I received a call late yesterday afternoon from a HK-based friend - G Shepherd - who informed me she had decided to nominate this website for the Sport 927 Internet awards that AAP Racing & Sports had thrown a link to on their website.

"That's very kind of you - many thanks" I said (as one should in such situations).

"No, there's a problem," she said "I submitted the entry outlining a web site I liked in each of the categories. When I checked to see it had been posted they had printed the post and the other websites - but deleted the reference to Athlone."

Interesting; perhaps more so considering I had received another email over the weekend from someone in Australia noting that they had also nominated the site but their post hadn't even appeared on the AAP site.

The issue raises the rather intriguing question of 'free press' -and also the integrity of the awards in question. Given the original AAP post invites the general public for nominations I can only wonder what other sites have fallen prey to AAP's "self censorship" policy.

I guess we'll never know.

The much anticipated Stallions annual arrived on my desk the other day and is its usual high standard and a welcome addition to the bookshelf.

Once the pedigrees have been pored over it's also (from a marketing perspective anyway) worthwhile looking at how each stallion is presented.

It was a photo on one of the looseleaf inserts that really caught my attention. You would have thought the stallion in question was turning up for 'best in show' rather than a Stallions photo shoot! He is immaculately turned out.

All credit must go to the stud that stands him - Baerami Thoroughbreds.



Other photos of note:

"Most unusual use of Photoshop": Aristotle, Dante's Fury, Tuscanos

"Most artistic photograph": Tough Speed

"Best lawn award": This has to (as usual) be shared between quite a few well manicured establishments that include Arrowfield, Coolmore [some lawns not quite as green as others however], Chatswood, Collingrove, Woodlands, Glenlogan, Emirates Park, Blue Gum Farm, Baerami, Vinery, Plaintree Farms and Newhaven Park.

"Most unusual back-drop": this was a tricky one given the number of photos that included at least one of the following - a house, half a pagoda, stone wall, a very vibrant stable wall etc. The eventual winner was the walking machine that Investor's Dream is positioned in front of.

Light hearted jokes aside the 2005 edition is fabulous and easily carries the title of the leading Sires Annual in Australia.

Niki Sweetnam contacted me today to let me know that she has left her position as executive for European and South American markets with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing to take up a post as Marketing Manager with the Aga Khan Studs.

Niki goes on to say: "Not one to do things by halves, I have also moved to France and am now based in Aiglemont!"

I've just finished reading Stephen Clarke's highly amusing novel A Year in the Merde so apart from congratulations to Niki on her new role I would be quick to follow that up with a suggestion that to really fit in in the country she now calls home she needs to rapidly master the art of 'the shrug' (The French will understand!).

I like Vin Cox. He's a popular and accomplished bloodstock agent and much of his success (apart from being able to spot a decent horse) may have to do with the fact that he calls a spade and spade - and if a horse isn't up to scratch he won't waste everyone's time writing 3-pages of flowery adjectives convincing you otherwise.

His summary of the recent "select" Inglis weanling sale and Sires Produce yearling sale followed the same honest - and, as such, appreciated - line.

The following is direct from his website:

2005 Australian Select Weanling Sale

Both average and gross were down significantly at this sale compared to last year, a reflection on the overall lack of quality. The nicer horses sold accordingly, but they were few and far between. A 90% clearance rate was perhaps assisted by the number of weanlings sold under foal share arrangements, many of which failed to make anything close to their service fee.

2005 Inglis Sires' Produce Yearling Sale

Again, a drop in average and gross on last year, with far too many backward and poorly conformed yearlings offering scant appeal to buyers.

There have been a few murmurings of discontent over Lee Freedman's "purchase" of the $2.2 million colt (OVERLORD) at last year's Easter sale. The vendor was Coolmore (as agent) and the ultimate buyer was also Coolmore. Unfortunately by the time that fact had been aired the publicity machine had well and truly run its course and the "frequent flyer PR miles" for various stallions/individuals had already been racked up.

'Big deal' some would say.

At the risk of sounding naive I have to state that these practices have serious repercussions for our Industry.

Many immediately lay the blame at the foot of marketing and in many ways I accept that marketing DOES have to absorb some of the blame as today's competitive environment (and budgets) mean that all manner of "just legal" practices are indulged in to maximize the profile of a client.

But I am seeing an increasing amount of abuse of marketing practices and frankly the Industry needs to wake up to itself.

One example is the (seemingly) shameless over-hyping of first season sires. Expensive "buy backs" of first crop weanlings/yearlings are part and parcel of the industry but SHOULD be disclosed as such. Allowing the media to flirt with the secrecy and post all number of "hypotheticals" to stir the interest of the general public when there is inadequate disclosure plays to the benefit of only one group - and it isn't the consumer.

The thoroughbred industry has so far managed to dodge many of the standard principles of corporate and competition law that regulate other industries and assist in keeping them 'clean' (or the matter of front page headlines that usually have 'scandal' in the same sentence when they do cross the line.)

In corporate circles the practice of artificial inflation of stock in a company is illegal. I would refer you to the case of Rodney Adler, former director of HIH and One.Tel recently sentenced to four-and-a-half years gaol for crimes involving false and misleading information, some of which may have induced others to buy HIH shares. A Labor spokesman was quoted at the time of sentencing as saying:

"The community has very high expectations of corporate officers and given the failure of Mr Adler in his duties, a custodial sentence was clearly warranted. There is no place in our society for [this] type of activity."

Indeed.

Conflict of interest is another major issue for modern-day corporations. So much as hint of a 'deal' and you're out the door, your credibility with it.

Despite the 'toothless tiger' a.k.a the recently introduced code of ethics, the thoroughbred industry still largely enjoys a carte blanche when it comes to non-disclosure - and for those that think the practice is concentrated at a particular end of the market - think again.

There are all number of weanling/yearling/2yo/tried race horse/stallion/broodmare buy-backs that can be easily traced with a bit of research and a few hours spare time. And with current regulations (or lack thereof) there is absolutely nothing stopping someone from partaking in the practice. The result however is that it becomes almost impossible to distinguish what is real money from what is 'PR-enabled'. Such practices stifle competition, empower the more financial players and create a tension between hype and a market unable to sustain 'dot com' prices. This ultimately results in a major pricing readjustment (and a number of smaller players being burned in the process) as well as a more fundamental credibility issue for the industry - particularly from potential clients that we (ironically) are spending so many thousands of dollars attempting to entice to the 'ownership circle' in the first place.

Corporations and competition law 101 ...there's a lot to be said for the basics.

Spotted in the upcoming MM sale is a Grand Lodge filly out of an Unbridled mare. The same filly was apparently "sold" at Easter for $35,000 - Inglis (as agent) listed as the purchaser.

Now either the purchaser failed to pay (and having dealt with Inglis' credit controls in the past when they have acted as agent for me I find this somewhat hard to believe -accepting that nothing is, of course, impossible) or it's a tad misleading.

I'll leave it up to you.

Today's Breeding & Racing's Daily News carried the following story:

Queensland Racehorse Owners Association president Wayne Milner announced a campaign to "lift the profile of Queensland race horse owners & encourage more people into the industry". Milner said the QROA has agreed to add $500 to the winner's cheque on select Queensland country races: "We are looking at establishing bonus races at Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Beaudesert, Dalby, Gatton & Nanango plus other country tracks. The bonus will be on 1 race at each race club & would be paid if the winning owners of the bonus race were members of the Association. Our representatives will attend the race meeting when the bonus race is on; new members can join on the day to be eligible & we will have a hospitality tent available to introduce people to the pleasures & excitement of owning a race horse." The 1st bonus race will be run at Beaudesert on June 11 in conjunction with the club's Cup Day; it will be the 1400m maiden.

A charity auction and dinner to raise money in support of the Lane family will be conducted at the Magic Millions Sales Complex on Sunday night, 12th June 2005 from 7.30pm.

Paula Lane, 30-year-old track-work rider died on Tuesday 24th May, in a Brisbane hospital from massive injuries received in a fall at Roma in Queensland's south-west. Paula is survived by her husband leading country jockey Tony Lane and their three children - Andrew, Aaron and Kaitlyn, all aged under 10. Tony Lane is currently recovering from a broken neck suffered in a fall at Toowoomba on New Year's Day.

