With more than a dozen runners on Saturday and a similar number again on Boxing Day, the Te Akau Racing team is barely going to have a chance to catch their breath over the Christmas long weekend. Boxing Day has played a key role in the tangerine juggernaut’s incredible success in recent seasons. Trainer Mark Walker saddled a winning treble at the Pukekohe meeting last year, and his predecessor Jamie Richards came away with four wins in 2021 and five in 2020. Walker and training partner Sam Bergerson hold a…
Year: 2023
Pennyweka retired
A year is a long time in racing and in 2023 the connections of Pennyweka experienced it all. The daughter of Satono Aladdin took her seventy-strong The Galloping Wekas Jazweka Syndicate on a whirlwind ride in autumn, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham before crossing the Tasman to claim the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick. But the wheels came off their fairytale ride in spring when she finished 13th in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and seventh in the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni a month…
Perth Cup Hopefuls Clash in 2023 Ted Van Heemst Stakes Field of Six
As the sun sets on the Australian racing calendar for 2023, punters face a heart-stopping challenge in the final Group 2 race of the year: the Ted Van Heemst Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in WA. Buckle up, fans, for this Saturday’s showdown in Perth promises a nail-biting finish. Zoumon is narrow favourite to salute in Perth’s Ted Van Heemst Stakes 2023 on Saturday in WA. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. Six formidable steeds converge on the 2100m track, all primed to claim the coveted $300,000 prize. With most runners boasting single-figure…
Punt Drunk: Farewell, 2023 – you’ve been a blast!
As the racing slows down over the Christmas period, the team at Punt Drunk are also off to the paddock for a couple of weeks to enjoy a few brown lemonades. However, before we go, we thought we would take a look back at some of the more eye-catching moments of 2023. Keep an eye on HorseBetting during next week for our best racing moments, but this one is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek way of farewelling 2023, you know, the Punt Drunk way! A Raging Pole is always a…
La Trice Classic
Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners La Trice Classic Group Three Betting Guide Date: Saturday, January 1, 2024 Location: Ascot Racecourse – Perth, Western Australia Prize Money: $150,000 Distance: 1800m The La Trice Classic is a Group 3 race that is held at Ascot Racecourse for fillies and mares, run under set weight and penalty conditions. The race is named in honour of La Trice, who was the first horse to win the Karrakatta Plate and Railway Stakes double in 1967/1968. La Trice also won back-to-back Winterbottom Stakes in 1970…
2023 Trainer Stable Audits – completion of outstanding Improvement Notices
2023 Trainer Stable Audits – completion of outstanding Improvement Notices While we appreciate that this is a busy time of year this is a reminder to trainers who have outstanding Improvement Notices from their 2023 trainer stable audits, to make sure that these are completed as soon as possible. It is important that these Improvement Notices are completed to ensure compliance with our Horse Care Rules and Regulations. If there are any issues in completing your Improvement Notices, please contact the RIB to discuss this with them in the first…
Warriors colours in winners circle
By Michael Guerin Warriors fans may have a new harness racing stable to cheer for. Because trainer Simon McMullan has based his stable colours on the New Zealand Warriors league teams jersey and they were in the winner’s circle for the first time at Cambridge on Thursday night. McMullan is a mad Warriors fan and wanted his colours to resemble they iconic blue with red, green and white V jumper and once you see the resemblance it will stick with you forever. Once the 34-year-old got the new colours the…
Horsemanship the key
By Jonny Turner Some good old-fashioned horsemanship could be the key to Beach Ball breaking through at Group One level in the Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup on Friday. Beach Ball heads south for trainer Brendon Hill after an emphatic Grand Prix Day win in he hands of his now regular driver in Ricky May. Under Hill and May’s guidance, Beach Ball is in the early stages of turning into a standing start gem after previously being anything but from behind the tapes. With a 10m advantage of his main…
Racing Victoria announce 2024 Jumps Racing Program
Rockstar Ronnie ridden by Chris McCarthy clears a steeple on the way to winning the 2023 Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Racing Victoria (RV) has officially unveiled the schedule for the upcoming 2024 jumps racing season, closely resembling the successful 2023 season. The program comprises 19 jumps meetings throughout Victoria, including six exclusively for jumps riders. A total of 41 hurdle races and 24 steeplechase races are scheduled, providing an exciting season for enthusiasts. The season kicks off on Tuesday, March 12 at Warrnambool, the…
Bookie offers and promos for Friday horse racing | December 22
Horse racing bookmakers have unveiled an array of enticing racing promotions for Friday, December 22. Among the highlights are multiple generous bonus back offers that add an extra layer of excitement to your horse racing experience. Explore these free promotions from top online bookmakers to make the most of your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for December 22, 2023, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Cranbourne Races 1 & 2 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $50 Back a runner in races 1 & 2 at Cranbourne…