Yankiwi

I still reckon Craig should challenge the results. The JCA determined that Pinny Mac was eligible to "race" in NZ, yet here's where they got that oh so wrong. GRNZ define "race", in the rules, as "Race means the competitive pursuit of a Lure by two (2) or more Greyhounds in a Greyhound race and includes a Heat, Consolation Race, Semi-Final or Final." https://www.grnz.co.nz/Files/Documents/MASTER GRNZ Rules of Racing 1st Feb 2018.pdf Therefore, Pinny Mac was not eligible to "race" in NZ on/before the prescribed date, period, no matter what the JCA decided during their first go at it.... Why didn't the RIU point this out in the hearing???

97 official wins on the board. 1 DQ (win) on the board as well after having Ketoprofen detected in his system. http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/non-raceday-inquiry-riu-v-j-t-mcinerney-reserved-decision-on-penalty-dated-13-july-2017-chair-mr-r-g-mckenzie A really great performer, who has done a lot for the industry, in more ways than one.

Currently the GRNZ has only the first of four heats available in their replays. From what I see, I think Craig maybe have been hard done by... 51.1 The Lure shall be controlled so as to be positioned at all times during the running of a Race at a distance of not less than 5 metres and no greater than 8 metres ahead of the leading Greyhound. However, the Steward(s) may permit a variance to such distance if he/she/they is/are satisfied that as a consequence of such variance no Greyhound has been substantially inconvenienced in running so as to affect the outcome of the Race. This sure doesn't look like 5 to 8 meters in the first corner of heat #1.... It'll be interesting to compare the distance in the other heats once they are available.

A long ride home from Wanganui for all those from the North & the South... For those heading back North, at least they'll have 6+ long hours to look at them self in the rear-view mirror.

Predictions for tomorrow spectacle?

This won't help from last night... GOTCHA MAJENTA in race 6 began awkwardly and ran with a very awkward action until making contact with the rail and falling before the first turn. In the opinion of the Vet, she had suffered a severe leg injury soon after leaving the boxes and was euthanased. https://www.grnz.co.nz/catch-the-action/13131/stewards-report.aspx I won't post a link to the video, but is being available on the GRNZ website a good idea?

Fully agree... They should have openly accepted those numbers and then put the numbers into context. 24 dogs in 6 months... How many races in those 6 months? How many starters in those races in the 6 months that were not put down? How many dogs (predominantly non-greyhound) have been put down by the SPCA in those 6 months? Local counsels? How many family pets have been killed crossing the street by cars? How many HUMAN fatalities from traffic accidents in those same 6 months? Play the game the anti's play.. deflection...

As a countermeasure against recent greyhound racing media reports, depicted here is an image of GRNZ's media manager measuring track moisture content for greyhound safety. Rest assured, GRNZ is all over this one.

The oversight committee needs the spotlight on them. They ratified rules that they didn't even understand, right? What a joke. Side note - The RIU couldn't have put forward a very strong case to support there side of the argument. They had the rules on their side & they still lost... What another joke.

So the trainer & GRNZ were supporting the start of the greyhound, while the RIU was against it starting. Did the JCA forget to consider Stu's testimony? Stu Cashen wrote the conditions for the 2018 Amazing Chase on behalf of GRNZ and has been asked to clarify two sections in regards to these conditions and his response is below: "Firstly, last year there was no C1 restriction, you may remember we altered this after the AC opened this year to enable the race to be penalty free. Secondly, the criteria able to race in NZ was written in to make quite sure that dogs on stand downs etc could not nominate, as is the case with normal race nominations. This was to ensure that when the FOB markets opened all the entrants were, at that stage, able to race. It would not be fair to punters to include dogs that may not pass satisfactory trials or recover from injuries". Stu wrote the condition into the race to keep dogs such as Pinny Mack out, right? Why was GRNZ so supportive of it starting? To save face over what they had mistakenly told the trainer? I smell at rat somewhere within GRNZ headquarters....

http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/request-for-a-ruling-riu-and-s-clark-decision-dated-18-july-2018-chair-prof-g-hall

What's even more surprising to me is that it's a C2D race. Of the eight entrants, two are C1 & six are C0... Eight dogs with two distance wins in total between them all & racing in the top grade for top grade stakes... I understand a new monument is being erected outside the GRNZ headquarters.

