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

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  1. Fellow cafe posters - I wanted to acknowledge on behalf of Cubes family the heartwarming posts in Scooby's thread Cubes Sadly passes away And thank you also for the magnificent bouquet that was delivered to his house yesterday and the beautiful accompanying message to his boys. Nige's passing was sudden, unexpected and way too soon but his was definitely a life well lived. His posts were rightly the stuff of legend ... though there was certainly no point letting the facts get in the way of a good story He and I shared the ownership of a few horses which graduated to the stage of being "promising" .... but like with all things with Nige we had big and bold plans and remained the eternal optimists. However if the racing gods do the decent thing, then we'll all be cheering his Bad Flamingo home at the front of the field on Friday We figured Riccarton would be a fitting venue to farewell him so if conditions permit we'll throw the casket on the roof rack, shove in whatever cassette happens to be lying under the front seat, wind the windows down, crank up the volume and let the Kingswood give Cubes a final lap of honour around the track. And then, in Nigel's immortal words, it will be Cubes and out Love to you all Cubes family
    37 points
  2. Thanks Trump, kind words. Very proud of Tom, as his mother Colleen is to, and he has worked hard to get where he is, like most people in NZ Racing. He has had his critics, and he has coped well with all of this, especially the anonymous ones who feel they know more about the caper than he does. He is only going to get better as time goes on, and I know that he leaves these shores on good terms with his former employer. There are plenty of people to thank, and I would like to single out Reon Murtha, who took a personal interest in Tom a few years ago, and has had quite a hand in Tom's career up to this stage.
    32 points
  3. Midget

    Purcell WTF

    I learned today that our CEO is off on 3 weeks leave as of tomorrow back on the 9th January. Well Greg it is past the time of being nice to you,in my opinion you are without QUESTION the worse CEO our industry has the pain to endure. There is a funeral on Friday at Gore TO FAREWELL Rebecca Black. I will be completely gutted if you cannot fly down to Gore and represent NZTR at the funeral.You can fly Internationally to Paris,Australia,Mongolia and Hong Kong AT OUR COST and yet i am advised that you will be on 3 weeks holiday from tomorrow,so I believe that this is bullshit,you said on National Television about safety vest helmets etc,you had NOTHING to do with the introductions of these measures and yet your holiday takes precedence over your presences at this ladies farewell,you are an embarrassment as our CEO. You told ME at my hearing that there never has been an issue at Awapuni,even after it was pointing out that a steward would not operate with the rail out more than 8m and yet another horse almost did the same last week.I was going to ask what was your limp wristed reply was,but i know as an nonperforming CEO just do another report and it will disappear,just like the last 20 reports you have has done to cover your arse. and makes you look like you are in control. You are a plastic cutout of a CEO,YOU HAVE WASTED INDUSTRY MONEY ON JUNKETS,and yet i have never read a report from you to say what was achieved on these junkets. Sorry you came back with the catch cry Best Practice that sounds impressive,but the Industry knows like you should,this another wasted cliche that you use to make you look like you know what you are doing,which we all know this is more crap that you believe will appease us. You know if you lose your position at NZTR,you would be unemployable in Australia,hence why you came here,even after falsifying your CV saying you raced 90 horses and was the leading Country bookmaker for 12 years, I am over you and do the honorable thing and resign before you are pushed and you may even leave NZ with a small amount of creditably,as of today in my view you have NONE AND SURELY IS TIME FOR THAT SONG HOMEWARD BOUND.
    31 points
  4. Tony is one of the best race callers there has been in NZ..for him to be told to go is really sad, why could they not have just let him go after two years like the others are doing, he makes most of the ones they are keeping look 2nd rate...poor decision and I for one wish him well in whatever he chooses to do from here on...thanks for all the great calls over the years Tony and thanks for your lifetime of service to the industry.
    26 points
  5. Firstly can I say we are gutted by what has happened to Rogan. As Trainers you feel like it is your fault when this happens. Like everyone else our first reaction was to blame the horse . Having now contacted Rogan and some of barrier attendants it appears it was a freak accident. Rogan's stirrup iron got stuck on a part of the starting gates as she was loading. The weight of the horse going forward caused the injuries. Rogan and the barrier attendants said it could have happened with any horse. The person that started this tread has had a crack about the horse previously so I want to set the record straight. Before the Taupo incident where she slipped onto her haunches as the gates were about to open, she had trialed 5 times and raced 6 times without incident. Why her back legs went under her we don't know. She did not throw herself over backwards as someone on here commented. At her next start she refused to load and this was probably a carry over from her Taupo experience. The Stipes requested she undergo an official barrier jump out. The barrier boys worked out how best to load her and she trialed at Cambridge without incident.( ridden by Margaret). Livingston then ran 4th with Kinjite on. At her following start Kinjite was dislodged NOT BY LIVINGSTON, but by the horse in the next barrier ridden by G Cooksley. That horse had played up in the birdcage and also at the barriers. It came out of the gates sideways and heavily bumped into Livingston causing Kinjite to fall off. This was not reported to the Stipes, much easier to blame Livingston as she had the reputation by now. Back to yesterday,because of the serious injuries suffered by Rogan the Stipes will carry out a thorough investigation into the incident and in particular how the stirrup iron became stuck in the starting gates .Perhaps there needs to be a modification done so it never happens again? Some of the comments on here (always under an alias) put an indirect slur on the Stipes and also on us as Trainers. In closing, yes Livingston can be difficult to load but there are plenty of other horses that need patience and extra care when loading. The barrier boys were getting her confidence back and this terrible accident had to happen with Livingston immediately getting the blame. It does nobody any good making uninformed and inflammatory remarks on a public forum. If any one wants to discuss this further with me then please do. My phone number is 021354588.. Tim Carter
    24 points
  6. Thanks Andrew...he was a valued member here as I told you on the phone...the flowers were a gesture from me just to say thanks from everyone here for his participation in making the site more fun....thoughts and prayers from everyone here for you and Cubes families at this sad time...I agree he was taken way too soon. I hope some members from here can make the trip next week, and make themselves known to you. .
    23 points
  7. Insider

