Chief Stipe

My mates drink Speights. If they are stuck they'll drink a Pinot Gris or a full bodied red.

That's your negative anti-NZ racing and anti-Te Akau coming through. If you took those envy green and dark moody lenses off and looked at it positively you'd say that Te Akau now have a stable business from which to form a solid permanent base in Victoria (they chose Victoria over NSW). A strategic decision that of course helps their business model and gives more opportunities for a return to their owners investment. Well they seem to have picked up already a few big fish owners over there.

Not Wightman by any chance? He moans about everything. Anyway according to you doom and gloomers it is expensive everywhere. At least Hastings has a climate where you can train in the spring and good grass to agist on. Also you are only 2hrs from Awapuni and Taupo, 2.5 has from Foxton, 3 hrs to Otaki and 3.5 hrs to Matamata and Te Rapa. Even when the Hawkes Bay course was fully operational you had to travel. Not to mention that you live in a very nice region not too dissimilar to Canterbury.

You are reading it from your perpetual bias of negativity. Where does the statement explicitly say that the race should stay a Grp 1? BTW @Freda extra water on a particular part of a track doesn't necessarily make it wetter. It depends on the field capacity of the soil and its drainage.

Meeting News Venue Changes - October/November The following changes have been approved by NZTR, the TAB NZ Dates Committee and Entain. Following last week’s announcement of the Return-to-Racing protocol for RACE Awapuni, NZTR confirms that the Feature meeting on Saturday 18 October will now be held at RACE Trentham.https://bitofayarn.com With Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club already allocated additional meetings in September and October, the Industry meeting scheduled for Sunday 2 November will now be run at Woodville Racecourse. As a result of these changes, the Foxton Trials on Tuesday 30 September will be rescheduled to replace the Woodville Trials on Tuesday 14 October. In addition, trials will be held at RACE Awapuni on Monday 6 October as part of the Return-to-Racing protocol.

I don't know I haven't asked him. But my guess is that he is suggesting to NZTR that they get their programming and pattern right. I doubt he is suggesting that NZ lowers their black type standards with just the stroke of a pen. The savvy bloodstock investor that he is he knows that that ultimately diminishes NZ horse values. I do know that a number of the big stables aren't all that comfortable with all roads pointing to Ellerslie and nor are they comfortable with that artificial turf surface. But they also realise that the lack of track maintenance over the years has left no option.

Waipukurau has picked up the slack. So not all doom and gloom for Hawkes Bay Racing Trainers. Waipukurau Jump outs 23.09.25 Results publication.pdf

Same weather phenomena as Canterbury when the nor-westerlies are the dominant wind during the spring. Some years much more than others. This year looks like a dry spring/summer. I hope Riccarton has its irrigation sorted!!

I read it differently. Perhaps you and @Freda should ask him what he means. My read is that international recognised status is important and he questions the Australian approach.

Where does David Ellis suggest "breaking away from the APC"?

Which is 100 more than Ellerslie or Trentham. Potential to grow as well.

The track hasn't been closed to trackwork. Some people have pushed that myth. It has been closed to racing but NOT trackwork. https://hawkesbayracing.co.nz/news/trackwork-23-september-2025 Just as it is for late winter early spring training when compared to the rest of the Central Districts.

https://www.equied.com/equied-training-team/ I see Nairn is doing a Dissection Presentation in November in the UK and one in Scotland. Only 500 pound course fee. https://www.equied.com/product/equine-dissection-with-becks-nairn-uk/

What's the name of the Irish outfit?

