Chief Stipe

I have spoken to two people directly connected with the Race 2 protest at Ellerslie on Saturday 30 November. The version of events posted on BOAY was the pure fantasy of one individual. The facts are that the Stipendiary Stewards lodged the protest. Te Akau connections didn't think there was much to protest about which is the view of a number of BOAY posters. The Stipes report is as follows: Race 2 Executive Travel 1100 TARGHEE (R Elliot) - Inconvenienced near the 150 metres when DRAGON QUEEN shifted out. Following the race a protest was lodged by the Stipendiary Stewards alleging interference by the 1st placed horse TARONI (D Johnson) to the 2nd placed horse BORDEAUX LE ROUGE (S Collett) inside the final 100 metres. After viewing films and hearing submissions the Judicial Committee upheld the protest relegating TARONI to 2nd placing. The final placings now read - 1 BORDEAUX LE ROUGE 1st, 8 TARONI 2nd, 6 DRAGON QUEEN 3rd, 5 TARGHEE 4th. BORDEAUX LE ROUGE (S Collett replaced T Harris) - Promoted to 1st placing after suffering interference inside the final 100 metres. TARONI (D Johnson) - Relegated from 1st placing after causing interference inside the final 100 metres.

Rule Number(s): Rule 638(1)(d)Following the running of Race 7 (Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup), Information A11664 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 638(1)(d), in that : “...D Bradley allowed his mount YATIMA to shift in shortly after the start tightening and checking OVERTHERIVER and PLATINUM ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 642(1)Following the running of race 2, Executive Travel 1100, an Information was filed Instigating a Protest pursuant to Rule 642(1). The Informant, Mr Oatham alleged that TARONI or its rider placed 1st by the Judge interfered with the chances of BORDEAUX LE ROUGE placed 2nd by the Judge. The interference ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): Rule 638(1)(d)Following the running of Race 1 (Dave Hoskin Carriers Maiden 1340m), Information A11663 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 638(1)(d), in that : “...B Ansell allowed her mount SORRY I’M LATE to shift inwards in the home straight when not clear of CARPE DIEM which was checked”. ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Bullshit Thomaas - if you set off on your WINX conspiracy theory and apply it to Sacred Falls then your posts will be moderated heavily. Your deliberate use of ellipses creates uncertainty which is intentional and then you mention liver disease and Chris Waller in successive sentences trailing off with ellipses.

Dual Doncaster Mile winner passes away Sacred Falls during his time at Waikato Stud. Photo: Trish Dunell Article Author Racenet12:12PM01 December 2019 8 Comments Dual Doncaster Mile winner and emerging New Zealand stallion Sacred Falls has died after a short battle with illness. Sacred Falls won the 2013 and 2014 Doncaster Miles in a brilliant career that also included wins in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and George Main Stakes. Sacred Falls was retired to stand at the famed Waikato Stud breeding operation where he was in his fifth season when he fell ill last month. Waikato Stud vets found Sacred Falls had liver issues, which deteriorated quickly on Saturday night and caused his passing at the Matamata Veterinary Services equine hospital on Sunday. “It’s been a very tough morning for all the team here as he (Sacred Falls) has been such a cool horse to be involved with,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said in a statement. “He had a wonderful temperament and a really engaging personality and all the staff here just love him. “He meant a lot to us all, especially as he had played such a big part in our lives during some very tough times.” Those tough times for the Chittick family included when Mark’s wife Lisa was going through her brave but unsuccessful battle with leukaemia. “When Lisa was sick and receiving treatment, Sacred Falls brought plenty of joy for us when he won the Doncaster Handicap in 2013 and again in 2014,” Chittick said. “When O’Reilly died, Sacred Falls had just arrived at the Stud, so it was like the torch had been passed from father to son, so he was a very special horse for us all. “I have nothing but praise for our head vet, Dr Chris Phillips, his team and all the staff at Matamata Vet Services as they did everything in their power to try and save the horse, but it just wasn’t to be.” Sacred Falls’ eldest progeny are three-year-olds.

FFS Thomaas if you are going to make inferences of that nature then provide some proof!! Or I'll heavily moderate posts like this. As for Sacred Falls he reminded me so much of his sire O'Reilly as does Brutal. Big loss.

Reminds me of a harness race many many moons ago where it was expected by the driver of our horse that a particular horse would hand up the lead. He didn't and both dug their toes and murdered each others chances. No Plan B in that instance. If the quote is actually accurate then I would say it was very unwise for the trainer to make the comment. Dummie Myers all over again!

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Hong Kong has a closed system. It isn't even comparable to New Zealand. As for knowing "every medication" a horse has in training provides no useful information to the punter. Of course you will now show us how it influences you bets in the Hong Kong market.

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Again the article is opinion with no quantifiable evidence to back it up. Geez he uses a sample size of ONE to assert that horses don't need it. AGAIN it refers to meds used for race day which doesn't apply here.

Keep Googling Thomaas I'm sure you can cherry pick more opinion. Are you going to promote making it illegal to not give horses any water 24 hours before a race?

