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To be fair, I've never been a fan of 2yrold racing, but that's just my opinion, I have an interest in a modestly bred rising 5yr old, sire leaves stayers, dam won over ground, he has been well feed, broken in and hopefully be mentally and physically developed, if we get to the races the rest will be up to him. You know the odds.

I hear on National Radio today media commentator Gavin Ellis made mention of Mick Guerin's journalism on the racing pages. He noted he puts 'human interest' into his racing stories. It seems like MG is a very talented Journalist .......knows an awful lot about Harness , learning more all the time about gallops and knows a lot of the big players. Add to this his knowledge on rugby ,his verbal talents ,he still looks good , he comfortable with MC roles and gets work with League as well and sports in general and one could conclude NZ Racing is lucky to have him. Brought up on the West Coast , surely the best pedigree around and putting more and more skin into the game with ownership he appears the complete package. Aussie harness use him and I gather he is currently on deck at Royal Ascot.....WOW ! I often read on here negative comments about his writing , his personality and his pronunciation etc. Is this just envy ? Yes I remember he was once sacked by NZ Racing Board.....but that 9 years ago...he well and truly back. He's very good IMO !

How wonderful to read about our amazing mare Daria’s Fun. We still breed from the family having retained her daughter, and grand daughters. Since we’ve have Sword in Stone and Secret Spirit being the most prominent performer so far. Her 3.15.59 record still stands in Australasia for 3200m - what an experience to have had her.

Plenty of no hopers going around as you called them, take them out of fields struggling for numbers already, what will we be left with, I certainly wouldn't put David in the Category, regardless of his form at that or even if he was retired, think he has won about 16 or races,close to 300k in stakes, be a champ in my eyes if I owned him, but we do tend to forget a lot of race winners, who may also get a so called beating as you say, or even the 2yr olds who have there brains fried when not mentally or physically ready for racing, and where do most end up,so the anti racing brigade don't only have a 13yr old fella to protest about.

Firstly, just because some bureaucrat decided to justify his existence by producing a rule, does not make that law correct or necessary. I wonder, if a horse was approaching that age, and was on a winning streak, obviously enjoying his work - is that the end for him? Would you support that rule blindly? Perhaps a more measured approach would be, once a horse gets to an advanced racing age, to have an 'average beaten lengths' moving average, and when the horse is uncompetitive over a period, the trainer must make a submission to the authority (which may be 'we're training for the Great Northern, get on board!')

The question has to be asked if the Auckland Trotting Club can survive in the wake of the mammoth losses incurred in the property development venture? There's also the "elephant in the room" of the pending court cases that could double the losses again! Will they end up having to sell Alexandra Park and move out of Auckland altogether? Where are the property development guru's now that they brought onto the board to oversee this disaster? How the hell did the recently departed CEO win awards for her "brilliant management" of the development? Who in their right mind would bring the guy that designed the CTV building in Christchurch onto the project team? Are the current stakemoney levels just an "ego trip" for the board given that the club could be insolvent within 12 months? Is it time for a Cambridge based contingency plan should the ATC be forced to sell up and move out of Auckland? Is taking pot shots at Garrick Knight for reporting the truth the best the ATC board has got to avoid admitting incompetence?

I am sure the former Minister Of Racing, Nathan Clown would have been in the House offerring his learned advice given that he contributed so much to NZ Racing. After all he head hunted fellow National Party hack, Glenda Hughes who head hunted John (Clease) Allen. Nathan Clown also gave us the all weather track at Addington

I assume to keep faith with those that want to race along with the fact that the races were programmed. The much discussed Monte race is the saddle trot and it was advertised it would be a tote race [ for $6k] if 7 horses entered.So providing all start there will be 7 horses. I consider it similar to the two year old trots earlier in year .They were run for the advertised stake providing a minimum entry was received ,often there wasn't so they ran as a non-tote for $2k. Its absolutely demoralising if races programmed then not run ,and unfair to merge with older horses. The main trot had 9 entries but one stable been struck by virus so 3 x scratchings. It was going to be a good race even if very wide range so not like with like ,tho preferential draw .Also the main pace a very wide range ,so not like for like and highlights the lack of horses ......68 to 93 and 64 to 95 not ideal from mobile !I looked at nominations and feel they did all they could to put fields together.Unfair to advertise a non-winners Trot from mobile then merge with other horses ! Looking at the horses in recent weeks there has been an influx of South Horses [ including CD this week] so without those the meetings would be in jeopardy. June/ July also a good time to have a holiday ! The calendar and programs need looking at IMO.