Look at her latest post. This is the "Independent Equine Research and Therapy Laboratory"! Give me a break! It fails all the basic protocols for an evidential lab let alone an amateur dissection lab! @Gammalite these nuttters have only one objective and that is to fuel conspiracies about the racing industry. By the way "taking it to the Next Level" was to install solar panels! One Year of Learning, Growth, and Connection We’ve quietly reached the first birthday of our Equine Research and Learning Facility — and what a year it’s been. Over the past 12 months, we’ve completed seven full equine dissections — each one a profound learning opportunity. The space has drawn in a wide range of people: curious, respectful, open-minded individuals from all corners of the equine world — including some well-known faces from New Zealand’s equine community. This isn’t a space for everyone — and that’s okay. But those who’ve spent time here will understand what makes it special. It’s not just a building — it’s a hive of like-minded souls. A place built on compassion, courtesy, observation, curiosity, and gratitude. Each person who walks through the door brings something — and leaves with so much more. We’re proud of what this facility has become — and even more excited about where it’s going. A big announcement is coming soon — one that will take everything this facility represents to the next level. Today, we acknowledge the past 12 months, it achievements and deeply appreciate the dedication and kind souls who’ve given their time, knowledge, experience, and compassion to create a space like no other: Becks Nairn Paula Doherty Sarah Blackburn Dr. Ruth McManus Esme Whinwray (me ) We have each worked hard for the knowledge Our financial contributors — thank you for getting us this far! ☆ Equi Ed Ireland ☆ Main Equine Researched Nutrition ☆ Esme Whinwray & Shane Gadsby ☆ Dr. Ruth McManus ☆ Emma Kay - on going contributions ☆ Paula Doherty ☆ Pat & Tony Whinwray ☆ Jacqui Muller - in loving memory of Pony ☆ Jervis Whinwray - RIP ☆ Wren Abbott ☆ Clare Porter We still require some funding to complete the work space. Solar panels Metal to complete the parking and wet areas. If you wish to donate or contribute, you’re warmly encouraged to do so — whether in honour of a special horse or person, or in memory of someone who would appreciate what we are trying to achieve. ☆ Message me directly for more information and bank details. Our facility is open to anyone who’d like to visit. Arrange a time, come have a chat — we’d love to share our experiences and show you what the facility has achieved: past, present, and future. My Last comment I wish to give to the seven horses. To honor them with love and apprication and acknowledge that their final stories will be used to speak up and make meaningful changes for the sake of future horses. rest easy x Knowledge is power With reflection & pride Esme x

I was with you until you got to this point. Regardless of whether or not in your opinion she is "small fry" (she has 50,000 followers on Facebook) or a big fish through her exploitation of Arcano she poured fuel on an unproven allegation. You are correct "she is someone pursing her interests" but it is at the expense of racing. As for her "trying to help horses" - euthanising horses so she can profit from her dissection presentations is hardly helping.

Would have been part of the reason but as has been proven time and time again increasing top end stakes doesn't improve much at all. The reality is though how many horses have gone to Australia fulltime AFTER starting in New Zealand? The fact is Australia and Hong Kong compete for the best yearlings and the only local buyer who can compete against them is Te Akau. @Huey criticises TA constantly but NZ racing would be a lot worse off without them. Add to that the horses they buy at OZ sales and bring back here that raise the quality.

Exactly. At least NZ has been following the guidelines. I do find it amusing though that some online commentators from Trentham have finally got something to say when the downgrade of the Thorndon has been flagged for quite some time. These things don't happen overnight.

I don't believe he has missed the point. In fact he is making quite a point regarding the state of black type in Australia. NSW has been upgrading races to Group 1 without international approval nor in line with guidelines for some time now. With more in the wind. For example how can you make a Slot race like The Everest a Group 1.

@TAB For Ever does ignore who he wishes to. However you are moderated because you don't follow the few rules that BOAY has. For example I had to edit this latest post of yours before approving it because you named who @TAB For Ever was. I guess that makes you feel important or knowledgeable about racing when it is clearly evident from your posts that you are neither other than another anti-racing negative type.

That's only 3 horses that started their respective careers in NZ. Te Akau have increased their yearly investment in yearlings in order to fill their Cranbourne stables. Many of those extra yearlings were purchased specifically for Australian clients and the Cranbourne operation. So the impact has been minimal. What you also need to remember is that Te Akau taking horses that have obtained Group wins in NZ to OZ and winning at Group level over there stamps the NZ form i.e. helps to keep NZ Group races maintain their status. Of course conversely that could work the other way where if NZ's don't perform over there. Ironically though Damask Rose didn't win a Group race in NZ. La Dorada was well ahead of the two year old pack and deserves her chance to pick up black type in OZ. She wouldn't have been a Thorndon entry this year in any event.

Not much brings you joy. Explain why you are laughing your arse off?

More than his last win!

At the expense of the gullible? Her opinions may or may not hurt any one individual but they do hurt the industry. Why does there need to be any feedback on Arcano? Fraudalent false information and dodgy science is worse than no feedback. Therein you make a good point but staying silent about or trying to justify Nairns right to make false unfounded allegations does the racing industry considerable harm. So I applaud anyone who publically in a very articulate manner shows her for what she is. A fraud that makes money out of dissecting horses and who is anti-racing. I haven't shut anyone down. Nor am I hiding behind moderation unlike one forum owner who closes down anyone who he thinks make him look stupid. Which quite frankly isn't hard to do. On internet social media it is easy to find a group that will agree with you but very hard to find an open forum where you can robustly debate the issues. I'd quite happily debate Nairn on a forum as I'm sure @Steven B would but she hides and shuts down opinion who doesn't agree with her. As for her rehoming horses she seems more intent on euthanising them so she can profit from dissecting them! Exactly - yet many posters are intent on creating the impression there ARE conspiracies. Often they don't present any facts to support their innuendo, supposition and inferences.