Shad

Lockdown been tuff, but I've also made a sacrifice, gave up marshmallows chocolate and nuts, can tell you all it's been a rocky road.

Vaccine to save us all,..... or not

My humble apologies,glad I at least got something right, breeding usually sticks in the head a wee bit better.

Oops my mistake, was trained by John Rehu, think I was getting mixed up with another I used to follow a horse called Motor Head, it's a buggar getting old,the memory not what it used to be.

What a good horse strange magic was,by quito from memory, and used to run in front, was he trained by Colin Coe, must have won 9 or 10 races, and liked the coast, one of my favourites back in the day, oh the memories,.

The old story councils all full of do gooders, that dictate to everyone one what they can and can't do, and when the shit hits the fan, they ducking for cover, look at the situation on the coast, major flooding been predicted for sometime, both councils just sat back and watched it happened,all blame one another ,probably still wanking on about flood protection when the next one hits.

No rest for this essential worker,

Cheers Bill for the great photos of the gold, the old boy wasn't to far out with his story, nice old fella he is, an awesome momento of those wins back in the day, priceless to be fair, find your thoughts on rangiora track very informative, since you have ridden on it many a time, I can't claim to have done that, but very much did enjoy a days punting out there a while ago, at least they trial there, and trots use it occasionall, who knows what the future holds.Thanks again for the photos.

Another interesting story on that reefton cup, an old fellow that lives over that way was telling me the story that on the day he was the one who collected the gold for the connections, his memory not that great these days, but when it comes to the horses he's still fairly sharp, he also recalled another story that the same connections took a horse by young runaway to Oamaru many years ago,it snuck under everyones the radar and paid a 90 div, he reckoned it was back in the days when races were on radio Pacific and they only would broadcast 1 meeting a day,usually a north island on,unfortunately he was disappointed to not get a piece of that big div.

Be interesting to follow her progress

Remember one that went over the fence at reefton few years back no fault of the track, just rider error I thought, did result in the moving of the winning post, which incidentally had been in that place for many a year, think the horse was recovered on the way to blacks point, gold dust its name from memory.

Those that have ridden many races on those small tracks would have much valued opinion in my view, without criticizing anyone else opinion, used to enjoy a days racing at rangiora many years ago, would there be any changes that could be made to deem it safer, in the eyes of the officials, trials do seem to go quite well there.Billy C was that horse you won the Reefton Cup with a horse by Spectacular love, may have been there that day, was many a year ago.

Interesting I know a friend that failed his first warrant, after having a factory one when sold from brand new, something to do with a couple of extra side lights that came with the vehicle, so drove a brand new vehicle with a current warrant that was not legal, crazy but true, had to disconnect them to pass.

Think I can remember Trevor Thomas driving joyboy back in the day, remember he started in the Westport Cup off 120m mark and finished 3rd, also one of my old favorites trotter Game lark, never set the world on fire but always played a good price on the tote, also Lopez Mcfaber another that's comes to mind.

Cheers wasn't sure and may have been getting mixed up with Maria price.

Did she have a connection with the late Eric Ryan, and did she drive the trotter stormy morn, or maybe I'm getting wires crossed, it's a buggar getting old.

Every dog has its day, remember few years ago he had one called mimi sirati watched it plod around the smalls in Canterbury, went ok without much luck, but when he bought it to the coast came up trump's at 40s ended up down south, never know new trainer may make him turn a corner.

What a good field of open class trotters from yesteryear, still gives one a thrill after seeing a win of that nature, those were the days, even back then they used to race an open class trot race at greymouth harness.

Or they dont have the horse power to win a race in Australia, or even the cost of sending one over there, maybe those owners that race in nz for the lower stakes are just in it for the passion of racing, dont think it's quite as cut n dry as you say.

Very testing going yesterday to, but was pleased to back full swing who won well and handled conditions well, thought 37s a bit short, but I'll take it, have followed her for a while how, perseverance rewarded I guess.

I hope this rain keeps up, then it won't come down, makes sense to me,as for the mutton pies the cost of sheep wether lamb or mutton very expensive indeed, nothing like the good old days, when this stuff was affordable, do remember many years back riccarton used to do a hot roast meat sandwich, but yes a long time ago.

Interesting across all codes, a few battlers struggling to win a race or two, then a change of environment, or something just seem to click, then some just start turning their form around a couple of examples of thoroughbreds I followed for sometime battling around the smalls were lil miss swiss and madam du soir, both turned their form around remarkably, I think swiss won three in a row and madam went on to win at riccarton ashburton and dunedin gold cup, sadly for me there was no notification that she had been with partime caretaker at riccarton, and went from a 2 win battler to a open class mare, and paying some tidy divs, as for miss swiss she won a riverton cup, all with the same stable, probably gone to broodmare paddock now, the old adage comes to mind that I was told by a wise old man, never condemn a horse till it's dead.

Agree those corners certainly take their toll injury wise.

Congratulations on your nice win, very good effort in open company.

That's good news, so I guess it will be charge of the light brigade.