Matt Stewart

The wave of success from Australia’s female jockeys, including Saturday’s clean sweep of all races at Morphettville, owes much to the hard-won gains of those trailblazers who came before, writes Matt Stewart.

For over a decade, the progeny of Wordsmith, most carrying the Gee Gees moniker, dominated Tasmanian racing. But with the passing of owner Paul Geard and the retirement of the prolific chestnut from stud, that era is coming to an end.

The bookies’ ring at Warrnambool may have been a hive of activity, but a busy day on the bag is fast becoming a thing of the past, writes Matt Stewart.

Does the exponential rise in the popularity of campdrafting in rural and outback Australia threaten the grassroots of thoroughbred racing?

For a country that knows a thing or two about sporting comebacks, the lifting of the European Union ban on thoroughbred exports represents an opportunity for a racing renaissance in South Africa.

With racing jurisdictions shutting up shop around the world, including in Macau this weekend, globetrotting administrator and racing steward Fin Powrie tells Matt Stewart that there are cautionary tales for Australia’s racing future.