the galah

I like race 2.boomchuckalucka place, ,race 8 first son win and race 9 . stun gun win

I've just been looking at the hrnz regulations on these races, now that the website is back up and running. It seems all jockeys weigh in after the race and must be at least 65kg,(being 10 stone 3pounds). So there is a minimum but that still keeps punters in the dark if a jockey weighs in excess of that. The races appear to be penalty free. The jockeys can only use the whip in front of the saddle while holding onto the reins with both hands.

I've invested previously on these with good success, however I would have thought by now they would have displayed the weight of the jockeys. Surely the punter should know whether 1 horse is carrying a jockey weighing 10 or 20 kg's more than others.

Yet another warning. To me there is something dishonest going on here. They talk about race fixing, yet they turn a blind eye,week,after week,after week etc ,to the same horses with the same connections. They are making a mockery of any enforcement they do in relation to other horses manners. How can they possibly send others to trial before racing when the horses that are the worst offenders get preferential treatment.

As the great Maxwell smart used to say"missed by that much". Going forward momentum is sometimes an under rated thing in racing,and I think in hindsight he would have been better keeping that forward momentum going. Go davey did show a lot of fight to hold him out. That aside,I like what I see of Ben Hope. He is always there to give his best and is well spoken . I think he is a good role model for other young drivers.

Maybe? It had to be someone with the name greg who was on course at the time. What gregs last name is remains a mystery. Funny thing is I can remember what people have said on bit of a yarn from a few months ago,yet I always have to ask my wife where I left my phone or keys.

Well it had to happen didn't it. The useless one over the skye who broke at addington 2 days ago,and again was not stood down, does the same thing today,interfering badly with Trick Star who I stood to get a very good collect off had it won I've no doubt having to avoid a horse galloping all over the place in front of it cost it victory. How many times does this horse have to interfere with others before it is stood down. How was a horse with such a shocking record ever made favorite is another mystery. I will ask it again,why do the stipes allow this,when will they do their job?e

Maybe we don't carry much weight but we all value each others differing opinions . I agree with what you have said. One day ,a few months ago ,jj flash posted weather conditions as relates to a Canterbury race meeting,about 40 minutes before the first race started.

I noticed that as well at the time., You would think it had to be someone at the track,and they said there name was greg. We naturally assume he may be ,then again he may not be.

I don't know who jj flash is, but I think greg o'ccnnor is a very good presenter at the race meetings he covers. I agree o'connor doesn't comment as much as I would like on controversial isssues, but we put things right in that respect with "a bit of a yarn".

I was just reading the press statement by the Auckland trotting club relating to their 2017 annual report. (I could not fine any link relating to their 2018 report) One quote was "Ms Dowding(ceo) says 62% of the clubs total revenue is now generated by other departments outside of racing which continues to grow. Nonetheless,at 38% racing income growth remains important." Given the club is selling some of its major assets that generate considerable income, and now has huge debt to service,surely the writing is on the wall for this club as far as significant stakes decreases. That appears to be why they issued the recent statement about their focus on quality racing at Alexandra park ,chosing to run small race numbers. Spin. Just a way of saying we can't sustain paying stakes on racing when they already run at a loss given the stakes we pay ,because we're financially crippled."

Obviously not that simple. There seems to have been several major developments run into trouble in Auckland in the last 2 or 3 years. You would have thought the warning signs were there. Blowouts in construction and labour costs have been reported as major contributing factors in some. The ATC seem to have had multiple issues. They did not correctly analyze all the possible scenarios. You would wonder how their bank is viewing their predicament. You would have to ask if it is prudent for stakes at the atc to remain at their current levels. Any other business would be looking to not just sell any assets,like they are,,but also be looking to cut expenditure just to survive. Will be interesting to see what plays out in the next 12 months.

They went with plan b, the higher risk,higher return option. They gambled and it seems north island harness racing is the big loser. You would have to wonder how any business could possibly stand such a loss without it having a massive negative impact on its overall viability.

