New television deal all but signed off by club committees - Sydney Morning Herald

While committee members have been asked to keep the proceedings confidential, it is understood most country race clubs during the week signed off on a new media-rights agreement with TVN. It ushers in a new era for racing in the state, as high-ranking Racing NSW and Racing NSW Country management are content with the new deal. Negotiations are continuing on how NSW and Victorian meetings will be broadcast and best promoted, but Sky Channel will be actively involved. "It's investing in our future," one official said. "It is the equal or better of the earlier Sky arrangement but what is beneficial is the benefits aggregation will bring to the industry."

EVERAGE DOUBTFUL

Impressive Lightning Ridge Plate winner Everage is unlikely to back up in next Sunday's $250,000 Black Opal Stakes in Canberra. Trainer Craig Carmody said the two-year-old was more likely to be saved for other races leading into the $3.5 million Golden Slipper. "I just think she's better suited in the set-weight fillies' races at this stage," Carmody said. "I'll have a talk to Mick [Kent] over the weekend and we may even throw in a Black Opal nomination." Carmody and Melbourne trainer Kent race the $20,000 Classic yearling sale buy. Carmody and Kent were standing together at the sales and liked the daughter of Zizou. "Mick liked the pedigree. We were watching her parade, thought she'd go cheaply, so we quickly had her vetted and got her for $20,000," Carmody said. The Black Opal highlights a cracker program in Canberra featuring three listed races, including the $200,000 Canberra Centenary Cup (2000 metres). The Canberra Cup was first staged in 1926 but was put on hold during the Depression and war years. This year marks the 75th anniversary.

BIG SPEND IN TULLIBIGEAL

The March 30 Tullibigeal picnic meeting on the Easter long weekend will feature several improvements to facilities. "We are renovating the undercover barbecue area, as well a building an undercover bookies' ring for racegoers," president Craig Tyack said. "It is exciting for us a race club to be able to make these improvements for our visitors, and this could not have been done without the assistance of the Lachlan Shire Council. We are also undertaking some upgrades to the track, including extending the length of the track to 1600 metres and the installation of a running rail around the centre of the track." The six-race meeting features the $6000 Tullibigeal Cup (1600m). It's a family day with plenty of entertainment; this year's meeting also has the return of the Golden Gumboot Footrace with cash up for grabs. Tullibigeal is about 2¾ hours from Wagga Wagga or 1¾ hours from Griffith, Parkes and Forbes.

CUPS RUNNETH OVER

There are several cup meetings this week, including Sunday's $25,000 Guyra Cup at Armidale and the Commercial Club Sprint at Albury, a forerunner to the Albury Gold Cup carnival on March 21-22. On Friday, Sapphire Coast stages the $20,000 Merimbula Cup and on Saturday there is the Tottenham picnics.

TAB meetings: Sunday - Albury, Armidale. Monday - Grafton, Coonamble. Tuesday _ Muswellbrook. Wednesday - Coffs Harbour. Friday - Sapphire Coast, Taree. Saturday - Grafton.

tony_white3@bigpond.com