Chief Stipe

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of Race 11, the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Rating 72, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr M Davidson, against Class A Rider, Mr J Laking, alleging careless riding in that he directed his mount DIRECTOR outwards near the 350m causing crowding to SAVASON, ridden ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638 (3) (b) (ii)Following the running of Race 8, the Strategy Creative Open Handicap, an information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr M Davidson, against Licensed Apprentice Jockey (Class B), Miss A Comignaghi, alleging that Miss Comignaghi, as the rider of SENSAI in the race, “used her whip excessively prior to ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of Race 6, the Janet Francis Rating 65, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr M Davidson, against Class B Rider, Miss K Cowan alleging careless riding in that she permitted her mount, BULLY BOY, to shift inwards near the 1000m, when not clear of REAL SAVVY, ridden ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of Race 7, the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Trial, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr M Davidson, against Class B Rider, Miss T Comignaghi alleging careless riding in that she permitted her mount, ELFEE, to shift ground near the 700m, causing DEE AND GEE, ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of Race 11, the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Rating 72, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr M Davidson, against Class B Rider, Mr N Bakar alleging careless riding in that he permitted his mount, WIDE AWAKE, to shift inwards near the 1000m, when not clear of DIRECTOR, ...View the full article

The section you quoted from my post should be net revenue. Can't cross subsidise the bookies.

Changes to section 16 that favour one code over another has the potential to rip NZ racing apart at a time when the codes need to be united. I know that might sound like a glib political slogan (hearing too much Ardenese) but that's my opinion. In my opinion Dogs and Harness have done more to get their house in order than the Thoroughbred code. Harness have rationalised their tracks over the years and seem to have done it with Club support. The Thoroughbred code seems to have pissed their income away and are now seeking the biggest handout. An All Weather Track in the Waikato isn't going to help Harness or Dog's is it? I'm sure Pitty and Freda would agree. It annoys the hell out of me when I see the Thoroughbred elite quoting the numbers involved in the racing industry as justification for yet another handout. They conveniently lump in all the Harness and Dog stakeholders and employees. Let's face it if it wasn't for Harness racing in Canterbury would there be the level of infrastructural support for the Thoroughbred in that region that there is? So my view is that the distribution of revenue should be directly proportional to the net betting revenue generated domestically. Any other option distorts market economics. The other codes will further subsidise the high cost Thoroughbred model. Let's face it Dark Beau subsidisation and market distortion has killed the Thoroughbred breeding industry in the rest of the country except the Waikato. It reminds me of the Monty Python line - "What have the Roman's ever done for us?"

Has Dark Beau never had a bet on Harness or the Dogs?

Rule Number(s): 869(2) and Whip RegulationsInformant: Mr S Renault, stipendiary steward Respondent: Mr P Court, Open Horseman Information No: A10854 Rule: 869(2) and Whip Regulations Meeting: Methven ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(3)(b)Informant: Mr S Renault, Stipendiary Steward Respondent: Mr G Smith, Open Horseman Information No: A9989 Rule No: 869(3)(b) Meeting: New Zealand Metropolitan ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2) and Whip RegulationsMr Renault, Stipendiary Steward, alleged that Mr May in race 8, the Airpark Canterbury Hannon Memorial Pace, used his whip on more occasions inside the final 400 metres than is permitted by cl (b) of the Use of the Whip Regulations. Clause (f) of the Use of the Whip Regulations provides: “The whip must ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2) and Whip RegulationsMr Renault, Stipendiary Steward, alleged that Mr May when driving BURNING RUBBER in race 11, the Pick & Shovel Wine Mobile Pace, used his whip on more occasions inside the final 400 metres than is permitted by cl (b) of the Use of the Whip Regulations. Clause (f) of the Use of the Whip Regulations provides: ...View the full article

Well we haven't seen any turnover results since about mid-May. Reserves have gone. So the previous initiatives didn't deliver on promises so why will these?

It was OK until it got to this bit "racefields legislation are game-changers"

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of Race 2 (Vilagrad Winery 1400), Information No.A10077 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It was alleged by the Informant that Mr Rusof permitted his mount "SPEEDKEEPER" to shift outwards near the 300m making solid contact with "RAZOR" which was badly unbalanced. Rule 638(1)(d) ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of race 1, Colliers International 2 YO, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d). The Informant, Mr Coles, alleged that Mr Innes allowed his mount JAGER BOMBED to shift in when not sufficiently clear of TAPPY’S ONE which was checked near the 700 metres. Rule 638(1) (d) ...View the full article

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I don't think we are ALL making excuses. My point is that a G3 rating is meaningless given that the track is stuffed. The penetrometer rated it a G3 assuming it had actually been used and used correctly. That doesn't mean it was actually a decent surface for a horse to race on. It is interesting to hark back to the Grey Way days. I looked at some old videos recently and I noted that the tracks weren't in much better nick than today. Trentham particularly was appalling.

