With exorbitant costs like that, common on many tracks, it's no wonder many punters feel more comfortable watching races in their local club or pub.

And speaking of being out of pocket, what about the difference between the trifecta and First 4 on race seven at Grafton on Wednesday.

Little Diva ($28.80 a win) beat Our Ovations, Smart Advice and Punch The Air. The First Four dividend was $13,437.70. The Trifecta paid $19,214.50.

Obviously the size of the respective pools accounted for the discrepancy but imagine how dirty you'd be if you had three of the four in the First 4 and didn't take the trifecta? Sand job under way WORK begins tomorrow to build a new state-of-the-art sand training track at Albury.

The project, including a new base and running rails, will cost $600,000 and club chief executive John Miller expects the 2000m track to add a new dimension to training facilities.

"We considered a synthetic surface but elected to stick to the sand which, cost and benefit wise, was preferable," he said. "It will take approximately three months to be operational and in the interim the course proper will be used. When completed it should be a huge benefit to local trainers."

Thirteen trainers are located on course at Albury, including, Brett Cavanough, twice country trainer of the year. Many others have stables near the track. Winning partnership COFFS Harbour owner Harry Milham, the former jeweller behind a long-used design for the Golden Slipper, continued a long winning tradition with trainer Gordon Yorke at Grafton on Wednesday.

Milham, who owned the Yorke-trained Fire Oak, the first maiden winner of the Victoria Derby in 1990, races Fire Break (Scott Thurlow), winner of an 1000m maiden, with his wife Lois, Yorke's sister.

The Milhams and other family members also share ownership in the Yorke-trained Ratanga, unplaced in the same event.

"Both horses were raised together in the same paddock, broken in together, but today they've finally been separated," Milham said.

Yorke spells many of his gallopers at the Milham's Crossmaglen property, 12 kilometres outside Coffs Harbour.

Yorke recalled his earliest association with Milham.

"The first horse I started in Australia when I first came over from New Zealand was Scarlet Major," Yorke said. "It was 100-1 in a 900m race at Newcastle and I told Harry he better have something on it. We got beaten a nose.

"Scarlet Major was a half brother to Fire Oak. I told Harry even before Fire Oak was named, give him to me and I'll win a Derby for you. The rest is history." Moree honours trio NICE gesture by Moree Race Club to honour the late local racing identities Bill Sinclair, Johnny Frahm and Col Thomas with memorial races at the club's cup meeting today, which offers record prizemoney.

Sinclair, an astute punter and raceday regular, came from a family steeped in racing. Frahm, the brother of jockey Danny Frahm, was a former trainer who combined with Danny to win a Mungindi Cup with Mougi and returned to Moree after spending 20 years on the oil rigs.

Thomas successfully raced many horses over a long period including Zephyros, Loud Thunder, Easy Boy, Real Easy and Hardy Harry.

Family of the trio are expected to attend the meeting, which features the $30,000 Moree Cup (1400m) that attracted a smart line up of 12 horses, including the Albert Stapleford-trained Jungle Juice Cup winner, Cruzado, part owned by Danny Bourke, who has shares in five horses racing today. They're racing TAB meetings: today - Moree, Mudgee; tomorrow - Wagga; Thursday - Ballina; Friday - Dubbo, Port Macquarie.

Non-TAB meetings: Saturday - Jerilderie, Quambone, Tamworth. Stable secrets Towering: Above the rest.

Sharp Tip: Point to prove.

Media Planet: Headline act.

tony_white3@bigpond.com