Written by Paul Vettise
Cover image by Dam Himbrechts courtesy of AAP Photos
An exuberant post-race celebration following the G1 Golden Slipper S. has landed a long-serving employee of Gai Waterhouse’s stable a lengthy suspension.
Neil Paine’s post-Slipper antics after the victory of Farnan (Not A Single Doubt), in which he ran across the mounting yard to embrace Waterhouse’s training partner Adrian Bott, breached coronavirus protocols.
Neil Paine (left) | Image by Dam Himbrechts courtesy of AAP Photos
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Paine, who has been absent from the races throughout The Championships, has been banned by stewards from race meetings throughout April.
"I’m an excitable bloke. It was a Golden Slipper," Paine told the Herald. “I forgot all about (the restrictions) and I know I shouldn’t have done it. It’s happened. I’m sorry it did happen and from now on I’ll be careful when I return to the track.”
Paine can attend trackwork, but won't be able to attend the races until next month.
Latest from Europe
HKJC Sale delayed again
Courtesy of TDN Europe
The Hong Kong International Sale, during which the Hong Kong Jockey Club offers to its licensed owners the opportunity to purchase race-ready horses it has acquired at auction houses from either Hemisphere, has been postponed for the second time due to the COVID-19 situation, the South China Morning Post has reported.
The sale typically takes place on the Friday before the BMW Hong Kong Derby in a cocktail-hour type setting in the parade ring at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Sha Tin Racecourse
Officials at the HKJC tentatively rescheduled the event to Friday, May 8, but with a fresh set of coronavirus cases and tightened social distancing restrictions, the HKJC will now attempt to stage the event on May 23.
“The plan would be to not make it a big show like we normally do, it would be low key and to the minimum with no frills,” Jockey Club director of racing business and operations Bill Nader told SCMP.
“Should the sale proceed, it will do so without the horses acquired in the Southern Hemisphere, as flights have been severely impacted." - Bill Nader
“Should the sale proceed, it will do so without the horses acquired in the Southern Hemisphere, as flights have been severely impacted. There are 16 lots which are here from the Northern Hemisphere, they have been here with us for a while.
“The horses from Australia and New Zealand can’t get in at the moment so they have been pushed back to the second sale which is tentatively set for July 3, but again that is touch and go. That is our target at this point and as we get closer, it will firm up.”
Latest from America
Stallion fees waived
Courtesy of TDN America
Owner-breeder Chuck Fipke has waived 2020 stud fees on his seven stallions in an effort to support small breeders in the midst of the global pandemic.
“What can I say? Small breeders will especially be affected by the economic conditions and they are the backbone of this industry,” Fipke said in a statement released via Twitter through his consultant Sid Fernando Monday.
“None of my stallions stand for more than $5000 and they are primarily supported by small breeders. Because I own my stallions outright and don’t have shareholder responsibilities, I am able to do this, with the support of the farms where they stand.
“I’m passionate about this game and will continue to support my stallions and I’d like to show my appreciation for outside breeders who do so as well in these trying times.”
Fipke’s stallions standing at Darby Dan Farm are Bee Jersey (USA), Tale Of Ekati (USA), and Tale Of Verve (USA), standing at Colebrook Farms are Danish Dynaformer (Can) and Perfect Timber (Can), standing at Hidden Springs Farm is Forever D’Oro (USA) and standing at Daehling Ranch is Jersey Town (USA).
