the galah

i see at auckland the reason d butcher sacrificed his own drive to assist his stablemate was because his stablemate got a penalty free win if it won.

the final heat another ripper of a race.Some of the most competitive race driving we have seen in nz for quite a while. mats djuse seems to have been the dark horse and has slipped into 3rd and pushed orange back a place. he has a couple of handy drives coming up so you just never know. Hall keeps nipping at the heels of mcdonald. so iit will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

i'm really enjoying watching these drivers champs as each driver does whats best to get the best possible placing. Punters certainly can't say they haven't got a run for their money with any of them. perhaps one or two have driven beyond the recent form of their horses,but then again some of the drivers have gotten more out of their drives than we normally see by driving them to win. actually as i type this i watched the auckland race and it looked pretty obvious d butcher sacrificed any chance he had to assist his stablemate to get the win.. Good to see that his stablemate didn't win. It defintely was not a good look when you have driving like that. But thats what happens up there more than it ever should and why people like myself say the north island product simply is not as appealing for punters.

like i've said before,i think its ok and is entertaining enough to justify continuing. I can see why it may frustrate some who liked the status quo. but if you are trying to appeal to a new demographic then you have to try something that may work with that demographic. What concerns me more is the way some of the harness horses they select perform.I've come to the conclusion watching their bets on harness,that its going to turn people off harness as their selections or their drivers underpeform so much,normally at cambridge of course. some of them simply go awful or gallop for no reason. Some of that is understandable as A White seems to like tipping trotters that gallop 4 times out of 5 at cambridge. He often says,they will win next time they trot all the way,after watching them gallop hopelessly as per normal. Some of the ones he tips are real head scratchers but the again hes having to tip on a poor cambridge product. i've watched some of their bets and they often have said after the race,well that one just sat at the back and made its move too late. Well they say that because like anyone who else had backed some of their selections,thats what happens a lot. so i don't think the hosts should be blamed much for there wins or losses. Yesterday a mccook tipped the favorite that they backed in the last at oamaru,bettor go vinnie and it inexplicably galloped so much that every time he mentioned it,it was still in a gallop.each time he went trhrough the field in his commentary. Really people who are part of that betting syndicate would get the impression betting on the harness is not a good idea..Maybe they just have been having a bad run at the nz trots,but i don't think they've ever done well on harness so far.

i was commenting the other day on cup day and it got me reminiscing about the good old days. Now harness racing was still a very popular sport,especially in canterbury, even as little as 20 years ago. but i will go back even longer to my initial memories of addington on cup day. i used to always take the week off and would travel to christchurch and stay with my auntie for the week.Monday was the day for travel to christchurch ,then cup day,riccarton,ashburton then back for the dogs that night,,initially at qe2,then show day and finally cup day at the gallops. During cup week i was always running into people from where i came from or people who worked occassionally in the area i lived and were from christchurch. Cup week was just an annual pilgrimage to christchurch for so many from all over the country and notably they all followed harness racing throughout the year. cup day started with turning on the tv around 8 in the morning when eating breakfast, in time to watch the main nz tv channel cross to someone on course, who would set the scene for the day,with about 5-10 minutes of mainstream tv coverage,that was the pre cursor to the coverage latter in the day. Then about an hour before race start time it was off to addington in just enough time to ensure a park was going to be available in the back street i had long sussed out for the day. Then there was the routine i had for getting in that i referred to in a recent post. Then it was a matter of filling in a bit of time and waiting for the horses to parade in the parade ring next to the old stables at the top of the addington straight. Now days it just seems a vacant carpark with a few cars which i don't know what they do with,sometimes there seems topping for the track sits there. But back in the day it was where all the floats were parked and where on a non cup racenights, you could park your car as well. then ,when the horses for the first race proceeded down the laneway towards the birdcage i would wander over and watch each one go past just over the fence almost within touching distance.everyone in the stand could see each horse,with their attendants walk in front of them for all the races down that laneway.That was part of the connection people had with the horses and attendants. The stable attendants for each horse got recogntion from the public and then it was into the birdcage where the drivers would be waiting. Then the drivers would take the reins ,3 or 4 loops of the birdcage and then out onto the track. as i said,it was that pre rece routine which provided a connection with the public,but then when they built the new stables they did away with any connection that people could get with the horses and drivers and attendants before or after they went on the track.They just stopped going into the birdcage.Thats something that several tracks did in recent times and i really do think its part of why people stopped going to the races. Anyway,then it was working my way to the tote and lining up. You had to allow enough time to work your way through the ques to the tote window then factor in getting a seat in the packed grandstand.Often on cup day my parents would be there and they would spread themselves out just enough on their grandstand seats to enable me to squeeze a seat next to them as they gave up a bit of room where they were. that grandstand was full of so many enjoyable memories for me over the years. After each race i would walk to the top,get the binoculars out and focus on the horses in the stabling area,mostly trying to see the one i fancied. Then i would switch to the thousands of people out the back,many dancing and partying all over the place..When you needed to pee,you went to the really big public toilets about 100m behind the main granstand which had some trees around it ,but on cup day it was thronging with happy people.Each race run you would see a small wave of people come from that area and pack the area in front of the main granstands then wander back to areas around where i described.Now theres that stadium in that area. Cup day was always a day when you were dark sunglasses as some 2 legged fillies would catch your eye. the cups that i remember the most was the ones lord module and hands down won.Lord module just had a way of creating a buzz amongst the public that i have never experienced before. It wasn't just me,i know others who felt the same. i watched the lord module cup from the grandstand. The hands down cup was one of mixed feelings. I timed my run to get a seat too late and simply couldn't move enough and got stuck watching it about the 200m mark in front of the stand . There was that many people cheering and jumping up and down to get a glimpse of the action near me,that i felt a bit deflated while others all around seemd abuzz. But it was off to under the tote to wait for the race replay and relive it again there with a better view.That was what you did to try and spot a next time winner from the replays back then. Anyways,cup week was always a great week but i stopped going after the grandstand disappeared after the eartquake. In fact,i used to go to addington a lot during the year,but the grandstand disappearing and them no longer going into the birdcage ,it just never felt the same. Familair faces that you met on course,just were never there anymore and like me,just seemed to drift away and never be seen again,except if you ran into them by chance somewhere else. my best week on the punt was when point away,trained by noel taylor and driven by p g o'reilly jnr won. From memory it paid over $40 ,despite being unlucky on cup day. I remember i hadn't had a great year on the punt prior to that ,but that one race made not just that week,but that year a good year on the punt.It was friday the 13th,1987 i see. going to the dogs at qe2 was always worth the dash back from ashburton. It was like they had little lighting where you put your bets on ,but the factor that i found so appealing was the dogs and their handlers paraded and raced just on the other side of the fence from which you stood. it had real atmosphere.When they moved to addington,they lost me and i know so many others who enjoyed a night out at the dogs. my most lasting memory of the gallops was wathcing little brown jug win with tito pobletti as the jockey,or some name like that. I don't know why,but watching him gallop past on a wram sunny christchurch afternon had something which you didn't normally feel. And of course how could anyone forget reon murthas commentaries throughout the years. Back to addington,when i went to the races on cup day,by far the vast majority were there because of the a major interest in the races.the news coverage ,whether it be radio,tv or print,it was such a huge event. Its not the same now and these days I get the impression cup days for so many who attend is about something else other then the races..Back in the days,people with horses,whether it be owners,trainers,stable employess and the actual horses,were all celebrities to a degree.People knew who they were,even many non racing people.Thats changed as well. We say those were the days,for very good reasons.

