Shad

Interesting 300 + humans die on the roads each year, what next, ban cars

Well extra dollar bill, I went to the riverton cup meeting some years ago, very popular meeting and a good day out, we didn't return home with the cup though, was the year lil miss swiss played a big divy, enjoy my time there, took timeout to visit Gore Wyndham Winton and ascot park tracks while in the area, I think wyndam and winton meetings had been transferred at that time, still trots there of course.

It's no big teal, oh I mean deal, but yes made it a little tricky when trying to follow your runner, I always take my binoculars, like to see where my money's going, actually surprising how many don't, even trainers, very enjoyable days racing at Westport, the club put on a good event, betting figures were probably as good as you'll get at any meeting this time of year.

Crickey did the actually get enough people on course for starters, should have all been all clubs combined and let the people decide who the winners,

Great ole horse just keeps on giving

Fair enough, you'll be all primed, and good to go fresh up, and certainly the cash hard to come by given the rising cost of rates insurance amongst other things, trots on the coast gone till xmas now, I'll be fairly quiet to, do prefer the thoroughbreds to be honest, but always keep an eye on the harness, always hunting that roughie, if you want to have a look at 3 interesting races, checkout 2014 Westport cup followed by the main race same meeting on the 28th followed by the 30th of December reefton cup, have always found these three races interesting, but read the stipes report as well, be interesting to hear your thoughts.

Great ole bit off stuff, must have been in his eighties, and was still in the saddle, may have even done the greymouth trots, those were the days, the ole night meetings on the all weather, with the open class trot.

Be a tad rough to leave the course and never go back, why would you penalize the club, I be watching mounga form from now on, not that I'd ever back a short priced favourite, I remember a good horse winning a Westport cup some years ago, broke at the start, must have lost 40m and still won, was a very classy horse though, franco emirate I think was his name, may have won a messenger.

The ole famous band from those parts, used to remember the old iconic clark of the course, fred tibbles, he was around for many years,probably not a paid gig those days

Sea swift, samasan, ed, and sounderation, a few 2 miles to win a cups race from the south, sea swift maybe the only one to win an Auckland Cup, not many true two milers in nz anymore, the races are just a glorified hack race, when you look at the fields, most of the field struggled to run the 3200m race, the time very slow 3.24, the appeal of the stayers not the same these days, most want to get to the races as soon as they can, and target the classic races, lots of time and effort goes into a stayer, I don't think most have the patience, sea swift went around 3.15 or so, when in the last ten years has anyone gone close to that time, or are our tracks slower.

Old homebush lad won a couple races up there from the back, and a few that that I cant remember winning off a mark there, joyboy started in the Westport cup one year off 120m didn't win but close up third, the tough nut, pankys pacer a few tidy performers won there over the years, in my mind draws are crucial, horses must learn to adapt to all scenarios, example a mate has a share in a galloper, first start in big 2yr old field, big track, hardly even had a trial, slow out the gates, runs home very strong for a tidy 3rd, the trainer the jockeys spent the next 7 starts chasing her out of the gates, to race handy on various tracks, some big some turning, and she races very average, I said to him, what the hell they doing with her, ride her back if she will settle, the penny drops, last two starts ridden back and made up a lot of ground for 4th and 3rd , very nice races, and no gutbusters either, so you've got a horse left for next time, I'll be very interesting to see how mounga, goes, and he may or may not be over rated, but has come through the grades quickly which in itself can be a challenge, some get away with a few, but when you run into those tough campaigners up in grade, there quite abit to better than some think.

Maybe he's a bit over rated, no easy races to win on both those courses, they went hard up front which made it tougher, a few worked around the field in other races, but to there peril, certainly be some sore punters, none more than me, sods law again showed he loves reefton, very good price to, but had let him go a while back, and stuck to my Westport bets, no joy for me across the board today.

Unfortunately I didn't take sods law, I thought he was a sitter if he went away, but thought the 5s at the time would drop to 3s, was very surprised he actually paid 5s, great money on his credentials, backed the first race winner, thought he was a tad short, and the second horse in the last very good run, an nice div, nothing in between, but good day out and ended up on the positive side, so that's a successful day for me, duty calls tomorrow but will back up on the same suspects via the tab, nothing worse when ya drop them and they win.

Money was on for sure, fresh up and off 10m, you wouldn't think they'd be giving it a gut buster, first up, my mate punted it, then got told same story, about only having a run, and yes does leave a sour taste, I would have consoled ya walt had you been on course, my mate has a decent lash, and went home before 9th, got a hiding, only collect he got was from punters club 5 ticket worth at 14 payout, left it to me to put on watch that man to win, alas a fool an their money are easily parted.

Yep few short divs on that first race, I backed the winner moa mojito, thought it was bloody short on tote, was waiting the whole trip for it to blow to bits, but stuck well, did go a very good race at blenheim looked likely but broke on the turn, great days racing an nice weather, although the south west wind got cold later in the day, didn't think sods law would pay 5s in that field, great money on his number wins he's had, tossed up between elbury Street and hope for love, eventually settling on him, good place div only beaten by a horse with the gun run, some nice roughies today usually my forte but had to settle for the two, keep me ahead for the day, duty calls on Sunday so won't make reefton, unfortunately, be another good day out there, I must been the only poster oncourse, gazza beat put up a big run today until he broke after sitting parked the trip.

Don't know much about the first one, but kawatiri creek won good last start, and aptly named, given the Maori name for the area, could be the omen bet.

Tips for the coast meetings anyone, nothing like the odd roughie, I took elbury both days at blenheim at big odds, went to tidy races, didn't even see it racing on the grass down south, paid 20s, good draw on Friday maybe a stronger race. Razors edge always goes ok.

Very true, more the costs associated with the trip away, and to be fair the races are hard to win anywhere, they won't get the xmas crowd or turnover for that, the xmas dates the jewel in the crown, the thoroughbred code tried various dates back in the day, none ever worked, the interest in that code never amounted to much, they wound up in 1996, Nelson was in a similar position but may have finished earlier.

Apparently the weather better on the coast than Canterbury,

Yes it was well ridden, for me the art of teaching a horse to race, is quite lost these days, all the mindset of having to lead or racing handy on turning tracks, lost on me as well, the good thing on teaching a horse to relax and drop back is you want to be doing your best work at the end of the race, and if for some reason your unlucky or not good enough, you horse will keep for next time, without having a hard run, important for the stayers, very good win from the goose, and well trained from a stable that have produced some very good performers over the years, bargin buy as well, gavelhouse has seen quie a bit of success, who says you have to spend a kings ransom.

Not in the same league, but great win by The Grey Goose on Saturday, 200k stake be like the derby down that way.

On that note, ya see what I did there, top win, no excuses for the beaten lot, she just out stayed them, your only as good as your last race, and she couldn't have won any better, always got to be on your toes, as this racing game a great leveller, she certainly does look the goods

So how does the concept work, do they have an automatic runner for the race after buying the slot.

Sunline

Yes a very good trainer, I think she trained songline, dam of subl