Chief Stipe

Cambridge three-year-old Karisto is in prime condition ahead of the Gr. 2 Queensland Guineas at Doom… View the full article

Southern rider Tina Comignaghi left a good impression during her just concluded northern stint. View the full article

Eleven rivals will oppose the Aidan O'Brien-trained Saxon Warrior when he lines up as the odds-on fa… View the full article

The dam of Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign has fetched A$2.1 million at the Magic Millions Gold… View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2)Mr Wallis, Stipendiary Steward, alleged that Mr Close used his whip on more occasions than permitted in clause (b) of the Use of the Whip Regulations on his drive THE BADGER in race 2, the JUST ESSENCE CATERING MOBILE PACE. Rule 869 provides as follows: (2) No horseman shall during any race use a whip ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2)Mr Munro, Stipendiary Steward, alleged that Mr Franks used his whip on more occasions than permitted in clause (b) of the Use of the Whip Regulations on his drive THE BADGER in race 5, the DUNEDIN CITY MOTORS TROT. Rule 869 provides as follows: (2) No horseman shall during any race use a whip in a manner ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 870(3), 1003(2) and the breaking horse regulationsMr Wallis, Stipendiary Steward, alleged that horse number 4, MAGASTEY, which finished 4th in race 1, the Forbury Park Bar & Bistro Trot broke in excess of 150 metres during the running. Judge’s placings were: 1st 3 CUDDLY TROUBLE 2ND 6 FANCY WOMAN 3rd 1 SUPERFAST NINJA 4th 4 MAGASTEY 5th 10 JANUCCI GIRL ...View the full article

News Handicapping blog – New rating bands 1 June 2018, 11:13 a.m. With the recent announcement of the handicapping changes that will apply from 1 August 2018, I thought I would briefly explain the impact the changes in rating bands will have on weights carried and penalties given. The rating bands have been shifted slightly to encourage horses to run in the next grade in order to fill these fields and alleviate the pressure on the lower grades. This mainly focusses on the Rating 65 grade and the new Rating 72 grade. This encouragement will come in the form of a weight allowance. For horses rated 60 to 65, there will be a significant weight reduction if these horses choose to run in the Rating 72 race as opposed to the Rating 65 race. While this exists at the moment in the Rating 75 grade, the problem is horses rated 60, 61, and 62 do not get any further weight allowance from horses rated 63 and only a small allowance from those 64 to 67. It is hoped that trainers will consider the Rating 72 with their horses, particularly the up-and-coming horses as an alternative to the Rating 65 grade. Furthermore, the winning rating increase for both grades will be virtually identical (for horses rated 61+). Below is an example of the typical weights that could be carried and the potential winning re-handicap for each of the grades. As per normal, horses rated 61+ will in most cases be taken to 67 or higher. These weights are based on a 4YO gelding. Rating 65 Benchmark HCP Rating 72 Benchmark HCP Rating Weight Potential winning penalty Rating Weight Potential winning penalty 65 60 4-5 65 56.5 4-5 64 59.5 4-5 64 56 4-5 63 59 4-5 63 55.5 4-5 62 58.5 5 62 55 5 61 58 6 61 54.5 6 60 57.5 4-5 60 54 5-7 Please note – this is a general guide only. The actual weights carried and rating points given will be determined race by race.

Scone trainer Brett Cavanough has called on one of his favourite jockeys, Skye Bogenhuber, to help c… View the full article

Diademe fetches A$1.7 million Thu, 31 May 2018 NZ Racing Desk High-class mare Diademe sold for A$1.7 million on the Gold Coast. Former top galloper Diademe has again made an impact in the sale ring. The Savabeel mare, who has been served by Vancouver, was sold for A$1.7 million at the Gold Coast yesterday to the China Horse Club. Diademe won the Gr. 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes during her career with trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and was subsequently sold for A$740,000. Her first foal by Fastnet Rock realised $1 million at Karaka earlier this year. The powerful China Horse Club also went to A$680,000 to secure the former Danica Guy-trained Capella. The Rip Van Winkle mare won the Gr. 2 Eight Carat Classic and has been served by Snitzel. The New Zealand-bred Fastnet Rock mare Gold And Diamond, who was unraced, was purchased by Yu Long Investments for A$800,000. She has been served by I Am Invincible.