Australia PM adviser says climate change is 'UN-led ruse to establish new world order' https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/11591193/Australia-PM-advisor-says-climate-change-a-UN-led-ruse.html?fbclid=IwAR0Vsp89

Hasn't it already been announced that MAC will become RITA + 1 person with wagering expertise if they can be found and possibly another if a further skill set is deemed necessary?

Critically Dundeel had serious gas. Murray Baker maintained that had he and Andrew trained him specifically, he could have won a Group 1 sprint fresh-up.

Also the average beaten lefts thing would encourage a beaten runner to maybe be given a tougher time than required to keep average down.

Parliament on racing bill NOW Channel 86

To be fair Aussie and HK have the rule so iam thinking they are on the money rather than us , NZTR only got horse ambulances a few months ago I understand .and they have been around years .We are behind the curve of public opinion . A 9 year old claimer broke down two weeks ago and was euthanased at Santa Anita , the anti racing crowd played up big the fact he was old and run to death basically was the theme. News outlets ran with it , they are the masters of spin .They won't be interested how well the horse has been looked after if something happens . I think the rule is actually Aussie wide as well by the way. What average beaten lengths would you suggest and we can work out if TD would be outted. It will all play out in next few months with this horse anyway . I back it to stop midway up hill second circuit in Great Northen and say ' fxxked this for a game ' and walk back down.

The "animal welfare-lets ban racing brigade" do not need any more ammunition that what they currently have. This one and other no-hoper horses "running" around getting a hiding with whips and a severe beating by more competitive (better) horses is just adding more fuel to the fire for the lobbyists. I am still waiting for someone from the "leave poor Thatz David alone and gee isn't his trainer great" group to answer my two part question; Why does Victoria have a rule whereby horses that reach a certain age are retired and what is the point of this rule? They can't, or choose not to answer it. Either because they don't want to face up to the facts, or they actually have no clue about anything.

Were going up to Allblacks v Scotland June 1975 for the test but could hardly see the road because of the storm going up the island.So made a management decision to turn left and go to the races at Te Awamutu couldnt see a race it was that much rain but no they kept racing . Getting out of the carpark after was hilarious it was like a stock car race .But a great day at the races.

Unfortunately there have been too many that do not know the difference between a salt lick and a caslick in charge at club and national level for too long!

Croon's cheap shot on Garrick Knight last night on Trackside wasn't called for.

Good luck to Michael and his team.... https://www.facebook.com/TAB/videos/466688570747199/?t=9

Disappointing to see a relative lack of support from trainers for the meeting, although admittedly the programming was poor. Sad to see only four horses front for the $25,000 Cup. Trainers don't seem to notice decent stakes sometimes. Good to see the horse all the way from Riverton win the Cup: well worth the five hour trip. Just imagine if there was a track in the NI that could race on a good 3 in the middle of winter; where they could run 1,200m races in a tick over 1.11. They would be racing there every week. In all seriousness, I cannot see how anyone could justify spending millions on an all weather track in the SI when we already have tracks like Waimate. It is less than three hours from Chch and about two hours from Wingatui. It seems to be ideally placed. Why not spend a few dollars developing a couple of different start points? Much more economical than spending millions on the bottomless pit of an all weather track.

If they intend to close racecourses then horse racing must be on Freeview. Article in paper today say that the way to kill a sport is to have it exclusively behind a paywall. It then goes on to describe how audiences for formula one and the ashes series have dwindled. Also mentions how rugby crowds have dropped since rugby has been behind a paywall.