Happy Sunrise

Got a talented driver on board.

Bit like the 'American' war in Iraq.

Lilac Star at 10ff and 3.30ff in the big race is worth a go and will probably be more tote. If she can step and get a soft run she might just get the gaps while others tire. She is getting better and better a racehorse. Line A Love, at 8ff and 2.80, is a local who has gone some cheeky 3rds. It is on its home track and that is bonus because it is a funny shape. Should step and be handy from the get go.

With the Manawatu meetings gone it can't be too long before racing shuts down. Alert level 3 would probably just about do it. I suppose Canterbury harness is in the strongest position to handle travel restrictions from other areas due to its horse numbers. Auckland or Cambridge would have no chance. Better have a bet before it shuts down and you have to bet on kids playing computer games. On the bright side, at least they might addict a new young generation to gambling.

Water off a Waimoe's back...they have heard it all before.

and the comments that go with it. Obviously Michael House feels a need for McGrath to go.

What will that prima donna Peters do in response to this? This will be a test for him. How unstable was the TAB before the virus impacts? They obviously have no reserves whatsoever if they want a cash injection immediately A $3.8 mistake on bonus bets? Is that the figure they actually lost because of the mistake? And this article is also a reminder to those clowns trying to get on course through applying for licences last week to stop it. As the article says, if someone gets the virus in the racing industry and everyone has to self isolate the corona virus could have impacts far greater than RITA in an instant. Luckily, racing is to big to fail lol...... The article from Stuff: Coronavirus: TAB in crisis over sports cancellations Coronavirus is threatening to bring down the TAB, which has asked for a cash injection from the Government so it can keep operating. Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) chief operating officer Stephen Henry gave a dire forecast for the racing industry's betting arm in an address to staff at TAB headquarters in Lower Hutt on Thursday. Henry revealed the cancellation of sporting events would cost the TAB $14 million and that, along with a $3.8 million error over bonus bets would result in both the half year and full year projections taking a big hit. "It's serious enough that we have briefed Government today on what it means for us and how they can help and that includes injecting cash into the business so we can continue to operate. "So far the Government has been "responsive but not definitive". Henry told stunned workers that everything was being done to minimise its operating costs including: * Using fewer cameras at race meetings, doing away with Trackside presenters on course, sending fewer production staff and not operating betting totes. * Cutting a wide range of expenses like travel and overtime - "we should have cut the sausage rolls today." Already the harness racing show, the Box Seat, featuring Greg O'Connor and Michael Guerin, has been canned. SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF The sign says it all at New Plymouth race meeting. Henry issued a plea to staff to voluntarily reduce their working hours. "It's not compulsory and I don't expect everybody to be able to afford to make a sacrifice but I've asked our senior leaders to consider the same options. I'll be working five days but getting paid for four. "It's not so much that difference in money that will save us but it's the start of a collective effort to do the best we can and put that in Government's thinking." Henry warned the picture would darken even further the moment someone in the industry like a jockey, driver or trainer tested positive for coronavirus and meetings at present being held with no spectators were called off entirely. "It's very serious. Essentially we'd have no business to operate on. "There are 17,000 people who rely on the TAB and gambling profits to fund their jobs." Henry said the TAB was having to restate its unaudited half yearly result because of errors in the reporting of its bonus bets, given to entice punters to bet more. "There's been a coding error, a reconciliation report error and a manual transaction error which means we're $3.8 million behind where we expected to be." Henry said the TAB is looking into new initiatives like taking bets on e-sports video games "but it's not going to fill the gap." Henry said he would be briefing the chairs of all three racing codes on Thursday "and delivering a clear message that the actions we are taking we expect them to take as well." The dramatic downturn in betting comes at a time when a Racing Industry Bill before Parliament seeks to implement drastic powers to save the already beleaguered industry. Last year RITA replaced the former New Zealand Racing Board which borrowed heavily to build a reported $50 million fixed odds betting platform that bombed with punters.

Mick would probably agree with you.

Nothing like those southerners coming and dealing to Cantabs. Was a good horse alright. History-making “Honkin” 19 March 2020 , News By Dave Di Somma - Harness News Desk For a star juvenile Honkin Vision lived to a grand old age. The 33 year old son of “Honkin Andy” has been laid to rest at his owner Vin Devery’s farm just north of Invercargill Devery told harnesslink.com : “His health was deteriorating. Normally he’d pick himself up in the summer enough to do okay in the winter but I felt he wasn’t going to this time.” Honkin Vision was the first two year old to win $250,000 in one season, and that was in 1988-89. “That was a huge amount in those days” Overall he won 16 races from 43 starts, and stakes of $510,395.

