john legend

Ooga chaka field trip to Invercargill today to meet richer company but still believe trainer not going sight seeing! over 1700 should go close even a shot at the main prize .... "Ooga Chaka" (some have gone faster but as the great Derek Jones said time means nothing unless you are locked up ! lol)

agreeNelli thought it not a bright idea.. Most reasonable horses can get the qualifying times then need to improve to be racing propositions. The mr50 can be ok but if a good maiden wins they then face racing horses that may have won 6 or 7 races straight away.. I can see the logic in getting more race horses but maybe 2 wins in mr50 permitted before increase in class. .You c ould have say a r30 t0 32 range for a lower stake but it depends if punters and trainers would be keen. the idea of better innovation in use of conditions should suffice.

Never too early Iraklis, Merry Xmas to all Race Cafers. . Been a good year and although sometimes difference of opinions have happened of course. the majority of time especially with humour and support it has been worthwhile.. Predictions for 2024... ? P.s. getting prepared for xmas day I do have the problem of trying the ham early !! then sampling the drinks purchased for guests then this weekend having to replenish the stocks of everything (no willpower !)

EXACTLY .....LOL.

The pre race comment on OOga Chaka was that he/she just wasn't feeling it (love) Most will know the song of course.That was proved to be complete craziness as OC had only 2 starts for 1st and 2nd.... well I for 1 was a believer (lol) and so it happened ,,,almost last to first at Addington in the straight for a Downbytheseaside with good form. I can hear the chants when Ooga Chaka really gets motoring .....congratulations to owners (sadly not one of them)

may follow demise of commonwealth games.... So many options for best pacers and trotters. No excitement here .

well stated Ivan, over the years the sad closure of the Park has grown into a mythical fantasy land where ill informed commentators run riot !! This is concerning due to the many years and effort by many good people who sacrificed their time and finance to keep the Capital with a true HR asset There are very few true harness racing lovers who 'welcomed the closure of a true icon.

Canon 47 I shouldn't bother really as your comments speak very succinctly for you !

thanks PS and to Memphis and Scooby great fun and Idolmite yes had nothing in last race and thought it all over but if you had won last, I might have been second. Anyway many of us beat the large fish which is reward in itself my contact ph. 027 360 1966

TN what happened to hawera easter dates.... the gods in control (forget tradition !) decided easter dates too valuable to waste on such insignificant places as Hawera. (absolute disgrace)so changed to 2 dates in February.2024. at least its not gone completely... other negative nellies here dont post if you are going to just want to argue black is white... By the way Keneperu. I happent to come from deepest Red mt roskill and grew up with unionist father who stood for Labour many times and believe your response to the Lux on smoking is fair and will be a thorn in his side forever unless attitude changes

Hi Womby, us people been there done that . . The feeling generally is the galloping guys take what they want then harness racing takes what they offer and if hrnz can fit it in then go... It still makes economic sense to run a meeting on courses that are used say 15 times a year and large majority are empty. Of course some Galloping track people blame their state of track after a few harness races as virtually permanently destroyed which is laughable..when I was on committees that raced members did voluntarily clean the grounds and stands before and after the (dreaded trotting people)meeting. Ps. What decisions can individual clubs make ?.(decisions come from entain/tab/NZRb/Hrnz etc etc.) perhaps whether to put sauce on the hotdogs.lol

very salient points raised ,Harness Racing needs owners to support Trainers/drivers/ and if the public are never exposed to our great sport they lack interest in betting and ownership. As an example when Whanganui had A 2 day grass trot meeting it was very well attended and public interest was high.Of course it became a 1 day meet then zero !! The proof has been comparing say a big galloping meeting to NZ trotting cup day. TAB/sports clubs crowded gallops day and virtually nobody Trot cup day !

johnlegend, strikes. rce 4 no.5 princess sadie rce 5 no.3 aardiebytheseaside rce6 no.5 beach ball rce7 no.1 sunny's sister rce8 no.7 treacherous baby rce9 no.6 dont stop dreaming

I know which 1 it isn"t !! even the latest competition which ends on Sunday...listed Whats on this week good you say yes except when Manawatu was racing they forgot to include it ! from the marketing team HRNZ .so many things happen like this ... hope its only mistakes and not something more sinister. P.S. Otaki only an example. 2 days on grass at New Plymouth was great for all involved. but alas gone