Magic Millions will be supporting Tony & Terri Pattillo (Organisers Paula Lane event & Lane family friends) and Queensland Racing, to host an auction and also conduct a fundraising dinner, at the Magic Millions Sales Complex, at the close of session one of the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

Donations are being welcomed for the charity auction, and tickets can be purchased pre-event (see the details below).

Where: Magic Millions Sales Complex, 28 Ascot Court, Bundall QLD 4217 (off Racecourse Drive, opp GCTC)

When: 7.30pm, Sunday 12th June 2005

Ticket Cost: $88/head (inc. GST) Gourmet Buffet Dinner and Beverages

For Donations (Auction & Other) & Tickets for the Event please contact:

Donations & Tickets: Tony & Terri Pattillo, Organisers Paula Lane Event PH 07 - 5563 2274 (Tony) MOB 0418 797 133 (Terri) MOB 0407 592 885

Donations & Tickets: Ray See, Queensland Racing 07 - 3869-9761 MOB 0409 092 389

Donations & Tickets: Ross McKeown, Magic Millions 07 - 5538 8933 MOB 0404 490 726

Donations: Greg Irvine MOB 0408 280 979

Source: Magic Millions media release.

The Microsoft of search engines - Google - are at it again - this time allowing you to search virtually every book in the global marketplace (Amazon provide a quasi-similar service but these days you also have to negotiate with everything else they are selling).

Google Print is the new search facility. I typed in 'Thoroughbred champion' to see what came up - the few hundred resultant hits appearing on my desktop in just 0.06 seconds. Once you start narrowing your search terms you can really start having some fun.

If you're a researcher this service should keep you entertained for hours.

Vengeance of Rain logged win number four on the board at Shatin this afternoon when he secured victory in the G1 Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup, prompting trainer David Ferraris to claim that the horse was a 'serious contender for the Horse of the Year title'. The race was run in a time of 2.01.80 (2000m) with Vengeance of Rain's earnings now eclipsing HK$22 million.

Vengeance Of Rain won the G1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup last month as well as the G1 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby in March.

Meanwhile in Japan, race favorite Deep Impact won the 72nd Japanese Derby in front of more than 100,000 fans, extending his undefeated streak to five since his debut just five months ago.

The winning margin was five lengths and the time was 2:23.3 (2,400m) which matched the record set by King Kamehameha in last year's Japanese Derby.

It's not a bad claim to fame but it certainly gets your attention: The Jockey Club can locate any thoroughbred horse and owner in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

STOCK

Company Type: Private

KEY NUMBERS

Sales For Year 2005

Sales US$22.7 million

Employees 250

SUBSIDIARIES/DIVISIONS/AFFILIATES

Equibase Company LLC

INDUSTRY

Media

Publishing

Directories & Yellow Pages Publishers

URL

http://www.jockeyclub.com

Source: Hoovers online

UPDATE 5/6/05

From Sydney Morning Herald 4/4/05:

The property has now sold for an undisclosed price after being passed in at $2.75 million through Meares & Associates and Christie's Great Estates.

"Designed by the Newcastle Federation-era architect Frederick Menkens, the 1898 seven-bedroom, sandstone mansion stands on a 750sqm footprint on the 190-hectare Denman holding. Everett, head of the women's lingerie firm UnderCoverWear, secured the property in the 1990s from Neil and Pam Burling for $865,000. The property dates from a land grant taken up in 1825 by Captain John Pike when he and a fellow explorer, Archibald Bell, reached Denman via what was later named the Bells Line of Road. Pike sold to his explorer friend in 1859 and the Bell family held the property until the late 1970s".

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In Property News this week, Pickering, the 190 hectare property in the NSW Hunter Valley used for thoroughbred horse-breeding and cattle grazing was passed in at auction for $2.75 million. A price between $2.5 million and $3 million had been expected. The property includes a 1898 mansion with seven bedrooms. Current owners are John and Sonya Everett.

Source: Australian Financial Review

In Queensland yesterday Lloyd Williams and Graeme Rogerson celebrated victory with Victorian stayer Perlin in the G1 Doomben Cup (2200m), the gelding with the tender feet and tendon injuries that forced a lengthy break from the racing scene beating Platinum Scissors and Natural Blitz to the line.

Meanwhile the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that a 7-year-old thoroughbred by the name of Sabertooth set a world record at Emerald Downs last Sunday after more than 2 years break and a range of injuries during his career that included stiffness and soreness in the hips, hindquarters and chest as well as ankle surgery (of note - he has also broken one handler's ankle, and the shoulder of another).

The journalist likened the record-setter to "a 40- to 50-year-old athlete setting a world record in something else, say the 100-meter dash."

The 61/2-furlong record of 1:131/5 stood for 10 years, set at Hollywood Park by Lucky Forever ("apparently not" quips the writer).

ANOTHER UPDATE 7 June 2005. An email just in from Terry Spargo in Dubai who says that Peter Berry is a third Aussie race caller in the States. Thanks Terry!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

UPDATE 6 June 2005. Many thanks to David Raphael in Hong Kong who emailed this evening to say that there are actually 2 Australian race callers in America: Michael Wrona (who started in Qld), and Rob Gellar who, having started his career calling picnic races, worked in Hong Kong prior to his current role in the US.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Australia has a fine tradition of producing good race callers; the evidence the sheer number of them who now work at the highest level overseas. Terry Spargo calls in Dubai, Murray Johnson in Japan, David Raphael in Hong Kong, Jim McGrath in the UK and now Brett Davis in Singapore (there is also someone in North America whose name escapes me).

Singapore Press ran a short story on Brett yesterday, the headline "From junior golfer to plumber to Kranji race-caller."

The South Australian reportedly has more than 10 years of experience in race broadcasting - 7 1/2 years in Adelaide and three years in Tasmania; his biggest race call to date in thoroughbred racing has been the G3 Hobart Derby.

Thoroughbred trainer Bob Baffert when speaking to college students at the recent Los Angeles Times Jim Murray Sports Journalism Workshop at Hollywood Park, pointed out one advantage of working with horses.

"They don't talk, thank God," Baffert said.

Just over a month ago we wrote a post titled White Gold that mentioned some rare coloured thoroughbreds that reside in various parts of the world.

Yesterday's Winnipeg Free Press reports that a two-year-old white thoroughbred is currently in training in California.

"The horse, named All Glory to God, is just the 30th white thoroughbred ever registered with the American Jockey Club, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association reported this week.

"The American Jockey Club has been registering thoroughbreds since 1894 but didn't record its first white one until 1963 when a filly named White Beauty was born in Kentucky.

"The owners of All Glory To God say they intend to race him, which would put the horse in an even more exclusive club. The NTRA reports only a "handful" of the 30 white thoroughbreds ever registered actually raced."

The colt was privately purchased.

In an article titled Technology Can Benefit Racing, Anil Mukhi writing for The Hindu looks at the Asian Racing Conference from the Indian - and IT perspective. [Some would say that there's an inherent irony in this article given India's reputation for both IT expertise and outsourcing].

"From the Indian perspective, the chief lesson to be learnt from the first business session of the 30th Asian Racing Conference is that technology can be productively harnessed to increase wagering on horse racing. The commission earned by turf clubs from this is the life-blood of racing, and hence higher revenues could mean the difference between clubs sinking or swimming."

The article proceeds to examine the need for people overseeing betting to capitalise on technological advances that are used by the general population to meet the 'immediacy/convenience' factor that play a large part in the growing use of hand-held technological devices (such as PDAs and mobile phones). If betting can tap into this technology then patrons are able to get their money on more easily - and all things being equal - this should increase the betting pool.

Australian TABCORP is mentioned as is Hong Kong Jockey Club.

The Herald Sun reported last week that the Australian Racing Museum at Federation Square will be hoping to rely on a Royal visit to boost both awareness of the facility and also attendance in a bid to stem current financial losses of $1.5 million.

There are a few marketing initiatives in the planning stages including:

- A visit by the Queen (museum patron) together with former jockey (and patron of the associated Hall of Fame) Scobie Breasley.

- an international exhibition of racing photographs to be imported from France.

- A major exhibition to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Phar Lap's Melbourne Cup win.

