Chief Stipe

Anyone with half a brain could see that Trentham was stuffed. The track is in very poor condition and no sign of remedial work being undertaken. No facilities for the general public and not enough funds to.even fuz the photo finish/electronic timing system for some years now. Only the die hard kept in the dark WRC members refused to see what was happening.

New Zealand Oaks moving to Ellerslie to save Group 1 status www.nzherald.co.nz https://bitofayarn.com Leica Lucy (right) and Craig Grylls won the NZ Oaks at Trentham in March. Photo/Peter Rubery Some because they can’t hold their form until its mid-March date, others because trainers prefer to head to the NZ Derby two weeks earlier or the ATC Oaks in Sydney three weeks after. Others trainers will, in slightly more hushed tones, suggest they don’t want their fillies to endure the road trip to Wellington and back from major horse centres like Cambridge and Matamata at the end of a long season or if they are considering future Australian options. Those factors all play a part in the Oaks not meeting the required ratings to satisfy the Asian Pattern Committee for the past three years, prompting them to vote on its future. The Oaks being demoted to Group 2 would be enormously embarrassing to the NZ industry and would devalue the race in the eyes of trainers, owners and future breeders looking to buy into the families of those who win it. The Oaks, sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld Dubai, will now be held at Ellerslie on February 21, two weeks before the NZ Derby, meaning fillies who perform well in the Oaks have the option to start in the Derby. It is also seen as a better pathway to races like the ATC Oaks held in Sydney in early April. While the decision will annoy or even anger trainers of some three-year-old staying fillies based in the Central Districts, recent moves of races like the weight-for-age Group 1 Proisir Plate to Ellerslie have proved popular with larger stables. One reason is Ellerslie is closer to the major training centres than Central Districts tracks such as Hastings or Trentham. Just as crucially, Ellerslie, after a rocky start with its new StrathAyr track, is seen as a reliable surface likely to race in the preferred Good 4 to Soft 6 range with less chance of a dreaded abandonment. NZTR have been vocal lately though of its continued support for Central Districts racing and are investigating the building of a new Greenfields track in Flaxmere, outside Hastings, to ensure the future of Hawkes Bay racing. It will not all be one-way traffic with the Group 1 changes next season too as the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes will move from Ellerslie to Awapuni. The race was held on Champions Day at Ellerslie last year but will now head to Awapuni as part of their Sires’ Produce meeting on March 28 next year. That is a return to its traditional position at the end of the summer racing season and back to being one of the last Group 1s of the term. It will create a mammoth meeting for the newly refurbished Awapuni track, with the Sires’ Produce and Breeders Stakes both Group 1s as well as three other black type races on the same card. There will be changes to lead-up races for the Oaks and the Breeders Stakes to provide the smoothest pathways for horses being aimed at them. The $150,000 Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes will now be held at Trentham on January 31, three weeks out from the Oaks. The $200,000 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes will now be held at Awapuni on March 1, four weeks out from the NZ Breeders Stakes while the $600,000 Westbury Classic, which was held on Karaka Millions night this year, will move to Champions Day, three weeks before the NZ Breeders Stakes. The $90,000 Westbury Stud Royal Descent Stakes will move from Boxing Day to Karaka Millions night to provide mares with an opportunity at that meeting. NZTR chief executive Matt Ballesty said the Group 1 changes underline their commitment to safeguarding the strength of our elite racing. “Our Group 1 races are the pinnacle of the sport,” says Ballesty. “These decisions are not taken lightly but they are essential to keep NZ racing strong and competitive on the world stage."

https://bitofayarn.com https://bitofayarn.com https://bitofayarn.com https://bitofayarn.com

So you've had your wings clipped elsewhere AGAIN. I'm sure you can find somewhere else to post your dribble.

Why don't you ask your friends on NZ's Premier Anti-Racing Forum why they didn't question Opies ride on @nomates horse at Cambridge last week? Seems to be horses for courses this selective harassment of Jockeys.

Well now we await the revised assessment of the local experts e.g. @Transparency , @JJ Flash , @Newmarket and a number of others. This announcement reinforces my original assessment that ENTAINS discretions (Ladbrokes and Neds before ENTAIN bought them) are at the low end of the scale and any financial penalty will not be substantial and possibly confined to remedial action.

You still have your first pay packet?

But they're all expensive to you.

There aren't any cheap ones.

The word is that the BGP may have run its course. The managers have run out of puff and Ellerslie wants their hospitality rooms back for other promotions. The next Karaka Millions night will be the last with special privileges and they won't be there Champions Day.

They game changers. As for the partying and drinking as least they are paying not like the self entitled old troughers who forgot to look after things instead of swilling. You have to start somewhere and they're not all attached to the establishment. However full credit to the likes of David Ellis employing young people. Well pull the lever on your lazy boy and stream yesterday's trials on the smart TV. There were a few good performances yesterday.

I have. A trotter called McShane. Saw him reading a racebook once or twice.

