heaven rocks

[what a post 811]

This horse could be the fastest we will ever see over 800m.  Cant think of having seen anything faster in nz.

[eljay 1,719]

When is the next 800m race??

[what a post 811]

Does that change the fact he would be the fastest over 800m ever?

[JackSprat 947]

His straightline speed is quite amazing. I doubt that we've seen many horses with a higher top speed than this guy has. His ability to loop a field in a flash when they're running sub 28 second quarters is something I've certainly never seen before.

[harewood 477]

9 hours ago, JackSprat said:

His ability to loop a field in a flash when they're running sub 28 second quarters is something I've certainly never seen before.

Can remember a horse Crossfire trained by Trevor Thomas I think who had the same amazing speed to loop a field. Unfortunately he didn't have the same at the end like Heaven Rocks but he did get to just under open class if my memory serves me correctly. 

Heaven Rocks is definitely the most exciting pacer to race in NZ for a number of years. May not put them in a row but when  he wins  WOW. Worth waiting for!

[what a post 811]

Yes,heaven rocks has  mouth dropping speed which really is exciting to watch and I think under promoted as an attraction to watch.  The all stars do a great job with him, especially Natalie Rasmussen.   Harewood you mention Crossfire. I think he may have been trained by Trevor Thompson.   I remember as a young fella the family going on a holiday to Auckland and going to the Auckland trots. Think it was may or june about 1977. Horses like crossfire, Majestic charger(k norman) and of course delightful lady were there.  The crowds were that big and the stands full. From memory there was a lot of Polynesians and families in the stand where we were.  I remember I had just turned 16 (the legal age to bet) and there was a supervisor in the tote who would stop them putting my bets on if he saw me.  Just had to keep an eye on where he was to get my bets on. Used to be ques of 20 to 30 at each window 5 minutes prior to start so had to line up early, Many being shut out despite the large number of selling windows open. Those were the days.

[Guest]

What A Post, was the betting age only 16?

[Double R 260]

8 hours ago, harewood said:

Can remember a horse Crossfire trained by Trevor Thomas I think who had the same amazing speed to loop a field. Unfortunately he didn't have the same at the end like Heaven Rocks but he did get to just under open class if my memory serves me correctly. 

Heaven Rocks is definitely the most exciting pacer to race in NZ for a number of years. May not put them in a row but when  he wins  WOW. Worth waiting for!

 

The horse that Trevor Thomas trained that I remember was Canis Minor. He was very tough and speedy. I think Trevor also trained Genesis early on his racing career.

Oh, the memories!!

Robert.

[what a post 811]

28 minutes ago, Brodie said:

What A Post, was the betting age only 16?

I'm pretty sure it was at the time,although could be wrong. I know it was legal for me to bet but I looked younger than I was and they policed it quite hard back then. I remember my father having an argument with a lady in an Auckland tab who refused to serve me because she could not believe I was old enough. 

[eljay 1,719]

I remember (quite) a few years back, went into a TAB and the  lady cashier was sitting at a table having a cup of coffee (or tea), she looked up and said "Are you old enough to bet"?    I answered in the affirmative so she got up and served me.   She told me the "underagers" always timed their arrival at cuppa time and nothing worse than getting up for nothing.    But of course back those years operators were friendly not expressionless faced zombies!

[ivanthegreat 1,123]

When they had the old tote buildings.........If you were tall enough to get your chin above the little window you could be any age.

[Mr Spyro 408]

 I can remember being warned and refused a bet at Mt Albert TAB , I think I was 17 and that would have been about 1976.   Funniest thing was sitting down back of class  with Best Bets in hand, all school work hidden  away.   Sensed someone behind me and it was Headmaster who tapped me on the shoulder  , thought  " Oh  **** !!    " Instead he wanted a tip and discussion of what was winning on weekend .  How I got UE accredited was a miracle. 

[harewood 477]

6 hours ago, what a post said:

Harewood you mention Crossfire. I think he may have been trained by Trevor Thompson.