Story from the Star today Canterbury horse trainer's property raided, equipment to ‘tube’ horses found The property of a Canterbury horse trainer caught up in a police undercover operation has been raided. The Racing Integrity Unit went to Nigel McGrath’s West Melton property on Friday, hours before two of his horses, Steel The Show and Could Nine, were due to race at Addington. Starnews.co.nz has learned equipment used to ‘tube’ horses was confiscated, and the two horses were ordered scratched from running at the meeting. McGrath and another man were at the property. Tubing is a practice where substances are fed down a horse’s throat. There are rules around when this can be done prior to a horse racing. RIU general manager Mike Godber would not comment on the raid. It is understood the raid was not connected to Operation Inca, which has seen a number of people arrested on drugs and race fixing charges. However, an investigation has been launched by the RIU into what was found on McGrath’s property. McGrath’s lawyer, Pip Hall QC, said he became aware of the raid over the weekend, but would not comment further. McGrath, Harness Racing New Zealand chief executive Peter Jensen and HRNZ board chairman Ken Spicer, did not return calls. The raid comes several weeks after McGrath pleaded guilty at a racing Judicial Control Authority hearing to a race charge. At the hearing, details emerged for the first time of a bugged phone conversations involving a big-betting businessman connected to the McGrath stable and McGrath, The conversation, secretly recorded by police during the Inca operation, involved how a race would be run. The businessman, who has interim name suppression, is facing criminal charges. McGrath initially faced a race-fixing charge in the district court as a result of the recordings, which was later dismissed. The RIU then charged him with two racing offences. which were heard by the Judicial Control Authority, an independent body that hears racing matters. McGrath pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of improper driving. The RIU dropped the more serious charge of driving in a manner detrimental to the interests of harness racing. He was banned from driving for six months.

A view from another code, with the antics of some trainers in harness racing I would say those 'wankers' and those 'trainers' are as bad as each other. Combined, they will screw the whole industry.

But local trainers?

For who? No one there anyway. ? Might as well make it Rangiora then (but I dislike that track more than most)

They might as well centralise all the meetings. All weather at Addington and grass at Motukarara to take away the cost of travelling. What is the point of most of the horses venturing all that way?

Good luck to the horse and driver with that draw on Friday. Has next to no chance with All Stars 1, 2 and 3 in draw. TAB might suck in a few with enticing odds.

If there are no gatherings of over 500 people does that mean no spectators at the races or does it mean only the first 500 get in... lol

Racing is basically made for TV so if trainers, drivers and officials etc can be tested and proven free of the virus racing should try to continue for as long as possible. No spectators are required. The worry in the longer term with the economy turning crap is the gambling dollar diminishing.

Not compared to the rest of the card!

Mordecai at 5.50FF for the place. Hopefully he get handy early and has a soft run. Stavros the Terror at 6FF from draw 2 with Mr O on board so will get a very economical run. Allaboutthemoment is at 9FF in the first. Stablemate is favourite and beat Allaboutthemoment in a trial a few weeks ago but the second to Insist the Win (Go On Andover was 3rd with 12 lengths to Mono Gamble in 4th) was very impressive at the end of last year.I must be missing something with it being 9FF?? Look Sharp (same race as Mordecai), Malinka and Glen Elgin Thompson should go close too. With nothing else to watch tomorrow Channel 62 should be on all day.

I am all for keeping people to the rules and the stipes doing their job but it just seems to be the same McGrath is in the firing line a lot. Maybe that it is his own fault and I should reserve judgement until it is explained but asI said in a previous post about the Star article, how come these trainer(s) seem to be under less scrutiny?

213 C So stipes saying the horses may have been administered a prohibited substance by it's trainer.

What now?! They can do this to his stable but can't do it to those trainers who transform horses like those mentioned in the Star articles.

Auckland harness meeting tonight is latest sporting event to be postponed due to Corona virus as the club does not want the large on course crowd to spread the virus. Believe that, and you believe anything.

Would cost about 3 winning stakes at Forbury to get those photographs taken.