OLDWHITEMAN

Thanks mate. Field Marshall needs the right run to succeed, he is not a horse that can work much during the run, needs one crack at them then unbeatable. If not... curtains.

Has A. Butt taken over the training from T. Butt? I haven't seen much about Timothy Butt lately, his team seems to be going poorly. Perhaps Anthony got all the good horses now?

My good friend Brodie, master trainer Fred Fletcher has some handy two-year-old Royal Aspiration trotters that will race soon. All of them go all right so get on. I give you the tip mate!!!

I agree mate. Motukarrara fields were very weak, too many slow horses. In my opinion, the fields worse than the previous week at Blenheim and the fields at Waterlea were hardly flash. What has happened to Motukarara club? It doesn't seem to get the support from trainers or the public like it once did. Sign of the times?

No, never watched a race or had a bet. Disappointing show by the locals only a couple of placings each for Anne-Marie Best trained Valley Star and my old mate Gotta Ticket. Canterbury horses took home most of the loot. I am getting like my good friend Brodie and losing interest in harness racing. I expect most of those on display over the two-day meeting will still be in the same grade next year. Same slow horses at most meetings gets tedious. The only positive was the weather, hot as you would expect in Blenheim.

Day two as bad as the first. I won't be there. R1 - Gotta Ticket R2 - Chal Be R3 - Prince Teka R4 - Peraki Seelster R5 - Kansas City Jim R6 - Valley Star R7 - Ifyousayso R8 - Rah De Rah R9 - Queenofdance R10 - Star Reactor Good luck punters!!

I'll have a go but I am not impressed with the quality of horse on offer at Blenheim. I live here but I will not be going and probably not bet either. Too many slow horses. Here goes: R1 - Gotta Ticket R2 - Chal Be R3 - Bright Glow R4 - Look Sharp R5 - Kansas City Jim R6 - Valley Star R7 - Lilac Star R8 - Rah De Rah R9 - Patronus Star R10 - Ifyousayso Good luck everybody if you are punting...

Sorry mate you are right. I had a "senior moment" and didn't realise there was a second page of data on Twirl at Infohorse so missed the mares Greymouth races. Never mind. It was a long time ago those races. Purdon must have been in the early stages of his training career in Canterbury?

No, but I am just pointing out to my good friend Brodie that harness is thriving in North America despite mostly mile racing there. He claims that mile racing is the death of harness racing but this is not the case there. I repeat they must be doing something right. Harness racing is certainly not doing something right here? The two minute mark is pointless these days and should be reduced to 1:55.

My friend I do not remember them either and despite my age I have a great memory of horses of past seasons. I looked up these nags on Infohorse. Twirl never raced at Greymouth while Conquistare won at Greymouth by seven and a half lengths on March 17, 2006 and ran second March 19, 2006. The Inthepocket gelding was trained by M. Purdon and driven by B. Orange. Perhaps those were the days of the West Coast bonus mate. Was Purdon trying to win it?

My good friend, harness racing is thriving in North America, unlike here, so they must be doing something right!! https://harnessracingupdate.com/pdf/hru/hru010320.pdf Woodbine standardbred recorded largest all-sources handle ever in 2019 Record foreign wagering, which was up more than 15 per cent in 2019, drove total handle to just shy of $365 million. byMarkMcKelvie/ Woodbine communications Woodbine Entertainment announced today that the 2019 standardbred season produced a record all-sources handle of $364,639,490, the highest in Woodbine standardbred history. This was our first full year of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park and it proved to be very successful, said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. We look forward to building off our successes in 2019 as we fulfill our vision of being the top standardbred racetrack in the world. The 216-date season (five cancellations) saw the all-sources handle rise 9.2 per cent and a record per-race handle of $161,990, up 11.2 per cent from the previous year. A total of 2,251 races were contested, 41 fewer than the year prior. Foreign wagering (outside Canada) on Woodbine standardbred races in 2019 was as strong as ever with a record total of $243,095,740 wagered, up 15.2 per cent from 2018. Home Market Area wagering held steady by coming in at $88 million for the second consecutive year.

He does own a few restaurants my friend.

My good friend Brodie there is another side to this argument. Yes, many All Stars' owners would be doing well with stakes won. But many of their owners have numerous horses in training not just with Purdon/Rasmussen; many also are breeders. Take Trevor Casey for example. Yes, he's had some great horses like Lazarus, and his latest star Winterfell, so he would be doing well stake-wise and his trophy cabinet must be overflowing. Stent, another top horse owned by Trevor, was trained by Colin DeFilippi. Trevor also has horses with numerous other trainers, including Regan Todd, Graeme Anderson, Tony Herlihy, Barry Purdon and he also has horses trained in Australia. Trevor Casey is also a breeder and stands Sky Major at stud. Trevor Casey must spend thousands a month on training fees, vet fees, feed and breeding costs. He deserves all the success he gets!!