Yes you are correct. At least I had his first name and initial right. A long time ago late 70s I think

I can well remember the windows that you had to queue up at with small openings, long queues and no bet slips in those days. They used to have the $! and $5 windows and a $50 window. The 1 and 5 were always busy but the 50 just for the "Big" bettors. I always wanted to get in that queue!  When you spent a few dollars you got a heap of tickets. 

I remember one day taking a double at addington. They were exchange doubles then when you just took the first leg and if it won you went back and exchanged it for the second leg.  I got the first leg in maybe at 20 to 1 and was very excited. I had the tickets in my pocket and and had to go and have a nervous one. When I went to exchange the tickets, I didnt have them. Panic set in. They had fallen out of my pocket and I had flushed them down the toilet. Anyway I hurriedly went to the main tote and explained I had lost them. They allowed me to select my second leg horses and if they had unclaimed first leg ones would put mine on. As It turned out I missed anyway.  

Im glad those days are over. Its much easier to loose your money nowadays.

 

[globederby12 1,495]

Na those days were full of fun Paul. As a youngster and driven to addiction by my mom who loved the horses, I would sneak off to the TAB in Kilbirnie with a dollar, and get two 50 cent doubles scratched out on either a yellow or pink piece of paper, waving them in the air like I had won the Golden Kiwi.  Late sixtys ,probably 14 yrs old ,no one asked my age , mind you my hair was starting to fall out even then. My ear jammed up against an old transistor radio for most of Saturday and night in between playing Soccer games.

Of course this spilled over to College where I can commiserate with Spyro, as I was quite often  caught listening to the radio in class ( transistors were getting smaller by then) ,especially during Cup week. How dare they!!

And the rest is history as they say.

I remember Canis Minor. He was from memory a big lump of a horse.

 

 

[Guest]

7 hours ago, what a post said:

I'm pretty sure it was at the time,although could be wrong. I know it was legal for me to bet but I looked younger than I was and they policed it quite hard back then. I remember my father having an argument with a lady in an Auckland tab who refused to serve me because she could not believe I was old enough. 

Think it was 20 and then they dropped it to 18!

Casino has still got 20 as being the age to get in and gamble in NZ which is hard to understand the discrepancy?

[Double R 260]

1 hour ago, globederby12 said:

Na those days were full of fun Paul. As a youngster and driven to addiction by my mom who loved the horses, I would sneak off to the TAB in Kilbirnie with a dollar, and get two 50 cent doubles scratched out on either a yellow or pink piece of paper, waving them in the air like I had won the Golden Kiwi.  Late sixtys ,probably 14 yrs old ,no one asked my age , mind you my hair was starting to fall out even then. My ear jammed up against an old transistor radio for most of Saturday and night in between playing Soccer games.

Of course this spilled over to College where I can commiserate with Spyro, as I was quite often  caught listening to the radio in class ( transistors were getting smaller by then) ,especially during Cup week. How dare they!!

And the rest is history as they say.

I remember Canis Minor. He was from memory a big lump of a horse.

 

 

Hi Globe,

From Memory, Canis Manor was in the mould of Manaroa and Hands Down.

I remember a wee trotter called Gramel from Australia racing in the 1965 Interdominions in Dunedin, and it had funny wee tail.

Cheers.

Robert

[globederby12 1,495]

There are a lot of great memories for us older brigade. Seeing Young Quinn race at Hutt Park was one of the standouts.

[Diver Dan 187]

20 hours ago, Mr Spyro said:

 I can remember being warned and refused a bet at Mt Albert TAB , I think I was 17 and that would have been about 1976.   Funniest thing was sitting down back of class  with Best Bets in hand, all school work hidden  away.   Sensed someone behind me and it was Headmaster who tapped me on the shoulder  , thought  " Oh  **** !!    " Instead he wanted a tip and discussion of what was winning on weekend .  How I got UE accredited was a miracle. 

Wasn't Morry Hall???