fermoy

KHAFEEF, who was fourth in the steeplechase, was bred by Shadwell up here and I'm sure they had bigger ambitions than running round northern New Zealand over fences.
He raced in France in 2019 and won a 2400m race at Le Touquet but that was his only win in four starts.
If you want to revitalise NZ jump racing come to the UK and Ireland and spread the word - at Stratford (the home of Mr Shakespeare) this afternoon the Class 4 handicap chase nets the winning owner less than £4k (or $8000) yet you have jumps races for £15k. Without being unkind, I'm sure there are plenty of NH horses up here who could compete with your chasers and hurdlers - I mean, if Willie Mullins sent over a plane load of his third-raters, he'd probably clean up.
Why not create a satellite yard for British and Irish jumpers in NZ - again, it's an alternative to our summer jumping for the fast ground types. Plenty of logistical issues but where there's a will there's usually a dead person (sorry).
Have a look at the French racing model - in France they have meetings with trotting, flat turf, ordinary jumps and cross country jumps races in the provinces. Imagine a venue where all four exist and you could stage any kind of meeting you like. I have to say the French trotting races (both Monte and Attele which mean ridden and attached so one is where there's a jockey and the other where there's a driver) seem well attended for all some of the tracks look to be in grotty industrial estates.
Just a few thoughts from a long way away but I enjoy jump racing and there's a place for it. I don't know how many of you watched the Grand National last weekend - it's not the race it was (that's another debate) but it's still visually spectacular. Run the Great Northern or the National for $2,000,000 and invite foreign runners - make it the jump equivalent of the Melbourne Cup.
Final thought - the grass roots - pony club racing, point to points - both have to be nourished and developed to keep a flow of jockeys and horses. Import two or three jumping stallions from up here.

I don't suppose someone has a screenshot of the divdends of the last R7 at Tauherenikau today.
Surely the place dividend for the 2nd horse Sol De Otono at $11.80 is incorrect???     Should have been more like $1.80.   
The filly was paying just over $5 to win a few minutes brfore the race when I looked and NZTR show the filly paying $5.80 as the win dividend at the jump. 
The quinella looks ok with the $5.40 winner Phone A Friend with Sol De Otono at $17.10 and the trifecta at $97.00 seems in order also.
Sol De Otono was first selection by the TAB, Bevan Sweeney made her a Best Bet on the day and she was also first selection in the Race Form. 
That place dividend of $11.80 is just sticking out like the proverable.........   

Declan Bates...
My guess would be Master?

Maybe said administrators and jockeys should stop trying to be movie stars.

"various machinery" and "machinery which will further enhance the surface"???
What the hell does that mean and why wasn't such mysterious machinery used before the Karaka meeting/ And whose bright idea is it to suddenly use it now?
I thought Wilcox kept saying they were being transparent about the preparation and state of this track? Now we just get more wish-wash.

It’s the introduction to racing for most people. 
They don’t know that they aren’t great fields. 
Actually it probably suits them being small, as it will obviously be easier for them to back a winner and get a real thrill. 
Isn’t it sad that the people in charge have closed down Gisborne, Wairoa and Waipukurau just to name three. All three provided exactly what Wairarapa did today.
Liz 
 
 
 

last day of calling Miss J
Didn't find his calling od at all

Thanks for the info, but it was waaaaaaay to late

Haha , he caught him on a good day then . 

I am not a fan of abandoning meetings based on predicted weather , they done this a couple of months ago and the rain never arrived . We were under a heavy rain warning for 2 days last week and it never arrived , the forecasters just kept changing the supposed times of said weather event as the previous time periods elapsed then finally gave it up as a bad prediction , again .
A bad precedent to be starting .

A great person , a even better commentator 

I 2nd that, I enjoy listening to his race calls.  Hope he's got a few more years of racecalling ahead of him, I especially like it when he's calling a race and there's a special meaning to the win.I cannot believe there are people who want him replaced/sacked.  You're right, there isn't anyone in the Central Districts region who is better than him. 

Hearing his calls on the weekend means summers coming, the good racings coming, Long Live The King, Tony Lee there's no one near him when it comes to true race calling, raw, authentic, relatable, Long Live The King. 