Thanks Jason, The JCA, RIU, trainer & Mr Freeman all agreed that there was no intention to start Viva La Vixen, as it is a sprinter. What about the two dogs scratched on the 1st of June? Were they not "used" then scratched to fill a field of 8? https://www.grnz.co.nz/greyhounds/profiles.aspx?AnimalID=28245 https://www.grnz.co.nz/greyhounds/profiles.aspx?AnimalID=28933

1st Link - Gibbonator… Trainer was Freeman/Turnwald until the heat over it got turned up & all the dogs were transferer to solely AT. Dishonest act was the charge that was admitted... the underlying factor which led to the dishonest act... 3.3 but the fact remains that in as much as the backdating of the scratching of Gibbonator preserved its opportunity to run in the Galaxy series it also at the same time preserved its opportunity to win the prize money on offer. We think it unlikely that Mr Freeman would have acted as he did simply to enable Gibbonator to run at the Christchurch meeting without regard to the stake money on offer. 2nd Link - Viva La Vixen... 15] In follow-up discussions it was clearly established that VIVA LA VIXEN had been correctly nominated for the race and in being scratched on the morning of the races Ms Turnwald had not breached Rules 40.1 and 40.3 which relate to the scratching of a greyhound. Mr Irving suggested that Ms Turnwald and Mr Freeman (her stable representative and President of the Palmerston North Greyhound Racing Club) had nominated 8 greyhounds for the Race to ensure the Race went ahead and, once that was confirmed, the RIU were advised that VIVA LA VIXEN would be scratched as it had been put into the race in error. Mr Irving described this as “field manipulation” because a sprinting greyhound had been nominated for a staying race but conceded he had no evidence to support his comments. 21] The Committee cannot consider the matter of possible field manipulation raised by Mr Irving as the issue was not raised with Ms Turnwald prior to the hearing and she has not had the opportunity to the respond to the comments made today by Mr Irving and Mr Austin. Had the RIU charged for a dishonest act or field manipulation initially, I suggest the case would have ended with a completely different finding.

1) Yes. 2) Field Manipulation, refer Gibbonator. http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/non-raceday-inquiry-riu-v-pb-freeman-decision-dated-8-january-2015?searchterm=gibbonator 3) That's the point, there have been no charges (or investigation most likely). 4) Yes. With the history, why isn't the RIU doing anything about it? They had him here but the braille squadron charged him under the incorrect rule... idiots.... http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/non-raceday-inquiry-riu-v-a-turnwald-decision-dated-21-december-2017-chair-mr-p-williams

One week on, Mister Ebby scratched again. That's two weeks in a row, without a start in between! Hello!!!

Only one last chance for solo trials at Manukau, next Sunday? "The solo trials shall be conducted in accordance with the following conditions from 21 June 2018 until and including 22 July 2018." https://www.grnz.co.nz/catch-the-action/events-and-promotions.aspx Maybe they'd better be flying in some used water pumps from the Thailand caves before next Sunday.

That said, an abandoned meeting would surely favour any dogs set up for their solo trial for the chase..... Ridin' Shotgun on the way home?

If a track can't take 15mm of rain, it shouldn't be a track! https://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/auckland/manukau

Seems they are having a bit of IT difficulty over there now...

C'mon GRNZ/RIU, how about some integrity here. Can't you see what is happening (there are years of history of this sort of thing from the EXACT same source)? Here's the Stewards Stand-Down report from Mister Ebby's & Argus Filch's last start.

How can it seem ok now? Is it under new ownership?

It's great that Ring The Bell has a retirement home all lined up. On the less bright side of that, does that mean another average Homebush, Bigtime, Opawa or Goldstar whatever, born in NZ, are going to miss out due to a champion import securing a NZ retirement home?

I think Dusty's undoing was drawing the #8 box. First paw (awkwardly) out of the box wanted straight down to the lure.

It doesn't appear anyone has been charged for excessive use, according to the RIU's "News In Brief". Four drivers were charged for merely "use of whip" http://www.riu.org.nz/announcements/newsinbrief-weekending24june2018 A Fitzgerald | Forbury Park 21 June; use of whip; fined $200. G O’Reilly | Marlborough 24 June; use of whip; fined $300. S Abernethy | Marlborough 24 June; use of whip; fined $200. J Dunn | Marlborough 24 June; use of whip; fined $200. The RIU is so inadequate at what they are responsible for, including report writing, they should be the ones receiving the fines.