Harness4All

Maybe, then again the new owners may have insisted on the horse competing. Could have shifted Laz to another barn. Those battles with McWicked may have secured his opportunity to the breeding future in the northern hemisphere otherwise his purchase could have been a big washout. 'Ruined" hmm, the intention was probably not to race next year anyway and just make sure he secured a stud career, just guessing based on the actions. Southern hemisphere racing doesn't count for much up there, champion down under or not. Not saying I agree with how they treated Laz, just there is an alternative view.

Nothing has changed in 30 years. I have had over 35 years breeding and racing standardbreds and although we always bred to race here in NZ the odd sale of a horse that seemed to struggle here was a way to help reduce the other annual losses. Only ever sold when two things where in place 1) the horse was getting nowhere here, and 2) we believed it could at least win back its purchase price, travel costs and more. Keeping a reputation for possible potential sales was important to us. As for why did we sell well a story of one might explain ... 30 years ago we raced a horse who eventually won 8 in NZ and was subsequently sold to North America where he won at least another 13 that I know of. The core reason for sale on reflection was the lack of mid-grade horses in NZ. When he had 5 wins he was forced to compete in mobile C5 to C7 races every week which was tough on him as there wasn't the understanding of preferential barrier draw system. Then when he got to 7 wins it became C7 - OC mobiles. In the end it took a toll and we felt to be fair to the horse it was better to sell him into a better situation where he could compete fairly. Same applies today due to the combination of poor handicapping system and programming. IMO there is an over emphasis on falling back rating levels rather than building up mid rating levels regionally to ensure competitive fair racing across the rating continuum. The focus seems to be in getting horses back to below R60 as soon as possible. Australia or US offers a bigger opportunity that we can't offer in NZ. Owners will also need to take into account where the horse will sit in the system in Australia. There are far too many weird rated races programmed as well as Special and Discretionary handicap races. Buggered if I know how punters make sense of it all, you guys could tell me. AS are a red herring in this discussion. They will be talked about but unless you are focussed on Group/Listed racing then really don't contribute to the decision to sell overseas. Sometimes a change of environment or training methods can see a horse grow another leg. Have seen it happen a few times over the years, no idea why though.

Full agree, why is it that every abandoned harness code meeting ends up not being able to find a replacement day? The season doesn't close until July doesn't it? Can someone tell me why harness hardly ever has a Saturday meeting anymore? Clubs need to stand up for themselves and do what is right for them and NZ domestic racing. They will survive or not on the outcomes but seem to have little to no input into the calendar and structure of race meetings. If it was any other business they would be seriously pushing back on code and industry bodies. Harness needs the turnover ... find another day!

This is exciting, going to be an epic battle. Hope Laz is 100%.

And incorrect. Possession and Supply are very different sentences. From Community Law office. Possession - The maximum penalty for possession or use of a Class B drug – like speed (amphetamine), hash (cannabis resin), hash oil (cannabis oil), Ecstasy (MDMA), or pseudoephedrine (used to make P) – is three months’ jail or a maximum fine of $500, or both. (This penalty is the same as for cannabis and other Class C drugs.) However, if it’s only your first drug offence, you’ll usually just get a fine for possession or use of Class B drugs. Supply however is - The maximum penalty for dealing in speed, hash or other Class B drugs is 14 years’ jail. If you’ve got more than a certain amount of the particular drug in your possession, the law assumes you’re a dealer, and it’s up to you to prove that you’re not a dealer. The threshold is; Ecstasy (MDMA) – 5 grams, or 100 flakes, tablets or capsules Only in special cases will you get less than jail or home detention. But a “suspended” jail sentence may be justified if there’s no commercial element and the quantities are small (here you’re released but if you offend again within the next 12 months you have to come back to court again to be sentenced both for the original offence and the new offence). And in special cases there might be a sentence aimed at breaking addiction by courses of treatment. Given both current society & government discussion on the 'war against drugs' any sentencing is likely to be at the lower rather than maximum level as is often represented here.

That's my thinking too. Suggests that the original investigation started by information provided from the NZRB(TAB) as it progressed quickly from RIU to Police so there had to be significant information supplied to support the allegations. Similarly to obtain the digital search warrants, there had to be at least strong credible information. So either that original tip-off came from betting agency or someone in the betting ring who had been aggrieved for some reason. It interests me because regardless of what happens in the court cases the controlling organisations should be say something like "we are learning from all this and taking action to ensure it will be quickly identified and dealt with in future". Right now I am left with no confidence in any of the controlling organisations having the processes, tools, skills etc to address match fixing (race or sport) in the future.

That's a new twist for me, I thought it was a tip-off to the RIU that started it all. How did it start, anyone know the actual facts? The way everyone, including Winston the other day, saying that it proves the systems and processes work I have to speculate that the investigation started from within the organisations.

From the NZTR website; NZ Thoroughbred Racing will: Maintain currency and knowledge about international drug regulations Endorse the Racing Integrity Unit intelligence-led sampling procedures Support ‘out of competition’sampling New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Continue to ban the use of steroids Support NZ Racing Laboratory Services Ltd to maintain its ISO accreditation rating and independent operation for sample testing Maybe they don't have a specific policy and leave it to the RIU's discretion ... no 'intelligence leads', no testing? Wonder what that says to those that do get tested?