Just browsing the Woodville fields and shocked to see a race named the John Shannon Memorial
and checking the Tararua Funeral notices I see he passed away a week or so ago
John ( L J Shannon) has been a Racecafe participant for 25 plus years........I'm sure I noticed  he put some picks in 2 or 3 weeks ago
Bred and raced many horses.....a dyed in the wool passionate  Woodville man......I would guess 30 odd years on their Committee, may have been President not sure
Recent memories of John was that he was in charge of Parking, watching ( and betting  up ) on his phone......and about 3 pm he'd be heading to the Presidents Room for a well deserved beer
a true blue Heartland racing man
RIP John
 

Good to see Matt Cameron back at Te Rapa on Saturday too Crusty.

Maybe we need a change?  Get to the track and spend some time behind the grandstands where everything is real, the Call is only one aspect of a game that incorporates many other elements

Maybe I am a little harsh Gruff, but I guess I'm not even that concerned over the odd mistake or bad call here and there.
It's more about the same feel week in week out, for many years. Some like consistency or familiarity, for me I'm just a bit bored with the feel of it and I think change will be refreshing.
 

George probably sings that Sonny and Cher track with Maryanne Alf. I reckon you are being a little harsh, not everyone has the brilliance of Peter Snell who called time at the height of his career so given what these legends of NZ Racing have done for the sport they deserve the right to call time when they see fit, I'm sure they cringe even  at the thought of mistakes as true Professionals and would surely call time if it became the norm, sorry you were let go after 25 Alf I'm sure you were a great servant

Yes - private message me 

Brainless Barnes strikes again. Not his first poor move.

Anyone not using their stallion nominations this years? 
I'm interested in picking them up.

Yes it would be one of the worst decisions ever wouldn't it but unfortunately it's the word on the street, or should I say the racecourse. 
Apparently Tony  , our most all round experienced, colourful, knowledgeable ,humorous and informative race callers is not having his contract renewed in favour of a younger person.
He's there calling in the Central Districts every week whether it be Group Ones at Hastings, Trentham and Awapuni on a Saturday or 29 Heats at Foxton ,Otaki , Waverley or Awapuni Synthetic Trials on a Tuesday .
Try doing that at the trials week in week out with mostly horses you've never seen before at his normal high quality and with a smile on your face and his trademark sense of humour and the odd joke thrown in.
It is a classical high quality performance that anyone who cares to watch can see from T. Lee week in week out on any racecourse in the Central Districts.
Anyone else who thinks Tony and NZ racing is about to be done a grave disservice is encouraged to email alan.barnes@tab.co.nz as soon as possible.
Maybe Mr Barnes can tell us all on what his decision is based and the reasons behind it.
Has he canvassed the Central Districts racing community regarding our Commentator before he's decided to retire him ?
Some commentators in the past were quite elderly before they were able to retire on their own terms and arguably past their best but we loved them and embraced them anyway because of their history,longevity and knowledge.
Maybe time for the Bring Back Tony Lee machine to crank into gear?
 
 
 

One of the most memorable race calls I've ever heard was Tony calling Veandercoss winning when I was still a little kid.  Probably heard better race calls from him and others since, but few stick out as much as that one.
Don't follow CD racing much these days, but caught a couple of his calls yesterday and there was nothing wrong with them.

Agree, but only if there are better offerings. He maybe not quite as good as he used to be, but is still the benchmark. Plus commentators like Rosanowski (dogs I know and sometimes trots ) are terrible. With the dogs, race is well finished and he's still calling it. I would have thought they would look at all codes and assign the best they can to each.

Yes it would be one of the worst decisions ever wouldn't it but unfortunately it's the word on the street, or should I say the racecourse. 
Apparently Tony  , our most all round experienced, colourful, knowledgeable ,humorous and informative race callers is not having his contract renewed in favour of a younger person.
He's there calling in the Central Districts every week whether it be Group Ones at Hastings, Trentham and Awapuni on a Saturday or 29 Heats at Foxton ,Otaki , Waverley or Awapuni Synthetic Trials on a Tuesday .
Try doing that at the trials week in week out with mostly horses you've never seen before at his normal high quality and with a smile on your face and his trademark sense of humour and the odd joke thrown in.
It is a classical high quality performance that anyone who cares to watch can see from T. Lee week in week out on any racecourse in the Central Districts.
Anyone else who thinks Tony and NZ racing is about to be done a grave disservice is encouraged to email alan.barnes@tab.co.nz as soon as possible.
Maybe Mr Barnes can tell us all on what his decision is based and the reasons behind it.
Has he canvassed the Central Districts racing community regarding our Commentator before he's decided to retire him ?
Some commentators in the past were quite elderly before they were able to retire on their own terms and arguably past their best but we loved them and embraced them anyway because of their history,longevity and knowledge.
Maybe time for the Bring Back Tony Lee machine to crank into gear?