.Just watched race 2 at forbury. Very slowly run race yet only blair orange,on a roughie,was the only driver to show any initiative. Stopped in the end but at least he gave it a chance. I do wonder what some drivers are thinking sometimes. In that race you had the $2.80 favorite electing to sit 4 back the fence after the driver of the horse sitting parked gave him ample opportunity to come off. I don't know why the trackside presenter said the favorite got stuck on the fence when in fact it was a extremely dumb drive..

what about the drive on svelt in race 1 at Invercargill. he only started tapping the horse in the last 100m with the force that wouldn't even have killed a fly . Seemed he did not pause in between his tickles and got a fine.,

Both days a nelson it seemed the starters assistants had no idea he was there,each time someone walking into his path. Once a bit unfortunate, twice a bit strange. The assistant who walked in front of him on the first day was in front of nimah franco on the 2nd day. Someone should get that man a tape that is a bit longer.

Murphy's law. I put $15 on at $71 to win as i've backed it in its most recent starts as well. At least the $92 quinella was nice. Was that S Paynes first winner? Oldwhiteman may not have been a fan 6 months ago, of the gills and their horses,but he must be laughing now.

Yes well done oldwhiteman, Did you back it newmarket?

Almost a replay of day 1,no room again in straight. As soon as he gave away the lead with the favorite looming, you knew he would end up 3 back,and you knew any winning chance was gone. Just proves what I said,he wasn't waiting for day 2,it's just a tactical thing .

I don't think you saw drivers with the mindset of just giving their horse a run on the first day. The handful of drivers who you think may do that weren't driving yesterday anyway. As to the drive on silk,i think that is just the way Robbie holmes drives sometimes,, I think he is very honest. Like you ,I thought silk went very well,it looked like it would begin fast if it draws the front. Whatever I Court does with his horses,they all seem good beginners.

Reading the hrnz website it says the 2019 winner is murray tapper from Timaru. What a marvelous performance to win again after winning last year. i'm not sure what his prize is,but mr tapper must be a pretty good judge.

What does it matter. They have there view. Depends whether you believe in only telling half a story or not. Besides,just because you are a great driver does not make everyone believe you are perfect or have not made mistakes.

the turnover is much greater than normal so I think that illustrates new punters are involved. I don't know if the occasional harness punter is put off by the poor dividends and doesn't reinvest on future more run of the mill harness meetings. I suspect many would fall into that category. I agree that those promoting the sport overlook how these premier meetings can give new punters an impression that the risk versus return factor of punting on harness is not worth it.

I agree with you on the jewels globe. Its a great promotion for harness racing and attracts punters and viewers who don't normally follow harness racing. Part of it may be because of all the pre race publicity it gets,but at the end of the day it works. The real shame is it is not on any free to air channel. I think we have to look at the big picture sometimes, and one off days like the jewels fall into that category.. I do agree with brodie that there is no doubt harness racing is struggling to retain its followers and relevance in todays times. So are many other sports and businesses. I also have a view that part of what holds the industry back is directly a result self inflicted wounds. The industry and those within it are such a contradiction. On one hand they display unity and extreme generosity which is very admirable. just look at how they banded together over the nyhan/davis situation. On the other hand they only think of whats in their own interests and have no interest in helping other possible participants become involved. For example have you ever tried to rent facilities to train a horse from in the south island.. It seems no one wants to know you. They would rather have empty paddocks and stalls,or empty racecourse facilities They aren't interested in income . Just try and find somewhere in the south island and you will see what I mean. I was talking to a bloke just a couple of weeks ago who had spent weeks looking for somewhere,but no one wants to know. That is why I believe some tracks deserve to close.They get what they deserve. They are treated like the private playground of those that run them. Personally I believe events like the jewels mask much of what happens in the real world.

Blair orange race after race just continues to drive with tremendous tactical nous. He always seems to try,and just never seems to fail to give his drives every chance. That last race just run he gave Baltimore jack its chance.He always does. In that race he just runs past others with 500m to go while others just allow him to box them in and then they don't get clear air until too late.He seems to have that x factor that only john dunn comes anywhere near.