Viral campaigns on social media are a dime a dozen (or whatever the metric equivalent is). But this one is worth following.
#rideforolivia
Australian teenager Olivia Inglis died during the Scone horse trials in New South Wales last weekend. Unfortunately, her horse, Coriolanus, who tripped and fell on top of Olivia, had to be euthanised after suffering a neck fracture.
In times of grief, however, people in the equestrian community - be it eventing, racing or whatever - rise up in support.
The above hashtag has been trending and, as of Wednesday night, it had been used more than 8million times and many of those hashtags were accompanied by photos of horse lovers on top of their prized animals.
Feel free to join in, as a final image of Olivia will be made up of a mosiac of #rideforolivia pictures from social media.
Clearing it up
Speaking of social media, a few people have been less than impressed by the eight-meeting suspension handed down to Bob Butt after he returned an excess breath-alcohol reading at Reefton on Sunday.
They have wondered why Butt got eight meetings while Blair Orange received five meetings after his transgression at Omakau. The answer is simple - it's based on an average number of drives at a meeting.
From the JCA's calculations of the respective drivers' engagements at previous meetings, Orange averaged seven races a meeting, while Butt averaged four. Butt's suspension and $1000 fine was equivalent to 52 drives, while Orange's was 56.
For the record, Butt's reading was 314mcg (the limit is 100mcg) and Orange's was 334mcg. It's just a shame one online publication - not Harness Xpress - did not establish the background to the penalties process before bagging the Judicial Control Authority (once it finally figured out for whom the stewards work and which organisation decides on penalties).
Not so shiny
Before I dish out too many brickbats, I'll apologise to the connections - and breeders - of Six Diamonds for referring to their 3yr-old MALE pacer as a filly last Friday after his win at Forbury Park on Thursday. No excuses really - although a recent mare named Ten Diamonds was probably wedged in the back of my mind.
Dangerous Dexter
What a surprise to see Dexter Dunn in front after three days of the International All Stars series in Victoria. Deadset, you could probably put him behind a Kidz Kartz pony and he'd still find a way to get it into third in a maiden trot. The series continued at Ballarat last night before moving to Bendigo tonight and wrapping up at Melton tomorrow night along with the Great Southern Star heats and finals.
Lazy Fiver
Gallant Ruby was too far back on the turn to feature at Wingatui last Saturday, coming home well for seventh. Try backing Speeding Spur twice tomorrow night - first in his Great Southern Star heat at 9.33pm - then double down on him when - not if - he makes the final at midnight.
●Check out Matt's two-minute racing tips video at www.odt.co.nz every Friday
