Another spring carnival done and dusted. The Sandown Classic card is the final meeting for the spring session and Zipping made it one to remember, reports Craig Young in the Sydney Morning Herald.His report adds: This class act, a nine-year-old, won the classic for the fourth consecutive time. So the carnival caravan is off to Perth before returning for the Villiers-Summer Cup double at Randwick. Then it's off to the Gold Coast and Magic Millions week in January.Now for the off-field drama. It

Another spring carnival done and dusted. The Sandown Classic card is the final meeting for the spring session and Zipping made it one to remember, reports Craig Young in the Sydney Morning Herald.

His report adds: This class act, a nine-year-old, won the classic for the fourth consecutive time. So the carnival caravan is off to Perth before returning for the Villiers-Summer Cup double at Randwick. Then it's off to the Gold Coast and Magic Millions week in January.

Now for the off-field drama. It promises to be a howler on several fronts. First-up, another Federal Court appearance, booked in for Wednesday. It's another round in the race-fields legislation saga.

Appeals have been lodged. Does Racing NSW, which is the thoroughbred regulator in this state, have the power to charge wagering operators 1.5 per cent on their turnover? It's that simple.

Sportsbet, Betfair and the regulator are no longer providing legal eagles with tennis courts and swimming pools. No, it's holiday homes in prime locations. How silly can it get?

The wagering landscape has well and truly changed forever. The oncourse market is in freefall. Betting does not start 35 minutes before a race, as it used to. No, it starts shortly after acceptances are taken.

That is on a Thursday, before a Saturday Sydney meeting anyway. They are soon to be taken on a Wednesday. The betting business is being done well before oncourse betting boards screen prices. So what of the price fluctuations? They are still assembled from the betting activity taking place on track. Is that fair to the punter? Not if you're on top fluctuation and the best price oncourse is, say, $4 when $8 was offered on Thursday.

What about the corporate betting houses offering best TAB price? That one ignites fury with racing administrators and TAB heavies. Of course, the corporates reckon the TAB is ripping off punters with high take-outs, and they offer a better return.

If so, why don't the corporates add 10 per cent to the TAB price dividend they offer? No ripping off the punter there.