    Trentham Abandoned

    It's posters like you that kill debate or stop people posting on sites like this.
    23 points
  8. JTeaz

    Hilton Donaldson incoming

    I have no problem with racecafe as everyone is entitled to their own opinion.however,it needs to be known that i pay for my own flights up and down the country to cover the meets im rostered for. Attack me all you like but i pay my own way.you are quite welcome to check my bank account as it will prove it.
    23 points
  9. Jape

    John Parsons injured

    I had heard earlier in the week that John had been knocked over by a horse and that was confirmed today. Quite severe rib damage, I gather, but it could so easily have been worse. I am sure all Cafers would like to wish him well and trust that he has a speedy recovery.
    22 points
  10. I was in a Supermarket queue one day and an 80yo (approx) lady in front of me had a discount loaf of bread and a couple of other items and I could hear her saying to the checkout how life was tough and that she hadn't eaten fish or meat for months etc. I felt guilty so followed her out and offered to help her to her $1 Taxi ride. Started chatting and ended up giving her a lift home (not far). Got her to her house and noticed her little bungalow had leaking (read holes in gutters etc) spouting and I asked her if she had any family. To cut a long story short, she lived alone and had no family close. She was living on a pension, had no savings so couldn't afford repairs etc. After an hour chatting she revealed shed lost all her $ on the pokies and had borrowed $10,000 from a 4th tier lender (you know, the ones that have a real interest rate of 500%) and much of her pension was going to pay "interest only" on the loan. I got her to sign a letter appointing me her Spokesman and went to the Loan Shark, who at first told me to "Fornicate off". Keeping my cool, I quietly told the shark that my next visit was to the local newspaper, TV3, local radio station and anyone else I could expose this shark to. He agreed to disolve the loan and apply all her interest payments to principal and we did a deal whereby I closed out the loan. This all started from her addiction to Pokies. Don't talk to me about pokies please. They are the scourge of every small town community and create misery for all those who can least afford to play them. That's what I call "problem" gambling at its worst (or should that be best?).
    22 points
  11. Midget

    Addictive Habit

    It's a bit of a perfect storm that's causing this disappearance of males. They've been harshly treated with this ludicrous and irrational pro female policy NZTR introduced, that's certainly true, but the real hidden killer for males is the diminished return to owners ( in other words cost of racing a horse ) combined with the inexplicable reluctance to shift male horses down in the handicap. That means horses like Swiper The Fox have to be retired because whilst they are still well and truly capable of winning one and maybe two races per season, they'd be the $25,000 races so the owners bank about $13k per win, then they get a monthly bill of $3000-$3,500 for training plus expenses. Spin Doctor is in exactly the same category, it'll come as no surprise that he's been retired now. That horse of Richardsons, Dubai Shuffle is a good example. That's had 6 starts this campaign, it's won $7,000, say $5,000 net, ran one placing, cost the owners about $20,000 in training fees and expenses, and it's gone up one point net since the beginning of this campaign !! Any owner with even half a brain quickly works out that a male horse winning two open handicaps per year, banking $26000 net, but who costs $35,000 to have in work for that year is a very bad proposition, and so they dispose of them, retire them. That same male horse who's been forced into retirement would of course be earning the industry $14,000 in revenue, $2,500 net profit, every time it ran if it had a reason to stay in work of course. We've had the guts ripped out of our industry this last five years, lives have been torn apart, good people forced out of the game, there's a slew of tracks contemplating closure, chaos has become the norm in this industry, there's no accountability from officials, every week we see infrastructural failure, but the salary earners who don't ever have to take a risk, never spill their blood, or use any energy to put on the show, they've just orchestrated policies and strategies that are killing our game, in between trips abroad and commissioning yet another report into the previous report. There we go, that's a good rant, so what's the solution. 1. Get rid of the stupid 2kg female allowance 2. Drop male horses ratings a lot quicker to keep them competitive 3. Pay connections to present their horses to race 4. Get over this artificial attempt to increase stakes because it's the RTO that matters not the gross stake advertised. 5. Change the 65 grade into two grades not one and make one of the new 65 grades benchmark rated. 6. Apply a maximum rating of 2 points to mid week grade races, even for horses racing out of the handicap. 7. Stop treating the select few trainers who're on first name terms with those at head office preferentially 8. Any horse coming back from a spell of more than 6 months should be dropped 5 points to allow them to win a race. 9. Introduce a set weight grade for horses that haven't won for the previous year, and if that works consider a grade for non winners in the previous two years. 10. And lastly, get rid of the totally ineffective and dysfunctional Trainers Assn and replace that entity with a body that will actually do something to effect change, because the trainers and jockeys actually have the power to restore this great industry to its rightful place, but they don't have the vision or the courage to make those who're doing the current damage accountable.
    22 points
  12. Berri

