LONG time local racing administrator and participant, Chas Armytage, was last week elected chairman of the Country Racing Victoria (CRV) Board. 

Having been on the CRV Board for 20 years, after having served on the committee of the Hamilton Racing Club for over 20 years, including two terms as chairman, he brings a vast and diversified experience to the role.

Having also been a trainer in his own right where among his runners were well-known jumpers, Cash On and Psycho Craft, as well as successful flat performer Mister Lancelot.

Locals

THE locally part owned Lindelani ran on strongly for second over 3000m at Moonee Valley on Friday night last week, to continue her good form following a win at Bendigo over 2400m at her previous start.

A repeat of that form will see her well positioned to win a similar staying race at Moonee Valley in coming weeks. 

The locally part owned Declares War returns from a long break at Caulfield on Boxing Day in race seven, the Lord Stakes, a Listed event over 1700m.

To date, Caulfield hasn’t proven to be a favourable track for him, and he would certainly appreciate some give in the ground, which he is unlikely to get at Caulfield unless it rains. 

The now six-year-old gelding ran well, although beaten four lengths, first up at Caulfield over 1400m almost twelve months ago, before going on to win the Camperdown Cup over 1600m second up.

Jumps racing

A REVAMPED start to the 2022 jumps racing calendar was among several changes announced recently for next season. 

With jumps racing no longer part of the Oakbank program at Easter, jumps racing has been scheduled for Easter Monday at Pakenham in 2022.

 There has also been an addition early season benefiting Hamilton, with a Steeplechase added to its jumps program on Sunday April 3, seeing two Hurdle races and a Steeplechase now to be run that day - there were two Hurdle races on that similar race day earlier this year.

Prize money changes have also benefited clubs in the Western District with the Twin Rivers Steeplechase at Casterton on May 15 receiving a prize money lift of $25,000, taking the total prize money for the race to $100,000. 

Minimum prize money for jumps races in 2022 will rise from $25,000 to $35,000.

All up, there will be 19 jumps racing days in 2022, involving 42 Hurdle races and 24 Steeplechase races, before any divisions.  

Six of those jumps racing days will be held in this region, across Casterton, Hamilton and Coleraine.

It will be interesting to see the return of jumps racing in Victoria on Easter Monday next year, as many locals will remember when Penshurst raced on Easter Monday and the program featured a Steeplechase.

Happy New Year

THE 2021 Hamilton Cup winner, Yulong Captain, who subsequently had a name change to Team Captain is a stayer to follow in 2022. 

After winning the Hamilton Cup over 2200m in October, he went on to win very impressively over 2800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and backed that up with a huge run for third in the recent Pakenham Cup over 2400m, after sitting wide all the way. 

As a lightly raced, maturing stayer in the hands of Matt Cumani at Ballarat, it will be interesting to see where the stable targets the 6-year-old in 2022. 

A race like the Adelaide Cup could possibly be a target in the early months of next year.

Another highlight of 2022 is sure to be the swansong of the locally part owned champion jumper Gold Medals, when the 12-year-old will hopefully run in a final Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool in early May. 

As a 12-year-old, Gold Medals must retire by the end of this racing season.

Having won the race on two previous occasions and been placed on two other occasions, another win would be a fitting finale to the champion jumper’s career, but regardless he’ll bow out a champion jumper. 

In total, Gold Medals has started at nine Warrnambool May Carnival’s for twelve of his career starts over the three days.