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Whoever decided it was fair to give my battling 1 win trotter 40m, off the same mark as a 9 win horse. He got lapped both days and will now be another statistic because the owners got rheemed this week. I wont say anymore as i waa fined previously for sticking up for myself and no one is allowed an opinion. 1 day soon when i finally stop the torture to myself and leave this awful industry i will deliver a state of the game few have ever seen

are you talking about the people, the horses or the trainers ? lol. or just burn down the building . There's seems to be no one in New Zealand that can do anything right . lol . Com'on Brodster . How could that archaic system ever work ? it never really did. I could give you bucketloads of examples of horses 'Reaching their Mark ' within a couple of starts and just being sold off to Aus. even from when I was in NZ. Lets look at Rangiora for example . Most of the races have been handicapped beautifully by the Handicapper and the races have contestants that are close on Ratings points . 35-40 , 41-50 etc. Jason wants to sack and burn HRNZ though , just a BOAY forum normal thing these days it seems ? 🤣😅😋😂 EXAMPLE The trot has Sods Law (15 wins ) off the front as a 38 rated horse. Rachmaninov (also 15 wins ) is off 30m as a 53 rated horse. Brilliant !! the great rating system ALLOWS the OUT of FORM horses to drop back in grade when they're out of form . AND there ARE PLENTY of Out of Form Horses around All the time. So you'd have those 2 old time trotters unable to race because of a tight DINOSAUR life time win handicap??? ,and they would be FFAer's and taking on Muscle Mountain at every start. That's just a joke mate. LIfetime wins????? . not really an option EXAMPLE 2 . we just had our SLOW Horse race day at Redcliffe today. As we do every Thursday to GIVE ALL horses in training a hope of a race win . 2 of the Maiden class rated races . Thats 30 - 40 rated (the lowest rating you can get) were won by a lifetime 9 win horse and John Mc's own horse Crime Time (currently rated 31 after a long run out of outs ) won race 5 . his 25th lifetime wins from 300 starts. The old bugger is closing in on $200,000 earned. and won today in 1.59.5. the absolute fastest he can go. the 2 winners in next class up today (41-47 rating ) have 19 career wins each. How good is the Ratings ?? fantastic. The STUPID Lifetime wins idea would have him having to take on Leap To Fame . instead of Beginners grade and just above, and winning today lol.🤣 LONG LIVE the Genius who made the Current Rating system. More brilliant Ingenuity for harness racing.

Why stop at the handicapping department? Unfortunately when the industry needs people with a background with business success, we sadly haven’t got it! I believe that what should’ve been an opportunity to keep the harness industry going has been badly managed! the reality is that those that still think that Entain is the White Knight for racing in NZ are going to be sadly disappointed, but then again the opportunity for anyone to dispute this are most welcome to respond here?

Remove and flush the entire handicapping department and start again. Hire sensibly.

That will be interesting to see.

Great

Needs to go back to number if wins current system just not fair when 15 win horses race maiden winners

One.

Unbeaten two-year-old colt Warwoven (Sword of State) will be back at the races for the first time since the beginning of January when he lines up in the Gr.2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday for trainer Bjorn Baker. An impressive winner of his first two starts, Warwoven was hot favourite for the Magic Millions 2YO (1200m) but was deemed unfit to start on raceday morning. “Any athlete going to any sports competition, there is always a fine line between being 100 percent healthy but doing the work to get there,” Baker said. “We were very comfortable with him running but the Racing Queensland vets and stewards weren’t and that is that grey area, that is that fine line. “I’m happy to report that he couldn’t be moving any better at the moment and we’re thrilled with how he has done. It is character building this game. You have got to take the good with the bad and those are the rules. We look forward, not back.” The son of promising Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State remains $6 favourite for the Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 21 despite his absence from the track and he resumes on Saturday without a trial. “He’s been kept up to the mark, he didn’t lose a lot of residual fitness,’’ Baker said. “He was ready to go only about five or six weeks ago. He’s had a few good gallops and I’m happy with him.” With rain forecast on Saturday at Randwick, Baker said he is hopeful Warwoven will get through any rain-affected conditions from barrier one. “On his pedigree, he is a good chance to get through the track being out of a good Makfi mare,” Baker said. “On the Tuesday before the Magic Millions, he actually galloped really well on a track with a fair bit of give. “I suppose barrier one is the quickest way home, but whether that’s a positive or a negative, you don’t really know until raceday. “There is a bit of pressure and a few nerves, but after his gallop on Tuesday and last week, I couldn’t be happier with him. “He’s a good sized laidback horse with a great attitude, and he has that natural speed, so he can probably put himself right there. “If he does have to get out and they are fanning across, he will be able to do that too. I think with his speed ability, he should be able to create space and that will be key, on what could be a demanding track.” Warwoven is likely to head straight to the Golden Slipper pending a good run on Saturday, with stablemate Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) having to win next week’s Gr.2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick to force his way in. An impressive trial winner earlier in the week, Paradoxium is 75th in the order of entry for the Slipper. “Warwoven is in the Slipper already, whereas Paradoxium won a Magic Millions race at Wyong and the prizemoney doesn’t count towards the Golden Slipper,” Baker said. “He is going to have to win next week more than likely to make the Golden Slipper. “They’re both very exciting and in terms of which one is better, I guess time will tell. “My gut feeling is that Paradoxium will be better over the shorter trips and Warwoven possibly over a touch longer. The question is where is that line. Is it at 1200m, is it under or is it beyond. I’d love to see them in a Slipper against each other at 1200m.” View the full article

