Newton Reschedule Mildmay

It was a shame that Newton Abbot have had to abandon the first day of their big summer fixture on Saturday.  Given the amount of rain that we have been enduring it is hardly surprising, but you do have to feel for the course - you don't expect to lose your main meeting to rain at this time of the year!  It will surely cost them through the gate and behind the bar, but they must be congratulated on moving fast to rearrange the valuable (Listed) Lord Mildmay Chase to the Sunday...providing that passes an inspection of course!  With the forecast set fair for the remainder of the weekend, let's hope that it goes ahead and the course is rewarded with a bumper turnout on Sunday.

This afternoon there are four flat meetings taking place at Wolverhampton, Salisbury, Sandown and Thirsk, as well as a jumps card at Bangor.  The Salisbury evening meeting looks to be a competitive one with a decent looking Listed race on the card.  Local trainer Richard Hannon seems to have assembled a strong team for the meeting and leading flat jockey Richard Hughes should be able to put a few more winners on the board in his quest for an elusive first title.

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I see that the Injured Jockeys' Fund are holding a golf day at one of local courses, Dainton Park on 21st September.  Teams of four can enter for £180 - that includes a bacon roll and coffee on arrival as well as a two course meal after you have finished playing.  You would need Sir Mark Prescott to handicap your team, you should have a little bit in hand then!  Anyway, it sounds like being a good day so if you are interested in participating call 01392 832599.

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I had no idea that greyhounds cost so much money.  I was amazed to see one advertised in the paper for £6,000 (or £5,000 to stay with it's trainer).  It is obviously a bit useful as other dogs advertised range in price from £300 to £1,000...for £6,000 I would almost want it to win the Greyhound Derby!

Talking of greyhounds, I see that one of my old haunting grounds Brighton dog track is running a promotional offer in the Racing Post.  If you take the advertisement to one of their meetings you will get free entry every Tuesday...at least they are trying to get the punters in - race courses take note!

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It is hard to believe that Rory McIlroy is an 11/10 shot to beat Tiger Woods in the Deutsche Bank Championships that starts today.  Go back a few years and Tiger would have been a very short price to win the tournament and Rory would have still been at school!  How times have changed.