Team New Zealand stage remarkable comeback to open up America's Cup lead
Team New Zealand surged to a 5-3 lead over Luna Rossa in the America’s Cup after a dramatic race eight as both boats struggled to stay on their foils in light winds off the coast of Auckland.
TNZ won the day’s first race by 58sec but splashed down in the second leg of the second after a poor jibe and were unable to get up on their foils for several minutes, allowing Luna Rossa to charge to a 4min lead.
But the Italians then splashed down near the third gate and incurred boundary penalties as they searched desperately for wind.
TNZ roared past them and negotiated the tricky final legs to win by 3min 55sec after clocking a sluggish 38:57.
The two race victories put TNZ within touching distance of trophy, the oldest in international sport, and the defenders can wrap up the best-of-13 series on Tuesday when racing continues.
“What a race,” said TNZ flight controller Blair Tuke. “It was a pretty unreal fightback from the guys. They made a mistake in one of their tacks at the top mark... It’s really light wind and patchy
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has hinted the league will introduce a concussion substitute just two days out from the start of the 2021 season. McLachlan said an announcement would be made on Tuesday morning regarding the potential rule that would most likely see a 23rd player named to a team’s squad but only used in the event a teammate suffered a concussion during the game.
“I think there’ll be a decision or an announcement in the morning,” McLachlan told Fox Footy’s AFL 360. “There’s a lot of stakeholder management to work through, directionally, [but] this is what I’d say: this is something that’ll have no impact on the game, the rules. It’s a health and safety possibility that I think makes sense if the clubs and coaches want to support it.”
McLachlan indicated the discussions were still ongoing amid deliberations over whether a substitution would be a general medical substitution, rather than just for concussions. “That’s why we’re still discussing it, because I think that medical aspect rather than just concussions, is where this might go,” McLachlan said. “I think that’s what Steve Hocking’s working through at the moment.”
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said he expected the concussion substitute rule to be confirmed on Tuesday but hoped it would instead be a medical substitute along with potential flexibility over which emergency to use rather than a set substitute.
“To get a concussion sub and then a guy breaks his leg four minutes later – why shouldn’t you be able to use the sub for that reason also?” Hardwick also told AFL 360.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson told SEN on Monday morning the coaches were “nearly unanimous” in pushing for the concussion substitute, while GWS counterpart Leon Cameron also publicly backed it. The AFL previously tightened its concussion protocols in January, with players now ruled out for 12 days after suffering concussions.
Richmond premiership captain Trent Cotchin also threw his support behind a concussion substitute plan. “It’s important that we protect the players and make sure that they don’t feel like they’re letting teammates down if they don’t play,” Cotchin said.
“With the education that’s around it and the way it typically impacts you, not just now but also down the track in your life. I think we’re aware of how significant concussion can be. We just want to make sure that we create a really safe environment for players to play.”
Clarkson suggested the substitute player could be restricted to under-21s to avoid coaches bringing on experienced players for tactical reasons, while Sydney counterpart John Longmire flagged including slightly older players with minimal senior experience.
The British Horseracing Authority could ask trainers across the country to throw the doors of their stables open to the public later this year to show that the sport has nothing to hide in terms of the care and welfare of racehorses.
The idea predates the recent image of the top Irish trainer Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse which caused widespread shock and disgust both inside and outside racing, but could be an important part of the sport’s attempt to move on from the incident and repair at least some of the damage caused.
“It’s in the planning to have a week when people are invited to go to yards and have a ‘Horse Day’,” Barry Cooper, the independent chair of the sport’s Horse Welfare Board, said on Sunday. “Nationwide, people could go and visit any stables and make a day of it, see the horses and talk to people.
“Racing has got to be more open and people have to be able to see that it’s a sport and they can be part of it. That’s why I always encourage people to go and see for themselves, to meet the people who look after horses. That’s when you see the real care and love going into them.”
The news that racing is preparing for a big PR push with the general public comes at the start of the Cheltenham Festival, where the safety and welfare of the competitors is always in the spotlight.
This year’s meeting will be held behind closed doors, with only essential staff in attendance. Britain’s betting shops are also still closed as a result of the latest lockdown to combat coronavirus, but off-course bookmakers still expect the Festival to retain its place as the biggest betting meeting of the year, with an estimated £500m having been staked on the 28 races in 2020.
“Last year, 26 of the top 30 races by turnover online for us were Cheltenham races,” David Stevens, of Coral bookmakers, said on Monday. “It’s the biggest week of the year for the betting industry and there is no reason it won’t be the same this year.
“The Martin Pipe [Handicap Hurdle], the last race of the Festival, was the fourth-biggest race of the year for us and the second-biggest of the entire Festival behind the Gold Cup. Punters know it’s their last chance to have a Festival bet for another 12 months [and] all seven races on the Friday were in the top 20 last year.”
One of jumping’s most popular chasers will miss the meeting, however, after Altior, the Queen Mother Champion Chase winner in 2018 and 2019, was ruled out of the race at the 11th hour for the second year running.
“He coughed after exercise this morning, which caused us to scope him,” Nicky Henderson, Altior’s trainer, said on Monday. “It would not be sensible to run him. It’s desperate news.”