The finalists for the 2005 Marketing Sherpa blogging awards were also announced yesterday. In judging this year's winners Marketing Sherpa judges will be on the look out for a blog that best meets the following criteria:

#1. Personality:
Is there a clear personality? Do you feel like you know the writer(s)? Is there a feeling of intimacy that may be missing from mainstream media?

#2. Usefulness:
Is the information either darned useful or very enjoyable to read? Did it make you think, or laugh, or click? Are there handy links to other places?

#3. Writing style:
Is it a sales pitch badly disguised as a Blog? Is it a long-winded column instead of a quick Blog? Is it just news briefs without analysis or insight?

#4. Usability & design:
Is the typeface easy to read? Can you find links to archives? Is the writing concise and skimmable? Are graphics useful?

#5. Would you revisit?:
Is it useful or engaging enough for you to visit it again someday? Or will you forget it the minute after you leave it?

In America:

Kentucky Derby News: The Unofficial weblog for Kentucky Derby news

Betting on Preakness Stakes (last post 21 May 2005)

Thoroughbred Racing and other opinions (last updated April 22)

Online Horse Bets (last updated April 19)

In Japan there is the detailed racing blog called Darkhorse Runs. The site was launched in January 2005 and is updated regularly but you will, however, need to be fluent in Japanese to read it!


In Australia, entries are closing shortly for the SPORT 927 RACING CENTRAL THOROUGHBRED INTERNET AWARDS.

Jack Calder has nominated Qld boutique agistment property Massie Lodge for the Best Stud/Breeding Related site and reports:

"I have got to nominate a site on the internet that, while not a huge concern like the Darley's, Vinery etc., it offers something for all the people who are not in that budget range. I think what I like most about this site is that there is a news section and in the news section is a link to a blog entitled "The life and times of Massie Lodge" - makes for fascinating reading about the day to day running of a small boutique property and the author seems to like to add her views about the world here and there. Certainly a very refreshing site and we have got to known the people who run Massie Lodge through the site and the blog! Certainly makes a welcome change to see the smaller guys out there and giving it a go."

Whilst Sydney looks to adopt increased starter's rebates to boost ownership, size of race fields and wagering generally, New Jersey has an even bigger problem - just keeping the Industry alive.

Jane Meggitt writing for The Examiner reports that "Breeders call thoroughbred racing a dying sport ... breeding having declined precipitously since its heyday in the 1960s and '70s."

Local thoroughbred breeders are therefore crossing their fingers that increased purses and breeder incentive programs will help revive their sport.

'Giving face' is an essential part of doing business in China. The concept of face has a lot to do with personal dignity, appropriate respect etc. Chinese people are acutely sensitive about gaining and maintaining face in all aspects of social and business life and if you were to cause someone to lose face then you could just as easily ruin a business prospect or even invite recrimination.

So, how do you cause someone to lose face? The easiest way is to insult someone or criticize them in front of others (and something to note - Australian-humour works well at home but it can unintentionally cause all manner of offence in this part of the world.)

What has this got to do with horses? Well, I confess I grinned when I read a Daily Telegraph article titled "Clubs ready to reward stragglers". The article goes on to say:

Sydney race clubs are about to pioneer a new prizemoney payment system that could provide financial rewards to owners of racehorses that finish as far back as 10th in a race.

The brainchild of Sydney Turf Club chief executive Michael Kenny, the proposal stipulates horses that finish between sixth and 10th in a race still earn a base payment of around $500.

This is effectively a "starter's bonus" and helps offset owners costs. It should also serve as a further incentive to compete, thus boosting race field sizes which ultimately should help drive increases in wagering turnover."

It's a fabulous marketing initiative for the Southern State - and what a superb way of also giving those ... err... 'less fast' runners the necessary 'face' at the same time!

The full article is at the following URL.

2-time G1 winner Fastnet Rock arrived in the UK today "quite the traveler" according to Dutch pilot Dick Van't Hof, who captained the Martinair flight on its final leg from Dubai to London Stansted (a Northern part of London).

The winner of $1.725m to date, the son of Danehill flew non-stop (except for the refueling stops) to the UK but the captain said he was the perfect passenger.

"He was a lovely horse, not as restless as many others I've seen. He even nodded off to sleep once in awhile! Perhaps flying was a little boring for him!"

This will be reassuring news for trainer Paul Perry who was quoted in The Australian earlier this week saying: "The big thing with why Choisir did so well was he was such a great traveler. That can make all the difference to a campaign when you're looking at something so far away. But this horse (Fastnet Rock) is the same type - laid-back, unfazed and he's never been a problem to travel."

The flight arrived on schedule in the UK (7 am London time), the captain confirming that Fastnet Rock (the only horse on the flight) "was offloaded within 15 minutes of parking." 3 grooms travelled with the horse.

Fastnet Rock will start in the King's Stand Stakes (1000m) on June 14 (the opening day of Royal Ascot, to be staged this year at York). All things going to plan he will back up four days later in the $650,000 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m).

Meanwhile he has joined Elvstroem at the Newmarket stables of Geoff Wragg, where Perry stabled Choisir 2 years ago.

Alas Seabiscuit didn't make it into the Time All Time Top 100 Movies list (he was beaten to the post by a tropical fish [Nemo] and ET). There are however some lovely original photographs of Seabiscuit on the Times site.

A few of you appear to have been enjoying 'Hackneyed Bingo' today.

A UK reader contacted me to say they claimed 'bingo' after reading the first local news alert for the day; another reader said they scored bingo reading this blog (brilliant! Thanks!!).

Anyway, here are a few more 'hackneyed expressions' that I picked up from a variety of daily posts today:

Boom stallion
Cracking colt
Promises to be the highlight
Smart miler

... have fun!

The following is a summary of the 'Weblogs' entry in the very comprehensive Wikipedia entry on the subject.

Key points of note:

- Blogs run from individual diaries to arms of political campaigns, media programs and corporations, and from the writing of one occasional author to the collaboration of a large community of writers.

- The totality of weblogs or blog-related websites is often called the blogosphere.

- The format of weblogs varies, from simple bullet lists of hyperlinks, to article summaries with user-provided comments and ratings. Individual weblog entries are almost always date and time-stamped, with the newest post at the top of the page, and reader comments often appearing below it.

- Because links are so important to weblogs, most blogs have a way of archiving older entries and generating a static address for individual entries; this static link is referred to as a permalink. The latest headlines, with hyperlinks and summaries, are offered in weblogs in the RSS ('Really Simple Syndication') or Atom XML format, to be read with a feed reader (see for example Feed Demon).

- Justin Hall, who began eleven years of personal blogging in 1994 while a student at Swarthmore College, is generally recognized as one of the earliest bloggers.

- The term "weblog" was coined by Jorn Barger in December 1997. The shorter version, "blog," was coined by Peter Merholz in April or May of 1999. As of March 2003, the Oxford English Dictionary included the terms weblog, weblogging and weblogger in their dictionary.

- Rising influence. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, many blogs which supported the U.S. "War On Terrorism" quickly gained readership among a public searching for information to understand that event; many new blogs in the same genre sprang up in this environment.

- The first blog-driven controversy was probably the fall of Trent Lott, who had remarked, at a party honoring Strom Thurmond, that Thurmond's leadership abilities may have made him a good president.

- By this point blogging was enough of a phenomenon that how-to manuals had begun to appear, primarily focusing on using the tools, or creating content.

- Since 2003, weblogs have gained increasing notice and coverage for their role in breaking, shaping or spinning news stories.

- The blogs which gathered news on Iraq, both left and right, exploded in popularity, and Forbes magazine covered the phenomenon. The use of blogs by established politicians and political candidates-particularly Howard Dean and Wesley Clark-to express opinions on the war and other issues of the day, cemented their role as a news source. Meanwhile, the increasing number of experts who blogged, such as Daniel Drezner and J. Bradford DeLong, gave blogs a built-in source of in-depth analysis.

- In 2004, the role of blogs became increasingly mainstream, as political consultants, news services and candidates began using them as tools for outreach and opinion formation.

- In January 2005, Fortune magazine listed Peter Rojas, Xeni Jardin, Ben Trott and Mena Trott, Jonathan Schwartz, Jason Goldman, Robert Scoble, and Jason Calacanis as eight bloggers that business people "could not ignore."

