When I saw late yesterday that HRNZ were launching an enquiry, I thought what a waste of time and money, it should be obvious who was responsible, but I have subsequently changed my mind. Who new what and when, should be the focus now, and whether the race conditions were the result of corruption or stupidity. I did watch the final, and it never occurred to me that the winner should not have been there, however everybody connected to the runners would have been aware, and no doubt the questions would have been directed at HRNZ before the race even took place.

Following an allowance win over a sloppy track at Keeneland, trainer Brendan Walsh is confident that Godolphin's Paris Lily is reaching her best form ahead of the $300,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course May 16.View the full article

Racing will be run May 19 and May 21 next week.View the full article

In a 4-3 vote during a contentious May 15 meeting in Sacramento, the California Horse Racing Board denied awarding race dates for the Humboldt County Fair at Ferndale in Northern California.View the full article

Have a look at this which i heard was picked up by another trainer  HRNZ launches Independent Review into Young Guns Final eligibility process 15 May 2025 , Media Release Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) has today announced an independent review arising from the circumstances of the 2YO Young Guns Final Mobile Trot, Race 3, held at Alexandra Park on Saturday, 10 May 2025. The review will address questions and concerns raised, and make recommendations to HRNZ. This review follows industry discussion surrounding the inclusion of a non-heat participant in the Group 3 Final. HRNZ acknowledges the concerns raised by trainers, owners, and fans regarding the interpretation and communication of those conditions. Independent Review “We are committed to a racing environment that is transparent, fair, and trusted by participants,” said HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele. “This review will ensure that our processes are fit for purpose.- They clearly aren't “We are establishing a three-person panel, with input from external advisors. A final report, including findings and recommendations, will be made public in mid-June 2025. The panel will include: a. A lead person appointed by the HRNZ CEO who has legal experience  b. A person with extensive experience in governance and conducting business in an area with significant regulatory frameworks, with knowledge of racing an advantage. c. A respected harness racing participant with a wide knowledge of the sport. Opportunity for Input “Stakeholder trust in how fields are assembled especially in high-profile races must be absolute. This review is about reinforcing that confidence.” Once the panel is appointed, they will invite industry participants to contribute directly to them. Further updates will be provided via HRNZ’s website and regular communication channels.   So , who is at fault the most, HRNZ for allowing the horse to start or the trainer for failing to work out the horse was ineligible. Given it won should it be disqualified, as i said " its  a shambles"

At Riccarton yesterday i saw a brave piece of riding by an apprentice on Thats Charming. After stumbling out of gates he firstly held on for dear life then got his irons sorted. The horse ran home strongly and eventually ran out of room as the line approaches. Well worth a look and some $$$$ next start

He's short for a reason. I think he can still win the race from that draw because he is lengths better than any other horse in the field. I like to see him driven patiently. leave him for the last run at them. He'll power home. We've already seen it with We Walk BY Faith, DSD and Chase A Dream, Marketplace is as good as them!. A lot of the field will be dropping out 800m from home, if he's handy turning for home there won't be many ahead of him and he'll mow them down. Just my opinion of course old mate!

This is happening more and more often. Our black type racing is being undermined on a regular bases, where is the pattern committee or NZTBA, surely they are not happy with this scatter gun approach.

Ace miler Rosallion will face eight runners as he aims to make a winning return in what looks like a high-quality renewal of the Lockinge Stakes (G1) May 17 at Newbury Racecourse.View the full article

If trainer Jamie Osborne and Heart of Honor seem out of place at Pimlico Race Course, it's probably because there hasn't been a starter in the Preakness Stakes (G1) bred outside of North America since the Ireland-bred Celtic Ash in 1960. View the full article

A Maryland native, jockey Nik Juarez will ride his first Preakness Stakes (G1) aboard American Promise at Pimlico Race Course May 17.View the full article

They must have heard you are coming! (couldnt resist the troll)

Trumps really booming at the moment his strategy of obtaining huge investments from the middle east has been very successful which places him in a great position to deal with China and the Europeans . What happened to all the panic on the US share market , well that's ended and the DJ is almost back to where it was 1 month ago , the shortest recession in history . Make America great again , he's doing it and we will all be more secure because of Trumps success . I see that he has signed an executive order lowing the cost of all meds for the American people another win .

