Chief Stipe

It is becoming a farce.

View the full article

View the full article

View the full article

How rejuvenated miler Joyful Trinity comes through Sunday’s Group Two Chairman’s Trophy will tell Caspar Fownes where the injury-plagued six-year-old will go next as the trainer weighs up his options. Last season Joyful Trinity finished a length or closer in three placings at Group One level before a stress fracture ended his season in March – and the problems didn’t stop there. Leg injuries continued to hinder Joyful Trinity early this term as the gelding struggled... View the full article

Positive tests for caffeine see top harness racing stable cop $14,000 in fines DON SCOTT Dexter, Robert and John Dunn at Rangiora raceway. Trainer Robert Dunn, who operates stables in South Auckland and North Canterbury, has been fined $7000 after three horses trained there returned positive swabs to banned substance caffeine. Dunn's son, John, who manages the Woodend Beach stable north of Christchurch, and in charge of the horses in question at the two-day Nelson meeting last June, was also fined $7000. The horses – Billy Badger, Hayden's Meddle and Rishi - returned four positive swabs between them and were disqualified from their four wins. STUFF Outstanding race driver John Dunn was fined along with his father Robert. Billy Badger won on both days, including the Nelson Winter Cup at the second meeting. READ MORE: * Drug sabotage claims after positive caffeine tests at Canterbury racing stable Rishi, since sold and exported to Australia, was trained by Craig and Aimee Edmonds, the father and sister of John Dunn's wife, Jenna, but was under an official horse movement to Robert Dunn for the meeting. The Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) did not charge the Dunns until February after an investigation lasting the best part of eight months. According to the official Judicial Control Authority summation of the case, the RIU thoroughly investigated the possibility that the Dunns' horses were 'nobbled' by an outside party. Ultimately, no evidence was found to support this. Dunn had previously told the RIU he believed the animals were likely given the caffeine intentionally by an external source. Ad Feedback Stuff understood names were provided to RIU investigators, but RIU general manager Mike Godber has previously refused to confirm this or whether those people had been investigated. Caffeine is an easy drug to detect, so is not widely used to enhance performance in racing. It can be administered as simply as through feed contamination. Once charged, the Dunns both pled guilty to four charges each of presenting a horse to race not free of a prohibited substance. The RIU sought a total fine of $4000 for the offending, but the JCA deemed that figure to be manifestly light and opted for $14,000, split evenly between the father and son. Recent fines issued to Kevin Townley, Richard Brosnan, Bruce Negus and the Edmonds for breaches of the same charge were factored in to the sentencing judgement. The RIU did not seek costs in relation to the eight-month investigation, which the JCA called "a generous position to adopt", but they themselves issued $1000 in costs, split between the Dunns. Horses promoted to victories as a result of the disqualifications were Ace High, Mongolian Hero, Boults On Fire and Terrier. Dunn is one of the most successful trainers in New Zealand harness racing and the stable is well-known throughout Australasia. His sons, Dexter and John, are successful drivers. Dunn has run afoul of prohibited substances rules three times previously. His trainer's licence was suspended for six months after he presented two horses with prohibited substances in Australia in 1992. He was fined $500 after another horse was found with elevated TCO2 [total carbon dioxide] levels at the Westport Trotting Club in 2004. He was also fined $3000, and son John $1500, in 2017 for instructing employee Craig Smith to be in possession of a prohibited substance, ketoprofen, at a Forbury Park meeting in June 2016. - Stuff

