Latest news with #McMurray
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
McMurray has turned heads in Sydney. Now for a first stakes win
In less than a month of riding in Sydney, 18-year-old apprentice Jace McMurray has already ticked off a few firsts. A first city-level ride, anywhere, then a win at Scone's standalone card, followed by a maiden metro double in his first trip to Canterbury on Wednesday, which took him past 100 career victories in just over a year in the saddle. Next is a debut at Rosehill on Saturday, and a first chance at stakes level. With most of the senior Sydney jockeys at Eagle Farm on Saturday, McMurray has got the job on Greg Hickman-trained Private Legacy in the listed Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m), where he is unable to use his three-kilogram claim. The feature race booking is one of possibly nine rides on the 10-race program for McMurray, who is apprenticed to Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton but is now based at Randwick with Michael Freedman on a three-month loan. He is hoping to make a big enough impression to extend his stay and push for the Sydney apprentices' premiership next season. And he knows an early stakes win will go a long way to building even more support from trainers and owners in town. Private Legacy, a $5.50 Sportsbet chance on Thursday, was a last-start winner of the listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) for fillies and mares at Morphettville and has drawn gate one for Saturday.
The Age
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
McMurray has turned heads in Sydney. Now for a first stakes win
In less than a month of riding in Sydney, 18-year-old apprentice Jace McMurray has already ticked off a few firsts. A first city-level ride, anywhere, then a win at Scone's standalone card, followed by a maiden metro double in his first trip to Canterbury on Wednesday, which took him past 100 career victories in just over a year in the saddle. Next is a debut at Rosehill on Saturday, and a first chance at stakes level. With most of the senior Sydney jockeys at Eagle Farm on Saturday, McMurray has got the job on Greg Hickman-trained Private Legacy in the listed Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m), where he is unable to use his three-kilogram claim. The feature race booking is one of possibly nine rides on the 10-race program for McMurray, who is apprenticed to Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton but is now based at Randwick with Michael Freedman on a three-month loan. He is hoping to make a big enough impression to extend his stay and push for the Sydney apprentices' premiership next season. And he knows an early stakes win will go a long way to building even more support from trainers and owners in town. Private Legacy, a $5.50 Sportsbet chance on Thursday, was a last-start winner of the listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) for fillies and mares at Morphettville and has drawn gate one for Saturday.
Axios
7 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Why weddings are shrinking
Ballrooms are out. "Micro weddings" are in — and they might be smarter, too. Why it matters: Some couples are skipping big weddings to save money and throw a more intimate gathering. By the numbers: The average guest count nationwide was 131 in 2024, down from 184 in 2006, according to data shared with Axios by The Wedding Report. And smaller celebrations, those with 50 guests or fewer, made up 18% of nuptials last year, compared to 10% in 2013, per the research company. What we're hearing: Courthouse ceremonies and parties in cozy restaurants or backyards let couples spend more time with loved ones. Downsizing can also limit stress, plus free up cash for that open bar or unforgettable carving station. Zoom in: Vegas-style chapels and businesses offering curated micro weddings and elopements have opened in Boston, Dallas, Portland, Oregon, Richmond, Virginia and beyond. Reality check: While certain people "just like low-key events," most go smaller to spend less, Shane McMurray, CEO of The Wedding Report, tells Axios. The big picture: Cutting the guest list is the best way to save, with prices for meals, venues, invitations and more usually based on headcount, McMurray says. Pros estimate micro weddings can cost over 50% less than traditional ones. Between the lines: Many brides and grooms-to-be are bracing for pricier nuptials as tariffs stand to hike the $33,000 cost of an average U.S. wedding, according to The Knot, a planning and registry site. Those worrying about their jobs or finances may delay celebrations altogether. The bottom line: No need to invite the roommate you haven't talked to since graduation.
