Leaderboard

In a Race Cafe competition I was lucky enough to win a prize sponsored by Leo. At the weekend my wife and her girl friend went to Auckland and were treated to a weekend of luxury thanks to Leo. They described the food "as the best we have ever tasted in any restaurant, anywhere. Thanks Leo and Race Cafe. tony

Nothing happening so far on this section of cafe' so thought I'd get the ball rolling. There is plenty of other trainers who would have much more interesting content and info to share i'm sure. I'm currently only working a couple and only the two young ones to begin there first prep this week. I had a clear out at the end of last winter of a few jumpers and a couple of flat runners who just were not making the cut,they all found nice homes so that was pleasing.Last winter also brought the retirement of the stable star Eric The Viking, the old boy brought so much joy to me during his time in the stable,from winning a black type 1400 meter to winning the Grand National over 5500 meters,he really was so versitile and when caught in the mood very hard to beat. Now to find the next good one..... I'll try and remeber to comment on any runners I have going around and if anyone wants to ask a question then feel free to. (just no abuse if you back one of mine and it goes no good!)

Cheers Harewood I'm pretty sure Addingtons night will be the 7th of September and it probably is short notice but pencil it in everybody will be welcome and it is a great oppertunity to introduce new people to harness racing and look after the ones already involved. Look forward to meeting you there. Cheers Nigel

Thanks Westy. I was just enquiring what was involved on the night. JL put up a post which did not goive much information so am glad that someone, YOU, were able to clarify what was involvd in the night and what the "new" owners experiencd for the night. It was not a negative post just wanted posters to know what was available on the night. Sounds like a good night and a lot of fun. Hopefully it will be promoted when its Addingtons turn and people will know well before the races so that they can plan on going and to try and experience the thrill of ownership. Happy it all went well and you got some new owners as probably did other syndicates.

I'm sure Puha will correct if I'm wrong but I thought what he was trying to get at was that it was great to see the underdog/battler have success at the carnival and I'd have to agree with him.

Reading between the lines of Monty Robert's latest in the SMH it appears a tug of love/greed going on and a who's got the biggest wanger . You can have all the money in the world and have no class. Micheal Dickenson has been mentioned a few times on the All Weather issue . He trained a great steeplechaser called Wayward Lad throughout the 80s..He was one of his famous five. It was clear to everyone , including the Ladbrokes punters in dirty smokey shops in the east end of London who had never seen a horse in the flesh before that Wayward Lad had seen his best days. The Dickinson's wanted to retire him, one owner a disciple of Gorden Gecko decided greed is good and would have been happy Wayward Lad flogging around the gaffs on mid winter Mondays with 12.7 on his back. A impasse was settled in the sale ring, Micheal's Dad Tony Dickenson an old time jumps trainer went to 42000 guineas about 90000 bucks , a lot of coin in late 80s to secure him. He was promptly retired as soon as he stepped out the sale ring at Doncaster Sales.He lived like a king till dying aged 28. That's class.

The Jewels and NZ Cup day are clearly the 2 best days racing in any calendar year and yet they are both different in terms of distances raced. They both however put the money up and thus get the best fields available. Horses are set for both events by their trainers which emphasizes the importance of both days

The Jewels has been a success because you get a day of good fields and some great horses. I believe it'd be just as successful if at 2400-2700 metre races, depending on the venue. Mile racing does nothing for me personally, although I'll quite happily watch the Miracle Mile each year, and Lazarus in the USA.

AK Club had good intentions on friday night with poss new owners invited to take part as part owners for a race of a horse selected no doubt to give them all the feeling of success. To be safe the Club chose the ultra talented and consistent Prime Silver to give them the wonderful feeling of owning a horse. The stage was set and as "owners"they would have invested on the tote on their horse. All was going to script until the 400 metre mark with PS. in trail having done no work alas something went wrong and PS finished a lonely last ! As an owner since 1968 ,this was a very accurate feeling what harness racing can be about. There are many lows and no guarantees of success .It is not easy but when you get wins it is the greatest feeling in the world. So although the aucklanders in the dummy ownership got a real experience of ownership (perhaps too real for the club) it is hoped they are not discouraged.

as a spectacle, i would love to see more monty racing. its peculiar, different, and having one of these races every now and then per meeting, broadcast, would be great.

