rancho

Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.
I put $25 into BGP club and was also on the zoom call with about 200 other participants for the afternoon.  It was a heck of a lot of fun & a great way to spend a wet locked down Saturday afternoon!
BGP have asked for feedback on what could be done differently next time - plenty of opportunity to provide feedback through their social media.
I’ll be in the next one.
 
 

Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.
I put $25 into BGP club and was also on the zoom call with about 200 other participants for the afternoon.  It was a heck of a lot of fun & a great way to spend a wet locked down Saturday afternoon!
BGP have asked for feedback on what could be done differently next time - plenty of opportunity to provide feedback through their social media.
I’ll be in the next one.
 
 

Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.
I put $25 into BGP club and was also on the zoom call with about 200 other participants for the afternoon.  It was a heck of a lot of fun & a great way to spend a wet locked down Saturday afternoon!
BGP have asked for feedback on what could be done differently next time - plenty of opportunity to provide feedback through their social media.
I’ll be in the next one.
 
 

Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.
I put $25 into BGP club and was also on the zoom call with about 200 other participants for the afternoon.  It was a heck of a lot of fun & a great way to spend a wet locked down Saturday afternoon!
BGP have asked for feedback on what could be done differently next time - plenty of opportunity to provide feedback through their social media.
I’ll be in the next one.
 
 

Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.
I put $25 into BGP club and was also on the zoom call with about 200 other participants for the afternoon.  It was a heck of a lot of fun & a great way to spend a wet locked down Saturday afternoon!
BGP have asked for feedback on what could be done differently next time - plenty of opportunity to provide feedback through their social media.
I’ll be in the next one.
 
 

Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.
I put $25 into BGP club and was also on the zoom call with about 200 other participants for the afternoon.  It was a heck of a lot of fun & a great way to spend a wet locked down Saturday afternoon!
BGP have asked for feedback on what could be done differently next time - plenty of opportunity to provide feedback through their social media.
I’ll be in the next one.
 
 

Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.
I put $25 into BGP club and was also on the zoom call with about 200 other participants for the afternoon.  It was a heck of a lot of fun & a great way to spend a wet locked down Saturday afternoon!
BGP have asked for feedback on what could be done differently next time - plenty of opportunity to provide feedback through their social media.
I’ll be in the next one.
 
 

Champion trainer Laurie Laxon pictured in Singapore In 2008 Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Hall of Fame trainer Laurie Laxon passes away
NZ Racing Desk
16 July 2021 Hall of Fame trainer Laurie Laxon, whose list of achievements included a Melbourne Cup victory and multiple Singapore training premierships, has passed away.
Laxon had lived in retirement in the Coromandel seaside town of Whitianga since returning from Singapore in 2017, the year after his induction to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.  
He had ruled supreme in Singapore training ranks after relocating there in 1999, claiming nine premierships and becoming the first to win 100 races in a season, and the first (and still only) trainer to reach 1,000 wins at Kranji on the way to a full tally in excess of 1,250. 
Laxon was born into racing as a member of a family involved since New Zealand’s earliest European settlement years. Growing up north of Hamilton, as a teenager he became an amateur rider and in his final raceday ride he won the Duke of Gloucester Cup.
After completing a carpentry apprenticeship, he was drawn fully into racing when he established a stable near Ngaruawahia. From there he first made his mark with the 1974 Great Northern Hurdle winner Cobland, who he owned with his late wife Jenny, before establishing his credentials as the trainer of major flat performers.
A big part of that early success was the association Laxon built with the brothers Philip and Peter Vela, leading to their joint maiden Group One success with the Sir Tristram filly Noble Heights in the 1981 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
Sir Tristram was also the source of the Laxon-trained, Vela-owned and bred Romanee Conti, winner of the 1993 Hong Kong International Cup, and dam of Ethereal, who was trained by Laxon’s second wife Sheila to win the 2001 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Sir Tristram also sired the Vela-owned and bred Riverina Charm, a four-time Group One winner on either side of the Tasman under Laxon’s training, while for owner-breeder Fred Bodle Laxon prepared the giant Sir Tristram mare Empire Rose to win the 1988 Melbourne Cup.
“Laurie was an outstanding trainer and horseman who was particularly skilled with fillies and mares,” commented his close friend and near neighbour, New Zealand Bloodstock Chairman Joe Walls.
“His astute horsemanship was noted by a number of successful breeders, most notably Peter and Philip Vela, and they had some great times together.
“When Laurie went to Singapore he remained staunchly loyal to the New Zealand-bred and much of his success there was down to the horses he sourced from New Zealand,” added Walls, who confirmed that Laxon, who recently turned 75, passed away in his sleep overnight.
Another to pay tribute to Laxon was highly respected former trainer Bruce Marsh, who developed a close friendship as a fellow Kiwi expat in Singapore.
“Laurie was the instigator of me going up to Singapore,” said Marsh, who is now retired in Cambridge. “He was an immense help to every New Zealand and Australian expat who went up there – myself, Mark Walker, Cliffy Brown, Michael Freedman, all of us.
“He went out of his way to show us the ins and outs, and he was always there if you needed any help.
“Obviously Laurie was a top-notch trainer, he will always be remembered for his huge success back home, in Australia and up in Singapore.”
As a New Zealand licence holder for close to 50 years Laxon also played a significant role through his involvement with the NZ Trainers’ Association, serving as National President prior to heading to Singapore.
“A larger-than-life character Laurie made his mark on the racing industry as recognised by his admission into the Racing Hall of Fame,” NZTR CEO Bernard Saundry said.  “NZTR’s Board and management acknowledge his immense contribution to the industry over the years and extend our thoughts to his family, as we mark the passing of a New Zealand racing legend.”
Laxon is survived by his sons Craig, Roger and John, and daughter Lucy.

