Chief Stipe

Which one is @aquaman and which one is @Brodie?

Actually young Ben has done the OTD win. Won a race as an Owner, Trainer AND Trainer!

Not his first training success. I see Peter Profit has had a go at him for being from Woodend Beach. Ben strikes me as a young lad with a passion for the game and well bred and trained. He started out rough but like most good ones is getting better with age and experience.

Feel free to start a Topic @hunterthepunter. The floor's yours!

It was never SAFE nor EFFECTIVE. What do you expect when it was never fully tested or trialled.

Then say that clearly. Otherwise your argument falls apart and looks loony. Unfortunately your average citizen is not up to speed with the debate on HIV vs AIDS. They hear AIDS and think HIV and homosexual activity. The vaccine doesn't contain HIV but it may lead to compromised immune systems. Even the pro-vax scientists admit that in the days after getting vaccinated with mRNA vaccines the immune system drops and is more susceptible to Covid. Maybe a new acronym should be VIDS - Vaccine Induced Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

No HIV is not AIDS. HIV is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV can be a factor that causes AIDS however there is substantial research that supports the hypothesis that AIDS is actually caused by other factors. AIDS is a condition where the natural immune system is damaged to the point it cannot fight off ANY diseases. Not everyone who has HIV gets AIDS. Now there is some controversy around the whole HIV causing AIDS theory. Guess who was/is at the centre of that controversy? None other than one Dr Anthony Fauci!! HE pushed the theory that HIV causes AIDS and guess what......he pushed anti-viral drugs as a cure!!!! The inventor of the PCR test Dr Kary Mullis had a huge public fight with Fauci calling him a dangerous fraud many many years before Covid=19 arrived.

Bollocks. AIDS isn't a virus for a start. AIDS is a condition - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It develops, sometimes as a symptom of HIV. HIV is the virus. Where this conspiracy arose from was some crap was posted online that the spike protein had some sequences that were similar to HIV. There is enough main stream evidence building against the Pzifer vaccine without going down some Alice Rabbit Holes e.g. causes AIDS and contains Graphene micro-chips. That said - there is evidence that multiple jabbing of a vaccine that doesn't elicit a substantial immune response COULD damage the immune system AND facilitate the conditions for a cytokine storm response.

I've heard reports from multiple sources that training horses safely at Riccarton is becoming more and more problematic. The course proper is not recovering nor has the necessary maintenance work been done; The "new" turf training track has become a very hard surface and less than a year in is requiring renovation work; A new computerised irrigation system for the new turf track is rarely used; Disagreements between Trainers and Maintenance staff on grooming the new AWT. Some want it hard and firm while others want a cushioned training surface; Cambridge is watering their AWT to get it in optimal training condition whereas Riccarton refuses to do so (they may not even have the capability). The manufacturer says you don't need to yet every other AWT requires it; A major stable now prefers to gallop their horses on a track to the north of the city; One and possibly two major stables are close to moving away from Riccarton further limiting the revenue stream and ultimately adding to each of the aforementioned woes. Plus, although not confirmed, there are reports of an increase in horse breakdowns well above normal averages.

With the recent High Court decision overturning the Vaccine Mandates for Police and Defence Force staff it is time for NZTR to cancel their Vaccine Mandate Policy. Even the risk averse Fronterra has rolled back theirs. The fact is it never passed the Workplace Risk Assessment test in the first place. Training and Riding racehorses is by its very nature a non-contact work environment. Trainers and Jockey's barely talk to each other at the best of times! NZTR show some kahuna's and stop this nonsense. You need every single Trainer and Jockey working as hard as they can NOW or ultimately you'll be out of work and the only grandstands left standing will be painted Tangerine!

WTF does it have to do with AIDS?

I don't agree with the extreme conspiracy theories on the Pzifer vaccine however I see those that spruiked the vaccines are modifying their narrative once again. "There will be a rise in heart health issues in coming years due to long Covid." What about the evidence that the vaccine is causing the same issues? I'm happy to be a part of the unvaccinated control group. I suspect I had Covid in April or May 2020 but was refused a test then! If as the experts say over a million New Zealanders have had Omicron then I must be a lucky bastard. Except when it comes to backing race horses!

Can you explain your conspiracy on AIDS? I can't see the connection to either the vaccine or Covid.

Geez @Brodie what time did you open your home bar this afternoon?

The word is that the horses returned clear tests. I guess this is going to be another case of "in possession of a dangerous weapon" i.e. a syringe.

I'm more interested in the timeliness of the charges. He was charged for three races in a row. Was he spoken to after the first race in which he was charged? The second? The third? Was he coached at any stage on the day? Or are the charges arising from a delayed review of the HD video from the off course bunker?