SOUTHSIDE RACING ACQUIRES EQUINETRAIN FACILITY AT PAKENHAM TRAINING CENTRE Share Article Share on Facebook Share on X Share with email Share link Southside News Sep 02, 2025 Southside Racing is pleased to announce the acquisition of EquineTrain, a privately owned, state-of-the-art racehorse training and rehabilitation facility that currently services local and visiting trainers at the Pakenham Training Centre. The facility will be rebranded as the Southside High Performance Centre and operate under an enhanced model, designed to further strengthen Southside Racing’s commitment to delivering world-class resources for participants, horses, and the broader racing industry. The Southside High Performance Centre will provide cutting-edge services to prepare, revive, and treat racehorses at every stage of their campaign - whether gearing up for competition, recovering from intense track work, or rehabilitating post-injury. With water walkers, high-speed treadmills, cold spas, and spacious day paddocks, the facility is designed to optimise equine performance, and Southside Racing are actively exploring innovative new therapies and technologies to further enhance horse welfare and recovery. Neil Bainbridge, Chief Executive Officer of Southside Racing, said: “This is an exciting step for Southside Racing. The Southside High Performance Centre will give all trainers and their horses access to the very best in training and recovery, enhancing the standard of care and performance across our racing community.” General Manager of Racing, Alastair Dwyer, added: “The acquisition allows us to build on the already outstanding reputation of the facility, while expanding opportunities for local and visiting trainers. It positions Southside Racing as a leader in equine performance and rehabilitation in Victoria.” Further details about the Southside High Performance Centre will be announced in due course.

The Monowai

He travelled from NZ on the Monowai. Phar Lap's quarters on deck of SS MONOWAI In November 1931, champion Australian race horse Phar Lap was taken to New Zealand, in preparation for a longer voyage to the United States to compete. On Christmas Eve 1931 Phar Lap boarded the MONOWAI on which had been specially fitted out with a comfortable stall and exercise yard. MONOWAI reached San Francisco on January 15, 1932. https://bitofayarn.com

The "stop over" was for 5 weeks!!!

https://bitofayarn.com

Looking at how it went first up in OZ I'd say it was a wise choice. Although a very expensive way of getting invited to the whales table.

Aren't most of your type posting from the grave? A stand full of them at the Karaka Millions. A fair few at the Matamata races. A zillion at Riccarton and Addington Cup Week. More importantly there is a lot of young talent coming along in the training ranks and the work being done with apprentices seems to be making a positive change. Get those gold sovereigns out from under the bed and buy a small share in a syndicate and meet even more young talent. Although young in your case is relative. You really need to get the retirement home bus to divert from the bowling green and the RSA and head to the tracks @Huey . If you ask nicely @TAB For Ever could drop by and pick you up in his limo the next time he heads to the track. You'd have to tidy up a bit and dust the garbidine overcoat, the paisely tie and the Beresford Tweed sports coat but trust me it will be worth it.

Everything is for sale at a price. I learnt my lesson when offered $180k 15 years ago for a poorly bred gelding and the other partner refused to sell. In between then and the next offer after another win the damn thing kicked itself in its stall! That's why I like the Tangerine filly contracts - it is made very clear that the syndicate partnership is dissolved by selling the horse at auction at the end of its racing career. Anyway if I had a horse today it would be on the market for a price even though the stakes are fantastic and racing has turned a corner for the best.

Another photo by Boyer. Trentham in better days! Shame the track wasn't irrigated! They sure cut the grass short in those days.

You're right. Why did he travel via Wellington? There are some notable luminaries in that picture! Even the photographer was famous! https://www.jameshargest.school.nz/brigadier-hargest/ James Hargest distinguished member of the NZ Forces in both World Wars. https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/coates-joseph-gordon-pc-mc Prime Minister following William Massey. David Jones - Minister of Agriculture and Mines - created Federated Farmers (initially a Union for Farmers!) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Jones_(New_Zealand_politician) Adam Hamilton - National MP - Postmaster General and Minister of Labour. First leader of the National Party. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Hamilton Oswald Watkings - In 1901 he was the secretary of the Wellesley Club. Resident of Lower Hutt at 54 Pharazyn Street by 1902. An accountant. President of the Racing Conference in 1931. He was a Hutt City Councillor at one stage. Died in 1936 aged 73 years Date 1931 Reference MNZ-2372-1/2-F Description Racing horse Phar Lap at Trentham before his trip to the United States, with his attendant Tommy Woodcock. Standing nearby are, left to right, Rt Hon Joseph Gordon Coates, Oswald Stephen Watkins, David Jones, Brigadier James Hargest and Adam Hamilton. Taken by Charles P S Boyer in 1931.

Always been the case. Here is a picture of Phar Lap at the Trentham Yearling sales 1927. LOL the building in the background is probably still in use!

Some trainers make a career out of getting horses up and running and flicking them. It has always been the case.