Rule Number(s): 869)2)& Use of the Whip RegulationsFollowing the running of Race 10, Hanley Formula Pace, an information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr S P Renault, against Licensed Junior Driver, Mr J C Morrison, alleging that Mr Morrison, as the driver of TOMBELINA in the race, “used his whip on more occasions than permitted in the final 400 ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 213(1)(j)Following the running of Race 3, Placemakers Timaru Pace, an information requesting a ruling was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr S P Renault, as to whether CHALBERG, trained and driven by Mr Weaver was denied a fair start. Mr Weaver was present at the hearing. Rule 213 provides as follows: (1) A Stipendiary ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2)& Use of the Whip RegulationsFollowing the running of Race 8, Fresh Choice Geraldine Cup (Handicap Pace), an information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr S P Renault, against Licensed Open Driver, Mr J W Cox, alleging that Mr Cox, as the driver of NANDOLO in the race, “used his whip on more occasions than permitted under the ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2)& Use of the Whip RegulationsFollowing the running of Race 8, Timaru Hire Centre Handicap Trot, an information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr S P Renault, against Licensed Open Driver, Mr R L Houghton, alleging that Mr Houghton, as the driver of TAKE AFTER ME in the race, “used his whip on more occasions than permitted in ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

I'd give her one more to secure enough credits to get in the big races. Rest her. Then build up without all that head gear crap. I'd prefer someone like Roger James or even Lisa Latta to train her if the owner is serious about the Oaks.

It's nothing to do with beauty it's about ensuring INTEGRITY. You rabbit on about that all the time. It's ensuring we don't have anymore Fine Cottons. I don't see a freeze brand distracting from the beauty of the thoroughbred. In my lifetime I haven't seen a thoroughbred or standardbred without one. Except when they were foals.

The point is you highlight the negatives and exaggerate about the effects of freeze branding. You didn't make a positive argument for microchipping! Freeze branding is a damn sight more advanced than hot branding. If done correctly causes little harm to the horse.

Adding some more information to the debate. Microchips have some downsides: they can migrate in the body, they have a life of 20 years which may not be enough for horses and they or the systems upstream of them can be hacked.

Columbus, OH - Beginning with the harness racing foal crop of 2019, the primary means of USTA horse identification will be the microchip. "Microchipping provides a more safe, efficient and reliable way to identify horses," said USTA Director of Registry T.C. Lane. "The microchipping process is less stressful for the horse than freeze branding or a lip tattoo. In addition to its identification capability, the Merck microchips also can read the horse's body temperature quickly in a non-invasive fashion, which is a great benefit in monitoring the horse's health." To watch a video explanation and demonstration of the microchipping process hosted by the USTA's Wendy Ross with Midland Acres' doctors John Mossbarger and Bob Schwartz, click here. Not all horses will need to be microchipped immediately, but by 2021, all horses that race in the United States at all USTA member tracks (including county fairs) will be required to be identified with a microchip. All USTA ID Technicians are trained to implant microchips and will also continue to collect a DNA sample from each horse to send to the approved laboratory. All horses that have been previously freeze branded by the USTA will be required to be microchipped by a USTA ID Technician. Horse owners have the option to microchip stallions as well as broodmares. For foals of 2019, the microchipping fee is incorporated into the registration. All others with an existing freeze brand (racehorses, broodmares, stallions, etc.) can be implanted for a fee of $35 per head. The USTA has agreed to allow those that choose to continue to freeze brand the foals of 2019 to do so. That $75 fee must be prepaid to the USTA in addition to the normal registration fee and there are no discounts for multiple horses at any location with this arrangement. All USTA extended pari-mutuel racetracks will be equipped with readers to identify horses and county fair officials that will be responsible for identifying horses will be required to have them as well. As a USTA Member Benefit through our partnership with Merck Animal Health/HomeAgain, Bio thermal Scanners are available at the discounted, introductory rate of $279 for a BlueTooth model and $69 for the smaller standard unit. Industry participants (tracks/individual members/associations) can purchase a universal scanner for their own purposes at a reduced rate via our supplier by contacting the USTA at 1.877.800.8782 or by ordering via myaccount.ustrotting.com. In addition, Merck has agreed to partner with the USTA, for free, a lifetime subscription to their HomeAgain rescue services, which is a proactive network of veterinarians, rescue facilities and volunteers who are immediately notified in an attempt to help locate lost animals. The program maintains owner contact information that proactively prompts owners to update it during the annual membership renewal process and through other member communications. This is an added benefit for horses that are in need of rescue or connected via the USTA's Full Circle program. There are multiple reasons why microchips are a superior means of identification including: • Microchips in general offer a faster/more efficient and less stressful means of identification and require less time to implant than freeze branding or lip tattooing, providing greater convenience for farm visits. • Can measure a temperature in only a few seconds compared to rectal reading that might take several minutes. • Is a safe, unobtrusive way to uniquely identify individual horses. • Provides a less stressful way to alert owners of health problems through temperature sensing (EHV-1), which makes preventive care easier. • Allows for monitoring temperature during and after surgery or procedure, where minimal disturbance is desired. • Alerts owner to possible sub-clinical indications of potential infectious diseases. • Ideal for both young and pregnant stock. Improved technology has eliminated the concerns about the microchip moving after implantation. With Merck’s patented Bio-Bond® process, the microchips are encased in an insert micro-capsule made of bio-compatible material. The process enables the animal's tissue to permanently anchor the microchip at the desired anatomical site. HomeAgain/Destron Fearing microchips stay where they should for the health of the animals and for reading convenience. Any registration or identification question can be addressed by contacting the USTA Member Services team at

The biggest issue with your posts that pisses people off is they are always negative and fail in terms of humour. There are alternatives to freeze branding but you post negatively and in an alarmist fashion. See the next post.