Four horses — Fraaclase, Lady Avacan, Sandhill Prince and Swooper — crossed the line locked together, forcing judges to bunker down and check the photo finish.

Bordertown trainer Sam Turner was able to extend his lead in the Limestone Coast trainers’ premiership when judges announced a dead heat between Fraaclase, ridden by an excited Kane Post and the Sue Jaensch trained Lady Avacan, which had Matthew Neilson in the saddle.

Lady Avacan won the 2009 Naracoorte Cup and Jaensch was exuberant about the mare’s performance.

“It technically might not be an outright win, but I’m going to claim it and I don’t mind sharing the honours with Sam,” she said.

The cup meeting started off in dramatic fashion when apprentice jockey Jake Duffy won the opening race on My Way (trained by Sue Murphy) but was dislodged some 50 metres past the finish post. He was dragged along for a further 60 metres and suffered a broken wrist.

The next spot of drama started before Race 2 even begun.

On their way to the barriers, the Chad Lever ridden Kotor, reared and bucked through the outside rail and was subsequently ruled a late scratching.

Lever doubled that up in Race 4 when his mount, Nevajoe simply refused to race.

Lever had mounted Nevajoe three times, but the stubborn 4yo chestnut gelding didn’t want to play the game and was also a late scratching.

Highlights of an entertaining day’s racing included the maiden performance of Globalwarminsceptic in Race 2, a new 1000 metre track record set by the Darryl Dodson trained Riahgrand in Race 3 and the Naracoorte track love affair that the Ricky Bruhn trained Zedawind obviously has.

The reigning Limestone Coast horse-of-the-year has now raced seven times at Naracoorte and amazingly has won every time.

Neilson is riding in career best form and with 16 local winners, now leads Dominic Tourneur by one.

A double to Naracoorte trainer Sue Jaensch on the same programme resulted in her securing second spot for that title, five astern of Sam Turner of Bordertown.

Veteran galloper Da Thong overcame a run of outs and stepped up to open company in fine fashion by winning Sunday’s feature race, the $10,000 Tatiara Summer Cup.

Unplaced at his previous five runs and having only his second run over 1900 metres, Da Thong finished too powerfully to deny the favourite, Fraaclase a home town victory.

For Mount Gambier trainer Jamie Opperman, it was his first local cup of the current season and he has now moved to fourth position on the trainer’s premiership ladder.

Yet another frustrating placing for Fraaclase, his fourth over the 1900 metre journey, while the minor placegetter, Mytika had every chance at the youngster’s first start in open company.

Neilson’s winners included Reignsgold (trained at Strathalbyn by Barry Dunn), Djatala and Kanejake out of the Sue Jaensch stables at Naracoorte and Zaazip (Karen Byrnes, Murray Bridge).

It was girl power in the Mundulla Hosted Accommodation — Curlew Park Handicap when jockeys, Tille Neve, Kate Dyson and Claudia Lions filled the first three placings.

Neve kicked hom Let Go Johnny to victory for Murray Bridge trainer John Hickmott, while Dyson guided Under The Radar into second and Lions was on board third placegetter Rain Strategy.

A couple of late scratchings in Texan Warney and Storm Veil in he Jolpac Rural Supplies Handicap affected betting fluctuations for the 1900 metre race, which was won by the Gary Searle trained Achtachan and ridden by Adrian Patterson.

This Sunday will see the richest race meeting of the local season to date with the ever popular Naracoorte Cup fixture.

The Mount Gambier Racing Club formerly announced O’Donnell’s appointment this week as media hype for the May 20–21 carnival begins.

O’Donnell played six Tests and 87 One Day Internationals for Australia in a career spanning 1984–93, including the 1985 Ashes tour of England.

Although born in Deniliquin — on Australia Day, 1963 — O’Donnell played Sheffield Shield cricket for Victoria and captained that state to victory in 1991.

He was a member of the Australian winning World Cup team in 1987 and was named International Cricketer-of-the-Year in 1990–91.

A top class all-rounder, O’Donnell once held the record for the fastest ODI half century, 18 balls versus Sri Lanka in Sharjah in 1990.

As a footballer, O’Donnell played 24 senior games with St Kilda in the AFL between 1982–83 after being recruited from famed Assumption College in Kilmore.

A television and radio sports commentator, O’Donnell also has an intense interest in horse racing.

He is currently one of two company directors of OTI Racing and Bloodstock, alongside Terry Henderson, co-owner of former Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winner, Doriemus.

O’Donnell’s appointment as Gold Cup ambassador has arisen largely because of a liaison with Mount Gambier sporting identity Shane Dycer, who bought into a percentage of 2009 Melbourne Cup runner, Basaltico.

