In addition to celebrating150 years of racing at Randwick this Saturday, as you can see we have a fresh new look Members Mail.

We want to share this milestone occasion of 150 years of racing with you, by offering FREE entry at the gates for your guests and two complimentary Members' Guest tickets, you can even shout them a pie for lunch at the cost of $1.00!  You will be able to collect two complimentary Members' Guest tickets from either the General office or Members' Gate A on Saturday 29 May

If you're among the first 3000 to purchase a special edition commemorative racebook you'll receive a FREE Royal Randwick limited edition cap.

You can even bring a picnic, there is plenty of entertainment for the children which will include

• Petting zoo
• Pony rides
• Interactive inflatable games - The Big Challenge and the Olympic Obstacle
• Face painting clowns
• Balloon sculpting
• Big Screen featuring a series of photographs from the inaugural race day in 1860
• Giant birthday cake
• Vintage cars on display
• NRL Kids’ Clinic – kick the footy with some of the boys and meet the team mascots!

Two of Sydney's most respected cover bands will play in the general admission and Members areas straight after the last race ... so stick around share in the party atmosphere after the races finish!
 

Racing enthusiasts will be on the tips of their toes when champion ex-racehorses including Might and Power, Grand Armee, Saintly and Racing to Win take part in a parade on the day.

The Lower Tea House will be transformed in to a mecca of memorabilia made up of amazing archive material captured in the last 150 years. Displays will include trophies from both Gai Waterhouse and TJ Smith’s collection !

Historic video footage will run live on the big screen throughout the day showcasing some of the most historic moments on track .

Don't miss the chance to witness the 150 year commemorative plaque being placed on the Doncaster Walk to mark the day's events.
 

The Australian Jockey Club is hosting a luncheon in the Committee Dining Room on Saturday 29 May 2010 as part of Gold Week which is an annual week of fundraising that runs from 31 May – 6 June in support of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation

Our award winning Executive Chef George Mullen and his team will present an exquisite five course menu showcasing regional seafood and produce sourced from local growers markets and providores.

The menu consisting of canapés on arrival, a three course luncheon and later in the afternoon an individual tea assiette platter will be served with espresso coffee and teas. The menu will be matched with a selection of quality wines from the Royal
Randwick cellar along with local and imported beers.

During the course of the day there will be; a live auction, raffle prizes, a lucky door prize and entertainment in the form of a tipster, a trainer and a jockey – not forgetting to mention along with some of the best racing in the most spectacular surrounds that Sydney has to offer.

Price: $300 per person which includes five courses, beverages, racecourse admission and Members’ ticketing for non-members

The AJC Committee Dining Room is located on the third floor of the Queen Elizabeth II Stand with sweeping views of the entire Royal Randwick Racecourse that offers an awe inspiring backdrop for the finest of race day dining experiences

To make a booking please contact Julie Harris on 9663 8517 or email jharris@royalrandwick.com

The Gods were smiling on us weatherwise for our trip to Scone.  54 Members and guests came to Scone and shared a lot of laughs, a lot of food, the occasional drink, great racing and the hospitality of two top studs. 

Darley and Arrowfield were incredibly welcoming as usual. Darley opened up their homestead for us to have lunch in and Arrowfield put on a beautiful morning tea. Both studs paraded their magnificent stallions.

As you are probably aware next year is going to be a two day Carnival for the Scone Race Club.  We are putting together some options for the 2011 Members' trip, however, if anyone has any ideas we would be pleased to hear them.  Obviously the cost of the trip will be considerably higher if we incoroporate the two days of racing. Maybe you would you be happy with this year's format which was lunch at a stud, overnight and dinner at Pokolbin, then on the second day another stud visit prior to the Scone Cup, then home.  Please contact Barbara by email if you have any thoughts.

And thanks to those who came, it was a great couple of days.

 

Thursday 13 May 2010

The return of the AJC Members Golf Day was very well received and was greeted by the coldest May morning in four years!

The course at Bonnie Doon was in fantastic condition, the game of the day being an Irish Four Ball Tournament proved to be a challenge for some and a joy for others with all players at the end of the day coming back to the Club House in good spirits.

The Golf Club put out a delicious BBQ Buffet luncheon for the famished players at the end of the round which was complimented with beverages from our sponsors at Lion-Nathan and Schweppes.

The winning team on the day (who won on a count back!) were:

Mark Timmins
Steve Haire
Matt Feary
Shane Hills

The winning teams names will be the first team names engraved on our shiny new perpetual trophy.

