Shad

Wont be many making it to the gates if this is the way forward.

Fairly tidy old performer, I used to take him over the coast, and he liked racing there to, the system do seem unfair, maybe needs a few tweaks to make it more fair.

When you look back at media puzzle running 3.16 and some back in the day,not sure what the record is, I guess the firm track didn't help some of the northern hemisphere horses, the favourite was given every show, and just not good enough on the day, I did see three pulled up lame, but a least they got around in one piece, one was the top weight

5.18 for 3200, now there's a slow go.

Yep think I remember a few days on the coast many a year back, Go Duke a horse that springs to mind, but was many a year ago.

Looks like still owned in the south island, passed in for 10k in the earlier years, and his dam a cheap purchase to.

Never comdem a horse to it's dead the old adage, I can remember a thread about superstar legend some time back, and has raced great ever since.

Been plenty of good trainers over the years who've had some very good apprentices, maybe an ex trainer be a better option.

Yep comical and did see highlights of it on trackside some year ago on one of there time fillers, along with a hare running in front of horses on a harness track up north, someone must know where to find it, funny thing the horse never won a race though its career, must been set for that one race

I asked the same question sometime ago,it was a very long time ago. December 1991, was certainly a special race, and funny commentary.

Certainly was a very top performer in his day, stormy morn, and remember Trevor Thomas association with open class pacer joy boy, started in a Westport cup off 120m behind, may have finished 3rd, there was some very good horses back in those days.

Certainly will go down as one of the best, never can watch it enough.

There's nothing like a winner to raise the spirits and ease the pain, during tough times, for a minute there I thought you you said you'd emptied the catcher, but after re reading was more serious than that, good luck with the rest of the days punting, and for a speedy recovery. Shad.

Sir avion did race there but was unplaced, memory not quite that sharp.

Certainly will take plenty of hard fill for sure, shame about the course an club, been a few special memories for me in the early days, remember decoy lad winning a flat race there one day, and I thought sir avion may have won there two, our spice also a special win and it's only one, tailed off with around go, any spring to mind for you, be quite a few nice horses to grace the track.

Don't make an ass of yourself now

Are they as big as they used to be, cutts brush always used to be a real challenge, and can remember back in the day of seeing a mini car sitting on top of it, to me they look like a shadow of the old days, but someone will know the official word, maybe there trimmed back for safety reasons, used to love walking the course back in the day stopping at each fence and listening to a few jockeys and trainers giving a run down on each obstacle,and a few story of the past, used to have that open day the Sunday preceding the grand national. Oh the memories.

The opposition very strong over there, the claim a big plus but won't last forever, that will make it a little tougher, but he's done very well so far, and wish him luck.

Certainly a shame all tradition has just gone out the window, just a sign of the times I guess, and the fact the track would struggle with 3 days racing, even though its always been that way for a long time,

Was there to witness those even some years back, poor old brave Jack, these thing just happen, and also the gold dust incident which certainly was pilot error, again the club penalized again by way of having to shift the winning post, which wouldn't been a cheap exercise, I to was disillusioned with the abandonment of last year, and I only traveled to be there, feel for the owners and trainers who incurred the cost of getting there as well, you've you've fought a hard battle to get any explanations or justice, but at the end of the day have been worn down by the system and whole process, and the powers that be just don't care about the small clubs as we all know. Can remember scotch mist winning on the course some years ago, like brutus was by balios from memory and also won a big race up north, both trained by the late Ray Harris who supplied many a horse to the coast meetings many years ago, certainly had a big team back in the day.

They'll give them the trots

I think that's not the first time that horse has put on a performance like that, and been very favored both times,one must ask what the future holds.

Good that it's being utilized, just look at the old Victoria park sight, just an eyesore and has been for sometime.

Agree pointless at race time, remember the days when gear changes were announced on course well before race time as well, along with apprentice jockey allowances on the thoroughbred code, all that information or professionalism all gone out the window, thats how much we've gone backwards, even some courses thoroughbreds dont even do a preliminary, straight out birdcage gate an off to the start, was a given once.

That's a bugger would have been a nice quinella, the other kiwi in the race was abit disappointing