RaceCafe..#1...Tipsters Thread.... Share Your Fancies For Fun...Lets See Who The Best Tipsters Here Are.

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  1. Chris Wood

    Te Rapa Track

    Have to agree, Hobbsey and his club are the benchmark as far as great facilities,innovative ideas and the Board always make you feel welcome. A lot of clubs could take a leaf out of their book. One club up our way shut the bars down almost as soon as they cross the line, sad, many a time I have been with owners late in the day, and they wish to relax for 30 minutes, maybe have a bet and a drink, but to no avail. Chasing people off the course is not a good look!
    3 points
  2. Thepaw

    Te Rapa Track

    Well if its any consolation the atmosphere at New Plymouth was BLOODY FANTASTIC, (despite the heavy track) I was in the punting competition; a no hold bar's affair where you could; bet anywhere you liked, as often as you liked , and as much as you liked, so long as you turned over $500 by 5.55pm The event was supported by a fantastic bar and food package ($60 per head ) and friendly polite staff. There is a whole lot of Clubs around that could take a leaf out the book Carey HOBBS and his committee are using. You had a feeling that your patronaged was valued. I've been to numerous other events only be confronted with an entertainment package that is double the price or higher in some case, and full of hidden clauses such as " Oh sorry that not included in the package or you'll have to pay a surcharge for that premium beverage" premium my arse the difference in price at the supermarket of about 80cets a bottle yet they'll ask you for $2 (Bulls**t) Not very often you start planning a year out for winter racing but my teams back in Hobbsy you're a bloody legend PS Nah we didn't win it
    3 points
  3. Red Rum

    Thatz David

    Salt and pepper , are you named after condiments or the old rap band . As mentioned in previous threads they don't have enough highweights for me to ride .They would need to be highhigh weights . OK spent a bit on racing in past , punted for decades , been to races all over the world , accept when Iam in the wrong, but cannot have an opinion according to you . Right to make you happy , every horse is a champion , every jockey good and never makes mistakes , every trainer good and never makes mistakes , all breeders make right mating , all tracks are the best and iam not luckily but if I was hard up and can only afford to have a dollar ew once a day but love the game I SHOULD NOT have an opinion on racing . Hope unless your premier league footballer or All Black you don't have opinion on football or rugby.
    2 points
  4. Pegasus 9

