Chief Stipe

This was their Plan B for today: MEETING NEWS Racing at Taranaki/Rotorua Saturday Currently both tracks sit in the Heavy10 range and have experienced minimal rain in the last 24 hours with both venues in good order as of today’s inspection. Rainfall, actual and forecast, will continue to be monitored. The tracks will be inspected again around 6am by track managers and the RIB. Any information will be communicated by NZTR by 6.45am at the latest.

This must be a record @TAB For Ever - no thoroughbred race meetings in NZ for 7 days! Ironically the last flat meeting was at Ruakaka. A track that has had dates taken off it. No thought to move the Auckland Racing at Pukekohe to Ruakaka...nope we'll roll the dice again and see what it is like on Sunday!

Look how they do it in OZ ABANDONED & TRANSFERRED MEETINGS Cranbourne (Vic) - Thursday 18th July 2024 Racing Victoria (RV) advises that the meeting scheduled for Cranbourne this Thursday, 18 July has been transferred to the Sportsbet-Pakenham Synthetic track. The Cranbourne track has been deemed unsuitable for racing this week due to the impacts of ongoing rain with over 41mm falling since 9am yesterday. As a result of the transfer, the 3YO Fillies Maiden Plate and 0-62 Handicap have been reduced to 1200m, while the BM58 Handicap has been reduced to 2200m. In addition, field limits have been reduced to 12 for six races, with a field limit of 11 in place for the two 1600m races – a Maiden Plate and BM64 Handicap. Acceptances for the transferred meeting have been extended until 11am today with riders to be declared by 2pm. Trainers who had accepted for the Cranbourne meeting, but do not wish to start their horse at the Sportsbet-Pakenham Synthetic meeting are requested to withdraw it by 11am today. Updated 16/7 Rosehill Trials (NSW) - Friday 9th August 2024 Rosehill barrier trials scheduled for Friday, 9th August 2024 have been brought FORWARD and will now be conducted on Tuesday, 6th August 2024. Nominations for this set of trials close at 11.00am on Friday, 2nd August 2024. Updated 15/7 Beaumont Newcastle (NSW) - Monday 22nd July & Tuesday 6th August 2024 Racing NSW advise of the following Beaumont Newcastle (Country status) race meeting transfers. Monday 22 July 2024- Beaumont Newcastle transferred to Gunnedah Race No. Newspaper Name Distance Prizemoney Amended Distance 1 BM 66 HCP 2100 $27,000.00 2150 2 BM 58 HCP 1150 $27,000.00 1000 3 COUNTRY BOOSTED BM 58 HCP 1300 $30,000.00 4 CLASS 1 HCP 1200 $27,000.00 1250 5 CG&E MAIDEN PLATE 1150 $27,000.00 Maiden Plate 1000m (no sex restriction) 6 F&M MAIDEN PLATE 1150 $27,000.00 Maiden Plate 1250m (no sex restriction) 7 COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE 1300 $30,000.00 1400 Tuesday 6 August 2024- Beaumont Newcastle transferred to Quirindi Race No. Newspaper Name Distance Prizemoney Amended Distance 1 F&M BM 58 HCP 1150 $27,000.00 1100 2 CG&E BM 58 HCP 1150 $27,000.00 1100 3 COUNTRY BOOSTED BM 58 HCP 1300 $30,000.00 1450 4 CLASS 1 HCP 1200 $27,000.00 5 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE 2100 $27,000.00 2000 6 COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE 1150 $30,000.00 1100 7 MAIDEN HCP 1350 $27,000.00 1450 Updated 15/7 Sportsbet-Ballarat (VIC) - Sunday 14th July 2024 Please be advised that the meeting scheduled for Sportsbet-Ballarat tomorrow, Sunday 14th July has been transferred to the club's synthetic track. Updated 13/7 Donald (VIC) - Saturday 13th July 2024 Please be advised that the meeting scheduled for Donald today has been transferred to Warracknabeal. Updated 13/7 Port Augusta (SA) - Friday 12th July 2024 Please be advised that the meeting scheduled for Port Augusta today has been abandoned due to weather and state of the track. The Port Augusta Cup will be added to the program for Sunday 21st