Shad

Did notice that on her return, wonder they showed it, good to hear all's well, well written that is.

Yrpes very frustrating ifcyou money's onm but happen quite often, maybe Franco Tim today, got tough draw though.

Great horse picks Murray, keep up the good work, this fella may have been a late scratching, A mate bought a pair of meatloaf undies, on the front it said, I'll do anything for love, and on the back, said, but I wont do that.

Even the best couldn't master the wingatui track, interesting ride on purple prose hunted her out from wide draw to get handy, but cost her in the finish, I always maintain wide draw at wingatui a struggle, a friend had a interest in perlino, I said to him she'll have to go back from there, riding handy at there peril, 3 wide from the 800, went a good race, but gut buster, Cleo lane win was super impressive, she done it, not many can.

Tragic, so sad to here that, and this race the unluckiest of all, thoughts go out to the connections, and the ole war horse.

Been a bit unlucky last two, but hopefully will pay more next time, grass probably more suited surface for him, see if he heads to the coast circuit, along with stablemate.

Another name id forgotten, Jack certainly was an icon on the coast, remember the days huddled around the ole valve radio which were the best at picking up the required station, the frustration of the signal fading in an out, Jack called my uncles galloper to win at Nelson, her only win, very frustrating horse, track work an trials nothing would get close to her, remember her bolting in at a trial in hoki one day, a spectator quipped she'd be a cert next start, we warned him,, couple weeks later at hoki races she finished last, race day just wasn't her thing, unfortunately.

May have been but was a long time ago, interesting place to gave a track, but must have gone to considerable lengths to get it made, can you recall Eric Percy's commentaries back in Nelson Blenheim circuit, or did they have someone else, Ian Chambers may have done it up there to, at some stage

Was Eric Percy doing the commentaries back in those days, he seemed to be around forever, I can recall going to a equaliser meeting at Murchison back in the day, think was a small all weather track, may have been close to the river, was many a year ago.

Didn't have access to members, just a mere peasant me, was quite a rushed trip but really enjoyed my time there, and a quick road trip checking out the other venues in the area, the stand at winton was taped off at the time, obviously an earthquake risk, nice track for gallops that winton venue, shame not utilised, but just one if a few these days,

Sorry to say I didnt see the shoes, only in the public stand, looks like I missed a few highlights, next time maybe or maybe needed specsavers

Yeah an old friend told me once you past 50 times seems to speed up, and have to agree with that.

Awesome action shots, was lucky to see him win at omoto some years back, said to my wife who doesn't follow the horses like me, how fortunate we were to witness a win in by one of our top horses of the era, not many racing around present day that say they've won 20 races, Our Gene's won many for the pitman to.

Another great photo, can't say mine anywhere that professional, must give you great pleasure to be able to look back at your classy shots, a job that must have seemed like a hobby, I attend funeral of a friend at addington before xmas, he was an avid dog owner, actually had dog races on, an as a tribute the Hurst done a lap of track with him on board,, seen Mr Robbie on his walker taking the finish shots, very dedicated, someone said he travels up from invercargill.

Was quite a good crowd the year I went, but nothing like they'd have back in the early days, didn't get to see the early photos you mentioned, did back a winner while there, Sterling lady paid 24, Parsons trained, bred by the late Kevin Hickman, only race she won, did get my year wrong, was actually 2019, boy time flies by, Stayed in a grand pub at invercargill, think it was call the Victoria or something similar, was very well looked after, especially having traveled and a day at the races, did sample some of the famous bluff oysters.

The good old days, camera tech has moved on since those times I guess,, maybe a bit easier these days, remember taking a couple shots of empire rose winning her NZ cup, what a lump of a horse she was, what a good horse Rough habit his win in the stradbroke I think it was freakish ,Im positive we've witnessed the best era of racing, looking back at some of those names that pop up, horses of those calibre just not seen these days, Scapolo did get his 20 win, finished 2nd in his last hurrah to little miss swiss, raced at many a venue.Thanks again for the modena pic, certainly bring back the memory of thwt maiden win at little old Westport.

That's him, nice picture, I think Paul Falvey may have ridden him the odd time,

Yes, very smart horse by light spirits from memory, trained by Jim Melton, witnessed him winning his maiden race, was at Westport though, got well back, and I've never forgotten the turn of foot he showed to pick them up an win very well, knew he went on to top races, a grey horse, then to aussie I think, can't recall how he went over there, but that win, has stuck with me, and Damien Browne did ride, coincidently light spirits sired the last ever winner of the Westport cup, Elad Nova, 1996 from memory was their last hurrah for the throughbred racing there.

Yeah bit of a shame, can't recall the full story, but knew it was controversial, been to riverton once, 2017 I think, drove to Christchurch, flew to invercargill, plane circling for an hour waiting for break in the fog, just when we thought we were heading to Dunedin and a bus trip, we landed, grabbed a rental, and headed to riverton, had a share in a cup runner, we didn't win, but enjoyed the day, an took time out to visit the defunct thoroughbred tracks at Wyndham, Winton, which where nice courses, stopped an checked out gore track, one of our horses favourite tracks, 3 wins there including a gore cup by 10 lengths, no races there at the time, but did talk to a trainer working his horses at the time, Tony Stratford, and an associate was was working a galloper at time time, enjoyed my time there, not quite long enough, and will return one day,

Heck your parents were kind giving you a week off school to to go on holiday and racing, my mum wouldn't give me a day off or a half to go to races, which incidentally the 1200m cute start point right outside my classroom window which made the pain more unbearable, did get over in lunch hour for a race, or after school, those nuns must have been the kind ones, the ones in ours days were harder than Japanese arithmetic, no quater given on any score, and sure knew how to discipline the naughty ones, and the not so naughty, any favourites or good horses you remember from your era, be interested to hear a few.

Remember colfix, may have won the nuggets, out of red mit from memory, she was a coast specialist, trained a few more handy ones, but names escape me, been a few good gallopers grace the coast tracks over the years, remember the mighty scapolo winning at omoto, Royal adder, blue sage, miles better, placido, cappiemore, Modena,to name a few, some of these horse won 10 or 15 races, you just don't that these day, nice little roll call of very good performers, fell free to add a few more.

Great photo, funny my uncle who passed on the racing bug to me( for which there's no cure)as a very young lad, an new slim,would recite that poem when we would leave for the races, had a bit of a twist in the lyrics though, his version at little more curse, ended with wat a .... of a day at the races. Oh the memories what a great crowd.

Yes always good to see those two doing well,a few of those good riders of that era training a few, Danny Frye, Bruce Smith who had success with Lombardi, which I haven't seen racing, looked promising, interesting you mention Mr Hamilton, was he the trainer from omakau and won a Grand National with Kid Colombus, had an apprentice Jo Chong back in the day, even trained a few harness horses.

Yes not a good way to express your views as an owner, maybe more in disappointment than anything, but when your paying for 7.5 hrs travel for zip, one could understand, a double edged sword in some respects, bit the bullet go with it, and have a fresh horse for next start, or start and have a tough run, and possibly ruin a prep for rest of the year.

Agree very tough game to make a dollar, and most people just see the sale price, without think of the breeding cost outlay, guess they'd b penty that couldn't afford to take them home, tomorrow sales be interesting, any lot take your fancy for top price.