Chief Stipe

Finalists found for Industry Excellence Awards Press Release - Entain Australian & NZ 10 July 2024 The finalists for the inaugural Industry Excellence Awards powered by Entain, have been named after more than 100 high-quality entries were received for the awards that recognises the future leaders and rising stars of the New Zealand racing industry. There are 29 finalists across the nine award categories, and the judges found the selection process challenging, due to the depth and strength of candidates nominated. “We were hugely impressed by the calibre of the nominations, and it was a great reminder of the absolutely outstanding people we have involved in all areas of the racing industry in New Zealand,” Entain’s General Manager – New Zealand and member of the judging panel, Jessica Meech, said. “We’ve got a lot of thinking to do ahead of the awards evening to decide on the nine category winners and select the overall excellence winner.” The award categories are: Leadership, Equine Handling (Stud or Stable), Greyhound Excellence, Dedication to Breeding, Dedication to Racing, Administrative and Ancillary Services, Care and Welfare, Newcomer and National Racing Woman of the Year. The finalists and winner for the tenth category, the Entain Excellence Award, will be announced at the awards evening. Category winners will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The overall winner will receive an extra $5,000 on top of their $10,000 category win, and a $5,000 educational package. IRT, Windsor Park Stud, Waikato Stud and Breckon Farms are also valued supporters of the awards and the awards function, which will be held in Auckland on Sunday, 28 July. Industry Excellence Awards finalists: Leadership Cameron Ring Sarah Clausen Hunter Durrant Equine Handling (Stud or Stable) Michaela Sobieska Faith Pollock Nathan Williamson Greyhound Excellence Mikayla Clark Katie Wyllie Corey Steele Dedication to Breeding Ryan Figgins Mallory Phillips Jamie Bartlett Dedication to Racing Jazz Leigh Emma Smith Sarah O'Reilly Administrative and Ancillary Services Jack Collings Jo Stevens Scott Buchanan Care and Welfare Chanelle Dickie Anna Baigent Erika Matterson Newcomer Matia Grace Shannon MacDonald Raquel Wilkes National Racing Woman of the Year Sam Mynott Caitlin O’Sullivan Portia Matthews Emma Smith Elizabeth Whelan

Finalists found for Industry Excellence Awards Press Release - Entain Australian & NZ 10 July 2024 The finalists for the inaugural Industry Excellence Awards powered by Entain, have been named after more than 100 high-quality entries were received for the awards that recognises the future leaders and rising stars of the New Zealand racing industry. There are 29 finalists across the nine award categories, and the judges found the selection process challenging, due to the depth and strength of candidates nominated. “We were hugely impressed by the calibre of the nominations, and it was a great reminder of the absolutely outstanding people we have involved in all areas of the racing industry in New Zealand,” Entain’s General Manager – New Zealand and member of the judging panel, Jessica Meech, said. “We’ve got a lot of thinking to do ahead of the awards evening to decide on the nine category winners and select the overall excellence winner.” The award categories are: Leadership, Equine Handling (Stud or Stable), Greyhound Excellence, Dedication to Breeding, Dedication to Racing, Administrative and Ancillary Services, Care and Welfare, Newcomer and National Racing Woman of the Year. The finalists and winner for the tenth category, the Entain Excellence Award, will be announced at the awards evening. Category winners will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The overall winner will receive an extra $5,000 on top of their $10,000 category win, and a $5,000 educational package. IRT, Windsor Park Stud, Waikato Stud and Breckon Farms are also valued supporters of the awards and the awards function, which will be held in Auckland on Sunday, 28 July. Industry Excellence Awards finalists: Leadership Cameron Ring Sarah Clausen Hunter Durrant Equine Handling (Stud or Stable) Michaela Sobieska Faith Pollock Nathan Williamson Greyhound Excellence Mikayla Clark Katie Wyllie Corey Steele Dedication to Breeding Ryan Figgins Mallory Phillips Jamie Bartlett Dedication to Racing Jazz Leigh Emma Smith Sarah O'Reilly Administrative and Ancillary Services Jack Collings Jo Stevens Scott Buchanan Care and Welfare Chanelle Dickie Anna Baigent Erika Matterson Newcomer Matia Grace Shannon MacDonald Raquel Wilkes National Racing Woman of the Year Sam Mynott Caitlin O’Sullivan Portia Matthews Emma Smith Elizabeth Whelan

How many would they have liked to have trialled 2 weeks earlier?

BTW 36 two year olds (rising 3yrs) went round at the Hawkesbury trials in NSW on Monday.

Are you serious? How long have you been in the game? Offical trials are as close to a real race experience as you can get. Jumpouts at most tracks fall short of that. Yes marginally at some but not at most. Trials also provide useful information for punters who at the end of the day we want to fund the game. We fall well short of the latter at this stage of the new Entain funding regime. Not correct. If you are aiming for your favourite race meeting the Karaka Millions you need race form by November. The last winner was trialling in October. Others in the race were trialling in August. The previous years winner was trialling in September. All on Turf on might add. But it is the older horses that you want up and trialling early particularly the 3yr olds if you are aiming for those early black type races. Some of those 3yr olds haven't had the experience of big 2yr old campaigns so early education is important. Yes I agree 2yr old races will struggle in July on wet tracks. But 2yr old trials won't. Lets see how many go round at Avondale next week (trials cancelled on the Synthetic and transferred to the turf). Bear in mind they are rising 3 yr olds getting ready for early spring campaigns. Really? "Probably"! Then why take two very good race days off them next season?

