Barry Lichter

I totally agree WE'RE DOOMED about the lack of lead-up races. Sadly, some of the contenders didn't get a run at Auckland last week, the race scrapped after only four noms. This type of concept absolutely needs a buildup over numerous weeks when with each win comes speculation about whom slot holders will chase. The Cambridge club has done a terrific job getting The Race off the ground but it will never develop as it should if it remains a stand alone event. Sadly, media coverage is now virtually non existent, our industry's bosses having ignored repeated warnings over the years that the shop

That's a crucial point NELLI about it costing as much to train a R45 horse as a R65. I'm not so sure that the old model of the prizemoney rising as you go up the grades is sustainable any longer. In Queensland, where Lincoln Farms has had a lot of success racing horses that were no longer competitive here, they have a revolving system where each class gets a bite at the bigger money. When Tommy Lincoln won a band 4-2 race a couple of weeks ago the stake was $20,466, while the top free-for-allers raced for only $14,867. The previous week the R58 to R70 pacers had their turn for $20,770, about t

Here's video of Amazing Dream's qualifier at the Meadowlands today. There's no commentary. She starts from the outside of the gate in the red saddlecloth and finishes on into a close third for Todd McCarthy, clocking 1:52.4. The winner, driven by Dexter Dunn in the yellow saddlecloth, is former southern mare Watch Me Now.

How can a horse who won the most money, the most races and the New Zealand Trotting Cup not win the Horse of the Year title or at the very least the Pacer of the Year? The only explanation is that Harness Racing New Zealand made an administrative blunder. https://www.lincolnfarms.co.nz/stories/copy-that-misses-top-honours-in-apparent-hrnz-blunder-and-bosses-wont-even-explain/

Fully identify with your frustrations Midget. My partner went through the same flawed process and eventually gave up. It begs the question how many other people have been lost to the industry?

Justin Evans called remotely from his home in the South Island, a late call-up after Aaron White was on holiday and Bruce Sherwin had to pull pin with Covid in his household. Agree locally based Jason Teaz would have been the best replacement.

Aaron was heading in to Ellerslie yesterday morning when he got a txt from the MOH saying he was a close Covid contact from the Pt Chev Bowling Club last Sunday. George apparently had the day/week off.

Hi Tasman, How about these? 74 starts: Take After Me (5 wins, 9 placings). 73 starts: Pete's Dash (2 wins, 9 placings) 62 starts: Bright Glow (5 wins, 11 placings) 60 starts: Changearound (3 wins, 12 placings). And a couple of honourable mentions: 50 starts: Honour Scroll (0 wins, 0 placings) 49 starts: Aveross Rustler (0 wins, 2 placings).

Hi Nelli, Auckland has programmed just such a race on February 25. Whereas She Reigns cops a 55 metre handicap at Cambridge on Friday in the $30,000 Breeders' Stakes (2700m), the $30,000 Northern Breeders' Stakes (2700m) has a maximum back mark of 40 metres.

The Auckland Trotting Club was in such dire financial strife it was secretly negotiating to sell its land on Green Lane Rd more than three months before it sought approval from its harness racing members. When the ATC’s board put a motion to the annual general meeting on October 21, 2020, authorising it and a three-man committee to sell the land, none of the members knew that just one day earlier the club’s CEO Mauro Barsi had signed an agreement which gave exclusive rights to Sydney finance company Gleneagle Securities. The deal, instigated to prevent a possible fire sale of the clu

The Auckland Trotting Club will continue legal action to try to recover some of the $100 million lost in the building of its apartment complex. But when the harness racing club finally reveals details of its long-running dispute with construction company Canam at next Wednesday’s annual general meeting, president Rod Croon will be assuring members it will not be pouring millions more into the bid. The club’s accounts show more than $6 million has been spent on legal fees since it dismissed Canam in July, 2018, after a slew of problems, with many believing the cost has been even high

Claims of broken contracts and secrecy over land sales by the debt-laden harness racing Auckland Trotting Club have surfaced as former MP Gilbert Myles attempts to oust sitting president Rod Croon. Myles and his supporters are railing against the ATC’s moves to sell off the Franklin Park training centre and a parcel of land fronting Green Lane Rd to help reduce the now $100 million loss it incurred building its 246 apartments at Alexandra Park. The club’s plans are detailed in its long overdue annual report sent to members in which the 2021 accounts auditor reveals that as at July 31

HI Tasman Man You're certainly right about lots of ex Kiwis performing well in the States. But remember many of those have raced first in Australia. Lincoln Farms' Larry Lincoln won one here before campaigning in Brisbane with Al Barnes where he won another eight races. His new American owners are thrilled with him as he has won three of his seven starts over there. Lincoln Farms also sold Zach Maguire after he had won five of his 32 NZ starts. He won 11 in Oz before going to the US. Bill Haley is even more travelled. After winning four of 32 starts in New Zealand he grew a

Blue. I don't know where you got your info form but it's well off the mark. American Dealer has already won way more than his purchase price. The winner last night recorded some very fast closing sectionals and American Dealer's 55.22 and 27, three wide from the 400, compared very favourably with Tommy Lincoln's times in the earlier race for the 1660m, 54.9 and 27.10. When they sort his issue on the bends, he'll go even better.

Just released: Former Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement has been appointed Chief Executive of the new independent Racing Integrity Board which will oversee the racing industry from 1 July 2021. “The Board is delighted to have been able to secure a leader of Mike’s standing, experience and impeccable integrity,” says Sir Bruce Robertson, Chair of the Racing Integrity Board. The Racing Integrity Board takes over the functions of the Racing Integrity Unit and the Judicial Control Authority for Racing, both of which will be disestablished as of 30 June 2021 with all employees