Former top galloper Diademe has again made an impact in the sale ring. View the full article

The Darren Weir-trained Handsome Thief is the only runner in the Moreton Cup who can upset the order… View the full article

She'll soon return home to Central Otago and be served by Bettor's Delight. View the full article

Expat New Zealand jockey James McDonald's comeback will continue when he rides at the Royal Ascot me… View the full article

Cambridge jockey Jason Waddell won’t be riding again until the new season. View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(3)(b)(ii)Following the running of race 9, Team Wealleans, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638(3)(b)(ii). The Informant, Mr Coles, alleged that Mr Hills used his whip excessively prior to the 100 metres. Mr Hills endorsed the Information “I do admit the breach and I do not wish to be present at the hearing”. ...View the full article

Former French galloper One Foot In Heaven, who was once a contender for Europe's richest race, will … View the full article

A suspension has cut short leading jockey Hugh Bowman's riding stint in Japan. View the full article

Brilliant mare Piccadilly Princess has run her last race and retires a five-time Group 1 winner. View the full article

The Harness Jewels have been thrown in to chaos less than three days out with a shipment of nine hor… View the full article

Education, support and a proper wage. I bet you these kids love horses and are good with them. Not their fault they are low on the food chain. Education!!!

Harness Jewels markets suspended as nine runners to undergo drug testing Betting on five races on Harness Jewels day at Cambridge on Saturday has been suspended by the TAB pending drug tests on nine leading contenders trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen. The Jewels is one of harness racing's showcase events. The leading trainers advised stewards on Wednesday afternoon the horses may have been exposed to drug contamination during a float trip from Auckland to Cambridge. Stewards have ordered the nine horses be swabbed, but the results will not be known until Friday afternoon, the eve of harness racing's biggest event. READ MORE: * Unconscious and dragged to safety * Winston racing money helps supporters * Riverton races called off early * NZ First picking winners * On course for the future It is believed the driver of the truck transporting the horses became concerned about activities of two workers travelling with the horses and reported their possible drug smoking to the Racing Integrity Unit. Torpedo7 outdoor adventure gear sale promoted offers Huge savings on bike, snow, clothing and outdoor gear. Boost up to maximum speed promoted Maximum speed for $79pm for the first 3 months. Click for T&C's. Purdon and Rasmussen have addressed the issue on their All-Stars Racing Stables website. The statement confirmed there was a remote possibility that contamination on the float trip could lead to irregular results in testing procedures during the Harness Jewels, so stewards were notified. "We have advised the appropriate bodies of the possibility and all our horses will be urine tested on Thursday. We are not expecting any adverse outcome from those but we just want to be sure and keep everything out in the open," Rasmussen said. "The incident goes back several days but we want to be absolutely sure there is no possibility of our horses being compromised as a result. We are not expecting withdrawals from any of the races. We are just taking every precaution," she said. The horses affected include some of the hottest favourites on Jewels day, including Princess Tiffany, Winterfell, Sicario, Kayla Marie, Funatthebeach, Stress Factor, Cheerful, War Dan Delight and Bubbled Up. If the runners return positive swabs when the lab results are returned on Friday, the nine horses will be scratched from their Group I races at Cambridge. The Purdon-Rasmussen stable has dominated harness racing in New Zealand for the last five seasons, winning nearly $20 million in stakes. MORE TO COME Stuff

Harness Jewels markets suspended as nine runners to undergo drug testing Betting on five races on Harness Jewels day at Cambridge on Saturday has been suspended by the TAB pending drug tests on nine leading contenders trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen. The Jewels is one of harness racing's showcase events. The leading trainers advised stewards on Wednesday afternoon the horses may have been exposed to drug contamination during a float trip from Auckland to Cambridge. Stewards have ordered the nine horses be swabbed, but the results will not be known until Friday afternoon, the eve of harness racing's biggest event. READ MORE: * Unconscious and dragged to safety * Winston racing money helps supporters * Riverton races called off early * NZ First picking winners * On course for the future It is believed the driver of the truck transporting the horses became concerned about activities of two workers travelling with the horses and reported their possible drug smoking to the Racing Integrity Unit. Torpedo7 outdoor adventure gear sale promoted offers Huge savings on bike, snow, clothing and outdoor gear. Boost up to maximum speed promoted Maximum speed for $79pm for the first 3 months. Click for T&C's. Purdon and Rasmussen have addressed the issue on their All-Stars Racing Stables website. The statement confirmed there was a remote possibility that contamination on the float trip could lead to irregular results in testing procedures during the Harness Jewels, so stewards were notified. "We have advised the appropriate bodies of the possibility and all our horses will be urine tested on Thursday. We are not expecting any adverse outcome from those but we just want to be sure and keep everything out in the open," Rasmussen said. "The incident goes back several days but we want to be absolutely sure there is no possibility of our horses being compromised as a result. We are not expecting withdrawals from any of the races. We are just taking every precaution," she said. The horses affected include some of the hottest favourites on Jewels day, including Princess Tiffany, Winterfell, Sicario, Kayla Marie, Funatthebeach, Stress Factor, Cheerful, War Dan Delight and Bubbled Up. If the runners return positive swabs when the lab results are returned on Friday, the nine horses will be scratched from their Group I races at Cambridge. The Purdon-Rasmussen stable has dominated harness racing in New Zealand for the last five seasons, winning nearly $20 million in stakes. MORE TO COME Stuff

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Hard Merchandize will head north to Te Rapa early in the new season in a bid to double his Group Two… View the full article