The winner of the nearest the pin on the 5th was Phil Sheridan. The prize for this challenge was kindly donated by Jack Colville.

The longest drive was taken out by Phil Reid.

Richard Callander (whose team was beaten on a count back!) gave an entertaining impromptu address that had the room chuckling well into the afternoon.

A special thanks to Jack Colville who got into Jim Mathers' ear about bringing back the AJC Members' Golf Day. Jack and his merry team of players made up a quarter of the players on the day.

We look forward to growing this event and are already in the planning stages for the next round of golf for AJC Members at Bonnie Doon! Watch this space..

 

Membership renewals for the 2010/2011 AJC season will be posted shortly. If you have moved or changed address during the previous season and have NOT advised us of your change of address now is the time to do so.

Change of address information must be received in writing. Please also remember to include your Member ID number on the correspondence.

Email: members@royalrandwick.com
Fax: 02 9663 2754
Post: AJC Membership Department
Locked Bag 3
Randwick NSW 2031

Members are reminded the AJC membership year now runs from 1 August - 31 July.

The Club has received a total of 148 entries for the 150th Anniversary race meeting this Saturday. The Flying Handicap has a healthy 21 Nominations of which 12 have won or been placed at "Black Type" level in their careers to date. The entries include Pinwheel, Centennial Park, Pins On Parade, Posadas, Mount Verde and Love Conquers All which should make for a great race. Once again visiting trainers have supported the race meeting with nominations including Lee Freedman, Mike Moroney and Jason Williams from Victoria, Alan Bailey and Peter Fleming from Queensland and Roger James from New Zealand. In keeping with the theme of the day a number of the race names on Saturday will also replicate the original race names of 29 May 1860 or horses who eventually won on the day.

Following the running of Race 4 there will also be a parade of four of the best racehorses to have graced the Randwick turf in recent years being Might And Power, Saintly, Grand Armee and Racing To Win and we thank their connections for making the horses available for the day.

SLATER was making his race day debut at a recent midweek fixture when he confirmed the worth of his most recent two excellent barrier trial performances.

He motored late to claim the prize with the erratic SOMEDAY SOMEHOW finishing a huge space (officially 5.3 lengths) in front of the third paced horse in a two year old Maiden.

Expect SOMEDAY SOMEHOW to make a mere formality of winning in Maiden class if trainer Gai Waterhouse reproduces her charge in that class but skipping that grade for something richer would not rule SOMEDAY SOMEHOW out of winning calculations in the near future.

SLATER, trained by Chris Waller, according to media reports, is to be spelled. If that is the case, pencil him into Your “Horses To Follow” black book for the future as he can progress as his career unfolds, winning in the best of company throughout preparations ahead.

LUCKY LEAK is a four year old trained at Warwick Farm by Gary Portelli and connections are yet to enjoy success with their Iglesia gelding so far this campaign but it is hoped/anticipated for a change of luck for all concerned in the near future.

First up in late April, he went to pieces in the mounting yard here at Headquarters before enduring too tough a run in transit anyway. Second up, he regained his past good form with a closing finish over 1300m before he stepped back in distance to only 1200m when he drew a wide barrier in his race at Rosehill last Saturday.

On the day, he had no luck in transit but he kept trying with the task impossibly late. Look for him to atone shortly; there is a win in him for sure.
 

JUDGMENT TO BE DELIVERED ON 16 JUNE 2010

Racing NSW has been notified that Justice Perram intends to deliver judgment in the Federal Court proceedings commenced by Betfair and Sportsbet at 10:15am on Wednesday, 16 June 2010.

Should you require more information please contact Mr Peter V’landys, Racing NSW Chief Executive, by phone on (02) 9551 7556.
 

The 27th Breeders' Cup, Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious global event – currently consisting of 14 races held over two days with purses totaling $25.5 million – will be run on Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6, 2010.

As a Member of the Australian Jockey Club you have been invited to participate in the Breeders' Cup "Friends & Family" Ticket Pre-Sale, giving you access to great seats before the general public. Tickets on sale now. Visit www.breederscup.com/buytickets or call (877) TIX4CUP to get your tickets. Be sure to use the promotional code: PROMOBCTIX
 

Denise passed away peacefully last week, after a long illness.  The widow of John Cobcroft, Denise was a vibrant lady with an amazing zest for life. Anybody whose life she touched will be richer for the experience.  Our sympathies go to her family at Parraweena, Willow Tree and in The United Kingdom. Rest in peace Denise.