The battleground for corporate bookmakers is a tough one and operators are always looking to get an edge on rivals.

Vision is seen as a key driver in getting punters to a particular site. So it was not surprising Crownbet was keen to trumpet its coup last week in getting permission to stream vision on its site from Sky 1 and Sky 2. The deal, however, will not include vision of NSW thoroughbred racing.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys has already sold the exclusive digital rights to NSW gallops to Crownbet's rival William Hill and has blocked Tabcorp, which sold the Sky 1 and Sky 2 vision to Crownbet, from on-selling the NSW rights.

"We got a premium for our rights because of the exclusive agreement with William Hill and the TAB so, when Sky is shown on another site, NSW racing will of course be blacked out," V'landys said. "It is to protect the investment of William Hill, from which they get the significant advantage in having our racing."

So how did the deal come to pass? Well, Crownbet had been opposed to the Tabcorp and Tatts merger, to the extent it had taken legal action to block the move. That action was dropped in return for paid access to the digital media rights for most meetings Australians can bet on. It is understood international rights may not be included.

Crownbet was always aware NSW Racing would not be part of the deal but, even without it, there is a huge advantage in having the vision available to its punters.

"We're excited to be able to stream all three racing codes through Sky," chief executive Matt Tripp said. "It's an offering no other bookmaker can match and will provide another unique benefit to Crownbet customers."

The vision deal will start once the merger goes through, which is expected to happen on December 22.

The Tabcorp and Tatts merger, in combination with the end to credit betting and the tightening of advertising restrictions, is expected to put further pressure on the bookmaking industry, and mergers and takeovers are expected in the next year.

Stewards asking questions

Racing NSW stewards have asked the same question to a number of jockeys in recent weeks: "Did you talk with any other jockey or person about this race before the meeting?"

Given the race-fixing cases in Queensland harness racing, it has been an interesting line of questioning. Stewards accept that most jockeys use form analysts but want to make sure they are only getting opinions, not instructions from them.

Stewards have focused on a couple of different races on the past two Saturdays in which there has been better-than-expected speed in the early stages. Inquiries into both races remain open.

Blake Shinn's positive ride on Star Sensation out of the gates, when he looked intent on leading, was highlighted last week and an inquiry into it is set to be reopened later in the week. Apprentice Andrew Adkins also faced questioning about going back on Burden Of Proof in the same race.

Both jockeys were asked if they had spoken to any other riders before the meeting about the race.

Again on Saturday, the first 400 metres of a race drew the attention of stewards. Apprentice Blaike McDougall and Lee Magorrian were asked about their aggressive rides on Firsthand and eventual winner Invinzabeel early on and if they had had contact with any other riders before the meeting.

The stewards' interest in the race was piqued by the well-fancied Firsthand being strongly laid on Betfair just before the race. McDougall told them he had "a brain snap" on Firsthand.

Even if there are reasons behind why the speed battles are happening, it shows where the focus of the Sydney stewards is at the moment.

Tribute to Johnson

Apprentice Rachel Hunt paid her own tribute to friend Samara Johnson at Rosehill on Saturday.

Johnson was killed in a car accident last week, and her partner Garry Kirkup was taken to hospital. Hunt wore a purple ribbon, Johnson's favourite colour, on the side of her skull cap all afternoon.

She also rode the Kirkup-trained Highly Geared into seventh in the Mark Hughes Foundation Handicap after a tough week.

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