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There's a lot of emotive nonsense in these posts. Yes, the famous Ellerslie Hill has history on its side ...but the future of NZ racing depends on a viable, sustainable model in Auckland for the 21st century - and that means realising the asset value of underproductive land. Avondale, take note, Swallow yer pride, sell the land and invest in the greater good while taking a seat or three at the table for the next 100 years, instead of moaning about injustices of the past. That grandstand at Avondale is in itself a huge indictment on your previous and current leaders/management strategy, what an eyesore. The loss of the Ellerslie Hill is sad - a relative pf mine won a McGregor Grant Chase ad was [placed in the GN Steeples when only a teenager. But he wouldnt want the Hill to stay there just for history's sake, whennn the future of our great sport is at this crossroads. Well done, ARC and Counties RC. Show them the way forward.

Singapore Tribute for LKL....

David got rid of smoken up also maybe he didn’t know

Very very true, she has come a long way in a short time and goes about it all very professionally.

What about a big congrats to those who participated. Sarah O was a worthy winner IMHO and yet nobody has said a thing on here about her achievement.

$A 19250 in the lunch box! But the cherry on top is they had a horse refuse to race and a lost rider coming out of the gates, which allowed Bryces other runner to collect $700

Not really the point . The facts are that harness participants give them all the ammo they need to write damming articles about the industry. Soft leadership is coming home to roost and i'm gonna stick my neck out here and say Woodham is letting the side down badly on these matters.

Its the gift that just keeps on giving to The Press journo's. As for reputational damage , well thats the outcome and just another nail in the coffin for Harness. Talk about death by a 1000 cuts

Not quite true........there were 5 x noms for JD race , so the race was withdrawn and the 5 x horses added to other races ! Originally there were two races with 5 x noms and one with 7 before they were reshuffled.

Yes has proven herself and deserves all the credit she gets. On the number of drives she gets is streets ahead of some of the others when it comes to winners. By far the best Jnr going around!

Here's the draw for Sat Queensland Championship: Draw for the Queensland Derby: Cheers Iraklis

Great stallion Spirit Of Boom. He has Thatch through through his sireline and tail female line- 4th dam by Thatch. Spirit Of Booms 5th dam is by Hyperion's son Rockefella. King Of Comedy's tail line looks to suit. Selkirk's Sire Sharpen Up is out of a Rockefella mare, while 6th dam by Rockefella as well as her granddam by Hyperion. Hyperion out of the mighty Selene. https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Selene.html

Champion trainer Laurie Laxon pictured in Singapore In 2008 Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Hall of Fame trainer Laurie Laxon passes away NZ Racing Desk 16 July 2021 Hall of Fame trainer Laurie Laxon, whose list of achievements included a Melbourne Cup victory and multiple Singapore training premierships, has passed away. Laxon had lived in retirement in the Coromandel seaside town of Whitianga since returning from Singapore in 2017, the year after his induction to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. He had ruled supreme in Singapore training ranks after relocating there in 1999, claiming nine premierships and becoming the first to win 100 races in a season, and the first (and still only) trainer to reach 1,000 wins at Kranji on the way to a full tally in excess of 1,250. Laxon was born into racing as a member of a family involved since New Zealand’s earliest European settlement years. Growing up north of Hamilton, as a teenager he became an amateur rider and in his final raceday ride he won the Duke of Gloucester Cup. After completing a carpentry apprenticeship, he was drawn fully into racing when he established a stable near Ngaruawahia. From there he first made his mark with the 1974 Great Northern Hurdle winner Cobland, who he owned with his late wife Jenny, before establishing his credentials as the trainer of major flat performers. A big part of that early success was the association Laxon built with the brothers Philip and Peter Vela, leading to their joint maiden Group One success with the Sir Tristram filly Noble Heights in the 1981 New Zealand 1000 Guineas. Sir Tristram was also the source of the Laxon-trained, Vela-owned and bred Romanee Conti, winner of the 1993 Hong Kong International Cup, and dam of Ethereal, who was trained by Laxon’s second wife Sheila to win the 2001 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Sir Tristram also sired the Vela-owned and bred Riverina Charm, a four-time Group One winner on either side of the Tasman under Laxon’s training, while for owner-breeder Fred Bodle Laxon prepared the giant Sir Tristram mare Empire Rose to win the 1988 Melbourne Cup. “Laurie was an outstanding trainer and horseman who was particularly skilled with fillies and mares,” commented his close friend and near neighbour, New Zealand Bloodstock Chairman Joe Walls. “His astute horsemanship was noted by a number of successful breeders, most notably Peter and Philip Vela, and they had some great times together. “When Laurie went to Singapore he remained staunchly loyal to the New Zealand-bred and much of his success there was down to the horses he sourced from New Zealand,” added Walls, who confirmed that Laxon, who recently turned 75, passed away in his sleep overnight. Another to pay tribute to Laxon was highly respected former trainer Bruce Marsh, who developed a close friendship as a fellow Kiwi expat in Singapore. “Laurie was the instigator of me going up to Singapore,” said Marsh, who is now retired in Cambridge. “He was an immense help to every New Zealand and Australian expat who went up there – myself, Mark Walker, Cliffy Brown, Michael Freedman, all of us. “He went out of his way to show us the ins and outs, and he was always there if you needed any help. “Obviously Laurie was a top-notch trainer, he will always be remembered for his huge success back home, in Australia and up in Singapore.” As a New Zealand licence holder for close to 50 years Laxon also played a significant role through his involvement with the NZ Trainers’ Association, serving as National President prior to heading to Singapore. “A larger-than-life character Laurie made his mark on the racing industry as recognised by his admission into the Racing Hall of Fame,” NZTR CEO Bernard Saundry said. “NZTR’s Board and management acknowledge his immense contribution to the industry over the years and extend our thoughts to his family, as we mark the passing of a New Zealand racing legend.” Laxon is survived by his sons Craig, Roger and John, and daughter Lucy.

Second everything everyone has said here…..that interview with Steve Davis reminded us of the magnitude of the loss…… RIP Laurie……

My father always said Abernant was the fastest horse he had ever seen. The mare is by Spirit of boom

The point is people don't bet on Steeplechases. More to a point do you ever see a horse thats been over the Hill finish with its ears pricked.? Do you go to Ellersie and have to get past the PETA people protesting at the gate?

I hope Frankie, you are wrong and they take their jobs more seriously...??

I am with you Meomy. Seems a triumph of people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing....However, I feel the authorities have painted themselves into such a financial corner that there is no alternative. It's a tragedy in my view. So much history in that hill, what a view it has been from the main stands out and across the greenery.

@Baz (NZ) This may be of interest about Climatic Change from around 115 years ago, to the exact date, as where @stodge lives https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19060717.2.19 Climate change also impacts on horses welfare when traveling abroad to Australia and deer.. Enjoy the read Climate Change and it's variations including Climatic Change https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers?items_per_page=100&snippet=true&query=climate+change Britain's Weather Changing Climate - Milder and Wetter ahh and it was in December so Britain's winter. I like the references back to the 1600's weather records..@stodgeand others based in the UK feel free to share and ensure those weather records are brought to the fore for our Academics and others to read and learn from. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19311228.2.65 In Quest of Good Health - Share with the Politicians https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18930202.2.130.1

RIP Laurie. NZs oldest teenager has just passed away. Hall Of Fame Trainer Hall Of Fame Bloke Condolences to all the family

Thoughts and prayers with all his family and friends at this time...RIP one of the great characters of New Zealand racing.