The results of this week's Inglis Weanling Sale have been far from heartening with a decline in the average, clearance and median, and one did have to be astute enough to check the reports of a "record gross" against the numbers (97 more weanlings were catalogued this year than at the same time last year which distorted the figures) BUT the Magic Millions official scribe was a tad evasive of a similar fact when he covered the competitor sale in a report in The Virtual Formguide yesterday. When writing about the Inglis sale Greg Irvine noted that:

"The most alarming statistic was the clearance rate which plummeted from almost 90 per cent last year to not even 80 per cent this time around." [89.9% in 05 to 79.7% in 06]

Absolutely spot on ... but the same analysis did not seem to appear in the equivalent Magic Millions sales report that he penned some weeks earlier.

For the record MM also sold an additional 98 weanlings this year. Yes, they had a much (much) higher average and top price BUT the clearance at the sale was also down significantly and was in fact very similar to Inglis' (82.23% compared to 91% in 2005).

Not sure how we get around these inherent 'biases' occuring. Should journalists perhaps include a statement at the end of a post where there is a potential conflict with someone who is paying them each month stating who else it is that they write for? Might just make it easier to assess the information they present in a more objective way.

One can argue the administrative and quarantine nightmares until the cows come home but the idea certainly has some merit. We need more bold thinking in this Industry to keep people thinking about how to attract more fans to the sport. ESPN carries the story (and idea) penned by US journalist BILL FINLEY today.

Ken Martin's on track for this year's Melbourne Cup even though he isn't a trainer or indeed an owner. Rather Martin is the local sculptor who has won the coveted commission for the bronze of Makybe Diva. Typically it is not a project without its issues (funding and location apparently being numbers 1 & 2 on the list) but nevertheless, come the 2nd November, the mighty mare is expected to be revealed in all her glory in Port Lincoln, the town of her owner Tony Santic.

Full story at the following URL.

The Black Stallion (and Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby series) probably had as much to do with feeding my obsession for horses as did the pint sized ponies at Crafer's Sheok Riding School when I was 4 years old. It was therefore good to see that a school in Arkansas is also committed to introducing horses to its youngsters early in their educational careers.

The Batesville Daily Guard has the full story:

“The Black Stallion,” “Little Black, A Pony” and “Little Black Goes to the Circus,” the storied horses of Walter Farley’s children’s novels, are the books igniting the imaginations of many Arkansas first- and fourth-graders.

The story of a spirited stallion and a teenage boy who learn to rely on each other to survive, and fun adventures of a little black pony are at the center of a literacy program inspiring children to love to read in The Natural State.

The Triple Crown Series may have been marred by its share of misfortune this year. It was also yet another 12 months without a Triple Crown winner. Despite this, 2006 will no doubt hold special memories for 2 brothers in Dubai who celebrated a unique Double.

The Preakness was won by Bernardini owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Vice President of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai and owner of Darley Stud; the Belmont was won by Jazil owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance and Industry and owner of Shadwell/Derrinstown Studs).

MEDAL (OAM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

Mr Jack DENHAM, Strathfield, NSW. For service to the Australian horse racing industry as a trainer and as a mentor to apprentice jockeys.

Queensland's Sunshine Coast also had cause to celebrate when Buderim resident George Warby was acknowledged for his service to the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland after being an integral part in the organisation of the Royal Queensland Show for many years. He also was recognised for his service to horse-racing, having been involved in the Surat Differs Race Club and Dalby Amateur Picnic Race Club.

Well, you have to hand it to Belmont marketing department. With Barbaro in a veterninary hospital and Bernardini in a paddock, they've had to pull out some 'left field' alternatives to promote the third leg of the Triple Crown. Joe Drape's article in yesterday's New York Times "What's the Attraction? It's Still Barbaro" says that giant card signing and World Cup Soccer will be among two of the crowd tempters:

"One of the race's major attractions will be the 62-foot-wide and 7-foot-high "Get Well Soon" card, which will feature four life-size images of Barbaro. Fans will be able to sign the card beginning at 10 a.m. after Barbaro's jockey, Edgar Prado, does so.

