Chief Stipe

Premier racecourse with piles of rubbish and land fill piled up obstructing the view of the 1200m for the first 400m! Unbelievable!

After a very successful season Swayzee is going to have a long spell. A smart move which is in the interests of the horse after running some big races including the NZ Cup and the Interdominions. They're not machines and you can go to the well too often. Which I think was the problem with Swayzee after a top two year old campaign.

I blame the Jockey. Obviously that #1 Dog got squeezed down onto the fence.

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Leap To Fame on another level in Inter Dominion victory Grant Dixon drives Leap To Fame to a breathtaking win in the Inter Dominion final at Albion Park. Picture: Dan Costello By Adam Hamilton 11:57pm • 16 December 2023 0 Comments Hometown hero Leap To Fame's stamped his greatness with an emotion-charged moment of redemption in Saturday night's Brisbane Inter Dominion final. Leap To Fame's biggest win in the sport's most iconic race was by far a career highlight for champion trainer-driver Grant Dixon and moved his normally steely owner Kevin Seymour to burst into tears and be lost for words at the presentation. "To win this race, in front of this town crowd and do it with Grant and Trista (Dixon's wife) is just so special," Seymour said before emotions overcame him. Seymour later said Leap To Fame was the horse he and wife, Kay, had been dreaming of in 50 years in harness racing. "We've won lots of big races, including the Gold Coast Inter Dominion with Mr Feelgood the last time it was in Queensland (2009), but this is so different. It's just a whole different level," he said. Dixon, champion of Queensland harness racing, said Leap To Fame was "a once in a lifetime" horse. "He's the result of my father (Bill) before me and now myself and Trista trying to find one like him for 70 years," he said. "When he won the NSW Derby (February, last year) I thought he was the horse we'd been dreaming of getting and then he backed it up and won the Victoria Derby. "I've had so much success and broken so many records here, but what's been missing is one of those really big wins and he's done it for us, in front of our home crowd and our family and friends." Sparks flew early and Leap To Fame was able to get across his older half-brother and main danger Swayzee before working to the lead and reversing the roles from their only previous clash when Swayzee won the Blacks A Fake at Albion Park in July. This time Leap To Fame led throughout in blistering times and gave Swayzee no chance of beating him on the outside with a track record-smashing 1min 53.5sec mile rate for 2680m. Swayzee fought on well for third, with much-improved Victorian Better Eclipse splitting the siblings in second spot. Leap To Fame set the crowd alight when Dixon cut him loose rounding the final bend and went for home with a big league. Still just a four-year-old, Leap To Fame was eased down in the closing stages to win by 10.6m. The normally very reserved Dixon let his emotions show with a lavish victory salute across the line. Those emotions gained momentum in recent months some doubters emerged around Leap To Fame when his Blacks A Fake defeat was followed by losses, albeit be brave runs, in the TAB Eureka and Victoria Cup. "I just felt he deserved it … deserved a really big one," Dixon said. Dixon and Seymour will now weigh-up options around a possible Hunter Cup tilt in February or wait to the Miracle Mile a month later. Better Eclipse's second placing, helped by a brilliant Greg Sugars drive, showed how he's come since seventh in last year's Melton Inter Dominion. And Swayzee lost no admirers with a fighting third given his early burn and doing all the work outside Leap To Fame in record time. Meanwhile, champion trotter Just Believe completed the "Larry" and "Harry" show when he cruised to his second successive Inter Dominion trotting final win. Leap To Fame's stable name is "Larry" and trainers Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars call Just Believe "Harry" around home. Just Believe created history by becoming the first trotter to clean sweep two consecutive Inter Dominion series by winning all three heats and finals. "To do it after going to the other side of the world (Sweden) for so long in the middle of the year and coming back an even better horse shows how amazing he is," Sugars said. "He cruised in tonight. He's just a perfect racehorse and makes us look good. We're so privileged to have him." It was Sugar's third successive driving win in the trotting final with Maori Law in 2021 and Just Believe the past two years. * Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp

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Who were the other 7 to reach 2000 in NZ?

