BUSY: Racing Victoria's compliance team has been busy over the carnival doing stable inspections and breath testing jockeys for alcohol and drugs.
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Jockey Zac Spain felt the wrath of the stewards after he was over the limit of 0.02. He was stood down from two rides on the middle day.
GONE: Racing Victoria chief executive officer Giles Thompson was trackside for the first two days of the carnival but will miss Thursday's races.
The one-eyed Richmond fan said he and the RVL staff will be back at headquarters and would be glued to the television at 400 Epsom Road to watch the Grand Annual.
WANTS IT: Popular jumps jockey Tommy Ryan has a burning ambition to win a Grand Annual Steeplechase. Ryan, who rides Spying On You in the feature race, is still haunted about his ride on Man Of Class in the 2013 Grand Annual.
Man Of Class ran second behind comeback jumper Banna Strand in that Annual but Ryan thinks he would have won the race if he never went for home at the third last jump.
DOWN: Punters are struggling after the first two days of the carnival. Rails bookie David McLaughlin said the win of outsider The Statesman threw a life line to the bookies with his victory in the Galleywood Hurdle.
"We were in trouble early in the day when a few well backed runners got the money," he said. The former colourful Warrnambool identity said it was great to see big crowds getting back to the races.
QUARANTINE: Wannon MP Dan Tehan is missing his first carnival in 11 years after having to quarantine following an overseas work-related trip. "I had to get to Europe to try and progress these free trade agreements and do it before the budget." Tehan, who normally presents a commemorative whip to each of the winning jumps jockeys in the three features, has enlisted former Premier Denis Napthine and South West MP Roma Britnell to continue the tradition.