Chief Stipe

I didn't say it was open and shut. I just asked if it was then why the need for a high flying lawyer at great industry expense? Was an autopsy done?

If it is an open and shut case why the need to pay top dollar for a Meredith Connell lawyer? Are there other horses involved or just Riverfalls? Was a full autopsy done on Riverfalls?

Thursday, 14 April 2022 Horse trainer’s animal cruelty hearing begins By Chris Barclay 1129 0 Canterbury Sport Racing Trainer Paul Harris denied an animal cruelty-related charge laid by the Racing Integrity Board. Photo: Star Media A Racing Integrity Board hearing investigating allegations of animal cruelty by a leading Canterbury thoroughbred horse trainer is underway. Paul Harris has been charged under the rules of racing with failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure the physical health needs of five-year-old bay mare Riverfalls. He is jointly charged with Rebecca Rae, who housed Riverfalls at a Loburn property as she spelled after the final race of her 33-start career at Wingatui on June 6, 2021. Harris and Rae deny the charge, which stemmed from a visit by two RIB investigators to Paul Harris Racing on South Eyre Rd, Swannanoa, on October 12, 2021. An emaciated Riverfalls was euthanised on veterinary advice about three hours after the investigators arrived at the property, acting on information received. Harris trained Riverfalls on behalf of a syndicate that leased the horse from owners in the Waikato. The hearing, which is scheduled to resume next month, opened before committee chair Warwick Gendall QC and Noel McCutcheon at Riccarton Racecourse last week, with the proceedings dominated by the RIB’s case. RIB lawyer Steve Symon said its evidence focused on the failure to provide veterinary care early enough for Riverfalls, whose appearance shocked a veterinarian, who felt “blindsided” when asked to treat the horse. Dr Lillian Bonner was initially contacted by Rae on September 14, 2021 and they exchanged messages via text. “She (Rae) did say she looked bad and it looked like she was starving her,” Bonner told the hearing. Riverfalls at the Karaka Sales in January 2018. Photo: New Zealand Bloodstock After delays due to scheduling issues, Bonner saw Riverfalls at the Harris stables on September 30, the same day she had transferred from Loburn. “At the time I expected to do a nutrition consult, perhaps treat for ulcers, look at teeth and bodywork. “I walked over to the box and I was shocked at how emaciated she was,” said Bonner, who rated Riverfalls’ body condition score as 1 or 2 out of 10. Bonner spoke to Harris telling him the horse was in a seriously poor condition and it could not have happened overnight. “He agreed and said he thought the horse may have been poisoned,” she said. Bonner, who said she did not assume the mare was being starved, formulated a refeeding plan and a course of oral deworming medication Panacur to treat internal parasites. “I didn’t want to be accusatory, I just didn’t have it in my mind that any of this was intentional,” she said. “In summary, I thought I was blindsided going to treat a horse for loss of condition to find emaciation. I was surprised no veterinarian had seen the horse prior.” Bonner felt Riverfalls should have been treated a month before she saw her. The horse’s condition deteriorated further and veterinarian Dr Alisa Corser told the hearing euthanasia was the only option when she was summoned to the property by RIB investigator Simon Irving. RIB investigator Kylie Williams took photos and a video of Riverfalls that were produced for the committee. They are currently subject to a non-publication order. Corser, who is contracted to the RIB, made the decision to euthanise Riverfalls in conjunction with Dr Hamish Rankin, who carried out the procedure. She described Riverfalls condition as “the worst I’d seen in my experience outside a hospital environment”. “There is no doubt she was suffering, no doubt Riverfalls would have been in pain,” Corser said. Riverfalls was suffering from severe emaciation and showing signs of colitis, an inflammation of the large intestine which is often fatal. Defence counsel Stephanie Grieve asked if colitis could cause emaciation. “It can, but it doesn’t usually cause emaciation in that rapid of a time frame, in my experience,” Corser said.

I take it your punt failed?

Personally I think the Roc De Cambes require a bit of time and a wet track. A 3yr old filly starting on Sunday on the Sunshine Coast might be worth a look. Rising 4yr old and a Soft track. Race 1 Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast Turf Club | 12.25PM  VILI'S FAMILY BAKERY Maiden Handicap 1000m MDN Mychyna (NZ).