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Merry Christmas Brian. How do you know I've had zero experience? Just finished solving an electrical problem on a historical pilot boat that cost $2m to restore. Listen halfwit Those connections obviously come with the equipment not from the warehouse. As for smart arse comments about Reefton being the only place with the expertise well Reefton has had some(not a lot) experience with these things where it is clear you have had zero The fact is there was a false start caused by the connection being either faulty or loose(or as I suggested perhaps the battery(s) being somewhat depleted). You have created some mass cover up conspiracy by NZTR/the WRC and continued to wank on about a theory with zero substance No I haven't created a mass cover up conspiracy. The point I was making was that the response is over the top and that response supports NZTR’S agenda. Which as you know is anti-small clubs. If I've read @curious post correctly then I agree that the obvious reason for the failure is human rather than mechanical/electrical. Afterall the gates aren't complex machines. You are assuming I am an idiot. You haven't met me. That's your call. At the end of the day it's just words. You have always had the opportunity to express your opinion without fear or failure. I'm not a proponent of "it's my way or the highway" - I leave that to other sites. BTW I've had some very enjoyable moments at Reefton with horses. But the day I won two West Coast Athletic titles on the course is my best memory. Anyway I'm still on track to remind you of a challenge you made on BOAY. Merry Christmas!

None of the men Jockeys are holding up all that well!

Jamie Kah cleared as judge dismisses ‘white powder' charge www.racenet.com.au Champion jockey Jamie Kah has been cleared of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing relating to the white powder controversy. The decision to dismiss the charge, delivered on Friday by Victorian Racing Tribunal Judge John Bowman, has drawn to a close a six-month legal argument. In handing down his decision, the tribunal concluded the brief video was taken without Kah's "knowledge or consent, expressed or implied and it was not until a couple days later you were aware of its existence". It has never been proven what substance the white powder was. The three-member tribunal panel, including Des Gleeson and Maree Payne, was also satisfied Kah did not know the video was shared with another person until the "newspaper publicity burst upon the scene". "Your behaviour may have been immature, irresponsible and reckless, but there are two important features of it which led us to our conclusion," Judge Bowman read from the unanimous decision. "Firstly, you did not know the very short video or photo had been taken, secondly, you did not know at any relevant stage that it had been sent on to another person, or that it was proposed to be so sent. Jamie Kah and stablehand Ruby McIntyre leave the white powder hearing last month. "Without our comfortable satisfaction as to those two features we are of the opinion the charge should be dismissed and that is the order which we make." The conduct prejudicial charge levelled against McIntyre was proven with a penalty hearing set to be heard on January 18. Judge Bowman said the three "significant differences" of the case against McIntyre and Kah. "Firstly, you deliberately took a short video of the powder and what Ms Kah was doing with it without telling her and in a surreptitious fashion, secondly and very importantly you sent both the group photo and the white powder photo onto another person," Judge Bowman said. "Thirdly you put an incriminating and identifying caption on the photo… in our opinion that behaviour by a licensed person is sufficient to constitute a breach. "Sending to another person the video of the white powder incident along with the earlier photo creates the real possibility the material would find its way into the media. "That seems to be exactly what occurred." Judge Bowman conceded McIntyre's actions, while proven, were without malice. Jamie Kah seen in images with a white powder. "We are comfortably satisfied the charge has been proven, the possibility of damage to the image and the like of the racing industry was a very real one, as the result of the publicity demonstrated," Judge Bowman said. "There was absolutely no finding of any intent on your part to damage the image of racing, or the image of Ms Kah, there is no malice, what we find is there was recklessness of a sufficiently high degree to make out the charge." A picture of Kah emerged in late June of the nine-time Group 1-winner raking a white powder into three lines during a small gathering at her house. Kah and McIntyre, who both pleaded not guilty, were charged by stewards with conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity or welfare of racing. McIntyre at the hearing last month accepted responsibility for recording Kah covertly and sharing the footage on a private social media account. McIntyre told the tribunal last month she never expected nor intended the vision to be shared further. Kah's barrister Matthew Stirling successfully argued the short video and screenshot was captured and shared on social media by McIntyre, without his client's knowledge. The compromising footage was widely published after being leaked to the Herald Sun. Kah and McIntyre, who represented herself, both pleaded not guilty at the earliest opportunity. EARLIER The controversial "white powder" case surrounding champion jockey Jamie Kah is set for a decision on Friday morning. The Victorian Racing Tribunal is scheduled to hand down its decision on Kah and stablehand Ruby McIntyre at 9.30am. Ruby McIntyre. Kah and McIntyre, who both pleaded not guilty, were charged by stewards with conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity or welfare of racing. The decision follows two days of evidence, in which Kah's barrister Matthew Stirling slammed the case against Kah, accusing Racing Victoria of attacking Kah's "integrity and honesty" in a "cowardly way and a most disrespectful way". Counsel acting for stewards, however, said Kah's blameworthiness and recklessness was substantiated because "she ought to have known her actions were being filmed". McIntyre told the tribunal on November 13 she discreetly recorded Kah raking the white powder substance on a plate, at Kah's home, in June. The length of time the case has dragged on has been met with widespread criticism. READ | ‘I still have to search horse's names': Jamie Kah reveals latest battles In a hearing last month, McIntyre lamented her "big mistake". "I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything," McIntyre said. "It was a big mistake trusting someone to send a very private video to, I understand everything that has come from that has come from the video I had on my phone. "I guess in the way it was sent, just how private it was and how it was a one-time thing, it has shocked me how it's been able to come out… that was never my intention."

