Leaderboard

No mention of Media Works board, or Bravo Board amongst others, or all the good horses she owns all or a part of. I'm pretty sure she actually owns and races more horses than the entire NZRB and NZTR boards combined if you ignore "Played and Missed" Jackson and his rapidly diminishing team. It's also of curious interest that Labour and Helen Clark gave her the NZOM and now National have made her a dame. I should also mention that it's of great delight that she is generally considered to have been responsible for getting that whinging left wing loser John Campbell off our screens, I don't if that's actually true but if it is that's worthy of a gong in itself.

Hey guys I know I speak for Julie in expressing her thanks for the kind words and expressions of support. Whether her skills are ever called into use in the racing industry remains to be seen but it is nice to see people with confidence that she could make a difference. God knows we need someone to take control(and soon!) Brian Molloy

I thought that BS was getting at something like that as well Lowdown and in absence of a reply will presume something along those lines. If it indeed the case this is the problem I have with it. For as long I can remember people have been calling for heads to roll at the association. No matter who has been in charge the complaints have generally been that they have very little experience or knowledge of the industry or too much knowledge ( participating). Surely you can't have it both ways we are a small industry and if we are going to have people on the board that have knowledge and experience then we are going to have people with room to be labelled as having conflicts of interests, Gordon Kingston, Bob Van Meeuwyn, Lyla Fornishare, Craig Roberts, John McInerny, Thayne Green, John Mc Arthur etc etc. That is unavoidable. The alternative would be to have a board with no experience or little knowledge and the call for heads would be even louder. Think back over the last 20 years and tell me of a period when the management have been hailed as having done a good job. None that I can remember. Yet the industry has come ahead in leaps and bounds during that time. Jim Leach seemed to be the most recent whipping boy but under his gentle management he saw us through a very stormy peiod that ended with us ahead of the 8 ball on many fronts. Everyone should have been in heaven when the new arrangement came into being this time round because they were mostly new faces but no the head continues. Is everything 100% within the industry. The answer in my opinion is no, there are many changes I would make but he answer all along has not been to replace the management but assist in making changes that are needed.

I can't figure out what the point of using Ellerslie is in the winter. Dreadful racing(outside of the jumps races) particularly the past 3 meetings, poor fields just no punting interest at all. First 4 races on Saturday couldn't even muster a 3rd dividend. Why do they keep racing at these centres in the winter?

Half the statutory boards(and the Councils) on the country are full of people pissing in each others pockets but hey that is the world we live in. Even if Julie had got onto the Racing Board how would you deal with the inertia of the incumbents? And just like the councils and 99% of Statutory Boards the reality is the staff make the calls and the Board just rubber stamps them while they look longingly at the liquor cabinet waiting for the meeting to be over Julie's major issue with racing appointments (I suspect) would be her name. I do not understand why she would have ever put her name forward. NZRB and NZTR need a wholesale clean out of the lot of them and replaced by Racing people not political appointees and idiots. You could the sum total of Glenda's racing knowledge on the inside of a very small matchbox with a very large crayon. She did however once stand for the National party

I believe bus stop means that he has no faith in certain high ranking grnz/board members who have conflicts of interest/vested interests...? Or is that just me..?

Probably stood him at to higher fee really last spring and has had fertility issues. Overall record isn't great but does have the ability to sire decent horses for sure. Windsor have looked to invest more in their own stallions than the shuttlers in recent times

Very soon we will see Donald Trumps travel ban come into effect. The Supreme Court will rule in favour of the administrations ban on Syria, Somalia, etc. The lower Courts are all wrong, and driven by politics, and the Supreme Court will correct this.

It is amazing the seeming lack of interest or participation NZ racing has in the actual game itself. I work two jobs to have a share in a horse. If I had John Allen's role (and pay) I would have 20 horses in work :-)

Well I had backed JL in his 2 previous runs at Addington, and thought he had gone very good. I got a few dollars worth of the first quaddie, had a place bet on Queen bee bardon, I knew Craig was going to drive her that way as she has real gate speed, it was a super drive Craig is a very underrated driver.. he has driven close to 600 winners now. I also backed for a win Wilmas mate, once again a great drive and a master trainer, and Gentleman sir for a place, didn't take the quinella a bit dumb really, so I was a bit flush by then so followed my money and backed JL as I said top driver, master trainer, and a very underrated horse. My only regret for the day was not backing Sparkling delight for a place, I had seen him a couple of days prior and he looked superb. I cannot be bothered putting 2000 for a win on a horse paying under 2 for a win now days my time for that has gone I prefer to just watch those races, the last serious punt I had was on a horse I trained a few months ago, he won and paid 16 only just got there and I nearly had a bloody coronary. I wish you all the best for the future with JL Regards Badger

Every owner wants to have a bit of flavour of the moment. Rich people who no F all about the industry or breedng want to tell their mates that they own something by a sexy sire. Just the way it is.

