Chief Stipe

Does anyone truly comprehend the issues? That's been going on for at least 25 years or more. Then again the strangled small players only need one good horse. How have they "pushed their barrows"? It is assumed that The Breeders made all the "detrimental" decisions. But did they? If for arguments sake they did where were the other stakeholder voices? Why weren't the other industry associations on the ball? That said are some criticising with the benefit of hindsight? BTW the discussion with @Huey isn't circular its a dead end because he never provides any specific detail just generalises about a successful group of people he labels "Whales".

I'm not the one wriggling. You are the one that hasn't posted any evidence to support your assertion.

You know this is what I don't understand about you lot that supposedly support racing. You focus on the minuscule parts and think that absolves you from all your other perceived sins in racing? Take up tiddlywinks!

34% will win an election But seriously if 10% of the population like horse racing isn't that the same as those that like F1 motor racing? They other 90% can pat their pets.

Where do you get that "fact" from? 30% apparently are OK with it. That's a good percentage of the market.

Instead of counting and snapshotting whip strikes why don't you record your own form lines like the rest of us do?

Again that's your perception of a one video frame. I've been caught out with this type of image posting before with @Yankiwi and at the end of the day it doesnt achieve anything except feed the anti-racing woke mob. Bigger issues to address.

That's what you think you see.

It is impossible to take a screen shot of a frame of video on TV with any accuracy. @Thomass manipulates those photos. About time he got off his one trick pony.

I've warned you before @Thomass about posting these types of photos taken off you TV screen. They are far from accurate let alone the fact you don't give an accurate reference. Another selected photo like that and you will be back on moderation.

Exactly the point I made to @curious. You can only assume as you can't see if she touched the horse with the whip. Ironically some are arguing Melvin wasn't "vigorous" enough. Stupid rules that can't be accurately enforced and only implemented as a sop to the anti-racing brigade who don't watch the races anyway. But effectively the industry is doing the counting for them and they only have to look at a report to get something to feed off!!

If you don't have access to that how can you tell where the horse is hit?

I don't actually describe people as "Grassroots" - you do and I was using your definition. Yes to both. Yes I know first hand that one very much does and from what I've heard and read so do the other two. It is up to you to provide evidence to the contrary. BTW they only got to the position they are in now through hard work, savvy business decisions and an ability to find a good horse. They're not the type of people to forget where they've come from nor are they the type of people to stop doing the hard work. The ball is in your court.

Female Jockeys past and present Female Jockey Tribute Day at Oamaru. From left Nichola Yuen, Kylie Williams, Stephanie Faulkner (formerly Clark), Debbie Kennedy (Anderton), Joanne Watt (Lamond), Donna Clark (Wilson), Gabriel Campbell (Foote), Gina Tomlinson, Jan Cameron, Tina Comignaghi, Floor Moerman Front row, Tanya Jonker, Leah Hemi, Nicci Johnson, Debbie Henderson, Jackie Jamieson. https://bitofayarn.com/ Photo supplied from Tayler Strong

LOL @Comic Dog I don't think you are in a position to go down the Fat Shaming path!

Personally I think the whole thing has been way over the top.

Anyone who thinks that these types of cases are settled quickly would be naive. For a start there are lawyers involved on both sides and AUSTRAC has a nice little business running with a lot of lawyers employed on success bonuses. In cases like this ENTAIN has a fiduciary duty to its shareholders to obtain the best deal it can. That isn't a speedy process where you pitch up with an open chequebook and pay for it to go away. As any one who has read the 600+ pages of the Statement of Claim would attest there are claims made in it that are weak and others that are strong. ENTAIN will be getting their ducks lined up before entering into full on mediation. That part of the process is relatively inexpensive compared to days of sitting in a room arguing clause by clause. There is a fiduciary and a legal obligation to not roll over for both parties. The outcome will be another precedent and not getting the best deal now could bite you later if another issue arises. My reading of the SOC and the precedents there is a decent case for a settlement where AUSTRAC take an active monitoring role and maybe a comparatively small fine. AUSTRAC have been knocking off the easy kills and going forward it is going to be harder to find cases to pursue as financial institutions get their systems compliant. The ENTAIN case based on the SOC isn't in the same league as preceding cases.

