Chief Stipe

That may well be the case with regard to the adjudicators however I've seen it in many cases before where racing defendants have not legalled up soon enough and have not challenged. Often when they do they go in to the fight with a barrister or KC that doesnt understand racing. Often due to an unwritten perceived plea bargain type deal I.e. if I plead guilty or don't fight I'll get a lesser sentence. Unfortunately McGrath panicked initially and made things worse. In some ways that is understandable because of the recent modus operandi of the Feds. He then gave up the fight and retrenched. Again that is not surprising when he would have been fully aware of the extraordinary costs incurred by those already fighting the RIB. If McGrath had been a union man perhaps the union would have helped because a sentencing precedent set can affect anyone else in the future. Note the Harness and Trainers Association were completely missing in action.

Hopefully they are too busy on more important things like tending to track conditions, phoning trainers for horse numbers and nominations, monitoring revenue returns on a daily basis, reviewing the handicapping system, drafting policy to bring the drug testing thresholds into the 21st Century...just little things like that.

Update from the Gold Coast Sale We have just arrived on the Gold Coast for the start of today's Magic Maillions' National Broodmare Sale, and we will also be attending the June Yearling Sale early next week. Today we will see our wonderful mare Imperatriz go through the auction ring 'virtually' - she will be offered for sale to dissolve her racing partnership - whilst being happily ensconced in her paddock at the farm! We have been asked by many people about how they can watch the sale - so if you are keen to follow the action, here is the link to the live sale coverage - Imperatriz is Lot 587 and is estimated to go under the hammer sometime between 6.00pm - 6.45pm NZ time - it is hard to be precise, as much depends on how the actual sale itself proceeds today. Berri (as we know Imperatriz) has brought such joy to so many, and as this chapter closes on this part of her life today, we have very mixed emotions - pride, sadness, excitement, anticipation, respect, and love. To reign supreme on the global stage, as she has done, is a remarkable achievement and we are so proud of all she has accomplished. Here is the link to her catalogue page: https://catalogue.magicmillions.com.au/lot/24GWM/587 Here is the link to the live action: https://www.magicmillions.com.au/youtube-live-broadcast/ From: Team Te Akau

Damn and here I was being so vain to think NZTR read BOAY. One week later:

Greyhound Racing NZ lashes out at SPCA over offer to rehome dogs if industry is closed www.newshub.co.nz The previous Labour Government put the industry on notice, saying it risked being closed down completely. Briefing documents provided to Minister Peters, obtained by Newshub under the Official Information Act, state Cabinet "must" decide if the sport has the social licence to continue, which will likely be a "value-based/political decision". But the industry is coming out swinging. In a press release on Monday, GRNZ says it "firmly believes there are no grounds for greyhound racing to be banned", arguing it does have the social license to operate. The release went on to highlight the "significant progress" it says it's made in the past few years in regard to animal welfare. It also committed to ongoing improvements and highlighted its $8 million annual spend on animal welfare. GRNZ then lashed out at the SPCA saying it was rejecting its offer to rehome dogs if the industry is closed. GRNZ said the SPCA's "values around rehoming do not align with ours". "Notwithstanding the fact that GRNZ believes that grounds for industry closure do not exist, GRNZ would not be comfortable aligning with the SPCA in the rehoming space, as their values around rehoming do not align with ours," GRNZ said. "GRNZ finds their 'commitment to assisting the industry' in this area ironic, given the SPCA is reputed to euthanise healthy animals which they are unable to rehome. The extent of this is unknown, as unlike its Australian counterpart (RSPCA) and many local authorities, the SPCA does not transparently report such statistical information. "Accordingly, GRNZ considers the SPCA’s offer of assistance to be purely political and disingenuous. We challenge the SPCA to make its euthanasia statistics publicly available - like the greyhound racing industry does." SPCA chief scientific officer Dr Arnja Dale said the organisation is thrilled to hear GRNZ has "committed to rehoming its beautiful dogs in the event of industry closure". "This means there is no perceived or real obstacle for this industry being shut down once and for all." Dr Dale said the industry is "on notice" and pointed to a survey from January which found 74 percent of New Zealanders agree the industry should end. "GRNZ’s aggressive attack on organisations dedicated to animal welfare is unsurprising, though it does appear somewhat ungracious to knock back the offer of help so soon after the deaths of two dogs on Thursday racing at Addington. "Mortality rate is a flawed metric as it does nothing to capture the injuries and suffering animals endure. "Sir Bruce Robertson cautioned in his review of greyhound racing in New Zealand that GRNZ must consider whether 'the reputation of the industry based on a single metric [euthanasia] is being prioritised over animal welfare standards'." Dr Dale added the offer by Dogwatch, HUHA, SAFE and SPCA to help rehome greyhounds still stands. New Zealand is among just seven countries where greyhound racing is still legal. Australia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland still allow greyhound racing. The sport is permitted in some states in the United States. Mexico has just one track, and in Vietnam, while legal, the country has no operating racing tracks at all. spca_greyhound_rehoming_open_letter_may2024.pdf

