Doomed

I was just looking at this weekend's Thorndon mile, run under set weights and penalties conditions, which the WRC seem to love. Clear top weight Mali Ston, the winner of five races and $148,000, rated 90, has to give weight to The Chosen One, rated 107, the winner of 6 races and $2,219,000. Interestingly, the bottom weight in the race, Mai Tai is rated 92 and has won six races and $162,000: and was beaten a nose by the top weight last time, meets him 3kgs better off this time. Under normal handicap conditions the weights would be totally different and under WFA conditions they would also be different. I struggle to see the merit in this SW+P idea; it certainly doesn't lead to bigger fields. Logically, the top weight should have no chance in this race. This is NZ racing though, so who knows what might happen. If it did happen to win it would be weighted out of NZ racing after having had just 8 starts in its life. I don't know if there is some special way to work out rehandicaps in a SW+P race.

I have just been looking at the fields for the Marlborough Cup and Wgtn Cup this weekend. Wgtn not flash; Rating 86 top weight and only two horses in the field rated higher than 80. 3kg spread top to bottom, which isn't much for a handicap. Marlborough Cup on the other hand, rating 89 top weight, 5 horses rated higher than 80 and a 6 kg spread top to bottom, with a 60kg top weight. Looks like Marlborough has also contributed an extra $20,000 to their Cup whereas from memory I don't think Wgtn ever add anything to their stakes: might be wrong there of course, hard to access such information.

They must be very disappointed in the fields for Invercargill Cup day. One field of 10 is the biggest of the day, a few with 9 and others with 6, 7 and 8. Even the maidens can only attract 9.

Well, I'm buggered if I can find it, certainly not under the news section.

What timing. I was just about to ask what has happened to this race thing. I had a look on the hrnz website and couldn't see any mention of it at all. When is it due to be run? Have the slots all sold? I'm not a big harness follower and I haven't seen any mention of it anywhere.

Just as most of the summer harness meetings have abandoned their AWTs and returned to the grass, I imagine in a few years there will be a rush back to Wairoa, Marlborough, Waimate etc. Lucky we still have the option.

Probably a good idea. We have enough trouble with anti vaxers infiltrating the place. I haven't bothered reading your stuff but it looks like lunatic fringe stuff as well.

At Riccarton they spend quite a lot of time in the parade ring and then cruise through the birdcage quite quickly. Attracts a very big crowd during Cup Week.

I found that cheerleader stuff from trackside pretty embarrassing to be honest. I realise totally that sweepstake day isn't intended for the likes of me and for most of the other contributors on here. It is much more of an on course thing for the youngsters, and a big piss up: and good on them: that boys go wild outfit do a good job. I was young once and I'm sure I would have enjoyed such a day. I'm not sure that it is really an event intended for off course though, which is where trackside's main market is. Some of the editing on Saturday was embarrassing: leaving Gore as the last horse crossed the line to show the well dressed walking around at Ellerslie in slow mo. One thing I did notice was only a dozen or so people gathered around the parade ring watching the horses pre race. At Riccarton during Cup Week they can be 4 deep around the parade ring. Even the main grandstand was empty most the time. They all preferred to gather on the lawn where you could be seen, but couldn't see anything. Trackside should realise that that was it for most of those on course attendees for the year, whereas most of us on here will be back punting again next week. They do need to be aware of their main market.

The Southland Times has Jamie Searle, who wrote the article in question, and the ODT has a racing writer as well. Two of very few racing writers left in the country. When you see general reporters trying to write a racing article it can often be pretty cringeworthy. I think the Auckland Herald may still have a racing writer as well. Quite a good paper the ODT, could show up many others around the country. Still has a very good wine writer as well.

The McKenzie Lad item was news. And they have one of the few remaining racing journalists down that way. Trackside never even mentioned what had happened to McKenzie Lad, which I thought was appalling ignorance when you consider all the people watching who had seen that something was happening. TV3 covered the sweepstake races on their news item.

Someone who knows more about these things than me might be able to explain how they managed to swab a dead horse.

I do like Jamie Richards, he will be a terrible loss to NZ racing. After Sword of State won the half wit interviewer said "what do put his failure in Aussie down to?". Jamie said "the quality of horses over there, its a bit easier here." He's a class act, one of the best interview answers I have seen.

Looked bad, but no mention of anything on trackside; too interested in those 6 races in auckland.

Non university attenders would of course be shocked at these reminisces.

I thought he meant Murray Bridge, but I think that is only gallops and dogs.

Firpo won a couple of Invercargill Gold Cups I think, when that was a decent race to win.

Obviously no whip rules in those days.

Totally irrelevant, but it just popped into my head. I wonder if you popped into the head office of the TAB or NZTR how many of them would have heard of LBJ?

It is a bit ironic when people claim on course attendances don't matter anymore and what does it matter how many go to Kumara and other popular meetings, but when it comes to Karaka it's a great meeting because of all the people who turn up and what a great atmosphere. Its just a pity none of them ever turn up to any other meetings.

Tito also used to ride a good filly called something like Glydavari. I recall her winning impressively at Timaru in the days when they used to race the Show Gate stakes at Xmas time. Think she was by Godavari the same sire as LBJ.

The Gore Guineas could be interesting on Saturday. This might be quite a nice crop of 3yos down South. The poor buggers certainly don't get many opportunities. Incredible to think that the Canty 3yo season for the males finishes in November. You couldn't make some of this stuff up really. I keep looking at Palmetto. He never seems to have much luck in his racing; always seems to be in tight quarters and races greenly. I would love to see him on a suitable track with a really good jockey giving him a proper ride. He is one horse who is badly disadvantaged by the lack of a proper pattern of races to build up to these Guineas races. He looks like a horse that needs some easy opportunities to gain some confidence and experience.

Another good article from Brain, but sadly a voice in the wilderness really. The current management doesn't give a f--k and are just totally arrogant. http://www.theoptimist.co.nz/

You did speak a little early, out for a couple of weeks for whip use in the first.

Yes, Chile for Tito.