Outgoing MGRC manager Ben Faulkner said: “The club has great pleasure in announcing Simon O’Donnell as ambassador for the 2010 Scott Group of Companies Gold Cup Carnival.

“The Gold Cup Carnival has grown into the biggest sporting and social event in Mount Gambier and to have someone with Simon’s stature, not only in the racing industry but sports and media fields, national promotion of the event will be increased, with benefits seen not only by the MGRC but the business community of Mount Gambier as well.”

Meanwhile this year’s Gold Cup — with the help of the Scott Group of Companies — has been increased in prizemoney — $40,000 from $15,000 last year.

And in further good news for the Gold Cup carnival, leading Australian jockey Danny Nikolic is reportedly keen to race at Allan Scott Glenburnie Racecourse.

Barker won his seventh Gold Cup, when he piloted Adda Paternal Suit to a one-sided 7.5 metre victory over Lot Of Lip, driven by Heath Bourke, son of trainer Barry Bourke from Portland and the other heat winner from the previous week, the Margaret Lee trained Jilliby Jamila, driven by claiming reinsman Glen Craven.

Barker’s previous Gold Cup wins included four in a row from 1989, 2004 and 2006.

It was also the third time he has combined with Smythes Creek trainer Peter Tonkin to claim the Mount Gambier Harness Club’s feature race after driving Blurmidge in 1989 and Brim Brim Kate in 1992.

And the win broke the deadlock of six Gold Cup wins he shared with his father, Jim, going into the meeting.
Jim drove Watertch — trained by Rod — but could only manage fourth.

For Tonkin, who prepared no less than 11 horses at last Friday’s meeting, it was his fourth Gold Cup after also winning in 2002 with Mighty Good Fella when Allan McDonough had the drive.

At last Thursday’s pre-cup calcutta at the International Hotel, Adda Paternal Suit attracted the highest bid, “bought” for $2650 and on course on race night, barely drifted from its $1.70 opening price.

Other fancies from the calcutta included Jilliby Jamila ($900), Go Girlfriend ($850), Takeabow ($750) and Lot Of Lip ($700) and the total pool stretched to more than $7000.

MGHC president Mr Phil Wood was ecstatic with the crowd, which produced gate takings of more than $8000 and with the betting turnover on Unitab, which totalled $237,096, more than $65,000 up on last year.

“Betting on course was over $42,500, which was also up $5000 on 2009,” Mr Wood said.

The cup — which is expected to carry a $30,000 purse, will also be transferred from Penola to Allan Scott Glenburnie Racecourse and is expected to attract an increase in attendance and betting turnover, both with bookmakers and the TAB on and off course.

Negotiations between Limestone Coast Thoroughbred Racing, the Thoroghbred Racing South Australian and the Millicent and Mount Gambier racing clubs have been in progress for some weeks and the deal was formally agreed to last Friday.

Yesterday, Millicent Racing Club president Mr Peter Burdon, joined forces with Paul Connell (LCTR), Tim Lewis (The Border Watch) and Ben Faulkner (MGRC) to welcome the good news.

Adelaide’s scheduled Saturday race meeting that weekend — featuring the Goodwood Handicap — at Allan Scott Park Morphettville will be transferred to the Sunday, allowing for the Millicent Cup to be held on Saturday, May 1.

Part of the switch coincides with the Adelaide v Port Adelaide AFL game at AAMI Stadium on May 1 and is a cross promotion between the football and racing codes.

The 2010 Millicent Cup has also been lifted from a 1700 metre race to 2050 metres and will be a strong forerunner to the Mount Gambier Gold Cup, which is scheduled for May 21.

Moving the cup to a Saturday is a huge boost for the code locally, but will also clash with other sporting events, including two Western Border Football League matches, West Gambier v Casterton and North Gambier v Imperials, as well as the scheduled round of Mid South East Football League matches.

The anticipated eight race card will have $129,000 in prizemoney, making it the richest one day race meeting ever held on the Limestone Coast.

Whilst this year’s Cup was held in near perfect weather, the 2008 race was hindered by consistent and heavy rain and the crowd was down considerably on expectations.

Next year’s cup carnival is scheduled for May 20–21, but rumours abound that the 2011 carnival could be held on March 25 and 27, a Friday and a Sunday to maximise TAB and weekend coverage.

For many years the cup carnival was held in June and suffered wintry conditions before moving — earlier this decade — to its now traditional mid-May timeslot.

The 2010 Gold Cup has also undergone a massive financial boost, with the purse enjoying a 60pc increase from $25,000 to $40,000, mainly because of the elevation of the Mount Gambier Racing Club to provincial status.