Rule Number(s): 870(3) and Breaking Horses RegulationsFollowing the running of Race 3, the He's Watching Tender Closes Sept 21 Hcp Trot 2700m, Mr Muirhead instigated a protest by way of an Information against the 3rd placing of the horse MR GOOD AND EVIL. Mr Muirhead alleged that MR GOOD AND EVIL broke in excess of 50 metres inside the final 200 metres. ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2) and Whip Regulation (b)Following the running of Race 7, the Avon City Ford (New Brighton) Cup (Group 3), an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr S Renault against Licensed Open Horseman, Mr M Purdon, alleging a breach of Rule 869(2) in that he used his whip on more occasions than permitted by Clause (b) of the ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869A(2)Following the running of Race 5, the Crombie Lockwood Bloodstock Handicap Trot 2700m, a protest was insitgated by way of an Information. Mr Muirhead alleged that ANGUS BURGA failed to allow full access to the passing lane impeding the progress of PRINCE GEORGE throughout the run home. Mr B Mangos, the ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of race 4, Philpott Airfreight Ltd, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d). The Informant, Mr Oatham, alleged that Ms Collett permitted her mount CHACHI ARCOLA to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of TAVLIN which was checked near the 150 metres with SLICE N ...View the full article

Nights Watch and Rising Red quinella the Grp 3 East Malvern Bendigo Bank MRC Foundation Cup for NZ stallion Redwood. Stands at Westbury. "After watching Redwood race at elite level in Europe, I was keen to follow his progress at stud. The first Redwood we acquired was the stakes winner Romancer, subsequently OTI have purchased an additional seven of his progeny including the exciting metropolitan performer Night's Watch, while we have a group of very promising 2YO's heading to Australia in the spring of 2018." Terry Henderson, OTI Racing. 2006 | Brown Horse | 16hh (162.6cm) High Chaparral x Arum Lily, by Woodman Sire of stakes winner Romancer LR, NZ Derby placegetter Rising Red, VRC St Leger placegetter High Mode L. 19 winners to date from his first three-year-old crop including Rosewood, Chamalu, Swampland, Cedar Grande, Our Sequoia, Night's Watch, Wooden Red, Red Sierra, Tamarack, Scarlet Princess, Sequoia Lady, Livin' on a Prayer, Soonbaby, Youvebeenlitup, I See Red and The Big Sur. Group 1 winning son of the highly successful stallion High Chaparral, sire of 18 Group 1 winners. 16 of 17 starts were in black-type company, retiring with a record of four wins and seven placings, and an impressive stakes tally of US$2,335,995. 4YO Timeform rating of 121 - higher than Manighar, Glass Harmonium and My Kingdom Of Fife. Comes from a high class European family with his second dam, Jolypha, the Champion 3YO Filly of France in 1992, and a sister to the European Champion and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Dancing Brave. First crop of yearlings sold for up to $210,000.

I'm with Freda on this topic. Her post was a reasoned one based on practical experience at Riccarton. When we compare today's track conditions with yesteryear we shouldn't forget we are comparing two different measurement systems. One used an umbrella and some experienced locals walking the track and coming up with a hard and fast, fast, good, soft or heavy rating. We now have a tool called a penetrometer and a series of point ratings. Now the accuracy of that tool is dependent on a number of factors. Has it been recently recalibrated, has its readings ever been calibrated against another tool for the local conditions, is the operator properly trained and is there a foolproof procedure for operating and collating the data. I've never accepted that the penetrometer has ever been used with any degree of accuracy in NZ. For a start it seems like too much work when there are other things to do with an approaching race meeting. Secondly race times don't always reflect what the penetrometer says. From what I've been told horses will instinctively protect themselves when running on conditions that they feel will hurt them. It's a bit like you Brian shortening your stride when walking across the icy pub car park or when walking across the slippery path towards the chook yard. Soil structure has the most significant influence on track conditions. Take a Strathayr track. You'll never get an F1 and it is hard to get a G2 on that type of track. That's because the soil structure has artificial elements that help maintain its high quality. It retains moisture when conditions are dry and it drains freely when conditions are wet. Grass root deeply rather than shallow as they do on compacted soils. Riccarton displays all the characteristics of a soil structure that is stuffed. Ellerslie and Te Rapa are the same. As for a leaders bias if you think about it if conditions are not conducive to horses letting down then if you are too many lengths off the leaders who have probably run soft early sectionals then you can't catch them.