Mr Spyro

" No No No " Jim from Vicar Of Dibley actually in real life wrote an American # 1 record about a dog. Mrs Brown You've Got A Luvley Daughter....... appropriate as the track has been all dog thus far.

NO NO Jim, the man actually wrote a

They inhabit Rottnest Island in West Australia.

Does anyone know what Graeme Walters is up to these days ?

As far as I'm concerned members are most often in dark. We were told 3 maybe 4 years ago that Avondale would be part of some consortium with ARC and Counties racing on new track at Ellerslie when racing ceased at Avondale. They talked of Avondale holding million dollar races once or twice a year which seemed pie in the sky. to me Also told Avondale would keep it's idenity as part of the amalgamation and not be swallowed up. Never really thought that was likely either once Auckland got hold of the money/ Next thing , ARC and Counties working together and AJC out in cold, this was presented as fait accompli. Have no idea what went wrong and why, sometimes you wonder why you bother stcking around.

Will never forget Altitude, got news from race course inspector before it was announced. He had been up there trying to help in saving the horse. Big John said to us " I have never ever had a drink while working but if ever I did today would be the day " He looked sick.

Eastern Light was a bit of an old war horse who raced until 14 or 15 ? Trainer was someone Running ? Killed in accident on Tamaki Drive or somewhere nearby. There was another one in late 1960's , might have been something Adios who was at least 14. Sat down on track at Alex Park one night, crossed legs and they had a hell of a time moving him. Stratched, next start came out and broke a world record for the distance.

Not new for Barry Purdon, he trained some gallopers quite a few years back, one whose name escapes me won about 5 races. Steven Ried the same , even Peter Wolfenden trained a galloper who won at Avondale from memory. Even Baggy Hilis gave the pacers a go at one time.

Rises like Lazarus, jeez thought you'd choked on pickle at the factory and departed for the parade ring in sky.

Yes, trained by Brett McDonald from memory.

Well they had agreed to do just that in 2020 so not sure what occured that left them in cold again . They had planned to sell by 2025 ? , join up as a three club group while still retaining their own identity, and race at Ellerslie.

Not when Collin Jillings had his money on . Remember him giving one jockey a huge tongue lashing and he'd just won the race

From what I understand AJC did send them a 9 Page communication that they thought answered NZTR. Wether that is case or not and believe it is true, lawyers apparently now involved. Very messy !

Back in the days when racing journalists were real journos and knew how to write rather than just recycle stuff, men like Cossie and Jim Knight. Watching horses like Oranmore where my introduction to racing. Was still at school when taking a double that day, Jan's Beau at $ 30 in Avondale Cup with Ornamore in Concorde. Jan's Beau just got run down by Paul DeBrett and Oranmore did his greryhound thing and scooted away . Shifnal Chief of course, ended up Clerk Of Courses horse at Alexandra Park for years.

Most of them being fairly well known trainers with larger teams I guess they would have raced on them enough to form an opinion, hence small number of horses going around at the 3 meetings on them during the week. Very small numbers on average. It just seems strange we put them in when Australia has removed how many in last few years ?

Rubbish ! There are a multiude of reasons and has bugger all to do with us. Just get tired with finger being pointed at Avondale while other galloping clubs in North owe multi millions ( one esp ) and they seem immune to any backlash. Their facilities are not exactly A 1 either nor track . We are basing it all on Ellerslie being a sucess but if it falls over it what then. There seems to be a relutance with trainers to back tracks we are putting eggs in one basket with. Recently trails at Avondale and Waipa had over 600 nominations, Avondale had 129 2 year olds going around. Meantime both trails on synthetic tracks cancelled for lack of numbers. So we ditch Avondale and back the new track to solve alll our problems ? If it is no good what then ? Pukekohe is crap in Winter , the ARC grass track can't stand up to Winter racing . So we close the only track that has a decent winter surface,

So you should, do you have a licence ?

You are basing it on new track being fine long term. Who knows how it will last. My mate who is a trainer says he has talked to 10 other trainers who have no faith in those sort of tracks at all, high maintenace and expensive to keep. It better be the answer to our woes and no where else to go from there.

It is okay to take cheap shots at Avondale and it could be closed, but as I understand it members do have some descretion on what happens if wound up . There should be enough lawyers there to turn it into a legal battle. I think most would rather the money be distrubuted to charity and also greeb belt laws to be worked around.

There is nothing wrong with Member's Stand which is open to all and sundry and Marshall Stand the same. The old stand admittedly is a real eyesore. But if they updated facilities would they get anymore there esp midweek ? ARC have the facilties but % 99 per cent of the time, Wild Bill could fire off a few rounds and only hit a stray seagull.

Hardly a bog. A trainer was telling me that other trainers at last trail meeting were telling him probably best surface in NI at this time of the year ( Ruakaka aside ) In 35 years never been ripped off once but different story at ARC and that was the bloody staff trying it on. Rented a horrendous bright yellow tie ( all they had ) to get on member's stand. Paid $ 10 deposit and when took it back at end of the day they said " We don't have ghastly ties like that. must be your own so , no refund " Some skivers around and not Westies !

And his mother hopping into the ring and booting him for good measure.

In Harris's case he did more than grope though. He had sex with his daughter's under age best friend didn't he, when he took her on holiday with his daughter ? He claimed in court it was consenual , but a married middle aged man and and a Teenage girl ? No wonder they called him " Jake with the extra leg diddle, diddle diddle. "