Chief Stipe

The well-related New Zealand-bred Heir To The Throne remains an outside chance to make the Gr. 1 Que… View the full article

The Tin Man has made a pleasing return to action with victory in the Leisure Stakes at Windsor ahead… View the full article

Well-related three-year-old Te Akau Shark will shortly be reporting for duty at Matamata. View the full article

Black-type performer Wee Gilly has changed stables and will continue her career in Victoria. View the full article

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I think we are all on the same page in this thread - primarily a passion for an industry that has been so mismanaged that if it wasn't fortunate to have a monopoly (less so now) then it would have died years ago. I agree with both Reefton's and Curious's approaches to funding - each to their own - they are both passionate about their racing clubs and have put hours into them purely because they love the sport. They haven't been paid exorbitant wages for doing so and no doubt have spent some of their own funds to help their clubs be it the cost of a scrubbing brush or a shovel. Reefton does raise a good issue though where in the past there have clearly been funding decisions made for reasons other than good economic sense.

Toowoomba trainer Mark Currie has been disqualified for two years after being found guilty of 16 cha… View the full article

Gary Hennessy reports that all is going to plan in the countdown to Ocean Emperor lining up in Sunda… View the full article

They say a change is as good as a holiday and Jock Austin is hoping that’s the case with his best ho… View the full article

That has been my thoughts for quite some time. A bit like rotational farming - rest and refurbish so many paddocks per year. I believe if we close tracks by agreement or foul means without some planning then we will make the situation worse.

Even if you proportioned the NZRB reserves as per the Racing Act 18 months ago you would have had enough funding to initiate the development of all weather tracks. Unfortunately that money has mostly gone down the stakes gurgler. At the current burn rate there will be nothing left in 18 months. Closing racecourses won't liberate vast amounts of capital. Shifting race dates away from small clubs to bigger clubs doesn't increase the total stake pool nor increase the number of races or meetings so return to the industry doesn't change. Moving race days to already under stress tracks will raise the risk of abandonments. I doubt Te Rapa can cope with much more for example. BTW a stupid decision to shift Ellerslie race days there while the track is being worked on. Another problem is with how the stakes are distributed - the stake structure is too top heavy and generally those big stakes end up in the same big stables. In my opinion flatten the structure, take a bit from the top and increase those at the bottom. It won't reduce the quality of the fields in those big races. In fact it is noticeable that while increasing the stakes at the top end we are seeing quality dropping. Feed the grass roots first.

Gary Hennessy reports that all is going to plan in the countdown to Ocean Emperor lining up in Sunda… View the full article

I don't disagree with your comments but closing down lots of race courses isn't the answer either when our major courses are stuffed.

Rule Number(s): 869(2) and Use of Whip RegulationsFollowing the running of Race 6, the ABERNETHY CONTRACTING LTD MOBILE PACE, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr Wallis, alleging that Ms Parker, the driver of THE BULL PEN, exceeded the permitted number of strikes over the final 400 metres. Ms Parker admitted the breach and was assisted ...View the full article

Kenny Rae’s Queensland fortunes have turned around after a rocky start to the carnival. View the full article

The curtain has come down on the racing career of Mime. View the full article

New Zealand’s racing industry was responsible for generating more than $1.6 billion in value-added c… View the full article

Australian Zac Purton has ridden four winners at Sha Tin to eat into Joao Moreira's lead in the prem… View the full article

Rule Number(s): Rule 869(2) and the Use of the whip RegulationsFollowing the running of Race 8, the THE BLACK DOG FURNITURE MOBILE TROT 2200, an Information was presented alleging that Open Horseman, Mr A Neal had 'used his whip driving CREDIT MASTER in breach of the Use of the Whip Regulations over the concluding stages.' Mr Neal was present at the hearing and ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)RACEDAY JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DECISION Informant: Mr M Davidson - Stipendiary Steward Respondent: Mrs L Allpress - Class A Rider Information Number: A7731 ...View the full article

The Sir Peter Vela-owned Eminent remains on target for Royal Ascot despite suffering cardiac arrhyth… View the full article

My view is that any horse that can sit outside another for so long and still hold on plus pick himself up again when others come at him is a tough horse. He ran 1:55.9 for the 1900m on a soft sloppy track doing all the work. The race record is 1:53 held by Secretariat (there is some of his blood in Justify). So 1900m equates to a 2:02 2000m which would win most Cox plates. Now there are differing opinions but some say the Preakness is the hardest to win as there is only two weeks between it and the Kentucky Derby. There is 3 weeks to the Derby. Also if you look at the Kentucky Derby the opening sectionals on a sloppy track were 22 and 45 seconds which are phenomenal sectionals. Justify again raced one out head to head with the leader. Left them at the turn and the rest were floundering. Sure the final time was slow at 2:04 but comparative with other Derby wins on a sloppy track. If you look closely he isn't on a tight reign outside the leader showing he relaxes great. He's a big horse too weighing in at 575kg - 50kg's more than American Pharoah. I wouldn't be surprised if he runs better on a firmer track.