Drug sabotage claims after positive caffeine tests at Canterbury racing stable DON SCOTT/STUFF Robert Dunn, centre, with sons Dexter, left, and John. Four horses linked to a leading Canterbury stable are facing disqualification amid a claim they were drugged as an act of sabotage. Three horses trained by Robert Dunn harness racing stables and a fourth in its care tested positive for caffeine at the Nelson Winter Cup meeting in June. The Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) has been investigating since. General manager Mike Godber said the probe was nearly finished, but Dunn had been given more time to gather evidence in the case. Dunn had previously told the RIU he believed the animals were likely given the caffeine intentionally by an external source, Godber said. READ MORE: Harness stable under investigation Stuff understands names have been provided to RIU investigators, but Godber refused to confirm this or whether those people had been investigated. Godber said the investigation was complex, but he hoped it would be completed early in the new year. Even if charges were not laid against the Dunn stable, the horses would need to be disqualified from their races because a prohibited drug was found in their system, he said. Caffeine is an easy drug to detect, so is not widely used to enhance performance in racing. It can be administered as simply as through feed contamination. The Star reported the Dunn family have enlisted the help of former police detective turned private investigator Simon Lamond, partner of reality TV maestro Dame Julie Christie, in their inquiries. Ad Feedback Christie's brother, restaurateur Leo Molloy, told Stuff he was also assisting as a support person for the Dunns. He referred all other questions to Robert Dunn or lawyer Paul Dale. Dunn declined to comment. Dunn is one of the most successful trainers in New Zealand harness racing and the stable is well-known throughout Australasia. His sons, Dexter and John Dunn, are successful drivers. John runs his father's Woodend Beach training facility with Robert working out of its northern base near Pukekohe. Dunn has run afoul of prohibited substances rules three times previously. His trainer's licence was suspended for six months after he presented two horses with prohibited substances in Australia in 1992. He was fined $500 after another horse was found with elevated TCO2 [total carbon dioxide] levels at the Westport Trotting Club in 2004. He was also fined $3000, and son John $1500, earlier this year for instructing employee Craig Smith to be in possession of a prohibited substance, ketoprofen, at a Forbury Park meeting in June 2016. - Stuff

Turnover Report to 11 Mar 2018.pdf

Mind Your Biscuits was nowhere to be found early on, but he arrived on the scene late to just catch X Y Jet in the shadow of the wire to win his second straight Golden Shaheen by a head. View the full article

On a banner night for the home team in Godolphin blue, Thunder Snow (IRE) provided the exclamation point March 31 with a clear victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) at Meydan. View the full article

Baffert said something isn't quite right with the Street Sense colt, who last out edged Bolt d'Oro in the March 10 San Felipe Stakes (G2) but was disqualified to second for interference in late stretch. View the full article

Even before Thunder Snow (IRE) dominated the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), the home team colors of Godolphin blue flashed home first in three of the four turf races on the program, including both of the $6 million events. View the full article

Conquest Big E made an honest man out of his owner when he earned an upset, front-running victory over 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) hero Always Dreaming in the Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile Stakes (G2) March 31. View the full article

Pitino was fired as Louisville's coach Oct. 16 following a federal investigation into fraud claims against the Cardinals basketball program. He then told people he would never return to Kentucky. View the full article

Hi Happy (ARG), who took the 2015 Carlos Pellegrini (G1) in his native Argentina, returned to the winner's circle for the first time since to land his first stateside win in the $250,000 Pan American Stakes (G2T) March 31 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Coach Rocks wore down favorite Take Charge Paula to capture the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) March 31. View the full article

It was a long time between drinks for Flamboyant (FR), but the 7-year-old gelding broke through for his first win since February of 2016 with a rail-skimming victory March 31 in the $201,575 San Francisco Mile (G3T) at Golden Gate Fields. View the full article

Louisiana legend Mobile Bay continued his domination against homebred stakes company with a two-length win in the $75,000 Star Guitar Stakes March 31 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the final stakes event of the 2017-18 winter meet. View the full article

The good impression Woodbine management made on owner Ken Ramsey during some of his stakes wins at the suburban Toronto track encouraged the Eclipse Award-winning owner to commit a string of horses this year. View the full article

Both out early April 1 to beat the threat of rain, Quip completed his major preparations for the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) while Monomoy Girl put in her last work ahead of the Ashland Stakes (G1) coming up April 7 at Keeneland. View the full article

Blended Citizen, who has had much of his success on the grass and all-weather surfaces, prepared for his return to the dirt in the April 7 $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) by working five furlongs in 1:01 March 31 at Keeneland. View the full article

Stonelea Stables' Balance the Budget jumped out to a yawning early advantage in Saturday's 48th edition of the $150,000 Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup (NSA-G1) and came home to a 6 1/4-length victory under Mark Watts. View the full article

Audible doubled down on the form he flaunted during his handy victory in the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) when he kicked on handily in the lane after sitting off a hot pace March 31 to win the $1 million Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Impressed as he was with Audible's performance in the $1 million Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1), Todd Pletcher was equally thrilled by how the colt bounced out of a powerful three-length victory that stamped him as a leading Triple Crown contender. View the full article

Corms Racing Stable's Divine Miss Grey looks to keep her win streak alive when she headlines a field of eight April 6 in the $150,000 Distaff Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article