Keneperu,while in a mood to correct your bland statements that have no substance in facts, your extra "throw away line" regarding demise of Hutt Park, we used to get great support from South Island including MH but also John Lischner, Robert Dunn ,Derek Jones and many more so a young MH had a small part but was a regular supporter which was appreciated. .Lets see if your negativity can be corrected by some facts. The major rise in costs were from a city council that decided it was a commercial operation not a sport therefore would rate and ground rent us from $4000 per annum to $125000 per annum a figure that was unsustainable amortised over 17 race nights.It was appealed and I personally addressed the Council unfortunately unsuccessfully... Most people enjoyed Hutt Park racing and were saddened when it was forced to close.. (osh also played a part wanting lifts fire rated and emergency lighting everywhere etc. $1000s more )

sorry Nelli but the well attended picnic meetings in the area eg. otaki, now a motorway virtually from wellington to the course were stamped out by HRNZ some time ago .the 2 day meeting was a highlight but someone in deepest Christchurch decided to fix that club by tacking only 1 day on to wairarapa" s half day in the sun (gallops other half) So its a sad day when great ,well run Clubs have their very existence threatened by simply a bad decision.There has to be an improvement instead of seemingly a desire to wreck Harness Racing from Cambridge to Wellington.

Just think Keneperu,what will these trainers do if MH doesn't front at manawatu... you may have heard of them NICKY CHILCOTT,ANDREW AND LYNN NEAL, GRAEME ROGERSONAND DYLAN FERGUSON, MIKE BERGER, ARNA DONNELLY,STEVE AND AMANDA TELFER, DOUG GALE... (even Ray Green) All at recent meetings as well as MH and locals Steven Doody,Murray Gibbs,Scott Dickson. The myth of MH keeping HR afloat on his own is just stupid although don't let the truth get in the way of a good (inaccurate).. story.It is appreciated when MH does come and makes for strong competition but without him life goes on.. !!!

with the unfortunate financial difficulties in both Auckland and Cambridge harness racing I would like consideration to the well managed and well set up Manawatu centre is given for a major upgrade .The collective horses trained within say 2 hours drive of Palmerston North and population is relatively large and time is ripe with the 3 wise men running the country for a "think big Proposal" Father Winston and the Lux and their adopted son little David could all be in favour of a true entertainment centre (harness/ conference/hotel/casino/ ) This hub would be fantastic for the area and attract even more trainers to set up in the region,.By cancellation of many billion dollar projects time could be ripe for such a proposal. .....(or am I still asleep !!)

the young trotter mentioned above was excellent in a short career but has not appeared since a 5th at Auckland in the wet in may some 6 months ago .Is she in training or perhaps broodmare paddock ?

My entry ; race 5. no. 4 we walk by faith race 7.no..2 coastal babe race 8 no.8 lifes a beach race 9 no.5 bolt for brilliance race 10 no.11 dalton Shard race 11 no.1 akuta thanks for fun comp... Johnlegend

r2. sinbad r5 franco sinatra r6 triple G r7 millwood Nike r9 chase a dream r11 Akuta thanks for fun comp.

often ratings are equal for last place and form similar then some decisions are made ' by humans... (which we know can be fallible)

Having been a Club secretary, can only imagine the difficulty in sorting out 495 nominations for 2 days racing next week at Addington. Wow a major task especially trying to keep owners and trainers happy. Good Luck.

It is interesting to watch the competition amongst sires this long season.The common feature of last 10 years in all categories was dominance of Bettors Delight but inevitably things do change .... Looking at 2 and 3 year olds .The older established stallions have a fight with the new boys. 2year olds (individual winners ) Sweet Lou =10 ...........Art Major=8............Bettors Delight=6 (all established older sires. 2 year(individual winners ) Always B Miki = 6 winners.....Down by the Seaside=6 winners..Capt Treacherous6 winners (and top % sire) 3 year olds Sweet Lou...38 winners,Art Major...36 winners.Bettors Delight 29 winners,,Capt Treacherous21 winners...Vincent..18.winners Downby the seaside,,16 winners. Notable is still strength of Art Major and sweet lou and strong showing by Capt Treacherous From small crops (outstanding) Also to note the 3 s emerging stallions to watch are.... Always b Miki,Down by the Seaside and Vincent. Often the best progeny come from mares with Betters Delight as sire or Christian Cullen.esp in 2 year old ranks. PS. money won changes rankings but young horses that can win shows potential for future value . as even maiden races are very competitive and well under 2 minute MR s

Wow how fast can he go ? > 1.57 mr for a maiden 2 year old is some performance. The manner of his racing style looks a lot like his sire "Down by the Seaside" so good luck to his connections. He is bred from a 20 year old dam (some say no ....!!chance of great foal at that age ) but does trace back to good mares in Laudit and In Or Out. ....Check out a replay for the great performance race3 Ak 2.11.23