A rainy day’s racing

A wet and muddy track saw plenty of trainers and owners withdraw from the day’s races. 

It didn’t deter locals though with trainers from Bendemeer, Walcha, Guyra and Glen Innes among the day’s winners. 

"We were quite happy with the day, it turned out alright considering it never stopped raining all day,” Armidale Jockey Club’s secretary manager Jim Dedes said. 

"If it wasn't for the weather we probably would have had twice the crowd there but at least we got through the day. 

"Some people think you might only have one or two races and then have them called off.” 

In the Craig Ball Bricklaying Maiden Plate, Jane Clement-trained Miami Jetstream beat Guyra trainer’s Sathern to the line by a whisker.  

Race two saw Walcha trainer George Woodward get the win with Cathay Belle. 

Paul Grills’ Muddy Hole surged past Miss Tickles for her first career win in race three. 

Grills said he didn’t expect her to come home as strong as she did considering the quality of horses she was up against and the boggy conditions. 

“I didn't think the wet track would help her, I thought it would slow her down, especially when I looked at the fields this morning,” he said.

“When it was a heavy 8 and I saw the rest of the field I thought we were in trouble.

“She handled the wet track a lot better than I thought she would.”

Glen Innes based trainer Paddy Cunningham took out the fourth race for the day with Kylie’s Rocking. 

Cunningham said the heavy track conditions played a part in how jockey Jackson Murphy rode the mare to the victory in the 1300 metre race. 

"She is not known as a real good wet tracker so we just had to tell the apprentice that was riding her to hold her head up and hold on to her as long as he could because if she starts slipping, she won't really like going forward,” he said. 

Scone trainers won races five and six with Maddie De Belle and Roulette Belle. 

Armidale Jockey Club now turn to their next race day on Sunday, November 6.