Rowley Mile

Read Lee Freedman's tweet re this, he was vicious......The Herald Sun referred to Smerdon as legendary, pleeeease.....Tommy Smith was legendary. It now calls into question all those wins Smerdon has recorded against his name.....EPO found in his stables, the contaminated straw, and now this......hope to see Smerdon packing shelves at Woolies soon.....Birchley, well let's see as he has appealed so innocent until proven otherwise.

Now the Aquanita 8 have been found guilty and sentencing to follow, what odds Mr Birchley appeals? He is training only at the pleasure of the boss of QLD Racing, so, conundrum, what does transparency say, can Liam keep training, found guilty, or does he appeal and drag it out. It's not cheap, lawyers that is, they are facing disqualification and/or warning off.......Smerds is a shot duck, but this fella swears his innocence, so that being the case, Go Liam Go.....you honest bastard, show those legal eagles your smoking gun and blow them away.....#not drowning waving

Great story.

A very sad episode DB, or a series of them apparently. At least they [the cops] caught them in action [allegedly] and if proven then long sentences one would imagine. I don't know what will happen to LB, though, he was too pissed to remember anything [self admission] and now there are two more [un-named] trainers being referred to, so there is more to come [apparently] Smerdon has the best lawyer in Vic, McHenry takes no prisoners but he's pushing it uphill with the evidence being presented by the racing cops...... Personally, I've never seen a case anything like this, it's up there with Fine Cotton, a downright shame that household names are involved too, but then again, so many hard working, honest toilers will be waiting with baited breath to see what the wash up is, as, as has happened before, nothing might come of it, and whatever the outcome, we need an outcome!!!

Yes Wally. Old Jim did train him, I didn't stay for the cup that day, we were on our way home with a lovely silver tea/coffee set tucked under my arm. the trophy donated by Schweppes.....the Mrs seconded that and it is still in use at our place 30 years on.

Lucky enough to have been to the ''Bool'' with a runner Wally, funnily enough, his stable name was Wally too!.....30 years ago today. He won, ridden by the marvellous Pat Hyland, tried to book the 'Babe' but he had a ride......took the bookies for a few bob, 5's into 5-2......about 25,000 on course and what an atmosphere....Dandy Andy won the cup that day, won the Australian Cup the following season.......great memories.

In another galaxy, far, far away, there is a racing website called = FIGJAM.......it's only got one member, who on earth could that be you reckon?

Legend......thank you mate.

Whoever signed off on the FOB platform should be held accountable, it is the anchor around the boots, tied to a concrete Ballard and heaved overboard to sink into the depths of AKL harbour........A Royal Commission would have brought to light the glaring mistakes from both NZRB and NZTR......the costs involved with the outsourcing should have been audited, before and after, now there should be a uniform call for a forensic investigation to determine what led the board to take these decisions.....

There are a few trainers here in Oz that sell 'partnerships' in their purchases ......no mark ups, no monthly Mangement fees etc.....deal direct with man at the coal face....perfect example, Mick Price, or Nigel Blackiston.....others too, I'd much rather deal with the trainer who has stumped up his own hard earned, put his nackers on the line so to speak. Darby, Triple Crown, they do a great job for the industry and their recent results speak for themselves, but nothing beats direct contact. IMO.

I've only been back in Oz for a month, in that time I've asked around the traps re NZ racing......the consensus is thus, no one here gives a flying f#%^ if NZ racing collapses or not.....or whatever......they do know, most of them, that racing in NZ is in dire straights, the common question to me is ''how did it get to this''.......if only I knew, apathy, misinformation maybe, closeted reporting.....but whatever, our company has a motto, a mantra we try to live by.....it's not the problem, it's how you fix the problem.......I know JM will do what he can, my fear is his report will go into the too hard basket.......I hope it's not too late for all you good bastards, for us it was.

IMO Tana is wasted at the Blues.......I would rather see him in politics, as having met Tana and followed his career, sometimes from afar, he is one very decent and intelligent human being. Politics therefore needs him.......he would make a difference, he's just too nice a man for what he is going though.......

South African GP! Can't sit her exam to qualify under NZ specs, as the spaces are full......? WTF......the country is screaming for Doc's and they can't find a space for her.....she's been in the country for 2 years trying to transfer her qualifications.......Claire has to work as an intern for 2 years once she passes.....God help you all......it's not only racing in free fall in NZ, the health system is well and truly rooted as well.

The difference between Oz and NZ was glaring obvious yesterday when we walked onto Beaudesert racecourse. Beau is about one hour's drive from Brizzie, and an hour from the coast......Gold Coast that is......lovely track, good surface, strong betting ring with bookies even betting place only. The crowd grew during the day, being Anzac Day many of course had been to services and then to their various clubs, still, no signs of being under the influence. We left just before the last, the crowd was enormous and loud, most under the 30!.....party time, however the betting ring was full and the bookies were doing well........that's the difference. The atmosphere was unreal.......just like I remember back in the 70's/80's when I was training at Flemington. Then we got 20, 30 thousand to Sat race days, not just big day's or carnie days......everyday.......last week at midweek Ipswich the crowd was small, and only a few bookies, that is a sign of the times, the last time I went to Trentham, a few months back, a man and his dog were there, no atmosphere, the members was a room full of drinkers that rarely left the room, no one went down to look at the horses in the tie ups....cos you can't of course.......a lot more relaxed here in the QLD sun. Let's see what next Sat brings, Doomben, or the Gold Coast......ahh, the options.

I left that site. I was a strong contributor and had nearly as many likes as posts, so most approved of my input. Being a licensed person I had to choose my words carefully, now, having moved countries, I hope I can post sensible and interesting musings that are not biased but direct and accurate. Before RC fell into the spiral I enjoyed the banter, enjoyed the discourse, and took onboard the many varied opines that flowed, now, I feel the growing number of posters on here will be of the same mindset as moi, so I look forward to a long and enjoyable membership of BOAY.

And boy did they!....it was funny for a while, then sick.....I'm sure here will seem like Holiday Island, now that will be nice.

Never got the chance to say ta raa Vonny, you and Helga will have to make the effort to get over here to Brizvegas.....not so hard during a wet and cold Whiteman's winter me thinks?

I'm a newbie, but you all know me.....now posting from QLD, from the warmth and sunshine, I'm sure that will resonate with my posts on here......good on you 2 Admin, it won't take long until most on the 'other side' realise their foible's and do the bolt!

What's the bet John's suggestions/recommendations get punted into touch by the government body once they read and choke......the downward spiral will continue until the crash, and the bodies will be almost unrecognisable.