But The Standard's Tim Auld and Andrew Thomson this week followed the coronavirus-impacted Warrnambool racing carnival and penned columns with their thoughts.

THOMO: Well Timmy, what an amazing carnival. Warrnambool Cup-winning trainer Lindsey Smith is currently in 14-day coronavirus isolation in Port Fairy.

TIM: Lindsey is an outstanding trainer, a winning treble on Wednesday at Warrnambool including the cup at his very first carnival.

THOMO: Too Close The Sun is a rising star. He's taken out the Terang Cup and then really stepped up with a dominant win in the main flat race at Warrnambool. Connections should only be looking for bigger and better things in future.

TIM: Considering the worldwide pandemic, Racing Victoria and all stakeholders, including the Warrnambool Racing Club and in particular chiefs Tom O'Connor and Nick Rule, have to be congratulated for just getting the races on and through the very busy two-day program.

THOMO: Mate, we're all looking forward to getting back track-side in 2021. I think the carnival is going to be huge next year. It's really made all of us who love the racing carnival realise just how special it all is.

TIM: I thought the racing was sensational, especially the eight-race jumping program on Tuesday.

THOMO: Back-to-back-to-back, the Brierly, followed by the Grand Annual and then the Galleywood Hurdle, all in 90 minutes. My head was just spinning after that program. It was just intense.

TIM: After all sorts of drama Lindsey Smith has been a fantastic addition to the local training ranks.

THOMO: Symon Wilde got a couple of winners for the carnival and Daniel Bowman was desperately unlucky with plunge horse Nashville Sound in the last on Wednesday.

TIM: It's a carnival we'll never forget simply because we couldn't be there. But, Wednesday was a fraction lacklustre day without any jumps races. Fortunately Smith was a major player on the day. And what about Warrnambool-based jockeys Declan Bates and Shane Jackson. It's a carnival they will never forget.

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