eljay

Yeah 1 point I think. I left out Ideal Scott coz of draw and rumour that perhaps horse was ready for a spell. Also left out Sir Lincoln who I always take simply on draw again. I reckoned SL to front TTL trail/passing lane to just nut him. After watching the race I think TTL would have gone better back a little where he could accellerate and bomb down the outside. Perhaps too technical for him having to manouver into lane.

As the race started George said "Bring it on" and not a murmur came from the "crowd" a la the start of the ID final at Perth. But I suppose that was not surprising as the majority in attendance were more interested in their food and drinkies than any horse race. But the Club were happy - this is where their money is made, not over the tote. Yes, since the race was shifted to the beginning of winter and changed from 3200 to 2700 and stand to mobile (sorry Lincoln Farms - congrats you win) the hype has all but disappeared.

Are there any such people? My grandfather used to tell me the main qualification to becoming a politician was to have failed in your calling and have an ability to tell a lie without it actually sounding so. So this has been around for as long as the country has been inhabited.

Don't laugh Don, I'm sure that has crossed the minds of the minority activists

Pokies are the Government's way of funding what Governments are supposed to fund, without actually costing them a brass razoo. Like Playcentres, Health activities and of course minority affairs. Unfortunately Racing does not fit in here.

Ellerslie R.1 - 10 Ellerslie R.2 - 7 Ellerslie R.3 - 5 Ellerslie R.4 - 9 Wingatui R.5 - 1 Ellerslie R.5 - 2 Wingatui R.6 - 1 Ellerslie R.6 - 1 Wingatui R.7 - 8 Ellerslie R.7 - 2 Ellerslie R.8 - 7 Ellerslie R.9 - 9 Ellerslie R.10 - 4

Alexandra Park R.1 - 9 R.2 - 12 R.3 - 5 R.4 - 9 R.5 - 7 R.6 - 3 R.7 - 10 R.8 - 1 R.9 - 1 R.10 - 3 R.11 - 2

Yes Archie that is the general practise. The starter "hands back" the throttle once the race is started - they are connected by intercom. The driver shouldn't take over the throttle until the starter relinquishes it.

Aaaah - I was looking for Rangiora but it was Amberley who raced at Rangiora. Watched the video of the first race and to me looked that markers were there round the bend after the winning post but somewhere on way round they "vanished". Also no passisng lane. The camera work of that race anyway was not the best and hard to make out if markers were there or not at some parts of the track.

When did Rangiora last race on grass?

Clerks of the Course are like good referees. If they are not noticed then they are obviously doing their job competently. It is usually not a case of what they did wrong but their positioning in case something does go amiss. These guys are very skilled horsemen and I am sure most of you have witnessed some great recoveries etc. when they have been called into service. Northern harness have been well served this regard over the past years with riders like Alec MacDonald and the present COTC Philip Clark.

Okay, there was no blowout. Once the vehicle went into the slide the air escaped from the tubeless tyre with the sideways pressure causing the tyre and rim to part. There is a lot of weight over the back axle and once control is lost would be pretty hard to regain any control. I'm sure there would have been some questions asked and you no doubt could easily think what these may have beem - like why were the arms still extended, a fact easily seen from the film footage.

A bit on the nose really. You should know the facts before you point the finger.

Cheviot @ Addington R.1 - 1 R.2 - 1 R.3 - 15 R.4 - 12 R.5 - 1 R.6 - 12 R.7 - 11 R.8 - 4 R.9 - 4 R.10 - 10 R.11 - 5 R.12 - 1

Ellerslie R.2 - 7 R.3 - 2 R.4 - 1 R.5 - 5 R.6 - 4 R.7 - 1 R.8 - 9 R.9 - 15 R.10 - 10 Hastings R.4 - 5 R.7 - 3

Alexandra Park R.1 - 4 R.2 - 7 R.3 - 11 R.4 - 9 R.5 - 2 R.6 - 1 R.7 - 4 R.8 - 5 R.9 - 7 R.10 - 7 R.11 - 5 Gloucster Park R.7 - 7

Go to Harnesslink

So do you think Shell will now cancel drilling?

sp. Raydon

Never said anything about the quality - only 128 horses with just 16 for 2 heats of derby. At Christmas they attracted in excess of 150 horses. Of course with their "open noms" policy they can doctor the fields. Like the trot - 26 noms = 2 x 13 or 3 x 9. But when you look at those noms closer if they opt for 2 races then horses like Manchester Lass, Lanez Luck for example will have to race against Yaydon, Vulcan, I Can Doosit etc. sure with a handicap but hard yakka for these less experienced horses and owners given very little chance getting a winning stake - perhaps this one reason noms are down.

Numberswise a most disaappointing start to the ATC Cup carnival. Wonder if they will run 2 heats of just 8 for the Derby. However I just can't understand - owners/trainers complain at the stakes level then when a race is carded, albeit as a reserve race, for $10,000 for maidens only, only 7 nominations - one of which is also nominated for the Oaks. I'm pretty sure that if 10 to 12 had been nominated for this race, the Club would have run it.

or perhaps flat whites

And don't forget race is over 2506 metres and not a mile.

A couple of fillies I had got stable names Cindy and Mindy - coz that was the day they were born on. (That is a fact)

Ohokaman and G Unit. I backed him too. I have to agree with the comments both of you make. As you say a winning punter is a happy punter. As to Frank's drive - well I prefer to leave my comments where I made them during (and after) the race, on the first floor of the public stand.