Metro
20-05-2025
- Metro
'My son was stabbed to death - we need a fresh approach on knife crime'
A mum whose son was stabbed to death hours after signing his first record deal wants the government to let young people have a chance to 'better themselves'. Sandra McMurray's son, Jonathan, was killed when he was ambushed in an attack in 2002 as he walked home after a night out with his friends and family. While there were witnesses to Jonathan's attack, more than 20 years on police have failed to charge anyone with his murder. The aspiring musician had just followed his dreams of a career on stage, but his life became another statistic in the ever-growing issue of knife crime across the capital. So far this year already 29 people have been killed using a knife in London, and according to Scotland Yard, a crime involving a knife happens every 30 minutes. The Ben Kinsella Trust states there has been an 80 per cent increase in police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in the past 10 years across the country. Earlier this year, research by Metro also revealed that nearly half of murders in the UK have been due to stabbings or violent incidents with a blade. Sandra, 68, told Metro: 'Every day somebody is being shot or being stabbed. 'They [youngsters] have nowhere to go, nothing to do. It's [crime] an easy road for them.' Mrs McMurray said: 'He had just got started when his life was cut short' She added that the Government should focus on helping youths build their career. She said: 'Young people are our future. They are dying on the streets. Give them the opportunity. If not, they just go on the streets. They are our future, and they have to be allowed to better themselves.' It comes as a new survey revealed that one in seven young people believe a new national approach is needed to knife crime. New research has found more than eight out of ten 16-24 year olds remain sceptical about laws to restrict the sale of knives, with more than 70 per cent saying the legislation addresses the symptom rather than the cause. Mrs McMurray was scathing of ministers' efforts to tackle knife crime and she said: 'They just buy them online. They think knives will protect themselves.' 'They're just lining their pockets, increasing their salaries. We voted for Labour to change things for us. 'We voted thinking it would change this for us. [But} they do nothing.' Dr Mark Prince OBE, who leads the Kiyan Prince Foundation, in memory of his son, who was stabbed to death in 2006, also spoke to Metro about the new data. As part of Knife Crime Awareness Week, Mark has been speaking about the issues surrounding young people and knife crime. Knife Crime Awareness Week is returning from 19th – 25th May. With a clear message: knife crime is preventable. This campaign, supported by a growing network of charities, community groups, and professionals, aims to shift the narrative around knife crime by highlighting the individuals and efforts already making a difference. This campaign highlights that progress is being made – not just through policy, but through the everyday work of parents, teachers, youth workers, and local organisations who are actively working to tackle knife crime. This year's focus is on empowerment. The campaign provides practical tools and resources to help adults understand the drivers of knife crime and how they can support young people. It's not aimed at adults who can make a difference. Those who can spot the signs, start the conversation, and create safer environments for young people. Every mentoring session, school workshop, police intervention, and community programme contributes to a growing movement for change. The challenge now is to scale that impact and turn individual efforts into national momentum. For more information visit the Ben Kinsella Trust website. He said young people have been 'let down dramatically' and need support to tackle crime, and that a new long-term approach is needed to take on societal issues and help young people off the streets and into careers. He told the Metro: 'I have spoken for years about a public health approach. ''We are robbing the world of children with unfinished stories. 'We have let them down dramatically. You can't just throw the stone at them. What's happening is that children are having their lives finished by other children. He said young people needed proper support and assistance to achieve their goals and move away from gangs. 'Give them space to improve', he said. 'Help them to see things in a different light. Then understand the success model. What do you have to do to get success? 'If we don't put something in place to help them realise: 'This is the support I have been looking for', they will start to implode and that impacts on society.' 'What we are seeing is a break down', he said. 'And now they [children] have access to the world so they know what's going on.' He continued: 'Education is not meeting their needs. Everything is going up in price but wages haven't. If you start breaking the family, you are going to to have very serious consequences. 'If we care enough and we make it top of our agenda, we can do it. There can be a difference if we really care. It's more achievable than people think. 'We are criminalising when we need to be encouraging.' He suggested that ministers should look over the border for a solution. 'In Scotland they took action, and it's not an issue like it was before. Why aren't we doing the same?' He continued: 'Our job as parents isn't just to provide the physical needs for our children, we have to help them understand their emotional and spiritual needs. It takes a village to raise a child, but the villagers aren't on the same page. 'If the villagers say this kind of behaviour is cool, if in fashion, they are selling balaclavas. In every area, there are issues. He said businesses had to play their role in ensuring young people's welfare rather than simply profiting from them. 'We need a new narrative. We need to find out what's hard for young people, negative influences, and show them positive influences. We need a system that's fit for purpose. 'What we are finding is that young people who are doing well and have passed exams, you will find them falling down very easily with the simplest challenge. 'It's about giving them the mental health support and showing them how to tackle life's challenges. It's about teaching the character we need that allows you to become successful. 'Young people take these tales for life. That's our job as parents and teachers.' The Kiyan Prince Foundation uses sports and success coaching to focus on self (discovery, discipline and esteem) and to develop a 'champion's' mindset. It strives to empower young people to make positive decisions and to become life champions, ready to lead, serve, and fight for the future they deserve. You can support their work here. But he added that the strategy needed to be supported with robust measures to tackle crime. More Trending 'In terms of what [young people] are doing with a knife, there's no consequence. There's a slap on the wrist.' This has resulted in a lost of faith in the policing system, he says. He said without the work his charity was doing to help young people through activities such as boxing and football, things would be even worse. 'Until the Government jump in line we are holding up the fort. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man, 26, stabbed to death in north west London named and pictured MORE: Mum of student killed in Strand crash 'almost reached her' as she lay dying MORE: Raid of Café Diana in Kensington uncovers 45 tubs of 'illegal' shisha tobacco
Chicago Tribune
11-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: First job for new aviation commissioner? Don't mess up Chicago's O'Hare Airport.