Here is the link to the original research in 2010: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2808334/

The only scientific research I can find was funded by those who patented it. Given recent events in the human world one would have to be a little cautious.

https://www.plusvital.com/products/speed-gene-test Speed Gene Test The Speed Gene Test has been used by trainers, owners and breeders across the world for over 10 years with many of the leading thoroughbred operations routinely testing all their horses. The test can be used to: Determine optimum race distance with over 90% accuracy Increase strike rates and earnings through optimised training and race decisions Understand precocity, potential sales impact and 2 year old performance Assist with breeding decisions to produce the preferred type of horse Product Description The names of the Speed Gene types – “C:C”, “C:T” and “T:T” – have become familiar across the industry due to the extent of their usage and the recognition of the predictive power of the test. The Speed Gene Test examines the Myostatin gene – a gene responsible for the regulation of muscle development. Multiple published studies by Plusvital researchers and others have shown race-distance aptitude is almost entirely determined by the genetic make-up of this gene. The Speed Gene test determines if your horse is one of 3 types: C:C Best suited to shorter distance races and tend to be more forward – performing better as 2-year-olds and at sales 😄 T Most versatile. Best suited to middle distance races as 3-year-old although can perform at shorter distances as 2 year olds. T: T Best suited to staying distances and are later maturing – often being less suited to 2-year-old racing This information can also be used for breeding as a mare or stallion will each pass on one of their letters to the foal. Therefore, knowing the Speed Gene Type of the mare and the stallion allows understanding of what type the resulting foal is likely to be e.g. mating a C:T mare with a C:C stallion will produce C:C foals 50% of the time and C:T foals the other 50% with no chance of producing a T:T foal. (This might be better as an image) Read more published studies How Can I Use The Speed Gene Test For Breeding? The results of the Speed Gene Test will help breeders to: Assist in the production of more early-maturing or classic types depending on your preference Increase strike rates for wins and earnings Increase sales prices and clearance rates by using objective, positive genetic information Use The Speed Gene Test information when matching mares and stallions to produce more of your desired type on a consistent basis. The mare and stallion each pass on one copy of their genetic marker (i.e. ‘C’ or ’T’) to the foal, with a C:T horse being equally likely to pass on a ‘C’ or ’T’. What’s Your Type? Each genetic type has equal potential to be an elite racehorse, but they get there in very different ways: C:Cs tend to be earlier maturing and are better suited to the shorter two-year-old distances with higher strike rates and earnings at this age. See how C:C Horses In Training perform by age across each region: Europe | Australia/New Zealand | USA C:Ts are the most versatile type; they can perform well over shorter distances as two-year-olds and then progress to run over middle distances as three-year-olds and beyond. Therefore, this type has the highest earning potential. See how C:T Horses In Training perform by age across each region: Europe | Australia/New Zealand | USA T:Ts tend to be later maturing and are less suited to two-year-old racing. However, they develop as three-year-olds and have equal lifetime earning potential to C:C types. See how T:T Horses In Training perform by age across each region: Europe | Australia/New Zealand | USA Request More Information Fields marked with an * are required How did you hear about Plusvital? * If "other" please tell us where. What the pros are saying “Having done a genetic test, its implications have opened my eyes into thinking about what the optimum distance of a horse could be and how it could contradict the normal assumptions that might be based on pedigree” “We do a DNA test on all our horses and he came up a T:T long, which is an extreme distance horse, so before we raced him we knew he was a horse with the genetic potential to run 3,200+ metres. That has always been at the back of our mind.” Danny O'Brien Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien on genetically testing Vow and Declare with the Plusvital Racing Genepak, including the Speed Gene Test “Anyone breeding horses who doesn’t know the genetic make-up of his mares is throwing caution to the wind. To me, Plusvital’s Speed Gene Test is an absolute necessity.”

