Happy Sunrise

Like most things in harness it is a communication black hole. Hopefully all the clubs cut have lawyered up.

I wouldn't vote for any of them. Would rather vote for my neighbour's dog.

Who Holden? I sensed from one of his initial interviews he didn't want it.

Any serious Jacinda supporter will be unloading their wage subsidy on Chief of Staff in honour of her won't they? A National Nazi might suggest Le Pole Dancer.

Best value bet tomorrow for me Ali Lindenny at 31ff and 6.50ff Steel Dust may improve markedly but at 1.95ff is at unbackable odds against someone like Ali who is a 6 race winner.

So he has to be in the office for only 2 days a week while trying to fix what seems to be an industry with a multitude of complex problems? But he has given up all his other positions to solely concentrate on harness racing hasn't he?

I can't believe that. Was it announced? You are joking aren't you? Serious question.

I say that in jest. I am sure that is what the RIU would be saying to you after that post. Isn't that saying of the incompetent to deflect from their mistakes.

I can't wait.

Be kind. 😄

That is a joke and bad for the industry. There seems to be no coherence or cooperation in harness racing administration at all.

What do you make of this, Mikie? Supports what you are saying. It is from Stu Bailey's twitter account. Is it true?

It makes one wonder what the inner workings of harness racing are like. This is from Garrick Knight's twitter feed.

He is only a caretaker at present isn't he? He didn't seem to want the job when he spoke about it. He is not permanent is he? He is not the answer to any of harness racing problems. You can tell that by the way he talks hot air.

I am a wee bit hot on how far horses are breaking after Fighting Fire kept his win recently as stipes said he didn't break more than 150m. It must have so close and I am not sure it was. Well, backers of Anderlov were unlucky last night as I measured it at about 155m - 160m. How do the stipes measure how far a horse has broken? Should the stipes state the distance a horse breaks in their reports for transparency?

Just a little. Chase The Hat Trick wasn't close to winning though. Bit disappointing but he will improve.

I don't think Aqua Sancta is much chop and as you say the trotter was a shoe in in a terrible field. Enhance Your Calm was disappointing after a pretty soft run to finish near last. The Purdon 3 year old gelding going down to Kurow in race 4 will be a litmus test. It should, in theory, destroy that field as any All Star would do.

Poor Westeros has jumped in class tonight. If it won INCA will have some competition.

The latest on this. NON RACEDAY INQUIRY RIU V M J ANDERSON - COSTS RULING DATED 13 AUGUST 2020 - CHAIR, MR M MCKECHNIE Created on 14 August 2020 COSTS RULING OF NON-RACEDAY JUDICIAL COMMITTEE 13 AUGUST 2020 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 In its decision of 14 July 2020 the Committee sought submissions on costs. 1.2 Submissions have now been received from counsel for Mr Anderson and counsel for the RIU. These can be briefly summarised as follows: (a) The RIU advises that it has incurred costs in the sum of $8,580.60 (exclusive of GST) in relation to the investigation and prosecution of Mr Anderson. It is said that costs should follow the event. The submissions nevertheless acknowledge that the Committee may award a proportion of total costs rather than indemnity costs. It is said that Mr Anderson, through his legal counsel, was well aware of the RIU’s position as a result of correspondence exchanged between legal counsel before the commencement of the hearing. (b) For Mr Anderson it is said that in consequence of his disqualification for six months from 1 August he will have no employment and thus no income. It is said further that he has no assets other than a motor vehicle on which money is owing. Further, it is said that he has no savings and will be required to move out of his current accommodation. It is submitted that no award of costs should be made but if such were to be ordered then that should be paid at a weekly sum of no more than $5.00 until Mr Anderson can gain employment. 1.3 There have been developments that have taken place since the decision of the Committee issued on 14 July 2020. These are: (a) Mr Anderson appealed the decision of the Judicial Committee. Both as to the finding that the charges were proved and in relation to the penalty of six months disqualification. The appeal in both respects was later withdrawn. (b) It has come to the attention of the Committee that Mr Anderson has recently been convicted of two criminal charges in the Christchurch District Court. These are charges of assault and strangulation. Further enquiry has established that he is to be sentenced on those charges on 24 November 2020. 2.0 DISCUSSION 2.1 The Committee necessarily cannot know what will be the outcome of the sentencing of Mr Anderson on 24 November 2020 in the Christchurch District Court. Given the nature of the charges upon which he is to be sentenced some restriction on his liberty may result. Further, given those convictions and the current disqualification imposed of six months from 1 August this year, Mr Anderson’s ability to earn any meaningful income will have been seriously impacted. 2.2 The charges which Mr Anderson faced before the Judicial Committee were vigorously denied. Detailed submissions were filed on his behalf. There was a hearing of almost one days’ duration in Christchurch and thereafter further submissions were required from both parties upon whether or not the Committee had jurisdiction to rule upon the charges laid. This issue of jurisdiction rose from the rather uncertain wording of the New Zealand Rules of Harness Racing. These circumstances have led to considerable time being required of the Judicial Committee. 2.3 The most significant circumstance in evaluating whether to award costs and if so in what amount(s) is Mr Anderson’s current position. He is plainly not in a strong financial position. 2.4 The Committee takes the view that a costs award in favour of both the RIU and the Judicial Control Authority is appropriate. The quantum of those awards must however have regard to Mr Anderson’s position as outlined above. Having regard to those circumstances the figures that the Committee has concluded are appropriate are very significantly less than would have been the case but for those circumstances. 3.0 DECISION 3.1 An appropriate figure for costs in respect of the RIU is $2,500.00. An appropriate figure for a contribution towards the costs of the JCA is in the same amount, $2,500.00, thus a total of $5,000.00. 3.2 Mr Anderson will almost certainly require time to make payment of these costs and he and/or his counsel are invited to communicate with the RIU and the Harness Racing NZ in order to set up a regime for payment over time. Dated this 13th day of August 2020 Murray McKechnie Chairman

Some, like myself, are given special dispensation by the TAB from the money laundering rules.

You would have had a blast if you were commentating this race.

Take an All Stars multi with the shorties or wait until Kurow on Sunday. For fun, I might take Folkore place 2.40ff into Chase The Hat Trick 5.50ff. 100 for 1320. Notice the 100 dollar bet, I am pretending to be on Trackside using other people's money. Folklore will probably drift so could be more closer to the start of the race.

Surely that would have made you a strong contender for a position with the RIU or a starter or the boss of HRNZ? Can't believe you didn't go on with it!

The application of what goes on in the levels will not be consistent from the first time round. Not even any point in trying because people won't adhere so willingly to it anyway. Why should they, when it clearly makes no difference and just postpones the inevitable. It could become a dog eat dog scenario about self preservation like elsewhere in the world.

Can someone give some odds that masks are made mandatory in Auckland after Jacinda's press conference tomorrow. I would like a bet. This will be instead of going to Level 4.