Chicagoans traveling to New York can choose between three airports: John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Newark. Local flyers who like to traverse through that last-named airport have had reason these last few weeks to reconsider that preference. Newark has suffered significant reputational damage over the last several weeks as air traffic controllers there took to the media to lament outdated equipment and frequent communications breakdowns that, they said, compromised safety. Construction issues are adding to the problem. The issue at Newark was significant enough that Scott Kirby, the CEO of Chicago-based United Airlines, which has a hub at Newark, wrote to employees to reassure them that the airport was 'absolutely safe.' Nonetheless, Kirby also said United was removing flights to mitigate Newark's capacity issues. 'In reality, only the FAA can actually fix EWR,' Kirby summarized. Those who follow the aviation industry have been speculating that Newark-vulnerable United is a lot more interested now in some kind of partnership or merger with JetBlue, because that carrier is entrenched at JFK, where problems have been less severe. Which brings us to Chicago's O'Hare airport, the home base for the city's new commissioner of aviation, Michael McMurray. As Mayor Brandon Johnson's appointees go, McMurray, an attorney as well as a construction and infrastructure specialist, is atypically experienced and well qualified. Many local aviation professionals have heralded his hiring. We join them. Our sense of our big airport is that it has been working exceptionally well over the last few months. The runway improvements that came online in the last couple of years have greatly improved the airport's ability to keep things moving in Chicago's perennially challenging weather; we've been able to take off expeditiously on some recent difficult weather days. O'Hare also has one of the better TSA operations in the nation, far superior in our experience to other big airports like Denver and Miami. Currently, United and American Airlines are lobbing various salvos at each other over gate allocation and who has the biggest local commitment, but Chicago actually wins when these two major carriers are locked in a competitive battle that is as equal as possible. More flights and potentially lower fares are the result. Even the REAL ID mandate that went into play on Wednesday did not seem to overly faze O'Hare, which required some additional checks but also kept people moving. So McMurray's first job is to do no harm. Then he has to continue the aforementioned success, even as a massive terminal expansion and renovation project (costing some $9 billion) — the so-called 'O'Hare Global Terminal' — moves to center stage. The scale of the project, now retimed, is expected to mean there will be construction going on at O'Hare through 2034 at the least. The airport will have to operate all of that time, of course, and job one for McMurray will be to keep things humming with minimal disruption to travelers. The situation at Newark should be a helpful cautionary tale. So should the March misadventure at London Heathrow, when the airport had to close down entirely following a loss of power after a fire at a power station nearby. Travelers were surprised to discover the lack of a backup to allow for the continuation of airport operations. O'Hare has not had similar problems. These hardly are the only challenges awaiting the commissioner. The awarding of lucrative concessions at O'Hare and Midway long has been an opportunity for city officials to reward clout and favor their friends and it's vital that the new boss ensures those new contracts will be distributed with the traveler in mind, not favoritism or political agendas. And, of course, he has to keep costs low enough to keep both United and American profitable and happy here, while also ensuring access to gates for the budget carriers those airlines would prefer to exclude. Quite the juggling act. ORD is one of Chicago's biggest assets. It's not perfect, of course. But it has been doing well. Soon, an even bigger test will be ahead.