Those thinking of going to the Canadian Derby...... on the 24th August , this may be of assistance. Fly to New York and either drive 8 hours (480 miles ) or fly 1 1/2 hrs , there are approx 40 -50 flights a day, cost US$420 eco or $880 Business return. https://www.google.co.nz/maps/dir/New+York/woodbine+mohawk+park/@43.6138818,-88.98076,5z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c24fa5d33f083b:0xc80b8f06e177fe62!2m2!1d-74.0059728!2d40.7127753!1m5!1m1!1s0x882b7a04d63f42b7:0x60f27aee16e8eadf!2m2!1d-80.0005041!2d43.496713

Blake Shinn is likely to miss the spring after suffered fractures to his C1 and C3 vertebrae in a fall at the Randwickbarrier trials on Monday. Shinn was dislodged from the Les Bridge-trained Pacific Legend approximately halfway through the 10th heat of the morning. The Melbourne Cup winning-jockey was conscious and sitting up when ambulance officers arrived at the scene but subsequent scans at Prince Of Wales Hospital have revealed damage to his neck. Shinn is due to undergo more tests to determine the full extent of the injury. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

At a time when many people are talking about closing small tracks and centres wasn’t it great to see the small guys stand up yesterday with horses that would have long been discarded in the horse factories that are proposed . Waiuku , hunterville, Waipukurau and Opaki all take a bow .Yesterday showcased the beauty and diversity of NZ racing. Let’s not follow the Aussies and have most races dominated by a couple of stables . The people in this great industry are just as important as the majestic horse.

Not really sure what "form" has to do with it actually. Suppose it depends what you mean by that but I don't know any successful punters that analyse or assess "form". Anyway, whatever punters assess, I don't see what that has to do with where the horse comes from.

Ashburton Flying Stakes is always one of the better races of the season. The whole thing about mile racing is that it also gives F's and M's a chance to run time to enhance their breeding CV. I could be wrong but Winton run some mile races to fit that bill and are very well supported

Sounds like you had a great day Catalano. You summed up how Irish racing is for visiting racing folk and how it should be around the world.You will remember your day for a long time. Cheers Swoopa

Sounds like you had a fab day Catalano. Looking forward to seeing the place again myself next year for the first time since 1979!

Anything is better than standing starts.

mile racing has it's place in NZ but for me I wouldnt enjoy all races being over a mile or even mobiles for that matter. In saying that would love to see an open class mile at Ashburton or Wyndham

Hardwood you almost had a positive comment at the end of your post. Of coarse the owners are asked if they would kindly put there horse forward for one of these promotions. The phantom owners on the night who were drawn out of three hundred people who registered at the owners evening were taken down to meet there trainer and driver pre race. Then were taken for a pre race drink at the owners viewing stand (well done ATC) for having this. They were then treated to there horse,bugga run down the track. After that they were taken to the winners bar and yes if the horse had of won they would have been in the photo with the real owners who so kindly agreed to that. In the winners bar they meet the sponsors and owners of the horse that won and in a very generous gesture those owners donated the winners wine and glasses to one of those phantom owners. It was a great night and the same thing will be run at Addington next month , then hopefully all around the country . Yes I put five new owners into Westview syndicates that night and i'm looking forward to the Addington night. Great night well done ATC and HRNZ .

sorry Harewood I short on detail but the commentator mentioned before race. Of course as in previous such promotions the real owners would still get the stake as advertised and the club would put in the equivalent split among potential owners. no doubt the trainer/owner gave approval. but they not really involved. No more so than a betting competition where bettors could place huge sums on 1 horse.Owners not consulted. It is a great idea to attract new owners. which most trainers would be pleased to have.as would the Industry

Do you know how many took up this offer and what "privileges" did they get. Invited to the owners room/lounge, birdcage access, a share of the stage if it won? Surely the ATC carnt just give any horse to a group of owners for the race, there must be some discussion with the real owners, and I would think a lot of "real" owners would not want their horse jinxed by such happenning. Was the public informed on and off course that this was happenning and if it was a large group and they as "owners" invested on the tote as you suggested this would create a false price for the horse. I think it is a good idea to try and get new people interested in ownership however would be interested in your comments re my queries.

La Mer, Uncle Re us, Shivaree, Shuzohra, Damn that's a field of the likes we haven't seen here in a generation!

Its happening