July with new nominations to be taken. Updated 12/7 Ingham (Qld) - Saturday 13th July 2024 The Herbert River JC (Ingham) non-Tab meeting scheduled for Saturday July 13, has been abandoned due to the state of the track. The Ingham racetrack has received 40mm rainfall in the past 7 days (including an overnight shower) and a further QRIC Stewards track inspection on Thursday morning ruled the track to be unsuitable for racing. Updated 11/7 Coffs Harbour (NSW) - Saturday 13th July 2024 Racing NSW advise the Coffs Harbour race meeting scheduled for Saturday, 13th July 2024 has been abandoned. RNSW Stewards have inspected the track currently rated a Heavy 10, after 110mm rainfall over the past 7 days and have deemed it unsuitable for racing. Updated 9/7 Taree (NSW) - Thursday 11th July 2024 Racing NSW advise the Taree race meeting scheduled for Thursday, 11th July 2024 has been transferred to Saturday, 13th July 2024. The Taree track is currently rated a Heavy-10 however should see some improvement with the extra few days and favourable weather forecast. Please note scratchings to be reinstated and rider declarations re-opened to now close 12 noon tomorrow. Updated 9/7 Muswellbrook (NSW) - Thursday 11th July 2024 Following the Muswellbrook track deemed unsuitable for racing this morning, the meeting has been postponed and will now be conducted at Muswellbrook on Thursday, 11th July 2024. Stewards to reinspect track tomorrow morning. Please note scratchings to be reinstated and rider declarations re-opened to now close 12 noon tomorrow. Updated 9/7 Muswellbrook (NSW) - Tuesday 9th July 2024 Please be advised that the meeting scheduled for Muswellbrook today has been postponed due to overnight rain and track being deemed unsuitable to race. Updated 9/7 Rosehill Gardens Trials (NSW) - Tuesday 9th July 2024 Please be advised that the trials scheduled for Rosehill Gardens today, Tuesday 9th July have been postponed and will now be conducted on Friday 12th July. Updated 9/7 Goulburn (NSW) - Friday 19th July 2024 Racing NSW wish to advise the Goulburn race meeting scheduled for Friday 19th July 2024 has been transferred and will now be conducted at Queanbeyan racecourse. As a result of this transfer, some race distance amendments apply. Updated 8/7 Wyong (NSW) - Monday 8th July 2024 Wyong: The meeting has been postponed due to further rainfall overnight leaving sections of the track waterlogged and unsuitable to race. Updated 8/7 Port Augusta (SA) - Sunday 7th July 2024 Please be advised that the meeting scheduled for Port Augusta today has been postponed due to overnight rain and subsequent state of the track. Updated 7/7 Wyong (NSW) - Saturday 6th July 2024 Please be advised that the meeting scheduled for Wyong today has been postponed at 9am following further rainfall and subsequent state of the track. This meeting will now proceed on Monday 8th July with all scratchings reinstated. Updated 6/7 Coffs Harbour (NSW) - Saturday 6th July 2024 Racing NSW Stewards have inspected the Coffs Harbour track following 7mm of rainfall last 24hours/72mm last 7 days and have deemed the track unsuitable for racing. With a forecast for further rain over the next 24 hours, the decision has been made to postpone the race meeting scheduled for tomorrow to next Saturday, 13th July 2024. Please note fresh nominations and acceptances to be taken with nominations closing 11am Monday morning. Updated 5/7 Wondai (Qld) - Saturday 6th July 2024 The South Burnett RC (Wondai) non-Tab race meeting on Saturday July 6 has been abandoned due the state of the track. A QRIC Stewards inspection of the racetrack Friday morning found the track unsuitable for racing following 20mm of rain/consistent light showers since the beginning of the week. There are still a number of sections of the track with