Racing South Australia media spokeswoman Samantha Munt could not confirm that the proposed 2011 dates had been agreed on yet, adding that a preliminary race program for 2010-11 would be released early next year.

Meanwhile the Glenburnie track is about to undergo some serious drainage work on its steeplechase track.

Work is expected to start this Saturday and if successful a similar procedure will then be applied to the track proper.

With the track suffering drainage problems when it rains — already the first two meetings of this season were lost — and the club is working hard to rectify things.

The MGRC will host a twilight meeting tomorrow night with an eight race card, the first scheduled to start at 2.19pm.

A free bus service to the track will depart from the South Aussie Hotel at 1.30pm and return to the city area at around 8.30pm.

The last race is timed at 6.50pm, while local band Hoody & Fab will provide musical entertainment between 5.30–8.30pm and for the younger generation, a visit from Santa Claus is expected at around 5pm.

Jumps trainer John O’Connor, from Mingbool, described the decision as a shock and said it could lead to the demise of jumps racing in South Australia.

The decision by Victoria’s peak racing body follows 10 horse deaths during races and compulsory trials this year.

The stunning announcement is also expected to devastate the small Casterton Racing Club that boasts the only live steeplechase hedges in Australia.

Mr O’Connor, whose family has been a major part of the jumps racing landscape in the district for more than 100 years, said massive protests were likely.

“The jumps racing industry will not just lay down and let it die without a fight,” said Mr O’Connor, who has won a string of steeplechases at Mount Gambier’s Gold Cup carnival.

“The Victorian board is in for a bit of a shock.”

The outspoken trainer said the problem was linked to the number and type of fences that were being used in Victoria.

He said fences were bolder in England, which encouraged horses to jump higher over the barriers and not just spear through them like what was happening in Victoria.

“I only had to destroy one horse during my years as a trainer,” said Mr O’Connor, who has been training jumps horses for more than 50 years.

“If they spear through the brush fences and only land on one leg they are in big trouble because they move with such speed.

“At the moment they are taking the fences too cheaply.”

He said the decision meant a “lot of worry” for local jumps trainers and it came without warning.

“I think it can survive in South Australia for another three years,” Mr O’Connor said.

He also described Racing Victoria Limited as having too much power over the industry.

Mount Gambier jumps trainer Richard Nicholson also expressed his disappointment with the announcement.

“The decision will have a dramatic impact on the industry,” Mr Nicholson said.

He doubted whether jumps racing would survive in Mount Gambier because it relied on jockeys and horses from Victoria to boost numbers.

Regarding claims the sport was cruel, Mr Nicholson said: “Horses who do not want to jump, won’t jump.”

He said such suggestions were being made from “ill-informed people”.

Meanwhile, the Board of Thoroughbred Racing SA — the controlling body for horse racing in South Australia — has expressed its disappointment at the Victorian decision.

Chairman Philip Bentley said the decision would have major ramifications for the South Australian jumps racing industry in the next few years.

“The decision of Racing Victoria Limited will go down in history as the beginning of the end of a proud tradition,” Mr Bentley said.

“Jumps races have been a part of the thoroughbred industry almost from its inception and now the leaders of the heartland of jumps racing have said after 2010 there will be no more.

“This decision is most regrettable and is not a moment to be proud of.”

While facing a huge hurdle, Mr Bentley said Thoroughbred Racing SA did not intend to copy Victoria’s decision.

“The Victorian decision also creates an unfortunate precedent for the industry, as the same group who have lobbied against jumps racing have also advocated phasing out the racing of two-year-olds,” Mr Bentley said.

“The board of Thoroughbred Racing SA supports all sectors of our industry and we will continue to program jumps racing as long as there is a supply of horses, jockeys and trainers to make race fields viable.”

He said the organisation would also attempt to attract trainers and horses from across the border.

Trained at Mount Gambier by Chris Oxlade, the winner was ridden by top female jockey Linda Meech.

Female part-owner, strapper and track-rider Lauren Oxlade said that she was pretty much a “one-person show” at the Ballan Cup meeting, bringing it to the races alone on the long drive from Mount Gambier. She also rides the horse in track work.

On a dead track, Orchestra Stalls won by almost a length from Packing Hero and Great Steps in the very fast time of 1.29.97 just outside of the track record of 1.29.1 held by New Zealand galloper Alderson.

Although a seven year old, Orchestra stalls has started just 24 times for five wins and 13 placings

Presenting the trophies for the Cup, Ballan Jockey Club president Robert Eskdale said the great crowd turn-out and excellent fields for the races indicated that his club was still very healthy.

