Call it the persuasive powers of Racing Matters (probably not) or call it a bit of common sense finally prevailing.
An email from the TAB landed on Wednesday, telling me about a new TAB room located within Dunedin Casino.
Loyal readers of this column will recall the absence of a central city TAB where you can have a beer is a dead horse (excuse the slightly inappropriate analogy) that I have been been flogging since not long after I started 3 years ago.
The demise of the Southern Tavern added to the woes, but this might be a solution of sorts, even if it isn't smack bang in the middle of town.
In the interests of informing the readers, I'll go on a "reccie'' in the next few weeks to make sure one can in fact enjoy a beverage while throwing a $5 percentage trifecta on the Gunnedah gallops.
The things I do for you.
Taking the sheen off
This could be the first year of the Harness Jewels when I'm not absolutely glued to the TV (or the track itself, when I've been on course).
A general malaise has been evident across the harness industry over the last few months as the big day has neared.
There have been plenty of reasons tossed around as to why - too late in the season, too many top horses won't be there, the day has been dominated by two or three big stables.
As mentioned, the feedback has certainly been forthcoming, so let's see what comes out of the post-Jewels debriefing.
Proud in pink
Of all events the Otago Racing Club holds this season, the Positively Pink raceday this Sunday is most worthy of a plug.
If one was to be unkind, one could say race meetings are simply a mechanism to keep the industry in perpetual funding with minimal interest in the outside world.
But the Positively Pink (formerly Think Pink) raceday is different.
Over the last two years, a good $15,000 has been raised for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation through various fundraising options on the day.
The Track Riders Oaks has drawn a good field of nine runners.
Wingatui's own Debbie "Abs" Kennedy is the celebrity jockey in the event, and will no doubt remind her rivals who is boss as they head down to the starting gates.
Manic Monday
An advisory note for greyhound racing fans: the TAB is providing form for Queen's Birthday Monday which will include the two New Zealand fields for Tuesday.
Those fields will not be repeated on Tuesday, so hold on to Monday's paper.
Lazy Fiver
Galaxy Miss was a shade disappointing at Trentham on Saturday, finishing fourth after being up on the speed.
Start your Jewels betting with a multi: Democrat Party to win in race 1 running through two place bets - Delightful Memphis (race 3) and Sunny Ruby (race 4).