    RIP Toby Autridge

    33 years ago today, an east coast bred horse called Tumblin Down won the Great Northern Steeplechase ridden by Toby Autridge. The story behind this magnificent steed is one that movies are made of. The baldy white faced horse, being now more than 16hh, was bred on the east coast and was by a horse called Dodger (by the great jumping sire Kurdistan). Interestingly Dodger traced back to one of the first boat load of mares that were imported in the 1860's to NZ. Tumblin Down was a chestnut out of Maria Dallas (the singer had a hit song called Tumblin Down...hence the name). He was destined to become a war horse on type and ended up becoming a pig horse, where the hunters shot pigs and used horses to carry them out of the bush. Tumblin Down was doing this as a 2/3 year old. He was seconded to a movie set as an extra in a movie in the 1980's called Wild Horses (not the Kenny Rogers version). One of the lead actors liked Tumblin Down so much, he changed horses and rode him throughout the move. Sally House ended up with him and Paul Moroney and I ended up seeing him for the first time at the Te Rapa races in the middle of the winter, on a day where now-a-days they would have called the meeting off due to jockeys not having the skills or experience to ride in those conditions or health and safety. The thing that took us both was that in the pissing down rain, he tucked his head into the underarm of Sally, and where ever she went, his head remained there. It was a sight t see. It was a 1600m race and he came from last at the turn and chugged his way to third. We instantly thought Parliamentary Handicap and bought him for peanuts with two friends Connor Maloney and Craig Lindberg. Horse got a virus during the first year so we lost 6 months. Ended up turning him as a jumper. Problem was he wasn't a technically talented jumper (PC way of saying he couldn't jump well) and Graham Richardson fell off him at his first jumping race at Te Aroha (from memory). From that point on Toby Autridge rode him. Under Toby, Tumblin Down became first horse to have won the Great Northern and Pakuranga Hunt Cup in the same year. In the Northern he was spectacularly put through the wings during the last round, as Graham Lord, who had ridden for two rounds without irons (iron had broken two rounds before), veered off to the right taking Tumblin Down with him. Lord fell off at that stage and how Tumblin Down didn't fall we will never understand, suffice to say it was a miraculous piece of riding by Toby....freakish in fact. Tumblin Down went from 4th, 4 off them, to 10th losing 20- 30 lengths. With only a round to go we all thought it was over but Toby kept the game alive and somehow we found ourselves in 5th place at the bottom of the hill the last time but the leader, Vincere had got 20 lengths in front of the field. At the top of the Hill we got to 4th, turning for home he got to third, at the last fence 2nd and we won by a head. In that one ride Toby showed how much of an amasing horse person he was. Tumblin Down lived till he was 33 years old. The celebrations lasted a week as the Northern was worth $200,000 and we were all poor as paupers in our twenties. So 33 years ago, Toby rode like a demon to fulfil a dream we all had. This morning, unfortunately, Toby died. He was a good person and I shall remember him with much love and admiration.
    21 points
  13. poundforpound

    Billy Pinn

    Kind hands and they just run for him, he’s a huge asset to racing That was a great G1 win The RIB and JCA should be ashamed of the way they’ve bullied and abused the kid Thank god NZTR didn’t cave in to the RIB’s ludicrous demands they take his licence away permanently It’s high time the RIB offered some resignations over the ongoing abuse of this kid
    21 points
  14. Berri

    Not cricket

    I don't know about you mob but Melody Belle has been an amasing mare. She's done everything asked of her, may not be as good as everyone in NZ thinks but she's been a truly good racehorse for years. She's retiring but started in the Hollindale as her swansong race. But seriously pissed me off when I found that her feet has been bogged up for the race and trainer said she was vulnerable because he was having problems with her feet. Fortunna, take a smack you greedy buggers. You are what is wrong with the industry, if you think it's smart, caring, intelligent and honorable, to try and squeeze one more pay check out of your mare. I don't care what people think about what I am saying as I don't normally critisize the check payers in the industry but this is wrong. You should be saying what can I do for my horse instead of what can my horse do for me. Take the smack.
    21 points
  15. scooby3051

    Maija Vance

    Thanks for the update, wish yourself, Maija and all your family well during this tough period from everyone here at Racecafe....hope she makes a full and speedy recovery...everyone here at Racecafe would love nothing better.
    21 points
  16. Chris Wood

    Last day tomorrow!

    Thomas Wood fronts up tomorrow for his last days calling at Awapuni. It has been a pleasure to see you ply your trade, the steps you have made and the way you have handled yourself is enough for any parent to be very proud. Thanks to the people who have helped you along the way, especially Graeme Hansen who saw the potential in you and Reon Murtha who took a personal interest in your chosen career. Good luck tomorrow chap, you have one proud family behind you!
    21 points
  17. mmmyb

    Putting an end to rumours

    Actually Greg, I was informed yesterday afternoon from the Riu that the kibble had returned positive to morphine and that they where scratching my dogs from today. I don't see why our dogs should be scratched when we are not the only ones that feed this kibble. The positives date back over 2 months now, all the trainers involved with the positives have been swabbed since with no more positive results. I can not see the justification in penalising us again. I have been using the product for at least a couple of years. I feel your inference of some other contamination in light of this result is quite unjustified. The kibble has been brought over different periods of time through two seperate retailers. Have you thought that maybe the manafacturers may have received a contaminated product ie wheat that inadvertently may have wild poppy seeds, maybe it is just the one batch, which would seem the most likely. If every dog that has raced recently was swabbed maybe some other kennels may have been in this boat also. As I said not all of my swabs have been positive so may be some dogs have different excretion times than others. I thought this was the best result having the biscuits proven to contain morphine. At least I could save mine, Tracy's, Alysha and Arch's reputation as being honest as it is all you have in this game sometimes. Its obvious though that this is going to be just as stressfull and ongoing for a while yet. At this stage we may not even be allowed to race this week either. At least I can now see who my real friends are. Wayne Steele
    21 points
  18. Just wanted to take the time to wish all members and guests at RaceCafe all the best for Christmas and a very happy and prosperous New year. Lets hope we all can have a happy and fruitful 2023 no mater what we are doing. Thank you for all the continued participation and to everyone who has helped out over the past year to score comps or sponsor them, all this helps to keep RaceCafe as the premium Racing site in the country...Leigh
    20 points
  19. Boss Hogg

