Chief Stipe

Where were you 20 years ago? Haven't you done your homework? Instead of trainspotting whip strikes open your mind and actually read the articles you and I have posted as well as the site pictures and understand the range of issues. Shoulda coulda- well it didn't happen and the whole existing site has major problems and needs capital investment. Stop listening to the conspiracist Wightman aka @Transparency.

So what do you suggest just chuck the towel in? Can't do nothing.

Focussing on the negative again. Point was you are at least in the sun. The prevailing wind is from the west.

El Vencedor (NZ) Crowned 2024-25 Sport Nation Horse of the Year Six years in the making, El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) now stands as New Zealand’s champion. The Cambridge-trained galloper was crowned Sport Nation Horse of the Year for 2024–25 at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s black-tie Awards dinner in Hamilton on Sunday night, proof that some champions simply need time to flourish. At six, El Vencedor reached spectacular new heights, becoming the only New Zealand-trained horse to win three Group 1 races this season. His dominance saw him secure 45 of the 55 votes cast for the sport’s ultimate honour. He also claimed the Champion Middle Distance Horse - sponsored by Happy Hire Award, and was a finalist among the nation’s top sprinter-milers. Other equine champions included, Champion Two-Year-Old - sponsored by Entain Australia & New Zealand: La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), Champion Three-Year-Old - sponsored by TAB New Zealand: Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), Champion Sprinter-Miler - sponsored by Taylor Perry Insurance Consultants: Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj), Champion Stayer - sponsored by Sandfield: Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) and Champion Jumper - sponsored by New Zealand Jumps Racing: West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu). In the people categories, Premiership stars Craig Grylls (Jockey of the Year - sponsored by BcgCrave) and Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson (Trainer of the Year- sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds) added New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards silverware to their tally, while Shaun Fannin claimed his fifth Jumps Jockey of the Year - sponsored by Rothley Recruitment title. Cambridge Stud proprietors Sir Brendan and Jo Lady Lindsay took out Owner of the Year - sponsored by TAB Racing Club. The evening also recognised some of the sport’s most influential contributors. Ross Coles received the prestigious NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing after a remarkable 60-year tenure as Clerk of the Course at Ellerslie Racecourse. Two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, Sheila Laxon, was honoured with the NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement. While Stephanie Hyde-Richards (New Zealand Stablehand of the Year - sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga) and The Guerin Report (LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content) rounded out the accolades. The battle for Trainer of the Year provided the night’s closest finish, with Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson just edging out Stephen Marsh by five votes, who himself trained El Vencedor. While mares have dominated Horse of the Year honours in recent years, El Vencedor broke the mould, being just the third male galloper to win the title in the past decade. El Vencedor climbed the ranks through his early years, however, his breakthrough came at five with a maiden Group 1 win in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie Racecourse. By six, he was near-unbeatable, winning five of his 11 starts in 2024–25, all at Group level, with four of those victories by more than three lengths. That streak included a stunning Group 1 hat-trick, capped by a repeat Bonecrusher triumph where he started a red-hot $1.40 favourite. Bred and raced by Mark Freeman and David Price, El Vencedor (Spanish for the victor) is by Shocking and a brother to Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) winner Chocante (NZ) (Shocking), as well as a half-brother to Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Ironically, El Vencedor’s career almost never happened in New Zealand, he was earmarked for Hong Kong after trialling impressively as a two-year-old, but failed strict vet tests. That twist of fate proved golden, with the gelding amassing $1.48 million in stakes this season alone and more than $2 million in total career earnings, while delivering unforgettable moments for his connections. El Vencedor began a new campaign on an encouraging note when running fifth in the Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday 6 September. A champion by name, and now officially by title, El Vencedor is New Zealand’s Sport Nation Horse of the Year. 2024-25 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards - sponsored by Sport Nation Final Results Jockeys’ Premiership - sponsored by OnTrack: Craig Grylls Trainers’ Premiership - sponsored by Stable Books: Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson (Te Akau Racing) Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership – sponsored by Iron Horse: Lily Sutherland Owners’ Premiership - sponsored by Bello Vida: Cambridge Stud Newcomer to Training – sponsored by gavelhouse.com: Barbara Kennedy NZB Filly of the Year: Leica Lucy LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content: The Guerin Report Other finalists: Aidan Rodley, Andre Neill, Entain Media Branded Video Content Team, Joshua Smith, Ziba Creative. Champion Two-Year-Old - sponsored by Entain Australia & New Zealand: La Dorada (53) Also: Return To Conquer (7) Champion Three-Year-Old - sponsored by TAB New Zealand: Savaglee (37) Also: Leica Lucy (10), Damask Rose (5), Alabama Lass (3), Captured By Love (1), Willydoit Champion Sprinter-Miler - sponsored by Taylor Perry Insurance Consultants: Grail Seeker (34) Also: Alabama Lass (12), El Vencedor (5), Here To Shock (5), Provence (1), Crocetti Champion Middle-Distance Horse - sponsored by Happy Hire: El Vencedor (51) Also: Snazzytavi (5), La Crique (1) Champion Stayer - sponsored by Sandfield: Willydoit (41) Also: Wolfgang (6), Mehzebeen (5), Blue Sky At Night (2), Trav (1) Champion Jumper – sponsored by New Zealand Jumps Racing: West Coast (56) Also: Berry The Cash (2), Jesko (1), Billy Boy New Zealand Stablehand of the Year – sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga: Stephanie Hyde-Richards (employed by Autridge Racing) Also: Lucinda Aitken (Sharrock Racing), Gee Saejorhor (Champagne Racing Stables) Jockey of the Year - sponsored by BcgCrave: Craig Grylls (54) Also: Sam Spratt (5) Jumps Jockey of the Year - sponsored by Rothley Recruitment: Shaun Fannin (51) Also: Joshua Parker (8), Portia Matthews (1), Kylan Wiles Trainer of the Year - sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds: Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson (Te Akau Racing) (30) Also: Stephen Marsh (Marsh Racing) (25), Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott (Wexford Stables) (1) Owner of the Year - sponsored by TAB Racing Club: Cambridge Stud (35) Also: Tony Rider (6), Denise Bassett and John Elstob (4), JML Bloodstock (3), The Oaks Stud (3), Waikato Stud (2), Gerry Harvey (1), Pencarrow Thoroughbreds (1), Kim & Peter McKay, Kelvin & Vanessa Tyler NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing: Ross Coles NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement: Sheila Laxon Sport Nation Horse of the Year: El Vencedor (45 votes) Also: Savaglee (3), Leica Lucy (2), Alabama Lass (1), Captured By Love (1), La Dorada (1), Snazzytavi (1), West Coast (1) Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing

