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Dont think now is the time for that...Taiki is fighting for his life on a knifes edge...we should all be wishing and praying for him and his family...whatever happens Sam will have to carry that with him...there are no winners in this situation..its just so bloody sad for all involved.

I actually agree with mikenz, with due respect to Matt Cross, in my view Craig Rail is the best in the South Island, he has improved a lot when given the opportunity, his recent efforts in Canterbury when M Cross was absent were outstanding as were his calls on the West Coast circuit earlier this year. Just my opinion

With regard to our TV insistence on "Maadi" pronumciation, I was amused to hear Sweeney rolling the 'R" on Riccarton last meeting as if it was a foreign word.

So sad hope he pulls through, a nice person and a decent rider.

https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/50626/6/Race-Detail.aspx With Georgy away we are truly blessed to have Zillionair race caller Sir Bruce bringing his world wide knowledge and fantastic verbal craft to winter Racing. This is the commentary link to Bruce's race call on The Ryder Stakes R 6 at Te Rapa 30.07.22. Watch and note how Bruce identifies McNab on Pacific Dragon as being in front at the home turn. Sophmaze looms, and looks the danger. Bruce got it right.. Thanks Bruce . Rev

See the How It Will Work thread for more details. Very simply you need to pick 12 "longshots" (paying $10 or more to Win on the tote). You can pick horses in any 12 races of your choice at the five meetings listed below. Limit of one pick per race, ie. you need to pick in 12 different races. Posting deadline is 11.16am - please note early start. No entries will be accepted after the posting deadline - plenty of time between now and then M2 Ruakaka M6 Riccarton M11 Randwick M12 Flemington M14 Doomben Posting format - having encouraged you to post horse names for the LGL comp, I would now really like you to post the horse saddlecloth number, not the name for this comp. Would also be very helpful if you could post in meeting order and then race order. For example a very helpful entry post would look like this (illustrative only): M2 Race 1: #7 M2 Race 7: #6 M2 Race 8: #2 M2 Race 9: #4 M6 Race 3: #5 M6 Race 9: #1 M11 Race 1: #8 M11 Race 4: #7 M14 Race 6: #8 M14 Race 7: #15 M14 Race 8: #12 M14 Race 9: #17 If for some reason you choose to post horse number and horse name and they don't correspond, I will use the horse number posted. Remember up to you to replace scratchings prior to the posting deadline - no default subs. Thanks again Kingsbeer - great format and very generous prizes!

No one seems to have commented yet on what is likely to happen to Sam Weatherley. His action in moving out abruptly on Jack Hammer caused the fall and the Stewards opened and then adjourned their inquiry on the day. He had earlier been suspended for 7 days for the win on Breckon Power but that was due to start after Ruakaka on Saturday. The Suspended and Injured riders page on NZTR now shows him listed as out until further notice from Thursday 4 August. The Judicial decision on the earlier suspension notes Weatherley's poor record with careless riding charges, with 6 suspensions over the past 12 months. But the fall on Wednesday is arguably the most serious in terms of consequences for other riders. On a related issue, I strongly disagree with the NZTR policy of editing the race video to remove the section of the race where the fall happended.

Sure. But a responsible and humane owner would get the portable abbatoir to dispose of horse. I'm not sure if they shoot or inject the horse but death instant and painless.That would be my option but of course it costs much more. Sadly, the trainer/owner who has already slogged a horse for 50 or 60 starts is likely to be concerned about the welfare of the horse and will take the option that you illustrate. Shameful disrespect for an animal they are supposed to feed, house, happy and healthy.

This coming Sunday Hawera a hosting a race meeting. The track will not doubt be testing which we have been accustomed over the past couple of months. I also notice that there is a big weather system that is about to hit the country Saturday night and continue through the weekend which could put this meeting in serious doubt as when you have a race meeting run in rain on a Heavy 18 the meeting is in jeopardy anywhere (especially in NZ). So do you think it would have been a good idea to move that particular meeting on say Friday or even tomorrow as there is not only no racing but nothing in the CD and haven't been for over a week? They are going to be on a bog no matter what, but it does give owners, trainers etc. more certainty of a race meeting and not waste money. This could even bring more numbers and more fields as a consequence. It's a no brainer to me. The Hawera has been used more than it should have been over the winter months so is tired as it is. Does anyone share the same thoughts?

They said they would "announce" what was happening for the remainder of the carnival yesterday...still to see any announcement...or did I miss something.

Gruff, those porous masks are about as good as a wire mesh fence to keep mosquitos out.

Seems appropriate.

A classic case of spending a dollar to get 2 dollars back.

Thanks SAY NO More!!. A chance to go one better than 2nd at Queens Birthday w'end to the Singapore Slinger. Here we go with some beauties at Flemington and home-track Doomben. Meeting 12 Flemington (hard to go past Teewaters in race 7 so skip that one) Race 2 / 4 Race 3/ 7 Race 4/ 8 Race 6/ 7 Race 8/ 1 Race 9/ 8 Meeting 14 Doomben Race 4/ 6 Race 5/ 10 Race 6/ 5 Race 7/ 9 Race 8/ 6 Race 9/ 3

The Man is a genius. Small but cheerful crowd as usual oncourse today and competitive quality racing. The Commentaries are that good you could almost close your eyes.The loss of The Bounder in the sprint and Mr Yanagidas horrifying fall marred an otherwise excellent day .Taiki had track staff in very close proximity visibly shaken and from first hand reports its incredible he is Still with us.Thoughts and Prayers for his quick recovery

Yes, he has been, Further news on injured NZ jockey Taiki Yanagida from his manager with him at hospital: Taiki remains in induced coma but also has serious back injuries and is being moved from Waikato to Middlemore Hospital (Auckland). NZTR are also paying for Taiki's parents to fly from Japan to NZ to be with him. They are hopefully arriving in Auckland, on Friday.

