We have just imported a new selection of goods from the leading Japanese manufacturers, Descente. This new range will complement the existing range we stock. We have a fresh range of race breeches, race and track skivvies, leggings and gloves. We look forward to showcasing all these items on the site very soon.

Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby 2012 - runners run to the post on the first lap

I was fortunate enough to be trackside for the 138th running of The Kentucky Derby.

With the official attendance posted as 165,307 it was an amazing experience to witness one of the great races on the world racing calendar at Churchill Downs. It was a great atmosphere as you’d imagine, and the actual race was run at breakneck speed.

Kentucky Oaks 2012 - Churchill Downs decked out in pink for Ladies Day

The favourite Bodemeister rolled along at an amazing tempo, only to be run down in the final furlong by I’ll Have Another.

The winning jockey, Mario Gutierrez, wore SSG Pro Show Technical Gloves and multiple pairs of Kroops Gold Vent Goggles!

Dawn at the Downs

I also attended one of their ‘Breakfast with the Stars’ mornings, which they call ‘Dawn at the Downs’. This was well attended, by at least 1,000 people from various countries, over multiple levels of their six floors of grandstands.

USA Suppliers

Jeanne Brown

We have been selling the Pepper Wear range of race and track caps and Lycra leggings for about seven years now, so it was fantastic to actually meet Jeanne Brown, the lady behind the Pepper Wear label.

Jeanne was a well respected jockey from the Seattle region originally, but she now resides in Shelbyville Kentucky, which is situated between the famous Kentucky Racetracks of Churchill Downs & Keeneland. Jeanne works with her daughter Bobbie, and together they make a range of goods for horse trainers, jockeys and owners.

While in Kentucky, I also managed to speak to some other Kentucky-based manufacturers. As a business, we are always looking to supply our customer base with the anything new that we feel will benefit you. We will keep you updated in future newsletters as new products arrive.

Thank You

We would like to thank everyone for their well wishes with the passing of Mum last month. We could not have asked for a better send off, and we would like to thank you all for your kind words. I’m so proud of what Mum achieved in her life, and I’m glad we could honour her the way we did. People commented to us they could really relate to what she achieved as a wife, mother and business owner.

Robynne Markey

As a mark of respect, Markey Saddlery will be closed for business Monday 16th April 2012.

The co-founder of the business, Robynne Markey, passed away on Good Friday 6th April, aged 67 years. Robynne first started making racing silks as early as 1970, when a horse owner and friend, knowing her amazing sewing skills, requested she make him his own racing silks for his horses to race in.

She slowly got more work through word of mouth, but in 1975 when husband Ray, himself a jockey, broke his leg in a race fall, making racing silks became the bread and butter for the Markey Family. In 1976, Robynne and Ray formed Markey Saddlery as a partnership, and they started supplying Sydney’s jockeys & trainers with a range of products besides the racing silks.

Robynne also started making presentation rugs for Sydney’s Thoroughbred Race Clubs and Trotting Race Clubs in 1978 and continued to do so over a 12 year period until 1990.

The best races in Sydney soon had a presentation rug made by Robynne, including races such as The Golden Slipper, The Doncaster, The AJC Derby and The Miracle Mile. Funnily enough, her favourite presentation rug she made was The 1989 Kentucky Fried Chicken Gloaming Stakes. She was extremely proud of the intricate work involved in producing this particular rug, unlike today’s era of fully sublimate printed rugs.

Robynne took on many roles within the business, including secretary, admin, packing customers orders and accounts. She loved her work and she loved working in partnership with Ray. Her health steadily declined over the last twelve years, as she suffered from dementia.

Robynne is missed already.

Her funeral will be held at the Garden Chapel, Castlebrook Memorial Park, Windsor Road, Rouse Hill at 11am on Monday 16th April, followed by a wake at the Sunnybrook Hotel, Hume Highway, Warwick Farm from 1pm.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our customers involved in the race the very best of luck.

The Brains Trust here are prepared again to put their predictions in print!

So here goes:

RAY
1. 9. Samaready
2. 2. Epaulette
3. 3. Raceway

GREIG
1. 9. Samaready
2. 12. Jade Marauder
3. 10. No Looking Back

BRENDAN
1. 9. Samaready
2. 10. No Looking Back
3. 2. Epaulette

They have invested a lot of money and time into developing quality products that they know will service the market extremely well, and one of their latest products, the Persuader Ultralite Rider Saddle is no different.