But if you look at the Drivers hands and reins before he handed up Glenthorne was struggling to hold its position. Better to hand up to a stablemate with a round to go than fight each other.

@Ludwig where did you see reported that Brad Williamson got 8 days for the drive? I can't find the decision on the RIB website.

Southland RC 19 February 2022 – Races 7, 8 and 9 (heard 5 March 2022 at Wingatui) – Savish Khetoo ID: RIB7860 Respondent(s): Savish Khetoo - Apprentice Jockey Applicant: Miss Veronica Algar, Stipendiary Steward Adjudicators: Geoff Hall Persons Present: Kelvin Tyler, Trainer; David Walsh, Apprentice Mentor Information Number: No A16521, A16522, A16523 Decision Type: Adjudicative Decision Charge: Excessive use of the whip Rule(s): 638(3)(g)(i); 638(3)(g)(ii) Plea: Admitted Stewards Report Results Code: Thoroughbred Race Date: 19/02/2022 Race Club: Southland Racing Club Race Location: Ascot Park Raceway - 29 Findlay Road, Ascot, Invercargill, 9810 Race Number: R7 Hearing Date: 05/03/2022 Hearing Location: Dunedin Outcome: Proved Penalty: Apprentice Jockey Savish Khetoo is fined $250; suspended for 8 days Mr Khetoo has admitted three breaches of the Whip Rules arising out of the running of three races at the Southland Racing Club on Saturday, 19 February 2022. The charges were heard together. The Adjudicative Committee viewed the three races in question. Mr Khetoo can be seen to strike his mount CARLOS when racing near the rear of the field in Race 7 with his arm raised above shoulder height. He has struck his mounts KILOWATT and TYLER EIGHT in Races 8 and 9 six times before the 100 metres. Miss Algar stated that the Respondent had started using the whip quite early in the latter two races but on each occasion once he reached the 100 metres, he had stopped striking the horse. She said it appeared to be errors of judgment. She said he had previously been warned on one occasion about raising the whip above shoulder height. She added that Mr Khetoo had always been polite and respectful in the room. Mr Tyler explained that the Respondent gets “mixed up” when riding at Invercargill due to the need to be handy on straightening for the run home. It was a tight bend and there was a front runner’s bias on the day. He said Mr Khetoo just starts using the whip too soon and he needs to go hands and heels. Mr Walsh agreed with Mr Tyler’s comments with respect to the Invercargill track and the need to be urging horses by the 600 metres. He submitted that as the Respondent was an Apprentice and would only receive half the riding fee, the fine should also be halved. He said he had made this same submission to the Adjudicative Committee at Riverton on New Year’s day, and it had been accepted. Mr Walsh also stated that he was assisting Mr Khetoo and had arranged for him to be seen by a prominent sports psychologist. With Covid, he had not been able to hold Apprentice Schools. He believed that Mr Khetoo did not cope well with the pressure of riding on the bigger days and perhaps less rides on such days would be an option. The breaches themselves, he said, were low end. Mr Khetoo said he was receiving assistance. He did not know why he had breached the Whip Rule on the day. He had previously been riding “okay”. Mr Tyler added the Respondent not riding at Invercargill or on feature days were options that he would consider. Mr Khetoo has admitted the breaches, so they are found to be proved. Miss Algar stated that the Respondent had one previous breach of the Rule. On that occasion it was seven strikes, and the penalty was a five-day suspension. The starting points were a $500 fine and five days’ suspension. She said the Respondent had a quite a good record and she was sure he would learn from Mr Tyler and Mr Walsh. Mr Walsh said the penalty should be one that fitted the fact the breaches were low end. Mr Tyler agreed with Mr Walsh’s comments. Mr Khetoo asked that any fine be a little as was appropriate as he would have difficulty in paying a fine. Mr Khetoo’s breaches are all low end. The strikes were well spaced. Mr Khetoo has simply used the whip too soon and on the other occasion raised his whip too high. The penalties are imposed under the September 2021 Penalty Guidelines, which applied at the time. The starting points in the Guidelines in effect from 1 March this year have monetary starting points for 2nd and 3rd breaches. The Respondent is not in a financial position to be able to pay substantial fines. Mr Khetoo is currently suspended for an unrelated breach that occurred at the very same meeting. The totality of the penalties is a relevant consideration. It is not appropriate that cumulative penalties at the starting point for each breach be imposed. While deterrence is important in this context when regard is had to animal welfare concerns, so too is Mr Kheeto’s rehabilitation. Both Mr Tyler and Mr Walsh say he is a good listener and is willing to learn. Mr Khetoo is fined the sum of $250 for the first breach. He is suspended for four national riding days for each of the two further breaches. The first is from the conclusion of racing today, 5 March 2022, until the conclusion of racing on 12 March 2022, and the second from the conclusion of racing on 12 March until the conclusion of racing on 19 March 2022. He is thus able to ride at Wingatui on the 21st.