A Terrific Competition is anticipated for this Saturday's new Contest . Great idea. Thanks KINGSBEER. Thanks SaynoMore who has Two comps to score this weekend. My computer has spilled out an Erratic Factor for the early contenders. ( ER ). 1 being Low reliability ....... 10 Highly reliable and informed ) It will be a competition that will really suit the likes of : Paul ( Ponderosa ), the Long Shot Champion in similar post Viet Nam war competitions. I usually take quinellas with his selections. ( ER 9 ) Insider with her ambiguous name has top credentials for those over $22.00 divies. ( ER 4 ) High Sparrow and Cabbage Great record in every RCafe competition. Likely favourites for top Three. ( ER 7 ) Zims Led by Lyn, and every entry with ZIM in the title is like having a Turn Me Loose 2 year old in your stable. WFA ability. ( ER 9.2 ) Gubellini a Breeding buff: He's my "go to guy " when my memories of race days from the past, get a bit blurred. May have horses racing on Saturday, so very interested in his selections. Deserves a competition win at this level. ER 10.00 Cubes and High Sparrow. Both have the ability to win this Saturday's comp. with a $44/1 selection. Not to be under estimated. Bad rating . ( ER 2.3) Tauhei Notts. Waikato Bean counter with poor attendance in these Saturday competitions. Knowledge and wisdom . Reported to have backed backed Simon De Montfort in 1987 Wellington Cup. (ER.. nil ) Pound 4Pound Has other missions in mind. How ever his ego could randomly select a horse from Royal Randwick in R 8 " Hard Empire or R10 Ruperstar. ( ER 3.193 ) Floyd Pink Statistically the top four favourite to win or place top 4. Well bred and analyses form. Will be picking off shore, for sure. ( ER 9.9 ) Warren : Never, ever discount . Ever. Reliable. Heavy track selections only query in NZ...probably goes off shore. ? ( ER 9.22 ) Right first Time : Often is right. Most selections are 3/1 or worse, so no form this competition format > ( ER 4.91 ) I Will post new form Dates for Saturday's LONG JOHN LONG SHOT Competition when I see the full field.

Believe he has been airlifted to Middlemore with head and possible spinal injuries...wish him all the best ...lets hope he wins this one.

I was on-course at Te Rapa Saturday and noticed two things...Bruce Sherwin's excellent race calling resulting in the large crowd erupting loudly which in turn produced a great atmosphere!

Because he is not simply a talking head...talk for the sake of it...he knows his form and he enjoys his job...dunno why he is not used more in the role...

Bruce is far and away the best commentator in the north. He understands speed and tempo during a race. Very analytical in his pre race comments.

Fully agreed; he is excellent

I think he is way under used here in NZ one of the best.

Have to agree, I was in the crowd and his call on Bullybrooks race got the heart pumping.

It makes to much sense turning a perceived negative into a positive the powers that be would not have the foresight for that...but its a great idea.

"nothing to aspire to".............very interesting We're Doomed cos I've been giving that subject some thought in the last couple of days and now that Leggy has , quite correctly, told us numerous times that Synthetics are no place for mudders and that I've modified my views that Synthetics were for D and E Grade summer horses but I now include some C graders in that too then there needs to be some sort of a Grand Final series.....something which showcases the Synthetics because next season there will be 3 tracks in action probably for about 18 weeks and I'm thinking that during the Summer the astute trainers who have horses who are struggling a bit will be reserved to the Synthetics to effectively give that horse a 2nd chance ( which is a hell of a lot better than giving it a 10 week spell and trying it again next season ....or even retiring it) the good thing about that is that it more horses come back into training for the winter.......stables have more horses providing more employment for stablehands / track riders etc. so as some sort of Grand Final and to get much more value than the MAAT concept I propose some sort of a concept like the ..... Breeders Cup weekend - say the 3rd weekend in August - stand alone run over the Saturday and Sunday 4 categories for horses on 1 May within the 45 - 54, 55 - 60, 61 - 65, 66 - 70 at distances of 1200, 1500, 2000 or whatever the relevant distance at the relevant track all races @ $60,000 or maybe 50, 000 and generous travel payments for the horses travelling from the other 2 venues and that the Venue rotates between each of the 3 venues on alternate years Invent another two races and you have 14 races, 7 on the Saturday and 7 on the Sunday some sort of a points system....Qualifying Series....you know how it works then it's over to the Host Club to turn it into a Big Day......Cambridge could have Studs invite Clients to corporate hospitality, NZTBA have a tent ( just a few weeks before the Breeding Season), Awapuni and Riccarton have hospitality boxes / facilities anyway anyway I'll leave the finer details to the Tim / Butch subcommittee - they'll be able to tidy up the loose ends and turn it into a Showcase Weekend at a time of the year when it's a bit bleak and miserable.

One of Racings good guys, Happy retirement Rob!

50/50 to go, with what's coming ...no foresight once again.

Update on jockey Taiki Yanagida, who was injured in race fall at Cambridge, NZ, yesterday: sadly Tiger is in a critical condition still in Waikato Hospital after doctors decided not to fly him to Middlemore last night. He has brain and spinal injuries. We pray for a miracle.