For trainer Brad Cox, there's one of two distinctly different ways to win the $250,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) May 16 at Pimlico Race Course.View the full article

Jockey Nik Juarez returns to his home state of Maryland to ride American Promise in the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course May 17.View the full article

The Lion In Winter has been usurped as favorite for the Epsom Derby (G1) by Delacroix and Ruling Court after a tame comeback effort behind the impressive Pride of Arras in the May 15 Dante Stakes (G2).View the full article

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, Rep. Don Davis, and Sen. Tom Cotton have introduced the Racehorse Health and Safety Act to Congress, which would establish an interstate compact to develop nationwide rules for horse racing.View the full article

For all of the wet weather and gloomy skies at Pimlico Race Course this week, the winds of change have been swirling in Maryland for much longer than a week or even a year. View the full article

Longchamp - Sunday May 11th Guineas day in Paris with the Poulains for the colts and the Pouliches for the fillies. 16 went to post for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (to give the race its proper title) over the round mile. The British and Irish raiders looked to dominate with HENRI MATISSE favourite for Ballydoyle and JONQUIL, AOMORI CITY and DETAIN among the British raiders. They went like scalded cats here and of the pacesetters only JONQUIL got home making his a noteworthy effort. Ryan Moore isn't one of the world's great jockeys for no reason and he didn't panic as they went off in front of him and nor was he tempted to waste ground down the outside but stayed near the rail to save ground and energy. JONQUIL came back at HENRI MATISSE when the latter challenged and there wasn't much in it at the jamstick.  HENRI MATISSE had disappointed here in the Jean Luc Lagardere behind CAMILLE PISSARRO but got his revenge here for all the third ran a decent race. I thought the fifth, RIDARI, was unlucky not to be third as the gaps closed 50m from the post and Barzalona had to snatch up the Fontainebleau winner who ran with credit.  As said, JONQUIL ran a blinder and his quote of 10s for the St James's Palace looks generous beside the 5s for HENRI MATISSE. JONQUIL had won the Greenham but saw out the mile really well and I'm sure he;ll be there or thereabouts at Ascot. DETAIN ran well for the Gosdens and was only beaten two and a half lengths in sixth. He and LUTHER (fourth) ran close to their previous Chelmsford form. They ran 1 minute 33.91 seconds - 1.3 seconds below Standard time - so this was a strong pace on decent ground which always helps boost the value of the form. On then to the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches with 13 fillies over the mile. ZARIGANA went off 4/5 but she faced the filly she had only beaten narrowly in the Grotte, the Charlie Fellowes trained SHE'S PERFECT who was 18/1. A race not without incident or controversy. SHE'S PERFECT made every yard and passed the post in front only to lose the race in the stewards' room to ZARIGANA. To say that decision caused a bit of friction at the track would not be an understatement. The rules in France are NOT the same as in the UK or Ireland where SHE'S PERFECT would probably have kept the race. The fact is SHE'S PERFECT drifted left despite Kieren Shoemark having the whip in his left (correct) hand. His corrective measures notwithstanding, both EXACTLY and ZARIGANA were carried left and suffered interference and under French rules the stewards had no option but to demote SHE'S PERFECT. We also had Barzalona dropping his whip on ZARIGANA and having to resort ro some unorthodox hand slaps to keep the filly going. A messy finish with the first five split by a length and a half and arguably both EXACTLY (fourth) and BETTER TOGETHER (fidth) are the two to take from the race but ZARIGANA has her name in the record books and she's just 3s for the Coronation Stakes at Ascot as well as having an early Arc entry. Graffard trained the winner and the third, the Vanteaux winner, MANDANABA and earlier had enjoyed a 1-2 in the Saint-Alary which used to be a Group 1 but was downgraded in the winter. The winner, GEZORA, had run third in the Vanteaux but appeared the second string to AUDUBON PARK but the latter didn't seem as effective on the quicker ground and was readily held by her stable mate. Leopardstown - Sunday May 11th Aidan O'Brien had four of the five runners in the Group 3 Derby Trial over 2000m but all went to plan as DELACROIX scored at 1/3 and became 5/2 favourite for the Derby. This was a strong performance in a race which has been such a powerful indicator in recent times. The second, PURVIEW, from the Weld stable, ran with credit and is 33/1 for Epsom - I look forward to seeing him develop as the season progresses. VESPERTILIO had campaigned strongly as a juvenile and went off 5/4 favourite to win the Group 3 over 1400m for the older fillies and mares but she disappointed in a race won by VERA'S SECRET for John James Teane, one of the smaller group of trainers based at The Curragh.

Will you be there on Saturday Insider?