The weekly TAB Highways have become something of a holy grail for NSW country trainers. Goulburn’s Tash Burleigh was beginning to think she’d never win one of the darn things.

I’ve often wondered how a trainer like Chris Waller views a race in which he has multiple representation. With just twenty horses in work David Payne rarely has that problem, although he found himself with a duo to watch in Saturday’s BM78 at Rosehill.

I was deeply saddened to learn of Bruce Cox’s passing last Friday evening at age 84. Bruce was my race day assistant. He painstakingly recorded the details of every race and answered phone calls from stewards, race club staff or the television and radio stations we were servicing on the day.

The ever astute Toby Edmonds subscribes to the theory that a good memory is a prime requisite for any horse trainer.

It was ace photographer Steve Hart who first put the idea of an annual jockeys reunion to NSW Jockeys Association CEO Tony Crisafi.

Ron Quinton is as sentimental as the next bloke when it comes to the important milestones in his long and distinguished career. The legendary horseman saddled up only one member of his twenty horse team on Saturday, and that was Miss Mya.

Veteran trainer Charlie Porter shakes his head in disbelief every time he watches Mr Polar race past the post in front. The gelding did exactly that at Gosford on Saturday, when he led most of the way to win the last of seven races on a Heavy 10 track.

It’s starting to look like Melanie O’Gorman was fated to own So Country from the outset. That certainly wasn’t her intention when she secured the son of Shamexpress for $100,000 at the 2019 Classic Yearling Sale.

Those with long memories in Queensland racing say that Rex Lipp first hinted at retirement after winning the Queensland Oaks with Tinto in 2014.

A win with Lights On The Hill at Moruya on Friday put Jamie Stewart in the right frame of mind for the long trip to Rosehill with Iconic Dame the following morning.

Brett Thompson pulled off a training performance worthy of the Hygain/Mitavite monthly award when he dominated the Gulgong Cup meeting on June 12th.

There were a number of classy riding displays at Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting, none better than Larry Cassidy’s performance on the fashionably bred Tyresa in the two year old stakes race.

“She makes it look so easy,” were the words of trainer Grahame Begg after Saturday’s A.R. Creswick Stakes at Flemington. He was of course referring to the strapping bay filly Passive Aggressive.

John Steinmetz was about to leave the 2018 Inglis Scone Yearling Sale when he decided to cast his eye over a Casino Prince colt he’d spotted in the catalogue.

Looks Like Elvis would have attracted an army of omen players when he lined up in Saturday’s Winter Championship Heat at Flemington.

Marc Conners felt sick in the stomach when he saw Brenton Avdulla ease Winning Verse right out of the race to finish a distant last in a BM72 at Randwick on April 23rd.

A host of old friends turned out last Sunday night to farewell Brian Wood from the Warwick Farm racing scene - a place he’d called home for fifty six years.

Walcha trainer George Woodward clinched the May award with a stellar day at Glen Innes on May 7th. The 76 year old took eight horses to the meeting and came away with three winners, two seconds and one quinella.

Those who had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of Lester Piggott never forgot the occasion. The tall, gangly, poker faced horseman with the trademark mutter presented a countenance that gave little away.

Those who had visions of Blake Ryan high-fiving everyone in sight after Momack’s Rosehill Midway win, were doomed to disappointment.