Happy Sunrise

I respect anyone who puts their balls on the line pre race. Whether they are right or wrong. The other Dalgety runner was a third of it's price so that was interesting. I thought watching the race live it was being made for Sezana!

Pretty balanced article. The article itself won't make much of a splash as it is lengthy and not sensational. Printed matter will never outdo the visual of a horse breaking down in the Melbourne Cup. Good to see, from a harness perspective, the low death rate of horses compared to the gallops. Maybe consistent tracks helps us there. As for the whip, interesting to see the study said they didn't make a difference. I still cling to my believe that harness is a distant third behind the greyhounds and gallops as a target for the welfare groups. However, harness has it's own issues so people in glasshouses...

Extreme Stride. Finished 3rd after breaking after start. Similar situation, hadn't showed that much but was super short which couldn't understand either. Raced 3 times for win and a placing before being carted off to Australia.

A very bold statement.

Racecafe must be a bit quiet tonight.

You are a tough judge OWM. I would pass a kidney stone a day for 6 months to own a horse as good as White Socks. I'm happy if mine qualify!

Sure do, but people make mistakes too. I could imagine Tim Butt making the mistake as he was putting the welfare of the horses first and simply not thinking straight. I can't even fill in a betslip correctly half the time if I am distracted for a second even though I have done once or twice lol People make mistakes like that all time. I bet you no one is telling him off more than himself. He will be suffering along with the connections no doubt.

Not unusual for them.

It was 2 days after he won the Kaikoura Cup and I read somewhere that Spankem was a possibility of going. No one else seemed to be going to Melton so I had a look at the odds and saw an All Star at 41s as the TAB had not reacted. I thought why not....Mark and Nat might know what they are doing... ? Into 6FF I see ?

Akaroa 179...The grass is always greener.

I should answer the question I posed in the title. I suppose it is worth watching when I have Spankem at 41s lol

Addington on Saturday night. Nominations for this week below, needless to say Banks Pen will get heaps and Invercargill is a captive market. Great to see Forbury bouncing back after a few quiet meetings in the 80s. Forbury 114 Auckland 82 Auckland 106 Addington 108 Addington 129 Some may moan but getting the people through the door at this time of the year is the most important thing regardless if there are not that many carded races. Better bigger fields and fewer races is better than the other way round in my opinion.

If one was looking to be positive, could it see more opportunity for horses just under the top flight getting a go and consequently not being sold on? Maybe the clubs could widen the ratings bands to entice more in and have the attitude 'it is what it is'

Don't panic. Raphoe will be at Methven as he is not a fan of going right-handed.

Just thinking yesterday watching them get the quinella with A G's Whitesocks and Mossdale Rose about what a really consistent and successful stable they are. They had Everybody Knows in the trot and have Harrysul sitting at home as well and Gimmefiveminutesmore won by 6. All their horses on raceday are worth backing and they are generally held very tight by the TAB (tells you something in itself) I am not sure of the background of the Hope family or if they are a trotting family from way back or not but young Ben is developing very well and must have the 'bug' so the Hope name will seemingly be around long after I am gone. Just thought I would acknowledge what a contribution they make to harness racing.

To add. Small fields don't help when one is looking for fast times. You can get away with murder in front.

Race 2 today was run at a dawdle, nothing moved except Blair Orange who put Paduka into the race. At the time I thought the other drivers at the back should be court-martialed for sitting back and doing nothing. This was compared to the really interesting race the other night that Theodosia won. Those sorts of tactics would get people watching again but it is very rare to see it. Sign of the times at the moment that races are dictated by speed rather than out and out driving tactics. Boring.

Not sure they make it a contest as they generally win everything.

I actually left out my weakest long shot in my original post which was Grand Princess so got 4 out of 6 in a place multi with any 2,3,4 etc. Don't do them like that very much and it was a disappointing return to be fair. Maybe i don't spend enough. Aveross R would have been nice to really bump up the divvy. No more Betterthanspraying for me. I won't back it again. It not displaying any heart. Should have taken the trail earlier but still disappointing. Fun days punting though.

Does it really matter if there are more charges? If Driver X or Trainer K or whoever has 3 or 4 or 7 charges proven against them does it affect the final outcome? Does anyone know what the value of one race fixing charge is?

After sitting in the trail on Thursday night and failing I am going for the longshots tomorrow and enjoying the risk. Here are my bolters (TAB not kind in odds so no 50 to 1 shots I'm afraid) Race 1 Sierra Gold 14FF Race 3 Rena Bay 12FF Race 6 Aveross Rustler 13FF Race 8 Nimah Franco 10FF Race 10 Betterthanspraying 11.50 FF I feel like Brodie...living on the edge with the outsiders.

If true, couldn't agree more. Highly debatable. It seemed to continue on without too much of a hiccup when they were all suspended. Sadly, there are probably bigger issues facing the industry if that is possible.

I'm still gutted. Might cancel weekend punting.

No. I know nothing. I was asking you.

Misplaced confidence? Why were they so confident? Fools if they are wrong.