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Roger Oldridge (racing.com)
 

Flow Meter will be forced into retirement on August 1 

 
Not since Jason Gillespie’s 201 against Bangladesh in 2006 has a double century by a South Australian been so celebrated.
 
Flow Meter, eight days shy of his 13th birthday and therefor forced retirement under racing rules, will make his 200th start on Saturday, the first horse in the modern era – and potentially only one in Australian racing history – to reach the mark.
 
“Everybody from the racing fraternity who has looked up the records said they can’t find a horse who has had 200 starts,” proud trainer John Hickmott said.
 
The South Australian Jockey Club has named the BM78 staying race on Saturday the ‘Congratulations Flow Meter on ‘200’ handicap leaving Hickmott little option but to accept for the gelding’s milestone start.
 
“I’ve accepted with him at Bordertown on Sunday just in case but, for all intense and purposes, he’ll be going around at Morphettville,” Hickmott said.
 
“So long as if he goes around and we get to take him home, that’s the biggest thing, that’s what really matters.”
 
Flow Meter, or ‘Danny’ as he is affectionally know around Hickmott’s Murray Bridge stables, was to have his 200th run at Bordertown last Sunday but the meet was abandoned 24 hours out due to the state of the track and expected weather conditions.
 

Provided Saturday goes to plan, Flow Meter will have one more start before retirement at either Balaklava on Wednesday or Murray Bridge on Friday leaving him, like Gillespie, on 201 when his innings is declared over.

Picture: Flow Meter wins at Oakbank. (Racing SA)