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But you can't blame him for being a bloody good trainer and manager...thats what the sport is all about...limiting your risks...planning and getting the rewards for all the hardworking put in...JMO.

The Greg McCarty I know is a decent bloke. He is a moneyman with expertise in Treasury matters. As such he is very focussed on probity. Greg was encouraged to take a strong interest in "Matters Racing" about 10 years ago by his clients the Schicks who thought he was a straight thinker that racing needed. He is an Owner/Breeder. Greg became a solo dad under tragic circumstances around this this time, but he has stuck to the task likely without much appreciation. There would be a lot more weaker links to gossip about than this bloke. NM

Ignore those clowns Scooby...the site is working just fine as it is......

So isn't that whats wrong with racing. Greg may well be a good bloke. As you say his personal life is his own business and I don't see how many horses he has raced as relevant. My initial query was just what he did and how qualified he was to sign off on the OpenBet/Paddy Power deal. Seems in racing the people getting into these positions are "good blokes" or based on who knows who. No doubt at this moment the "good blokes" are planning on who next gets on the board.

Mark is a very good trainer take nothing away but Natalie has helped him improve look at how many of his horses don't have over checkers and they have developed greatly in the rear end as you cant development a horses arse with your head pointing to the sky any Equestrian trainer will tell you this that's because Natalie has a very good understanding of horse conditioning why do you think WINX goose to a Ex equestrian/eventer trainer ect for pre conditioning. Good on them for there results mind you they do go through a lot that end up exit stage left that no one hears about but the game is about winning not coming second. Just my view blast away at me if you please and yes i do sit behind and train them I'm just down on horse power but i have alot of fun and no pressure

I see I am being ridiculed elsewhere for my stance on this matter...if we are to encourage meaningful debate and get industry leaders involved in contributing to the discussions then there needs to be clear boundaries ... and not just allow hearsay and rumours...I have always had a policy of if you cant prove it don't post it...I will not change that principle...or the limited amount of moderation we have here...it keeps the site running smoothly without infighting and decent. I hope that members will continue to enjoy the site and the platform it provides...Leigh

It is his fault because he has got himself in to a position where he now has a monoply on all group racing in New Zealand. Monopolies are not good for any industry and his success compounds into further success as more and more owners are attracted to the gravy train. It is just as well that he restricts his numbers to a fixed level or he would be training almost every horse in the country. You are right in that the industry should be doing something about it, but what can they do? The stipendiary stewards should be looking more closely at the driving by members of his team. I have observed many races where a horse trained by him goes to the front and is attacked by another horse trained by another trainer and Purdons horse will not hand up . Then another of Purdons horses comes round to sit parked and then another Purdon horse comes around to vie for the lead and is given it without a fight. Then All Stars horses are in front, in the trail and parked out. From that point on the race is over as Purdons horses control the race. No other horse can go forward as it will be parked 3 wide. If thats not team driving then I don't know what is. Purdon got initial success because he teamed up with a very wealthy owner, thereby giving him the ability to purchase any horse he liked at the sales, and also horses that were showing ability at the trials or races. He was also set up in a top of the art training facility. These factors together with his ability as a trainer began the juggernaught that led to total domination. I don't know what the solution is but I do know that if it continues then Purdon will be the last man standing and he will need to turn the lights out as he leaves the building

Newmarket and Iraklis. It seems that you believe I have similar views to previous posters on this site. You may be correct, but given your rather over the top defense of Mark Purdon I can understand why they left. It seems that on this site you can only post opinions that are held by the old guard and you cannot express a point of view without personal attack. If that is the case then this will become a very boring place to submit a discussion for every one will be in agreement with each other

Ooh be careful Stables yuh startin to sound alittle ah obsessive, gee had no idea I was bakin yuh noodle to such extent LOL.....dunno what Mark Purdon ever did to you but geezuz you got it bad! Cheers Iraklis

A quick perusal of the large fields for Amberley today and Sundays meeting at Mount Harding suggest racing is not as bad as you make out stables, Surely the 396 licenced trainers are not all illiterate they must read Harness racing is finished, all over. I remember most punters in the 60s 70s 80s 90s said when they lost that's it its all over. They said the same about Smith and Cummings and Hayes has anyone noticed the decline in Aussie racing? Would anyone like wager the NZ Trotting Cup won't be run in November in five years time?