ABC/ESPN Sports, which is kicking off a seven-year contract to broadcast the Belmont, will deal with Barbaro's absence early and often on its networks. ABC/ESPN hopes that his absence will be offset by what it calls a marquee day of sports broadcasting."

At this point I could say 'Only in America' but at the risk of offending my North American friends I will (sensibly perhaps) say nothing !

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

Something else to note about this year's Belmont - exactly 87 years ago this Sunday (June 11, 1919) Sir Barton won the Belmont Stakes, becoming horse racing's first Triple Crown winner.

Founding chairman of Australian construction firm Multiplex, John Roberts, has died at the age of 73 after a long illness.

Mr Roberts founded Multiplex in Perth in 1962 and it became one of Australia's biggest builders, making bold forays into foreign markets, including the UK.

He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1988 for his contribution to the construction and horse racing industries.

His greatest career highlights were reportedly being awarded the job of building Sydney’s Olympic stadium, a job that led to the $1 billion contract to redevelop the spiritual home of soccer, England’s Wembley stadium. As a result of the contract the company was floated on the Australian Stock Exchange but after the Wembley project ran into serious complications and became embroiled in legal action, stock prices plummeted and Roberts stood down as Chairman. Ironically perhaps, Roberts' death came as Multiplex UK celebrated its win over steel subcontractor Cleveland Bridge UK, whom it had fought in the UK courts over alleged contract breaches on the troubled Wembley Stadium project.

As an interesting aside, an intensely private man, Roberts first interview with the media was given in 1992 (to the Sydney Morning Herald's Kate McClymont) after Multiplex had been operating for a mere 30 years !

There are all number to mention. Here are just a few ...

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Bloodstock has announced a new one million dollar race for all graduates of the 2007 National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.

The 'Karaka Million' is set to be hosted at the Auckland Racing Club's Ellerslie racecourse on the weekend before the Karaka Premier Sale in 2008. In a first for the region, the meeting will be jointly hosted by the six Clubs that form the Northern Cluster: Auckland Racing Club, Avondale Jockey Club, Counties Racing Club, Whangarei Racing Club, Dargaville Racing Club and Pakuranga Hunt Club.

The Karaka Million for two year olds (colts, fillies and geldings) over 1200m will replace the current $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Classique in 2008, with the last running set for the Te Rapa racecourse on Saturday 3 February for the graduates of the 2006 National Sale.

All yearlings sold at the Premier, Select, Festival and Carnival Sessions of the National Sales in 2007 will be eligible to enter for the Karaka Million in 2008. All starters in the race will get a slice of the pie, with the trainer of the winner, and owner of the yearling at sale time, also sharing the spoils.

The Karaka Million joins the new Karaka Carnival Sale Bonus Race as the two new incentive races for Karaka yearling graduates. In the latter case, graduates of the new Carnival Sale in March will be eligible to enter to win a $100,000 bonus for the first horse home in the Carnival Sale Bonus Race.

HONG KONG

The Hong Kong Jockey Club will increase prizemoney to encourage the introduction of more horses suitable for Class 2 and above to encourage owners to import horses with genuine Class 1 and Group race potential. All existing Premier Class races will be elevated to Group 3 status, raising prize-money from HK$2m to HK$2.3m. Another initiative is a "first win bonus" of HK$400,000 for horses (PPs) successful in Class 2 in their first season, while HK$600,000 will be paid to owners of Class 1 or Group winners. The Club will trial a system starting from 2006-07 in which a Trainer can syndicate one horse among club members per season. The club says that the "Trainer Syndicate" will encourage trainers to develop a client base with the resources to purchase high quality horses in the future and allow Members who were unsuccessful in the ballot for import permits to immediately experience the thrills of racehorse ownership in Hong Kong.

QUEENSLAND

The Queensland Racing Board has announced increases in prizemoney for 2YO and 3YO races at metropolitan meetings from $25,000 to $45,000 commencing on October 1, 2006.