It's a no brainer. I'll post soon about the day and night I spent a year ago in Hastings when they abandoned the races after race one. Great night with Butch, Lethal, Smithie and the other locals. All passionate about HB racing.

The above photos are of tracks that EVERGREEN have done recently. https://www.evergreen.com.au/

https://bitofayarn.com Pakenham Racecourse Tynong, VIC https://bitofayarn.com Townsville Racecourse Cluden Park, QLD https://bitofayarn.com Caulfield Heath Track Caulfield, VIC Eagle Farm Racecourse Ascot, QLD https://bitofayarn.com Port Macquarie RC Port Macquarie, NSW Belmont Chute Relocation Burswood, WA Warrnambool RC Inside Grass VIC Mornington RC Inside Grass VIC Emergency Repairs VIC / NSW / QLD / WA

I agree. I'm not sold on the "sand based Evergreen track" though. Must do some research on that technology. If it is like Ellerslie and Awapuni it won't suit all horses. I hope the new property has a water well and/or water rights/consents.

Great save by the Goal Keeper.

Lethal Innes rode it. But that was the season BEFORE. Not the 2022-23 season.

If you want to see what the top trainers are doing in OZ (a couple in NZ are on to it as well) look at Ciaron Maher's (CMR) Bong Bong operation. https://www.ciaronmaher.com.au/sports-science-and-data Recovery Recovery strategies at CMR, including the use of Hypoxic Chambers, 24/7 monitoring, electromagnetic pulse therapy, and hyperbaric chambers, are essential for enhancing horses’ adaptation to training, accelerating repair, and preventing injuries.

Yep and the likes of Becks Nairn are making it harder for you. Most townies haven't a clue about horses. We had one you couldn't keep a cover on no matter what the temperature was. If it had been human it would have been a permanent member of a nudist colony! Not only could you not keep a cover on it you couldn't stop it from rolling in mud! Tough as and was never sick. Unfortunately some SPCA and MPI types are just as bad as the townies. Remember the furore when some townies were on the Interislander ferry and saw into the top of a stock truck. They complained about the starving dairy cows because they could see the hip bones!!! Here is a cow with a good condition score:

Alleged. But as I said above the conspiracists find something online and then start a rumour to explain why someone is successful. Of course the authorities take any "allegation seriously". They are obliged to no matter how rediculous the allegations are. Hence we end up with debacles like INCA when they take things TOO seriously. The "fridge gas" Xenon use is so implausible on many facets - cost and access to to Xenon for example. Expensive and not easy to get. Let alone the technology required to administer it in sufficient volume to have an effect. I'm sure some muppet wasted their money trying it. They would have been better to have spent more on customised feed and modern authorised anti-arthritic drugs. Do you have a reference for that? But I know how the allegation probably came about. The most significant research on the use of Xenon has been in Anesthesia research where Xenon displaces Oxygen but in a safe way. They weren't tents they were Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers. I believe Waller used them. Definitely Maher did. It isn't the Xenon that causes any therapeutic affect. It is used to displace oxygen just like in anesthesia to simulate high altitude training at sea level i.e. high altitudes have less oxygen and the body adapts by producing more red blood cells. Also the pressure is lowered. That use has been banned. Now the flaw in the rumour is that Xenon is very very expensive to use and is hard to purchase. Xenon is only available through licensed sellers of which there are very few in Australia. Before you say it - no you would find it very hard to get it via Temu The use of hyperbaric chambers to induce simulate EPO has been banned. However I think some stables still use them for therapeutic reasons by increasing the concentration of oxygen to enable quicker recovery post racing/training and to aid injury recovery. Exactly. Where's the Xenon? But in the mean time the conspiracists tar everyone. Yes every trainer is experimenting within the rules. As @Gammalite has posted before they have a moral duty to do so in the interests of their horses and their owners. Some of the treatments available today, although expensive, have proven to be a god send for trainers. For example the joint treatments which prevent wear and tear (arthriits), pain and the more recent ones that actually reverse damage. I know a number of horses 40 years ago that would have benefited from such treatments. I tell you now that if we could have kept some of those horses injury and pain free the records we see today would have gone then not now. LOL we used to try everything. The buzz at the time was Green Lipped Mussel powder which we used to sprinkle into feeds. The irony of that was the actives in that powder have been proven to be useful but when delivered by other means. That is compounds such as mucopolysaccharides and chondroitin. Today we have drugs that stimulate joints to produce cartilage repair and synovial fluid production. They're expensive but they are NOT performance enhancing. They just allow horses to perform to their potential without pain.

