Happy Sunrise

Seems like it is. Maybe some of these people below could comment on the state of affairs (or if they have maybe somebody could tell me where to see it) More management than horses at Alexandra Park.

He didn't.

He had an impressive few days. 9 was it?

looked good after Round 1!

To quote the man just now on trackside about the conflicting schedule at Reefton, Gore and the Healesville dogs. "We are going to show Healesville guys. Healesville is going to go across to Trackside 2, and lets be honest, you probably don't care do you, because you probably didn't have a bet at Healesville and I 100% don't care. Never a truer word spoken. I might give him a bit of stick about the marker pegs theory but I admire him for the comment above.

7 Sharp and TV1 do it again with a very good harness story.

...says Mick Guerin. Amazing Dream proved that theory to be a simplistic approach to betting in a race. I don't know why he persists with this concept when he actually described how Amazing Dream could win the race before the start. Copy That was on the marker pegs the whole way and look where that got him. His commitment to this theory actually hinders his presenting in my opinion.

Worth a read. https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/racing-identity-fights-keep-name-secret-over-drugs-charges

Not according to HRNZ. Just Steel Dust who is not in your screenshot.

Might be in the stipes report. Didn't some office lady get blamed a few years ago for a muck up similar to this? I can't remember exactly.

I wonder if the box seat will do a segment on why it didn't work. That would be interesting.

Couldn't agree more.

Really nice and positive news piece on 7 Sharp. The presenters kept on about their equine namesakes too. Great stuff. If they had only added in DD to top it all off it would have been perfect.

Good for her. She is fired up with good reason.

Good post, Brodie. You are correct about the senior drivers having a word if they thought any driver was a concern on the track. Juniors are 'juniors' for a reason. Doesn't worry me his hands are high, nor the fact he moves around a lot. Drivers overseas are nearly falling out of the cart at times aren't they? If every driver was the same it would be pretty boring and we might as well be on a computer game. I think since this incident happened on the winning post and a horse got disqualified it is more visible to all and sundry. If it occurred any other time no one would care. Read any stipes report and see the mistakes made. Ben obviously loves harness racing and I reckon he would care for the horses no end from what he has said in interviews on TV so good on him for being part of something he wants to.

I might add I have no problem with animal activists. If animal activists keep the racing industry on their toes in regards to animal welfare that is fine by me. The industry shouldn't feel threatened by them as it only shows its own insecurity about the unseemly elements of the industry such as wastage.

Not his fault.

They did very well.

Santa Anita needs to sort itself out for sure and they are putting their own head in a noose but you are overstating the power these groups have if they are given little or no fuel. As long as harness racing in NZ keeps it act in order then it will be fine. It is far more likely the industry will kill itself through the actions of its own participants than it is by some animal activists. I would consider a trainer who uses a gas from a fridge or whatever was reported in the Star or dog trainer who live baits a far worse individual than a person who wants animals looked after. That is why I think Jumps racing should be banned because the horrific scenes of horses and people falling in these races on a constant basis and is an intentionally dangerous practice which kills. Stupid to continue in my view. You are handing these 'terrorists' a loaded gun. If an animal activist is a terrorist what do yo call people who live bait etc?

There is nothing to panic about in regards to animal activists for harness racing. Once the epitome of cruelty is removed, namely jumps racing, things will settle down and it will be decades, if ever, that harness will be under the spotlight. Unless of course some racing idiots (the real terrorists) use fridge gas or metal lined whips on horses, then all bets are off.

Good or bad?

Here are the 2 year olds. 8 acceptors with a total of 4 race starts. Must be nice to have the chance to start your racing career off with a group win but it just shows how far some of these group races have fallen in stature. Whether it is due to the programming or a sign of the decline of harness racing I don't know. But it is not what I remember having the Sapling Stakes with such little exposed form but maybe I haven't been paying attention for the last 10 years.

The stipes report for this meeting is a big read full of incidents and explanations. An example being. DIEGO - raced wide early stages. Over-raced for a distance passing the 1300 metres when being restrained to obtain cover. Broke near the 100 metres. Stewards questioned driver J Cox regarding the manner he drove near the 100 metres when DIEGO made contact with MEMPHIS TENNESSEE with both runners being checked. After considering his explanation, Mr Cox was issued with a charge under Rule 869(3)(d) alleging that he had driven dangerously by shifting his runner inwards to make contact with MEMPHIS TENNESSEE. Mr Cox admitted the breach and after viewing replays of the incident and hearing from Stewards and Mr Cox, the JCA adjourned the matter to allow both parties to make written submissions on penalty.

People that complain about amateurs and juniors should take a deep breath and reflect after the way that race was run.

Now that PGG have exited harness racing does that mean the end of the big money races after tonight or do they continue for a year or two?