10 Points for happiness

THE life of Australia's most expensive yearling.

THE life of Australia's most expensive yearling - Black Caviar's $5millon half-brother - hangs in the balance.
Known as Jimmy, the unraced two-year-old colt is battling potentially lethal hoof disease laminitis.
Jimmy's fate is expected to be known in the next 24 hours as owners hold "grave fears for the colt."
Jimmy's owners BC3 Thoroughbreds believe the colt was bitten by a white tail spider, sparking the infection.
Jimmy was floated to the Werribee Veterinary Clinic two weeks ago after failing to shrug off the infection.
Simon Marshall, of BC3 Thoroughbreds, said Jimmy "is in a critical stage of the development of laminitis."
Laminitis is an insidious disease which affects hooved animals. The condition claimed the life of former champion mare Sunline.
BC3 Thoroughbreds said Jimmy reacted adversely to antibiotics given to treat the original infection.
"BC3 is disappointed to announce that our Redoute's Choice x Helsinge colt, known as Jimmy, has been suffering from an infected leg, believed to be caused by a white tail spider bite," BC3 Thoroughbreds said in a statement.
"He has been at the Werribee Clinic for the past two weeks where he has been receiving treatment.
"Unfortunately, during this time he suffered antibiotic derived diarrhoea and this has led to an onset of laminitis.
"While we hold grave concerns for his welfare, he is receiving the best veterinary care available from both Werribee Clinic and consultants from around the world."
BC3's CEO Craig Cameron said, "We hope that the next 48 hours provides more positive news."
Flemington Equine Veterinarian, Tom Brennan said: "The next 48 hours is critical in determining his future."
Jimmy holds the record as the highest-priced yearling ever sold in Australasia after he brought $5 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April.
BC3 Thoroughbred last year bought Jimmy's sister, Belle Couture. The filly is yet to race.
Trained by Team Hawkes, Jimmy is regarded as one of most valuable horses in Australia.
He is a half-brother to turf idol Black Caviar, who retired unbeaten after 25 starts, and also closely related to multiple Group 1 sprinter All Too Harder.

A Lesson in Creative Parenting

 It never ceases to amaze me how creative we can be.
I wish I was so clever… I would have loved to try this when they were younger.
 My Children have all grown up but some Christmas or get togethers I still think I could use the shirt.
FANTASTIC.

We breed them tough in Australia, "Great standardbred Horse"

 Standardbreds once again show their versatility
Thursday, October 10, 2013 - by Jessica Schroeder, USTA Outreach & Membership Enrichment Coordinator




Columbus, OH --- Standardbreds are so truly versatile that they can race and show in the same year, and sometimes even week by week.
The USTA sponsors divisions that promote such horses at the National and World Standardbred shows which concluded this past weekend. In the Fresh from/off the Track divisions at both shows, a horse must have raced in the current calendar year and compete in at least two of the three classes -- halter, under saddle and in harness.

Tommy Vosick, Jr. photo

Four Trumps A and Jennifer Daniels show off some of the ribbons he collected this past weekend.

Four Trumps A last raced on August 2 at Yonkers for co-owner and trainer Larry Stalbaum, arrived at New Vocations Racehorse Adoptions’ Laurelville, Ohio, facility on August 18, was promptly gelded and then trained for the World show that was presented by the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Ohio this past weekend, Oct. 5-6. He didn’t disappoint as he walked away with many ribbons and championships, including the USTA sponsored Fresh from the Track.
New Vocations trainer Jennifer Daniels was thrilled with how the horse transitioned from the racetrack to the show ring.
“I couldn’t be more proud of him, he’s been game for anything we’ve thrown at him over the last month,” said Daniels. “A nicer, sweeter horse is hard to come by -- even more amazing because he was a stallion until four weeks ago but you wouldn’t know it now.”
Four Trumps A earned $699,594 in eight years of racing. His lifetime best of 1:50.1 was taken at the veteran age of nine but the now 11-year-old is enjoying his “retirement” years.
“With less than a month of saddle training, this horse is now a marketable show horse with so many options possible,” explained Daniels. “Standardbreds are valuable and useful long after their racing days are finished. People that may have never crossed paths with a Standardbred before suddenly are curious about harness racing and the careers these horses had at the track.”

Bathurst 1000 drivers line - up.

