[FUDROP6]V ETERAN jumps jockey Brian Constable, who won the 2002 Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase on Hibernian Prince, will be trying to emerge from the wilderness with another victory in the great race on Thursday.Constable has had to deal with his own personal demons and injuries over the last few years but he is fighting fit and ready to win the feature jumping race at the carnival for a second time."I've had a lot of things going on over the past few years," Constable said. "My own personal problems and injuries but at this stage I'm the best I've been for a long time. It looks like being an even Grand Annual this year. "I'm pleased to be riding Conzeal. The Grand Annual is one of the big majors. It would be great to win another one. "Conzeal's run in the Great Eastern was better than it looked. I lost an iron on the top of the hill and slipped off him. "I know he will run the 5500 metres but there are a couple that have question marks on them whether they can run the distance."Despite winning most of the big jumping races on the Australian racing calendar, Constable has had to endure plenty of injuries during his career. His injury list includes a T3 break in his neck, broken pelvis, two broken ankles, broken wrists, broken ribs, three breaks to collarbones, a punctured lung and liver, a fractured spine and numerous breaks to fingers.Despite his injury woes, Constable has no thoughts of hanging up his saddle."I love the game too much. "I just love riding horses over jumps," he said. "I've got no thoughts of retiring. I'm the fittest that I've been for years. "I've been really focused in the lead-up to this jumps season."Constable said he was often riding track work at Cranbourne at 4.30 in the morning."I've been lucky because I ride a lot of work for Eric Musgrove plus Colin Alderson and Mick Kent," he said. "They're all good trainers who have plenty of horses to work in the mornings. It's a demanding lifestyle but I love it."The former New Zealand jumps jockey offered his explanation as to why horses had fallen in hurdle races."I think when they took the take-offs away it makes it harder for the horses and jockeys. "The horses are going between 50 to 60 kilometres an hour I think if the take-offs were put back in place we might not have the problems which we've encountered over the past couple of weeks," he said. "The industry has been forced to make rushed decisions about jumps racing and this is when mistakes are made. "I think we've been forced to press the panic button by a group of people who don't understand jumps racing."[FUDROP3]LONG-SERVING Hamilton-based racing official Les Sheedy lost his battle for life on Saturday night. Mr Sheedy was the starter for the last 22 Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechases. He started his career in racing as a B-grade jockey. He rode countless winners on Special Prince for his father Dave before getting a job as an assistant steward. Mr Sheedy took over as deputy starter in 1970 before taking over the official starter job in 1986 after the late Frank Scally stood down from the role. From his many friends in racing, deepest sympathy is extended to his family at this sad time.[FUDROP3]WESTERN District horse trainers were active at the two-day Inglis Autumn Yearling Sale last week. Trainers from Warrnambool, Camperdown and Colac made purchases.Warrnambool trainer Bill Wilde was busy in the sales ring, purchasing four yearlings. His first purchase was a colt by Bianconi out of Sagcity. His other buys were a filly by Golden Snake out of Etizaaz, a colt by Dubai Destination out of Love's Choice and a colt by Tale of the Cat out of Montaria. Colac's Mark Young won the bidding duel for a colt by Statue of Liberty out of Saloon Bar Girl. Fellow Colac trainer Roberta MacLeod was successful in buying a filly by Bianconi out of My Fair Lago while Daryl Cannon bought a filly by Danbird out of Causeway. Camperdown mentor Ron Gravett made the winning bid on a colt by Sirius Slew out of Tesoro. Warrnambool trainers Mick Townsend and Brent Hollinshead also made purchases. Townsend took home a filly by Minardi out of Final Answer. Hollinshead won the bidding to buy a colt by El Moxie out of Heavenly Sound.[FUDROP3]WITH Des Gleeson standing down from his role as chairman of stewards at Racing Victoria last year, this year's Warrnambool May Carnival will have a new chairman of stewards. Terry Bailey, who took over the job from Gleeson, has decided not to officiate in an on-track role at this year's carnival. It's the first time for many years that the chairman of the steward's panel has not filled the main role at the carnival. Gleeson and before him former chairman Pat Lalor, were familiar faces in the main tower in front of the stand. Long-serving steward Mark Hill will oversee what happens on track at this year's carnival.[FUDROP3]LET'S wind back the clock to a race meeting which was staged at Casterton on May 12, 1972. That's right 1972. A race at the meeting has a place in Victoria's racing history - for all the wrong reasons. Rick Renzella pulled off one of the most audacious coups ever attempted in racing by ringing-in the crack sprinter Regal Vista for the bumblefooted Royal School in the Muntham Handicap at the Casterton Cup meeting.It took some ingenious plotting involving daredevil risks to deceive the stewards to such an extent that Regal Vista could be substituted successfully and correct weight declared. The coup netted Renzella $33,570 but it also led him to be sentenced to two years' jail after a criminal trial. He was also disqualified for life to attend any race meeting. Prizemoney for the Muntham Handicap in 1972 was worth $520 with the winner earning $325 for his connections. This year's Muntham Handicap will be run on Casterton Cup Day - Sunday, May 31. Prizemoney this year is $17,500. The winner will earn $10,400 for his owners.[FUDROP3]