surface water and weather conditions will not allow such to dry out adequately. Consideration was given to postponing the meeting to Sunday, but could not be logistically achieved. RQ will liaise with the club regarding a replacement date later in the season. Due to the abandonment, and additional race has been added to the Esk JC non-Tab meeting on Saturday, July 13. It is: Open Plate (sw) 1200m $10,000 Nominations for the Esk race meeting close at 11.00am on Tuesday 9/7/24. Updated 5/7 Canterbury Park Trials (NSW) - Friday 5th July 2024 Please be advised that the trials scheduled for Canterbury Park today have been postponed due to the unsafe condition of the track following 25mm of rain in the past 48 hours including 10mm overnight. Updated 5/7 Nowra Trials (NSW) - Monday 8th July 2024 Racing NSW advise the set of Non-Raceday barrier trials scheduled for Nowra on Monday 8th July 2024 have been abandoned due to the state of the track deemed unsuitable to conduct trials. Updated 4/7 Kembla Grange (NSW) Thursday 4th July 2024 Kembla Grange - Following further rain overnight the stewards have conducted a track inspection and deemed it unsuitable for racing as such the meeting has been postponed. Updated 4/7 Doomben (QLD) - Tuesday 2nd July 2024 Please be advised that the trials scheduled for Doomben today, Tuesday 2nd July have been postponed to Thursday 4th July due to weather and state of the track. New nominations will be closing at midday Wednesday 3rd July. Updated 2/7 Toowoomba (Qld) - Tuesday 2nd July 2024 Toowoomba Barrier Trials Tuesday 02.07.2024 - CANCELLED due to weather - further details will be released tomorrow regarding rescheduling of new Barrier trials. Updated 1/7 Naracoorte (SA) - Sunday 30th June 2024 Racing SA advise the meeting scheduled for Naracoorte on Sunday 30th June 2024 has been abandoned due to the state of the track and current weather forecast Updated 28/6 Roebourne (WA) - Saturday 29th June 2024 Please be advised that the meeting scheduled for Roebourne tomorrow, Saturday 29th June 2024 has been abandoned due to excessive overnight rainfall. Updated 28/6 Carnarvon (WA) - Friday 28th June 2024 Please be advised that the meeting scheduled for Carnarvon today has been abandoned due to weather and state of the track. Updated 28/6 Rockhampton (Qld) - Friday 28th June 2024 Racing Queensland (RQ) advises that the race meeting which was originally scheduled for Rockhampton Jockey Club on Friday 28 June has been abandoned as the track has been deemed unsuitable for racing due to recent rainfall. As a result the following races have been transferred (with scratchings reinstated) to the Rockhampton Jockey Club program on Sunday 30 June. It is: • Tattersalls Sprint 1200m; • Ratings Band 0 – 55 1300m; and • Two Year old Maiden Handicap 1100m Any horse accepted in another race on the program on Friday can nominate / accept in any race on Sunday 30 June. The deadline for this race meeting has been extended until midday today. Updated 27/6 ATC Barrier Trials (NSW) Various Dates June & July 2024 Racing NSW advise of the following barrier trial amendments due to the Randwick track deemed currently unsuitable for racing due to inclement weather. Monday 24 June 2024- Randwick Steeple Grass Trials ABANDONED. Monday 24 June 2024- Randwick Polytrack Trial Meeting added. Please note a replacement set of Polytrack trials have been added pending sufficient nominations. Fresh nominations to close 1pm this afternoon. Friday 28 June 2024- Randwick Barrier Trial Meeting added. Nominations to close Tuesday 25 June. Friday 5 July 2024- Randwick trials transferred to Canterbury Park. Updated 22/6 Royal Randwick (NSW) Saturday 22th June 2024 Randwick has been postponed due to the condition of the track following persistent rainfall this morning. Updated 22/6