So he believes the TAB NZ propaganda? Mmmmm does he truly understand the link between track infrastructure and wagering? A Project that is well over time and well over budget. Knocking on $3m and delivered what? How will it assist with the marketing of racing wagering? Was there a business case? Will it save costs? Will it generate extra revenue?

But the guidelines are not complete are they? Riccarton Park-Canterbury JC 9 April 2022 – R4 – Terry Moseley ID: RIB8485 Respondent(s): Terry Moseley - Jockey Applicant: Mr John Oatham - Chief Stipendiary Steward Adjudicators: Dave Anderson (Chair) and Olivia Jarvis. Information Number: A12572 Decision Type: Adjudicative Decision Charge: "Struck his mount MISS TAVI above shoulder height" Rule(s): 638(3)(F)(ii) - Whip Regulations. Plea: Admitted Stewards Report Results Animal Name: MISS TAVI Code: Thoroughbred Race Date: 09/04/2022 Race Club: Canterbury Jockey Club Race Location: Riccarton Park - 165 Racecourse Road, Christchurch, Race Number: R4 Hearing Date: 09/04/2022 Hearing Location: Riccarton Racecourse, Christchurch. Outcome: Proved Penalty: Jockey Terry Moseley is fined $250. Evidence Following the running of Race 4, the Respondent Mr Terry Moseley admitted a charge alleging use of whip above shoulder height over the concluding stages. Rule 638(3)(f)(ii) provides that in a Flat Race a Rider must not: (ii) use an action that raises the Rider’s arm above shoulder height. Using the available race films, Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr John Oatham demonstrated that the Respondent struck his mount 2 times above shoulder height over the concluding stages of the race. In response, the Respondent Mr Moseley said he was disappointed to be charged as he thought he had adapted well to the changes in the Whip Regulations. Decision As the Respondent Mr Moseley admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved (Rule 915(1)(d) refers). Submissions For Penalty Mr Oatham produced the Respondent’s record which indicated a warning under the Rule on 21 December 2021 at Ashburton. Stewards assessed the breach as low and submitted there was no Penalty Guide starting point for this Rule in the NZTR Revised Penalty Guide for improper whip use (as of 1 March 2022). Mr Oatham said the Stewards could draw a comparison with the penalties for whip use before the 100 metres. The Respondent Mr Moseley made no submissions on Penalty. Reasons For Penalty The Penalty Guide has no starting point for a breach of this Rule. After considering the film evidence and the submissions and having due regard for the number of strikes and the status of the race, the Adjudicative Committee determined it was fair and reasonable to align a penalty with those of Rule 638(3)(g)(i) “using the whip more than 5 times prior to the 100m mark”. On that basis, the Respondent is fined $250. Conclusion The Respondent is fined $250.

Not in this decade or probably the last. OZ are looking after the integrity of their product which is reflected in their wagering turnover.

In my opinion both the Harness and Galloping codes in OZ are providing more opportunities for all classes of horses. NZ is stuck in a failed model. So average NZ horses have more opportunities in OZ to line up in even fields and earn revenue for the industry as well as their owners.

Who would know? Seconds thoughts NZTR would know. So how hard would it be transparent and informative by adding an explanation to the announcement? I.e. a reason why.

Can you use the sarcasm font?

And you wonder why punters have more confidence betting on OZ horses than NZ horses?