    The good old days

    Remember the good old days about six months ago when on a Saturday morning you sprung out of bed and skipped down the hall to the kitchen giving the missus a cuddle and a kiss .Sitting down at the table opening your laptop and spending a couple of hours going thru all the fields . You get your bacon and eggs while you put your bets together ew bets done multis done doubles done pick6 done ahh life was easy.Outside the kitchen window the birds are cherping in your favorite bottle brush tree boy they sound great .Giving the missus a little kiss goodbye you wonder down to the pub to compare and discuss your bets with your mates .Happy hour is on so a nice jug of Speights and a few bets life it doesnt get much better for an old digger. Fast forward six months Saturday morning you wake up knowing you have a mission you look down the hall it seems longer and narrower you finally reach the kitchen giving the missus a knowing nod. You circle the table and open laptop to tab,yeap click on buffering click buffering scratching click scroll,scroll on to feilds ,network down please click to restart.Click buffering scroll on and on . Breakfast arrives, it is muesli, seems that recently my blood pressure has risen sharply and wife says its good for me I can hear those f##*en birds squawking in the bottle brush tree must get the chainsaw out and chop that tree down.Not sure what bets I"ve on decide to watch an episode of Chernobyl to put me into a happier frame of mind to go to pub. Walking into pub which has changed hands two nice young chaps who have turned it into a craft beer bar,the tab is gone as takings were down and a Kiosk was put in which doesnt work because of technical problems, Im no technician but I think the axe sticking out of the screen after Bluey couldnt get his money out might be the problem.I walk over to the boys table with my handle that looks like horse piss and whiskey chaser.No one is saying much just mumbling about dont think their bets are on ,network down click on and try again .Its not good seeing grown men crying so decide to go home to watch big races from Wellington..Wife is watching boxset of Married and the First one in the sack on the big tv so watch on small tv in kitchen the big race was so close but no photo finish what were the numbers ?Waiting for judges call ,noooo Sweeeeenys burbling on no call Ahhhhh were did it all go wrong I sit with my head in my hands. Thats all I've got to say about that.
    20 points
  20. TurnipOrange

