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Hey Brodie they do look at this site after all lol.   Website updates - fixed odds and Harness 5000 Fixed odds prices have been temporarily removed from the HRNZ website due to a technical issue impacting functionality. Work is underway to make the necessary improvements and fixed odds are expected to return to the website once a solution is implemented. The fixed odds are still available on tab.co.nz.

When Greg Oconnor asked Peden about recent turnovers last night on the box seat Peden reacted like a man who had just opened a power bill he wasn't expecting. Out came the familiar “economic downward pressure” explanation for the disappointing numbers.  I suspect most punters were behaving much like I was. The bad turnover was in fact the result of smaller fields than usual probably due to bad programming, so I turned over barely a quarter of what I normally would over that period.

well another damning report from the Galah , to go along with Brodie's constant critical analysis of HRNZ, Entain, ATC and North Island racing , and feature racing and anything else that encompasses Nz Harness racing, including the Programmer and the Starter . you Might as well throw the Stipes on the bon-fire as well and the North Island Junior drivers. 😂 . nobody can do anything properly in NZ according to you 2 blokes ?? 🤣  Those juniors (except Delaney who doesn't drive much) seem ok in their records , and accusing them of not thinking of safety is a bit harsh. I'm sure they're better than that? and Coppins just won 5 races the first day at Hawera. Don't see you guys congratulating that fine effort ?lol.  🤭 probably Not good enough 😉  But on a more reflective note , since you feel sorry for BECKER getting the run around and  nearly hitting the grass twice in one race, here's a funny 'Bit of a Yarn' just for you. 40 years ago almost to the day Feb 86' , the original BECKER was exported to Aus as a maiden from the North island. The purchaser hoping the horse by sire 'Lonero' might have a fraction of the ability of the Australian Derby winner that year in My Lightning Blue (probably the only good horse by Lonero ever😎 , and went on and won the NZ Cup)  But BECKER was one of those horses that couldn't win , even though we were running slow 2.04-2.08 mile rates those days , and had about 30 seconds in race career from memory and only 1 or 2 wins. He was backed off the map at his first start in Aus after arriving ( to win about 40k 💰 I think it was from the Bookies. I remember helping get some of it on ) at some country obscure maiden race. but the Bugger Becker galloped at the start and lost about 40m 🙄, then battled back into it and ran 2nd. No collect lol. A real flopparooney was the old BECKER. they never recovered the purchase price on that horse. He was a bad buy.  A real slow one lol. just the sort you could send to Hawera ? to flop around lol . 40 years on . a 'Becker' memory revived lol 😂

It is interesting to note the stewards for Hawera were K Coppins (Chairman), S Mulcay, C Lomey, B Bateup      

I'd say why not put the 500k towards fixing a track or raising minimum industry stakes. Even if this worked,  keeping 2 or 3 good 4yos racing in the country, ain't going to improve wagering revenue by a single $1.

GI Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire (Classic Empire–Armony's Angel, by To Honor And Serve) sired his first reported foal Saturday, Jan. 17, when a filly bred by Brooks Taylor was born at Taylor Made, the farm announced Tuesday. She is out of Love Ava Love, a daughter of the stakes-winning Storm Cat mare Hidden Cat–her second dam is multiple Canadian champion and Horse of the Year Alywow–and she is a half-sister to stakes winners Global Power and Pegasusbystorm. Angel of Empire, racing for Albaugh Family Stables and trained by Brad Cox, competed exclusively in stakes at three, winning the 2023 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park by 4 1/4 lengths. He entered the Arkansas Derby following a decisive win in that year's GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in his graded stakes debut, defeating subsequent GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil's. Sent off as the race favorite in the 149th Kentucky Derby, Angel of Empire finished a fast-closing third, earning a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure. Angel of Empire retired with a record of 9-4-1-2 and banked more than $1.4 million. His dam, Armony Angel, sold for $1.8 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale in 2023. Angel of Empire stands at Taylor Made Stallions for $5,000 S&N.   The post Angel Of Empire’s First Foal A Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

How this race was not called off or horses who were badly hampered not late scratched is anybody's guess. These days if a horse falls at most tracks and continues running in the field the race is called off immediately. Guess they didn't get the memo at Hawera.  To me it looked like Kate Coppins was more interested in looking at what other drivers closer to the fence were doing rather than steering her own horse straight and in doing that drifted into the horse Becker causing her own horse to gallop and dislodge Beckers driver. I thought she would have gotten a holiday for the drive.  I would like to see the head on for clarification.

My issue is why restrict it to only those who run in the Kiwi. Too bad if you have a horse who is not quite ready at 3yo but is going to be a good 4yo. Or a staying type targeting the Derby who will then be targeting the Spring Classic. When Well Written wins the 1400 the first day of spring carnival the whole idea is written off, bonus paid out so no more incentive for other to stick around.  How about have a $500k bonus for 4yos paid out at the completion of their 4yo season, divided by those who have won a Group 1 at 4yo.  Maybe by the last few of the G1s for the season if no 4yos have won one it becomes a good incentive to stay here and run with potential 500k bonus.  Or a points series for 4yo's and winner takes all at the end of the season.  Or a 4yo race winner takes all.    🤔  

I don't know Entain have funded several of these bonus schemes and races, and from what I can see, it is not improving the overall quality of horses racing in NZ. The best horses either get picked off by cash rich Aus owners, or are very quickly sent across the Tasman to race, once the Spring racing kicks in.  The 3 HB G1 races are usually used as a steppingstone.