Chief Stipe

It may come down to interpretation of the rules. At least you must concede there was no animal welfare issue. You would have picked that up if you had done some more research. I suggest you hold the trigger a bit longer in the future.

I bet he doesn't complain when it's blowing an Antarctic southerly at Addington and a chill factor of minus 20! The most inhumane thing about it would be the fact the trainers and staff have to work the horses in minus 7 degree frosts. The horses get a warm water hose down whereas the staff go straight back out with another horse!!

It is a good point by @Huey but I suspect he was being tongue in cheek. Perhaps the trials are to school a few reluctant flat racers?

That's a CD problem though. Who is coordinating things in that region? I noted a couple of trainers comment that they started at New Plymouth when they would have preferred a trial. At least @Huey the horses at Ruakaka were there to race!!

FFS they've got heavy winter covers on and neither of the two horses look malnourished. Compared to a lot of broodmares or retired geldings they're in luxury!! The weather doesn't seem to worry the Kaimamawa Brumbies! They do it tougher than the Blue Mountain ones!

How does @Archie Butterfly aka Peter Profit get away with this garbage?

I think @Murray Fish was being facetious. My point was surely there was another turf track suitable that could do with the revenue but I guess saving on float fees is a key point.

Perhaps but you can factor that into your value finding strategy. Obviously if some trainers from further South could see more consistent race dates at Ruakaka and set up satellite stables then the locals might not be so dominant. Interesting that some Cambridge trainers think the same thing. Not surprisingly when it costs a $1,200 return float fee from the Waikato to Ruakaka.

Perhaps poop could be the latest performance enhancing drug (treatment). Humans are swallowing "healthy" pooh to fix their gut issues. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/surprise-findings-what-kiwis-really-think-about-poo-transplants/KNWQAR7V7NFETJNKNAD2M3V4CY/

At Cambridge of all places.

So there you go @Yankiwi as I said there was more to the issue than you can see. I would guess the same applies to the other scratching example. So the issue doesn't lie with any trainer nor GRNZ but a law interpretation by the RIB caused by a transition phase. In both instances a fine is not warranted so no favours given as you infer. If there are any explanations required or questions to be asked they should come from and be directed to the RIB. I suggest you get your pen working. No dog welfare was affected as both dogs had actually trialled. To make it clear I have had no prior communication with any trainer, GRNZ or the RIB on this matter. I came to my conclusions by looking at the evidence through clear unbiased lenses. @Yankiwi you should try that approach and you might find your hand wringing and stress levels might drop.

What's your point? I see there is a put 30 black type win and places horses going around at a mid-week meeting there on Wednesday. Seems Te Akau isn't the only stable that likes the track. So what is actually puzzling you?

What's your point?

I'd say it would have held up better than New Plymouth on the same day - regardless it holds up better than any meeting that is abandoned. Like most "perceptions" the facts don't often match. Looking at the results it would seem the majority of punters were on the money on Saturday.

I've spoken to more than one trainer about the Ruakaka track and they aren't all locals. Isn't that the type of service that could be of benefit if other clubs around the country did the same? They still had a meeting that wasn't abandoned before or part way through the day. The Open Handicap 1600m was run in 1:26 compared to New Plymouth which was 5 seconds slower. New Plymouth was a bog as was Rotorua yesterday. Obviously you didn't see the rain that fell heavily through the day. Considering they started at a Good 4 full credit to the track that they didn't find any slip marks and cancelled the meeting. Again they ran a full meeting. It has been difficult for the club as they have had to irrigate since it has been so dry at times. But those Waikato trainers would rather trial at Te Rapa and Taupo than Cambridge. A number of the top trainers won't go near the AWT with their best horses. Port isn't medicinal.

Again Grace Foot trialled on 1 August 2024. The question you should be asking is why wasn't that treated as a safe return to racing trial.

There is a difference between circumstantial and circumstances. Probably neither are appropriate in this context as there were clear reasons for the ride.

You'd convicted and hung the Jockey BEFORE you had established the facts.

Hardly circumstantial.

Uh? You bagged a Jockey at a racecourse you have no interest in punting on. Not only that without any idea what was happening you publically stated you hope he gets a long holiday!! BEFORE you even bothered to look for the stipes report!!

