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That sums it up for me. You have to be pretty pig headed and resilient to put on these days for patrons ,as the majority of them are unfortunately utterly thankless and will compare your small country club to Ellerslie, Awapuni or even Flemington in facilities,entertainment,catering,beverages,carparking and even quality of horse. They have absolutely no idea the efforts and sacrifices it takes a small band of volunteers to hold the day and they will pull you up on the smallest of things but wouldn't dare mention it to the aforementioned clubs. If the meeting is abandoned over something which you have no control over you'll be crucified for it for the rest of time, compliments and support are rare indeed. The best part about holding these days is the last race of the day, knowing its nearly finished and you can relax. The only reason anyone would do it is because they love this brilliant sport that we are all part of.

This also highlights just how great a race the Levin Turf Classic as it was originally called used to be, held on a country track with a very good supporting card. I remember winning a competition on 2ZB back in 1981. The prize included a return train trip from Wellington to Levin, entry to a champagne brunch held on the course before the first race, lunch vouchers and a $25 betting voucher which was not to be sneezed at back then. A huge crowd and a great Classic with Our Flight beating the hot pot Red Tempo who couldn't go on firm tracks.

Mr Tiz Dead heated with Westminster in the 1989 Railway Handicap and then at his next start dead heated with Festal in the 1989 Telegraph Handicap.

In the past few years, I have been to more picnic meetings than I have metro tracks. I love these tracks, the characters, the weeds, the space, the quiet and the soggy hot dog. That's how we all became involved, then we take our kids + grandkids to do the same. In reality, we all know, many of these tracks will go. Its gonna be sad, so let's make the most of it. Someone get a book sorted , I am in for a copy. We all need to remember, mostly these tracks are run by unpaid members, that do a bloody good job, with little thanks. Was going to go to hoki + kumara, but I will be back.

Common sense, sadly lacking in today’s PC and regulated world, says that the horse that interferes with another horse, should be placed behind that horse. Would make for a lot cleaner racing.

The word is sun shining on the coast today, after all that rain, great nominations for reefton on tuesday, i enjoy the grassroots racing, and rarely go to the metropolitan meets.

ivanthegreat take your blinkers off and remove the patch from your eye! Smart Patch had failed to win any of his three trials.He drew 1 which sometimes is not the best draw for an inexperienced horse in its debut. Lance wasn’t hiding anything from the public! He gave an honest assessment of the horses chance. Horses can make liars of you!

R6 Von Tunzelman $500 W cheers

60ml to be precise. Then this week, low cloud, no wind and drizzle. Yes they only got 6 mls but with no drying until yesterday, there has been little movement between Dead 5 and Dead 6. Add to that that track has a wonderful sole of grass as Sweeney showed us yesterday on the First Call. You also must remember that the track manager keeps the moisture in the track now so that he doesn’t have to water late in the piece. (He’s obviously learnt from the mistakes of his old man and is doing a wonderful job, the best in the country. It’s 22 degrees already at Trentham, so there will be improvement, but still no wind. My guess is that this will be a perfect track, nothing will jar up, therefore those that want to be back for next Saturday will be! My final prediction is that they will go 58 sec and a piece in the first.

The horse that first got me hooked on racing was TRITON -chestnut, white blaze and 4 white. socks. By Pakistan 11 - Hauani. Went through the grades here unbeaten, won a Cornwall (?) first time in Open company and then conquered Aussie. What a horse!

In the last couple of weeks we have had three abandoned racedays in the south and one postponed. I have started thinking about all this and wonder why any of the country clubs would bother? Just think of some other idea for a piss up and forget about racing. I have changed my mind about the Kumara decision. They made the right call(from their own perspective) abandoning early and in ignoring the offer of the alternative venue (to be fair they never even acknowledged the offer or said thanks, no thanks, or even stick it up your a....). Had they waited until today - and ignoring the cost and inconvenience to stakeholders - they would by now have had their 70 tote staff on the way @ $300 a pop ( they travel from Christchurch for Coast meetings so it is a very long day for them and the buses need paying for), 10 or so starting gate staff at a similar cost, their (local) entry gate parking and security staff ready for action, at least $10000 worth of race books printed and probably $30000 worth of catering at the ready. All up probably $90k of cost that could not be avoided if they waited till race one and the worst happened. Plus the already spent promotional and infrastructure (tents, portaloos etc) expense. Assuming all went well and they got a $300k oncourse turnover and 5000 paying customers at $15 a pop they would net say $100,000(maybe $150000 but certainly not an astoundingly large amount) in income. One has to ask the question why would they bother organising something they are going to struggle to make a quid on and where realistically they are going to be at dire risk each year of having to cancel? Why wouldn't they think of some other sort of unique West Coast (or Central Otago or Wairarapa or wherever) idea and run the thing without the vagaries of the NZ Racing modus operandi. I am not knocking the NZ Racing industry here but they do have standards and requirements that Clubs must live up to and to be fair Country Clubs,my own included, struggle to meet those and get quite irritated in having to do so where it is not directly related to the racing event. So assuming they were running pony races or a big screen Ed Sheehan concert or God knows what events their imagination might conjure up they do not have this overriding shadow of the requirements of NZ Racing. They can just carry on their merry way rain hail or shine. The locals would get their piss up and the club avoid the continual bleating that an abandonment like Kumara has created in people who know nothing and care even less about the health and safety risks inherent in racing. The ignorance of the general public where something like the Kumara thing occurs is astounding and quite tiring. You can talk horse and jockey welfare all you like - all they care about is missing out on their booze and their day out. None of them has the slightest interest in the racing game nor any inclination to develop interest. Racing could relocate to Riccarton Wingatui Wellington or wherever and we devotees watch it on telly along with the couple of hundred who might turn up on course. The TAB gets its product at a bloody sight less cost, the stakeholders their opportunity without having to travel so far and the industry does not attract adverse publicity through unfortunate abandonments. Surely everyone's a winner?

