Alicia Harrison

We were all asked if we were happy to remain on the gate and continue rolling and everyone said yes. So the starter is not at fault. 95% of horses are better if they continue on as if they’re fired up allowing them to relax on the gate is much easier than trying to pull up a horse that was ready to race and then ask it to circle round multiple times and go again. Andres horse was very fired up from the get go which is why there was a false start and once it couldn’t lead it over raced fiercely, hence why it was retired from the race. It showed similar manners last time but settled before the gate went and was able to lead so relaxed. I wouldn’t blame either the starters or the stipes in the situation. And I think Andre said the false start fired it up not doing an extra lap it would’ve been equally as fiery if he had of had to circle round for another ten minutes

thanks guys, have made it home pretty sore & gonna be a long slow recovery. Which is going to be particularly frustrating for me & yes pops got one up on me now But not really much I can do given my injuries so just gonna have to sit tight and pray they heal a lot faster than what I’ve been told so I can get back to driving ASAP

All the drivers (and some trainers) down at both meetings got government exemptions to travel across the border. It appears now that HRNZ have decided that they don’t want the Aucklanders travelling to the Cambridge meeting despite their exemption resulting in mass scratching the day before the races & they have stopped the likes of Mark Purdon attending Auckland’s meeting. I guess we will have to wait and see whether or not they still allow the Waikato drivers to attend Auckland’s premier night... I would have thought it would be ok if the government grants an exemption the risk must be fairly low. But guess we’ll find out