- With the rise in popularity of blogs in 2004 senior management caught on to the trend and by January 2005 several types of organizations, including universities, had started using blogs to communicate with their stakeholders. Many believe this corporate takeover of a tool that was used primarily by Internet enthusiasts will lead to a decrease in the popularity of the medium. Others believe that the use of blogs by organizations will add new voices and vitality to the medium. At any rate, there is little evidence that the growth rate of the blogosphere has slowed.

- One of the running discussions within journalism and blogging is what "blogging" means for the way news "happens" and is covered. This leads to questions over intellectual property and the role of the mass media in society. Many bloggers differentiate themselves from the mainstream media, while others are members of that media working through a different channel.

Some of the mainstream press have taken quite an interest in the phenomenon - see The Guardian's site as one example.

An article by Wil Reynolds in this month's MarketingProfs.com will appeal to those readers who harbour some paranoia about customer opinion.

Titled "Listen Up: Your Customers Are Talking About You Online", the article starts by revealing the results of a recent survey that show 26% of adult users of the Internet (about 33 million people) in the US alone have rated a product, service or person using an online rating system.

"Simply said, people are talking online, and they are likely talking about your company or its products and services, especially if you are selling direct to consumers. Online reviewers absolutely realize that the reach and impact of their sentiment about your company is greatest on the Web, especially compared with all other communications means (mail, email, phone, fax, face to face, etc.)"

The article also analyses the growing power of blogs and also forums in harnessing public opinion:

"Do not neglect the importance of blogs and how they affect the way your brand, products and services are perceived. Often these blogs become little fiefdoms with large followings and tremendous influence; they become trusted sources of information to their audiences, which will often revisit these blogs to stay on top of their recommendations and reviews [...]

"The same methods used for staying on top of blogs can be used to help you do the same with forum postings. Usually, forums allow anyone to post, so that sense of an individual's authority on a topic is lessened."

If you want to know what others are saying about you then the full article is well worth glancing at.

In terms of blogs, I have previously mentioned the few that canvass the thoroughbred industry.

Re. forums - there are a large number to choose from. A couple to consider are as follows (note that the quality of comment varies quite markedly between them):

Thoroughbred Champions
Thoroughbred Village
The New Horse Racing Community Forum (MSN Members only)
AAP Racing & Sports
Asian Racing Forum
Lord Lodge Forum
The Racing Forum(UK)
Final Furlong Racing (UK)

Here's an interesting statistic for you - of the 25,000 commonly used words in the English language, 93% have been registered as domain names.

If you don't have a web URL (domain name) and are now feeling as if you will be forced to register a name that no-one will be able to spell or pronounce, take heart from Dr Nunley's recent marketing column that suggests the following solutions:

- find a short name that describes what you do. If that is already registered, stick an "i" or "z" on the front

- Memorable nonsense words can also work (Kevin notes that these kinds of names do require significant investment in advertising costs however to establish in potential prospect's minds)

- apparently we tend to remember colors and food

- A URL of a useful site is provided: NameBoy which assists in finding new domain names that people can remember and spell correctly. The site also lists expired and soon-to-be-expired domain names.

The blog tutorial continues ... this time the different categories of weblogs that you may stumble across.

- Personal : online diary or journal
- Thoughtful : an individual's (or a small group's) thoughts on whatever subject comes to hand; many blur into personal weblogs on one side and topical or political ones on the other, but are distinct enough to constitute a category of their own
- FriendBlog : a distributed networked journal on the web, composed of short, frequently updated posts written by friends connected through their similar interests
- Topical : focus on a specific niche, often a technical one
- News : news digest on a certain topic with short abstracts/summaries and links to interesting articles in the press
- Collaborative [also collective or group]: written by more than one person about a specific topic. Collaborative weblogs can be open to everyone or limited to a group of people
- Political : Often an individual will link to articles from news web sites and post their own comments as well. One subspecies is the watch blog, a blog which sets out to criticize what the author considers systematic errors or bias in an online newspaper or news site-or perhaps even by a more popular blogger
- Legal : Blogs that discuss law and legal affairs are often referred to as blawgs
- Directory : useful for web-surfers because they often collect numerous web sites with interesting content in an easy to use and constantly updated format
- Media : media watchdogs, reporting on falsehoods or inconsistencies that are presented as facts in the mass media
- Corporate : employees of corporations who post official or semi-official blogs about their work. There have been some high profile terminations of employees who breach established guidelines re corporate confidentiality, defamation,
trade secrets etc
- Advice
- Religious
- Formats : particular forms of presentation, such as images or videos
- Audio : a type of blog that has undergone rapid expansion since the year 2000 is the MP3 blog, which make audio files available to the user; personal audioblogs are also on the rise and these are known as podcasts
- Photography
- Video : also known as videoblogging

Source: Wikipedia

In a world obsessed by platinum credit cards and the perks that accompany elite memberships, it wasn't that surprising to see Stallions.com.au fall in line with the trend. Some years ago they introduced a premium listing on their well visited website that offers an enhanced service to people promoting their stallions.

Premium Stallion adds extra features to the standard website listing.

Included with the yearly fee are the following benefits:

- Statistical updates. Keeping track of a stallion's progeny world wide and updating each listing to reflect latest developments.

- Hypothetical Matings. These have apparently been a huge success.

- News updates. Updated weekly.

- Foal photos. Accompanied by a brief description.

A few weeks ago the Stallions.com.au site listed the upgrade (from the general directory listing) as $1,056 p.a.

You'll need to check with them to see if that figure is still valid.

The Virtual Formguide ran an interesting article last weekend that would appeal to both breeding fanatics and also those who simply appreciate seeing something a little different in print.

Titled "Zerpour Scores First Winner at Mornington" the article discussed a stallion (Zerpour) who was represented by his first winner - 3yo Zebird - on Sunday.

Quoting from the article:

"Zerpour is from the four time winning Beldale Flutter mare Zerzaya, thus making him a half brother to European stakes winners Zabadi and Zafzala.

"His family also includes other "Z" stakes winners Zayyani, Zarannda, Zarkiya, Zainta, Zaydiya, Zarewitsch, Zafadola and Zelanda."

Some of you may remember an article written by John Hutchinson for Stallions Daily Bulletin some months back that discussed the same "Z-related" family courtesy of a bay colt being offered for sale as lot 415 at this year's Classic Yearling Sale. By Shinko Forest out of Zallaka (who, in turn, is out of Zahra), that colt happened to receive a mention because of his pedigree page and it's heavy sprinkling of black type "Z-names" that had sparked the interest of John's daughter when she looked through the catalogue.

Unusual features in any story will always attract the press. It's worth keeping in mind.

(and now I have to convince the spell checker that I do actually know how to spell ... it's going to hate this post!!)

There's a skill to writing an eye-catching headline.

RaceNet get my vote for their 22 May 2005 headline "Preakness favourite draws the carpark" (referring to the barrier draw of G1 Preakness Stakes favorite Afleet Alex and G1 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo who drew 12th and 13th, respectively, during the post-position draw last Wednesday at the ESPN Zone in Baltimore)

At the recent Inglis Scone Yearling Sale, 160 lots sold for $2,068,300 (down 19.6% on the 169 that sold in 2004 for $2,574,000).

The $12,927 average was down 14.9% ($15,200 in 2004)

The median dropped 27% from $12,000 to $8,750.

I thought today's headline in Breeding & Racing's Daily News "Easy Rocking Hot 1st Season Sire" was bending the truth slightly.

Yes, the Wattle Brae stallion has had a few 2yo winners of late and that's great news for the stud and investors. I am not entirely convinced however that a few winners at Kembla Grange, Doomben, Toowoomba, the Gold Coast, Ipswich and Korea should launch the headline of "hot first season sire" when one considers that to the 18th May Easy Rocking was 35th on the Australian 2yo sires chart with other freshmen sires More than Ready, Iglesia, Over, Testa Rossa, Fusaichi Pegasus, and Singspiel well ahead of him.

Do you keep falling asleep as you read the latest press release and media story? Play HACKNEYED BINGO - it's free!

How to play: simply tick off 5 hackneyed words/phrases whilst reading one press release/article and shout out "BINGO"!



Listen to what other players say about HACKNEYED BINGO:

"I was only halfway through the first paragraph when I shouted HACKNEYED BINGO!" Mr T, former editor WNY

"My attention span when reading Industry magazines has improved dramatically since playing HACKNEYED BINGO" Ms INP, Sydney

"Reading copy will never be the same for me after my first outright win" Mr G, Ireland.