Maybe but why did he need to cheat? Two week suspension and a $40,000 fine. Rawiller cops massive penalty for memorable Queen Elizabeth ride Nash Rawiller gets to work aboard Think It Over enroute to victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images. By Clinton Payne 08:27pm • 09 April 2022 0 Comments Nash Rawiller shook his head in disbelief after stewards slapped him with a huge excessive whip use penalty from the Queen Elizabeth Stakes which he won aboard the Kerry Parker-trained Think It Over. Rawiller guided the popular gelding to a giant killing victory when trouncing the likes of Verry Elleegant, Zaaki, Duais and Anamoe in the $4 million weight-for-age contest. “What a horse,” Rawiller said after the race. ”I had a lot of good horses behind me. “I don’t want to carry on about what I did, it’s all about Kerry Parker and his team down at Kembla Grange. “To come around and win this big race, it’s one in a million and he’s pulled it off today. “It was unreal.” But stewards quickly removed the smile from Rawiller’s face when issuing a two-week suspension and $40,000 fine for the jockey’s excessive whip use. Rawiller pleaded guilty to striking Think It Over eight times prior to the final 100 metres and 20 times in total. Under NSW whip rules, a jockey is allowed to breach the five strikes prior to the final 100m rule provided they don’t hit the horse more than 18 times in total during the race. When handing down the penalty chief steward Marc Van Gestel told Rawiller there were multiple factors for the heavy penalty. “The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is one of our flagship races of the autumn”, Think It Over’s winning margin was “half-a-length” and (taking into account) Rawiller’s past whip record “particularly in feature races”. Rawiller’s suspension starts on Sunday week and he is free to resume riding from Monday, May 2. Think It Over earned $2.3 million for winning the Queen Elizabeth, Rawiller’s five per cent winning riding fee totalled $115,000. The former champion Sydney rider was fined $2000 last week for a whip breach aboard Commando Hunt which finished second in the Country Championships Final. On that occasion, Rawiller struck that galloper eight times prior to the final 100m and 19 times in total. Rawiller’s previous whip use penalty was a $20,000 fine and six meeting suspension he incurred aboard Eduardo in The Everest last year.

Instead of sniping fill ya boots explaining to us the "other side" of the story and why the penalty handed down was unjust?

Finnegan 'taken aback' by ban Ryan Reynolds@Reynolds_R 8 April, 2022 Trainer Francis Finnegan (Image: Racing Photos) Francis Finnegan says he's 'confused' and 'taken aback' by a ruling from the Victorian Racing Tribunal to disqualify him from training for two years. On Thursday, the VRT handed down the hefty penalty after a long-running case regarding the incorrect identification of Finnegan's horse No Frontiers in a series of Cranbourne jumpouts in the autumn of 2020. It was argued by Racing Victoria stewards that Finnegan knowingly allowed the filly to have three jumpouts in the name of stablemates Avozhina and Getemhel prior to being heavily backed and making a winning debut at Bairnsdale. While he pleaded guilty to two of the charges, Finnegan had contested another two charges relating to providing false or misleading evidence to stewards and 'engaging in dishonest, fraudulent, improper or dishonourable action or practice in connection with racing' - the latter which brought the most serious sanction of his four concurrent bans. It's the first time the trainer has fallen foul of authorities in a 15-year career in New Zealand and Australia. Speaking from Ireland on Friday, Finnegan confirmed he will appeal the severity of the penalty via the Supreme Court. He said he expected to receive a sanction, albeit something similar to the $5000 fine Darren Weir received from RV in 2018 when he pleaded guilty to listing the incorrect names of seven horses in a set of Ballarat jumpouts. Matt Laurie received a $500 fine for negligently trialing a horse entered as another named horse in a Mornington jumpout in June 2020. A Group 1-winning horseman in New Zealand, Finnegan admitted that while it was an oversight not to update the Cranbourne Turf Club's jumpout results, he had operated within a system that allowed horses to be added or removed from jumpouts with minimal notice. Unlike official trials, for which entries and results are managed by RV, the Cranbourne jumpouts and other local jumpouts are managed and overseen by the individual race clubs. "I did not deliberately run No Frontiers under the name of two other horses - I ran her in a system that permitted change," Finnegan said. "The two original horses which I had nominated for the jumpouts were withdrawn for different reasons and the substitute horse (No Frontiers) was run under with its actual name to be furnished to Cranbourne Turf Club. "Unfortunately, due to the loose system and the timeframe, plus other pressures we have, this didn't happen." Finnegan said he had no intention to mislead punters or bookmakers by making the switches. No Frontiers firmed from a pre-race-day opening price of $26 into $8 ahead of her debut start at Bairnsdale. Her official price fluctuations were $5.50 into $4.80 before drifting out to her official starting price of $8. Finnegan said he backed the filly in accordance with his regular betting habits and pointed to evidence tendered during the investigation that at least one professional punter not connected with the stable backed the horse to win a large sum of money. "I volunteered that I had my normal bet on the filly, which I partly owned and that my wife Samantha, who is an experienced rider, also backed her," he said. "There is evidence that several significant professional punters backed the horse based on their knowledge of previous jumpouts where No Frontiers was correctly identified. "I cooperated with the stewards at all stages and explained that in substituting No Frontiers in the jumpout at a late stage, I was merely following permitted and utilised practice by many other trainers. "No false evidence was given but regrettably stewards have failed to recognise this." In July last year, jockey Ben Thompson was suspended for four months for his role in the saga, having ridden No Frontiers in a jumpout and on debut at Bairnsdale.