Joe Pride concedes Ceolwulf probably can’t beat Autumn Glow this weekend – unless Randwick is hit with a deluge of rain. Sydney’s weather will determine if Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) has any chance of toppling glamour mare Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick, according to his trainer Joseph Pride. Autumn Glow is a prohibitive $1.30 favourite to extend her unbeaten sequence to 10 on Saturday, and Pride concedes it’s a deserved quote. His one caveat is if the upper end of the wide-ranging prediction of rain falls, declaring Ceolwulf some hope to upset the apple cart if the track becomes significantly wet. “I’m not even thinking about winning chances because honestly, if that mare shows up with what she did the other day, you’re probably not going to beat her at this stage of the preparation for us, with no blinkers and so early on,” Pride said. “His best chance of running really well would be if the track is wet, so I’ve got my eye on that. “That’s probably what punters want to hear from me, ‘is there a chance your horse could win? Well yes, but it would have to be wet, I would think’.” There is some relief for Pride in the simple fact Ceolwulf is lining up at Randwick. He missed the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) last year due to a setback, and two weeks ago his autumn looked over when he returned to scale with blood in his nostrils following the Apollo Stakes (1400m), a condition that usually incurs an automatic three-month ban. However, a subsequent scope showed no traces of blood in Ceolwulf’s lungs or throat, and it was surmised the horse didn’t suffer an internal bleed but rather something akin to a burst blood vessel in his nose. Stewards gave him the green light to continue his preparation, and Pride said the horse hadn’t missed a beat. “As soon as I scoped him, I felt like he was entitled to be here, but going back to two weeks ago when I saw him post-race, it is a massive relief,” Pride said. “He didn’t miss a walk. He missed nothing.” Ceolwulf has won three races over the Randwick mile, all at Group 1 level, but given he improves deeper into his campaign, Pride will be happy if he finishes in the first few on Saturday. “Hopefully the first four or five and I’ll be happy. That will be box ticked going forward and I’ll know that he is on track. But I’m very happy with him.” View the full article