"Somehow the media releases suddenly have purpose and meaning" Mr NLZ, New Zealand

"I've finally found a cure for insomnia after playing HACKNEYED BINGO. Thank you!!!!" Ms DPR, Melbourne.

(And before an irate press office sends me a blistering response please note that this is entirely tongue-in-cheek and applies as much to my writing as everyone else's!)

Anyway who follows the international racing circuit will know of Godolphin and the man at the helm of the Dubai headquarters - Sheikh Mohammed; a man who some years ago favoured a mighty thoroughbred with the distinctive name of Dubai Millennium.

Only special horses get to carry the name 'Dubai' - one of the seven emirates in the United Arab emirates; Dubai Millennium lived up to every expectation. The dominant winner of 9 races in 10 outings and US$4.47m in earnings (that included a resounding victory in the Dubai World Cup) was not, however, meant for an extended period in this life having retired in August 2000 after sustaining a shock lateral condylar fracture of his right hind leg on the Newmarket gallops (less than 24 hours after Mohammed had challenged rival owner Michael Tabor to a $12m winner-takes-all challenge between Dubai Millennium and Tabor's Montjeu) then dying in his first season at stud - a victim of grass sickness.

Last Saturday his son Dubawi - who finished his maiden season unbeaten by winning at the Curragh in the Group 1 National Stakes- kept the dream alive when he won the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

As Sue Montgomery of The Independent states: "It is the burning passion of Sheikh Mohammed that one of his brilliant, ill-fated superstar's limited-edition sole crop should prove himself a champion. One Classic is in the bag; now the road to Epsom, and the greatest glory, lies open."

Dubawi's jockey Frankie Dettori gloated "Great horses make it look easy, and he is a great horse. He showed what he is capable of today."

Dubawi is the ninth of Dubai Millennium's 56 offspring to be born and laid claim to being his first winner when he won at Goodwood on his debut. He was also his sire's first Group One winner, when he took the National Stakes in September on yesterday's track, and is now his first Classic winner.

Dubawi is now being prepped for the Derby - the race that, ironically, was Dubai Millennium's sole defeat.

News late last week that the Sunshine Coast will play host to Coolmore's $2.2 million Danehill-Prawn Cocktail colt ("Overlord") purchased by Lee Freedman at last year’s Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Overlord will start in a maiden race this coming Friday - small comfort perhaps to those owners who chose Queensland to escape such capitalist competition!

Meanwhile another 'expensive' horse was out and about last weekend - this time it was Zabeel's three-year-old half brother "Break The Vault" who won his maiden race at Kembla Grange meeting on Saturday.

Break The Vault is by Redoute's Choice ex Lady Giselle who died at Arrowfield Stud last year at the age of 21 following complications during foaling.

Lady Giselle produced 14 foals two of whom, Zabeel and Baryshnikov, went on to win the Australian Guineas before going to stud.

Forgiving the headline that relies on the recent release of the 6th instalment of the Star Wars series, Craig Young's article in today's Sydney Morning Herald titled "A Pelling reminder that riders are dicing with the dark side" deals with the difficult subject of race risk and jockey deaths. It is well worth the read.

Your web host will hate me for telling you about the following ... what the heck.

The service will be reasonably self explantory from the company name - Site Up Time. The free website monitoring service watches your website 24/7/365 and notifies you if it becomes unavailable.

Website downtime can mean lost revenue and profits. In addition, users to your website may not return if they experience a connection failure.

SMS alerts of site down time are available for a small fee.

Someone was in a rush ...

"There was international success ofr Australia over the wekend in Korea.where Sydney jockey Larry Cassidy broke won a leg of the international jockeys' challenge that coincided with the Asian Racing Conference."

The paragraph appears in a story titled "Gallant Elvstroem Second At Longchamp" on AAP today.

Author Chris Scholtz (Racing Editor) has to take the blame alas.

Speaking of errors: here's another one (same website) - under NZ Racing news this time:

Strong Support For Savabeel

Friday, 20 May 2005: Cox Plate winner Savabeelk is attracting strong support from breeders on both sides of the Tasman as his book fills for his first season at stud.

...

Regular readers have sent a few "where are the updates??" emails over the past couple of days ... I confess that I took 3 days break which, whilst it has now put me in serious "catch up mode", was refreshing in that it was the first time I have had more than 24 hours break since we launched this service [people don't know what "commitment" is until they run a weblog!!!!].

We're now back online.

Thanks for the emails!

It's not every day that a horse stumbles on the turn and looks, for a horrifying moment, as if disaster is the inevitable conclusion.

The winner of Saturday's Preakness Stakes - Afleet Alex - defied the odds by not only regaining his feet but also victory - by an impressive 4 & 3/4 lengths (Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo 9 & 3/4 lengths back in third).

Speaking of all things "Triple-Crown" related, there's a new computer game (SORRY - 'race simulation') on the market called (perhaps not that originally) - Run for the Roses.

New Millenium Software is behind the release.

“While we always support responsible gambling,” said Steve Krieger, Executive Producer for New Millenium Software, “there’s nothing more enjoyable than getting friends together, putting together a pot, and then seeing who makes the best wagers throughout a 12-race venue.”

Run for the Races realistically simulates a day at the races. Whether the player is a casual bettor, or spends hours analyzing past racing data before placing a wager, the simulation promises to fill the bill. The in-game racing form provides historical information on each horse, just like you purchase at the track.

Up to six players can select bankrolls based on their betting experience - to provide a handicap to the experts, if desired. The racing form can be printed and reviewed prior to the beginning of the raceday and then wagers are placed in real time. Just as at the track, there is limited time until the next race.

Run for the Roses should appeal to the seasoned handicapper, as well as to the bettor who prefers to place bets based on the horse’s name or the jockey. The 300 horses and 20 jockeys have individual and independent attributes that drive their on-track behavior.

“The real challenge at the racetrack is to spot information in the racing form that the betting crowd doesn’t see – that’s where you make the big money”, said Kirk Krieger, Expert Advisor for New Millenium Software. “Run for the Roses provides that same opportunity to the ace handicapper.”

The Arrowfield Group has added a new investment to its thoroughbred, wine-growing, property, and general commercial portfolio: radio.

Arrowfield Head, John Messara, already races quite a few horses in partnership with 2GB's well known voice of the airwaves - Alan Jones. 2GB is majority-owned by another well known Australian (and large-scale thoroughbred breeder/owner) John Singleton.

We have the benefit of receiving the The Australian Financial Review quite a few hours earlier than our Southern neighbours and sitting here this evening flicking through the 19 May edition I noted a story in the business pages titled "Friends buy into Singo's radio station".

Some of you may know that Macquarie Radio Network - the owner of the Sydney stations 2GB and 2CH, lists on Friday of this week. The new ownership structure is quite interesting. John Singleton will retain a 76.8 per cent stake in Macquarie and Melbourne businessman Ron Walker, mining baron Robert Champion de Crespigny and John Messara (under 'The Arrowfield Group') are among the new shareholders.

The shares were reportedly not offered to institutional or retail investors. Instead, Macquarie marketed them to "friends and colleagues" (an entirely above-board practice by the way as at the end of the day an IPO is mainly focused on raising capital).

If you're interested in the way the shares in the listed company will be structured and who else is involved I would recommend the 19 May 2005 issue of the AFR (for copyright reasons I'm not at liberty to print the story in full). If the story is run on the public area of their website I will certainly paste the link.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

UPDATE 9 June 2005

The TOP 20 SHAREHOLDERS for MACQUARIE RADIO BROADCASTS is as follows:

John Singleton Promotions Pty Ltd 55,356,705 shares (66.77%)

PEC Nominees Pty Ltd 12,151,485 shares (14.66%)

National Nominees Ltd 3,450,000 shares (4.16%)

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Ltd 3,250,000 shares (3.92%)

Westpac Custodian Nominees Ltd, 2,010,000 shares (2.42%)

ANZ Nominees LTd 1,455,000 shares (1.76%)

Angel Clark 1,413,960 shares (1.71%)

Government Superannuation Office 460,800 shares (0.56%)

Victorian Workcover Authority 174,200 shares (0.21%)

C L F Martin (Services) Pty Ltd 117,000 shares (0.14%)

Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd 100,000 shares (0.12%)

Stephen Chapman 100,000 shares (0.12%)

Raytrack Sporting Services Pty Ltd 100,000 (0.12%)

Dr Paul Roy 100,000 shares (0.12%)

Eddy Sariaatmadja 100,000 shares (0.12%)

Carole Tate 95,000 shares (0.11%)

Valamoon Pty Ltd 82,000 shares (0.10%)

UBS Private Clients Australia Nominees Pty Ltd 82,000 shares (0.10%)

Baron Nominees Pty Ltd 71,000 shares (0.09%)

Bayeux Investments Pty Ltd 50,000 shares (0.06%)

Source: Australian Company News Bites

In Melbourne, the Inglis June Weanling & Thoroughbred Sale (June 26-30) has attracted 1100 entires - almost 400 weanlings & over 700 broodmares & tried racehorses whilst this weekend's Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Yearling Sale conducted by Inglis at Scone features a further 200 lots.

