NSW: Party on again at Randwick

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2007
NSW: Party on again at Randwick

By Caryl Williamson

SYDNEY, Dec 1 AAP - Grey skies and constant drizzle could not dampen the enthusiasm
of the crowd which packed Randwick Racecourse today to welcome racing back to Sydney.

More than 20,000 people turned out in their finest for the first metropolitan race
meeting since equine influenza (EI) hit more than three months ago.

Australian Idol winner Natalie Gauci entertained patrons but it was an idol of the
turf who set them alight when Takeover Target chased Dance Hero down to win the day's
feature, the $100,000 Arrowfield Stud Sprint.

The international sprint champion's jockey Jay Ford said he could hear the crowd cheering
the favourite home.

"You could really hear the crowd roaring from the 100 metres and especially when we
went over the line," Ford said.

"It's great to be back racing again and to have all these people turn out."

Although the champagne and beer were flowing all day, racegoers were there for more
than just a party.

With form experts conducting clinics on how to find a winner, the punters did their
best with bookmakers reporting brisk business.

"I'm a little rusty but I'm happy to be back," leading bookie Col Tidy said.

"The size of the crowd has surprised me and they are here to bet - which has been quite
a revelation.

"The atmosphere's good and although the first three races went the bookies' way, after
that I've just broken square."

Randwick was the first Sydney training precinct to succumb to equine flu on August
30 with Warwick Farm and Rosehill following over the next few weeks.

Biosecurity measures are likely to remain in place for some months but are barely noticeable
for racegoers with just a couple of extra fences separating horses and people.

Although Gai Waterhouse, the leading trainer at Randwick, was unable to be at the track
because she was on an overseas holiday, she kept in touch by listening to the race broadcasts
on her mobile phone from New York.

The flow-on effect from the outbreak has meant the loss of jobs and tens of millions
of dollars and an inquiry into how the disease infiltrated Australia is ongoing.

But for a few hours those problems were forgotten as everyone remembered what it was
they used to do on Saturday afternoons.

AAP cw/cjh/de

KEYWORD: RANDWICK FRONTER (PIX AVAILABLE)

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