i would characterise the above post as being realistic. but what brodie and i and others are saying is we don't believe industry leadership is being realistic. when brodie and i and others comment along similar lines you sometimes call that appraoch as negative.its all because its a negative reality. Money is always such a significant factor,whether it be now or in the future. currently hrnz leaderships thinking is to do what they can to retain the bigger players in the industry by,at this point in time, providing them money rewards via bigger stakes and bonuses. So whats hrnz's strategy when they run out of money to provide the current level of money in the future. Will those decision makers even be around to deal with the consequences of their current decision making? The industry still has a lot of positives going foward. Its just,if we have future administration who come up with a workable plan to maximise those positives, they will be hamstrung by being strapped for cash because of what many believe is the current unsustainable business plan. anyways,we all want to see the indutsry prosper,but we just differ on how that is achieved.

its shaping up as heading towards a close 3 way finish between orange ,hall and mcdonald.. the tab odds are still very short for all 3 and not really worth investing on. even the odd of the drivers who have little chance seem way too short. but looking at the horses the drivers have drawn,it could be any of the 3 i mention winning. Orange has the better upcoming drivers but still is a way off the leaders and mcdonald and hall both have some handy drives and they could keep accumulating the points and hold the lead. the german may keep accumulating,but really the horses he has drawn count him out of any chance of winning. the final heat on tuesday,orange,hall and mcdonald all look like they are on horses who would be unlikely to run in the first 3. That last heat has quite a difference in recent form of the runners and its not really a fitting final race to finish on. You would think hrnz should have programmed something more even on cup day to be fair to the drivers..

watching the racing at cambridge tonight. Those world drivers champs races have really lifted the bar by a long way as far as racing quality goes. Each driver out to achieve the best possible placing with no pre conceived plan to help anyone else,every horse being driven well and all punters clearly able to understand their drivers every moves.Also 10 starters instead of the normal 6 we see at the average meetings up there. It just goes to show that cambridge can provide a high quality product to bet on even with the horses that race mid week and on the track they have.

the flip side to that is what i've always suggested. g dixon is a honest trainer who's horses run on their natural abilities.I'm sure he uses a good vet and the advantages that go with that,like all the big stables with wealthy owners,but thats different from using something that would give you an unfair advantage.Thats why i think leap to fame and his connections are so great and deserve what they win. Thats my opinion gamma.You've always been a dixon fan and followed his horses closely,so i assume that is part of what you respect and admire about him.