Or the 1200m shute. Both would skew the final figure.

Up for grabs a $10 Win, Place or Each Way bet of your choice on a horse race of your choice in NZ or OZ. Or a 1kg bag of Premium Roasted Coffee Beans couriered to you. Both prizes kindly donated by a new BOAY sponsor. To win pick the following: Avondale Jockey Club have a trial day on 16 July and the Auckland Racing Club have a race meeting on 17 July at Pukekohe. 1. Which day/club will have the most horses officially running around (doesn't include clerk of the course)? 2. How many horses at each meeting? Whoever chooses the right day will be the winner. In the likely event more than one person chooses the right day: The closest will be assessed on the average of the % correctness for the winning day. In the likely event there is a tie then the winner will be will be assessed on the average of the % correctness for both days. Hint: Avondale will have less than 181 horses running around. Entries close before the earliest nomination time. In the event of an abandonment during a meeting the number of horses will be those that started in the day.

They're trying to average the penetrometer readings.

Nor could I. But why wouldn't you want to hammer Pukekohe again in the winter!!

The Official Racing Calendar has an Avondale Jockey Club meeting scheduled for Wednesday 17 July 2024. It has been changed to an Auckland Racing Club meeting at Pukekohe. Mmmm Avondale now have a trial meeting on Tuesday the 16th July 2024. I wonder which day will have more horses running around? Which will have more spectators?

I wonder how many nominations they got.

Yes. But it doesn't take a Rocket Surgeon to work out how many trials are needed when you count the number of horses in work at Cambridge and Matamata alone without counting the rest. Only take an hour of phone calls once a week to work the numbers out. But I guess they have a high tech solution available for low tech people to use.

MEETING NEWS Whangarei 2YO ITM Final cancelled, new 2YO race programmed Unfortunately, due to insufficient entries the 2YO 1200m ITM Final at Ruakaka will no longer be run. A replacement 2YO 1200m race open to all horses has however been programmed nominations will remain open until 9.00am tomorrow morning. Providing we get enough runners for this race to proceed, it will be run for a stake of $35,000. If one of the originally nominated ITM 2YO finalists wins the race, they will also receive a $5,000 bonus.

Just thinking. If they get more than 180 nominations for Avondale next week (at the course the administrators and @TAB For Ever don't want) will they schedule something somewhere else for those who can't start? Second question - will they schedule another trial day on turf 14 days later?

Avondale is good enough to run 180 horses around. Whereas Ellersle spend $55m and can't provide a safe surface on the KM or Grp 1 days let one run a trial. Go figure. Now you're saying we need to spend more money and build a Greenfields site. We'll wasn't Ellerslie essentially that?

Jumps meeting.

How many spectators will be at Cambridge?

Were you following the cheeks?

Interesting. 89 horses going around tomorrow on the Cambridge Synthetic for a race meeting. Yet Avondale can't have a race meeting yet can have 180 horses going around.

Well not exactly the Waikato but at least on grass turf. MEETING NEWS Avondale trials Tuesday 16 July & Cambridge Synthetic trials now Tuesday 23 July The previously advertised Cambridge Trials have been replaced by a set of trials at Avondale next Tuesday 16 July. The Cambridge Synthetic trials will be pushed out a week and will run on Tuesday 23 July. The trials at Avondale will be restricted to a maximum of 180 entries.

What is missing from both extracts is the definition of "older".

Which is where the rules are an ass. "Fit and Proper" is subjective at best. Weir pleased guilty on the same charges in the criminal court and given a fine but did not get a criminal conviction. Racing Victoria will find it hard to justify what is essentially a much harsher penalty albeit by default.

