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Caspar Fownes took home another feature race when Sky Trust resumed his improvement with a dominant performance to win the Class Two Ivy Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday. Fownes’ So You Think galloper returned this campaign with a three-length success on wet going and was slapped with a 10lb rise as a result, but he ran with credit in two subsequent runs before returning to the winners’ enclosure in impressive fashion. One-out and one-back under French jockey Maxime Guyon, the pair...View the full article

That’s before my time. It’s not all bad these days. I’ll bet you couldn’t have a bet on a race from Las Piedras Uruguay or Izmir Turkey back then. 

New Zealand-bred gelding Step Aside (NZ) (Redwood) took his earnings to the brink of half a million dollars with a well-timed finish in Saturday’s A$160,000 Petaluma Handicap (1300m) at Randwick. Originally purchased for just $2,300 on Gavelhouse.com, the Chris Waller-trained son of Redwood has now won six races in his 26-start career, backed up by five second placings and four thirds. The six-year-old has earned A$480,400 for his OTI Racing ownership syndicate. Step Aside is proving to be particularly effective at the 1300m distance. Saturday’s race was his 11th attempt at the trip, over which he has now recorded four wins and three placings. Off the scene since an unplaced finish at Rosehill in July, Step Aside resumed with a fourth over 1300m at Rosehill on December 7. He headed to Randwick on Saturday for his second-up assignment at the same distance, where apprentice jockey Siena Grima’s 3kg claim reduced his weight to 58kg. Step Aside drew the second from outside gate, and Grima took him back and settled fourth from last in the early stages of the race. Grima angled him to the outside in the straight and began to move Step Aside through his gears. He drew up alongside Mafia (Written Tycoon), Alabama State (Alabama Express) and Plundering (Shooting To Win) with 100m to run, and finished over the top of them to win by just under a length. OTI Racing took special satisfaction from the win, which capped a Saturday double for New Zealand-breds carrying their navy blue and gold hooped colours. Wymark (NZ) (Savabeel) had previously taken out the A$130,000 Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap (1800m) at Caulfield Heath. “Step Aside continues his ultra-consistent form and makes it a state-to-state double for the OTI colours,” the prominent syndicator said on Facebook. “Step Aside is a tough, reliable performer who keeps delivering when it counts. Congratulations to all connections on another terrific result.” By Redwood out of the winning Roc de Cambes mare Teena Rox (NZ), Step Aside was bought by Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning for $2,300 on Gavelhouse.com in March of 2021. Step Aside won an 800m trial on the Cambridge synthetic track in October of 2022 before his sale to OTI. View the full article

My answer to the question is YES.

Used to like oncourse exchange trebles / doubles. Always at Addington after a close finish…. pop down to view photo finish pic beside old main stand.    Only went to races couple of times for Jackpots, the buzz around course was amazing, not sure of they were exchange as well? No doubt somebody will have some good stories about them, anyone get one up? 

Also with the Fillies!  amongst them 4 Oaks!  

He certainly had a good record with the cups, Sea Swift, Samasam,soundaration, think Mercator won as well, not to mention his record with jumpers ampac winning a grand national, decoy lad, Woodbine Blue Chip, be plenty more I cant remember not doubt

When music wasnt in the cloud....but i dont miss my CD or tape collection.

Many of the so called advances in technology are not necessarily for the best. Xmas was all about racing. The Auckland Star 4-page broadsheet lift out for Boxing Day races at Ellerslie. The trip to the TAB to put your bets on The infield at Ellerslie with all the Xmas day left overs and a few BYO so you weren't robbed blind The 4 day carnival at Ellerslie, with the best betting day, by far the last day All gone