RACING NSW will hold an inquiry into the breach of protocols by two Albury-based stablehands.
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Racing NSW confirmed they will hold an inquiry at a date to be fixed in regards to two stablehands making visits across the border into Victoria.
The visits, outside of work hours, are against Racing NSW's strict COVID protocols.
The two licensed persons have been ordered to self isolate for 14 days and have undergone COVID tests. The first has come back negative, with stewards awaiting the results of the second test.
The first breach occurred last Thursday, while the second happened on Tuesday.
Stewards understand their employer was not aware of the breaches at the time.
Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) chief steward Jason Schulz labelled the breaches as 'extremely disappointing'.
"We're treading on a tight bit of rope at the moment and if one person does happen to get it, it will not just be one track shut down, it will be the whole area, if not the state," Schulz warned.
The Albury trainer that employs both stablehands was disappointed in their behaviour but has also called for some perspective.
"They've been put in an extremely difficult situation and unfortunately they've mucked up and they will be dealt with accordingly," the trainer said.
"They are both people that have had their lives tipped upside down or faced unemployment. These young people are away from their girlfriends or boyfriends, away from their families, living and working with the same people, they go home to an Air B'n'B and then they come back to work. It's a pretty miserable existence."
Meantime, racing will return to Albury on Tuesday. Nominations have been extended until Thursday 11am and Schulz reminded industry participants that they are able to attend the meeting.
"It will go ahead subject to biosecurity measures and constant monitoring of what's going on in Melbourne," Schulz said.
"All NSW horses and trainers are allowed to be there."
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MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club will learn more about the fate of its multi-million dollar stabling project next month.
The MTC's development application is set to go to a council meeting on September 1 for approval.
The $6.8 million development is expected to accommodate more than 100 horses.
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ALBURY trainer Mitch Beer will head to Randwick on Saturday.
Hanger will resume in the $125,000 Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m), with Glen Boss in the saddle, while Princess Cordelia will run in the $125,000 Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m) with Tim Clark in the saddle.
Both horses are then likely to push on for Queensland campaigns and may be joined by Sunrise Ruby.
Beer plans to run both Sunrise Ruby and Mnementh at Randwick on Saturday week.
Beer recently lost a few of his Victorian-based horses, including Branders Rule who will have his first start for Peter Moody at Caulfield on Saturday.
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THE racing career of talented sprinter Pleasant has come to an end.
The Jerilderie sprinter was just run down in the shadows of the post by Logan River in the Wagga Whiz (1000m) at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Sunday.
A post race veterinary examination found Pleasant to have bled from both nostrils. It was the second occasion this has happened and the eight-year-old is now barred from racing in Australia.
Pleasant enjoyed a successful stint with Jerilderie trainer Phil Sweeney. He won four of his 11 starts for Sweeney, and six of his 20 starts overall.
A highlight of his career was winning last year's Wagga Whiz by a commanding nine lengths.
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PORT Macquarie apprentice jockey Georgina McDonnell is set to join the stable of leading trainer Trevor Sutherland.
McDonnell will join the Sutherland stable on a three-month loan and her first meeting upon arrival will be Wagga on August 27.
McDonnell is no stranger to the Southern District and has ridden at a number of recent meetings. She enjoyed success for Sutherland on Real Key at Leeton last month,
McDonnell can be contacted for rides through her agent, Graeme Flyght on 0421 818 667.
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TREVOR Sutherland dominated the Murrumbidgee Turf Club awards for the 2019-20 season.
The MTC handed out their awards for the previous racing season at Sunday's race meeting.
Sutherland took out the Wagga trainer's premiership, while his stable cleaned up in the horse of the year awards.
Jungle Book won Wagga Horse of the Year and Stayer of the Year, on top of his win in the Wagga Stayers Series.
Blazing Zone was named 3YO of the Year, while Come Get Me won 2YO of the Year.
Tim Donnelly won the best winning strike rate award.
At Albury, it was a three-way tie for Horse of the Year between Straover, Falling Waters and Hazel's Diary.
Mitch Beer won the trainer's premiership, while Blaike McDougall was the leading jockey.
The SDRA Awards will be presented after it's annual general meeting in November.
Unfortunately, the likes of News Girl and Lord Von Costa will not meet the criteria for SDRA Horse of the Year due not having had a minimum of three starts in the district throughout the season.
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HARDEN and District Picnic Race Club and Young's Burrangong Picnic Race Club are the latest clubs to pull the pin on their annual race meetings.
The Harden committee made the difficult decision to cancel the meeting that was set for Saturday, October 24.
The 'sad' decision was made due to coronavirus and the strict restrictions and protocols that the club was required to follow in the lead up to the meeting and on race day.
The club is looking forward to returning bigger and better in 2021, where they will celebrate their 40th race meeting.
Burrangong has also cancelled it's meeting that was down for Saturday, October 10 at Young for the same reasons.
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THE racing industry is mourning the loss of Gowan Williams, who passed away on Tuesday, aged 79.
Williams operated Aimer Racing Services and was one of the most respected and knowledgeable statisticians in Australian racing.
He pioneered the development and maintenance of computerised form and comprehensive details for race meetings conducted around the state in the 1970s, when horse racing form was a combination of written records and cards.
A big advocate of country racing, Williams was also responsible for tallying the Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) premierships until recent years.
"Gowan Williams was a person who worked hard behind the scenes and was a real quiet achiever," Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys AM said.
"He represented what's great in our industry as he was a person that put his heart and soul into racing and never sought any reward or acknowledgement."
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WHAT'S ON
GALLOPS
Saturday: Narrandera (TAB)
Tuesday: Albury (TAB)
TROTS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Tuesday: Leeton (TAB)
DOGS
Thursday: Wagga (TAB)