Taku Umanga

G Smith has had thoroughbreds for a while I believe

https://theinformant.co.nz/turn-it-up-monday-sermon-15-4-19/

Hi owners/trainers, This is an update from the ATC regarding the recent stakes increases and the effects these will have on field selection going forward into the foreseeable future. The ATC has put in place numerous ventures in recent times to ensure the viability of the ATC and racing here at Alexandra Park and it is our commitment to our members, supporters and the wider industry that everything is done to enable us to remain as the premier harness racing venue here in the North Island. As with many new building developments in Auckland at this present time, periodic issues have stalled the flow of timely construction and unfortunately for the ATC, this has been no different. The new increased stakes that came into effect as of March 1 2019 was originally meant to have coincided with the opening of both Building A & B and a fully functioning village – however due to numerous issues experienced to date on the building site, completion has now been deferred to an expected September 2019 date TBC. The ATC Board understood how important these new stakes increases were for many in the industry to provide a level of confidence proceeding forward into the future and as a result, the decision was made not to defer these stakes increases until the village opened and to continue with the promised March 1 2019 date for these to kick into effect. What this has meant of the industry is that the ATC now has a $15K minimum stake (2YO’s & non-winners), race winners are racing for $20K and the highest rated pacers/trotters are regularly racing for $25K – stakes levels that are above and beyond any other racing club in the country and allow both owners & trainers to achieve and sustain a far greater potential return than has otherwise been seen for many years in this industry. What we have experienced in recent weeks is the flow-on effect from these increases – with a wealth of nominations for both the meetings of April 5 & 12 and unfortunately (due to limited funding from HRNZ) some horses have had to miss a start. Given the ATC races 41 times for the 2018/19 seasons and hopes to replicate that for the upcoming 2019/20 season, outside of the six Premier meetings there are 35 remaining standard race nights in which most horses are always catered for – again well over and above the number of racing opportunities that are being offered to the industry by the balance of clubs. What has come to light in recent times is that many are not made aware that the ATC is bulk funded at the beginning of the season by HRNZ and this is based on the number of approved meeting/race number licences given to us by HRNZ and the NZRB. For the ATC to achieve the new increased stakes levels of March 1 2019, all available funds (until the completion of the village) have gone into achieving these and hence the ATC is unable to additionally self-fund any extra races here at The Park. HRNZ are in a similar predicament at this current time – having exhausted their own cash reserves which again does not allow for them at this current point to confirm reimbursement to clubs for any additional races that are approved. Both above points are why on April 5 & 12, even given the wealth of nominations, that additional races were not able to be programmed over and above the pre-approved (and funded) race licences for each of these meetings (besides from the additional 10th race that was approved and self-funded by the ATC for $10K this Friday 12 April). Going forward, the ATC wanted to advise owners/trainers on the process of how fields will be selected going forward into the foreseeable future so that while disappointment for some may not be avoidable on a given week, a clearer and more open picture of what can be expected could be instated. The ATC is committed to being the premier harness racing venue in the North Island as aforementioned and this combined with a strong Cambridge & Manawatu will allow for the foreseeability of harness racing in the North for many years to come. What this will mean is that our fields will always be selected from the top downwards, with selection preference (where applicable) always going to those rated R55 & faster on any given week – with the spread of horses gaining preference in any given race to be chosen (at the club’s discretion) using a combination of both ratings & form. This doesn’t mean that horses rated below R55 won’t be given racing opportunities here at The Park on a regular enough basis - series such the ‘South Of The Bombay’s’ will continue to be programmed (again where applicable to the overall racing population) as will races for the R40-54 grade horse. What this will mean though is that Cambridge & Manawatu will derive direct benefit as horses will have to race at these tracks to incur rating points that will allow them to safely guarantee themselves a start here at The Park on a more regular basis than previously – something that while may not please everyone right now, will actually be to the overall benefit of all three North Island clubs and most importantly the industry in the North as a collective. We thank you for your time and understanding during this period and we look forward to having you racing your horses here at The Park not only now but for many years to come.

The maiden stake will include the HRNZ $1500 bonus payment for a horse's first win.

http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/non-raceday-inquiry-riu-v-g-dixon-reserved-written-decision-dated-22-march-2019-chair-prof-g-hall

I struggle with handicapper discretion! The points Shillelagh accrued or had deducted over a month is a classic example: 1st at Manawatu (12/02) - 6 points added (discretion applied) = 82 4th at Manawatu (14/02) - no change = 82 8th at Auckland (01/03) - drops 2 points (discretion applied) = 80 6th at Manawatu (12/03) - drops 3 points (discretion applied) = 77 6th at Manawatu (14/03) - drops 3 points (discretion applied) = 74 The last two 6th's are only one placing away from losing no points at all ..... so why deduct 3 when all of those finishing further back only lost 1 point - and this in fields of 8 and 10 runners respectively? Great for connections as gets their horse back down to a competitive rating level quicker, but the only justification I can see in increasing a horses rating by 6 points and then decreasing it by 8 points within a month is to keep it eligible for racing at Manawatu. How is that a true rating system?