To use your example, It isn't about "promoting the second horse", it's about "relegating the offender". We shouldn't have horses being able to completely eliminate the chances of another runner - irrespective of whether that runner was a winning chance at the time or not - and still being able to go on and retain their position at the end of the race. That actually provides an incentive for drivers to take desperate measures and cop the fine or a brief suspension, whilst retaining the spoils of victory. The old system of being automatically relegated to the position behind the horse you interfered with was a much stronger deterrent against foul or careless driving, removing the financial reward, not to mention knowing that a fine and/or suspension was also coming your way if it was your neglect that caused the incident. Fair enough that connections can't lodge a protest if they get flattened and finish 100m last, but the stipes should be required to do so. All protests in fact, should be lodged by the stipes to eliminate the "mates not wanting to protest against mates" thing that happens all to often.

Brodie, just to add to the above, re time involved for enquiries, in USA they have a system at the gallops anyway, where they , the stewards, have a phone down to the track. If interference has happened they immediately, on return to scale, talk to the jockeys involved,( while fresh in their mind and before any excuses can be thought up)and make their decision then, which is fait accompli.This means that the stewards have more power, could be a good thing, but everyone knows where they stand, and enquiries, after a short review, are settled in an instant....gets rid of the extended Judicial system.

Showcasing and Iffraaj are the best sires of 2 year olds this season They are standing for 35,000 Euros and 45,000 Euros respectively in the current northern breeding season Their service fees in NZ are massively discounted by Haunui Trust breeders will appreciate the quality of these two international sires

Eagle Bay won so the net cost was not so bad

Yes my memory is pretty good. I also remember Archer won the first two Melbourne Cups but he was racing before I was born.

Yes correct second start one week later won by 5 lengths as I said just like Smart Patch. I knew it beat The Unicorn just got the name of the race wrong which is the only thing I did get wrong as you have just proved by reading it from a book. I was going from memory.

Day 1 results: A successful day all round with over half of the 33 entrants making a profit (or breaking even). An overall profit of 35% on our combined investment. Vidi Vici team member Casper continues his great form and leads the way with a very nice $500 win bet on Von Tunzelman, with TC in second place with $250 each way on the same horse. Koriokaramea (3rd place) had three winners from 5 bets and only just missed out on a fourth winner with Asama Blue just nutted. Sing out if I've got your score wrong (and let me know what score you should have). Felaar just nutted as well so we're playing for kicks See you next week.

I purchased an unraced 2 year old Pentire filly for $1500 several years ago Her 1st foal was a Colt by a proven but uncommercial stallion and two experts informed me that the foal lacked scope and was foalified I sold him for $50k at weanling sales. He was re-presented at the yearling sales where he sold for a record auction price for his sire and is now in Ciaron Maher’s stable in Melbourne i have his 1/2 sister in Book 1 So bargains can be found

Trio in Heaven Barack, Hillary and Donald are standing in front of the throne of heaven. Almighty God looks at them and says, “Before granting you a place at my side, I want to ask you what you have learned and what you believe in.” God asks Barack first: “Son, What do you believe in?” Obama thinks long and hard, looks God straight in the eye, and says, “I believe in hard work, and in staying true to family and friends. I believe in giving. I was lucky, but I always tried to do right by my citizens.” God can’t help but see the essential goodness of Obama, and offers him a seat to his left. Then God turns to Hillary and asks, “And what do you believe in?” Hillary calculates for a while and then says, “I believe passion, discipline, courage and honor are the fundamentals of life. Like Barack I believe in hard work. I, too, have been lucky, but win or lose, I’ve always tried to be a true patriot and a loyal American.” God is greatly moved by Hillary’s eloquence, and he offers her a seat to his right. Finally, God turns to Trump and asks, “And you, Donald, what do you believe in?” Donald replies, “I believe, that you are in my seat.”

Today.....he deadheated previous start as well....

Me of much experience "things are looking up" ... when you are the bottom of the ladder, it is the only way you can look. When next along at the Cake Tin John, tell the Phoenix Management to start by getting a coach that doesn't need subtitles on the TV News.

Must admit was surprised no inquiry, other surprise was a suspension for a senior driver, nelson meeting full of surprises.What going on up there.

