Tauhei Notts

You mention the Tote. Is it true that the English Tote boosts the win dividend to match the SP if the Tote's win dividend is less than the official starting price on the Bookies' market? One of my mates threw away his fourth placed place bet ticket. Four places with 20+ runners I told the distraught gentleman.

I was most impressed with this horse's win at Randwick today. Sometimes a two year old jumps out of the ground at this time of the year and says; "Look at me!".

RIP Nigel. At his second race day ride he was riding a GELDING for my father at Thames. A 15 year old 7 lb claiming apprentice jockey.. Upon dismounting he told the owner; "He was going ok until the turn, but then he came in season." Dad said that boy will be a good jockey. It was only his second race ride and he had already learned how to talk well.

I understand that "gross betting revenue" is (gross turnover minus winning bets paid out). That would equate to about 1.5% of turnover on horse race betting. On some sports bets it would amount to 0.217% of turnover. I'll wager good money those sports bludgers are getting a damned sight more than 0.217% of sports turnover. But if the truth is embarrassing we can cover it all up with that cover all comment; "it's commercially sensitive". Just like it is always misogynistic to comment on a female's parallel parking skills.

Chindit paid $5.60 for second on our TAB. Great work, Stodge. In today's Preakness Stakes I like Perform. I saw his run in the Tesio Stakes and it was phenomenal. If he can't beat four horses I will need to seek another pastime. See if you can see a replay of that Tesio Stakes. The way he weaved his way up the home straight was unbelievable. My concern is that those he beat are not much good.

Turny Tom, you write that TAB management would be gone burger on Day One. Semantics. The inept TAB Management should be gone burger on Day One. But they won't. Under McAnulty's ministerial directive the dong beaters, dingbats and dickheads at Jackson Street will be kept on in a comfy sinecure. Mc Anulty's Cabinet colleagues have a history in keeping on far quits. Possibly it makes them feel comfortable.

Okay, it's an old story BUT; The Lone Ranger and Tonto were riding over the prairie and Tonto pulled his horse to a stop; The Lone Ranger did the same. Tonto dismounted and put his ear to the ground. "Buffalo cum", exclaimed Tonto. "How do you know", asked Kemo Sabay. "Sticky ear" said Tonto.

On Mother's Day one must always hear of stories about how Mother knows best. So, imagine the folks at Tower Road, Matamata as Mother explains that letting MY Poser go at $500 was not a wise move. For it was Mark Chittick's mother who sold the horse. And it was Mark's mother who had it sold.

Hey Stodge, I liked Waipiro's second in the Lingfield Derby Trial. I hope he makes the field for the Derby. Waipiro is a Maori word meaning grog. But he is sired by Australia!!!

Stodge, could you please verify that statement that an all weather track such as Dundalk provides 20% of Ireland's betting turnover. That is mind boggling.

Stodge, your comments on Chaldean are eagerly waited. I thought he was very impressive. I had a couple of dollars on Holloway Boy, but I think handicaps are his future. I had been impressed by his win the Chesham Stakes.

That shows the huge problem we have. New Zealand's monopoly wagering provider cannot differentiate between a maiden hurdle race at Market Razen and America's top three year old event. The difference beyond their comprehension.

Yesterday I referred to Great Escape. Sorry. I meant Great Estate.

My elderly mate, an outspoken chap, said that with the greatest drainage system money can buy, the track was left with large puddles for up to five days after the last deluge. Those flooded areas could not grow grass. What was needed was some local cow cockies; blokes who know how to grow grass, because if they didn't they could not afford to pay their horse trainers. Outside experts, with more degrees than a hot summer's day, were given the job. That outspoken chap; the apologists are now looking for a Great Escape.

That 10,000 pounds Wellington Cup featured Melbourne Cup winner Toparoa. I note that Dalray's Melbourne Cup, run just 38 months before that Wellington Cup, had total stakes the equivalent of 11,200 N.Z. pounds. Try comparing the 2023 Wellington Cup stake to that of the 2019 Melbourne Cup. The difference was immense.

I don't think, at this stage, he is a Melbourne Cup horse but I was most impressed with his totally gutsy win in today's St Leger at Sandown. Credit must also go to his jockey, Jordan Childs. Childs rated the horse perfectly in front all the way. The challengers came at the 350 metre peg and they headed Dunwoody. But the jockey got to work and the horse got up. I am not all that enthused by the Preferment horses but in this one Preferment has produced one tough customer. Front runners at Sandown that are headed 350 metres out rarely come again, but this bastard is as tough as tungsten, and he did. That 2800 minor race on Melbourne Cup day will be his forte. Also, possibly, that 3200 cup race in Queensland in June. In my childhood we were required to read classical English literature. My reading was restricted to the likes of Best Bets and Friday Flash. But I did read the "Classic Comics". I think Dunwoody was a man in an Emily Bronte novel or something like that. Or am I mixing the name up with an English jumping rider?

A huge problem we have with Racing in our country is that, following his comments over the weekend, we have McAnulty as Minister of Racing. The kindest thing I can say about that person is that "he is a person whose truthfulness I doubt a bit."

I read where the winner is raced by a syndicate of seven. One of them is just 21 years old. His comment was brilliant. "I've peaked too soon. I am unlikely to have a thrill like that for the rest of my life." Another is an Aussie. "I have a flight home booked for 9.30 p.m. I won't be making it."

I have never ever ridden in a hurdle race but many jumps jockeys that I have spoken to have commented upon riderless horses and how scary they are. The thing that got me about that race was how well behaved the riderless horses were. They all jumped straight on and ran. There was one early on who went sideways, but I wonder if the Pom trainers of jumpers are so very good that without a jockey their horses still run so straight. I would love to know how fast the winner went the last 600 metres. They seemed to be going very well on a good track. And then I thought how awful it is that we will never ever see another Great Northen Steeplechase, which with the famous Hill created a spectacle that made it the World's greatest steeplechase.

Ohokaman, your comments on other threads on this blog are wonderful. They suggest a huge intelligence. BUT when your Trump Derangement Syndrome comes to the fore you look like an idiot. That is a pity as I always appreciate your comments elsewhere on Racecafe.

1983 was my first visit to Randwick at Easter. The pundits were trying to pick who would win the Derby on such a rain affected track. I still recall the Aussie who said, about McGinty, in that race; "All New Zealanders were born in a thunderstorm and brought up in a swamp, so McGinty will handle the track." Yeah, right!

On occasions I have wondered why the Tulloch Stakes is rated Group 2; but, my golly gosh, it is a HUGE guide to the Derby raced just seven days later. That Major Beel was an unlucky close up second. Education is expensive, and yesterday I was educated, in an expensive manner, on just how much a guide that Tulloch Stakes is.

But what a great day for the N.Z. breeding industry. Group one wins for the two year olds, big sprint, champions' mile and the Derby. I'm scratching my old head trying to remember such a great day for NZ breeders. Then throw in a couple of decent Bendigo winners by Rich Hill stallions.

I think this move might be very good for racing in our country. BUT, I have heard so much rubbish over the past thirty five years that I am bit concerned. It would be great to read comments from people much more knowledgeable than me.

In-play betting has high labour costs. It must be monitored second by second by highly paid very intelligent people. I seriously doubt whether our TAB staff have that degree of intelligence.