Pam Robson

Must have been a clever bit of weighing out...

Back to a H8....not sure how but very happy that it did.

No worries, D - I'm over feeling 'bad' ! As for the other - no show in hell if it doesn't rain lots. [ IMO ] -and I'd love to be wrong.!

Considering the recent two day Riverton meeting, the drop off of horse numbers, and the fact there is an Open Mile, an Open Sprint, and an Open 2000, I don't know why you are surprised? It isn't the Sydney Championship, sadly.

Seemingly the Sth Island is now considered 'one' region, owing to the current horse numbers. So the fact that the 'region' can mean a nine hour trip in a truck for your horses to go where conditions suit is just part of the deal. Apparently.

It looked to be a super day at Riverton, country racing at its best. Great place and nice people. And to NM - not an easy watch, no, but not for the reason you meant! The horse is average at best, owned by a stable worker - and as long as he pays her costs, he can make the call. Me, I'd have found her a new job two years ago.

That's a fair point. My former partner, one R.J McCann, would look quite presentable against Noel Harris, Jimmy Walker, B Andrews, G Davidson, CWJ of course.....but hated riding among the bulk of the locals. Ya can't ride a race, he complained, it's like dodgems out there. But very comfortable at Trentham, and further afield.

Snap! yes, both women are very capable indeed, as are heavyweights Laking and Bothamley

Exactly. We need them, we'd be stuffed without them. The rapid acceptance - and excellent results - of imports Kennedy, Zackey, and Doyle only showcase that the north ain't full of superstars either.

I haven't seen anyone 'knocking' Jamie. How could that be justified? He's a class act, as has been mentioned repeatedly. I think observations have been made that Mark Walker would struggle to match him given his outstanding record; and the fact that Mark is, and has always been, a quality trainer in his own right, is being shown now with his own outstanding season so far. That is the point being made. Not knocking Jamie at all.

yes, she did. She was attached to overhead rails by a pulley type of arrangement..I'm not explaining it very well, but designed so she could move, but couldn't lie down and risk further injury. Slings, where a horse is partly suspended - or supported - so weight bearing is limited, can have very unfortunate side effects. Loss of bone density as a result of non-weight bearing can, and has, resulted in a catastrophic fracture when allowed normal posture. So if movement can be allowed, but restricted, a better result is likely all round.

Interesting stuff. I guess that it doesn't automatically mean we will be worse off - after all, the status quo would be the worst scenario - but, equally, one wonders just how much investigation has been done into the background. Fluffy media statements should be treated with the suspicion they deserve.

Yes, good points. To have the 'new' TAB deciding where any funding goes is not its function, I wouldn't have thought. However having sports in the mix is not all bad, racing has benefited from sports betting and other non-racing sources - otherwise we would be in an even worse state than we are. To retain unnecessary staff for two years also seems to be odd. If, in fact, these folk are actually 'necessary' then the savings and efficiency expected may not be as dramatic as thought. Which begs the question, how much research has been done? or is that statement just fluff to soften the idea. Entain are not a charity, they will be needing profit and plenty of it to justify the move.

Surely it would be easier for both riders and judiciary if there was a finite limit overall, instead of this situation where jocks have to judge when they are past the 100m mark? Don't they have enough to concentrate on as it is? As it is, speaking purely as a bystander, the 100m mark can be very difficult to find anyway. As can be the winning post, as yesterday showed. Even the experienced commentator got that wrong.

I was told six months for Sam Wynne....how right that is I'm not sure. She is enjoying training her two horses in the meantime, not riding of course.

The team could have taken the option of going over in plenty of time to try and gain more stakemoney, it's not as if their resources are limited....just saying..

Yes, there is no longer any possible doubt as to whether you finished fifth or worse... you weigh out, you weigh in . HTF can you forget? Time was that some riders would cheat in weighing out, then drop their hands to finish in behind the fifth placing and thus avoid weighing in. Thank goodness those days are gone.

I went and watched the races that Matt was suspended for, and - although I abhor ill treatment of animals in any form - I fail to see that his 'crime' was particularly heinous. He didn't bash the things, he may have erred by one or two slaps, but certainly it couldn't have been termed ' abuse'. He once used the whip in consecutive strides - as far as I could see - but backhand, and hardly in an offensive manner. Rules are rules, for sure but this obsession for putting riders out is bizarre when far worse transgressions are occurring regularly, not noticed or acted upon, and the safety of horses and riders is put at risk as a result.

Gold, just gold!!

Oh yes.

Hmmmm....

P.W.C is my understanding.

That's a proper handicap.

I agree Liz. The Roadshows will be very much Titanic-deck-chair-shifting stuff, because unless the TAB suddenly develop some working functionality we are all up the creek. JMO.

Agree. Luke Radich has an excellent knowledge and presents very well indeed.