Shad

Recovering from a hulk Hogan body slam,

More importantly do they pay a divvy twice yearly, shares very long term, if you buy them, store em away for the long haul.

Thanks for the update,

How did they go with their gallopers they purchased, from memory one by savabeel.

Sad to hear of his accident, in saying that we all face danger in what ever we do, some more than others, hope he recovers ok, sound like very nasty injuries.

Well I can recall going to kumara since I was a teenager, great days racing, track never changed, wether a month of rain or a month of good weather, track was like a sponge, as soon as the upgraded better drainage, has been a disaster, they made it just to good, haven't been back since the first in a long line of abandonments, surprised it didn't cripple them, now every meeting one holds their breath, and wishes them luck, if they race is in the lap of the gods, maybe there's just not enough knowledge out there, and funds as well, it's a no win

Its interesting these days, everyone seems to be an expert, there everywhere, one certainly wonders to what degree, a wise man once told me, if you gonna wreck something, you'll may as well wreck it to your own specifications.

They threw a fair amount of revenue at the new Auckland track, and that certainly has had its issues, my point being most upgraded tracks were better before they were fiddled with, maybe there's just not the knowledge out there, and how to go about it.

And how many have been so called upgraded for the betterment of racing, these seem to be the worst offenders.

Interesting, a friend always used to back number 1 at trots, always maintained anything with a little ability that had the trip was always a chance with the passing lane and a perfect trip, certainly got some big divs over the years, but comming off the rail quite often difference between winning and getting beaten,just the halted momentum costs many, I agree with your thoughts ,but split second decision to be made, but many of them are professional drivers.

Good horse Scotch Mist, was by balios out of high glow, won a couple of races at avondale back in the day.

Yes back in the day quite a few coast trainers, also support from the odd Nelson and marlborough trainer, and of course canterbury, the late Ray Harris always patronized the coast well will large numbers, Brutus, Scotch Mist, Wordly Miss, to name a few better ones, Jim Lalor(Charlies Pal) another who came to the coast, Shorty Healy from Nelson, and of course the Parsons, who still continue to train, as you point out the racing these days totally reliant on the Myers stable, also the Canterbury connection, don't think currently any thoroughbreds trained there, used to be the Kennedys, the Doolans, not sure if the Hamptons have any these days, times certainly have changed even the kumara track, not sure for the better, as the abandonments since the track upgrade have been a few.Westport jockey club ceased racing in 1996, times certainly changed.

Those were the golden days of racing in my book,, some of the mentioned were very classy animals, we look at todays racing just a shadow of what we used to have, cups races are no more than hack races, many can't even run the two miles, or even a decent time, talking of miles better, someone told me his owner went in to the pie making business, the coast racing always was the most enjoyable.

Oops yes sorry guys, ment to be years and horses, was past my bedtime.

Few others that come to mind from that era, Mr aye bee, miles better and blue denim, all tidy performers of those years,, I do remember clansman trained by the Kerr's from memory, and random chance was was another good horse, the tears fly bye and good hores come an go, but there's some that stay with you.

Interesting how many top mares, don't carry it through to the broodmare paddock, what a grand mare she was, had some very good riders of that era, A Robinsion, M Casey, and Micheal Mein, wonder where some of these riders are these days, the later had a good strike rate, for the few times he rode her, was a very good rider of that era, and association with some very good horses,may have even ridden in Australia a few times,think his father was a jockey also, times flies by, but what a golden era of racing it was.

Yeah I'm very skeptical on those times, the pace they were going you wouldn't need the stopwatch, more like the alarm clock, reefton another track I'm suspect on times, one year they ran 2.03 and change for 2000m, 1020m times last meeting were around the 1.03 mark, yet the 1400m were 1.25, they did shift the winning post many years ago after one horse went over the outside rail taking another with it, wasn't tracks fault, jockey to busy celebrating an forgot to steer her mount around the corner, recovered the horse heading through blacks point, Gold dust was its name.

Heck, hope they had their stop watches calibrated, seems a tad fast, gates in correct position.

What time eir they run

Yes totally agree, give me a lenght any day

Fair enough, speak the truth and shame the devil, they used to say, sounded like the past president was still doing the speeches and announcing on the day, didn't hear anything from new president, bar what was in the race book, still another great days racing on the coast.

Yes ive read that article and there is a few things that aren't quite correct, even a couple of comments on who's idea it was to trot him, and it wasn't the person mentioned, I confirmed this some months with the last surviving owner,who's memory was as sharp as a tack,he just said yeah a few things were incorrect in the article, yep I'm familiar with derby street, also across the road from high school, used to be a dairy by the hospital, and one further down by the beach, was some good gallopers won on that Westport track, julloch, peligro, springs to mind, the 1200m chute was right out beside the woodwork room at high school, a couple of handy pacers to, starship, gypsy winkle who won nz oaks and Southland oaks I think, also star of utopia a handy type.

Thought it a bit odd he'd be in hari hari, he was certainly bred by bill, but never raced in his name, as far as I know, he had local farrier who may his special shoes, he was domiciled at the top end of domett street in Westport, an old friend recalled to me riding him with the saddle on and swimming him down the local creek, the last surviving owner passed away about 8 months ago, was well into his nineties,

Was very controversial call, and upset many recruit followers, enquiry took a long time as well, but rules are rules regardless, and the correct call was made, ended up getting handicapped out of nz racing, great article in book unhoppled heroes, story of his life right through to a photo the day before he was put down, even letters to his former nz owners.

He was a fair way from home, your uncle bill must have bred him, then leased him with a right of purchase, which was exercised later on, he was raced by E Walsh, M Hansby and B Woodcock, driven by B Walsh, originally paced him, but didn't enjoy the hobbled, won his first dominion in enquiry room, second one by 9 lengths, very quiet by nature, a fine looking chestnut, first nz horse to win at his first start in America, training over there was few rounds of track, straight in the box, no paddocks no housing down, he just took it all in his stride.