This saddle weighs approximately 150gm, 30gm lighter than their other model the Persuader Lite Rider. Despite this saddle’s appearance as a trimmed up version of the 180gm model, safety has not been compromised as the company claims the “tree” of the saddle will not break under regular riding. With that knowledge, this product can be purchased with confidence.

It is available in a variety of colours, so feel free to contact us anytime to discuss your options:

Persuader Ultralite Rider Saddle

We have improved the quality & strength of our standard headstall with the addition of stainless steel buckles & reinforced stitching around the buckle. As illustrated, the stitching added around the buckles, combined with two rivets, makes for a longer lasting headstall.

Despite the changes, our Australian made headstall is still the same price of $49.50.

This photo has been kindly signed by Sepoy’s winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy. We have offered to assist with the sale of these, as all money from the sale of this framed signed Sepoy memorabilia is donated to the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

If you, or  someone you know of, would love this piece of memorabilia for their home or workplace, then please follow the link below for information on how to order.

Framed signed Sepoy photo for charity

With the ridiculous amount of rain in recent months (Sydney in particular from our experience), it’s difficult for leather track boots to dry out properly. Most jockeys and track work riders love wearing leather track boots, but in days of persistent rain, it’s strongly advisable to have a backup pair of track boots, such as a rubber or PVC pair.

For under a $100, this backup pair of boots will allow your (over $300) leather boots time to recover, and not deteriorate. Remember to maintain your leather boots with a leather dressing or boot wax, to keep them soft and supple so they won’t crack over time. To see our TRACK BOOTS and LEATHER CARE range, click below:

http://www.markeysaddlery.com.au/track-boots
http://www.markeysaddlery.com.au/leather-care

Image credit: www.freefoto.com

A great advertisement for Flair Nasal Strips was evident last Saturday 25th February 2012. King Mufhasa has now won 6 Group 1 races wearing the Flair Nasal Strip, including the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday.

Flair Nasal Strips are clinically proven to reduce fatigue, reduce lung stress and bleeding, and speed recovery. If you haven’t tried the Flair Nasal Strip, maybe it’s time to give it a go:

http://www.markeysaddlery.com.au/equine-health/flair-nasal-strips

Hot on the heels of the release of the Triabit last month, we can now offer more bits that are ARB approved for races, trials and trackwork.

WTP Bits

The WTP (Winning Tongue Plate) bits are an Australian International 2011 Design Award Winner. The benefits of a WTP bit include:

• stops the bit pinching the tongue
• stops the horse getting the tongue over the bit
• stops the tongue hanging out of the side of the mouth

We are now stocking, on the advice of the WTP team, the:

• WTP Dexter Ring Racing Bit Size 5”
• WTP DSEL  “Dee-Snaffle-Eggbutt-Lightweight” Bit Size 5”
• WTP Loose Ring Snaffle Bit Size 5”

If you are interested in any other model of the product range from WTP, check out their website, www.iiwinners.com and let us know which model you would like us to stock.

Happy Mouth Bit

From March this year, the Happy Mouth Dexter Ring Racing Bit will be back in stock. This bit has also been added to the approved list of bits for racing, trials and trackwork.

To distinguish it from non-approved cheap copies, the approved bits are branded “SOYO” and have the year of manufacture on the large ring. Happy Mouth bits have a stainless steel centre core to ensure maximum safety and strength.

The apple scented plastic has been engineered to provide the horse with an easily accepted flavour which is non-toxic, long lasting and safe. We are taking advance orders on this item, so order now to ensure you don’t miss out.

What’s Hot

Triabits have continued to sell extremely well post Christmas. We are fielding enquiries throughout Australia and internationally for this product.

Metronomes also continue to move well, with track work riders across the country discovering their timing benefits.

What’s Not

The traditional webbing girths & surcingles have slowed in demand in recent years. There has been a continual trend by Australian jockeys to use all elastic girths & surcingles.

Jockeys should be reminded that when using, in particular, lightweight all elastic girths, to use a girth channel to avoid the possibility of pinching. The girth lays in the concave portion of the channel, so no part of the girth can irritate or pinch the horse.

The most popular purchases by jockeys and trainers alike for a girth channel, are the Cashel (ideal for medium to heavyweight girths) and the DJM (ideal for light to medium weight girths).

The great news is that both these product lines have come down in price despite their high demand.

Some jockeys will combine the “old” and the “new”, by using an all elastic girth, but with a webbing surcingle for extra security. We still strongly recommend any new apprentice to carry a webbing style girth in their race bag, as not all trainers are comfortable using all elastic girths.