Among the diversions of cobalt and whipping, 2016 was the Year Of Winx, one of the most dynamic winners of the Cox Plate, the weight-for-age championship of Australasia spiced by visitors.
The United Harness Racing Association has formally lodged a submission arguing against the proposed whip ban from September on the grounds it will harm the integrity of the sport.
Neil Werrett's Magic Millions and Golden Slipper hopes go on the line either side of the new year on the weekend, but it was news on Black Caviar's latest test to see whether she was in foal that had him fretting the most.
One of the Northern Territory's top cattle farming families and that of one of the Top End's former leading policeman might now be linked by marriage, but it is their association with cult speedster Sirbible which will matter most on Saturday.
David Hayes has stood before the microphones at press conferences for decades but the trainer admits that Friday morning's media conference to discuss the debut performance of champion race mare Black Caviar's daughter, Oscietra, was different than any he had been involved in before.
No doubt the most important race around Australia this Saturday will be the $500,000 Perth Cup, which will be breaking with tradition and being staged on New Year's Eve moving from New Year's Day.
Ominous rain drops doesn't discourage Canberra trainer's mare from saluting to set up back-to-back wins.
He's rumbled with the turf greats of recent years in Black Caviar and Winx and has long seen off the Golden Slipper class of 2010, but how much longer can Decision Time keep going?
The performances of Snitzel in the past 12 months have been amazing, on and off the racetrack, and history should repeat when the yearling sales begin in earnest on the Gold Coast in a fortnight's time.
When Chris Waller likes a horse he usually gets it. If not the first time of trying, then maybe the second. So his persistence with a Not A Single Doubt filly at this year's Magic Millions sales wasn't misguided.
Canberra trainer Nick Olive is considering the $3 million Doncaster Mile and the Coolmore Classic for Single Gaze.
The Australian Jockeys Association fears the health of the state's riding population is being put at risk and heavyweight riders could lose up to a quarter of their income as a result of Racing NSW's bid to provide a greater spread of handicaps in non-feature races.
Rumours of her imminent retirement scotched by history-making jockey as she details big plans for herself and the industry.
There's nothing better than a cunning plan bearing fruit - especially when its executed through a rarely utilised loophole.
The Magic Millions hopes of beaten $1.30 favourite Hualalai went up in smoke as John Thompson nabbed just his third two-year-old winner since his Patinack Farm days with a horse bred by Nathan Tinkler's controversial horse racing venture.
Its been an extraordinary year for Michelle Payne, the history-making rider who became the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup in November 2015.
Naming a racehorse isn't the easiest of tasks - some have to think long and hard about it. For One Son, the task was pretty straightforward.
Red Excitement will hardly be remembered in the annals of great horses but few have been around so long – or adored so intensely.
She's got giant shoes to fill, but the stage is set for Black Caviar's first foal, Oscietra, to follow in her mother's footsteps at Flemington on Sunday.
Patrick Scorse has given up his ambitions of representing Australian in equestrian to follow in the footsteps of his father John.
James McDonald was the fall guy for a soft penalty given to Damian Oliver in Victoria, which instituted a two-year mandatory sentence for jockeys guilty of betting.
Here's something not often written in these column inches: stewards got the James McDonald decision right. And he's going to have to live with it.
When is a group race not a group race? Boxing Day at Randwick, if Jason Attard is to be believed.
The James McDonald inquiry heard several jockeys acknowledged a controversial punter while parading before a major spring carnival race in Sydney. Was there a fix on?
Gerald Ryan has challenged his apprentice James Innes Jnr to etch his name alongside the likes of Hugh Bowman, Tommy Berry and Tim Clark in winning the Sydney apprentices' premiership - even though he is set to come out of his time before the end of the season.
Chris Waller has a strong strike rate in Victoria but says he will resist the temptation to expand his Melbourne base.
Champion trainer Chris Waller will take advantage of the programming for stayers in Victoria when he produces the Irish-bred Zourkhan at Sandown on Saturday.
Up to 15 Canberra horses could get a crack at $400,000 Provincial Champs at Randwick.
He comfortably earns more than Johnathan Thurston and Lance Franklin from his sporting prowess in any average year, but a paltry $1000 bet has destroyed the career of one of Australia's best jockeys.
Racing Minister Martin Pakula has created a historic opportunity to restore pride and integrity to Victorian racing.
Save articles for later.
Subscribe for unlimited access to news. Login to save articles.
Return to the homepage by clicking on the site logo.