the mad scientist

Hi All, My memory and google-fu have failed me.....hoping someone else can remember! I think I recall watching a Melbourne Cup some years ago now, where a mare that I pretty sure was in Cambridge Stud colours, got out onto the course proper but refused to move down to the start. Can anyone tell me if in fact it was the Cup and what was the horse's name? Thanks in advance!

Bonecrusher Waverley Star Horlicks Empire Rose Megabucks (not a superstar but he caught my 10yo eye when winning 5 in a row in 89 and I've never forgotten him)

Could not believe that general admission "sold out". Serves me right for letting my membership lapse, I guess.

The Steeples was an absolute corker of a race. It was sight to behold with Rangatira bowling along out in front with his ears pricked. And to hang on at the end?! I had visitors turn up just as they were crossing the line and there I was, riding Rangatira out along with Isaac Fan-freaking-tastic. And super stoked for Kayla Veenendaal. Beauty ride!

Hmmm, as I read this, the name 'Lance Armstrong' springs to mind

Now now, boys! Don't get stuck into TB Hunter.....he is absolutely right in that laminitis took Secretariat from us at 19yo. Now the speculation on what caused the laminitis (I've heard Cushing's bandied around) is interesting. He is also possibly right in that Secretariat was 'just a wonderful horse running on ordinary legs'......there are lots of those around You'll find that Berri was the one that alluded to Secretariat being on the 'elephant juice'. Deep breaths

It is with great sadness that I report that Roy Robinson passed away on Saturday, suddenly whilst watching TV at home. I believe the funeral will be held later this week.

Looking at the NZRacing online studbook, it would appear that he covered one mare in NZ, for one live foal and has since been gelded.

Roy Robinson

How about the Hawkes Bay Steeples yesterday?! Six horse field and after 6:06 of racing, a dead heat for first. Brilliant!

The majority of people don't need racing in their lives. The majority of people don't need rugby in their lives. The majority of people don't need yachting in their lives. :confused: For what is worth, the only time I go to the races these days is when it's a Jumps Day. Me old da reckons you get more bang for your buck out of jumps racing....the horses are out there for 4-5mins rather than 1-2mins

But that's the life of a public trainer isn't it? No matter how much you love your horses, you've gotta keep moving on to the next one and your horses ARE a commodity to make money, otherwise how do you survive?

I'd like to see a breakdown of the fatalities per flat race versus fatalities per jump race. Horses breakdown. In their paddocks, in training, while racing on the flat or over jumps. Are we supposed to wrap them in cotton wool?

You want a non-toxic solution? Then try UMF manuka honey. I have a horse who had chronic mud fever on both hind legs for years, so bad that he would go lame occasionally. The previous owners tried everything (including the remedies posted above) but still couldn't get rid of it. I was fortunate enough to be a biochemistry student at Waikato at the time and had contact with Prof Molan in the Honey Research Unit there. He kindly gave me 1kg of UMF honey to try (lots of work been done on using manuka honey on chronic ulcers, google it). Smeared the honey on and wrapped each leg for a couple of weeks. That was 12 years ago. The horse hasn't had a touch of mud fever since

How many crash out in the first four fences? The resulting riderless horses cause all kinds of carnage. Not many opportunities to clear the track of them either. The proximity of the running rail after some of the jumps is what gives me the willies...