October
JulyBacking the bush
Re “Weary of Weiry” (1/7), I find the idea that Darren Weir-trained horses should be ineligible for the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series to be quite ridiculous.
That Weir has grown, expanded and is successful is great credit to him and the vast team of employees and clients he has to make his business what it is.
He has multiple stables spread out in regional (western) Victoria which have stimulated and enlivened every aspect of racing in this very competitive and expensive industry.
This has generated much economic activity and enterprise in these places and created employment opportunities in areas that can do with every assistance available to them.
His enterprise and activities are an economic godsend to rural and regional Victoria.
His owners come from here, there and everywhere and are entitled to race their horses when and wherever they think they can win.
If it’s the Country Series final on Oaks day, so be it.
To qualify for that race, owners and trainers have had to run and qualify horses at country meetings, supporting country racing, and hope they make the cut.
Most of the qualifiers have travelled miles to make the final, at great expense to their connections. I’ve been there and done that.
Canterbury (Vic)