Good news for Australia over the weekend when Mummify (who made just $41,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale some years ago) scored a strong finishing win in last night's G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) at Kranji [Singapore].

The Lee Freedman trained gelding by Jeune won the fifth G1 race of his career and sent his prize earnings to just shy of $5 million.

In terms of 'the most number of starts' you can't go past Passion Moon, who raced from 1955-69, and (depending on what record book you look at) had between 281 and 295 starts.

A 10-year-old grey gelding by the name of Flying Feathers lined up for his 202nd race start at Tambo in central Queensland last weekend and in doing so passed the record of Townsville-trained Foreign Monarch who retired last year after 201 starts.

Flying Feathers is trained at Injune by retired grazier Bill Jackson (73). The gelding has won from distances spanning 800m to 1640m carrying weights up to 63.5kg. Most of his wins have been in the country and he has totalled 25 wins, more than $150,000 in prize money, appeared on 39 separate tracks and been partnered by 57 jockeys throughout his career. He also won at Doomben over 1350m in December 2000.

Source: Fox Sports

John Scheinman writing for The Washington Post has adopted a brave stand against the growing trend of 'breeding for speed' and an industry increasingly reliant on a fast return on investment in the May 16 article titled "In Race for Speed, Stamina Loses". If the title doesn't raise an eyebrow then the header certainly will: "Some Say Giacomo Shows a Drop in Thoroughbred Quality".

In analayzing the run of last week's Kentucky Derby winner, Scheinman quotes Mike Helm, author of Exploring Pedigree when he says:

"Racing, historically, was a rich man's sport. The pressure to get a financial return wasn't in the game. It was to breed good horses and have recognition for doing that. Today, with multimillion-dollar auctions, everyone wants a return on their money.

"The trouble is we live in a commercial culture that wants instant gratification and instant returns. You get a precocious adolescent, and he's often burned out before he can mature. They sour on the game. The classic horses bred in the past, they had female families built up over years for generations. That kind of patience is gone."

It's an interesting article for those of you who favour nurturing generations and breeding for distance rather than hyped yearling prices that potentially exploit the still growing bones of 2 year olds.

Disappointing results from Inglis' Sires Produce Yearling Sale today. Of 206 yearlings catalogued (52 more than 2004), 14 were withdrawn, 65 were passed in (cf to 32 last year) and top price was $140,000 (cf to $120,000 in 2004) with an average price a rather worrying (considering the costs of preparing a yearling for commercial sale) $17,045 (down from $21,838) and a median price of just $12,000 (down from $16,000).

The top 6 lots (by price):

Filly by Redoute’s Choice x Granada Miss $140,000
Filly by More Than Ready x Springtime Romance $105,000
Filly by Dehere x Hula Wonder $80,000
Filly by Danasinga x Slightly Conceited $65,000
Colt by Montjeu x St Este $60,000
Colt by Testa Rossa x Lili Marlene $52,500

There will no doubt be a few breeders crawling into a deep cave and licking their wounds this evening - the most glaring examples the vendors of the following yearlings that sold for just $1,000 each:

- Filly by Agnes World ex Wise Bell
- Colt by Giant's Causeway ex Passefleur [yes, you read that correctly]
- (and just going to show that performance will always outweigh a hefty PR campaign - 3 yearlings by King of Kings)

Sobering stats ... even more so when you consider that MM has probably the heaviest catalogue ever to break the in-tray in not so distant a future.

(UPDATE: I received an email today [17/5] from a reader who noted the following -

I see you made mention of the Giant's Causeway colt who went for $1,000 yesterday.

Might be worthwhile juxtaposing the top priced Easter colt - a half brother by a hot stallion to Melbourne Cup winning mare Makybe Diva, and the bottom priced Sires Produce colt, a half brother by a hot stallion to Melbourne Cup winning mare Jezabeel !

A mere $2,499,000 cheaper !!!

On May 2 Visa USA announced a change in its marketing strategy for thoroughbred racing, indicating it would focus on a new partnership with the sport's most venerable race, the Grade I Kentucky Derby. As a result, Visa will not renew its 10-year sponsorship of the Visa Triple Crown series.

Effective in 2006, the new, five-year partnership with Churchill Downs Incorporated, parent company of the historic racetrack that hosts the Derby, will make Visa the only card that enables cardholders to purchase tickets to the prestigious sporting event, held every year on the first Saturday in May. The partnership allows Visa to further integrate its popular Visa Signature card into its sponsorship platform and creates exclusive access opportunities for Visa Signature cardholders.

"We've had an unbelievably successful partnership with the Visa Triple Crown, but we must always work to keep our approach fresh and relevant to our cardholders. This move gives us the ability to strategically position our Visa Signature product alongside the signature event in thoroughbred racing," said Michael Lynch, senior vice president, Visa USA. "By creating unique new programs like this, we increase the value of Visa Signature cards to cardholders and increase cardholders' loyalty to the Member financial institutions that issue them."

As a sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, Visa will provide Visa Signature cardholders access to a luxurious Finish Line Suite and hard-to-obtain box seats to the Kentucky Derby. Specifically, Visa will create a limited number of Finish Line Suite trip packages exclusively for Signature cardholders, offering tickets, stable area tours, and access to coveted invitation-only events during horse racing's biggest weekend.

"We're looking forward to remaining part of the thoroughbred racing family," Lynch said. "And all of us at Visa are really hoping that this is the year we finally award our $5 million Visa Triple Crown Challenge Bonus."

Since Visa became involved in thoroughbred racing in 1995, six horses have entered the final leg of the three-race series with a chance to win the $5 million bonus. In these years, Visa helped foster public interest in some of racing's most memorable heroes, including: Smarty Jones (2004), Funny Cide (2003), War Emblem (2002), Charismatic (1999), Real Quiet (1998), and Silver Charm (1997). Due in part to Visa's national television advertising, card promotions, and bonus, the sport has seen significant gains in attendance, television ratings and media interest. Smarty Jones' unsuccessful bid to win the Visa Triple Crown in 2004 helped NBC post the highest average rating (8.3/20) for the series since 1989. Visa's sponsorship of the Triple Crown race series, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, extends through 2005.

Source: VISA media release

Ok, so maybe I'm a cynic but I did smile when I read the article "I won't sell him" that appeared on Fox Sports on 13 May.

As the writer, Ray Thomas, acknowledges, Lloyd Williams "buys and sells more racehorses than virtually any other individual owner in Australian racing".

Williams is well known for a number of horses he has sold including the high profile Reset (now at stud at Darley) and Subscribe (multiple G1 winner in HK who now races as Vengeance Of Rain).

This is the man therefore described as "a commercial realist", one who "doesn't let sentiment sway his thinking and is willing to trade at the right price".

Despite the business world in which he lives and trades, Williams CAN apparently be swayed to keep a horse, the lightly raced 5yo PERLIN the subject of such favoritism, Williams stating that "he showed lots of promise as a spring three-year-old" and "I thought he was one of my better horses at the time and I was always hoping he would make it back." (Perlin having been injured early in his career).

Perlin has indeed recovered and has been a handy type for the stable of late having won four of his past five starts and running a dead heat for second in the G2 Prime Minister's Cup at the Gold Coast last Saturday [interestingly the winner - Sir Dex - was also a victim of injury early in his career], ensuring $181,500 has flowed into the coffers in recent months and taking his total earnings to $259,150 (peanuts really I suppose when you consider Williams' outgoings each month).