i have never been to kaikoura races,but with all the campervans in the middle,i always wonder whether people get to see much of the races anyway. it looks like those leaning on the rail on the inside part of the track wouldn't see anymore than 1/3 of the race at best and the same would apply to those on ground level on the outside part of the track,which i suppose is the majority of people. Do they have a big screen tv or something so people attending can actually see,or is the day more about being there than actually seeing the races..ii like to see the races myself,but thats just me. anyways,the long range forceast for next week has the temperatures for christchurch for the week all around 16-17 degrees with a bit of a wind,as is normal at this time of the year. i watched last year the ausie presenter say just how cold it was and how cold the wind was ,inferring it wasn't a nice day. Well mate,crikey this year looks like it may be colder. i remember when i was a lad the sun used to come out more in canterbury in november,at least thats how i remember it. personally,if i was in charge i would try and get cup week moved to mid december,,then the place would go off like the old days. warmer weather ,christmas functions for both cup and show day. Makes perfect sense to me. i wonder how the pre sales have been going. i just had a look. still available are the $90 per person for an infield ticket,$35 for standing up the straight. No i'm not as young as i once was so don't want to get too cold. maybe i should go for the $485 per ticket on the 2nd floor of the main grandstand where i can have a truly refined hospitality experience or maybe the marquee ,for one of the more prestigious racing and entertainment packages or maybe immerse myself in the vibrancy of the ned lawn for $370 where i can indulge myself in the premier taste of the ned wine. i had originally planned on buying a ticket to the grey goose terrace and planned to take the opportunity to berate robbie close for that mounga drive at westport,but luckliy for the goose my wife talked me out of that. hang on,'ve just checked my bank balance and realise i will have to resort to jumping the fence when no ones looking,just like the good old days. I remeber those days,we would rock up nice and early sneeking a park in a quiet back street not to far from the track.That back street no longer there these days. Then we would walk with the crowd taking in the sunshine,yes the sun used to come out more,back when i was younger,then we would wait and stand around near the gates hoping some giving member of the public would slip us a ticket so we could get in for free. Those were the days. we used to always get one in the end and that way we got to keep our punting money. Mind you the costs these days are too steep for anyone to be giving any tickets away.I also remember getting my licence and getting in for free. then I would go in do a loop of the turnstiles in a different area,get a ticket on the way out,give to my brother and then show my licence again as we both got in for free. No flies on me. oops,i'm slipping back down memory lane. Next thing i will start talking about the day,when i was young,when lord module won the cup ,when the siren went after the race and the whole racecourse,all 20,000 plus immediately burst into chatter, That was about the only time i could say i've exoerienced where you could cut the atmosphere with a knife,the place was so abuzz.

well dover terrace ran a very nice race after galloping.May have placed had it not galloped. spirit down under beaten fair and square by the other class horse in the field ,scrunch. Just the spreaders and inexperience of scrunch put me off it a little ,but it ran up to its recent form and was simply too good.Spirit down under just a tad disappointing, although the winner has looked good and shouldn't be underestimated going forward. nasana,got a nice run but dropped away in straight. thought it should have run better. you were right about b oranges drive,ohoka cobra.a good run for 3rd.

i like your thoughts on how to make the series not as much down to luck. Dover terrace. Its a former kaikoura horse,but a massive rise in class from a non win wednesday race, to today run against a horse who ran 3rd last start in a $50,000 listed 3yo race. Thats what i was meaning about the huge difference in recent form.

ill have another go in this race. can only go better than the last one. Spirit down under to win and nasana to run in top 3 multi. paying $10.50. i've never taken a multi before,maybe todays the day to start.

great stuff. double crossed at the start as expected , not looking in a good position,but they go very hard and the gap comes in plenty of time and sneaks up the inside to win. That greg o'connor can pick them. Glad i never had a bet in the race as i would never have backed that one.

blair oranges drive,alderbaran crystal finished a long way back as predicted.Should have been 200/1 instead of the 26/1 it was at.. no need for a streak today. actually the 2 heats so far have pretty much played out as expected. Theres was quite a difference in the level of recent form of the runners and they have finished spread out like browns cows. i don't know,but i looked at those fields and i thought,thats unfair for those drivers who had drawn the lesser chances. Why didn't they start the champs at methven on friday in mid grade pacing races. They would have got full fields with ballots and they would have been far more even in quality than what they've got going to kaikoura.. But hrnz chose to discard methven and instead provide the drivers with the big difference in quality of horses at kaikoura instead. Strange that. G hall is doing everything right and so far the 2 hot favorites have performed as expected for him. B orange,well nothing wrong with his drives,he simply was on a couple that were running against far higher graded horses. he managed to get 5th in the first heat,although well beaten off,he passed a couple of gallopers and a couple almost down to a slow jog at the finish. heat 3 coming up soon. Some pacers and a full field. still a huge difference in the recent form of the runners even in this heat. the race about to start. Ruskinoff the favorite. Get on betfair gamma and back it to lose. I don't see it running in the top 3 but its favorite for some reason and one of the trackside presenters bet of the day....i will watch it and see.