https://www.metservice.com/maps-radar/rain/radar/New-Plymouth?range=120&tab=last-24-hours

At the February meeting they had more than 20mm in two hours before 7 am!

Yes but those tracks are part of the Messara ( @TAB For Ever ) undesirables. The plan is to sell them and make the chosen elite better. Well the plan arent working is it! Anyone seen or heard from MIA Sharrock?

I hear some of the locals aren't happy.

I wondered that. A mate attended their February meeting and they had more rain then in torrential downpours up to an hour before scratching time and then during the day. It was Taranaki Cup day though. I wonder if the big 'O' was at Taranaki?

MIA Sharrock - the rain was forecast. Why don't you and Entain formulate a plan B before plan A fails? The parameters are quite simple aren't they. Can we get the starting gates to another venue that has a better surface, will there be a broadcast van available and what is the forecast! I also suggest that you throw away the sausage rolls now. 4 x thaw and freeze makes the pastry fall off.

@TAB For Ever does the Messara report float? The messiah doesn't walk on water. May as well not bother during July!

MEETING NEWS Taranaki Abandoned Today After an inspection of the track this morning by the RIB and Club representatives the meeting at New Plymouth today has been abandoned. There has been 19mm of rain overnight resulting in a water-logged track with further rain predicted. MEETING NEWS Rotorua Abandoned Today Due to surface water on the track in areas past the winning post, and after sustained periods of rain, the meeting at Rotorua today has been abandoned. There has been 31mm of rain in the last 24 hours on a Heavy10 track. NZTR will work with the Club and Entain NZ to see what options are available next week.

Northern Raceday Services kicked off in 1977 with a loan from NZTR. There doesn't seem to be any record of the shareholding or company details then or now. The letter posted about the breakdown states they started as a voluntary organisation. I suspect their future may be uncertain. Interesting how we never hear anything from MIA Sharrock.

‘Biggest mistake of my career': Why J-Mac shouldn't move to Hong Kong www.racenet.com.au Hall of Fame jockey Glen Boss has urged superstar rider James McDonald to remain in Sydney racing and continue travelling to Hong Kong for the big racedays. McDonald is a jockey in demand and is clearly the nation's leading rider after a sensational season in which he has ridden 19 Group 1 winners, including a career-best 14 majors in Australia. The jockey they call "JMac" can ride his 50th stakes winner for the season on Charterhouse in the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday as he moves inexorably closer to a sixth consecutive Sydney jockeys premiership. But McDonald has also ridden four Group 1 winners in Hong Kong – and one in Japan – this season and senior Hong Kong Jockey Club officials have publicly said they want the jockey to one day base himself there full-time. But Boss feels McDonald can continue to enjoy the "best of both worlds" from Sydney. Twelve months after their 2022 Cox Plate embrace, James McDonald and Glen Boss again celebrate after Romantic Warrior's famous 2023 Cox Plate victory. Picture: Mark Stewart • Racewatch: Tips, race-by-race analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday "I've told James he doesn't need to move to Hong Kong – he can keep doing both,'' Boss said. "Do you realise he was fifth in the prizemoney list in Hong Kong ($HK91.5 million, $A17.4 million) this season? He can stay in Sydney and go there when he's asked because he has the connections in Hong Kong now.'' Boss said the biggest mistake of his career was moving to Hong Kong in 2006 when he was at the peak of his career. "I thought I would go to Hong Kong and ride out my career there,'' Boss said. "I finished fourth in the premiership and had a good season but I missed riding in all the good races and the good horses back home. It's the biggest mistake I made in my riding career.'' • ‘I think this filly is a good horse': Blueblood excites Waller Fellow riding legends Shane Dye and Jim Cassidy, however, believe it is inevitable that McDonald will end up riding in Hong Kong. Dye said if McDonald stayed in Sydney he would eventually ride 200 Group 1 winners but said the lucrative financial rewards of Hong Kong racing were almost impossible to ignore. "It all depends on whether he wants prestige and premierships, or if he wants to be wealthy,'' Dye said. "If James wants to win premierships and Group 1 races he can stay here, there is nothing wrong with that. But if he wants to be a very, very wealthy person he needs to go to Hong Kong.'' • Rosehill Turf Talk: Cohen keen on $9.50 value bet Cassidy also felt McDonald would one day make the move to Hong Kong. "I can't see him staying in Aussie,'' Cassidy said. "I've always said records are there to be broken but you can't ‘eat' records. He will make a lot more money in Hong Kong.'' Ray Thomas interviewed Boss, Dye, Cassidy and fellow Hall of Famers Darren Beadman and "Miracle" Mal Johnston about what makes McDonald so good and where he rates in the pantheon of all-time greats. You can read the full feature on Racenet on Friday morning.

