richie

It annoys me when i hear a jockey say the pace was too slow so the race wasnt run to suit my horse.Every jockey can make the choice of moving forward to increase the pace but most choose not to.So dont use that as an excuse,just say i was outridden by other jockeys who knew what pace suited their horses.

It annoys me when i hear a jockey say the pace was too slow so the race wasnt run to suit my horse.Every jockey can make the choice of moving forward to increase the pace but most choose not to.So dont use that as an excuse,just say i was outridden by other jockeys who knew what pace suited their horses.

It annoys me when i hear a jockey say the pace was too slow so the race wasnt run to suit my horse.Every jockey can make the choice of moving forward to increase the pace but most choose not to.So dont use that as an excuse,just say i was outridden by other jockeys who knew what pace suited their horses.

It annoys me when i hear a jockey say the pace was too slow so the race wasnt run to suit my horse.Every jockey can make the choice of moving forward to increase the pace but most choose not to.So dont use that as an excuse,just say i was outridden by other jockeys who knew what pace suited their horses.

I love Cup day. It's my favourite race day of the year just ahead of Jewels day. My best ever punting days have all come on Cup day. Having said that I haven't been to Addington on Cup day since Just An Excuse won his second cup in 04. I just cant stand all the bullshit on track. Who needs it?
I felt the Trackside presentation by the three wise men O'Conner,Guerin and Thompson was the best NZ race day presentation I'd ever seen here. The chit chat was stimulating,meaningful and helpful. The interviews were superb. The replays of old NZ Cups were magnificent. It was the first time I'd ever seen Camelot's win on TV and hearing the inside story on the horse was a joy to take on board. If you can sit in your lounge at home, putting your bets on while having a perfect view of all races,enjoy a superb TV presentation, why would you bother going to the track and get ripped off with food and drink,ordered what to do by minimum wage security guards like you were an impaired teenager and miss half the race because of circus tents blocking the view and drunk teenage girls showing you what they had for breakfast?

1=3/8
2=1/2
3=9/12 BB
4=4/10
5=8/9
6=8/11
7=4/7 BB
8=7/11
9=14/15
10=5/8

R1-11
R2-4
R3-10 B/b
R4-13
R5-7
R6-13
R7-11
R8-3

I think Purdon is just so far ahead in his thinking,i know of a local Ashburtonian who a few years ago  had Mark look at a few at yearling sales that he thought would make older staying horse and Mark  said that he thought only one would be suiteable for what buyer wanted.They got him for 6000 other 2 both went for over 30000.Mates horse had 1 start as 2yo for 2nd,had 6 starts for 3yo for 2 wins,won 1st 4 starts as 4yo and sold to Aussie for 30 times purchase price.Other 2 were bought by another S.I top stable and 1 hasnt raced other has won 1 race so far.
 
Mark can pick out a horse for the buyers circumstances,my mate didnt buy a horse to sell,he was thinking about a cup horse but got offered too good a money.But Mark was right on ball with purchase.And to cap it all off Mrk told him who to get to break it in and school it and also suggested  another trainer in early stages to keep cost down.He didnt take over training until 4yo .Because he knew what he was buying

No nobody could explain this because it is shite and shows desperation to get starters.This horse would not bring much income through betting and trainer doesnt have huge amount of horses start at Addington.

Hi Eljay,
I have been in both competition formats and think either one is acceptable for me.
The previous one had bonus points based on group race status, along with bonus points for dividends on a section scale over $4.
 My formula for the present competition, and what I attempted to anticipate, was to have runners in as many of the big races on Cup day as possible, but hoping to have more runners racing on 31st December at Alexandra Park, when all stakes for the competition are doubled. Consequently, I have three of my stable who have not raced yet, and hoping all going well they will be racing on 31st December. Think I have live chances in two of the three big stakes races on cup day, so hoping they will get some decent dollars for my stable. Time will tell.
Just a reminder, we can change up to two of our stable between the 3rd and 4th November if we so wish.
Cheers.
Robert

R1=4-ARIZONA BLIZZARD & 6-MARCIANO
R2=3-CANTERINO & 4-DUBAI SHUFFLE
R3=11-TABLE ONE & 12-EYEFUL TOWER
R4=4 NORTHERN NIGHT & 12-SAKURA
R5=4-SPOKE TO CARLO & 11-STOLEN DANCE   BEST BET
R6=9-THE BRAVE ONE & 11-SIMULATOR
R7=1-AMARULA & 9-SERIOUS SATIRE
R8=2-MATAKANA & 9-SLICE OF CAKE
R9=7-QUEEN OF NAVARRE & 8-MAESTRO TOM

Apart from maybe half a dozen horses each year the Aussie horses just all seem to be very poor,the number of kiwi horses that are only average that go over there and win big races is unbelieveable.