DARREN WEIR - still in limbo! https://www.clarkofthecourse.com/post/darren-weir-still-in-limbo A Victorian Racing Tribunal supposed penalty hearing descended into some farce as another disqualification period was delivered but no absolute decision reached. Darren Weir will either end up serving a seven-and-a-half-year penalty for jigger and animal cruelty offences or be able to consider applying to rejoin the training ranks from next February. Not that opening comments by new Racing Victoria chair Tim Eddy post Friday’s messy Victorian Racing Tribunal hearing would give him any comfort of a smooth approval. But “when” Weir will serve - or start serving - those extra two years for use of the jiggers and committing animal cruelty on three horses Tosen Basil, Red Cardinal and Yogi at his Warrnambool stables on October 30, 2018, is the latest question still unanswered and still to be determined after a morning of legal wrangling and more scheduled to come now. No-one needs reminding Weir had served four years for possession, those charges brought, the case heard and determined within a week back in early 2019, something clearly raised by Bowman today. That associated penalty expired in February last year, now 17 months ago. But here we are five and a half years later, and I will get to Judge Bowman’s comments on such, with still matters to be determined. In announcing the mandatory two-year ban for use, let’s simply go to Bowman who noted: “Mr Weir was not only person in charge of the situation, but he was also the person who actually committed the acts of cruelty to Tosen Basil (and the other two),” he said “While there are a number of very substantial matters in Mr Weir’s favour (which have been set out earlier”, the bottom line is he was the person in charge of the horses, the stables, the situation, he was the boss. “Accordingly, the penalties are the minimum of two years, over and above four years, which he has already served,” Bowman said. But of course, Weir pleaded guilty to these charges as he had to all those before. But legal argument ensued (after an 18-month disqualification to co-defendant Jarrod Mclean and six months to Tyson Kermond were also announced) with clarification sought by Counsel, Ian Smith for Weir and Damian Sheales for the others. This comes to the matter of time served, in Weir’s case the 17 months since his original disqualification ended. Bowman’s initial ruling was that the penalty started from today, not including that time. The conversations went like this: HILL – “could we raise that question in respect to Mr Weir, bearing in mind from February 23, he has not been licensed to train, not sort to train, has remained clear of training and racing other than pre-training. BOWMAN – “we were well and truly aware of it. It was something that was taken into account, no actual calendar calculation was made in relation to it. We were aware he was performing (Trevenson); we don’t know for how long during that 12-month period, how long he was performing or what was involved. We took into account and made no specific allowance for it.” HILL – “So the intention of decision is that the two years commences today?” BOWMAN: Yes.” But pressed further by Sheales for his clients, Bowman conceded there was an argument to be had that “part of the penalty has already been served.” Sheales was stinging in his criticism of Angus Willoughby for the RV stewards saying, “it was the silliest thing I have ever heard” (that time served was not a consideration let alone a given precedent.) Bowman then declared that there then would be no final order today, and argument on when penalties would start were set to a timetable, RV Stewards to submit first by July 19, Weir, McLean and Kermond to respond by August 2, RV Stewards right of reply to a week later with August 19 given as the final date for a directions hearing as some “definite finality.” Which will lead to most importantly the time to be served by Weir and any chance he has of thinking of returning to racing as a trainer. A disqualification will allow him to live at Trevenson Park, his pre-training property at Baringhup, but not be involved in the horses. Trevenson Park Currently 35 staff are employed with over 100 horses in work and others agisting. With the case still requiring a final deliberation, it was interesting that Racing Victoria, whose normal mantra is “we will not comment on an ongoing case” issued a statement from Eddy. “Darren Weir, Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond’s conduct struck at the heart of the two pillars upon which the horse racing industry stands – animal welfare and integrity. It elaborated: “The actions of the individuals in this case not only severely damaged racing’s reputation, but also tarnished the image of hard-working, rule-abiding individuals in our industry who devote their lives to the horses and act for the betterment of the sport,” he said. Perhaps not all of Judge Bowmans notes were read before that statement was issued. So, I note them here. Bowman asked, almost rhetorically, (in trying to determine sentence), “what then are the totality factors in the case?” And answered: “Firstly, a disqualification of four years-imposed 6 February 2019 should be taken into account “Secondly, he (Weir) limited himself greatly to any participation in racing since the expiry of the four-year penalty in February pending the present charges. “Thirdly, Mr Weir faced a considerable number of police charges concerned with jiggers and animal welfare in the Magistrates Court. Most were not pursued but ultimately, he plead guilty to cruelty and was fined $36,000 without a recorded conviction. (14 December 22), that should be taken into account. “And next, he had these charges and their predecessor of possession hanging over him five-and-a-half years.” “There is no suggestion that any part of that delay is anyway attributable to him. Bowman then spoke direct to the matter of cruelty. “In each instance (the three horses), there was no indication of any reaction or injury to horses to which the jigger was applied. “Dr (Andrew ) McLean, in expert evidence, could not say the application any effect on horses at all. “It is behaviour which the industry will not tolerate. The use of jigger is major offence which should attract a significant penalty,” he said. Bowman also addressed Weir’s character and evidence in his favour as such. “A large number of most impressive character witnesses were placed before us,” he said. “We also note that in the interval between the expiry of the four years disqualification and the present, Weir has pre-trained a considerable number of horses at his farm, this work is for others in the industry. “The stewards have at all relevant times known of this having been notified of it by Mr Weir. “There was no suggestion this was anyway improper or in breach of the rules, indeed stewards visited property seen what occurring,” Bowman said. He continued: “Mr Weir is a self-made trainer; he has been an outstanding success. And bearing in mind the size of operation, his disciplinary record is very good. “However, we are of the opinion there should be a disqualification – and that should be for minimum period prescribed for two years." So that is where it lies, awaiting submissions as to when the latest penalty should start. Weir has not trained a runner since Torreggiante ran last at Pakenham on Jan 31 Pakenham 2019. © 2022 by Bruce Clark