Shad

Another old favorite of mine from that era was no response, his storming finishes always a highlight, remember one race where he weaved his way through most of the field, may have been interdominon, we had some top liners back in the day, remember joyboy starting off a 120m mark in a Westport cup back in the day, was 3rd from memory, Trevor Thomas was his driver.

The memories flood back, certainly was a great era of racing, from memory starships started off a long mark on the grass at Westport before heading to Auckland, being placed in the cup, Basisl Dean was one of my favorite trotters, how good was he.

I thought 3k but could be totally wrong, by blarney kiss I think, what a bargin either way, great to see his colours still going around with Snows granddaughter Jamie Lee, lostcause was my tip for the nz cup, but pulled out before final field, shame as would have relished those conditions, nice mare bit unlucky in last years nz an Auckland cup, bad draws an tough runs.

I thought that was the first meeting on the revamped track, I thought it had been flipped an re grassed, but do stand to be corrected, also like you I didn't stay for the after party, was the first of a few cancellations, club these days certainly must feel abit anxious come race day.

I was there the day Gold Dust went over the outside rail an on to a car,with a couple of other horses affected, one trained by Mark Nyan, from memory, for me it appeared the rider forgot to steer the horse around the corner, the caught the horse at blacks point, heading for the hills, shame as it no doubt cost the club for the realignment, was always wary of the times posted after the fix, one day posting 2.02 for the 2000m race, that very heavy ground no doubt Hokitika, but everyone horse an ride returned unscathed, real shame wasn't wanted any more.

Not sure but thought kiwi may have been reasonable purchase

The year the helicopter was bought into dry the track was the last time I attended Kumara races, seen the finish of the first race heading in the gates, after going to so many meetings there over the years with not an issue in sight, in its heyday the track was like a giant sponge, going never changed regardless of the weather, certainly been some good horses win the nuggets over the years, can't recall the omoto track reno may have been some years earlier, the going there was quite puggy the times I was there, also very susceptible to flooding quite regularly, all the coast tracks generally been safe over the years in my opinion, although the first corner after the 1400m start at reefton caught a few jockeys out over the years, even realigned the winning post after an incident one year, but I think that was more human error.

Was it Greymouth that was renovated, or were you meaning Kumara, who've had many an issues with cancellations over the years, never any problems before the upgrade.

Yep as I've said before no place for a commoner to shelter or even get a higher point to use the binoculars, only way to watch races there is if you can find a TV monitor, such a shame the ole stand gone, was one of the assets.

They young brigade maybe there for the big occasions, but how many will flock to a mid week meeting at reefton or riccarton or timbuktu, not many id imagine, so I'll fall into the ole stale generation, that supported local meetings for all my life, even fronted for some of the big occasions, so this article to me a little bit misleading, next time I'm at at quiet mid week meeting I'll report back to get a number on all those new generation of punters, or will there be more of the old stale generation, that kept the game going for many generations.

As long as their there for the races, last couple cups I went to, they where there alright, but the didn't look likely they were there for the racing, more like the liquid refreshments, was a few years ago, be good if things have changed.

If this is the case I'm pleased to hear it, so our future looks bright, nothing to worry about.

That's good to hear, I know racing needs all the help it can get, for me the younger brigade aren't that interested in the racing so much, more the drinking and social outing,especially cup week,like the fashion shows, most only there for the prizes, not so much the horses and the punting, just a few of my thoughts, maybe I'm to much old school.

I bet, another thing that irks me, if ya at the races, nothing worse than music in the back ground, if ya want music head down to the disco.

Hope you fellas had a good day out an found a few winners, I find riccarton not the greatest day out, the racing so far away, not many vantage points to get high enough to use the binoculars, only way to see where your money goes is to find the TV monitor, used to enjoy the public stand, guess if your a member you get more privileges, but from a public point of view, it not ideal.