Great fun thank you sponsors and Ponderosa!

Great fun thank you sponsors and Ponderosa!

Great fun thank you sponsors and Ponderosa!

Great fun thank you sponsors and Ponderosa!

Great fun thank you sponsors and Ponderosa!

A group of us were there on Saturday , what a magic day , well done to the ARC

Pleased you enjoyed your day......in horse ownership one needs to be a good loser. !
The very heavy rain on Friday night ensured a tricky wet track and there were some big divvies and upsets ,but in the main interesting and competitive racing.
Many back runners excelled.
A big crowd of young folk/students , over 1000 in the birdcage party area and a group of over 200 Chinese folk were upstairs ,dining and enjoying the day.
Of course there was 50,000 heading to Eden Park for six-60 concert.
A quiet day for Jamie !....rarely leaves without a win.

Thanks for the advice.  Had a great day at Ellerslie.  Best course in NZ I’ve been to.
Friendly tote and bar staff. Food and drink not too badly priced.  
 
Great stabling area, got to meet Janie Richards. Mates horse did no good, but all had a good day.

@rancho
SISO up the road in Remuera on the corner of Norana Ave where Banque used to be & has recently opened was always busy in the early evening.
Haven't tried it yet  but should be reviews online.
No problems with parking & not quite so many road cones to navigate in Remuera compared to city...
 
Great to see you coming out of the closet & dressing in your ANZAC weekend finery... If you get a chance rise early & attend an ANZAC service..usually one at Museum.
 
Have a great holiday in Auckland & make sure you are the one who brings friends next time to races.

Heading up to attend Ellerslie for the first time on Saturday.  Going as the plus one of a mate who has a share in a horse running. Any advice on where’s the best place to be on course for viewing, tote access, bar etc?  Keen to know places for a decent feed afterwards (will be staying on Nelson st in the city).
cheers  

Agreed with above.....wander around and check the place out .
You will have owners pass to go to mounting yard bar for a drink to chat with the jockey pre-race but check out the new horse stalls and the Tote room nearby.
Public stand is very good to view the races.....you may want to watch your race from members stand where you can be close to or in line with the finish....public stand 100-150 m along !
Don't expect a big crowd there ...it wont be Kumara in January or a Cup day !
If you want to see people go to the malls ,beaches or weekend holiday places on water....Viaduct at night.
Yes go visit HQ 's and ask for Leo.

Anywhere at Ellerslie is good, public stand superb
For a top feed go to HQ on the waterfront you are staying just up the road

Rosehill Race 1 - 2,11
Manawatu  Race 6 - 4,7
Rosehill Race 2 - 1,5
Manawatu Race 7 - 1,9
Rosehill Race 3 - 3, 4
Riverton Race 8 - 5,6
Manawatu Race 8 - 4,7
Rosehill Race 4 - 9,10
Manawatu Race 9 - 4,14
Rosehill Race 5 - 9, 3
Rosehill Race 6 - 1, 2
Rosehill Race 7 - 9, 11
Rosehill Race 8 - 2, 9
 
Cheers all - Happy Easter

Rancho got the Quinella so jumps up to 2nd place...
 
NAME CURRENT TOTAL orphanpete $386.70 rancho $110.70 chelseacol $49.10 Caroline $48.00 Fredd002 $44.80 nomates $44.80 imtops $21.90 Swoopa $21.90 disillusioned $21.90 Crimson Star $21.90 paigezim $19.70 Koriokaramea $18.70 Alabar $18.70 Kingshill $18.70 Insider $18.70 JJ Flash $18.70 Peter R S $18.70 Puha $18.70 Gruff $16.60 Houlahan's Dream $16.60 scooby351 $16.60 SingaporeSling $16.60 jayar $16.60 mrzim $16.50 Sayer $16.50 Ohokaman $16.50 Archer $16.50 Right first time $15.60 d.burrow $15.60 Cubes $15.60 Deb S $14.40 bazza54 $11.80 Kloppite $8.60 lynzim $7.50 napier $7.50 tonkatime $7.50 arjay $6.50 Nukkledragga $5.40 Basil brush $5.40 Cabbage $5.30 Addictive $5.30 mike28 $4.30 Grego $4.30 Black Kirrama $4.30 Charlie Bukowski $4.30 richie $4.30 Pegasus 9 $4.30 talk $4.30 tasman man 11 $4.30 We're Doomed $4.30 Shad $3.20 mooseman $3.20 Red Rum $2.20 TurnyTom $2.20 Rusty $2.20 Beecee $2.20 MS26 $2.20 redrew2000 $2.20 Seddon $2.20 Tarantula $2.20 Al Feilding $2.10 Jenlove $2.10 Ponderosa8 $2.10 hone $2.10 Thepaw $2.10 RacingJimmy $2.10 Blaird $2.10 Sir Castleton $0.00 Floyd Pink $0.00 barryb $0.00

Well done all - great fun.  Congrats to winners and thank you to comp organisers who provided great entertainment throughout the day.

Well done all - great fun.  Congrats to winners and thank you to comp organisers who provided great entertainment throughout the day.