Yep - race fixing has been going on for years. The difference nowadays is that it's a criminal offence.

Agree with all - we know the importance of the female to the industry ...... who needs a bloody survey - sexism gone mad!

Day one being a Wanganui (low stakes) meeting doesn't help. Will be interesting to see how the next two day meeting fares re field size when stake levels are back to normal.

Cambridge $8000 ($4560, $1200, $800, $400, $240, others $160) Auckland $20000 ($10700, $3400, $1600, $1000, $500, others $400) Run 4th at Cambridge, earn $400 less driving fee and percentage and lose no rating points. Run last at Auckland, earn $400 less driving fee and lose 1 or 2 rating points.

What's he tweeting about here? Wowee. Flabergasted by a decision emanating from the top table this week. Major conflicts of interest at play. And I’m unable to report on it

Yep - bloody amateurs! Race 4 M Purdon & N Rasmussen (FLYING EVEN BETTOR & VIRGIL) [Rule 849(2)] - Presented stable runners with incorrect saddlecloth numbers. Fined $100.

Is there any truth to the rumour currently circulating that the Manawatu club received a letter from HRNZ asking them to reduce their stakes because their ability to offer decent money was making Cambridge look bad? If that's true, then Cambridge need to give themselves an uppercut because any such letter surely would have been because they complained to the powers that be. HRNZ should be applauding clubs that manage to offer great stakes. If it's good enough for people to say that other trainers need to "up their game" to compete with the All Stars, then shouldn't the same be said to under performing clubs?

What credit terms were offered?

We had "words" when he took bids off me when I wasn't bidding a few years back .... the bid spotter I was working with couldn't understand it either.

Nor Steve Davis ..... he used to annoy me - still does to be fair!

The old firm used to "flesh out" the pedigree a little too much in my opinion, causing the sale to seemingly drag on ..... I think yesterday had a good balance and was a great watch - so much so I might just take some time off and watch the southern effort.

Seen it happen at Manawatu, but this is the first time that I can recall the non-win pacers needing the support of the lower rated winners to make up a field at Alexandra Park. What a sad state of affairs we have in the North at the moment! Race 2 [6:09pm] ALABAR MOBILE PACE $14,500, NON-WINNERS & UP TO R51 WITH COND., 2200m Racebook Gear Preferential Grid For 3 yrs & older pacers with no wins for lifetime. Also R40 to R51 horses with winning stakes up to and including $8800 for lifetime. Preferential Barrier Draw Based on: Winning Stakes using the track grid. In addition to the programmed winning stake the HRNZ $1,500 non-winners first totalisator winning stake enhancement will be paid. Book Form Age Sex Name Rating Draw Hdcp Driver Trainer 1 3 f Letherhairdown MR50 1 Front Sailesh Abernethy Miss A M Matthews 2 5782 3 g Sheffield Sparky MR48 2 Front Derek Balle D M Balle 3 3320 3 g Phil Bromac MR49 3 Front David Butcher R W Green 4 34369X 4 g Just Wing It MR48 4 Front R W Green 5 3095X8 3 g Pekeson MR47 5 Front Todd Macfarlane D W & Mrs C McGowan 6 789010 4 g Xmas Bay R47 6 Front Maurice McKendry M J House 7 X00255 4 m Motu Little Princess R50 7 Front Andre Poutama C C Sharpe 8 193956 3 g Peter Forsberg R50 8 Front Jay Abernethy J H Abernethy ---------------------------- Second Line ---------------------------- 9 88X285 7 m Lady Santanna R40 9 Front Rhys Fensom Mrs P N Fensom 10 319X97 5 g Better Than Most R51 10 Front M H Salaivao 11 626433 5 g Bugalugs R46 11 Front Peter Ferguson C F Webber 12 264629 6 g El Capitan R44 12 Front Ms C M Wigg

Perhaps he's not eligible for diversion (previous convictions) or won't admit guilt?

Hunterville is a long way from Stratford

I feel sorry for the Kapiti club - poor fields and a poor racing spectacle ...... only 6 races carded for the second day. Have heard that they are trying to merge with Manawatu. Might Sunday be the end for them?

...... and the New Plymouth track is only leased from the local authority. Any investment in upgrades to facilities would be best spent on tracks owned by the industry or community.

Good weather, good crowd, terrible track - shame because it used to be the best of them.

Perspective - wouldn't you be angry? Watch this space - health and safety complaint pending!

The starters assistants should have had the equipment to assist at the start. No headstall and no lead rope on hand meant that a junior driver was left holding a fractious horse alongside a fence for the duration of the race and was battered and bruised as a result. Absolutely disgusting!