Black Caviar: Her career run by run Ryan Reynolds@Reynolds_R 2:21pm A A A Black Caviar winning the 2013 Lightning Stakes. (Image: Slickpix) As we reflect on the incredible career of Black Caviar, we look back on all 25 of her career wins. Black Caviar made her debut at Flemington over 1000m on April 18, 2009. Despite having such an incredible association with Luke Nolen, it wasn’t the star jockey who rode her at her first start. That went to jockey Jarrad Noske, who rode Black Caviar to victory with 51.5kg on her back. Starting a $3 shot, she saluted. Incredibly, that was the one and only time Black Caviar had a starting price greater than $2 and in anything other than black type. With Noske in the saddle, she’d lead all the way to win the Listed Blue Sapphire at Caulfield. It was the last time we’d see her as a two-year-old. She’d return at The Valley on a firm 2 and again dominate her rivals with a victory in the Crockett. She’d back that up down the Flemington straight with a win in the Danehill. But it was that win where everyone knew she could be a superstar. She knuckled the start at Flemington and almost dislodged Nolen. She injured her chest muscles during that incident. The paddock beckoned. Black Caviar returned in January with a win in the Australia Stakes. However, injury struck again – this time in her leg. She returned in October 2010, starting a $1.80 favourite and lived up to that price in the Schillaci Stakes. WATCH: Black Caviar wins 1 to 6 Next was the Schweppes Stakes on Cox Plate Day. The result? A 5.5-length victory, beating a stack of talented horses including Hot Danish and Melito. Group 1 grade was next. Black Caviar took on the straight in the then named Patinack Farm Classic. She wasn’t bothered by the rise in grade, winning by four lengths. She beat rival Hay List to take out the Patinack Farm Classic and the two would go toe-to-toe again when she resumed from a spell in the G1 Lightning. She won by 3.25 lengths and a rivalry was born. Next up was the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, where she set a new weight carrying record for a mare to take out the race as a $1.18 hope. A win in the William Reid followed. Black Caviar had conquered Victoria. What was next? Sydney. The result? Another win. This time in the G1 T.J. Smith. But she was made to work for it with Hay List proving an incredibly stern test. WATCH: Black Caviar wins 7 to 12 Moody continued his adventure with the mare, going north to his home state – Queensland. She took out the G1 BTC Cup. Hay List again was the challenger, but Black Caviar was too strong. Following her extended prep, Black Caviar was given a 21-week break. She returned with wins in the Schillaci and Schweppes Stakes. Her prep culminated in another Patinack Farm Classic victory. Another break followed and when she returned, she won a second Australia Stakes. Could we see her step up in distance? Yes, we could. Moody set his sights on the 1400m C.F Orr Stakes. It was her first and only try over a distance more than 1400m. She won dominantly, beating Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed. Moody then decided to quickly back-up Black Caviar, dropping her back to 1000m to win the Lightning Stakes. WATCH: Black Caviar wins 13 to 18 Another two road trips were then planned. One big one and one small one. The first was to Adelaide, where she won the Group 1 Sangster and Goodwood. The big one? Royal Ascot. All eyes were on the Australian superstar for the trip to Royal Ascot for the Diamond Jubilee. She’d beaten every capable horse Down Under, but could she take on the world? She could. And she was injured. In an incredible Diamond Jubilee performance, Nolen eased up nearing the line on Black Caviar and unlike every other time – she stopped. It was a tighter result than many expected, but she got the job done and saved her jockey’s blushes. Black Caviar was given a long spell to overcome her injury and the trip back to Australia from England. She resumed in the Lighting and won that again. She was freshened up into the William Reid and conquered that too. Her last race and win came in the T.J. Smith where she saluted by three lengths. An incredible career had come to an end. WATCH: Black Caviar wins 19 to 25

In the hours before the news of Black Caviar’s death became public, Peter Moody posted a picture on social media. Posting on X, he shared a moment with Black Caviar and Queen Elizabeth. “The day my two queens met”, the caption read. There was Moody with his top hat off, holding Black Caviar so Her Majesty – a horse racing addict herself – could give our Nelly a pat. Her white glove patted Black Caviar on her head between her eyes, as an adoring public watched on. Black Caviar was used to getting a hero’s reception. She’d received standing ovations at every racetrack she went to in Australia. Fans would line the rails with paper flags waving as she entered and exited the track. In a sport-loving Australia, Black Caviar had transcended racing. She was a national identity – think Don Bradman, Dawn Fraser, Ian Thorpe and Cathy Freeman. We loved her. We wouldn’t hear a bad word about her. Thousands packed Federation Square in Melbourne to watch the 2012 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot. It’s a venue normally reserved for the Socceroos at the World Cup. The lead-up had been interesting. There were plenty of European knockers when it came to Black Caviar. Was she the real deal? Spoiler: She was. But just minutes before that incredible meeting between Black Caviar and the Queen, the story could have been quite different. Luke Nolen had eased up on Black Caviar – like he had done many times before. But Nelly was injured and stopped dramatically for a couple of strides the minute Nolen had turned off the ignition. He and Black Caviar managed to collect themselves and win the race. It was closer than everyone expected – but she won. “I watched her trot away. Probably wanted to close my eyes. She wasn’t as fluent and happy as she presented previously, and I knew that,” Moody reflected on the documentary Black Caviar – The horse of a lifetime. “It was amazing watching Federation Square in Australia on the big screen at Ascot. What the hell is going on here? Midnight in Melbourne and here’s all these people in the cold and damp. “I was just thinking s--t I hope you haven’t got this wrong.” Nolen added: “When they (the gates opened) she jumped well. She didn’t travel in her usual manner. Didn’t tow me into the race. “I had to give her a shake. “I thought she may have been a bit complacent, and I may have been a bit complacent letting her idle late. “All we have ever done is look after this mare. Win first and foremost but keep her in one piece.” With the job done, Moody and Nolen entered back into the mounting yard with Black Caviar. “We were getting the photos taken with the owners and someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘would you be able to bring her over for the Queen to have a look?” Moody said. “I said, ‘fine’. Walked her up in front of the Queen and (track rider) Paddy Bell said, ‘you wanna give her a pat?’ in his Kiwi accent. “We moved her one step closer, and I was glad she (Black Caviar) was so knackered because we were one step off landing on top of her (the Queen). “There were all these people milling around, patting her on the bum. I was thinking, 'if she (Black Caviar) gets a slap in the wrong spot, Black Caviar will be riding Queen Elizabeth, not the other way around'.”

Shit weather. Any other day we would have had abandonments. Some happy owners and trainers picked up some stakes. All good for those with skin in the game.

But you took an intensive interest in the race...go figure.

Big Saturday - better today with only one in the studio and the two in the field at each meeting.