He can beat him again': Grimson plotting another Leap To Fame upset District Attorney has beaten Leap To Fame once and can lower his colours again in the Group 1 Sunshine Sprint on Saturday night. Picture: Stuart McCormick By Adam Hamilton 03:09pm • 19 July 2024 Nobody knows how to beat champion pacer Leap To Fame better than Jason Grimson. The NSW trainer famously upstaged Leap To Fame with his stable star Swayzee in last year's Blacks A Fake. More recently, Grimson's new stable addition District Attorney stunned everybody when he came off Leap To Fame's back and ran him down in the Patrons Purse at Redcliffe on June 21. It was Leap To Fame's only defeat in his past 16 starts. Grimson is growing in confidence he can cause an upset again in Saturday night's $200,000 Group 1 Sunshine Sprint (1660m) at Albion Park. While Leap To Fame totally dominates betting at $1.30 in the Sunshine Sprint, Grimson has strength of numbers with four runners – District Attorney, Hector, Nerano and Hi Manameisjeff – in the 10-horse field. "I really like District Attorney, I think he can beat him again," Grimson said. "I was a bit disappointed with District Attorney last time, but we led-up on him and he just switched off in front. He's much better than that. "This time he's drawn to lead early and then sit on the back on Leap To Fame, which suits him ideally. "That's how he beat him at Redcliffe and I think he's a great chance of doing it again. "I've got some good chances across a few races on Saturday night, but I think District Attorney is my best chance. "Don't rule out Nerano, too. He's really dangerous if they go hard and he gets the last shot at them from off the speed." Grimson also warned not to discount Hi Manameisjeff, who has won seven of eight starts since joining his stable, but will start from outside the back row. "I think I'll tell Cam (Hart, driver) to punch through from the back row and get straight around outside the leader, which will suit this horse," he said. Grimson is also a key part of the other big rivalry on Saturday as trainer of boom former Kiwi mare Aardies Express, who has a rematch with Australia's champion mare Ladies In Red in the $150,000 Group 1 Golden Girl. Aardies Express upset Ladies In Red at their only clash when she came from back in the field to run her down in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile at Menangle on May 4. "She'll be hard to beat again. I know Ladies In Red has a better draw, but my mare is very, very tough," he said. "I think the race is more open than just the two top mares. I've got Tay Tay and Illavabubbles in it, and Tay Tay is absolutely flying. "If they go really hard up front, which looks likely, Tay Tay will be the one flying home at the finish." • Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp

Hokitika had no horses but could sustain a racetrack. Ellerslie has no horses but can't seem to get a track that one can race on. With the way the Mesara elite chosen few are performing they need every track in the country as a backup. There aren't that many Pukekohe's left to hammer for the chosen one.

Some education for you EPO is short for erythropoietin. Can you please cite the evidence showing that Ironvita is a known EPO?

Is that the best you've got @Seeyounexttuesdaytrainers ? Suggest you get back to making banners.

It is a supplement with the following active ingredients: Active Constituents: Each 30 mL dose contains: IRON 300 mg COPPER 30 mg COBALT 1.1 mg FOLIC ACID 9 mg It is NOT EPO! So that's your first piece of alarmist misinformation. Again factually incorrect. Pringle was charged under the following rule (not because it wasn't licensed): 14. Under GRNZ Prohibited Substance Regulations for the Rules of Racing, substances capable at any time acting directly or indirectly on the blood system are Prohibited Substances. Cobalt is capable of acting upon the blood system and, under the Rules, when present in urine above 100 ng/mL, is a Prohibited Substance in accordance with the Rules. Now this is where the rules have a few holes in them. What does "substances capable at any time acting directly or indirectly on the blood system" actually mean? It is a very broad catchall rule and could cover a myriad of substances. For example Cobalt is a key component of the Vitamen B complexes - particularly B12. They were only implausible in your mind. Where is the evidence for a "...usually lenient adjunct committee..." that's just your opinion. Please provide some facts. The whole Cobalt issue in racing has caused many injustices. I suggest you do some more research. Where is the evidence that Cobalt at the levels found are performancing enhancing? @Seeyounexttuesdaytrainers you are welcome to practice you anti-Greyhound Racing arguments on BOAY and you need more practice.

