Dear

Welcome to the June 2007 edition of Members' Mail

Racing in June

Birthday cards are able to be used at all of the meetings listed below.  Don't forget to ring Julie Harris on 9663 8517 in plenty of time to book your birthday luncheon.

Saturday 9 June - June Stakes Day - Royal Randwick

Monday 11 June - Warwick Farm*

Wednesday, 20 June - Warwick Farm

Saturday 23 June - Royal Randwick

Saturday 30 June - Royal Randwick

*  A complimentary coach will leave Randwick at 10.45 am on Monday and return 1/2 hr after the last. If you wish to avail yourself of this service you MUST book by Thursday of this week.

Scone Trip

Fifty five AJC members and their friends enjoyed a two day trip to the Hunter Valley, visiting Woodlands and Arrowfield Studs en route to the Scone Cup.

The  first day was at Woodlands and lunch was hosted by John and Fran Ingham, ably assisted by Bill Winning.  A glorious day for lunch and to look at their stallions.

Welcome rain to the area, on the second day, prevented the stallions being paraded at Arrowfield, however, Redoute's Choice was brought out of his box for the members to have a closer look. 

We are very privileged to be able to access these wonderful studs and the members were very appreciative, and we thank Woodlands and Arrowfield for their continued support of our "tours".

Queensland Winter Carnival

If you are attending the Queensland Turf Club Winter Carnival, and wish to use reciprocal privileges, you pay course admission and then present yourself, together with your AJC Member card and photo id to the raceday office where you will receive one complimentary ticket.  You will be able to purchase a ticket for a guest at the price which is applicable on the day.

Remember though, you must produce your AJC Member card.

Subscriptions - Pay On-Line

By now you will have received your renewal form in the mail.  The number of members who have used our on-line payment system has  been pleasing.  Congratulations to those early birds who won prizes for using this service and paying early.  These members will be notified shortly.

Free Guest Card

Don't forget for every two successful applicants nominated by you in the coming season, 2007-2008 you will receive a complimentary guest card, which will be valid until 30 June 2009.  The value of this card, over the two seasons is $560, so the earlier you do this the more benefit you will receive.

The applicants must pay in the same season for you to qualify for the complimentary guest card.  Applications received after the last intake of the season  which is just before Easter 2008, will be held over until the new season.

Hospitality News

Release of the AJC Spring & Melbourne Cup 2007 Packages.

We are pleased to advise the AJC hospitality packages for 2007 are now available for booking.  Click here to view all dining options from shared dining to private corporate hospitality.

Ensure that you don't miss out by contacting jharris@ajcconventioncentre.com.au

Please note that members will receive two complimentary guest tickets on George Main Stakes Day, so bear this in mind when you are booking your hospitality packages.

Offer to Members

Sydney's Pony Racecourses - An Alternative racing History  - Dr Wayne Peake

'The term "pony racing" is most commonly associated with portrayals of a rough-and-ready, corrupt form of midweek racing that took place at the old Sydney racecourses Kensington, Ascot, Rosebery and Victoria Park in the 1920s and 30s. The modern-day assumption has been that its courses, prize money and contestants were small and that its followers were exclusively 'needy and greedy' members of the working class.

This book analyses beliefs associated with pony racing in Sydney, where it was stronger than anywhere else, and finds many misconceptions and much that has been forgotten. Little known is that: pony racing was one of NSW's biggest industries, prize money for its cup races matched or bettered the Cox Plate and other feature races , some of its racecourses rated second only to Randwick, and for a time it was more popular on Saturdays than AJC-controlled suburban racing. Pony racing followers had a much broader class base than has previously been supposed. For many people pony racing and the four pony racecourses between the city and Botany Bay were an integral part of living in Sydney in the first half of the twentieth century.'

Members may purchase this book at a 25% discount, for $35 including postage, through:

Walla Walla Press
Po Box 717
Petersham NSW 2049.

Please make cheques or money orders payable to 'Australian Sports Consultancy Pty Ltd' and identify yourself as an AJC member to receive the discount.