Spatchcock

Those Aintree fences are a lot different to the Aussie ones. A horse like Captains Run would be good at Aintree.

I am certain that would include trebles, doubles and quaddies.

Bro it's not 1990, you best ignore tote pools.

Dates are now listed in a story on HRNZ. Turns out the ninth meeting was Oamaru, not Palnerston North.

Right you are! I was confusing it with Grand Eagle, also previously owned by the Neills, wearing their colours, and trained by the Dunns. This makes the betting plunge more understandable.

With DOML now standing Gimpanzee and Tactical Landing this season, I would say that's a safe bet. I'm no form expert like you Brodster, but it certainly has not been going well and generally the Dunns will get the best out of most horses.

All I can offer is this - the mkves are within the rules of the series and HRNZ regulations. None of them are world beaters and at least some have been in the Southland horse pool recently (but I accept a could like Blazing Knuckles have not).

These were new dates over and over existing budgets, and were always dependent on certain funding levels being reached. I can only assume hey have not. One would haven to ask, in this situation, why the new Auckland dates weren't removed as those require the most funding for the least return.

Couldn't tell you but will endeavour to find out tomorrow.

Branch is likely going to contract back to the Club to help execute the Night Of Champions. Unsure if that includes slot distribution.

I am saying Michael House has a legitimate, registered base in Southland. Just like Robert and Jenna Dunn do in Auckland.

Horses have fallen in jumps races forever and a day. It's statistically the safest it's ever been. "Poor tracks" - it's winter and zero meetings have been cancelled. Am I blind? I just watched six great races at Te Aroha.

What are you even on about?

Brodie, Is someone not allowed to back a horse without your approval? Clearly the new stable think he's working well enough to win??

Nine 'new' meetings cancelled due to funding shortfalls. 4 x Addington, 4 x Cambridge, 1 x Manawatu.

House has horses based in Southland regularly for long periods over recent years and has a registered satellite stable down there. most of those horses on Sunday have been based there since early June.

Did you seriously mention Meant To Be in the same breath as Just Believe for Horse of the Year? Why shouldn't the most dominant horse on our shores win the top award? Not awarding it that way would make a mockery of the whole thing. Comparing him to those pacers, Gammalite, none of them had the dominance or credentials of Just Believe. Anyway, winning the top award he is purely going head to head with the Pacer of the Year (Merlin). And Merlin was the winner in an even field of pacers who all had good performances but suffered defeats.

This is a very bizzare post. Lets clear a few things up. 1) Victoria is in a massive hole ... their stakes have been slashed across the board - from the top races to the bottom and series like Vicbred and the Breeders Crown. So much so that the big rumour going around is that E Stewart is in fact giving strong consideration to setting up in New Zealand. The irony here is betting and participation at the stakes level has probably plateaued because of her dominance. 2) Moving from Victoria to Tasmania is nothing like Christchurch to Pukekohe. Yes, it will be smaller fields and less racing, but M & N Purdon don't really race on grass anyway. But the stakes are in fact better in Auckland and there are a glut of feature races, especially through Autumn, when all the open class racing is concentrated here. Tasmania has next to no feature racing. 3) Why would they want to stay with "better racing and bigger fields"?? Surely, if you operate a business, you want to go where the best yields are for you and your clients? On a side note, I do agree moving specifically to Pukekohe is a bit weird because that track is up for sale so they are only going to have to move again within a few years.

Congrats to Yabby Dam Farms for having the foresight to send their 'struggling' (quote: The Galah) trotters to Auckland. Last night they won $70,000.

What A Minx, Fearless, Paradise Ali, Bounce N Beyond, Bravehearthighlander, Eyre I Will, Joes Rock and all those Australian trotters with Wallis Hackett were all outside the Island when the scheme was announced. Only one of them had a change of ownership.

Cant agree... that was some poor racing today. Race 1 - the usual standard of driving delivers a 4-month suspension and a driver with broken shoulder and ribs Race 2 - 2.13 mile rate, home in 63.5 and 32.7 Race 3 - a woeful field with no moves and a 2.05 mile rate Race 5 - a 38-start maiden attacks for the lead twice, killing the leader/fav's chances and also taking another favoured runner out when it stops at the 500. Maybe the second half of the card was better

The information came from last night's edition of Harness Xpress.

where did you read that?

Well as it stands if a trainer intentional drugs a horse for gain, its a serious offence under the rules of racing leading to fines, disqualifications and forfeiture of stakes. But you don't also get charged in a court of law. That doesn't make the charge any less serious in my opinion, especially within the context of the racing industry and what kind of financial advantage can be gained from such things.

I am not going to harp on on this, but I have read at least some of the transcripts and it very clearly shows blatant breaches of the rules of racing by a couple of people. As the case is now closed, I won't elaborate on who they are or what those rules were. But rest assured I read this with my own eyes and it's not up for debate. I sympathise with all concerned who had to foot huge legal bills for six years. It became a joke and clearly this was not fit for purpose when it comes to criminal proceedings. but the rules of racing are a different beast, with a lower threshold and unique rules to be applied. Note: what I am talking about does not relate to the race or story at the top of this page.