Te Akau Racing will head to Wingatui’s Classics Day on Saturday in full force, including stable jockey Opie Bosson, who will fly south to ride several of their leading contenders at the lucrative meeting. “It is a great day to have runners and good live chances, especially with the money on offer,” Te Akau Racing assistant trainer Hunter Durrant, who heads their Riccarton barn, said. “It will be great having Opie down here, it always makes a difference.” Bosson, who recently recorded his 100th Group One win in the saddle, will partner four Te Akau runners on the 10-race card, including the in-form Insatiable (NZ) (All Too Hard) in the Happy Retirement Wayne Stevens (1200m). The six-year-old gelding placed in three consecutive races, including the Listed Stewards Stakes (1200m), before breaking through for an elusive victory in the Banks Peninsula Cup (1100m) earlier this month. “He is always thereabouts and it was good to see him get one there last time,” Durrant said. “His work on the course proper at Riccarton on Tuesday was really good, he looks outstanding, he is probably one of the better-looking horses in the barn, so I am really confident with him.” He will be met in his race by stablemate Trobriand (Kermadec), who will be seeking to recapture form under Central Districts hoop Bruno Queiroz. “He needs to recapture some form, but we are confident he can,” Durrant said. “His work has been good and he is a happy horse, but he does need to find a bit there.” Bosson will also ride promising juvenile Never Too Much (NZ) (Rubick) in the KB Contractors (1100m), Purple Prose (NZ) (Embellish) in the Speights (1600m), and Stonybreck (Tavistock) in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m). “Never Too Much has trialled really well up north,” Durrant said. “His recent trial was really nice. He has fitted into the programme here at Riccarton like an older horse, he does everything right. All he wants to do is work, eat and sleep. His work has been extremely sharp. “It looks an ideal race on paper for Purple Prose. He has been thereabouts and looking at that race I think he is a really nice chance. “Stonybreck was only fair there at Wingatui last time. We have changed things up, including some jumping, just to get him thinking about things. If he can recapture some of that form he had in the spring he will definitely be right in the mix.” The stable has several other stakes contenders, including last-start winner Perlino (NZ) (Super Seth) in the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas (1600m). “Perlino is a lovely filly by Super Seth that has come down and has done everything right,” Durrant said. “We expected her to run well at Riccarton last start, but probably not win in the fashion that she did. It was pretty convincing. “She has trained on better than she was before, so that is a really good sign going forward.” Court Of Appeal (NZ) (Eminent) also takes last start winning form into the Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m), where she will be joined by stablemate Elegant Lady (NZ) (Highly Recommended). “They both ran last week at Riccarton, so it is only a 10-day back-up, but they have definitely handled it well,” Durrant said. “Court Of Appeal won very well and Bruno thought that if it was on a Good track at Riccarton she would have won by more. “Elegant Lady has had a wee while between runs, so she has improved off that Riccarton run and her work since then has been super. “It is nice going into one of the biggest days in racing down here with two really nice chances.” Te Akau’s final runner on the card will be juvenile filly Elysienne (NZ) (Sword Of State), who will join Never Too Much in the KB Contractors (1100m), where she will jump from the ace barrier with Courtney Barnes aboard. “Elysienne is a lovely filly,” Durrant said. “She has been down here a while now and has had that start (fourth on debut over 800m at Riccarton last month). “We scratched her from a Heavy track at Riccarton last week. It will be good to see her on a Good track.” View the full article

Lance Robinson won the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas (1600m) seven years ago with Air Max (NZ) (Nadeem) and he believes he has the right horse to double his tally in the race when he heads to Wingatui on Saturday. The Riccarton trainer will head south with his Group Three performer Alottago (NZ) (Tagaloa), who like many of his counterparts has had an interrupted preparation due to the abandonment of the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) earlier this month. The son of Tagaloa subsequently had his first-up run at Ashburton last week, where he finished fifth over 1200m, and Robinson has been pleased with his progress heading into the Dunedin Guineas. “That’s just the name of the game (Gore Guineas abandonment),” Robinson said. “He missed that run so we had to go to Plan B and go to that 1200m race the other day, which wasn’t really ideal, but we had to go somewhere to get a run into him. “He has done everything right since his run the other day. He had a bit of a run along this (Thursday) morning and his work was excellent. He is right up to the mark.” Alottago will jump from barrier 14 and will be ridden by northern hoop Joe Doyle, who is still riding the high of winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) aboard Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) last weekend. “I am not too worried about the barrier,” Robinson said. “He can get a bit of room out there and Joe is a good rider, and he will get him a bit of cover and he can make his own plans from out there. I would rather be out there with a little bit of room than cladded up on the fence behind slow horses.” TAB bookmakers share Robinson’s optimism, installing Alottago a $4.50 favourite for the Guineas ahead of Luna Capella (NZ) (Tivaci) and Perlino (NZ) (Super Seth) at $5.50. Alottago will be joined on the float trip south by stablemate Eight Pence (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who will be chasing the $200,000 purse on offer in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m). The Swiss Ace gelding has won three of his last five starts, including over a mile last week at Ashburton, and will jump from barrier five, with apprentice jockey Kendra Bakker’s two-kilogram claim bringing his impost down to 54kg. “He has done nothing wrong, he just keeps stepping up,” Robinson said. “He deserves a crack at the race. “He has done well since Ashburton and I am really happy with him. He is only going to be carrying 54 kilos and he races up on speed a bit, so he will get his chance. “I am sure he will be very competitive. They will know he is there.” Local hope Loose Sally (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) heads the TAB’s market for the Southern Mile Final at $4, with Eight Pence labelled a $10 winning hope. View the full article