At this stage the story was humming along nicely and I had that warm cosy feeling that one can often get from reading about a special horse (gelding actually) who manages to stand out amongst a cast of thousands in this cut throat world of equine economics that so many of us play.

Then damn it, there's that quote that zings me back to reality:

"You can't sell horses with bowed tendons," Williams admitted.

There are a number of father/son (or daughter) combinations in racing circles. The latest in the jockey ranks is Mitchell Beadman, a son of 40 year old champion jockey Darren. Beadman has been spotted riding alongside son Mitchell in a couple of track gallops at Warwick Farm in recent weeks. Today's Sydney Morning Herald reports that Mitchell is in the early stages of an apprenticeship with four-state trainer John Hawkes.

A name familiar to many in breeding circles was back in the winners circle at the Gold Coast on Saturday. This time last year he was looking forward to a life of luxury courtesy of his credentials - G1 winning son of Danehill and full brother to Redoute's Choice, as well as his new address - Arrowfield Stud.

Alas the 5 year old had a slight problem with his fertility ... so back to the racetrack (and stables of Gai Waterhouse) it was.

Perhaps in defiance of the stable routine compared to the luxuries of a paddock, personal groom, and a few eager mares each day, Platinum Scissors took awhile to return to form but after a second in the Doomben Lord Mayors Cup (2020m) on 30 April he was brought back in distance to 1800m at the Gold Coast last weekend and narrowly secured victory in the G2 $251,400 A D Hollingdale Stakes.

The well bred son of Danehill would appear to have resigned himself to the inevitable!

Coolmore sires were in demand at today's Inglis weanling sale in Sydney. Of the top 6 lots, 5 were sired by Coolmore stallions and 4 of the 6 were fillies.

The sale averaged AUD$15,642 for the 175 weanlings sold, and the two top lots were both purchased by Richard Johnston of Bylong Park (formerly Clearvale Stud).

Johnston says he plans to race both fillies, and all going well, breed from both in future years as well.

The Top 6 Lots ($100,000 and above)

Filly by Rock of Gibraltar x Enlightenment (USA) $220,000
Filly by Giant’s Causeway x Leopard Lady $180,000
Filly by Encosta de Lago x Egyptian Ibis (NZ) $165,000
Filly by Rock of Gibraltar x Nuance (Fr) $150,000
Colt by Faltaat (USA) x Luna Tudor $110,000
Colt by Danehill Dancer x Boo Ticket $100,000

Today's piece of breeding trivia courtesy of The Baltimore Sun:

"Separated by less than a mile in Kentucky's famed Bluegrass region, Darley at Jonabell Farm and Mill Ridge Farm long have been friendly neighbors.

"Now the farms share more than addresses on the same narrow road. Giacomo's stunning win in the Kentucky Derby last Saturday means the farms now are the homes of the sire and dam of the current thoroughbred of the moment.

"Holy Bull has spent his entire stallion career at Jonabell Farm, which houses the Darley U.S. operation owned by Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the crown prince of Dubai. Mill Ridge Farm, owned by Alice Chandler, is where the broodmare Set Them Free foaled Giacomo and where the Derby winner lived until September of his yearling season.

"We'll have to rename the road between us 'The Avenue of Champions,'" said Jimmy Bell, the president of Darley's U.S. operation."

Click here for the full story.

Savabeel - Cox Plate winner and the recipient of a $10m syndication deal, will go on public show for the first time since arriving at his new home, Waikato Stud, this Wednesday.

Fellow new season stallion and Melbourne group winner Scardee Cat will also be paraded, along with No Excuse Needed, O'Reilly and Pins.

In Ireland, the Labour Party Spokesperson on Finance, Deputy Joan Burton, has reportedly accused the government of blatant foot-dragging in regard to its failure to respond to an initial finding from the EU Commission that the tax exemption for stallion fees could be in breach of competition law.

Source: The Irish Politics Website

O'Halloran Co. (a nationally recognized apparel and equestrian products company that has been featured at New York's prestigious 7th on 6th Fashion Show, and in major fashion and equestrian publications nationwide) today announced its Feelin' Your Oats Fashion Show to benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) on Saturday, June 11, 2005 - the same day as the Belmont Stakes. The fundraiser will take place at TRF's Exceller Farm in Poughquag, New York.

The show will feature the designs of O'Halloran Co.'s owner and designer, Cathleen Cordova.

"We are pleased to provide this unique opportunity to make a difference for racehorses once they are no longer fit for the track," said Cordova.

The event coincides with TRF's Exceller Farm Open House and also this year's Triple Crown Belmont Stakes Race. O'Halloran Co. hopes to draw attention during this race season to the retirement plight of these fabulous horses that provide so much excitement and entertainment to the nation.

"It's a fantastic sport with incredible athletes," said Cordova, "which is more reason why the horses should retire with comfort and dignity."

Founded more than 20 years ago, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's mission is to save thoroughbred horses no longer able to compete on the racetrack from possible neglect, abuse and slaughter. The TRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt organization entirely dependent on public contributions.



Source: PR web

Whilst Betfair agitate for a licence and a toehold in the Australian (via Tasmania) market, there has been a marked fall out between Racing NSW and the NSW race clubs this week over the SKY/TVN brawl. A joint AJC/STC media release has screamed a rather unforgiving message to the governing body: "AJC and STC Demand Resignation of Racing NSW Board and Executive".

The release goes on to say:

"On Friday 13 May 2005 the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) and Sydney Turf Club (STC) wrote to Racing NSW to request the resignation of the Chief Executive and Board.

AJC Chief Executive Mr Tony King said “In acting in a pre-emptive and biased fashion, Racing NSW has treated the AJC, the STC, and indeed the entire NSW racing industry with contempt.

“The evidence revealed in court is damning and renders it impossible for any club, trainer, owner, jockey, or bookmakers to believe that Racing NSW will in the future act impartially, within its powers and for the benefit of the industry.

“The committees of both racing clubs believe the only way to restore confidence in the administration of racing in New South Wales is by the resignation and replacement of all existing members of Racing NSW”.

In relation to TVN’s announcement last week that it would pursue a damages claim against Racing NSW, Mr Kenny said: “TVN is an independent business. It would be remiss for its directors to not seek restitution when they believe shareholder value has been destroyed."

... stay tuned.

In a month that has already witnessed some impressive legal jousting courtesy of the SKY/TVN debacle, latest news from the legal front is that Sydney law firm Gilbert & Tobin has also picked up a very handy brief courtesy of their deep-pocket client Kerry Packer.

Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd has partnered with the British betting agency Betfair which has now threatened legal action against the Australian racing industry for restraint of trade; the 'restraint of trade' claim to examine whether Betfair has had bias shown towards it by the Australian racing industry and whether there is any evidence of collusion to prevent the company operating in Australia.

Source: The Australian (IT section)

North East Victoria has created its own alliance in a bid to be recognised as one of the premier thoroughbred breeding regions in Australia.

The North East Thoroughbred Alliance has the support of both the State Government and the Strathbogie Shire. Victoria’s Racing Minister John Pandazopoulos launched the initiative on May 10. The Alliance's objective is to provide local breeders and associated industries (veterinary practices, feed suppliers, farriers etc) with a platform to promote the region’s thoroughbred assets. Alliance President is Bob Scarborough (who owns Wood Nook Stud at Nagambie).

The alliance has 40 members already and has a unique marketing advantage for 2005 in being able to promote - at State level - international star Elvstroem who will retire to Blue Gum Farm in Victoria later this year.

Victoria has made impressive inroads into Hunter Valley breeding domination in recent years producing such stars as Encosta de Lago (who, ironically, was shifted to the Hunter in 2004), Rory's Jester and the young freshman sire Testa Rossa.

Benmaller.com reports that an advertising logo for an online poker site worn by Afleet Alex jockey Jeremy Rose during the Kentucky Derby could land him a fine of up to US$20,000.

The issue with the logo - ParadisePoker.com - concerned Churchill Downs' business relationship with a competing online site. The owners had approved the use of the logo but apparently the track stewards had not cleared it.

It can't have been easy being handed the brief to build a new-look website for Calumet Farm. Established by Warren Wright Sr in 1943, over the next 5 decades the Farm achieved a dominant position in US thoroughbred breeding and racing circles that has been unmatched in the history of the "Sport of Kings."

