Shad

Interesting we wouldn't have eacedcon many dry tracks this summer, mostly always seem to be soft, frustrating if your after a hard n fast one.

Thanks, certainly did enjoy my time down there, was good that the gates to the tracks were open, did feel a little sad for the likes of Wyndham, winton, which had closed to thoroughbred racing at the time, gore was a nice track, had to check it out as we'd won 3 races there including a gore cup, I have to correct myself as it was 2019, the year little miss swiss won the riverton cup, interesting how she battled around the r65 grade, then all of a sudden won three in a row, and either won or was placed at trentham, she just all of a sudden started winning, anyone know if the Beaumont track still exists, didn't get that far unfortunately.

Riverton cup meeting quite an iconic days racing, similar to kumara, have witnessed it first hand in 2018 I think, had a runner in the cup and flew down from chch, plane circled for what was an hour, just when I thought we were heading back to dunedin, we got a break in the fog and in we flew, were unplaced in cup, but took the time to checkout the tracks down that way, winton, gore, Wyndham and invercargill, and the race day at riverton, nice area down that way, and great day out.

Great ole stalwart of the coast, never seemed to miss a meeting, Don Fuge another worth a mention, was sad to hear Frank passed away,

Did he train rhymes with banker, earlier in his racing career, I know mark nyhan trained him at some stage, a name from the past, can remember one of his racing at reefton the day the race winner went over the outside rail and was picked up at blacks point, gold dust, more the fact the rider forgot to steer her around the corner, then the club was told to shift the winning post.

Did he train a horse called Kubiak, I remember this horse having 2 starts in the one day down south was his claim to fame,, Wyndham maybe, then had a start the very next day on the way home at Geraldine, or maybe it was a fella of Thomas that trained him,, was many moons ago, he may have been by swepshire lad. I have vivid memories of the mighty loader winning at motukarara, was oncourse to witness it, wouldn't have given him much hope when they headed for home, he certainly was a superstar.

Bit of a buggar the role was on, guess hard to say wether it was a big factor in the performance, so many things can contribute to a poor run, but I guess a case of pay the cash and take your chances, you may have to back up next start, they have a habit of turning their form around sometimes.

Yes fair comments, why would he not want to win, imagine as a senior driver who has used the whip the same way for 99% of their lives, have now been asked to change this dramatically in a short time, we all know how habits are hard to break, but ole story doomed if you and doomed if you don't, interesting part is the suspensions, 20 odd years ago this charge would be a major, and one could be expected to be ousted for a very long time on the side line, months mostly.

Knowing that extra long warm up, you should of tucked the cash in the back pocket, upside you'll all the better for experience, I recall waiting to have a good punt on a galloper who had trialled very well, the day came and I put my hard earned on, the horse dumped the rider behind the gates, galloped a lap of kumara track full tilt, no late scratchings those days, enough to turn me right off, cancelled my bet, and sat back to watch it win very easily, to my distaste, only race it ever won, his name elvis, when reciting the story to an old friend, he quipped, he was ok after his extra gallop, just all shook up.

Feel sorry for the club, having someone bring their name into disrepute, through no fault of there's.

Unfortunately wouldn't be the only venue that looks that way, shame though being a feature meeting,some of the mid week meetings, you'd find more life in a funeral parlour.

Thanks for clearing that up, a very talented family, always remember Johnny alone, by very unfashionable sire blue vermillon.

Sad to hear of his passing, and a good trainer, stand to be corrected, but did he train Jonny alone to win a Thornton at Wellington some years back, and a south island quinella with knight invader, both these horses at huge odds, someone will know if this is correct, many condolences to his family

Great footage walt, heck there was some top trotters around in those days, all open classes, especially when we see what's racing around the country these days,

I thought I seen a familiar face.

Thanks was a great piece of coverage, yes unfortunately these day it seems all about quantity wether there's any interest or not, have got a video of Basil Dean winning one of the big trot races, can't remember which one, and don't have the old video recorder hooked these days, technology certainly moved on since those days, no response certainly show some high speed at the right end of his races, the one where he weaved his way through the field to win was most impressive.

Great bit of coverage, no rushing off to the dogs in timbuktu in those days, they always covered the afters, couple of my favourites were Basil Dean and No Response, couple of great old campaigners.Cheers for sharing the memories.

Helps to be on the best horses I guess, how did the other top aussie riders go.

These things shouldn't happen but do from time to time, but so does a hell of a lot of other things in life, no matter how prefect we'd like life to be, just doesn't happen like that, the horse was well behaved, obviously they don't want to injure intentionally.

Just read an article on a aussie horse bought from singleton stable for 6k back racing after long break, be interesting to see how it goes, bargins out there for sure, I think its a good thing for some to get a second chance, and a few do very well.

I actually like her as a driver, and as you say served her sentence, and shame she moved on, I think there's worse driving out there than her, guess others see it differently.

Also some of the part time drivers also get hit with healthy fines regards to whip usage, and the professionals get off quite lightly, another tough and unfair call, did I read that Miss Thornley is moving away to work in the equestrian game, or was it someone else.

All good was just pulling your leg on the president's room, just my sense of humor, good to see there looking after the owners and trainers, as they are the life blood of the game, certainly interesting looking at all the archives of years gone by,always planned to get up to the showroom of the riccarton grandstand, but alas that's gone now, but probably in the members now, had a share in a galloper a few years back, mainly raced in the south but traveled to riccarton a few times, never his go but he did start in an nz cup and finish midfield, won 7 including cup race in Southland by 10 lenghs, was certainly the highlight, all owners of horses in all races at riccarton,got a free drink and time in the owners room before the race, nice touch, but should be the least they do. So now the circuits over where will your focus be,any plans to head to the coast for the March meetings.racing is a disease for which there is no cure.😊

Yes true, slipped my me that one, I see Trevor handed a parting gift from the stewards, a 300$ whip overuse fine, they certainly like to throw the book at the battlers and partimers, surely some leniency could be shown, would put a damper on his first winner for a while.

You know you've made it to the top when your in the president's room, great pic and story, any other highlights on your visit, hope you got a couple of sandwiches, always found the old photos really interesting, time flies by and we can easily forget highlights of top race horses trainers and owners.