LONG-SERVING local racing officials Frank Beattie and Ray Walsh will be missing from the revamped Warrnambool May Carnival next month as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Racing Victoria announced last week the iconic carnival will be reduced to two days from three because of the virus, and they have also stood down officials who are 70 years old or older. They will be reinstated once the pandemic is over.
Beattie has been a steward at the carnival for 54 years, while Walsh has filled the role as a clerk of course for 32 years.
Beattie said this year's carnival would be strange for everyone.
"It's all going to be different," he said.
"Racing Victoria and its stakeholders are doing a great job on keeping racing going in these unprecedented times.
"Having a two-day carnival is a massive change but still the racing is going ahead.
"It's going to be different sitting at home watching the two days of racing knowing that I had worked in the main stewards tower at the carnival for 54 years.
"I fully understand why they have stood people like Ray and me from our jobs.
"It's all about health and safety and that's so important for everyone.
"I've just got my fingers that there's no issues and that Racing Victoria can keep the things going to the carnival and beyond."
The format for the two-day carnival will see the jumps races including the Grand Annual and Brierly Steeplechase plus the Galleywood Hurdle being run on Tuesday, May 5.
The flat race features - namely the Warrnambool Cup and the Wangoom Handicap - are to be run on Wednesday, May 6.
The carnival will be run with no spectators on course.
DORMELLO GOES
VETERAN Warrnambool jumper Dormello Mo has been retired after he pulled up lame following trackwork at his home track last week.
Trainer Simon Ryan said Dormello Mo had been a consistent jumper for his stable.
"Dormello Mo did his near-side tendon in the front leg," Ryan said.
"He's been a great horse for his connections, winning six races and being placed on numerous occasions.
"It's a shame that his career is finished because I thought that the novice steeplechase at Warrnambool next month looked an ideal race for him.
"He used to love the jumps around Casterton.
"He had a great record there.
"He would now be trained as a showjumper and I'm sure he'll be successful at that."
From his 48 starts in jumps races, the 10-year-old won 10 races and was placed on 15 occasions.
Meanwhile, Ryan said he will set Police Camp at the Warrnambool Brierly Steeplechase instead of the Grand Annual Steeplechase next month.
For the first time in the history of the Warrnambool May Carnival, the Brierly and Grand Annual Steeplechase will be run on the same day.
"I've weighted up my options regarding Police Camp," Ryan said.
"He'll be aimed at the Brierly.
"The Grand Annual would be just good tough for Police Camp this year with the likes of Gold Medals, Zed Em and Ablaze running in the Annual.
"The Brierly should be an easier option.
"And after that, there's a couple of nice steeplechase races around Casterton in the middle of winter."
Police Camp has won three of his 15 total jumps starts.
One was at Casterton and another at Warrnambool last year.
NOT STRESSED
FORGET the unplaced run of Instigator at Caulfield on Saturday, that's the advice of his trainer Aaron Purcell.
Instigator finished more then 30 lengths behind eventual winner Exasperate in the $125,000 race over 1600 metres.
The stewards' report from the meeting reveals jockey Michael Dee eased Instigator down in the home straight, as he believed the horse never appreciated the heavy conditions.
Purcell said he was prepared to forget the performer put in by the former imported galloper.
"He just never went in the heavy going," Purcell said.
"We'll push ahead with plans to run him in the Stawell Cup followed up by the Terang Cup and the onto the Warrnambool Cup.
"He ran fourth in last year's Warrnambool Cup and had no luck.
"He was checked in the straight on two occasions.
"I think with a bit of luck he would have been really hard to beat in last year's cup.
"He's a quirky type of horse, but on his day he goes good."
Instigator is yet to win a race in Australia from 12 starts.
HALL OUTED
JOCKEY Chelsea Hall pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge at Echuca on Sunday.
Stewards outed Hall following her ride on Spring Bloom.
The charge related to an incident approaching the winning post on the first occasion.
Stewards found Hall permitted Spring Bloom to shift in when insufficiently clear of Sign Seal Deliver, which was tightened for room and restrained to avoid the heels of that filly.
The former Brauer College student has been suspended for eight meetings.
Her suspension starts midnight on April 14.
It will end midnight April 20.