QTIS 2YO and 3YO’s will race for a $30,000 bonus on top of the base prizemoney of $45,000, bringing QTIS metropolitan prizemoney to a minimum of $75,000 for those eligible for the Scheme.

USA BREEDERS CUP

Prizemoney for this year's Breeders' Cup meeting at Churchill Downs in Kentucky has been increased to a record $US20 million.

The increases includes an extra $US1 for the Breeders' Cup Classic, taking it from $US4 million to $US5 million to maintain its place as the richest race in the US and second to the Dubai World Cup on the global list.

Each of the eight Breeders' Cup races will offer a minimum of $US2 million.

(NSW) GOLDEN SLIPPER

The 2007 Golden Slipper will be worth $3.5million (up $500,000).

(VICTORIA) MELBOURNE CUP

The 2006 Melbourne Cup prizemoney will be increased to $5 million.

In terms of the Golden Slipper and Melbourne Cup I have to agree with Ray Thomas in his article "Post TV War Plea by Trainers".

2006 is the first year since 1983 where no horse will run in all three legs of the Triple Crown in the US.

If you're pro nature vs. nurture and anti cloning then the following story that appeared in today's Age about the success (or lack thereof) of 2 cloned mules in a race in the States may provide some comfort!

Horatio Nelson was Britain's greatest naval hero. His equine namesake was certainly living up to the task of carrying such a famous name, only to have a career of Group One winning glory interrupted on Saturday - and in the worst possible way. The two-time group winning son of Danehill was euthanized after breaking a leg 600 yards from the finish in the English Derby. You could almost hear the stunned silence from the international media who share a role in enticing fans to the sport as they thought "NOW WHAT?" ... not forgetting that it was just two weeks since they had reported on Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro shattering his right hind leg at the start of the Preakness Stakes.

Sir Percy went on to win the Derby in one of the closest finishes in the 227-year history; just as 2 weeks earlier Bernardini had swept to victory in the Preakness. Deserved victories, yes, but alas they were celebrated in muted tones and in far from ideal circumstances.

Meanwhile the rest of us are left to ponder a jarring fact of racing life - breakdowns - but this time in front of six figure crowds, many of whom are demanding answers.

And why shouldn't they? Our sport competes with (amongst other things) poker and football. These are sports that unfortunately don't have to worry about such factors as the lion hearts of its competitors; albeit hearts balanced atop a combination of bone, tendon and sinew that doesn't always handle the stress placed upon them.

‘Racing Without Borders’ is the theme of the 31st Asian Racing Conference which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from the 21st to the 25th January 2007.

His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Emirates Racing Authority said, “On behalf of the Emirates Racing Authority, it gives me great pleasure to invite the delegates and visitors from the racing nations around the world to the 31st Asian Racing Conference

“The horse and the sport of horse racing have always been an important part of the culture and heritage of the people of the United Arab Emirates.

“The internationalism of horse racing in the 21st Century is reflected by the theme for the 31st Asian Racing Conference, ‘Racing Without Borders.’ The global positioning of the UAE makes it an ideal location for this gathering of industry leaders to participate in what promises to be an enlightening conference.”

Established in 1960 the Asian Racing Federation consists of 20 member countries who meet every two years with other horse racing bodies and industry participants, at a Conference, recognised as one of the major international gatherings that discusses and shapes the future of Horse Racing.

In keeping with its theme ‘Racing Without Borders’, an expansive conference programme has been designed and will include such topics as: Racing as a Business, Marketing the Sport of Racing and Planning a 21st Century Racecourse.

Lawrence T Wong, Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation, said, “The 31st Asian Racing Conference to be held in Dubai will truly be a history-making event, being the first Asian Racing Conference to be held in the United Arab Emirates.

“I am sure that it will be an outstanding event and I look forward to joining His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chairman of the Emirates Racing Authority, in greeting the members of the Asian Racing Federation in Dubai next January.”

The Dubai World Trade Centre has been appointed as the conference secretariat for the 31st Asian Racing Conference, which will take place at the Madinat Jumeirah, the Arabian Resort in Dubai.

For regular updates on the Asian Racing Conference log on to the following link.