Interesting using a traditional dosage analysis Snow Patrol has a DI 0.82 and CD 0.1. Those figures indicate it should comfortably get a middle distance race. What does the DNA test use as a reference database? Does it determine the relative contribution of the sire and mare? I gather it tests for the Speed Gene but how accurate is it? I suspect it is a bit gimmicky. We all know of horses that could run 2000m and run 10.5. https://equinecode.com/en/product/kit-thoroughbred-best-race-distance

ng Tayla Melvin pictured after riding her first winner at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Melvin guides first winner at Pukekohe Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 27 May 2024 Tayla Melvin had an afternoon to remember at Pukekohe Park on Saturday, riding her first winner in the saddle aboard the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Devoted. The 21-year-old is apprenticed to the Te Akau Racing trainers and made her raceday debut aboard the stable’s mare Polly Plum in mid-April at Matamata, finishing third. With a further nine raceday rides under her belt, Melvin combined with the son of Contributer in the TAB NZ 2100, where he was rated a $16.30 chance after finishing strongly last-start for fourth under the young hoop at Rotorua. Devoted jumped fairly away from barrier seven and Melvin allowed the six-year-old to settle back at the tail of the 14-horse field, sitting three-wide in the heavy conditions. The gelding was travelling better than most turning for home, sweeping to the extreme outside and running down Charlbury to score by a neck at the post. Melvin was elated after the victory, which follows an extensive list of Te Akau apprentices to salute on raceday including Daniel Stackhouse, Vinnie Colgan, Opie Bosson and Troy Harris. “It’s good to finally get the monkey off my back this early in my career, it’s pretty good,” she said. “I probably rode him a bit further back than I had anticipated, but he’s the kind of horse that switches off and relaxes in behind midfield. “When he came into the home straight, he let down really nicely. “I did think it might be coming (the win), but I didn’t want to get too confident.” While Melvin didn’t initially have a career in horses in mind, she ended up working for Wingatui couple Terry and Debbie Kennedy, and a move to Matamata soon provided an opportunity to start an apprenticeship. “I said to myself when I left school that I didn’t want to pursue a career in horses, but here I am,” she said. “I’m originally from down south in Mosgiel, and I was based with Terry and Debbie Kennedy down there. “I started with Te Akau about a year ago, and Mark offered for me to stay and do my apprenticeship with him, so I haven’t looked back since.” Walker was full of praise for Melvin, while indicating a future over the fences is a possibility for her winning mount. “She’s an important part of the team, rides beautiful track work, and all the staff will be rapt for her,” he said. “She’s been getting better in every ride since starting off last month and her fitness is continuing to improve. I think she’s got a bright future. “And the horse, Devoted, he’s continuing to furnish and mature, although it has taken time, and he could develop into a really nice steeplechaser.” Devoted was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the 2019 Karaka Yearling Sales, out of co-breeder Mapperley Stud’s draft for $50,000. The gelding has won four races and $72,842 in stakes from 33 attempts for the Te Akau Cartography Syndicate.

Emily Woller after riding her first winner at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Woller enters winner’s circle at Trentham Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 27 May 2024 After beginning her career in the amateurs, Emily Woller broke into the apprentice jockey ranks in style when riding her first winner aboard Quid at Trentham on Saturday. Waikato-based Woller had her first raceday ride as an amateur twelve months ago, and with another year of experience under her belt, took her first ride as a licensed apprentice for her mentor Clinton Isdale at Ellerslie last month. “It didn’t feel like as much of a step-up for me which was quite good, I got to have the basics of race riding in the amateurs,” Woller said. “It is a bit more competitive now with the whip use.” She picked up a second placing on another of Isdale’s contingent Pontardawe during April but headed to Trentham in pursuit of an elusive win partnering Kevin Myers’ five-year old, who was on debut and the outsider at $54. The early part of the race didn’t go as she had planned with Quid travelling wide near the tail of the field into the first bend, but he travelled kindly along the back straight as stablemate Winewomenandsong controlled the pace up-front. Quid tracked the widest again turning for home as the field fanned across the track, the long Trentham straight playing in his favour as the gelding wound up strongly down the outer and chased down Paradis, taking the win by a long neck. Woller was thrilled to collect her first success and expressed her gratitude to Myers post-race. “It was lovely, he just travelled up really nicely and I’m very grateful to Kevin for putting me on. He’s a nice horse,” she said. “I was a bit worried being wide, but I found some cover, and as soon as he straightened up he dug really deep.” The 17-year-old was born in Wanganui and returned to the River City recently to gain some experience under Myers, who rewarded her with the ride aboard the son of Rios. “I just thought I’d come down and get some more experience somewhere different, and I’m really loving it down here,” Woller said. “I grew up riding ponies all my life, and my sister was working as ground staff for Shelley Houston, so I went in one day to help out and I haven’t looked back since. “I went from Shelley’s to Clinton Isdale, and he mentioned about me getting my license, so we got onto that and here I am now.” Myers also spoke after Woller’s win, indicating Quid may commence his career over fences sooner rather than later, following in the footsteps of full-brother Lochwinnoch and half-brother Yardarm, the latter a former winner of the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) and Wellington Steeplechase (5500m). “It was good for her (Woller), she was lucky to be on this horse as she was a bit overweight but she’s done the work at home over the past week, so we’ve given her the chance,” Myers said. “The Wallace’s (owners) sit back and wait for their horses (to mature), but he’s gone well at the jumping trials. He’ll probably go over the jumps next weekend.”

