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Sunday’s Kentucky Derby/Oaks Workers
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West Point Purchases Interest in My Boy Jack
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Moore to Ride Mendelssohn in Derby
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Bolt d'Oro Flashes Speed in Kentucky Derby Work
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Grimthorpe Relishing Latest Juddmonte Cycle
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What a View Takes American Stakes by a Neck
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Awesome Again Gelding Gets the Money at CT
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One Go All Go Comes Through in Elkhorn Stakes
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Kumin Eyes New Target, The Kentucky Derby
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Bobby Abu Dhabi Makes the Grade in Kona Gold
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‘Sioux’ Returns in Committed S.
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So You Think Sires G3 Double
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Golden Gate Fields Adds Day of Racing in May
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James Garfield Takes Greenham Stakes at Newbury
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i agree its obviously easier watching on tv. i don't agree theres always penty of hard luck stories behind you if you win one. I'm happy to debate what i think are the most important qualities needed to be a successful driver.. 1)assessing the current form and abilities of the horse your driving and how that compares with those in the same race. In other words driving the faster horses in any particular race gives you more tactical options than if driving a horse of lesser abilities. 2)being able to judge pace is a very important skill for any driver-obviously knowing when to make a move based on tempo in a race and having the ability to drive a horse at a consistent speed is important. Horses are like cars,if you drive them stop /go they will run out of gas earlier than if you driver them at a consistent speed within their comfort zone. 3)confidence-drivers need self confidence in their own abilities as well as their horses abilities. 4)Making split second decisions is something the drivers who are out there a lot,have a natural instinct of getting right. But to blame any poor decision making on having to make spilt second decisions at points of the race where the horses have run in the same posiotons for some time,well thats just a poor excuse in my opinion.In every race every driver would be constantly assessing whats going on around them ,how their horse is travelling and what they anticpate will be their next move and the next move of those around them. They will be thinking what plan b and c are if plan a isn't able to eventuate because of where they are positioned in the run. 5) important is whether horses run for you. Some horses will run for anyone,some not,but most are in between. Horses think like people. For example,drivers may be assessing the horse as they stand beside them before they get into the cart,when they warm up and when they run the race,but it works both ways. The horse will be assesssing the driver,especially in the warm up.Some horses can be just as complicated as people in how they think. The horses also feed off the confidence and expectations of the driver.I'm certain,that horses,especially those who have raced a bit,know when they're in with a chance and will try ever so hard,but they also realise when they aren't in with a chance and will look after themselves. I'm sure a good genuine horse wants to win as much as the driver and they are the easier ones to drive,but there are others who can bludge a bit if they have a negative driver or a driver with no confidence.The bludgers tend to get that way because of a(vconsistent negative driving or b)they aren't good enough and don't want to overstrain themselves. A good horse will get just as pissed off with interfernce as a driver may. I remember we once had a horse who 3 weeks in a row,copped interference and bad checks through no fault of his. He was a kind,gentle horse,but i remember the 3rd time in a row he came back in and was so pissed off .he was biting and kicking out,totally out of character,just pissed off with the interference he had got at the start. 6)finally,obviously very important for the driver,is how the trainer presents his horse on the night. Again,how the horse views its trainers is a factor. A horse who wants to plase those that train it is a far easier horse to drive than one who doesn't get appreciated and feels undervalued by it trainer.And if a trianer has switched said horse on by giving it the right type of work,then its easier for the driver. but of course at the end of the day,everything can be a positive,but if the horse isn't fast enough it still won't win. -
By TAB For Ever · Posted