Just been to the NZGRA website, and found it has all changed. It has changed for the worse, it is nowhere as good as the old one. It looks to me like change for change's sake. I;m convinced these people running the show, sit around thinking up ways to make new rule's and changes to systems to justify their existence. Interesting to see they want to shut down criticism of themselves with yet another rule titled Social Media Policy. It will not work with me. The question I have is, why spend industry money on stupid things like changing a perfectly good website that was working well, to something inferior. No doubt they will all sit around now and spend more of your money on spin and lies as to why the change was needed. Just watch.

How bad is this track - seriously. You could throw in Counties, Ellerslie and Awapuni, etc. The rail is Out 8m to 1100m then 11m to winning post. 8 Races - 62 horses(might be less by tomorrow) The 65 and 75 class horses running for the same money as maidens - how do owners feel about this - do you really want to win and go up in class and race for 10k stake again??? How does South Island racing continue - seriously. How do punters keep coming back for this nonsense - seriously.

Hi Matt I am sending two mares to CS this year, purely based on the weanling colt I already have by him - he is an absolute cracker. Good bone, good muscle, etc you cant fault him. He has everything the Aussies look for when buying horses.

I'd be pretty confident that if Joe takes over the global operation, that he will quickly right the ship.

Perhaps the retired policeman should look in the mirror and ask himself a few questions about his results in the last decade. Answer- woeful

You should be applauded Shane, bloody good on you, if only there were more like you.

Looked to me like she just needs more experience racing in these kinds of fields. Even over a mile, running four successive quarters in 29 takes a bit of getting used to, no matter how much raw speed a horse has. I remember the first time Scotch Tar came up against the leading 4yos of his year --- Even Speed, Spartan Prince, Pointer Hanover --- he was a well-beaten 4th, but it wasn't long till he'd well and truly surpassed all of them.

Was a fantastic day thanks.Lost badly on the punt but enjoyed the racing and the company.Dark Horse got plenty of potential and can see winning some nice group races and amassing a bit of stakemoney.

The "inconvenience" is experienced by the Industry at the end of the day......we all miss out.....

and What about the Watch&Bet customers who were logged out of being able to see their races! oh yeah, we forgot about you nuisances!

You know you do run the risk of getting into "Stopper" territory there Ohoka

And for the avoidance of doubt that is very clearly stated in NZTR's own registration of lease form: NZTR cannot determine nor control facets of a private lease agreement such as right of purchase, right of renewal, special conditions, etc. The lease form is notification of an agreement and our key points are the start date and finish date of the lease and the details of the Racing Manager, and all lessees involved. It is therefore recommended that the parties to the lease have their own agreement in place to cover all aspects associated with the lease and welfare of the horse.

Totally agree. What I find strange is that they jump on Mark over Blue Magic and yet no one comments on Nigel McGrath, Cran Dalgety (I've lost count how many times he has been caught), and then the milkshakers -Townley, Blanchard and Langdon. Totally Tall Poppies

I was in transit Swoopa! In saying that ...the TAB saved me $$$ as well.

I'm afraid chevy Theresa is full of shit. Briton is fooked, its all downhill from here. She wouldn't have a clue. This coming election will be close, both leaders are tossers, but the idiot socialist Corban will be even worse than Theresa. This is what happens to a country that buries its heads in PC bullshit. The geani is out of the bottle, and its all to late. Silly Britain has imported this terror willingly for the last 40yrs. As another poster pointed out, Enoch Powel warned of this back in the sixties.