    Maija Vance

    Surgery to stabilize her spine went very well so the surgeon said. He has protected the spinal cord form any more damage. Bit early for a result, but we are hoping for some more improvements in her movement
    20 points
  21. I have never met one of those Commentators who is not a great bloke. From Jack O'Donnell to Reon to Tom Wood and T Lee, Jason Teaz and now the new crop Mark McNamara and Matthew Cross. every single one a personable easy going good fella. A couple of incidences involving my kids in the last ten days illustrated this so well. At Greymouth last week a mutual friend took the two of them (21 and 16) along with two or three others to meet Matt who was doing TV work that day. He spent at least 15 minutes with them discussing all manner of topics including TV, little Irish jockeys, the way their father reacts when one of his bets looks likely to win and whatever else. Then yesterday I offer to take the younger one and a friend to the commentary box so they could watch Mark strut his stuff. Twenty minutes later I find them still there having this time dissected the intricacies of the Molloy family and notable members thereof, again little irish jockeys, silly songs from years ago, what big races he commentates and God knows what else. To be fair the 16 year old has a fair bit of Molloy yap so Mark would not have needed to lead the conversation and appeared to be enjoying it but things like that live with kids and they will remember an encounter with the faces (and voices) of NZ Racing. When I pointed out exactly how big those races are Mark calls 16 year old said ' he wasn't very skitey about it' My kids have little real interest in racing other than that created by their father's obsession and the time these guys took when they could have said 'look i'm a bit busy' was really appreciated. I know those guys read racecafe even if they cannot participate so a shout out to them in thanks for giving a bit of time to a group of kids. My kids are lucky I guess to get access to those people but NZ Racing might have grabbed a couple more devotees through the good sociable attitude of two of its stars.
    20 points
  22. If you've never had the pleasure this is what it's all about. His name will be something like Montgomery Forbes-Hamilton ( just call me Monty ) and she'll be his secretary and part time shag, Penelope Cavendish. They'll have arrived in a Range Rover Sport, from his place in the Cotswolds. He went to Oxford, drank claret, rowed a bit, drove an E type, studied 17th century art, with a double major in Geography, all paid for by Daddy, who made his money in India, importing spices, while shagging 12 year olds, and he knows David Cameron from the Bullingdon Club. Penelope went to Knightsbridge, she did a double major in shopping and Shoes. His outfit is by "Country Club" ( it's actually a disguise so he can blend in when grouse hunting with his bestie Rupert, who has a small place in Norfolk, about 852 acres ), Penelope is dressed by Burberry, with accessories by a variety of dead animals, that rug around her neck could provide warm shelter to a homeless Pakistani bus driver in Birmingham ( whose son will become Mayor of London in 2052 ) That neck piece was once a living breathing cuddly animal from the steppes of Northern Europe, and the apparatus on her head includes the south end of a cock pheasant ( hand reared ) and shot by Monty last weekend in a driven hunt in Wiltshire. These two are 27 years apart, and they're related ( well she's his niece when introduced ). They've paid 180 pounds a head for their tickets today, Monty will drink at least two bottles of port, with a half round of Stilton, he'll say "super" at least 47 times during the day, and Penny will start with a couple of Pimms, but end up on the grapefruit infused long gin with a cucumber twist, and salmon gravlax nibbles, with a dill and mustard dip. They'll bet on three of the six races, twenty pounds each way, on their friend Sebastian's ( do call me Sebby ) runners, trained by Sebby of course, on the family estate, near Daddy's village, a little place called Sherborne St-John, and ridden by an Irish jockey named Seamus or Paddy, who'll give Penny one against the fence later, once Monty falls asleep after his second bottle of Port. Anyway that's Cheltenham, and if you haven't actually been there you can now read this epistle, close your eyes, put on a bit of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, sip on a square gin, sniff a bit of tweed, an old leather riding boot, or the crotch of a friends unwashed jodhpurs from last weeks polo tournie, and you'll know what it's all about. Berri Fruit will be there, in Henrietta's private box
    20 points
  23. A family had three little boys, not just boys, but triplets. Having a sense of humour the old man called his boys Rugby, Racing & Beer. The boys grew up to be strong, with big muscles, and they ruled the town, every party involved them, and no social event passed by without one or more of the boys being involved. All the boys were good at school until they finished secondary. At 16 years of age Beer said I'm going international, I want more from life, I know that what I've always done isn't my best so I'm going to head offshore, find a friend, educate myself, develop some partnerships, explore new opportunities, open new horizons, maybe enter into a relationship, bring fresh ideas and new blood into my life, and I'll get strong, powerful, rich, innovative, and I'll lead the world, not just NZ, I'll lead the world. So Beer married a girl called Global Brewer, a very rich girl, but they settled in NZ, they had two kids, DB and Lion, and just grew, and grew, and grew........and now they're a cornerstone of NZ society. Rugby decided to go on to higher learning. He was involved in setting up academies, arranging sabbaticals, and generally surrounding himself with good people who'd been what he was going through, he formed a panel to run his life, with young people, females, advisers, he appointed a very good coaching team, developed a woman's division, and he set attainable goals, locally and international, then he invested in R&D, in youth, in bottom level players, regional camps. Rugby also used his finest points to create a culture of excellence and aspiration so that every youngster wanted to be a part of his life. It wasn't always easy for Rugby, he had a couple of setbacks, earthquakes, a smart arse from down the street called League tried to steal from him, but Rugby had built a solid base using advisers who had done what he wanted to do, people with experience, always NZers, and eventually Rugby got strong, and stronger, and then he became champion of the whole world in 2011, the whole damn world, but he'd invested so well, and he rewarded his loyal team so well, that they stayed together and got even stronger, and in 2016 Rugby was again champion of the world....along with all his good people like Richie, Dan & Shag. Meantime Racing got into a bit of a rut, he didn't bother with education, money was never a problem so he just spent it, well wasted it actually, he didn't develop a family because life was just a plaything for big men in suits who liked to "fiddle" with him, in the Rolf Harris style. Racing never saved a cent, he didn't even bother looking after his home, and he never cared about education, research or development because he lived for today, he wanted everything now, and never planned or saved for the future. In the end Racing had a great big heavy head that needed feeding, the head just kept getting bigger and bigger, and his body began to wither, so he lay down, stopped working, and you know how "if you don't use it you lose it" well Racing started to lose it, all his peripheries started to malfunction and fail, but Racing just said "she'll be right" I'll send my fat head off overseas, feed it some more, give it a break, and the rest of my body can just learn to adjust or die off, it doesn't matter, it's all too hard to fix, and if I have to I'll just get replacements from the second hand shop or from overseas. In 2016 Racing got really sick, and the family gathered at his bedside to pray. Beer arrived with his big strong family in a jet and travelled by convoy to be at Rugby's side. Rugby assembled bus loads of supporters and the towns and cities cheered as the buses passed through on their way to be with the brother everyone forgot, the loser who'd faded into oblivion. Meantime Racing lay in critical care, his vital signs fading away, and no one cared, other than his vital organs, the trainers, jockeys and owners. They were dying with him. Racing had no money for palliative care, he'd wasted it all on a cheap and nasty drug called stakes, and so the brothers stood and watched their loser brother, the low achiever, the one who didn't plan for his life, he who didn't invest and didn't educate himself, the one who took advice from losers and low achievers....,they just watched him die.....and no one really cared, life went on, and then he drew his last breath. At the funeral the Priest lamented the waste that lay dead before him, such a waste of a great talent, a youngster who had everything, but in truth he had nothing because he had no education and he never invested in his future. Beer gave a short speech and said he wished Racing had listened to good advisers and reached out to others from offshore. Rugby's speech was about adapting, learning to evaluate and criticise yourself, morphing with the times and becoming inclusive of women and children if you wanted real strength. Racing's leaders stood up and sobbed, they said we didn't know how to fix him so we didn't try, we just thought that somehow he'd work through his sickness. Then the father of the boys stood up. He said Beer I'm proud of you because you had vision and you craved learning. Rugby you're amazing and a wonderful son because you had to do it all in NZ without a global partner, and now you're so healthy, and sociably responsible. Then he looked down at the casket, and a tear rolled down his eye as he whispered to Racing. Son you had everything, but you had nothing. You abused your faithful, you listened to other low achievers, you wasted every talent you had and every cent you were given, you had no heart and no soul, and in the end my dear son Racing you were so poor that all you had was money. Rest easy Racing, you don't be missed because you wasted every opportunity you had. And so they buried Racing in a pauper's grave.
    20 points
  24. Berri

    Yet again....

