Chief Stipe

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.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/227642/justify-bright-after-preakness-victory It is possible that he still isn't as fit as he could be. Mainly speed on the sire side but there is staying blood on his dam side.

Rule Number(s): 636(1)(d)Following the running of Race 3 (FRESH CHOICE GREYTOWN MDN), Information No.A9225 was filed with the Judicial Committee. The Informant alleged that Mr Tanaka failed to ride his mount UNBROKEN out to the finish of the Race. (UNBROKEN was beaten for 2nd placing by a half-head). Rule 636(1)(d) provides: ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(3)(b)(ii)Following the running of race 7, Distinction Hamilton Hotel 1200, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638(3)(b)(ii). The Informant, Mr Williamson, alleged that Mr Coleman used the whip in an excessive manner on MALAMBO prior to the 100 metres. Mr Coleman endorsed the Information “I do admit the ...View the full article

Group One-winning jockey Jordan Childs will spend a month on the sidelines after failing a breathaly… View the full article

Trainer Matt Dunn is relieved that comeback jockey James McDonald is clear to ride Care to Think in … View the full article

Shoot I've already had an earful via email.

Geez a few guys on here need to lose their man cards. The only concession I gave to the flatmate was that she had to choose which of the 7 bloody channels it was on first rather than flicking through them all. She had to do this during half time of the Crusaders game and could press record so as not to interfere with the rugby. I went to bed straight after rugby rejoicing in the fact that the rugbys royalty had beaten the Blues. Ironically I also won the bet on Harry retaining his beard. My flatmate being ex army came up with the nonsense that if he wore military dress uniform he'd have to shave it off. Well while during the rugby half time while pointing at the porcelain I went to my mate Google and discovered that Harry belonged to the Blues and Royals. A bit of a coincidence there. It turns out that Harry's Granny is the Regimental Colonel of the said outfit. Harry is Grannys favourite so I doubled my bet. The flatmate then tried to wiggle out by saying he wasn't wearing dress uniform but was wearing a frock. Eh?! Speaking of frocks Meghan looked better in her last outfit before nigh nighs.

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Why not?

The decision-making skills of Aidan O'Brien are often what sets him apart from the rest, and switchi… View the full article

Local trainer Lisa Latta was to the fore once again on her home track yesterday with an Awapuni doub… View the full article

Promising galloper Detentore extended his unbeaten career record to three out of three with a tough … View the full article

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman training juggernaut rolled on at Te Rapa yesterday when promisin… View the full article