Riding winners is every jockey's wish and if the premiership is a possibility it becomes a priority. CWJ got a hefty suspension over New Year. It cost him at least 11 possibly 12 winners. He has come back hard and even 6 weeks ago I gave him no show of catching the lovely Danielle. She is much better looking than CWJ. As for this week Chris will be riding at Avondale and Te Rapa , that is his choice not mine. Then on Sunday down to Oamaru

Indeed but it is a matter of breach of contract and nothing to do with the RIU or NZTR

Golly gosh, it is unbelievable. A day in which we had to wait until the last race for our turn. Met a lovely couple from Hokitika who are in the Griffin Syndicate( Majestic Man and Dark Horse) at the lunch table, going to visit our horse before the race, and seeing the race unfold, and the excitement and disbelief of actually winning, was a joy to behold. Whatever the after race wash up is from other runners in the event, we won the race. Oh, it the reason to be involved in ownership, as sometimes the dream does come true. Thank you Racecafers for your support, and may your turn be not far away. Cheers. Robert.

Congratulations to Julie on becoming a Dame. Family will be proud. Dame Julie Christie was founder and chief executive of international television production company Touchdown from 1991until 2013, exporting programmes and licensing intellectual property to 30 countries. She was a member of the organising board of the Rugby World Cup 2011 and has been a member of the New Zealand Rugby Union commercial committee since 2012. She told RNZ she was proud to have been made a Dame and knew it would have also made her parents proud. The former board member of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, who is now part of a group working with the government's export business growth agenda, was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 for her services to film and television. Dame Julie said she was not sure what bearing the new title would have overseas. "I don't think I'll be using it that much...I don't actually know because it's never happened to me before. To me, it's an accolade - I guess it's a thanks for the work I've done on some of the boards and for a long television career." Dame Julie plans to celebrate at home today with family and close friends.

Per Incanto is showing commercial value. If i'm being frank, I think you might struggle with the rest to make K1 or top of K2. Just my opinion though..... Good options if you are just breeding to race.

On another tack. The Corporates are Winning the battle and customers, yet don't have shop fronts (eg, TAB's). So why the angst at TAB closures? Where are Betfair, Ladbrokes, Sporting Bet, Bet365, etc etc ? No shop fronts but plenty of growth. I don't have a home telephone. I use mobile and a wireless Modem. It's the modern era folks and continually changing. It's going to keep changing for the future - not the past. Get used to it.

Good races, Raisafuasho and Wise Men Say, pretty impressive, both a year stronger. Nells Belle went a ripper too!

Will never happen untill the top of the tree is pruned

Without singling out anybody in particular I generally agree with you, especially as you subsist in Gore. These honours are a disgrace with a token female, token Maori , token politico every year. My late mother was a J.P. and told me 60% of these recipients were "self-nominated"--seems pretty plausible. What say you Midget about your sister getting the ultimate "gong" for just doing her job and producing shyte TV. She is a clever woman who IMO debased herself in the world of reality TV.

Hi Col, Maybe next year for you. It was incredible really, when the horse is a January foal, so will only improve with time one would think. Cheers. Robert.

Good run but found the course proper too heavy over the last 400m and finished fourth. On a better track probably would have won.

LO this has always been the case with tall poppies. Initially we love to see them succeed then invariably they DO get preferential treatment. Not saying it's right or democratic at all but we know it happens in every sport.Forget what Geurin says on Box Seat, it's only his opinion like yours or mine. I just don't believe this case deserves 4 pages on cafe and furthermore, what do you propose should be done about it?

I dont have any issues with Brodie- he is gone for now and so are his stupid, repetitive and ludicrous posts.

That's if you consider only being interested in himself, the TAB serving his best interests, and drivers being allowed to flog horses, as being good for the site, then I guess you're right. He had the odd intelligent thing to say, but when you're mentally incapable of seeing any point of view other than your own, you soon wear thin.

Just a shame there's another track around it keeping you twenty meters away from the action though

Well, never assume anything in this industry. They didn't split the rating 65 1,600m, so 14 horses are balloted and eliminated. No option to race out of their class to get a start as there is no other 1,600m race other than the maiden. Does this sort of thing annoy owners and trainers at all or do they just take it in their stride? I am always a bit bemused by people discussing all weather tracks and the like on here when the industry can't even get the most simpliest of basics right.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/93095196/police-respond-to-social-media-criticism-after-punching-armed-teen-during-arrest He wont get much sympathy from law abiding citizens, in fact it should be compulsory for the cops to hit some of these shitbags.