lindsay carston

Like Scooby i felt sick watching it and was bloody mad with the boy jumping off it when he knew the horse had broken down leaving the horse loose with what appeared to be a broken fetlock.just guessing as didnt see the aftermath.I understand trackside not broadcasting any more of the washup as wouldnt have done anyone any good.no one wants to see a horse in strife except maybe the do gooders who would like racing banned.In hindsite while mad with the jockey feel sorry for him in the fact was probably his biggest winner and to end like that you would have to feel for him.very sad for connections as well.The highs and lows of racing

Worked with Glynn at Paddy Bussuttins in Singapore.Top Bloke and gone to soon.Rest in peace Mate

Probably been asked and answered a hundred times but havnt been on for a while.can anyone tell me why I can no longer get radio trackside on the internet.Since the new tab format arrived I havnt been able to listen on my laptop.Also cant see races on laptop although can on my other computer but can no longer get radio trackside.

Biggest balls up since Pearl Harbour

trying to get connected to radio trackside as per normal on sat morning but says stream not working.anyone else?

Pretty unlikely the idiot that invented this crap has ever had a bet.Maybe its just me but I cant work out how to have a bet.cant see the whole field with out scolling.been incouraged to have an easybet which I never take.Cant get live stream.bugger me.Can someone tell me what was wrong the original format.Oh I see its called progress

This problem has become a real bugbere in the last few years of tracks becoming slippy and races abandoned.Its certainly a lot more prevalent now than in "the old days" and better men than me must find an answer.I worked at Awapuni For 4 years back when Ivan lord was the track manager.In those days our watering system was a heap of plastic hoses joined together with metal bands that had to be tightened and undone with a screwdiver.Its was painstaking and Ivan would be out in the summer after dark moving the hoses around the track.As a jockey I remember Awapuni as one of the best surfaces to ride on and I cant remember a day of problems until some brightspark decided that clover was no good on the surface and made the track slippery.I always thought that was crap and still do.we always had a beautiful cushion of grass and it was always kept reasonably short.It was only when they changed the grasses that they use today that problems started.Trentham was another example of a fantastic surface to ride on in the spring and summer.plenty of thick green clover that provided a great cushion and kept a bit of moisture in the ground.Then we used to get off at the barrier.Light a smoke,Until Wally MckewenTold me off. and walk round with lovely green grass up to our ankles.Admittedly in winter it was mud up to our ankles but didn't change the fact the track was safe.In the years that followed someone stuffed up big time.Got rid of all clover,that has a bloody good root system and holds moisture longer than the stuff they use now.Interesting someone mentioned on facebook that with watering the root system may not go as deep looking for water,and that could be a valid point but I always believed clover was a good surface and stable with a good root system.Could be wrong.

Just looked at my MSN News page and headline says Three more arrested in race fixing investegation.First sentence.Three people arrested as part of investegation in the Harness racing industry.Big photo beside headline.Jockey on a galloper.Bugger me Joe public will have a field day with this

Knew a girl named Melanie Taylor who worked for Mick Didham in the 70s.Often wondered where she ended up.Anyone know?

James is back and watched his rides today and without doubt the best rider in this part of the world.Not knocking Hugh Bowman who is a great jockey but someone,Dont know who rated him the worlds best.I doubt he would have that accolade without Winks whom even I could win on.Chris Waller who is probably one of the best trainers in the world hasn't wasted time in getting James on and that paid divis today.My interest in Sydney racing is back

Wouldn't be surprised to see Goldolphin ask him back.He may have broken the rules but he did after all back one he was riding.Hardly a hanging offence and I think they were winning more when he was riding them.May be wrong.I don't think im wrong in thinking he is the best to have left our shores and it wont take him long to be kicking them home.

Feel a bit sorry for Tony but its only a matter of time.He will get his 1000 and good on him when he does.130 rides for one win doesn't look flash but I doubt weather Opie would have won on any of the camels Tonys been riding.I like the comment of Rogie giving him his 1000 because that's the sort of thing that would make Rogie very happy and the way his stable has been going he could easily give him a decent ride.Maybe Chris Waller could put him on Winks.Tony could proably win on her

Condolences to Peg,Vivian,Shannon Tracey and Tonys Wife and children.He will be sorely missed and much too young.RIP Tony

Murry Baker said what any trainer should have said under the circumstances.Had missed a couple of trials therefore behind in her prep.Hes not going to say "shes a home run" in case his caution was right and she got beaten.All he said was he was surprised at her divvy after so long off.Remember Dummy Myers and his interview,which I never saw,insured he would never be interviewed again.Andrew Foresman or murry are interviewed on the radio almost every Saturday morning and for mine that's going out of their way.Their loyalty is to their owners who pay the bills and not jo blog punters who winge when they miss out on a winner.They always I think give honest comments on their runners and if it was me getting bagged for telling the truth I would do a Dummy

Totally agree with Midget on this one.Congrats to Tanya on her first winner and don't blame her for her exuberance in the last couple of hundred metres with the whip.However it wasn't pretty to watch but doubt the horse was feeling it too much but the blame has to come from her employers and the stewards who approve licences to apprentices to allow them to ride in races when not really skilled enough to do it adequately.Maybe not enough trials here in the south for appys to practice and whips aren't generally used in a trial anyway but somebody has to train them in the skill.Maybe a couple of trips down south for Harry to upskill.Also comments about watching videos are very valid,but there is only one jockey you need to watch in all facets of the game and that's J Mac.

