OUTGOING Southern District chief steward Jason Shultz has conceded the recent behaviour of Albury trainers is a concern.
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Albury trainers Gordon Yorke, Norm Loy and Garry Worsnop all received penalties from Racing NSW stewards last Friday.
Yorke was disqualified for four and a half months for improper conduct stemming from an argument with Loy. Worsnop was fined $400 for an inappropriate comment made to Yorke, while Loy is appealing a three month disqualification for a drunken Facebook post directed at NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Shultz, who finishes up on Friday to begin a position with Racing Victoria, admitted the behaviour of Albury trainers was disappointing.
"It's just childish, the behaviour down there. I won't say from all of them but a small majority of them, basically," Shultz said.
"The large majority do the right thing but a small percentage of the racing population are letting the larger population down."
Shultz said stewards will be left with no alternative other than to come down hard on those who continue to do the wrong thing.
"Penalties are seen to be deterrents and a message to stop to such actions. It doesn't look good for the image of racing when events such as these occur," he said.
Shultz revealed the latest dramas come just over 12 months after he held a meeting with Albury trainers regarding some issues there.
"It would have been just over 12 months ago, I'd had enough of it down there, between the club and myself, we made them all come down and basically told them that they need to pull their heads in," he said.
The fun and games continued into this week with Yorke telling The Border Mail that Loy, among other things, needs to 'grow up'.
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EXCITING Wagga three-year-old Rocket Tiger will bypass the spring carnival.
Rocket Tiger took all before him in the autumn, culminating in a 10th place finish in the Golden Slipper.
Rocket Tiger returned for his spring campaign where it was found that an injury from a paddock mishap proved to be worse than first thought.
A scintigraphy revealed a hairline fracture to the shoulder. Rocket Tiger will leave his box for the spelling paddock in a week's time.
"You won't see him until the autumn," Spackman said.
"It will be good for him. He hasn't had a decent break."
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COROWA sprinter Front Page has come up with the inside marble for Saturday's group two appearance at Flemington.
Front Page has drawn barrier one for Saturday's $300,000 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m).
Lewis German retains the ride and Front Page will carry just 53 kilograms.
The listed winner continues his comeback on the back of a first-up fourth placing at Moonee Valley.
On Saturday he will go up against the likes of Zoutori, Jonker and Away Game, just to name a few, in a competitive line-up at Flemington.
Front Page is being aimed towards the $1.3 million Kosciuszko at Randwick on October 16, with the slots for the race draw on Thursday.
On the Kosciuszko, Albury trainer Mitch Beer has booked Glen Boss to ride Sunrise Ruby, should she successfully secure a place in the field.
Boss rode Sunrise Ruby to victory in her Highway in July.
Meantime, Jawwaal will contest the $50,000 Murray Mallee Sprint Final (1200m) at Swan Hill on Friday.
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RETIRED Corowa sprinter News Girl is to be sold as a broodmare.
Connections of the accomplished mare made the difficult decision to sell her last week on the back of the reoccurrence of her tendon injury.
The large syndicate of owners were divided on whether to keep News Girl themselves as a broodmare before finally opting to put her up for sale.
News Girl, a three-time city winner and placegetter at group level, will be auctioned online at an upcoming Inglis Digital sale.
"She left the stable on the weekend and went down to the Phoenix Broodmare Farm at Euroa," Paul Duryea told The Border Mail.
"The reproductive expert there does all the relevant checks on mares to see if they are suitable for breeding.
"Some of the syndicate members wanted to keep her and some wanted to sell.
"A lot of the bigger studs in Australia have contacted the stable and shown some interest in buying her.
Duryea also revealed News Girl's tendon injury wasn't as serious as initially thought.
"The tendon flared up but it didn't let go like last time," he said.
"But her racing days are definitely over and we realise how lucky we were to have her in the stable."
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TWO Wagga horses have come up with horror barrier draws for Saturday's $100,000 TAB Highway Class Three Handicap (1400m) at Kembla Grange.
Wagga trainer-jockey Mick Travers came up with the outside gate, barrier 18, for Mathrin, while Gary Colvin's Nic's Hero was only one better in barrier 17.
Colvin made the decision to tackle the Highway after some strong work from Nic's Hero this week.
"I thought the 1200 the other day (at Wagga), he showed he's looking for 1400 now. He had a bit of bad luck there last run," Colvin said.
"I worked him with Another One (on Tuesday) and that made my decision. He went very well with him.
"If we spell him, he won't get another chance at a Highway. I think most of the good horses went to the (Randwick) Highway last week and I think my horse wants 1400 so we'll give him a crack."
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LOCKHART Picnic Race Club have made the difficult decision to abandon their annual race meeting for a second consecutive year.
This year's event was set to be held on Friday, October 1 and the club's committee had put in a lot of hard work to ensure the popular race day returned successfully after last year's cancellation.
"The safety of the Lockhart community is something that should not be put at risk, and the LPRC committee believes it to be of best interest not to hold our event on October 1st," club president William Lane wrote in a letter to members.
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RACING NSW are advertising for four independent director positions at Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
The two-year term of the four Racing NSW-appointed directors is drawing to a close.
Three of the previously Racing NSW-appointed directors, Simon Rosengren, Peter Twomey and Scott Oehm, are all seeking reappointment.
Kerri Reberger, an elected MTC director previously, will look to take the fourth appointed position.
MTC president Geoff Harrison hopes all four remain on the board.
"The three guys have got the runs on the board over the last two years, while Kerri's been there seven or eight years and has plenty of runs on the board as well," Harrison said.
Applications for the positions close on Monday, September 27.
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WHAT'S ON
GALLOPS
Saturday: Griffith (TAB)
Tuesday: Corowa (TAB)
TROTS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Tuesday: Young (TAB)
DOGS
Friday: Temora (TAB)
