Chief Stipe

Good point. Does a few hours make a difference?

It says the positive was Bute. All stables use it so I guess a mistiming of application. Note Prowess was retired due to Laminitis one month after the race. Obviously they were struggling to keep her sound. Prowess Retired to Stud Tara Madgwick - Tuesday December 12 Outstanding Group I winning mare Prowess has run her last race with Kingsclere Stables announcing the daughter of Proisir has been retired due to a degenerative hoof condition. "The whole team at Kingsclere and the ownership group are absolutely devastated to share the news that Prowess's racing career has been cut short," a tweet from Kingsclere Stables read. "She is a once in a lifetime horse that gave us many thrills and changed many people's lives. "Due to the degree of changes present in the left foot, the mare will require a period of specialist farriery treatment and rehabilitation. "Once changes of laminitis have developed to this degree, it is very uncommon for horses to return to the stresses of racing." Prowess was a dual G1 winner - image Grant Courtney A $230,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase from Hallmark Stud for her trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Prowess won eight of 12 starts earning $1.5million and win the Group II MVRC Crystal Mile during a brief campaign in the spring. The full sister to Prowess will be a highlight at Karaka Book 1 offered as Lot 21 by Hallmark Stud.

No measure of variance or normalisation of data. Pointless presentation. D-

Interesting - no pre-leaks from the integrity units in Victoria.

Confirmed positive sample from Prowess (NZ) > Australia and International Horse Racing news updated daily www.thoroughbrednews.com.au Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have received a report from Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) confirming that a prohibited substance was detected in a pre-race urine sample collected from the Roger James and Robert Wellwood trained racehorse, Prowess (NZ). The report relates to a pre-race urine sample taken from Prowess prior to the mare starting in the TAB Champions Stakes (Race 😎 over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse on 11 November 2023. RASL reported that the urine sample was shown to contain Phenylbutazone, Oxyphenbutazone and Gamma-hydroxyphenylbutazone (a non- steroidal anti-inflammatory and its metabolites) which is a prohibited substance on raceday in accordance with the Australian Rules of Racing. The Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) also reported that it had detected Phenylbutazone, Oxyphenbutazone and gamma-hydroxyphenylbutazone within the reserve portion of the urine sample. Phenylbutazone is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. It has analgesic (pain relieving), anti-inflammatory and fever suppression properties and is registered for use in horses by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. The substance is, however, a prohibited substance under the Australian Rules of Racing when detected in a sample taken from a horse at a race meeting or trial (including an official trial or a jump-out for the purpose of obtaining a permit to start in a race). RV Stewards initially informed Mr James and Mr Wellwood of the irregularity on 22 December 2023. Mr James and Mr Wellwood were informed on 5 February 2024 of the confirmatory findings and that Stewards are continuing their investigation. Note - Prowess finished 6th in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (TAB Champions Stakes) at Flemington on November 11th. ThoroughbredNEWS News Desk

@Yankiwi I suggest you take your meds.

But contrary to your inference you don't have connections at Harvard. Bit like the inferences you make with your statistics.

Make your mind up!

Yes or though in a Syndicate it is the Racing Managers responsibility. That's still MY choice not something HRNZ should be called upon to legislate. You can't legislate morality. I wouldn't ever send my horse to a trainer with a proven diabolical record. I'd give it every chance I could otherwise what's the point of the investment? Yes you do. But only when you own it.

I think you are stretching it when you say "pride and joy horse"!

Or send it to the knackers yard?

If you have connections at Harvard I suggest you get them to do a review of your statistics and analysis. Would add credibility to your arguments would it not?

Given he is now effectively banned I'd want to see the money in my bank account before handing the horse over.

Of course there aren't enough lush paddocks but some are arguing for a cradle to a natural grave policy. It is unachieveable. But where is the line drawn? There is legislation regarding animal welfare and there are rules within the jurisdiction of HRNZ. Again some are arguing for a cradle to the grave policy. You admit and we both know that such a policy is impractical. Going anywhere down that path only weakens the economics of the sport and I would argue that is the reason some are pursuing that policy. I doubt any equestrian centre will offer you anything for a standardbred. Since when has Ben Yole been offering $20k for a standardbred that can't compete in NZ? Regardless isn't it the choice of the owner what they do with their horse? You may find their descision morally reprehensible but it is their descision. It isn't the role of HRNZ to regulate who someone can sell their horse to.

Geez you write some BS - and you wonder why officials don't listen to you? The fact is your statistics are biased and flawed. In fact they and the conclusions you write are misinformation.

So if we low ball the figures then we have 2,000 harness horses born per year to look after for 25 years (assuming they are well looked after). 50,000 horses to care for annually requiring 38,000 hectares of land growing good grass assuming you are not going to stable them. Seems a programme for economic disaster!

Impossible to stipulate that and even if it was possible there are numerous ways to get around it. Regardless I think a few of the fairy tail group need to harden up and accept the reality that the cost of supporting EVERY race horse or up to 30 years of their lives is prohibitive. I also think you are conveniently forgetting the practices of the past when you wallow in a nostalgic view of times gone by. Or you've never been that closely associated with the rigours of day to day 24/7 horse training.

You read your own posts?

You only need 2 for a race. I have no problem with small 2yr old fields. Large fields are normally a disaster for babies anyway. They have to start somewhere. Any complaints about wagerimg revenue can be nullified by just mentioning the return on the KM races.

You are contradicting yourself! If they are not to blame for the allocation of stakes you can't give them credit either. How? I haven't seen any evidence of a change in programming. They are still doing the same old same old. @curious mentioned Einstein's definition of insanity. Bollocks. The programmers did whoever the nameless creatures are. Equally you could say Ellerslie "let Jumps racing go". Supposedly to build a hidden 2m litre water tank. Correct me if I'm wrong but Entain have NOTHING to do with programming races. Obviously you haven't listened to the trainers that are complaining on both islands. Both elite and battlers.

I'm sure they'll have video footage.

Yes it is however it is up to HRNZ to keep our house in order not someone elses.

You are getting the cart before the horse. The programming is up to NZTR and individual allocation of race stakes funding is up to NZTR. Surely you are not suggesting that Entain are running everything? You really do talk like an adminstrator when you say that it is up to the trainers/owners. Most in the industry would say that they are being hindered by the poor programming. Not to mention the handicapping system.

Are you saying that Entain are now determining the racing calendar?