Probably the best horse in nz and if he was mine,not knowing the problems he might have had,he would have been in Aus before now.He has a big heart and a top trainer and should be given his chance.Midgets first post has to be a wind up.Kawi covered more ground than anything else on Saturday and still was dominant up the straight.Times mean stuff all as tracks differ in every case,as do the way races are run so unless the track is fast and races are run at a good rate times are not going to mean much

Was reading the obituary for the great bob Skelton in the paper yesterday and was surprised to read he named lilt as the best sprinter he rode.I rode her in her first 2 races.and it was quite a story at the time.I was apprentice to Ray Bain in Hastings and we got this big strong faux tirage filly built like the perverbial brick s house.I climbed on at her first trial at Hastings and walking around the bird cage she spotted our other 2yold playing up so decided she would too.I found myself sailing through the air when she bucked me off.Managed to get back on and completed the assignment of a 400 mtr dash down the straight.her 2nd trial was at Woodville and bugs decided to put John Panapa on her as he was obviously less valuable than me at the time.She bounced out and then threw him over the outside fence.I was given the ride for her first race at Woodville where Barry Percell and his boys finally got her in the barrier after much pushing and shoving.Cant remember much of the race but she did run 2nd.Her next start was at Hastings where I rode her again.The barriers were overhead unlike the caddy stalls at Woodville and she would have nothing to do with them.In those days if a horse wouldn't go in it was sent to the outside of the stalls which is what happened.you had to stand at least half a length behind.after they jumped she took off and I was in front in half a furlong and duelly won on her ear.next day we are at the barriers.Bugs had a bull prodder and I was hoping like hell he wouldn't hit her with it.We finally got her in and he hit her with it as the gates opened.Instead of jumping she kicked the back gate clean off.Her next start was at Trentham and RJ was given the ride as Buggsy favourite saying was I can get Grenville for the same price as you.Fair enough I suppose.She dually won her next three with Bob on and became one of our best sprinters

Watched this young fellow ride a great race to win at Hastings yesterday and trackside didn't think it worthwhile to interview him after the race.Unless I missed it.Jane Ivil or Aiden Rodley interviewed every other winning jockey except him.Was he not hi profile enough to bother.These up and comers need all the publicity they can get and trackside let him down badly.Perhaps Jane had a problem getting the horses to cooperate but Aiden Rodley interviewed Rosie Myers so why not Timothy?

Watched this young fellow ride a great race to win at Hastings yesterday and trackside didn't think it worthwhile to interview him after the race.Unless I missed it.Jane Ivil or Aiden Rodley interviewed every other winning jockey except him.Was he not hi profile enough to bother.These up and comers need all the publicity they can get and trackside let him down badly.Perhaps Jane had a problem getting the horses to cooperate but Aiden Rodley interviewed Rosie Myers so why not Timothy?

Would not worry too much about the rumors althought anything is possible.My pick is that now James is back the team will start firing,not because he is back but Im thinking they took him to England in the middle of winter as their best ones weren't racing and with spring around the corner pretty sure you will see the blue back big time.Hope so because I back most of his rides.

Yep one of the greats of nz racing.lovely man and was always encouraging when I was an apprentice a few moons ago.condolances to the Skelton family

may be wrong but pretty sure Blue Nile won at least 20 races

A great ride by Bowman but as for the best jockey in Austrialasia I back Mcdonald against him any day of the week

Yes Leigh,very sad.I worked at Fairdale on 3 different occasions over the years and Rex was great to work for as were Gerald and their father.He will be missed

Danielle is one of my favourite jocks but I cannot understand why. jockeys of her calibre cannot at a moments notice as James Mac can switch the whip from left to right or visa versa.Sophia Rose came around the home turn with her head on the side indicating Danielle was dragging her around the bend with the horse wanting to run out.Im pretty sure I have seen her use the whip in the right hand before and while it does seem abit foreign for a jockey to use the whip in your unnatural hand its a good option in some cases and today would have been one of those.James is as good in either hand and when he does it horses seem to find a bit extra, prob from the shock of getting hit on the opposite side.I loved the way Sophia Rose fought when the other horse came at her and I think she should have won although under the circumstances the right decision was made by the stewards