Apart from maybe half a dozen horses each year the Aussie horses just all seem to be very poor,the number of kiwi horses that are only average that go over there and win big races is unbelieveable.

I questioned the form reversal for two reasons. One was it was so horribly beaten with Dexter up at it's previous run and secondly because it's Methven win was so comprehensive. Horse dealt to them.
I'm happy with the explanations put forward to explain the form turnaround but I reserve the right to ask another question if the horse now returns back to average form despite the beachwork that worked the oracle for it's Methven win.
Like Brodie I don't see asking a question as "whinging" and I also don't need to have put $$ on a horse to have a valid opinion or question on it's run.
We are all in this game together and it helps nobody for some punters to feel the widely used "cheats on seats" tag has merit. Harness Racing is very good but not that good.
Ask a reasonable question and if you get a reasonable answer devoid of bias we learn and move on. The devoid of bias aspect is significant on a site like this. 
20 years ago people would write to the letters to the editor section of the Friday Flash to express an opinion or ask Bob Lovet or Mike Brown a question. Now we have Racecafe. Yah

Trained by himself.He keeps saying he only in it for the enjoyment but he never stops moaning about the game.Dont worry i dont hesitate to tell him that if you cant beat them join them.With the money he has spent on nags in the last 20 years he could have bought a well bred one and sent to Purdons to train and given himself more enjoyment than he has.

With the number of foals being bred, the racing numbers will certainly shrink in the future, horses for courses and horses racing against others of similar ability is the way of the future, so if a horse cannot fit into the Purdon barn, create races for the lesser performers against those of the same ability. Maybe a 2400m for horses no faster than 3.08, at least the field would be good for the TAB, an even betting race. This would also give the long suffering owner a chance at a bit of cash, something that has been lacking in the ratio of costs and returns which was far far better in the 1980s,

I 100% agree with the comment about dropping the qualifying times. They are outdated and irrelevant and do more harm than good. To tell an owner that they have a "racehorse" because they qualified just under time is like telling them they are sweet to go on the motorway with a moped.
Also though and as I said before there will NEVER be a time when bad maidens can pay their way. Owners have a right to keep them and race them but if they expect they can break even on the worst horses in the country they are dreaming. We should have a hope/expectation maybe that a middle grade horse can do so but not a maiden. Right now even some horses that make it near the top don't end up paying their way over their whole career. That's not OK.

Tyler Dewe became the 212th driver to win a race in Southland this century.

First thing they need to do is make it harder to qualify.Mate of mine had a horse finished 20 lengths behind winner in 8th place and all 8 qualified,then went to races a few months ago and finished 38 lengths behind winner and moaned because he was racing against a couple of Purdons that had been blitzing at trials.Then have structured tier racing.Maiden races at Addington only for horses had a placing last 5 starts and trial winners.The rest run on a Sunday at Rangiora,Methven etc in $5000 stakes.Make Addington races $10000 stakes.Limit the Sunday races to horses that have earnt less than $1000 in last 5 starts.
 
That a start

First thing they need to do is make it harder to qualify.Mate of mine had a horse finished 20 lengths behind winner in 8th place and all 8 qualified,then went to races a few months ago and finished 38 lengths behind winner and moaned because he was racing against a couple of Purdons that had been blitzing at trials.Then have structured tier racing.Maiden races at Addington only for horses had a placing last 5 starts and trial winners.The rest run on a Sunday at Rangiora,Methven etc in $5000 stakes.Make Addington races $10000 stakes.Limit the Sunday races to horses that have earnt less than $1000 in last 5 starts.
 
That a start

Fame Game is going to be tough in the Melbourne Cup on today's run.  

My mistake Richie. Will fix it up on the next post

The 2 Brosnan horses were basically in front by default as 6 horses broke either at start or soon after.Of the 4 horses that trotted away 1 was off 10m and another off the unruly.I didnt think there was anything different to any other race when he moved off rails at turn.You see it quite often where a horse runs out under pressure on home turn

The CHIEF`S  will be playing ......  

Still cant see why Te Kawau is ahead of Messini in the rankings, but that just my opinion as is the fact that i think Te Kawau is way overated,although Messini will probably still get a start anyway as from what i have heard from Australia it sounding more unlikely lately that any will come.They have totally different race records and Te Kawau has a good record from a stand but i would be annoyed if Belkmyster or Te Kawau got a start ahead of Messini.
I suppose we may find out at Methven this week,where ironically Messini has to start 10m behind Te Kawau
Te Kawau C8 horse with 11 wins and 6 of these at Manawatu-earnings=$132,000 1 win at 3200m but slow 4.07,probably 13 sec slower than they will run in cup this year.
Messini OC,18 wins(including last years Free for All on cup day)=$417,000 in stakes Has not won beyond 2600m and is pretty much unknown from stand.