Now! you are havin a laugh! more complete and utter rubbish from you Stables! have a good look at your last frickn postings for cryin out loud! talk about over the top! EGO and HYPOCRISY geezuz it's all there!!! LOL you even have the audacity to state Mr Purdon can fit here in NZ, well oh gee at your say so! but he should scale back his operation stick to a smaller area, again at your say so! (domination and ego right there to me) and in the process blame him for bein such a great trainer, then on the next hand say 'I know him and I am on speaking terms with him. My concern is that he and his All Stars team are fucking Harness Racing' ego and hypocrisy all in one sentence! give me a frickn break, ahh, what exactly are you on again? LOL.....jealousitis yeh in all it's egotistical, hypocritical bloody glory, what a joke! Cheers Iraklis

I would like to add that I found Greg a very good person to deal with, I know he has great passion for this industry I didn't know his full background but does not sound like he has it easy in his personal life which should remain his own business. He was good friends of Jim Campin and his boys who told me to take The Governator, which I raced with Brian Molloy and John Carran, he was one honest horse who loved firm tracks and fronted up really well during a Wellington Cup Week

I saw elsewhere on another site that the solution is to ban AS team to Ozzie permanently, would you be in favour of that. I hate to introduce facts but who ran 1/2 in last years Derby, add up how much more R Dunn spent at last years yearling sales compared to Purdon owners signings. You might be surprised. A quick perusal of the large fields for Amberley today and Sundays meeting at Mount Harding suggest racing is not as bad as you make out stables,

Well good luck to you and your team.

Bought one myself, probably paid too much, but what the hell, means I fly economy for a few more years!

Heard a few knocked down to you Scooby but you do not seem to be mentioned in the results. Bit of a phantom eh? Buying for your entourage I suspect? Truly was a Shakespearian Tragedy for vendors and has me on the threshold of not breeding any more but big ups to those who relieved distressed sellers of their stock and I wish the purchasers all the best with their altruism.

Is that his fault???Or the industries fault for letting it happen...how is it is fault if he is better than the rest???

Yep I second this. He is a genuinely good bloke. He did some Treasury consulting work for me in a former role and we struck up a friendship based on our mutual love of horse racing. Very astute and has a great passion for this industry. He has invested a lot of time, energy and money in our industry. The solo Dad story is even more impressive than Nerula portrays - his wife had a stroke (I think) when giving birth to their eldest daughter and she was confined to a wheelchair after that. Greg cared for her for nearly 20 years while they raised their family and while he managed his business interests. He has bred and raced a lot more horses than the one "that Pitty leased and won a few races with". He is currently racing a 2yo filly named Aretha that won a couple of trials in November before running 3rd behind Aotea Lad in the Wakefield at Trentham. Went a very nice trial earlier today at Te Aroha and possibly worth a bet at her next start. One of the better horses he raced was Sabbatical who ran in some top 2yo and 3yo races in the 90s and did well as a broodmare - dam of Monterey Bay who won the Eulogy and ran a nice race in the Oaks. He raced and bred from a number of the Sabbatical family. Her first filly Nuance was one of the first bunch of winners that Michael Walker rode.

Oh what rubbish Stables! your the one lovin the personal attacks and it's funny how you chuck it, but can't take the comeback when it arrives.....'over the top defense of Mark Purdon' give me a break, you haven't once answered what it is you have against the man? when we're clearly referencing AllStars your focus is on MarkP! and we all know there is much more to AllStars than MarkP alone, as Thrillnspills has pointed out..... Thrills mate, good for you, oh Nat is great in her own right no disputin that here and as a team her and Mark are simply the best, however, why that is a constant source of moans and groans by some in here I'll never know, they (Mark & Nat) have got where they are through hard work and great foresight, good for them both I say, may they live long and prosper..... Cheers Iraklis

She is going to C Waller. Good choice.

Totally agree with you and Nats does deserve equal kudos. Yes the attrition rate must be high too and they are fortunate to have other waiting at the gate to get into the barn. What ever happened to the smart trotter that Steelballs had with them. I know it broke down and I presume never came back.

