members are required to submit the booking form on the website by midday on the last working day prior to each event.

Peter Pan Winter Clothing Sale

Out Members have always been generous and we hope that you will support this very worthwhile cause.

For nearly 70 years the Peter Pan Committee has been re-cycling new and second-hand clothes, hats, belts, shoes etc. The Winter Sale will be conducted at the Paddington Town Hall, Oxford Street, Paddington from May 25th to May 27th.

Sale times: Wednesday 9.30 am - 5.45 pm, Thursday 9.30 am - 3.00 pm and Friday 9.30 am - 1.00 pm.

All money raised goes to Barnardos Australia helping children and families in need.

If anyone would like to donate some clothes please ring Sue Hardie on 0410 566 458.

So Nearly a Tragedy

In May 2010 the AJC invited racing-history minded people to form a group of volunteers to guard, preserve and record the treasures of the AJC collection of racing memorabilia. The group was named the AJC Heritage Society and it has had a busy time, sidetracked somewhat from its original charter, to prepare and help to prepare three exhibitions in its ten months of existence.

Those tasks now completed, a return to the set program can begin.

Among other duties, the society receives and accepts donations of racing memorabilia from those no longer wishing to keep it.

At Warwick Farm on Chipping Norton Stakes Day a gentleman approached the now ATC and asked if it would be interested in taking some material he had found at a local garage sale. That request was referred to a Heritage Society member who looked at the photos the gentleman showed and readily agreed.

The items were picked up and are now in the possession of the Society. They will need cleaning and re-framing before joining the collection and being catalogued.

What has joined the collection is a framed hand coloured photo-portrait of a young Darby Munro. A hand coloured photo of Munro being presented to the Duke of Gloucester after winning the 1934 Melbourne Cup, a framed dual photo race finish of Carioca’s double of the Villiers/Summer Cup, a framed photo of Sirius winning the Melbourne Cup and a another of the champion 2YO All Love winning the Maribyrnong Plate in 1940 - a virtual treasure trove.

The near tragedy was that the donor had gone to the garage sale late in the day and the items were unsold. He was told that since “nobody wanted them” they were to be “chucked out”. He said he would take them, to avoid that happening, and not being a collector himself, he thought the AJC might like them.

Goosebumps stuff to Heritage Society members as to what might have been! Please, if you are considering disposing of racing material, have a talk to the Heritage Society. It may well be that your trash is our treasure and deserving of preservation.