john legend

It was also totally predictable that no North Island trotters are nominated for the Racing Rewards races this Friday at Addington even though a NI horse was the leading point earner and many have the points to be in the fields (haven't checked the pacers). Why would any owner of these lower rated horses fork out the money and put their horses through the stress and risks of the long distance trip/ferry crossings? It's different for top horses racing for big money and Group Race glory (they earn enough to fly) but IMO both this series and the Country Cup series should have North and South Island divisions 

Labour is offering bipartisan support for a ban on greyhound racing, calling on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to follow through with his election campaign intention. The Post on Wednesday reported Racing Minister Winston Peters' comments he was having "a lot of work" done on the industry. He said they were "seriously looking at all aspects of it" and expected to have an outcome in three weeks but - asked if Luxon was premature to talk of a ban - said "he's got a minister now who knows more about it than he does".

Take after Me not done yet.......win number 21 last week . wow up to 360 starts both trotting and pacing freakish really but great for the owners who have kept him going... mm 400 starts a possibility !!!

Janitor mate, I know 🤔 I'm already there, there's still 2 places to fill in both sections, and in the Trotters we got a cloud over one of our 2 guns, MMountain is gunna need to be absolutely cherry for this, gawd I hope they get OscarB sorted we're gunna need him, it's certainly a race night to get both excited an nervous about, that's pretty good team of guns comin from Oz.....oh well it is what it is; bring it I say, lets get it on 🤗 I can't wait....
 
Cheers Iraklis

Sad to hear that numbers have fallen by 10% again this season.   I would have thought with the likes of Woodlands,  Alabar,  Breckon & Lincoln farms as well as others being active the numbers would have bottomed out by now.   Will be interesting to see if the pacers have dropped by more than the trotters.  I wonder if one of the problems is that to get a good price at the sales for pacers you need a yearling by one of only 3 or 4 stallions.  Trotters seem to be more diverse in that regard. 

Its not all doom and gloom at Christchurch today .... Bettors Delight out of start Dreaming yearling =$340000  to go to Purdon/Phelan stables.What is the TAB Racing Club.... ? (who were purchaser)

Here is the JCA trial
https://racingintegrityboard.org.nz/decisions/auckland-tc-16-february-2024-r5-luk-chin/
 
This is so pathetic on the judiciary you really cant comprehend why a charge was even laid.       At worst, Luk should have been called aside and spoken to.     Whether a group or just an ordinary race doesn't really come into it, in my opinion.      
 

Correct John Legend. Take out the top  few lots and the sale was a b..  disaster for most vendors. The total cost getting horses to the sales must be around the $20k mark from service fee to sales commission.  They ran nearly every horse up to close to reserve.    Interesting times

Oh boy, oh boy, the entries for the 2 Races is startin to hot up, Merlin, Leap To Fame, CallMeTheBreeze, Just Believe, an Queen Elida when you think about all those yet to enter both races it's mouthwaterinly great😀🤗 can't wait.....
 
Cheers Iraklis

Hi Insider, There are not many T L horses in NZ, he is not a shuttle stallion so all progeny are the result of frozen semen, his service fee is $15000, same as the US.
It appears that there are ; 8 foals, 9 yearlings, 6 2YO and 8  3YO's bred in NZ,    last year he had 3 2YO's go to the races 11 times, 2 of them won one race each.
The 1 filly that raced, Paramount Lady, won a 6 horse race at Invercargill last November, she raced 6 times as a 2YO, 3 times in Group races { unsuccessfully }, she is a 1/2 sister to Muscle Mountain.
Last year, one of Tactical Landing's fist crop 2yo won the famous Hambletonian in the US.
I am sure you don't need to be reminded, but anyway, read the fine print in the syndication agreement.

Tactical Landing was a top juvenile US racehorse, as was both his sire and dam. While just a young stallion, his progeny are already doing great things in the States. In regard to the family of lot 51, the dam is a half sister to 3 horses that were top juveniles. So the genetics are there and judging by the price, the stable believes the yearling has the right conformation and gait. I myself would prefer the dam to have several wins to her name (in Sire Stakes finals almost every competitor is out of a good race mare) but the dam sire is a top stallion.