VRC announce results at AGM www.racing.com Five Victoria Racing Club directors have been elected without ballot to the board at the club’s AGM on Thursday. The VRC announced on Thursday that incumbent directors David Barham, Glenn Carmody, Vincent Cox, Michael Saadie and Neil Wilson will continue to bring a passion for racing and a wealth of experience to the across an array of industries, according to the club chairman. "The VRC board of directors will continue to serve in the best interests of VRC members and strive towards the club’s vision of being a world leader in racing, events and experiences" Neil Wilson said. "Last season saw the club reach a new record level of membership with 33,120 members, cementing the VRC as the largest member-based racing club in the world. "We thank all members for their loyalty and support as we continue what has already been a great 2023/24 season of racing and events at Flemington.’’ At the AGM, Wilson and the club’s chief executive Steve Rosich acknowledged the highlights and challenges of the 2022/]23 racing season. "The VRC is pleased to report a positive EBITDA for the financial year 2022/23 after strategic investments and we are well placed to drive our earnings and enhance our balance sheet for the future," Rosich said. More than 244,000 people attended Cup Week in 2022 despite challenging weather, with other highlights from the 2022/23 racing season including: Approximately 2.5 million people tuned in to watch the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup across all platforms, including the Network 10 broadcast, 10 Play, Racing.com, KAYO, the TAB app, Sky Racing and the VRC’s own Inside Run platform. The inaugural TAB Champions Stakes Day was introduced as the new spring grand finale for Australia’s best gallopers. A record wagering result for the Melbourne Cup Carnival with an increase of more than 7% on 2021’s record. Australian Childhood Foundation becoming the 16th charity to partner with the VRC, with more than $480,000 raised in the first year of the Pin & Win partnership. More than $1 million raised in total for various charities across Cup Week. The 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival saw Flemington Racecourse host the biggest four days in Australian racing, as more than 262,000 fans enjoyed the carnival at the track, an increase of 7.5% on 2022, and new records set for fundraising initiatives. "In 2023 the VRC was proud to set a new fundraising record for the Melbourne Cup Carnival Pin & Win initiative with $544,000 raised for Australian Childhood Foundation," Wilson said.