MEETING NEWS Taranaki to race at Hawera on May 14 The Taranaki meeting scheduled for Saturday 14 May will now race at Hawera. The Open will now be 2100m while the R65 will be 2200m.

AWT construction?

Trainer rubbed out over horse swap Francis Finnegan has been disqualified for two years in relation to conduct-related charges. Picture: Racing Photos By Gilbert Gardiner 06:31pm • 07 April 2022 Trainer Francis Finnegan has been handed a two-year disqualification for concealing the identity of the horse No Frontiers to make a profit from betting. Cranbourne horseman Finnegan, 37, who returned to his native Ireland last November, jumped out No Frontiers under a false name three times in 2020 prior to the mare’s winning debut at Bairnsdale. Successful bets of $3000 and $1000 – at odds of about $14 respectively – were placed on No Frontiers through Finnegan’s wife’s betting account. The Victorian Racing Tribunal on April 1 found Finnegan guilty of all four charges, the most serious being engaging in dishonest, corrupt, fraudulent, improper or dishonourable action. The panel heard submissions on penalty on Thursday. Stewards asked the VRT for a three-year disqualification for the deceitful conduct, while barrister Finlay Davies, acting on behalf of Finnegan, called for a six to eight month suspension. The VRT settled on the two-year disqualification, along with three separate suspensions – comprising a total of 14 months – for conduct-related charges, including lying to stewards. The penalties are to be served concurrently. Judge John Bowman said Finnegan’s “reprehensible conduct” damaged the image of racing and attempted to “deceive the betting public”. The VRT heard previously Finnegan jumped out No Frontiers at Cranbourne under the name of Avozinha on March 23, 2020 and twice – April 6 and 20 – as Getemhel. Counsel acting for stewards on Thursday described Finnegan’s actions as “unprecedented offending”. “It involved the most elaborate and deceptive course of conduct over a period of a few months,” counsel said. “Mr Finnegan jumped out No Frontiers under a false name on three occasions before winning and profiting from the race in Bairnsdale. “Mr Finnegan and his wife backed No Frontiers and made a substantial profit, as did people associated with Mr Finnegan, and it’s difficult to think of more reprehensible conduct against the betting public.” Finnegan did not attend the penalty hearing on advice from his counsel. Queensland-based jockey Ben Thompson, who rode No Frontiers, was disqualified last year for four months for his role. Finnegan has trained 72 winners from 824 starters. He prepared a Group 1 winner in New Zealand prior to relocating to Cranbourne.

The error was when they started closing and converting those glorious big grass tracks. Although to be fair they had to share them with the galloping code and neither code maintained them as they should have. Generally built bigger white elephant stands rather than investing into the tracks and facilities for the horses.

Are you taking the piss? The AWT'S are the white elephants 🐘 of the industry. The maintenance costs will drain the life from the other clubs and will anchor the industry in a quagmire for a very long time.

FFS I didn't say she wasn't doing a "bloody good job". Sometimes you can have too much advice and to suggest that she does get advice or infer that's possibly the reason for her success diminishes her achievements. I'd like to think that she is talented in her own right and doesn't often need to seek advice from all those within 100 miles of her!!!

The rewards may be different but the crime is the same. Surely the intent of penalties for the offence is to improve the quality of the riding. It is a bit like saying if I steal a rich man's horse I should get longer in jail than if I stole a poor man's horse. The poor man has been hurt more than the rich man.

Probably too much advice.

The Gallops have followed the same strategy and are achieving the same negative result. In OZ they are feeding money back into provincial, country and bush racing with a positive result. Simple cause and effect would give you the obvious answer.

No dickhead. If you kept up with NZ Racing you would have noticed that this was a specially requested trial for Black Type horses only.