But @Brodie the Brodestar wouldn't take that bet as it is a win bet not a Top 4. Now that's risk averse....

Peter Vela for one. Started from the "grass roots" for literally everything that he's achieved.

Basically although it would appear that he can be an unlicensed breaker of horses and he can own or part own racehorse. Difficult to monitor I would have thought.

June 2025 OFFICIAL NOTICE DECISION OF HRNZ EXEMPTIONS COMMITTEE UNDER RULE 1303(3) N R MCGRATH Mr McGrath is currently Disqualified for a period of 8 years commencing 13 July 2020 until 12 July 2028 and is subject to the restricƟons set out in sub-rules (1) and (2) of rule 1303. Having completed more than half of his disqualification, Mr McGrath is now eligible under rule 1303(3) to apply to have the restricƟons removed and his applicaƟon has been considered by the HRNZ ExempƟons Commitee. The following exempyions have been granted: 1. The restricƟon under rule 1303(1)(a) is removed for the full remainder of Mr McGrath’s disqualificayion, with effect that he will be able as principal or agent to enter or run a horse in any race, either in his own name or in the name of any other person. 2. The restriction under rule 1303(1)(c) is condiƟonally removed for the full remainder of Mr McGrath’s disqualification, with effect that he will be able to assist or be involved in the gaitng of any horse after 1 October in the year before it becomes a two-year-old in any capacity other than as a trainer or stablehand. 3. The restriction under Rule 1303(2)(a) is conditionally removed for the full remainer of Mr McGrath’s disqualification, with effect that he will be able to assist or be involved in the gaitng of any horse after 1 October in the year before it becomes a two-year-old in any capacity other than as a trainer or stablehand. 4. The restriction under rule 1303(2)(b) is conditionally removed for the full remainder of Mr McGrath’s disqualification, with effect that he will be able to enter or remain on a racecourse or any other place under the control of a club when being used for trials, workouts, or (subject to him obtaining an exemption under the Racecourse Admission Rules) race meetngs but only as a spectator or horse owner and not in any other capacity. 5. The restricƟon under rule 1303(2)(c) is removed for the full remainder of Mr McGrath’s disqualification, with effect that he will be able to transfer the ownership of any horse either to or from himself. 6. The restriction under rule 1303(2)(d) is condiƟonally removed for the full remainder of Mr McGrath’s disqualification, with effect that he will be able to enter upon the stable area or area used for training of any property of a licensed person provided he is not involved in any capacity in the training of any horse and provided he does not undertake or partcipate in the work of a stablehand. At this time, the restrictions applying to Mr McGrath under paragraphs (b), (d), (e) and (f) of sub-rule (1) of rule 1303 remain in place. Brad Steele Chief Executive HRNZ OFFICIAL-NOTICE-HRNZ-Exemptions-Committee-N-R-McGrath-9-June-2025.pdf

You obviously have never been to a meeting at the mighty Victoria Park Raceway in Greymouth.

War Machine wins the Stradbroke Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography. By Racenet 06:17pm • 14 June 2025 Comments Dominant favourite War Machine gave supporters little need for worry when scoring a commanding win in the $3 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. War Machine is trained by brothers Ben, Will and JD Hayes and provided the famous Australian racing family with their first win in Queensland's signature race. The late Colin Hayes and his son David, Ben Will and JD's father, are both Hall of Fame trainers but neither have won a Stradbroke. War Machine was close to the speed throughout before surging to the front with 300m to go and was never getting run down, defeating Yellow Brick with Private Eye back in third. https://bitofayarn.com/topic/141198-war-machine-wins-2025-stradbroke-for-nz-connections/ War Machine was ridden by Tim Clark and the victory was his sixth from 13 starts, taking his earnings to more than $2.4 million. https://bitofayarn.com/topic/141198-war-machine-wins-2025-stradbroke-for-nz-connections/

A tidy fourth by ex-New Zealander Desert Lightning in the Straddie as well.