    Firstly I've got to declare a conflict of interest and a bias in respect of this post...I part own Bermadez I am absolutely and thoroughly sick and tired of the pathetically useless management of the racing presentation in this country on Trackside. How many times has there been a major racing event, having just been completed, when the essence of the race, the celebrations and aftermath, is ruthlessly chopped off due to some sort of non descript event being displayed? Bermadez won in a thrilling finish yesterday (a Rating 80 race worth $500,000!!!). He is NZ owned, NZ bred (by Tavistock), trained by an NZer, and before he had a chance to sneeze after the finishing line, the image cut to Musselborough dogs or some such $250 feature. At the very minimum have they not heard of in frame presentations? Why can't these people running trackside get it? Why can't they see that the celebration of a win is the shop front window to enticing people to become passionately involved in the future? Can't they see that if they get people passionately involved, then those people will become more people who bet more money? I simply don't understand the mind numbingly unintelligent approach to this when the counter argument seems to be unequivocally compelling..
    19 points
  25. If this is the best Dean McKenzie can come up with then he clearly is the wrong man for the job. The Trackside coalface people at Radio and TV are knowledgeable with a genuine passion for the industry doing their best to promote and attract people to racing and create turnover. Barry Lichter makes mention of Mark Claydon losing his job. There would be very few with more knowledge and passion for than industry than Mark. It is people such as Mark that are asset to racing yet now surplus to requirements according to Rita. The elephant in the room is the wasteful extravagance and f*#kups at the top over the last decade from those on huge salaries and with very little knowledge of racing and wagering. Multi millions of racing funds sent down the toilet on the Typhoon Betting System that never got off the ground including the other useless overpriced betting system put in place under John Allen which continues at an annual cost of $17 million per year are just a couple of examples of very poor management decisions. There are plenty of others. These are the people that are causing good people on the front line to lose their jobs at Trackside. People without any knowledge and departing leaving a ton of horse manure behind, they should be hanging their heads in shame. They won't be though as they will be at another trough without a single thought of their previous incompetent actions. If you want to prune Dean, start with the rotten fruit close in instead of stretching the shears at arms length and leaning out to lop the best fruit at the edges of the tree.
    19 points
  26. Dear Racecafe Community, I want to say thank you to everyone who is participating here in the forums and the competitions. We have had over 100 new members sign up in the past two months and some are already posting and contributing to the discussion in the forums, and enjoying the competitions. I really want this to continue to be a place for everyone to enjoy. I have been told that some of the moderation by me in the past has upset a few, and may have been a bit tough. I never meant to offend anyone. I believe there has to be some moderation but to offend has never been my intent. I want everyone to feel comfortable to contribute here and my motto has always been, and will always be, "If you cant prove it, then don't say it". I hope everyone continues to enjoy all the features of the site and we will be adding more things in the coming months. We will also be having another Fiji comp later in the year, with mrzim and his wife getting ready to pack their bags after their daughter won the first trip and donated it to them to enjoy. It is our intention to try to run comps most weeks and a big competition is being planned, to be held over the Autumn carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne. Thanks so much for the good spirited and honest debates in all the forums on the site and please don't forget to check out all the features we have available to all our members. All the best Leigh
    19 points
  27. puha

    Well done Puha

    Cheers mate was extra special with the loss of a good friend on Sunday due to the effects of depression . Racing has a way of dealing cards your way when you need them .
    19 points
  28. The anger and frustration of people with a lifetime of background in or around the racing industry is what shows through most in this thread. As someone who grew up and spent the first half of my adult life in provincial NZ I understand and share the memories that some have evoked on here. For the past decade I have had the privilege of working alongside one of the true geniuses of global racing in John Messara who has driven a wind of change through the Australian industry in the past 8 years that has made it arguably the best in the world with the exception of HK and JP. The most important net outcome was the lifting of stakes. This has enabled most of the other changes that have taken place. The bulk of this was achieved by winning the corporate betting court case. This has lifted stakemoney massively with country stakes almost doubling. While the NZ Racing Board continues to allow corporate bookies to plunder our product and pay nothing for the privilege, the NZ industry will suffer. NZ needs to have it's mindset about racing altered. It still retains genetic memory of children being hustled past the darkened alley where the TAB lay - that den of iniquity. The key difference between NZ and Australia with regard to racing is Aussies for the most part accepting racing as part of their culture unlike in NZ. This has to change and some very smart people need to be put to work on it. It would probably take a decade or more but it could be done. Regarding raceday in NZ. I think the Board should break the racing on offer into 3 separate categories- a) Feature racedays highlighted by top Group races and horses and a multi-layered entertainment package to suit all social stratas and pockets. b ) Saturday provincial racing - Big city clubs should only race on Saturdays when they have a type "a" meeting (see above). Otherwise Saturdays should be the domain of provincial clubs who engage the local community in every way possible. Not just sponsorship. Some clubs do this well already. Make it part of the local event scene, a date to remember. The Scone Horse week held here each May is a massive event with the centrepiece being the two local racedays. c) Industry racedays - city midweeks, provincial midweeks, etc. Just don't expect anyone to attend. These should be promoted as televised racing with an emphasis on unearthing up-and-coming stars. Punters and owners the only focus. Personally I have felt that the contracting of food and alcohol at clubs has led to gouging on an inferior product and does racing no favours. I believe clubs should offer better quality food at more or less foodcourt prices and pay the caterers a top -up out of their own pockets. This will help make it a destination for the day for families rather than something dad slopes off to while mum is at the mall or markets. Have the foodcourt and markets there at the races. Lastly for anything other than an "industry day", charge $10 at the gate per person or $30 a family but in return give them (in the case of $10) a $5 betting voucher and a $5 food voucher. Market it with the angle that it's a big benefit to help them start the day off. Make it $20 per person on premier days. people don't mind paying any amount if they can see a benefit. Last week our company sponsored at Muswellbrook. It is a small country meeting but every race was worth $20k or more. The crowd was small but enthusiastic with 5 oncourse bookies doing a solid turnover. It was a Friday but the club had engaged the local community, in this case the RSL (RSA) with an Anzac theme. They even had Light Horse Brigade demonstrations between races. Small can be successful but it's about understanding your participants, your sponsors and your public and giving everyone what they want. Lastly a word about product. As part of my job I watch every race broadcast from NZ (every race run in fact). Sometimes as a Kiwi I just cringe. There is a pervading lack of professionalism about much of this "product". Take your pick, the crap Trackside teams comments and banter, the state of disrepair evident at some courses or worst of all the inevitable tardiness in starting races on time. Usually less than half the field are loaded when start time clicks over. Traditionally races are 2-3 minutes late. The Oz punter watching will simply turn over to the next race about to jump or as a few have told me not even bet because they know the races will not start on time. Just lift your game is the message for some Kiwi clubs. I'm sure I'll get slaughtered for some of the things I have suggested here but Sobeit (nice Sobig horse from the 70s!). I hope it will be food for thought for others. For those that don't know me I am or have been an owner, breeder, agent, stud manager, syndicator, groom, trainer (briefly), on the NZTBA council and a club committee. Cheers
    19 points
  29. Midget