    NETBALL

    Congrats to the Silver Ferns. Great coaching and the players all fought so hard, did not get bullied by the aussies who threw everything at them. So proud of the Silver Ferns. Worthy World Champions.
    2 points
  5. You are kidding!!! I thought I'd read it all....Are you and CT from the same litter?
    2 points
  6. Kerryn Manning's historic victory in last month's New Zealand Trotting Cup with Arden Rooney captured headlines around the Southern Hemisphere. As the first female driver to win the great race, the Australian native will forever remembered for her effort. The history of females driving in races in New Zealand runs a lot deeper than November 10, 2015.BELLA BUTTON. Sounds a lot like a Saturday morning children's television character doesn't it? Maybe it's the alliteration of her name, which does it. After all, Dexter Dunn has a certain ring to it. You would think that might be where the comparisons between the two might stop. But it's far from the finish. You see, Button was setting records and creating history more than 100 years before Double D was born. It was her, along with others, who set the wheels in motion for females driving in harness racing. And therefore it was Button who played a major part in the success of Kerryn Manning when she broke the New Zealand Trotting Cup hoodoo at Addington last month and became the first female to win the great race from the sulky. Button created history in harness racing for the first time on record in 1890 when she and her trusty steed, Star, whom she also both owned and trained, rallied to success in the first race at the inaugural Ashburton Trotting Club meeting in Mid Canterbury. At a similar time Ethel Abbott was granted a licence by the Otahuhu Trotting Club at the ripe age of 16. Both were given one day club permits to drive at selected meetings but official licences were issued at a national level and despite a modicum of success for both, they were constantly refused. Eventually the rejection drove Button away from the industry, although she did remain involved through her New Brighton establishment Brooklyn Lodge where it was reported she was in demand when it came to difficult racehorses. Despite her premature departure from trotting, Button left an everlasting mark, as did Abbott, and the presence of female drivers was forever a distant buzz in the ears of administrators who didn't see it fit for females to be competing against their male counterparts. The issue wasn't just isolated to New Zealand though. Harness racing in all corners was having the same debate and archaic values were trumping every argument with comment being thrown from all sectors that women were not fit to compete in fully fledged races. Walter Moore who was a much regarded American harness racing journalist wrote the following in the Horse Review in 1918 and it underlines the battles females faced not only in America, but in Australia and New Zealand too.He wrote..."I cannot refrain from giving my views on the situation which were formed after seeing one of the most prominent women drives in the central states drive in a number of races. Mrs Chas. H Deyo takes the position that as woman are at the present called upon to perform labour; they should be allowed to drive professional races against the men. I think if trainers are so situated that their wives can accompany the stable of a campaign and act as bookkeeper, that is a very fine arrangement. Their work does not bring them into unpleasant situations, and they find it both healthful and interesting. They are splendid women, informed on all subjects, and are not horse bugs saturated with horse knowledge and conversation alone, but are better equipped in the finer things of the world than many ladies who have never been inside of a training stable.But to see a woman get up and drive in a race in a big field of hoppled pacers, or trotters for that matter - probably the danger is no greater in one place than it is in the other - makes a real lady look entirely out of place to me. To see her beating and banging an old pacer through the stretch makes me think that the mothers of old are gone forever. I am thankful that I have never seen a bad accident in a field where there was a woman driver competing, but after seeing a good many spills, with half the field down, and half the drivers bruised up terribly, I have always felt very thankful that there were no ladies in the wreck. I see no objection, and, in fact would enjoy much seeing a special event against time with a lady driver taking the leading role, particularly if she be a capable reins woman, and there are many of them, with only two horses on the track, the principal and the prompter; but in a big field of horses where men get excited and say and do things they would not think of doing in the presence of a lady, it make an entirely different situation. I felt certain that the 'powers that be' would pass a rule, or amend one of the old ones, during the past winter of rule tinkering, that would prevent woman drives taking part in regular races, but it seems to have been neglected."Oh how times have changed.Had Mr Moore penned such words today, he would most likely be without a job - but at that time in history his article gives further credence to just how difficult it was for women to break through. As written earlier, despite the efforts of the likes of Bella Button and Ethel Abbott harness racing was a little slow on the uptake and it was more than 70 years later before equality between male and female drivers was finalised. On the 20th November 1971 the first penalty bearing race for women who raced on special one day licences was held. Dubbed the Hip Hi Stakes and run for $550 at Addington the event was won by Lyn Smith, driving Derryhill. Other prominent names in the race included Barbara May, Noeline Ferguson, Denise Nyhan, Elizabeth McGrath, Carol Deuart, Una Anso, Allison Murfitt, Vi Mercep and Robyn Negus.It took another eight years following that race for some serious change to take place and in 1979 the waters were finally broken when three women, Lorraine Grant, Dorothy Cutts and Anne Cooney, were granted licences by the NZ Trotting Conference to compete against the men. Cutts was granted a full professional driver's licence while Watson was given an amateur licence and Cooney, a probationary licence. Interestingly the press release at the time in the NZ Trotting Calendar closed with the statement that the criteria laid down by the Conference for the granting of licences to women is exactly the same as that which applies to men. Mrs Cutts went on to win a non-TAB race at Matamata a few weeks later on Kenworthy while Mrs Watson was the first woman to drive a winner when she piloted Hydro Bird at a complete TAB tote meeting in March of 1979. To say that there were others waiting in the wings for their chance to join in on the action might be an understatement as come the end of 1979, there were 1,600 licence holders and more than 50 of them were female. The arrival of a female presence in the sulky in full blown races created a media frenzy at the time. Lorraine Watson, or Grant as she was latterly known, was quoted following her first drive as a fully licenced driver at Methven as saying the most nerve wracking part of the day was immediately after the race when amid the flurry of well-wishers and friends there the inevitable television and radio interviews. "That was worse than the race. I suppose I was a bit shy and worried about what I was going to say. Thank goodness, it only happens once." Watsons presence on the track was also well received by most of her male counterparts and she said many had wished her well. "Of course there will always be those against women drivers, but I was surprised by a lot of the others. Driving is all in the hands and feet, sex makes no difference." Watson of course went on to make history and become the first female driver to compete in the New Zealand Trotting Cup when she drove her own horse, the standout chestnut, Rainbow Patch in Il Vicolo's 1995 edition of the great race. Since that history making day, there have only been eight other occasions where a female has competed in the Cup - showing just how significant Lorraine Grant's, as she was then known, achievement was. Jo Herbert drove in it three times in 1998 (There's A Franco 4th), 2000 (Chloe Hanover 8th) and 2001 (Annie's Boy 12th) but it wasn't to be until Natalie Rasmussen arrived on our shores that the prominence of a female reinswoman in the Cup would become an every year occurrence. Rasmussen drove Vi Et Animo to finish 10th in 2011, then Sushi Sushi into 3rd in 2011 and was joined in that race by Kate Gath who finished 9th with Caribbean Blaster. Gath returned with Lauren Panella in 2013 and finished 5th with Caribbean Blaster while Panellawas 15th with Suave Stuey Lombo.Rasmussen was the sole female representative in 2014 finishing 9th with Hands Christian before both she and Kerryn Manning flew the flag in 2015. Rasmussen was 5th with Messini and Manning of course broke the hoo doo and became the first female to win the race with Arden Rooney. The funny thing about history though is that its sole purpose is, put simply, to be made. It's something people strive for. They yearn to be history making. And then when it's achieved it's on to the next mission, working full circle once more. The issue often with it though is that once achieved, history can sometimes be easily forgotten. Manning doesn't have to worry about that. A history making female reinswoman since the day she first put her feet into the stays of a sulky - the Great Western native threw her into harness racing immortality. What Manning achieved, and less importantly to us, what Michelle Payne achieved at Flemington a week earlier - will forever change the face of horse racing. No longer are there those lingering doubts of whether or not females can be regarded in the same breathe as some of our leading male drivers - it's all, once and for all, equal terms and open slather with wishes that either the best man, or woman, win. It sounds a little archaic to speak of sexism in horse racing considering that a large proportion of success in both codes has fallen the way of females, whether they be jockeys, drivers or trainers. But the truth of the matter is that in some circles it still exists - even to this day with one hardy soul daring enough to suggest to me prior to the Cup that Manning's best chance to win the Cup was to let one of the "boys" do the driving as the Cup isn't a race for a female to win. Negatively intended or not. That one small sentence still hammered home the viewpoint of some. And only further underlined the significance of what Manning achieved.Not all that long ago it was uncommon to see female drivers out competing on the big stage. Nowdays, here in New Zealand, surnames like Rasmussen, Chilcott, Donnelly, Barclay, Tomlinson, Neal and more recently Ottley, Neilson and Butt have become more and more prominent. In Australia it's more prevalent. Manning leaves the charge, but is ably chased by the likes of Panella, Quinlan, Weidemann, Gath, Turnbull, Miles and Seijka. All totalled here in New Zealand we have 52 licenced female drivers. That number isn't all that dissimilar to what it was back in 1979 but the future is looking bright with a large proportion of those coming through Cadets and Kidz Kartz, being females. And although nowdays it is considered normality there was a time, not that long ago as mentioned above , when the thought of a female out on the track competing against her male counterparts in the sulky seemed an impossible dream. Thankfully we are past that now and some of the best in the business are of the female variety - as Manning showed on the second Tuesday in November and as the likes of Rasmussen shows us week in and week out. So perhaps it's time to change the old saying, cometh the hour, cometh the man. Surely in this day and age , cometh the hour, cometh the man...or woman seems more appropriate?
    2 points
  7. This tassie galloper Mystic Journey.She just kept raising the bar last prep.One prescient cafer was all over her(apology can't recall who)and she kicks off a new campaign this week. Obscure breeding,obscure jock,Tasmanian -6 straight top class wins=all the ingredients for a real superstar! Cost me plenty betting against her,will not make the same mistake again.Apparently Cox Plate is in the frame.
    1 point
  8. Looking at Helena Baby's ownership it doesn't need much thought to figure where it may end up. So what does NZ racing get out of it. Nothing. As a form of income export levies may be an option but more appealing is duplicating pro sport's transfer system. The system could look like this. Every horse using NZ Racing infrastructure is aligned with a club. The club eliminates track fees and perhaps other costs e.g. barrier trials but contra to this Hong Kong primarily pays a realistic price for the transfer. That means more money staying in NZ even though the net result may not be much different to the clubs.
    1 point
  9. Blue