Bathurst 1000 driver line-ups

1. Jamie Whincup-Paul Dumbrell, Red Bull Racing Australia/Triple Eight – Holden Commodore VF

2. Garth Tander-Nick Percat, Holden Racing Team/Walkinshaw Racing – Holden Commodore VF

3. Tony D'Alberto-Jonny Reid, Hiflex/Tony D'Alberto Racing – Holden Commodore VF

4. Lee Holdsworth-Craig Baird, Irwin Racing/Erebus Motorsport – Mercedes-Benz AMG E63

5. Mark Winterbottom-Steven Richards, Pepsi Max Crew/Ford Performance Racing – Ford Falcon FG

6. Will Davison-Steve Owen, Pepsi Max Crew/Ford Performance Racing – Ford Falcon FG

7. Todd Kelly-David Russell, Jack Daniel's Racing/Nissan Motorsport – Nissan Altima

8. Jason Bright-Andrew Jones, Team BOC/Brad Jones Racing – Holden Commodore VF

9. Maro Engel-Steve Johnson, SP Tools Racing/Erebus Motorsport – Mercedes-Benz AMG E63

12. Chaz Mostert-Dale Wood, Wilson Security/Dick Johnson Racing-Triple F Racing – Ford Falcon FG

14. Fabian Coulthard-Luke Youlden, Lockwood Racing/Brad Jones Racing – Holden Commodore VF

15. Rick Kelly-Karl Reindler, Jack Daniel's Racing/Nissan Motorsport – Nissan Altima

17. Tim Blanchard-Ash Walsh, Wilson Security/Dick Johnson Racing – Ford Falcon FG

18. Alex Davison-John McIntyre, Jeld-Wen/Charlie Schwerkolt Racing – Ford Falcon FG

19. Jonathon Webb-Marc Lieb, Darrell Lea/Tekno Autosports – Holden Commodore VF

21. David Wall-Chris Pither, Wilson Security Racing/Brad Jones Racing – Holden Commodore VF

22. James Courtney-Greg Murphy, Holden Racing Team/Walkinshaw Racing – Holden Commodore VF

33. Scott McLaughlin-Jack Perkins. Fujitsu Racing/Garry Rogers Motorsport – Holden Commodore VF

34. Alexandre Premat-Greg Ritter, Fujitsu Racing/Garry Rogers Motorsport – Holden Commodore VF

36. Michael Caruso-Daniel Gaunt, Norton/Nissan Motorsport – Nissan Altima

47. Tim Slade-Andrew Thompson, Heavy Haulage/JR Racing-Erebus Motorsport – Mercedes-Benz AMG E63

55. David Reynolds-Dean Canto, The Bottle-O Racing/Rod Nash Racing – Ford Falcon FG

66. Russell Ingall-Ryan Briscoe, Supercheap Auto Racing/Walkinshaw Racing – Holden Commodore VF

80. Scott Pye-Paul Morris, Ekol/Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport – Holden Commodore VF

88. Dean Fiore-Matt Halliday, Dodo Car Insurance/Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport – Holden Commodore VF

97. Shane van Gisbergen- Jeroen Bleekemolen, VIP Petfoods/Tekno Autosports – Holden Commodore VF

360. James Moffat-Taz Douglas, Norton/Nissan Motorsport – Nissan Altima

888. Craig Lowndes-Warren Luff, Red Bull Racing Australia/Triple Eight – Holden Commodore VF

Wildcard entry – Andy Priaulx-Mattias Ekstrom, Red Bull Racing Australia/Triple Eight wildcard entry – Holden Commodore VF

V8 Supercar Championship top 10 drivers after 28 races – 1. Jamie Whincup (Holden) 2147 points; 2. Craig Lowndes (H) 2051; 3. Will Davison (Ford) 2050; 4. Mark Winterbottom ( F) 1981; 5. James Courtney (H) 1909; 6. Fabian Coulthard (H) 1901; 7. Shane Van Gisbergen (H) 1770; 8. Jason Bright (H) 1715; 9. Garth Tander (H) 1680; 10. Scott McLaughlin (H) 1498.

V8 Supercar top teams – 1. Triple Eight Race Engineering 4238 points; 2. Ford Performance Racing 4056; 3. Brad Jones Racing 3661; 4. Holden Racing Team 3604; 5. Tekno Autosports 3199; 6. Garry Rogers Motorsport 2583.

3 POT HOLES.

Just recently we holidayed in the Northern Territory. We travelled over 3000 kms,and seen some  fantastic sights but what most impressed me were the roads.
In all of those kilometres there where only 3 pot holes (which our friend Chris F hit all).
The roads go though very extreme conditions with torrential rains, excessive heat, huge road trains plus great numbers of travelling tourists. In the 3 weeks we weren't stopped once for road works!!!! In Alice Springs we seen 2 council workers doing a concrete repair, ( no stop & go men, ) only 2 witches hats.
We arrived in Sydney and went 3 kms and were stuck in a traffic jam because of road works.
What has been your experience with roads around Australia

RBA INTEREST RATES

THE Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has left the cash rate on hold at 3.00 per cent at its first board meeting for 2013.
The decision to keep the cash rate unchanged was expected by most economists.
The RBA cut the cash rate four times between May and December in 2012, reducing the rate by 1.25 percentage points.