    Baker & Forsman

    Be remiss not to give these two a nod today, what a year, and every year for that matter, always with different horses. They've carried the Kiwi flag single handedly and that deserves a hearty well done.
    19 points
  30. Berri

    Shocking Coverage

    Andy Kydd would seem to be the GENERAL MANAGER of BROADCASTING. This is a call out to you. So yesterday I was watching Sam Weatherley ride his first winner. This is a big deal.....or it should be produced to be a big deal. He wins this race - his first ever winner - and instantly the bloody Trackside editor cuts to dogs. Not a dog race but of a dog having a shit on the track. Then it cuts to the owner who is so emotional he's chocking up because his horse has won (not common occurrence for him) but also because he's just given the kid his first winning ride. But before you can really get involved (what a plot line), the editor cuts away to the dogs again, but this time another bloody dog is having a piss in the middle of the track. Then the picture cuts half way through the first interview of the kid having just won his first race. The buggar of it all is that the whole sequence of drama, achievement, passion and success was completely destroyed but an absolutely useless editor who must be a deviant because he must have seen on the screens that the pictures he was choosing were the dogs at various stages of relieving themselves when the real catch the client story was being bastardised through inept and amateurish editing. For heavens sake. That was appalling. Who was in charge? He/ she needs naming and shaming.
    19 points
  31. Everyone says the same...I never got to meet him but spoke a few times on the phone...he sponsored some comps here...I think in the New Year we will run a comp in his honour...he was great for this site and his input will be sadly missed.
    18 points
  32. garryb

    This site

    I have followed this site since it started and watch it deteriorate from an interesting and generally humourous place to seeing a litany of rubbish spewing out from many mouths who think they are tough NZ males. I don’t agree much with pound for pound but at least he fronts up. For 60 years I have watched the industry slowly decline to the sick state it is in now. If it was not for lady jockeys and Asian apprentices there would be one meeting a week. Continually criticising Labour at present does not explain the decline over the last 50 years when National was in power for the majority of those years. I get that many of you don’t like Labour but some of the vile comments are disgusting. What some of you would call vigorous debate is crap coming from anonymous key board warriors who talk tough without any accountability. Like so many in my age group you continue to ignore science, deny climate change, complain about attempts to mitigate racial and economic inequality etc etc. Face facts : You are not as important as you think and your power is continuing to diminish as evidenced by the last election. In signing off I recognise that I written this anonymously too but I can’t be bothered with the inevitable backlash.
    18 points
  33. Kelly Myers posted this update online: "For everyone asking about Rosie.. She is not conscious yet but moving around a bit more. Once she can follow a simple command such as squeeze a hand and let go they can hopefully take tubes out and she will have surgery on her face. Is very much a waiting game and we will keep you updated on any progress. All your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated. We all know that what Rosie lacks in size she makes up for in determination she got thisxx"
    18 points
  34. Rusty

    Hard Luck Stories

    My mate (mafia lad) in Melbourne lost a betting voucher worth $4700 at Crown one night, at one one of those self serve machines. He stormed after this fella that he reckons took his ticket from the machine. Beat him to a pulp, but couldn't find the ticket on him. He got 3 years in the big house for his efforts. To this day, big Mario is still hell bent on finding the missing ticket and the guy that took it.
    18 points
  35. tim vince

    A legend retiring.

    I hear Richard brosnan last runners Friday. A man of high integrity who never took a backward step.on a personal note a man who stood by me in tough times and I have never forgotten.who could forget no response and bonnies chance. I hope all in the industry recognize hs achievements.I know he don't want a fuss but I hope the atc has plans to recognize his career.
    18 points
  36. scooby3051

    Merry Christmas

    Merry Christmas to everyone from us all here at Racecafe, hope you all have a great Christmas and a very happy and prosperous 2017.
    18 points
  37. A huge thumbs up to Dave McDonald yesterday. His call on the White Robe was nothing short of outstanding and his comments through the day regarding this tragic week were perfectly put. That WAS the highlight of this years racing people. You cant beat theatre like that - ever! Awesome ride, dominant display by The Diamond One, and a call that hours of rehearsals could not match. Well done Dave and a great result for the Anderton family.
    18 points
  38. With the quality racing on the first day of Trentham: Telegraph G1 $450K, Levin Stakes G1 $500K, Trentham Stakes G3, Anniversay Hcp G3, WellWellesly Stakes LR etc and the opening day of the new course at Ellerslie on Sunday, I am sponsoring a quick fire competition over the two days. 1st Prize $200 to bet with. Win or Win and Place. The winnings to go to the Huntington's Association 2nd Prize $100 to bet with. Win or Win and Place. The winnings to to to the Huntington's Association All you have to do is pick two horses in each race each day. $10.00 E/W will be invested on each. Keeping it simple, there will be no Joker or quinellas. Trentham have 9 races scheduled and Ellerslie 6, making for a total spend of $600.00 As a further incentive, for every person who wins more than $600.00, I will donate an extra $10 to the association. Say No More [John] will put up the Entry Thread on Wednesday, when the fields come out. Good luck all. Liz P.S. The prize money is coming from our winning bet from the Pairs Competition [2/3 Joan and me, 1/3 Scooby]
    17 points
  39. I remember a horse in Ireland testing positive for nicotine. When he won his next start media asked the trainer what he thinks of his horse….Trainer replied and said “he is a good horse, and if I can get him off the cigarettes I think he might even be a Cheltenham horse”.
    17 points
  40. I am not a very emotional person but even I got quite teary when I saw not one but two terrific young jockey's sadly pass away last year. Jockey's go to work like anyone else in this country and are expected to come home. Yes they have a dangerous job but still that simple necessity should not be taken away. I feel as though in New Zealand the public was good in getting behind Taiki and Megan when they tragically left us but we need a memorial for these people and even races named in their honour. Just recently ARC renamed the 'City of Auckland Cup' to 'Queen Elizabeth II Cup', this was great to see someone's life celebrated. We need this for Taiki and Megan. A big group race perhaps in the north for Taiki, as that's where he did the most of his riding, and for Megan in the south. We can't forget them. I am a big believer in, for every negative there is a positive.
    17 points
  41. Palliser