Wingatui trainer Shankar Muniandy has made the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas (1600m) his own in recent years, and while he won’t get the opportunity to extend his record in the race at his local meeting on Saturday, he will be chasing some lucrative prizemoney on offer with a former winner. Muniandy won the Guineas two years ago with Collect Your Cash (NZ) (Rageese) before doubling his tally last year with Loose Sally (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), and the latter will seek to continue her winning ways on Classics Day when she contests the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m). A standout for Muniandy as a three-year-old, Loose Sally was also victorious in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) and placed in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) last season. She returned with the same vigour as a four-year-old, posting three consecutive victories, and TAB bookmakers have duly installed her a $4 favourite for Saturday’s rich mile. Muniandy has been rapt with her progression in the lead-up to Saturday and is confident of another bold showing. “She is really well, she galloped on Wednesday and was outstanding,” he said. “She is in good form and hopefully everything goes her way.” Muniandy’s brother, apprentice jockey Ruvanesh Muniandy, will be in the saddle once again, with his two-kilogram claim bringing Loose Sally’s allocated weight down to 59.5kg. “She won with 59.5kg last start and after the claim she is going to carry the same weight again this week,” Muniandy said. “She is a big girl, she can handle it.” Loose Sally will be joined in the race by stablemate Perfect Tycoon (NZ) (Rageese), who has also won his last three starts. While Muniandy fears he has risen through the grades too quickly, he is looking forward to the four-year-old gelding chasing the riches on offer on his home track. “He has learned how to be a racehorse now,” Muniandy said. “He is still a pretty young horse, and everything has come a bit too soon for him, but he is right up there in the points so we might as well give him a chance.” Muniandy will also be represented at the meeting by Acesanjacks (NZ) (Ghibellines) and Sabots D’or (NZ) (Pierro) in the Speights 1600. “We put Acesanjacks in the mile because 1400m is too short for him,” Muniandy said. “Every time he runs into the race nicely and then just can’t finish it off in the last 200m, they are a bit too quick for him. “We are stepping him up in distance, he has drawn a good alley (1) and he won’t disgrace himself. “Sabots D’Or has been really disappointing. She put in one good one and three bad ones. I will take the blinkers off this week to do something different and see if she can run on.” Muniandy is excited to head to Classics Day, a meeting he said is now a staple on the southern racing calendar. “It is a big day, and it is a very important day for the club and for us as well,” he said. “It is good to have some runners there and the club does a great job.” View the full article

We all agree there are some aspects of the present system has some failings but what would one change or implement.

Do you think any coast tracks will survive the RCP review?

Patience will be the key to the chances of Beauty Bolt in Sunday’s Classic Cup (1,800m) at Sha Tin, with his trainer Tony Cruz emphasising how crucial it is for jockey James McDonald to wait until the very last minute to pounce. The Night Of Thunder galloper won his only start in Ireland pre-import for Joseph O’Brien and is yet to finish outside the top four in eight Hong Kong starts, with seven of those runs seeing him finish on the podium. A mile winner four runs ago, he posted a career-best...View the full article

No disrespect to your knowledge but as an athlete in my teenage years on the Coast I trained and raced at all four tracks. Omoto is also a swamp in the middle and any further development is constrained by physical barriers. Not to mention the periodic flooding from the Grey River which is one of those physical barriers. Yes Kumara is built on pakahi flats however many farmers and science has worked out how to turn it into very productive paddocks. Pakahi soil forms over hard iron pans. The soil itself isn't that bad but the problem is drainage. Crack the pan and put in good drains you are fine. The difference with Kumara is that there is acres of cheap land surrounding the existing course. Pakahi doesn't worry the building of infrastructure. You could very easily build a pseudo artificial turf track on the top of a hard iron pan. Westland missed an opportunity to promote West Coast racing.