Only two in the North Island? Cambridge Trots and Wanganui Dogs? I've never worked out why with today's technology and a decent Satellite link you actually needed one. Especially for the Dogs.

Why would that be?

MEETING NEWS Hawke’s Bay Abandonment The Hawke’s Bay meeting was abandoned yesterday at around 6.20am. The track was inspected on Wednesday and found to be in safe condition for racing. The track was a Heavy10 prior to the 28mm of rain received. Rainfall intensity exceeded forecasts with an inspection on Thursday morning showing surface water at varying parts of the track between the 1400m and 800m. Following this the meeting was abandoned for reasons of safety. There was some further rain predicted. The meeting was unable to be re-scheduled for the following day (Friday) as it couldn’t be serviced by Entain NZ. With three CD meetings in four days in the week starting Monday 22 July it has been decided not to reschedule. NZTR are open to dividing races at both Awapuni on Thursday and Otaki on Saturday. With potentially four jump races at Waverley it is unlikely that there will be divisions. Any abandonment is frustrating for all participants and costly to the industry however horse and rider safety cannot be compromised. An early call did mitigate both disruption and costs to the Industry.

Mmm that letter says there is a Company called Northern Raceday Services Society Ltd. Yet the company isn't registered at the companies office. The email address domain is for an accounting firm in Thames - Howlett Dalzell Accountancy Services Ltd.

Notice from Northern Race Day Services. Northern Raceday Services S.ociety Ltd Statement on Raceday Abandonment at Pukekuhe Park Northern Raceday Services Society Ltd (NRS) wishes to address the recent raceday abandonment that occurred at Pukekohe Park on Wednesday July 17. Established in 1977 as an essentially voluntary organisation supported by regional clubs, NRS. is dedicated to providing northern race clubs with barrier attendants and, where necessary,-starting gates for raceday, trials, and jumpouts. Our fleet, including the towing truck, purpose-built trailer, and minibus, undergoes regular servicing. Additionally, our custom-built Steriline starting gates are maintained by qualified engineers and receive annual servicing from a Steriline representative to ensure their reliability. The disruption on Wednesday was due to an unforeseen issue with a fuel pressure valve on our towing truck en-route to Pukekohe Park. Despite our rigorous maintenance schedule, this fault could not have been anticipated. In our 47 years of operation, covering hundreds of race meetings and trials, this is the first time a breakdown has prevented us from fulfilling our duties. Under the current structure, where NRS is tasked with providing barrier staff and, where required, barriers for northern region race meetings, NRS has no option but to accept full responsibility for the abandonment. We are acutely aware of the impact this has had on all stakeholders and an investigation is underway to clearly identify the cause and to implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Our goal is to ensure that this does not happen again and to maintain the high standards of service expected from us. We apologise for the disruption caused and are taking all necessary steps to avoid recurrence. NRS remains dedicated to supporting the racing community and ensuring the smooth operation of race meetings for the benefit of all involved. 19 July - Northern Raceday Services Statement re Pukekohe Park - Wed, 17 July.pdf

I understand the rule and the reasons however like many rules in all three racing codes it is hamfisted and archaic. Surely any possible cheating can be addressed by instructing all those participants to have their phone on vibrate or silent mode. The pictures don't show anyone behind the boxes but over the fence. I imagine there are two-way radios in use to transmit instructions to the start. At the end of the day it is just nit picking by what seem to be disgruntled past stakeholders.

Why would you be bothered? Explain to us all how it supports your agenda?