JJ the figures are worse than a guestmate allowed, thought they may top covid years.  also some sires were over represented which softened their value... eg Always B Miki (68) compared with the phenomenal Capt Treacherous (only 21) still a lot were let go at bargain prices.... ps. I hope the girl  who was thrown to the ground by a cantankerous yearling was ok.!!! 

Of what John,
Numbers don't lie and  your summation is accurate IMO.I wish you every success with your latest horse.
One point i do want to add is that NZ has an amazing record at producing top notch stock that was purchased  from the middle/lower  market at sales. That's to me suggests trainers, the best marketers in the world, have not been able to convince current and future owners of the potential future benefits of ownership. Nor were some  trainers prepared to spec buy a few for trading purposes.  That to me is very worrying  for the game and breeders' going forward. 
Compare the number of horses Entain bought from SB sales compared to TB sales and the picture is starkly painted where they see things going.

You have convinced me JJ F .The big players  are still going but there is a soft middle and lower market where cost of production higher than return  as we can see   .It is becoming an exclusive "club" and we are fortunate to have say the top 12 investors. I am looking forward to racing a Horse in the near future  and it will be down by a seaside (subtle clue) I have been a pacing fan and owner since 1968 so have to stay healthy for another few years to enjoy the electric buzz you get from winning beit a cup or a maiden at Manawatu or Hawera. !! always an optimist.🤩

Looks like an interesting concept, and for free, got to be good.

The TAB Racing Club - who are they? | Harness Racing New Zealand (hrnz.co.nz)
Just for you Legend

Oh geez Janitor mate, I'll be a wreck if I don't have summit 🤣 I know, I know, I'll start teeny bit earlier just be sure I'm calm azzzz....I'll be yellin the place down if me mighty Hot N T hits the front turnin in, Pure will hear me in Oz 😆
 
Cheers Iraklis

The horse is way more honest than Trump & more intelligent I suspect. 

On December 17, 2010 the Harness Racing Industry closed the popular inner city racetrack at Harold Park, selling it off to housing developers with the promise of building a more modern and bigger racetrack on the outer perimeter of the metropolitan area at Menangle plus finishing with money in the bank.
Up till then, Harness Racing was holding its own as a gambling pastime at a convenient location and was regularly featured in features on the sports pages of the daily papers.
Where is it now?
It is diving fast held in front of close to zero attendances with the harness racing betting turnover falling well behind greyhound racing and the mainstream media giving the sport the briefest of coverage.
The participants think it is great but nobody else does.

ATC take note

Agree, the younger generation has been lost to Harness Racing, particularly in the NI, with it's lack of grass track racing they miss the opportunity for family's to enjoy racing in the sun. Where can Auckland's huge population go, without it being a major travelling hassle, to enjoy weekend racing ?
Certainly NOT Alexandra Park!  

Agreed but the cost is the atmosphere of being at the races - firstly marking the scratchings in your book - writing in the drivers for the next race (god only knows who is driving what in the next races until we are told) - cues to get a bet on - the thrill of running to the back of the tote - worrying about if you have time to collect, study the form and cue to place a bet for the next race. Meal to be fitted in whenever you could. Busy but enjoyable times.

agree Shad.yes the changes are incredible . But remember the big delay often at back of totes at collect windows esp in the dark at end of day/night .often the bar patrons (somewhat liquored up would start yelling and banging on the windows... or even worse behaviour. things were more basic but hardly better than today !! The films of races in the 60s and 70s bare no resemblance to modern slick productions as well. Its great today  but I dont think profitable gambling is any easier to achieve than previously.
 
 

really should be bad old days  . my fav pair of a bracket..... Johnny Gee and Tony bear (t) as you say covered with 1 but often 2 for  a good collect.

True things are a lot more modern and better than yesteryear, but at what cost, yes all the technology has made things faster, TV coverage better,  but unfortunately not the crowds of yesteryear, one doesn't have to attend the races,can sit at home with a beer and cigarillo, the crowds of the good old days will rarely be seen again, and some of the quality racing stock as well, but I guess we must live in the present day, but great to look back all the same.