I see I am being ridiculed elsewhere for my stance on this matter...if we are to encourage meaningful debate and get industry leaders involved in contributing to the discussions then there needs to be clear boundaries ... and not just allow hearsay and rumours...I have always had a policy of if you cant prove it don't post it...I will not change that principle...or the limited amount of moderation we have here...it keeps the site running smoothly without infighting and decent. I hope that members will continue to enjoy the site and the platform it provides...Leigh

Yeh ay Spike, whats with that, the man (MarkP) and Nat, for that matter have all the talent between them in the world, cheez!....Mark's breedin is impeccable look who his sire was, right! and his gransire, where he grew up and what he was around comin through the ranks, just sayn buuuuutttt, yuh reckon he knows a thing or two? yeh I think! and, neither him or Nat are afraid of good ol hard work (just take a look at their past 3 weeks, whew I'm buggard just talkin about it), now AllStars are reapin the rewards and are the top Stables in Southern Hemi, and what do they get? beggars bloody belief.....the Stars of our sport should be heralded and not only the bloodstock but our Trainers, Drivers all of em, thats where our youngsters are goin to look, 'I wanna be like Tony Herlihy, Dexter D, MarkP, Nat Rasmussen, and have/train a horse like Lazarus, Christian Cullen etc etc just like rugby, I wanna be like Lomu.....I am an AllStars fan, I admire DexterD, TonyH, the great PTWolfenden, Johnny (GOD) Campbell..... Stables, your mask is startin to slip with that latest quip 'I suppose you admired Lance Armstrong too' gee could that be a very, very, very, thinly disguised ref to Mr Purdon's past issue's? knock it off! it's been dealt with and long gone...... Cheers Iraklis

You certainly appear to have a bee in your bonnet re team AS. if fact one might say you are borrowing a lot of the language that was used by those who used to post on here. Probably just coincidence.

What has that got to with what I said? Allstars fan, just as I admire Chris Waller, Joao Moreira, Tim Tetrick

Remember the days of the old stock whips, I can't say I've ever had a taste of the stock prodder, but felt a few lashes from the jug cord as a young fella, did make me run when it came out.

I only raise the subject to counter the repetitive pro Purdon nonsense from Iraklis

Isn't this good business? Granted others do not have this luxury, but in fairness that has been achieved through his obvious talent. Why his talent is decried by people is beyond me. Some decry that his domination is killing the game, others accuse him of using substances, and others just are jealous and small minded - they hate people who are successful. Yes I am an Allstars fan, just as I admire Chris Waller, Joao Moreira, Tim Tetrick etc. Why anyone hates them is beyond my imagination.

I am asking a genuine question. From a horses perspective I can't see much difference between an electric shock from a fence and a jigger. I didn't say from a rules perspective. AS well if you were a horse would you rather have a few taps on the backside with a whip or have your mouth yanked all over the place by a thoughtless jockey. No one ever mentions the mouth one but the whip being more visible has the do gooders screaming.

Happens week after week, the stipes are just too blind to notice, or perhaps they don't want to see

Arjay you and the trainer are complete jerks for doing and condoning that, if you did that to one of my horses, I would shove the prodder up you where the sun dont shine, I hope all the hairs around your arse turn into fish hooks. You have to be a complete tosser to come on a public forum and discuss this sort of crap.

Are we talking about a woman who has been wearing the most bizarre shirts I've ever seen. This week is was a off the shoulder Lacey number,I've seen her pirate shirt and ones with balls sown onto them too. I only tune in to see what the hell she is wearing this week

Chestnut... I think most here really love the comps...whatever way they are run or set up...its the fun of competing and thats what it should remain about...and most enter in that spirit...you do a great job...thanks.

I know this too well Swoopa! My feet are cemented firmly on the ground! Just like fireworks... up in smoke ! This was me today...... This will be me raceday.....

Hey Leo those grey hairs must look impressive on the floor of a Rodney Wayne establishment! All jokes aside what a wonderfully genuine mare Consensus is.

We are putting together a couple of groups to race some nice youngsters if any like minded individuals are interested please contact me, my email is pitstable@xtra.co.nz Michael and Matt Pitman

and Rangiora?

I believe PoundForPound would call us Nillers! Which has to be better than losers?

Don't come the delicate snowflake shit.Why not chose the optimist tag? Truth be known we are ALL losers for being ensnared by an activity where your funds ultimately only head one way so lighten up.

Tha'ts the problem with forums and texts.Its impossible to gauge the sentiment that is involved with a particular posting. People get it all wrong then it turns into a bun fight. When you are actually talking to someone it's obvious.

And my tongue-in-cheek posting obviously by-passed the cranium of a few as I was suggesting a meeting as I will be scouting for a horse myself!