Doesn't Lachie Marshall own that horse?

I am backing Vintage Cheddar in Race 8. I think this horse is in for a big season. It raced well last season and won at Addington beating the likes of race-rival Heisenberg. Alister Black is an up and coming trainer and the horse is one of the best in Southland. Get on!!

Thanks Happy.

Excellent summary mate. The only thing I would add is the great effort by Sarah O'Reilly to win both the NZ Junior Driver Championship and Australiasian Junior Driver Championship in the same season. She seems to have inherited the driving genes of her father, Gerard. I have not heard about the fridge gas being used to boost performance... surely you jest? I

Merry Christmas my good friend Brodie. My wish for the New Year is to have a really top class trotter that dominates like Icandoosit, Sir Castleton or Lyle Creek. At the moment that is probably either Majestic Man or Oscar Bonavena. It seems like ages since we had a top trotter like Icandoosit that could string together a pickle fence-line of form 111111111. Are any of today's trotters even capable of achieving this? My other wish would be for the whip to be banned in harness racing. As my good friend Brodie points out in his excellent post above the rules are too hard to follow now. Ban the whip completely and these problems will not exist.

My good friend Brodie. Why are you surprised at this result? Another Masterpiece is lengths better than anything in this field. The runner-up is a very weak horse, Dunns have improved him, but he is still weak. McGrath previously triained him and he was the same from that stable. Good horse but needs a lot of favours in running because he is not brave like Peter Snell.

Congratulations Winterfell. This is a great result for a horse that 'had meets its mark". Well done Trevor, one of NZ's best owners.

Captaintreacherous was a good horse... Race Summary Multiple Pacer of the Year Award Winner First 2YO in history to win four sub-1:50 mile races Only horse besides Niatross (1979) to win Pacer of the Year awards at 2YO Twice Dan Patch Pacer of the Year, US & Canadian 2YO Pacing Colt of the Year, US 3YO Pacing Colt of the Year Clean sweep of the iconic Breeders Crown as a 3YO Race Career At 2 - 8 Wins for $918,253 Dan Patch Pacer of the Year and Dan Patch (US) O'Brien (CAN) 2YO Pacing Colt of the Year Clean sweep of the $1,010,000 Metro Stakes Series in 1:49.2 Winner of the $309,050 Woodrow Wilson by 10 lengths in 1:49.3 (track record) Winner of $109,000 Nassagaweya in 1:51.3 Winner of the Bluegrass Stakes in 1:51.3 Winner of International Stallion Stakes in 1:50.3 Winner of Breeders Crown elimination At 3 – 13 Wins for $2,055,033 Dan Patch Pacer of the Year and Dan Patch (US) & O'Brien (CAN) 3YO Pacing Colt of the Year Clean sweep of the $980,000 North American Cup in 1:48.4 and 1:48.3 Clean sweep of the $500,000 Breeders Crown at Pocono in 1:49.2 Winner of the $635,000 Meadowlands Pace in 1:48.1 Clean sweep of the $500,000 Max Hempt Memorial in 1:49.2 Winner of the $360,000 Cane Final in 1:49.2 Winner of the $256,000 American-National in 1:49 Winner of the $215,000 Tattersalls in 1:47.2 Winner of the $95,000 Bluegrass in a lifetime record of 1:47.1

Congratulations Sarah O'Reilly on taking out the Hanley Formula Australasian Junior Driver Champion competition. It is a wonderful accomplishment to go with her also winning the NZ championship at Addington earlier this year. Well done. This young women, who has driving in her genes, is carrying on a great tradition of top drivers from the O'Reilly family. Her grandfather Patrick was an accomplished driver and trainer, uncles Patrick junior and Kerry were both top class, Leo not as good as those two but still wins his share. Sarah's father Gerard is an excellent horseman. Sarah has started her career with a roar and it will be interesting to see how she progresses in the next few seasons.

Temporale - Winterfell - Marcoola Chase Auckland - Cruz Bromac - The Fixer Thanks for running this Gammalite. Hope you fill your wallet at the Park. All the best!

Too many slow ones for me to have a go at Addington tonight. But Ms Oldwhitewoman is on Medusa (race 8)... like my good friend Brodie, she's always on the money.

Bling It On disappointing effort, gone turning for home. Star Galleria also a weak effort after having an economical run. He should have done better with a run like that. Is the horse stuffed?