And I thought it was arthritis in the neck. I really can't fathom why something from 'left field' hasnt been done to increase horses ,with urgency in North ! All Stars were somehow lured back and RDunn [on Board] maintains a few in his stable but breeding bonus' and next Gen stuff and TAB Racing Club is bit of a slow burn ! And the Club not really pushing it...Golden Gait sounds good ,and is for the few horses that benefit by winning the final .....no real push to attract more owners etc or attendees to races with the fewer races and tiny fields poor for turnover. I don't think the Club even has a Marketing/Promotions person and has a 'temporary ' CEO........just hanging on while selling up things to reduce the debt which grows by the day. The facility in the City has a lot going for it and the population continues to grow but it seems less and less people care ! It would be totally irresponsible of HRNZ to give up on the region for Harness Racing. BSteele has really only been in the job for 5 x mins and he is employed by a Board who surely do not want to give up on Auckland ! Then Entain have been a huge influence since saving Harness and racing in General in NZ. They made it very clear they saw the future prospects of resuscitating Auckland ,any hope on that would seem reliant on the various key outfits working together and this just not evident at moment. I notice Aussie harness runs many ,many meetings with very low stakes ...eg $6000 and lower ! And I see the young energetic CEO of Cambridge is leaving ......maybe he going back to Auckland to start the revival , branching out ? -
141 noms Winton, one day 108 starters Auckland, Cambridge 2 days, just a observation. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The racing season is about to end and the team reflects on it’s highlights as well and making some predictions about the next. We review the best races of the weekend and the newly crowned Jumps Premiership winning jockey Joshua Parker joins the show to talk about his success. Winter Weigh In, July 28 View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
English hoop Joshua Parker clinched his first New Zealand Jumps Jockeys’ Premiership title at Te Aroha on Sunday, fittingly aboard a horse that has given him nearly half of his season’s victories. The 25-year-old is in his second season riding on Kiwi soil, having ridden point-to-point races in England before seeking out further opportunities in New Zealand last May. Initially based with master trainer Kevin Myers, Parker enjoyed immediate success, riding five winners at the tail end of the 2023/24 season, and a further four before jumping wrapped up in late September. Among that latter quartet was a maiden hurdle victory aboard Billy Boy, who Parker would retain the ride on this season, picking up the Manawatu Hurdle (2500m) and Wellington Hurdle (3200m) before the premiership decider at Te Aroha, when Parker, Shaun Fannin and Kylan Wiles were locked on nine wins apiece. Fannin, who has ridden in just 12 jumping races this season, was not riding at the meeting, and Wiles collected a couple of placings, meaning Parker’s win aboard Billy Boy in the maiden steeplechase was enough to get him across the line. Parker was rapt to take out the overall title and shared his gratitude to a number of supportive trainers. “It’s some achievement, and something I have wanted to do since coming over to New Zealand last year,” Parker told Trackside’s Winter Weigh In. “Luckily, in my second season, I’ve been able to do it. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the backing of the owners and trainers, it’s been great. “I was based down with Kevin (Myers) when I first came over, he has been a massive part of my career here in New Zealand, as have his sons. They have taught me bit by bit about how different New Zealand racing is, and how to ride races over here, particularly in the jumps. “I’ve been lucky to build connections with Jo Rathbone, who has given me the legend of Billy Boy. Also Jess and Pete Brosnan, they’ve been great to me and gave me a nice win on Squire, who is a really nice horse. “Also Harvey and Ann Wilson with Jerricoop, and Barry Beatson, they’ve constantly given me opportunities on nice horses and it makes my life a lot easier.” Rathbone confirmed Billy Boy will bypass this year’s Grand National Festival of Racing, which commences at Riccarton this Saturday, but Parker has picked up a nice ride in the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5500m) with Captains Run. “I’ve got Captains Run down there, I think he should run quite a nice race,” Parker said. “He’s a big horse with a brilliant jump on him. “He’s quite a relaxed type of horse, I see that he’s not too keen which is great for me, I like the more relaxed horses. I schooled him at Cambridge a few weeks ago and he did it superbly, so hopefully he can do that on the big day. “I’m really looking forward to heading down there, I’m not entirely sure who else I’ll be riding, but I’ll have him.” Parker plans to stay on in the southern hemisphere beyond the end of the current jumping season, considering opportunities in Australia before returning for the new term in New Zealand. “I’m planning on staying over here, I’d like to go over to Australia and have an idea of going over and riding in some of the highweights,” he said. “I’d love to get into the Jericho as well, that would be great.” “Dean Parker has told me a lot about his trips over to Australia and they sound very positive, but I’ll definitely be back here for the jumps racing next year, I think it’s brilliant. “We’ll take each step as it comes really.” View the full article
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