Agree. Should have kept his hands on both reins when it was running in and crowding LL, rather than going for the pull cord. Still think he would of won the race, but like you say, what has the young guy learned?

Ive already read that! To me it reads stuff the owners of Laytons lass who were a live chance of getting the money on the turn. Oh shit but we better blame someone. Ok let's give him a $450 fine for careless driving. Clearly he wasn't going to defend the charge, why because there is a video with his hand in the cookie jar! I think Ben hope is a great kid and will have a long and successful career in this industry BUT what is he going to learn from this fine? I guarantee the owners will pay it for him if not mum and dad. Clearly this horse has ability and it won't be its last race win but in my opinion it was the one and only reason laytons lass galloped at the top of the straight when it was a realistic win chance. Ben would learn more by having this win taken away from the the owners and seeing the real consequences that your driving can have instead of being slapped with a fine someone else will pay. I think it would make him a better driver also.

Ye of little faith Geoff - things are looking up for the mighty Phoenix. The well poisoners are gone, Krishna and Burns are back and we're about to make a late push for a play-off berth. Bet is win or draw paying $1.47. $20 multi with Felaar ($3.20) is paying $94

Scrub R5 thanks. R9 now $150 win. Cheers...

Hi there Trentham Race 1: $40 win/$60 place 9 Pownce Race 3: $100 win 3 Thien Ly / $50 place 13 Sacred Desire Race 4: $50 win/$100 place 10 Ruby Love Race 5: $20 win/$80 place 10 Cottoneva Have a beaut day all. Cheers John

I heard the interview and backed Smart Patch ,Lucky me/I do not trust trainers giving winners on tv. I do remember running into A Scott at Paeroa just before Xmas one year and asked if he had a xmas winner told me one in the 3rd was a certain winner ,dead last stablemate won paying $14.50 see my drift

Lance always had a way with words. Remember Ligero winning the Auckland Cup and the subsequent inquiry where he put Perry Mason to shame.

Agree to a certain extent but I find Andrew Forsman always very honest with his assessments and usually bang on the money when labelling one with Pete and Alby on a Saturday morning. I also have heard that the Baker / Forsman stable is a big punting stable and Andrew Forsman is well on the way to a freehold house so not every trainer gives you the steer intentionally. Shaune Ritchie is also always very honest. Lance O'Sullivan clearly said on radio yesterday morning that Smart Patch would benefit from the run and he would be very surprised if it won. Now for the horse to come out and absolutely donkey lick a field that had a lot of smart trial form doesn't sit well with me.

Yes and the same person claimed that running the Auckland Cup on a Wednesday would be the "Race That Stops Two Nations"

Again from memory, the decision was being considered by the committee from about 10 days prior to the Race Day. It was ratified at the club's Committee Meeting on the Monday and on the same day all industry participants were advised, so that when Nominations were taken the next day EVERYONE knew where they were. Whilst the club lost money because of the shift, they didn't lose as much as they would have if they raced at Trentham and quality horses won the Group races rather than mudders. The Chairman at the time was Ron DIxon, and the Chief Executive, Mary-Anne Evans, who in my opinion was the best that the club has had in 25/30 years. Mary-Anne knew how to drive the publicity. During her time the average Cup Day crowd was always 20 to 25 thousand with on-course turnover of 1.5 million and off-course 3.5 million.

Im going to offer a solution here that no-one has apparently thought of. In future when clubs get given dates they must agree to provision for adverse weather conditions etc by having an alternative track to carry out the meeting on standby. An example that immediately comes to mind was the recent Omakau debacle with the sprinklers. If they know they have problems days out why not make them shift the meeting to Cromwell or Waikowati where infrastructure was available including TAB stuff. Insider may be able to help but a few years back the WRC moved a group 1 meeting to the Bay 3 or so days before the meeting was due to be held due to track issues. Foxwood won the race from memory so there is the precedent

Trump is covertly rounding up the bad guys.....biggest event in modern history! Do yourselves a favour and understand the corrupt world you have been living in .....wait till the world has to digest this. Qanon and Trump are communicating to the 4 chan message boards to spread the word to what has been happening to soften the blow to the mainstream population. Q posts below. Get ready to blow your mind.....biggest intel drop of the century https://qcodefag.github.io/

Aussie swindled 100m by the Clinton Foundation ...now controlled by globalists.

vS that race was the Stars Travel Invitation Stakes at Tauranga on 21/3/70. Game ridden by Bruce Marsh won by 1.5 lengths from the chestnut Bardall ridden by Roger Lang with Gene a neck away third ridden by John Riordan. Aristoc ridden by John Messent was fourth and Highland Rebel and John Harris fifth. Unplaced were Backfire and Lindsay Carston, Il Tempo and Noel Riordan, Johnny Cash and David Peake, Loofah and Kevin Cullen, Tatua and Buzz Leggett, Honour Me and Garry Edge, and Not Again and Ron Taylor. Vintage days indeed!

Interesting thread. I remember as a teenager in the sixties seeing Captains Command power home through a wall of horses to win a mile at Ellerslie. Don't remember what time of year (maybe Easter) but i'm sure it was the last race on the programme. Isn't it funny the things that stick in your mind.