One question that I hope someone can answer is why weren't HRNZ a respondent? Only the RIB were. At the end of day it is HRNZ that grant the license and it is the HRNZ rules that are being addressed.

That was McGrath's third mistake not appealing. The fact he didn't appeal doesn't add weight to it being right as you infer. There appears to be no concept of parole in the rules. It is more of an appeal against the original sentence and is heavily skewed towards justifying the original sentence rather than rehabilitation. Perhaps that is unjust given we allow the concept of parole and rehabilitation in higher Courts. Which he can do again in 12 months. Not that it carries any weight but do you think House's emotive views will have cooled down by then?

Bollocks as the Judge said to me opinion carries no weight in a Court of Law. An affidavit is a legal document that sets out clearly the facts in support of your case. Nothing more. It is obvious that the RIB had contact with House either before and or after the affidavit was written. It is a serious indictment on both parties that the affidavit was presented as RIB evidence. Surely there is ample experience at the RIB to have either coached House in writing the affidavit or chosen to not present it. It was presented as RIB evidence NOT as an individual. The Tribunal members have extensive legal experience and treated the affidavit with the disdain it deserved. Only because they were obliged to read it as it was presented as evidence by the RIB albeit I'd say nerfariously. McKechnies day job is as a very experienced litigator. That is far more relevant than his hobbies. But in his affidavit House clearly showed he wasn't credible hence it was ignored. The legal professionals I know have an innate ability to completely ignore the irrelevant and not be influenced by it. Are you suggesting they didn't even read it before they presented it as evidence? Even more sloppy. Are you suggesting House rang the RIB and said I'll write an affidavit in support of your case? Even more dodgy. Correct. They found House to give evidence but he didnt have any.

More back flips in that post than the Cirque du Soleil!!!

Opinions are irrelevant and not considered in a Tribunal or any court for that matter. Opinions again. Irrelevant. However if 8 years was manifestly just in the first place then that's what his term will be. They won't as long as the RIB continues their stance. I gather for you to have this view you believe that the initial sentence was unjust.

It was in the Judgement which you obviously haven't read. Not only that I pasted the relevant paragraph from the Judgement above. The RIB presented House's affidavit as part of their evidence. Do you think it just fell off the back of a truck or it was delivered by the tooth fairy?

You definitely are naive. Surely you are not suggesting that those who have similar views to House are going to change their minds nor that THEIR opinion actually matters?

Which is evident in the RIB case to the Tribunal in the McGrath application. Forget about who is advising McGrath WHO advised House?

I'm not sure where the character assassination of House has occurred in this thread but didn't he open himself up to criticism by filing an "emotive and extravagant language" affidavit? Who was doing the character assassination in that instance?

We don't know what opinion he expressed other than the Tribunal considered it to be poor and of no consequence. Don't you see a degree of desperation on the RIB's part to present House's affidavit as evidence? Does it really give you confidence in the RIB? Afterall it is very clear in a legal context what an affidavit is. I remember very clearly being admonished by a Judge for presenting opinion rather than fact in my first attempt at writing and filing one. Didn't make that mistake again.

I don't have a problem with House but I do have a problem with whoever at the RIB engaged him to write an affidavit. House's mistake was to write it. Of what benefit was it to the case? Of what benefit was it to House? Of what benefit was it to the Industry? In my opinion it reeks of the stench of the motivation behind the INCA affair.

He was a patsy for the RIB and according to the Tribunal made a hash of it. A forlorn hope I know but wouldn't it be great to see a formal inquiry into the costly mess that INCA turned out to be. Especially seeing witness and Informant statements. It would be great if someone posted House's affidavit. It would be even more interesting to find out who from the RIB approached House and presumably vetted his affidavit.

Cry me a river @the galah ! You're telling me that House deserves accolades for turning up all round Canterbury with average horses in below average races! So we should promote mediocrity for the good of Harness Racing - Yeah Na! Of course he has a right to express his opinions but he was put up to by the RIB and I suspect one individual. The one individual who has driven most of the INCA garbage and who has a reputation for dubious witness statements. The Tribunal no doubt quite rightly described House's affidavit as follows: The RIB provided an affidavit from a License Holder Mr Michael House. This opposed the application. Mr House uses emotive and at times extravagant language. He speaks simply as an individual. The Tribunal attaches no weight to the affidavit. Surely that is a big negative for House, the industry and his acolytes.

You made the comparison by referring to the 500+ other trainers below House on the premiership. Over a third of House's wins have been at Manawatu!