By MATT NICHOLLS
NEW ENGLAND farmers should be lining up to thank the Armidale Jockey Club.
Despite one of the driest years on record, you can almost bet that it will rain when the races are on.
For the second meeting in a row, storms hovered above the Armidale racecourse on Saturday.
This time, enough rain fell to stop the races.
Jockeys rode through the mud to get through half of the card, but visibility was so poor the races were called off after the third event.
Three races were just enough for Guyra trainer Paul Grills.
His four-year-old mare Logan Jo relished the heavy going to break her maiden over 1300m.
Logan Jo had raced eight times previously for just one placing, but was sent out at $3.10 on Saturday and didn’t let the punters down.
Armidale jockey Geoff Snowden knew the outside fence was the place to be and his knowledge paid off as Logan Jo blitzed the field by six lengths.
Earlier Grafton trainer Joanne Hardy was rewarded for making the trek to Armidale when Hundrez’N Thousanz won his second race in a row in the Class One and Maiden Plate over 1900m.
Ridden a treat by Peter Graham, the four-year-old gelding hit the front at the right time and kicked clear in the straight to win by three lengths.
After taking eight races to win his first race, the son of Danerich is now gunning for a hat-trick of wins.
“He’s no star, but he should win a few more races,” Hardy said.
The Armidale Jockey Club’s next meeting and last event for the year is on Monday 9 December.
Farmers are standing by in anticipation.