“The club’s been going for 147 years and with the success of today’s meeting, we’ll be around for quite a while yet,” Mr Eskdale said.

In sunny weather, there was a record crowd estimated at over 3200. All dining packages in the Briseis stand were booked out with 400 people enjoying the races from there.

The 35-year-old Adelaide based jockey — formerly of West Australia — fell from the Mount Gambier trained Red Ranger in the $6250 Bullarook Park Stud Class 2 Handicap (1200m), the fifth of eight races on the program.

Red Ranger, trained by Dennis O’Leary fell just 200m from the start, which had already been delayed by more than 10 minutes when the Darryl Dodson trained galloper Alcantra (ridden by Kane Post) became factious in the barrier and got stuck under the stalls.

Alcantra was withdrawn from the race on veterinary advice.

Tourneur suffered a twisted right ankle because of Red Ranger’s fall and as a result, another horse, Red Fighter dislodged his jockey John Dertilis.

Tourneur’s injury ruled him out of the last three races of the day, misisng out on second placegetters, Orchestra Stalls (ridden by Jeffrey Maund) and Evenmoreaction (Justin Potter).

“I’m a bit sore at the moment, but I’m hopeful of being right for the ride at Flemington next week,” Tourneur said.

Earlier in the day, Tourneur had won on the Michael O’Leary trained Carthy Road in the $6250 Eliza Park Stud Sabis Maiden Plate.

Tourneur is booked to ride the Jake Stephens trained Alcopop in next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.

Tourneur has never raced in the nation’s greatest race and in fact has never even been to Flemington. He will make his maiden appearance on the day that stops the nation.

While the fall from Red Ranger is a hindrance, he is expected to be fit to take his ride on Alcopop, which late yesterday was equal $6.50 favourite with Efficient and last year’s Melbourne Cup and recent Caulfield Cup winner, Viewed, which is out of the in-form Bart Cummings’ stable.

Tourneur won the ride on Alcopop after regular jockey Matthew Neilson had won the Balaklava Cup in early September but was subsequently suspended for seven meetings for causing interference over the concluding stages.

Tourneur has since joined forces with Jake Stephens and Alcopop to victory at his past two outings.

Sunday’s race meeting at Glenburnie was a good one for local trainers, jockeys and owners.

Mount Gambier based trainers Wayne Walters and Michael O’Leary both scored winning doubles.

Walters won back-to-back races with Iza Comin and Bombay Flyer, both times with his daughter Melissa Walters in the saddle.

Melissa’s sister Kate was also in the winner’s circle, riding Ultra Savings in the last race.

O’Leary’s two winners were Carthy Road and Our Scene, while trainers Darren Kolpin (Roswood Manor), Belinda O’Loughlin (Lord Charles) and Jamie Opperman (Ultra Savings) also got in on the act.

O’Loughlin’s Lord Charles win was made all that much sweeter with her husband Geoff riding the 4yo Biancini-Exotic Bay gelding to victory in the $6259 Bullarook Park Stud Class 2 Handicap over 1200m.

It was Geoff O’Loughlin’s first winning ride since coming out of a two year retirement.

Stewards decided to abandon the schedule of eight races around 6.30am due to surface water, according to club general manager Ben Faulkner.

The decision followed the cancellation of the club’s first race meeting of the season a fortnight ago after rain in the lead-up to the event.

“Racetracks are classed as a workplace for jockeys these days and all work environments must be safe, which is why the racing was cancelled,” Mr Faulkner said.

He said rain began around 5.30pm on Wednesday evening and continued throughout the night, with the Bureau of Meteorology reporting falls of 18mm.

“Friday and Saturday were perfect drying conditions and then the days were beautiful early in the week, but when there is that amount of rain overnight and no time to dry before racing it just sits on top,” he said.

Mr Faulkner said the decision to cancel racing was made early in the day in an attempt to avoid inconveniencing trainers travelling from Mildura, Adelaide and Warrnambool after 73 horses were expected to race at Glenburnie today.

“By letting them know early we hope we have saved them travel costs and allowed them to prepare for future race meetings,” he said.

“I know a few that were coming here have nominated for Warracknabeal on Monday and can accept now rather than miss out altogether.”

He said the decision would cost the club thousands in lost revenue, with admission fees, betting turnover and bar takings providing the major revenue streams on race days.

“It does hurt,” he said, explaining the club had 10 meets per year, with the first two now lost to wet weather.

He said he was hopeful both meetings could be rescheduled, but the decision was up to betting, broadcasting and racing authorities.

However, Mr Faulkner said the club had a positive season ahead with its next event featuring Sunday racing on October 25 — the day after the Tatts Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.