Happy Sunrise

Good to know someone in harness racing in NZ knows what they are doing. Let the swedes take over RITA I say. Southern Harness Stakes Confirmed Press Release – 4th May 2020 As the bureau for 10 Southland clubs, Southern Harness Racing is pleased to announce that we will be adding funds for stakes for the 10 remaining meetings of the 2019-20 season. Southern Harness is in the fortunate position that we can draw on funds that have been kept aside for a ‘rainy day’ and we are sure that this will be welcomed by the industry participants who race in the region. A maximum stake of $10,000 has been set, while a low rating race will carry $7,000. Maiden races will be run for between $8000 and $10,000. We are delighted to be able to give the industry this support as we all look forward to a return to racing in the south on Saturday, May 30. Jason Broad General Manager Southern Harness Racing

Be Brodie's favourite channel wouldn't it or did he leave with Glenn Beck?

Since you like simple Simon who is always running second I thought you would have gone for Starship.

If she takes a day or two off Level 3 and makes Level 2 something near normal while moving focus from health to the economy that halo could hang around quite a bit longer. You better be careful Brodie, because the way you are going the TAB and the SIS could be on your tail if you keep going, and, sooner or later, one of those 3 letter acronyms will catch up to you.

A 100 to one shot there Ranga. Will need more than Brodie's support and massive dose of blood spinning to get him first over the line later in the year.

Any horse paying over $10. Favourite punting is for pussies.? I tend to push them down deep into my subconscious but I remember a few years ago backing a trotter down south and it was paying heaps for the place and ending a multi for me. It was miles clear in second but the leader broke in front of me and brought me to a standstill while the other slow coaches ran past me. I can't remember its name but it was a horror scene etched in my memory Grass or All Weather? I would rather have a good draw over a good driver (is that controversial?) but Natalie Rasmussen. In 10 years time, we will all be saying Robbie Close Happy Sunrise / Christian Cullen Won't say the obvious. Some trainers just have good competitive racehorse like Des Baynes The Mot, because it has the most exciting races and it gets a bad rap being called the triangle just because it doesn't suit the favourite punters or trackside presenters with their $1000, 5 horses in each each leg of the quaddie, that they still can't get Phar Lap (the movie ?) An amateur R40-45 1980 stand on a Sunday at Addington

Who is Winx?

I see the Miracle Mile is down from $1 million to $600 000 next March and the Interdoms is going back a year. Sign of things to come here if not worse drops in stakes.

I miss harness racing. The Australian stuff is shit.

If the top job at RITA comes up, make sure you apply.

What is needed to create more than hope for trainers? I don't think there is anywhere to move the lights either. As for closing tracks, I wonder if owning the land makes Forbury a bigger target. I also wonder where the money would go as I presume it is an incorporated society so it wouldn't go to the likes of RITA by choice. Personally, I would like Forbury to stay as I think it is important to have a harness in a major urban area. The lower North Island is battling because of it.

'I'd like to think the average age on the guest list is 45+ and most of us can moderate our behaviour and wait 'til we get home." The owner not attending then? Moderated behaviour is hardly his thing.

Great idea but we wouldn't need him actually with us. I hear Brodie hides in the dunes between races at Forbury night meetings before running over to place his bet on the tote so just watching that would me make me laugh hard enough to take a layer or two off lol

If HRNZ and whoever is important have been sitting on ideas which will improve harness racing for all involved then this is the time to chuck it out there. Once things get back into the 'grind' the moment will be lost.

Nearly unbearable but Addington sucks at night too. Anywhere is cold in the south island during winter. You can nearly die of frostbite at a day meeting in summer too I might add.

Is there a sense of postivity towards the future amongst the people and club when you are there?

I would like to see the Jewels disappear for at least a season. They were an extravagance at a freezing time of year and I am not sure if its day was done anyway. They could either use this money to supplement Group races for each sex/age group eg NZ Cup or Easter Cup or Derby if major race stakes get cut. Or they could use to fund general racing throughout the season. To encourage participation I would like to see a nominated meeting at the end of each month having 2 or 3 'finals' for a higher stake (maybe 5000 more) for horses who qualify for it, firstly on participation during the month, and then performance. The 'final' would be a preferential draw so winners of races throughout the month could still be in it. It might break the monontony of racing for the lower stakes and give trainers / owners something to aim for. Could be broken into all weather and grass tracks venues once Mot and Methven get going.

I see NSW harness racing have outlined what is going to happen in their state about stakes etc. I would expect at the start of next season that a simillar set of consequences happening in New Zealand, if not worse. The only one we won't have is the drought funding and the ATC don't need coronavirus for a suspension in infrastructure developments.? Maybe the All Stars won't have any stakes to plunder either side of the Tasman next season. I see NSW said the stakes will go back to normal once 'wagering revenue has recovered at a sustainable level base pizemoney will be restored.” Mmmm... To that end, as from May11:- Base Prizemoney will be reduced by 20%,- Savings in HRNSW operational costs implemented,- Feature race funding will be reduced,- Drought Assistance funding will be withdrawn; and- Infrastructure developments suspended. A few examples: HRNSW administrative (staff) and operations costs reductions. Major infrastructure projects such as the Bathurst Training Centre Development, Tamworth Training Centre Refurbishment and Gold Crown Paceway property purchase will be put on hold. Industry Drought Assistance will cease from May 3. Discretionary funding arrangements with Clubs will be addressed with those respective Clubs however these have either been reduced or withdrawn. “With respect to major races such as the Miracle Mile the $300,000 funding provided by HRNSW unfortunately has been withdrawn.”

I might add, the JCA and RIU basically write their own reports and make themselves smell like roses. One never hears of the starter getting in trouble when he does diabolical things at the start of a race that lead to chaos. If anything is done, it is behind closed doors....comforting for those under the protective umbrella isn' it.

It depends on the way one looks at it. Put it this way, I understand where it came from. I have been there. Didn't need a drink either but it was worth it. Here is one from left field, in this age of employee welfare etc what are HRNZ doing to support those who need it? Am I right in saying racing is one of those few sports where the intimate details of happenings get published publicly. I wonder if things like this altercation should be made public? Maybe it should just be raceday charges that do, otherwise, it becomes cannon fodder for keyboard warriors like myself. Again, in this day and age of individual welfare, should they reconsider publishing non raceday charges?

Chapter 6: Life on the Road: Me and Mr Dunn. Be a big chapter lol

Possible title? Chapter titles? Chapter 1: INCA Ruins: I thougth they were in Peru Chapter 2: Holiday Mode: In the bike and buzzing at Omakau Chapter 3: Total Bollocks: The RIU are more like the IRA Chapter 4: Awards Ceremonies: Doing it my way like Frank Sinatra Chapter 5: Cruz and the Cup: Mark and Nat made a mistake with the driver bookings I would buy it.

I am not sure either, HTP.

After watching Natalie Rasmussen's interview, I bet if she had a few drinks under her belt she would have been exploded on camera in a similar manner ? While Orange shouldn't do what he did, in the predicament he is currently in with INCA etc, a couple of stipes turning up at McGrath's where quite obviously the boys are having a bitch session about the Nigel's situation and the like, it would be so easy to let rip. Not the right thing to do but understandable. Hope the fine was worth it lol.

Blair should write a book at the end of his career. He is living an interesting live so it would make a great read.