Kah charge dismissed | RACING.COM www.racing.com Star jockey Jamie Kah has had a charge against her relating to a white powder saga dismissed in a Victoria Racing Tribunal hearing on Friday morning. Kah, along with stablehand Rubi McIntrye, was charged with conduct prejudicial to racing after being filmed arranging white lines of powder on a plate at a gathering inside her home in June. Over the course of a lengthy tribunal process, Kah’s counsel Matthew Stirling maintained his client was never aware of the video being taken or that it would subsequently reach the public eye and as such could not be found guilty of the charge. In handing down the three-person VRT panel’s decision, Judge John Bowman said Kah’s actions were irresponsible, but he was not comfortably satisfied her behaviour was prejudicial to the image of racing. “It could be said that you behaved recklessly, setting up the white lines and a card with a comparative stranger on your premises. The question is whether that behaviour, that recklessness, is sufficient to comfortably satisfy us that there’s been a breach of AR228?” Judge Bowman said. “Your behaviour may have been immature, irresponsible, and reckless, but there are two important features of it that have led us to our conclusion. “You did not know that the relevant short video or photo had been taken. Secondly you did not know at any relevant stage it had been sent on to another person or that it was proposed to be so sent. “We are of the opinion that the charge should be dismissed, and that is the order which we make.” Kah’s co-accused, stablehand Rubi McIntyre was found guilty of the charge having previously admitted to covertly taking the video in question. “Sending to another person the video of the white powder incident, along with the earlier photo, creates the real possibility that the material would find its way into the media,” Judge Bowman said. “It was a video specifically and intentionally taken of the activity of a very high-profile member of the racing community. “The caption, which we are satisfied was added before the photo was sent, removes any doubt however small that may have existed. “We are comfortably satisfied the charge has been proven, with the possibility of damage to the image and the like of the racing industry was a very real one as the resulting publicity has demonstrated. McIntyre’s penalty hearing has been set for January 18.

Of course Reefton is the only place that has this type of expertise! Hard on batteries? What they need to work 10 days in one day? Another simple problem to fix. Monitor the charge and have a spare battery available. At the end of the day it is an inexpensive solvable problem. But no let's go buy some more gates. Oh and two races this weekend at Trentham don't have full capacity fields and some owners miss out again (assuming there were surplus nominations).

Surely you're not suggesting it is a three pin plug on the end of a $9 lead bought from The Warehouse that wriggled loose? Well that's an easy fix - get a screw-in connection.

You obviously haven't kept up with some of the recent successes in OZ.

None of that is correct @Gammalite and you know it. I know a first time owner who is having a ball at the moment and is experiencing everything I ever experienced when I owned more than half 9f a good horse I bred from a $600 broodmare and a $50 lottery ticket. I'd say that person is having a far far better experience than I had.

But aren't Entain and NZTR still stuck in the disproven theory that increasing stakes will fix everything?

So if it goes tits up NZ Racing is in a long queue of creditors. Due diligence? Yeah Na!

So you are contradicting yourself. You agree then that solution that NZTR have come up is expensive and probably won't fix the issue.

Exactly! But programming races a year in advance that doesn't match near time inventory is pointless.

I talked to a couple of prominent trainers recently (this week) and they are exasperated with the programming. To the point of anger. Apparently no one listens and there is a huge disconnect.

It isn't the dates that need sorting as much as the individual race programming. Race dates are useless if you don't have the horse inventory!

The Bone Crusher Stakes being a case in point. Two three year old races on the same day for good stakes attracting small fields. Hell why not reduce the field size to 10. However at the end of the day if you spend a shyte load of money on a machine it should be fit for purpose. A three pin plug and an extension lead shouldn't be the cause of failure. BTW these gates aren't old and certainly haven't been over used. But all good let's spend another few million on buying something new. Which at the end of the day can still have the same points of failure. Sharrock should stick to managing athletes rather than horses.