During these 50 years, Calumet produced the following statistic:

- they were the leading money-winning owner 12 times
- they won a record 8 Kentucky Derbies and had seven Preakness Winners
- they had 2 Triple Crown-winning colts and 3 Filly Triple Crown winners,
- they had 11 horses elected to the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame
- they received Five Horses of the Year Titles
- Two of their Trainers were nominated to the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame
- they stood champion sire Alydar who lead the US sires list in 1990. His offspring brought home the classic victories and Eclipse awards that their famous sire had so narrowly missed earning himself.
- they stood champion sire Bull Lea
- The Calumet Trophy Collection

The jewel in the Calumet crown was Alydar. Ironically, the horse would also play a large part in the Farm's demise when he was tragically put down after an 'accident' in his stall (an accident that, despite the investment company honouring the payout, continues to raise suspicions by a number of commentators who believe that foul play was involved). Nevertheless, appalling financial management by then-manager TJ Lundy catapulted the farm to bankruptcy.

A meticulously researched book that details the history of the farm is Ann Hagedorn Auerbach's 'Wild Ride'. It's essential (albeit at times sobering) reading.

The new Calumet website has certainly managed to side step any lingering pain attached to history and presents a beautifully understated, highly visual and elegant series of pages that conjure memories of how the property must once have looked.

The site is predominantly programmed in Flash, but includes a content management area so that Calumet can maintain its own current news. Future developments will include an online store.

Timelines and history are kept brief in the 'About us' section and are managed sensitively (and in due respect to the new managers given the sheer number of closets filled with all manner of 1980's skeletons - respectfully as well).

Like a number of revamped sites, information has been sacrificed for aesthetics but one suspects that we are very much seeing the basic frame here and gradually more content will come on board, particularly in terms of farm services and auction yearlings.

Lara Levine who manages Hammond Equine (a division of Hammond Communications Group, Inc) was responsible for the project.



If you're interested in seeing the famous Calumet trophy collection there are a number of photos collated at the following site as well.

If your role involves the design/distribution of marketing communications materials ('MarcComms' as they are often termed) you may wish to read an article by Chris Scott titled "Five Ways to Energize Your Newsletter". The article appears on the MarketingProfs site.

"Whether distributed via email or printed and snail-mailed, newsletters are a cost-effective way for businesses or other organizations to keep in touch with employees, customers, prospects or members.

The trick, however, is to come up with a strategy to keep readers engaged and the publication's production and editorial adjustments in line with current budgets.

Here are five tactics that you can use to make your newsletter more engaging for your intended recipients. And while these strategies also work well for printed newsletters, we're going to focus on electronic newsletters because they offer the most opportunity for generating fast feedback from readers".

The article is free and can be reached at the following URL.

Stallions shift address on a reasonably regular basis these days; what is less common is an entire stud farm shifting address. Bob and Maree Frappell of Clear Mountain Stud in Qld purchased the 650-acre Fairview Thoroughbred farm earlier this month. The property, based 29kms from Toowoomba will adopt the new name of Clear Mountain Fairview from July 1 to represent the merger of 2 successful businesses.

Bob reports that his aim is “for existing clients to notice nothing except a different voice on the phone”

In an interesting twist to the longstanding rivalry between the Aussies and Kiwis, New Zealand breeder Sir Patrick Hogan crossed all sorts of boundaries (and indeed an ocean) to be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame this week.

Sir Patrick is probably best known for introducing the unknown stallion Sir Tristram to New Zealand in 1975, a stallion who went on to produce 45 G1 winners and six champion Australian Sire titles.

Towards the end of Sir Tristram's career, Sir Patrick's Cambridge Stud also purchased a G1 winning son of the champion - Zabeel - who has emulated the deeds of his father and been a constant thorn in (the now deceased) Danehill's side as regards agitating for honours in the Australasian sire charts for the past decade.

The stud also introduced a mare worth many more carats than her name gives her credit for: Eight Carat - whose 5 starts failed to find her in the prizemoney but who went on to produce an extraordinary list of black type sons and daughters, most of whom have gone on to be successful broodmares and sires in their own right. Well known names Octagonal (Australian horse of the year; sire), Mouawad (champion 3yo; sire), Diamond Lover (G1 winner), Peruzzi, Don Eduardo (G1 winner; sire), Lucida, Antwerp, Viscount (champion Australasian 2yo; sire), Helsinborg, Dangerous (sire), Tristalove (G1 winner; dam of G1 winner Viking Ruler and G1 placed Kempinsky and Diamond Like), Chimeara, Kaapstad (sire), Marquise, Count of Jewels, Danewin (sire), Commands (sire), Mancini, and Shower of Roses (etc etc etc) all have Eight Carat in the first 3 removes of their female pedigree.

Sir Tristram may have died a number of years ago but his legacy lives on in his continuing achievements as a broodmare sire. He also has a dedicated section on the Cambridge Stud site if you're not familiar with the story behind the 'man eater' affectionately known as 'Paddy'.

The New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) will introduce a starters' rebate for non-stakes finishers in maiden galloping races from the start of next season (August 1, 2005).

NZRB chief executive Graeme Hansen said the amount of the starters' fee had not been finalised but he expected it to be about the equivalent of a jockey's fee which is $100. The move is designed to encourage more horses to start at the races.

Source: Thoroughbred News [NZ]

In an attempt to boost income from legal gambling on horse racing (all proceeds from gambling controlled by the HKJC being used to fund charitable projects) the Hong Kong Home Affairs Bureau has announced government plans to potentially add 5 days to the racing calender, introduce tax reform and apply new betting methods.

In a Bureau briefing on 11 May it was revealed that the amount of cash and betting slips seized from illegal soccer and horse gambling operators increased from HK$9.38 million (US$1.20 million) in 2001 to HK$19.7 million (US$2.53 million) in 2004.

Money always attracts interest so it was no surprise to see the media latch on to the debut of the $1,050,000 colt now known as Prague who is set to debut in Race at Morphettville tomorrow.

By Danehill out of Prawn Cocktail (a family that has set numerous six figure sums in various sales rings in recent years), Prague won a trial last December and was subsequently spelled. The well bred colt has a multitude of owners including David Hayes, Mrs S Magnier (of Coolmore fame) the Strawberry Hill Stud Syndicate(Manager John J Singleton), Swettenham Stud Synd (Mgr: A Sangster), K Biggs Synd (Mgr: K Biggs) & G T Ryan. Prague was sold at the 2004 Magic Millions sale and is a full-brother to the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum owned Assafa who ran third to Fastnet Rock in the G3 L’Oreal Plate on October last year.

Another sales star - from the 2004 NZ Premier this time - the $1.1 million Danehill-Grand Echezeaux colt that now races as Darci Brahma is currently being set for 2 Group 1 races in Queensland: the Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) and the T.J. Smith (1600m). Darci Brahma has won 3 of his 4 starts and ran second in the G1 Sires Produce Stakes at Ellerslie on 5 March 2005.

I mentioned the 'blog phenomenon' last week. According to a recent Internet survey blog readership grew by 58% in 2004 with 32 million Americans (roughly 16% of the total adult population) now saying they read blogs, with six million using RSS aggregators. The Pew Study found a significant number of regular readers: about 7% of the online population, or roughly 8.4 million people, said they had looked at a blog in the last 24 hours. Similarly, a Forrester Research poll found that 5% of online consumers said that they regularly read blogs.

Whilst blogs are becoming increasingly popular just 4% of major US corporations have blogs available to the public — and many of these blogs do not (according to the purists anyway) count as 'true blogs' because they don't contain linking and feedback features.

The sheer number of blogs is staggering. In April 2005 figures were released that showed that there were 50.75 million blogs worldwide. The proportion of these which are written by Australians is difficult to quantify as whilst some researchers predict a figure of 120,000+ others have recognised that the actual figure is much higher as Australian bloggers nearly exclusively use the American and multinational services to host their blogs as such services are free.

Despite these figures many people still don't know what a blog is including (surprisingly perhaps) a vast number of PR professionals.

Age is also a factor in who reads/knows about blogs. A recent Gallup poll carried out in conjunction with CNN and USA Today, found that nine of 10 adults over 65 had never read one. Forre