    Sam Spratt

    Great to see Sam kick home two great winners yesterday. Seems like she's been around forever, always admired her professionalism, loyalty, and skill through good and bad times, a real asset to the racing industry in NZ. That awesome smile always shows she loves riding winners .. we need personalities like Sam so I hope she stays riding for many years.
    17 points
  42. It is with great sadness to let everyone know that one of our nicest and longest members has passed away suddenly over the weekend. Cubes as Nigel was known was one of the good buggers,I will miss his witty sometimes cryptic posts and his undying loyalty to this site...he was a great supporter here and extremely well liked by me and many other members...thoughts go out to his brother Andrew and to his family and loved ones...he can now fly high with his long love Pip....Life should not only be lived it should be celebrated...RIP Cubes we will all miss you...you were one of the best.
    17 points
  43. Well done to Pam Robson (Race Cafe member) and the inimitable Chris Johnson with the 125-1 shot Light Up today at Riccarton. A great piece of training and a wonderful ride by CWJ. They don't come any better than Chris when it comes to nursing horses to victory and them responding for him like no other in a close finish.
    17 points
  44. Scares me as well. As a small player who does do things on a low cost model because I do everything but ride them myself I guess I'd be gone. I keep costs down a bit because I crush own oats and cut my own chaff, all to make it affordable to some owners who would have no chance of affording a horse in a bigger stable. I'd say 95 percent of the people I have got involved in ownership through syndicates would not be involved at all if I hadn't have chased them,cricket and rugby mates etc, yeah some are only small percent owners but from these guys who knows who might win lotto or have a wealthy uncle leave them money and want to get involved in a bigger way in the future. Our industry is losing people by the day,closing racing in regions like East Coast ect those areas will be lost forever and no one will be following racing in five years in those regions the last thing we need is to be doing is killing off trainers who are still getting new people involved.
    17 points
  45. ..i'm still around..i just don't post anymore., Cheers Leo, Berri , Scooby and others.
    17 points
  46. I never caught the Weigh In programme and I probably should not comment as no doubt I am going to piss a few people off. However I think there are a few things that are never mentioned regarding the state of the industry. All I hear is that the stakes are too low and it is driving owners out of the game. That is true but not the entire story . Owners are getting stuffed up the chutney left right and centre ( to quote my good mate Leo!) Not all of it from the powers that be. Some of these so called" top trainers" are charging anywhere from 85/day to 100/day, clipping their tickets on chiropractor charges, jump out fees, administration charges, vitamin charges, gear charges, and whatever they can think of. They cry poverty but still manage to take a holiday to Hawaii, Fiji , world cruise or whatever once a year. They drive an Audi or other luxury car a, have a big TAB punting account etc. As they read this they know who they are. They get away with it by forming syndicates . Some of the Cambridge Trainers have between 55 and and 140 horses in their stables so don't let me hear them crying poverty at the rates they are charging! Throw in some of the vets, and farriers that charge like wounded bulls and you have an industry that is in shit street not all of it at the feet our administrators. In saying that NZTR still have a lot to answer for. Like them or loathe them, Race Course Inspectors, J McKenzie, B McKenzie and the the like seemed to police the industry without all the cost that is now happening. NZTR have around 30 personal policing the industry (and a policy of dob your mates in) . NZTR programme trials at Ruakaka or Avondale so an owner with a horse in Cambridge is up for between 350 and 500 in transport costs alone. The big stables don't care as they have a syndicate horse or big money owner. It appears that people are employed at NZTR in vital positions but have no real empathy at what it is really like out here. They have no idea of the costs involved when they do the programmes. Meanwhile there are a lot of trainers trying to keep owners in the game by charging affordable training fees and no hidden charges so big ups to them!
    17 points
  47. Dear Chestnut, , Mardy , Ohokaman , PJ and scooby3051. With the Flemington Thoroughbred Carnival coming to an end this Saturday. Seriously , what fun has it been to enter all the Race Cafe Tipping Competitions this Melbourne Cup Carnival year. It is a wonderful time of the year in Thoroughbred Racing which has produced so many Thoroughbred Racing Tipping highlight's. My personal 2018 VRC Carnival Racing highlight was the run of 150/1 runner Miner's Miss. Gee , so close :). Congratulation's Paddy and Michelle. Once again , Chestnut, , Mardy , Ohokaman , PJ and scooby3051 thank you all for the huge and fantastic summaries each week for us all to enjoy. scooby3051 , thank you for all the prize's you have furnished for all the Tipping Competition's. Sincere congratulation's to all the prize winner's. You all have produced and showed us some wonderful Tipping Score's. God Bless.
    17 points
  48. Look... Here are the facts about Cuboid.... Johnny come lately , Hooray Henry , blah blah blah... But in our time in Thoroughbred Racing we have come across few , if any , with the passion ( Not to mention the track record !!!) , of the Pitman clan.. Always under-rated and under appreciated , Cubemeister can think of no more magnanimous a trainer than Michael when it comes to the industry . All here at Cube Central are saddened .
    17 points
  49. What a fantastic day for Tony Pike and his team. Three starters in G1 races at Eagle farm today for two super impressive wins by Sacred Elixir in the J.J.Atkins and Provocative in the Queensland Oaks with a very good fifth by Sacred Star in the Stradbroke. Well planned and executed by Tony and highlighted a fantastic 2015/2016 season for his stable. Congratulations and bloody well done Tony, may there be plenty more to come.
    17 points