By Michael Guerin Punters shouldn’t be put off by Muscle Mountain missing the logical lead-up to Friday night’s $100,000 Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Champs at Addington. Because co-trainer and driver Ben Hope says that was by design and the big fella is exactly where he needs to be for his shot at winning the Group 1 for the fourth time. While many of his rivals clashed in the Lamb And Hayward Classic won by Eurostyle two weeks ago Muscle Mountain was enjoying a night off at home. “We chose to miss that race because he would have been off 30m,” says Hope, who trains Muscle Mountain with his father Greg. “We didn’t think he needed that and to be honest he doesn’t need that much racing or trialing. “So while he won’t have raced for four weeks he will be exactly where we need him.” Muscle Mountain also finds himself in the rare position of having a handy front line draw in the mobile 2600m as he so often races in handicap races or drawn wide in preferential draw mobiles. “A good draw was the one thing I was really hoping for and from five we will be able to use his gate speed.” Even with second favourite Eurostyle drawn directly to his inside most punters will expect him to lead and therefore be the one to beat. TAB bookies definitely do, with Muscle Mountain opening the $1.80 final field favourite over Eurostyle at $4.20 (soon into $3.70) and the favourite’s stablemate Mr Love at $4.40. Hope says the stable expect a better performance from Mr Love after he disappointed when fifth in the Lamb And Hayward. “He was fresh up that night and the track was actually a little harder then he likes because they had sealed it because of the rain that was forecast. “So we know he can go better than that but both he and Midnight Dash rank behind Muscle Mountain.” To see the field for the Fred Shaw Memorial (8.54pm) click here While Muscle Mountain could even tighten in the market a far more intriguing puzzle and probably race of the night honours will be a $19,000 mid-grade pace featuring some of our most exciting horses. Race 7, the Matt Harrison Construction Mobile Pace (8.23pm) sees the return of both last season’s champion juvenile Jumal as well as The Lazarus Effect, the pair up against the talented Sonofamistery. Jumal and The Lazarus Effect met in a two-horse trial at Rangiora on February 11 and hit the line together, The Lazarus Effect just winning after leading. They are both stars in their own right and the tactics adopted by their drivers could be crucial as neither will want a brutal run to start their busy campaigns. Which is why the words of Jumal’s trainer Steven Reid are crucial when he says the race is a chance to teach Jumal how to settle and sprint. “Its the old story, we want to win but we don’t want him to have a gutbuster to do it,” says Reid. “So I have told Sam [Ottley, driver] I am happy for her to get cover at the start and let him run home hard. “I actually reckon that is ultimately how we will see the best of him and I think he can still win doing that, albeit probably not if The Lazarus Effect gets the front then comes home (800m) in 55 seconds. “But I think to be driven in it will be good for him and I don’t think we need to be going too hard too soon this week because he is still a race or two away from his peak.” To see the field for the race click here The feature on Auckland’s nine race meeting on Friday will be the Group 3 H R Fisken and Sons Breeders Stakes Handicap Trot (7.44pm) as well as the two $35,000 Northern Metro Finals, with the Pacers at 8.09pm and the Trotters at 8.39pm. View the full article

Where the hell did I say that? Is that the so called "myth" you are talking about?

Anyone wanting to support Coast racing would have sponsored Greymouth, not Kumara, district or not. Kumara has no infrastructure to speak of apart from newish tie ups, and as it is pakihi, there isn't much point in spending more money on a swamp. Greymouth, on the other hand, has stabling, snd ran a raceday for Westland and probably still would, if not for that fourth day being dropped from the circuit. As it is they still run the Miss Scenicland.

FFS - you deliberately left the other clause out which is specifically aligned to the objectives of the Club. All other clauses are tested against those objectives. Geez spin around if you will. One minute you are saying it should be returned to the community that built it now you are saying stuff history it is what the latest community wants! When the assets were built up a long time before this latest generation came along!! The realised assets should have gone to Kumara to further racing on the West Coast. Not sold to developers to to reduce the rates of ratepayers of the Westland District Council. But just keep on perpetuating the poster child myth that the Westland Racing Club gave the finger to NZTR!

Can't you read? The one I quote clearly says they would seek NZTR approval in accord with the one you cite. They have invested in Kumara btw. Loaned them money and sponsored races there and the other West Coast clubs. Unfortunately, times change and the 150 year old agenda you are promoting became unviable and unnecessary in the eyes of today's members.

So the 150+ year paramount objective of the Club is over ridden with no consideration to those members who developed the assets to pursue their chosen sport of racing. I think you are deliberating obfuscating the point to suit an ill advised agenda. Racing AND the people of Westland could have benefited by the Club investing in Kumara which is officially in the District of Westland. You also ignore the clause immediately above the one you quote: In the event of the Club being wound-up or put into liquidation in accordance with (a) above, the property and surplus assets of the Club after payment of the Club's liabilities and the expenses of the winding-up must be disposed of in accordance with section 27 of the Racing Act, for racing, public, charitable, or other purposes in the manner that the Club, with the approval of NZTR, determines.

I think you miss the point. Once members resolved to not continue to pursue the object of racing at Hokitika, dispose of surplus assets, and dissolve the club, the original objectives were no longer. The constitution still said that in the event of dissolution the club would seek NZTR approval to dispose of surplus assets "for the benefit of the people of Westland", NOT for the benefit of racing.

Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael B. Tabor's Plutarch (Into Mischief) has been ruled out of consideration for the GI Kentucky Derby, according to an updated Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard sent by Churchill Downs Wednesday. Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed to Daily Racing Form the colt emerged from his win in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Feb. 7 with body soreness and will remain in light training. Plutarch, a son of 2015 champion 3-year-old filly and 2017 $6-million Keeneland-topping mare Stellar Wind (Curlin), has not been off the board in six starts, including in the GI American Pharoah Stakes and the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes at two. The post Plutarch Exits Derby Trail with Body Soreness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article