I see the usual hardcore on NZ's Anti-Racing forums are finding every reason they can to trash the idea. However they are bereft of any ideas themselves. Yet the same lot would have more money poured into the likes of Trentham! Lets face it $77m will only buy 60 houses in South Auckland which is about 4 hectares. Or less than two years of yearlings for Chris Waller.

Pennyweka? Mind you it was a great year for NZ bred and sold yearlings. I Wish I WIn, Mr Brightside, Kovalica, Atishu...

Yep. Then Nanny State has had the unintended consequence of most people needing to be mothered and forgetting how to have fun! I honestly don't think a grandstand matters. I can remember some of the best days I had at the races I was in a Marque on the inside of the track (Trentham), feeding and drinking from the boot of a car at Tauherenikau, standing on the tow bar of a horse float at Waterlea and recently under an umbrella at Matamata. The boot parties at Hororata and Motukarrara were pretty good too. Recently I saw a scaffold grandstand for Sail GP which was as good as any. Not to forget the big days at Kumara where the "Grandstand" is the size of a dolls house and sits about 200 people! You can get marques bigger!

Includes Sharp n' Smart, Prowess, Waitak, Warsaw (sold for $2m to Hong Kong), Wild Night ( @nomates), Legarto, Sacred Satono.

Tough horse.https://bitofayarn.com

Come on guys. Read between the lines! The $20m will be coming from the rebranded PGF (Jonesies Pork Barrell). HBRI will be swapping the land to allow the extension of a medical centre and housing. Unlike the AWT's this actually makes sense from an investment perspective. One of the new funds is called the Going for Housing Growth programme (GfHG). GfHG is structured around three pillars that make system changes to address the underlying causes of the housing supply shortage. These are: Freeing up land for urban development, including removing unnecessary planning barriers Improving infrastructure funding and financing to support urban growth Providing incentives for communities and councils to support growth. Together, these three pillars have an objective of: improving housing affordability by significantly increasing the supply of developable land for housing, both inside and at the edge of our urban areas. The $20m is pocket change in meeting those objectives. It is a Win Win Win for everyone PLUS the Government can manage the politics easily - "Look we have freed up a whole lot of land in Hastings for expanding medical centres and housing. Plus allowing a Hawkes Bay major event venue to continue to grow and develop".

Picky. Did you read what the article actually said? It said "costing more than" $77.3m. I'm guessing the journo added everything up himself. Regardless it is an estimate. FFS - have you been to the races lately? On the one hand "We're Doomed" you criticise waste but then conveniently ignore the fact that most of the "GRAND-stands are empty on raceday and only frequented by rats and birds the rest of the year. Heaps of capital tied up doing nothing. Marques actually work quite well except in a cyclone. I'm sure this approach might give Foxton some hope! My most enjoyable day at the races recently was under a large umbrella sitting at a table in the sun on a raised mound. Food and drink literally 5m away! Flemington is in Melbourne - a poplulation greater than NZ. Randwick is in Sydney - a population greater than NZ. Hastings - 85,000. I suggest you have a look at Pakenham which is what they are designing the new track on.

You can see from this picture that the existing site is now completely landlocked and surrounded by hospitals and housing. I wouldn't be surprised if the current medical centre nearby is looking to expand.

Proposed Sites. Not sure which end of Portsmouth Road they are looking at. I would say the NorWest end looks more likely.

Trentham has a number of constraints. The biggest in my opinion is the lack of horses close by to enable a training centre to be developed. The public facilities are stuffed and contrary to what some die-hard WRC members think the Champagne Turf is now more like a week old opened stubbie of Lion Red. Some will say that a training centre loses money. In my opinion that's only because there are insufficient horses and they are not run correctly. The Hawkes Bay has a lot going for it. I just hope they face the public stand the right way. Has anyway noticed that most of the Grandstands have been built facing away from the sun? I'm over going to the races sitting in the shade freezing my extremities off. Nine times out of ten they face the coldest prevailing wind. In that respect Riccarton is enjoyable in contrast to Hastings and Trentham.