Shad

That's all part of the draw card, the Alice springs of new Zealand racing.

Yes I do believe it was that year, first failure of the track upgrade, and been a few more since, the old kumara was always the same, wouldn't matter if they'd had a month of fine or rain, track always was safe and raced the same, nowadays very weather dependant,can remember the old days with the like of colfix, tarrion, think tarrion won a nuggets, dead heaters accelerate and frontline both trained by Jimmy lalor, both out of same mare, even the local mare eurythmics won a few races but not a nuggets, Mrs Topliss trained a couple battlers highly favored and trabis, I was lead to believe the track was locked up bar race day, and she had to take her team to omoto to gallop.The good old days, ya never left your gumboots at home.

The ole country racing v metropolitan, only ever one winner in this battle, the iconic nuggets on offer, stake not the highest in the country, but the passion and the crowd and turnover certainly let you know which racing they love, saddest part is they seem intent only removing the highly successful meetings.

Great to hear Robbie Patterson interview, talking of coming back next year with a few other prominent trainers, let hope they do.

Classic comedy from yesteryear, right up there with sid snot and only fool in horses.

The same as most years,all those bus loads trek in for the yearly sojourn, 20$ to get in fairly steep these says, may put a few off, last time I was there got in the gate to see first race, then they had the helicopter out trying to dry the track, I think that was the first ever abandoned meetings, been a few since, looks like a good day in the sun today, roll on reefton tuesday

Dont know about those misconceived strategies, but many of the picnic meetings I've been to it's a once or twice a year outing for many locals and visitors alike.

I agree with your comments, alot of the punters at that meeting probably are once a year betters, just wondered wether all the serious punters would be looking at a meeting where most races are maidens of lowly accesses horses.

Yes the good old day's a thing of the past, I thought Norton may have won an Easter cup, but was many a year ago, boy those big fields were great from a punting prospective, especially if you were looking for a big divy, methven also used to be a course for big divs, until they upgraded the track, quite liked the Nelson meeting haven't been for a few years, used to go to the odd June meeting, the smaller fields make me less likely to travel to attend, but fairly standard these days, even the Westport trots light in numbers last few years, just the way it is, always admired that big roomy unused thoroughbred track at Nelson,a real shame they closed up many a year ago, along with the Westport club and the all weather of greymouth, now just a fenced barron waste land, never been used for anything, the good ole days of them hosting an open class trot, with the likes of Nigel Craig and old Waipounamo racing there, the memories, we've certainly seen the best of racing over the years,Good luck with your upcoming meet, I'll probably follow a few failed roughies I took both days at Westport and at reefton, usually stick with them through to blenheim, I noticed the geddes trainer never had anything racing over the meetings this year, like to follow there horses.

Wont be 17 runners this year, more like 7, seems to be shortage of numbers in these grades, hopefully I'm proven wrong.

Bit of a tougher decision when you have one racing, especially if they win and you miss out in the photo opportunity, think I traveled twice to see our boy race, once was in the cup, but riccarton was never his go, but mostly saved myself a long drive and the comfort of my own chair, reefton next week action doesn't get much closer than that, noms look promising at this stage, fingers crossed they get a full day in and no repeat of last years debacle, felt sorry for the club who had done everything right and prepared for as well as one could, but unfortunately the decision was taken from out of their hands, good luck if you've got anything racing.

I'd rather a small country meeting anyday, as said your so close to the action, the atmosphere usually always great, if you want you get closer to the action down on the fence, you go to riccarton seems like hardly a crowd unless a big feature meeting, so no atmosphere, the horses seem a mile away, so best option to watch a monitor, I mean one may as well stay home and see more in your lounge, with a drink an cigarillo, which would you choose.

Yes she was a top mare, not many win 24 races around the south island, Our Gene's won many races as well, certainly don't come across to many as good in the south as these two

Agree with the comment on the time age race, certainly not the strength of the mares from yesteryear, who could forget the grand mare covered n grey, just one that springs to mind, she won 20 plus races and may have won this particular race 3 times from memory, I'm sure there's a few more that I've forgotten, but this mare was class, left a couple of foals that won a few but nothing outstanding, usually the way.

Yes that's usually the general consensus, was a couple of races where some ran on from the back may have been the immigrant race, also zoolander came from fare way back.Regardless was a good day out, and I a big crowd I thought, good to have Mr grylls riding there for the first time,

They won the last race but not much else, just goes to show just as hard to win on the coast as anywhere else, race book named the judge from reefton officiated, surely that wouldn't be right..

They'd be well paid one would think, most of them seem to do it for many a year, so must be a good number, I wonder if someone dobbed him in, I see the Westport trotting club had a younger assistant judge this year.

Remember Eddie had one called best dream, and I thought it may have been a free legged pacer, was many a year ago.

Should be a good day's racing at greymouth today, let's hope they get through the day unscathed in all areas, there's always that thought of doubt heading to the races these days, especially if your traveling, alas I'm only a punter at this time, alot tougher for owners and trainers.

Walks from the judges box to I don't know where with documents I guess from the race , or at the greymouth gallops lowers documents by fishing rod to kids at the bottom of the stairs to the kids who do the running, also maybe another set of eyes to double check the photo finish. That's all I know.

Interesting story that one, I remember Jim Keenan was the president of the club for many year, really enjoyed that meeting down there, was some tidy horses won races there over the years, remember decoy lad winning there, won a grand national hurdle I think, back to the rules, they've obviously keep it in for a reason, he maybe should have snuck into the local tab or on a internet tab site, saved the rigmarole.

Thought this rule been around with anyone in an official position with in racing, some may say it's a draconian one, but rules are rules, do you know the person involved, I think he's from over the coast, be interesting to see what penalty will be served.

Aren't the rules straightforward on this, I always thought they were not aloud to bet, will be interesting to see the outcome and penalty imposed, what's your opinion on the matter.

I thought restricting the girth improved performance, that's what a girl told me once, must admit was long long time ago.

Yes and a few more finding the 3 starts less than a week, tough ask