Why?

@the galah has made many posts inferring that there is PED cheating occurring in NZ. @Enteebee has done the same - more so behind a private forum. @Thomass often posted about the inconsistency in TCO2 testing between Gallops vs Harness and North vs South Island. Now no one is questioning that Wigg broke the rules and should have received a penalty. However there are widely different views on what that penalty should have been. I tend to agree with the view that her misdemeanour was at a very low end of the scale and her punishment has been disproportionate. She didn't inject the horse with a needle, she didn't tube the horse and she didn't administer a PED. She used a syringe to administer Turmeric, Black Pepper and Glucose. If it wasn't so expensive to do so if I were her I would appeal the penalty. The fact is this episode has done nothing to quell the rumours about widespread PED use. In this case the RIB have shown serious flaws in their procedures - it is apparent their focus is on the kill rather than doing their job competently, cost effectively and efficiently. "YES, we got you Wigg! We found you using a syringe!"......woops we forgot to test the blood for TCO2 levels. Woops we didn't test what was in the syringe.... With regard to the latter my understanding is if it wasn't for Leo Molloy's insistence then the RIB wouldn't have done any testing of the contents of the syringe. The reason being they had their evidence to charge using the catch-all rule and didn't want to use any budget to test in the Lab! Now that is another area for investigation - if the Lab is owned and funded by the RIB why are they reluctant to use it and why does it cost so much? Wigg's costs of defence were magnified significantly by forcing the RIB to test - who then passed as much of the costs as they could onto her. Yet @Gammalite/ @the galah you are comfortable that this case does something to encourage a positive view of integrity in the industry? Are you really comfortable that it took someone like Molloy to prove that there were no PED's administered? But some rules are daft. For example they are lowering the speed limit on ALL Northland roads from 100km/hr to 80km/hr. Why? Because speeding kills? NO - because speed on shit roads with crap drivers in crap cars kills. So do they fix the roads? Yeah Na! When the Government through their agencies e.g. the Police enforce the road speed rules they have a limited budget. They don't tail every car driver - too costly. They certainly don't wait for a call from an informant to say that Jill at 104 Bogan Road drives too fast and that she should be raided. No they target problem areas and use technology to control the speed limit. The fundamental basis to my argument is that the RIB are not effectively nor efficiently using their limited resources and science to improve integrity around the suspected use of PED's. BTW I don't believe there is widespread use of PED's in the industry. How many extra TCO2 tests, out of competition testing, pre-race and post race swabbing could have been funded with the millions spent on this old school hiding in hedges stuff? The millions spent on legal fees? Even the 10's of thousands of dollars spent on catching and convicting Wigg for using a syringe (common tool used daily in a stable) to orally administer Turmeric, Black Pepper and Glucose.

I'm not sure if there is anything to see here. Glenthorne was being tapped up and on a loose rein to hold its position when challenged. Then handed up when he saw it was Wild Card. Got the perfect trail and when showed the passing lane wasn't quick enough to pass the Wild Card. As for "showing more vigour" in the straight - that's a problem with the whip rules - you can't show any vigour!!!! Imagine what punters would say if whips were banned! In that case Glenthorne probably wouldn't have handed up and then we would have seen a speed duel and one or both drivers fined and/or disqualified.

@Gammalite why do you persist in NOT debating the real issues here? @the galah is the same. You are both old school Trainers/Drivers. Surely we can use science to get past Stipes hiding in hedges and enforcing dumb ass rules that hide their incompetence? The reality is some Trainers will still be syringing Turmeric and Black Pepper on raceday purely because they have far more sophistication in monitoring the arrival on their properties of strangers wearing black suits, fluro vests and flak jackets. The Wigg conviction has done NOTHING to improve the integrity of harness racing. Nor does the no syringing on raceday rule. What it has been is a costly exercise that has DONE NOTHING to either improve integrity or identify and eliminate PED use in racing. The cost expended would have been better spent on improving and increasing the number of out of racing tests, pre-race testing and post race swabbing. Why has the RIB invested millions and millions of dollars in a testing laboratory (when they could have sub-contracted some testing) and then fail to use it in a case like the Wigg case? Should the RIB invest millions and millions more in their Testing Lab?

Well it isn't that obvious is it? Remind me again - what match fixing charges was he convicted of?