    woman drivers

    Yes Tim, Una Anso from Te Awamutu was the first I remember. Won a ladies race, might have been at T A, in the sixties. Cant quite recall the horse but it'll come to me. Maybe Ra Pointer or similar?Rosemary Tim's was in there also.
    1 point
  10. newbie85

    0amaru Abandoned

    If they are getting to get rid of the “old things” will the CEO be included or is he protected like the Grandstand by the “Historic Trust. Cmon Pam to much forward thinking.......
    1 point
  11. scooby3051

    Thatz David

    I dont think Red Rum slags anyone...he has opinions and adds value to most threads he posts in...maybe as you have just joined you may like to try his approach...
    1 point
  12. Red Rum

    ~the next Sunline..

    To be fair CT labelled Brutal and MJ very very early on last year I recall . I am going to take her on this week, be some decent odds on something outside her . Spirit of Valour went ok as raider last year first up at Caulfield and Coolmore haven't offloaded him so must still be showing up ok.
    1 point
  13. CT"s

    ~the next Sunline..

    Can anyone else see the irony in this post?
    1 point
  14. I knew he was always going to be a risk Ernie as horses rarely convert synthetic form to turf (only 1 in 13 now this year) but after seeing him parade (he’s a big brute) and I’d just won $760 off Lord Belvedere I thought he was worth a shot. What I should’ve done was stuck to my original plan and bet the winnings of Lord Belvedere on Sylvia’s Mother. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, just ask weasel.
    1 point
  15. rdytdy

    NETBALL

    Congrats Ferns. Does this mean the men's team are really World Champions after beating the girls several times recently?
    1 point
  16. Memphis2

    NETBALL

    Yeh Peg fantastic effort. Quiet achievers. Ok it wasn't very quiet at the end. Good for them girls to keep improving as they did. Yes very proud to be a Kiwi though off shore in Oz currently
    1 point
  17. Not sure I make great sense of what you are trying to say here - The subject line is - "Volksraad as a broodmare sire". The fact is that Volksraad was a champion New Zealand stallion on numerous occasions and did a great job for our industry. He's proven that the could leave a top horse and has done so as a broodmare sire. I think the main thing is that horses with his blood are at an advantage to have rather than a disadvantage ...... Interesting where I Am Invincible has come from. Not sure too many worry about his timeform at the moment.
    1 point
  18. puha

    Te Rapa Track

    If you haven’t a horse racing unfortunately their is no incentive to be oncourse as simple as that .
    1 point