malcyboy

I was at a Careers Expo in Invercargill last week and it was good to see that HRNZ had a stall there giving the option for young people and their parents to have a look and discuss the options of entering the equine world. The presenter was a very pleasant and knowledgable young lady who was actually involved in the sport hands on as well as working for HRNZ, they even had a virtual horse so people could have a 'feel' of actually driving a horse in a race. This is the exposure our industry needs so well done HRNZ!!

Well spoken words and yes they have credibility. Whilst the Jewels concept is good, in realistic terms it is promoting a certain amount of elitism into the sport catering more for the money owners and stables than the grass roots participant. I got into Harness racing because I felt that it offered a chance for Mr and Mrs Average to race a horse, have a bit of fun and maybe win a race or two. As an owner I would feel prouder to say I have won the Sapling Stakes or an Invercargill Gold Cup or the NZ Trotting Stakes because it carries a certain amount of prestige and kudos something that sadly the Jewels for all its hype and promotion doesn't as yet. To me to win a time honoured race knowing that I am being compared to some of the great horses that have won that race before hand is truly the stuff that dreams are made of. In 20 years time we will remember the winner of the NZ Trotting Cup but will have most likely forgotten the winner of one of the Jewels races. The Jewels as a concept has its place but I think for the purists we need to look at funding and promoting the races that have made NZ Trotting so strong and help keep the dream of average owners like me alive.

Here here I second that.Am personally getting a bit tired of the racist rantings usually started by the same few so some positive news would be great for a change.

I believe that Darren Skerrett rides track work in Gore where he also has a Courier business.He was riding down south a few years ago then gave it away but obviously has decided to renew his association with racing. Was a good jockey without being a world beater.

I am in 4 syndicates and they all have a syndicate Manager and 3 authorised reps.Some time ago we had an offer made on one of our horses but before anything was done every syndicate member was canvassed as to what their opinion was and the majority decision was the one the Manager went with. I am lucky in having a syndicate Manager that welcomes feedback and will always seek other members opinions if anything comes up that he feels is of importance The key to a good syndicate is honesty and integrity of not only the Manager but all members and I am proud to say that all the syndicates I am in have that!

Shows you what a load of s--t the whole honours thing is when you look at who got some of the gongs-the Normans-multi millionaires,Mark Weldun-not short of a bob,Rod Deanes-on the salary he got at Telecom shouldn't think he was short of a dollar then you get someone like Simon Power getting a gong. Peter Jackson-for making a couple of films and millions at the same time.Seems to me like John is looking after his mates yet again.Maybe for the next lot we can give Hone and his mum one for services to Maori,maybe even Pita might get a mention for propping up the govt.

If the Govt is intent on saving money then why the hell are they putting foreign people in NZ jails at our expense? The latest one is the Rena Capt and Pilot. Is it not bad enough that they caused millions of $'s in damage and now they are getting a nice little holiday at our expense and how many times to we hear that a (whatever country)national has been jailed for x amount of years for drug dealing or money laundering or whatever crime. Duh they are not NZ'ers so send them back to whatever hole they came from. The only cost to us the taxpayer is the airfare.Let their home country pick up the tab and the required punishment. I am almost inclined to stay that even immigrants found guilty of a major crime should be stripped of their rights to remain here but then they would be very un pc of me!!

What do Banks and Key have in common-both are multi millionaires so it seems as though it is mate looking after mate. It seems if you have the money you can get away with anything. Looks very shady and does nothing for the credibility of either man or the government.

Even by your low gutter type standards your post is rude and demeaning.I know you detest the Harness Racing fraternity but your comments make you look like a bitter and twisted fool. If you are looking for inbreeding you would not have to delve to far in the T/Bred code to find plenty of that along with the drug takers and cheats.

I was saddened to hear of the death of WA pacing champion Village Kid who died today at the grand old age of 31. He was a champion right up to the end of his racing career and was trained by Bill Horn who kept the horse right up to his death in fact Village Kid spent 27 of his 31 years in the same paddock. From memory he was driven in most of his wins by Chris Lewis and at one stage had 19 wins in a row.RIP the kid!!

Cunnamulla that has to be the best and most forthright message on this thread!! You have said it as you see it but sadly the moaning will continue by the boffins who instead of helping the industry will continue to sell the goods that will save the industry - the horses. The excuse will always be that there is no point in holding on to horses when no money can be made racing them. Surely Mon/Tues meetings can be the type of meeting where the lesser classes of horse and trainer can get their day in the sun - promote it as grass roots racing and encourage Mr and Mrs Average to get involved after all not every horse will win a Group 1 nor every trainer. You know this is going to be happening for at least 2 years so instead of knocking it promote and encourage it otherwise you may just as well forget about the 30,000 participants and shut racing down completely.

There are gallops every day of the week for goodness sake so it is good to see Harness take charge for a change. Trackside is for all codes not just for the spoilt and pretentious T/Breds!!. You lot moan about everything so is't it time you just accepted that the world isn't just about you!!

I love my trots but I would not have bothered to go to the cup meeting.The reason being that I find racing at Auckland boring and predictable. It is the usual stables getting the majority of the big wins. When you go to a race and see over half the field are from the same stable it doesn't really encourage you to bet especially when the chances are team driving will dictate the result anyway.

I see where the wife of Dotcom has asked a judge for 200,000 a month for expenses!! She wants money for a butler, a nanny,tuition for her 4 yr old plus various other expenses including body guards. Hell I have 3 teenage boys where do I go to get that kind of money a month - sure beats working!!

It is because of people like Alan Clarke that makes trotting what it is - a sport for everyone.There would be many good trotting trainers that just train a few in addition to another job.Some just plod around with a couple and every now and then a good one crops ups.It is these blokes that make the game not the big money stables who take winning as a right not a privledge.Most people like to see a battler win a race and for me I get tired of seeing the big stables always winning.