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

Good to see tappys lad go a nice race to, go the kiwis

No certs in this game.

Even the best have been known to get it wrong from time to time, and there a fairly competitive bunch over there.

It's good policy of yours to careful where your retirees end up going, as their new owners actions could reflect on you down the track, as lucky that our boy went to a good home after winning 7 races and in the money half of his 70 starts, very genuine performer who always tried hard, and gave use a thrill of starting in a nz cup, now used for educational purposes and a hack, a friend of mine just took on a rescue ex thoroughbred who also finished 4th in a nz cup, he's settling in well, of course not all have a happy ending, but the best must be done either way.

The local dog pound here was broken into and dogs were released, police are following a number of leads.

Yes, that very much sums it up, you'd think it would almost be a heritage building, health and safety gone mad in the world today.

Yes everything seems to be a throw away, I think if every earthquake building was pulled down, there wouldn't be much left, I know riccarton won't be the same.

Crying shame to be fair, the end of an era, cant help but feel quite sad about it, mind you the world we live these days only takes one person or one incident to change the whole course of things, and to think the stand withstood a couple big shakes, maybe I'm just to sentimental and stuck in the past, watched many a grand national in the top tier, maybe free access to the members stand, or a raincoat on a winter's day for us peasants.

Bit of a shame the thoroughbreds all gone from the area, do they now have a meeting at riccarton, used to be a few thoroughbred trainers in the Nelson area, quite a few years ago, shortly healy one that springs to mind, may have been a Bloomfield also, a mare called goodie two shoes rings a bell, mc cashin another name of a trainer maybe.

Wouldn't be any gallopers trained up blenheim these days, and I guess the harness numbers be quiet to, just a sign of the times I guess, both tracks up there always been good, don't seem to use the all weather for racing now, but in saying that, there's just something about the grass track racing.

Also a shame these days we miss the judges call on a tight photo finish, as you say they rush off to a hound race in timbuktu, also the delay in posting results, the fixed odds also a gripe with me, leave your bet till the very last on a roughie, only see the odds balloon out after race closes, and you've never had a chance to lock in the better deal, with tech these days it should be a given, the pools must have alot of late money going in after race closes, bring back the memories of the old balloon, to signal tote closure.😊

Glad you liked it, and yes the delay to hear the official results usually after an add break and a song or two, we are quite lucky these days, radio Pacific provided a good service to in later years, except when two mid week meetings, the lesser meeting would only give you the last 800m of the commentary, times certainly changed.

Yep, how very true, some stations easier than others, I remember the Nelson station was hard to pick up, some used to hook it up to the telephone for better reception, and old man told me to put onion's beside the radio, I replied will it help with reception, he said, it will go with all the tripe on there.