the galah

A great competitive spectacle last night in that race. A 6 win horse with only 15 starts comes out and wins. That type of horse winning in years gone by would have been very unique. The time they went,and the way they ran the race,should have some effect on some of the less race fit horses.Wouldn't have been ideal.I know addington is an extremely fast track,but there were some tired horses and some reasonable gaps at the finish. There is a reason that race is normally such a tame affair.Those running in it want to have runs that help them get fitter,without over exerting.Still great to see everyone try so hard.

Your right,but i think brodie was meaning it only attracts new people for 1 day. Brodie taking a big picture approach was my interpretation. Nothing wrong with having The Race,but long term its benefits i think are minimal. I'm guessing it wont last too long as it won't be sustainable. Look at the jewels. That was a much better concept and didn't last long.

I'm not saying you don't have a point. As to your figures.I see the proposed budget for 2021/2022 didn't have much change from the previous year.The main changes were Governance ,which board fees are part of,but not the sole contibutory factor, that increased by 50%.. $453,000 is budgeted for what was referred to as animal care/welfare. This appears to have been a new aspect, and was listed as being for the likes of rehoming programmes and support, horse traceability, operational costs of horse ambulance,etc. also they are spending $453,000 on promotion which apparently goes to things like senz radio.That used to come out of tab funds. Personally i think the animal care/welfare costs indicate there was a lack of funding of that area previously. There should be money spent on what they are going to spend it on for that.Its better to be pro active than reactive when it comes to those type of issues. I do wonder about the CEO and the boards ability to provide a unified message and direction that creates positive thoughts amongst the grass roots level. I don't think they have achieved that,or even come close. Sometimes it seems that they just say things to placate certain factions within the industry. Thats not real leadership,thats just weakness..

Maybe Brodie its just there has been a gradual drop off in horse numbers in training all year round,and with meetings this time of year traditionally struggling for numbers anyway,thats where that trend will become more noticeable? Maybe the wet canterbury winter hasn't helped either.

Thinking outside the box is often the best way to find workable solutions and your suggestion is an interesting compromise. Personally i like it thehorseman. Punters are currently advised what horses have drivers with no whips,and they factor that in if they think it relevant.

I'm a punter. I have no issues with the whip rule. Apart from brodie,i don't hear other punters i know complaining about the actual rule. And even brodies main focus is on the penalties.If the rule was unworkable,then how come 99% of drivers comply with it. As i have said,i believe the issue is the excessive penalties. If that were the case then i would agree. However,there is no pattern of inconsistency,so i don't think there is an integrity issue around the RIU'S application. In fact i would say its one of the rules where the policing is the most consistent. Go back a few years and i would say the application of the then whip rules were far more inconsistent and actually as much based on who you were as what you did. Have you forgotten that? Maybe the easiest way of identifying why the rule penalties are excessive is just look at who the repeat offenders have been. Look at for example the penalties given to the likes of colin de fillipi or murray edmonds or ian cameron for example. Isn't it obvious that those people have found it harder to adjust because of the behavior imprinted in their brains from years of using it in a certain way. Hasn't it been obvious that just increasing the penalties each time has been unfair and achieved nothing. Whats been the point of having given these people the treatment they have received? It hasn't made too much sense to many.

I think therein you have actually identified part of the cause that has contributed to the anti RIU feeling for some,that you often talk about. In particular i think the whip issue has created a feeling of unfairness. Its not the rule that participants have an issue with,its the penalties which are given which seem too harsh in comparison with other rule indiscretions. Continually suspending a driver who has no intent to break the whip use rule,and who does so based on years of behavior imprinted in their brain,seems unfair. An element of justification for any penalty, is its to act as a deterrent for future indiscretions.Well when someone is already trying very hard not to do something,then the element of being a deterrent does not apply the same.I'm not talking about the likes of the kerryn manning drive when she won the nz cup,but am referring to the vast majority of indiscretions of this rule. The whip rule has nothing to do with integrity. So why are the penalties so severe? Another issue that i think creates a degree of feeling unfairness is what i believe to be excessive driving penalties given because of the system penalties should be based on the number of drives. It may be fair to the high profile/most active drivers but isn't to someone who gets a couple of drives each week. Why give them 10 times the length of penalty of someone who is getting 20 drives a week. The impact from suspending someone based on the number of drives is excessively greater than it should be on those not so high profile. Lets face it,reality is they are finding it hard to make a living out of the game,and then you go and put them on the sidelines for 3 months.Is that fair? But is it really the RIU who are out of touch with what i have just said. Is it not for the controlling body to give some sort of directive? Or is the controlling body and some its leadership currently happy to stoke the anti RIU feeling. It seems so from what i have read recently.

i've been giving my opinion of his current performance as relates to his driving. You have given age as a factor that may contribute to his current level of performance. Personally i don't think its a given that age has to be a factor in performance. Everyone is different ,possiblly you may be right in this case. However if age is a factor,then how come he can still drive such top races when he puts his mind to it? That is why i have suggested its a lack of desire. His performance in run of the mill races isn't as consistent as it is in races of higher quality. As to "non trying". I accepted that may be not have been the best words to describe it earlier. But the definition of the word try is "make an effort or attempt to do something". The fact that he made little effort or attempt to put his horses in a position where they had a chance was the context for my use of those words.

Craig cross. Whats he doing these days.Does he train any in his name? Was he just a fill in while belinda, then john mccarthy served time on the sideline?

I don't have a black book. I just compare form in each field. I take no notice of what trainers or expert analysts have to say. In fact i prefer it when they tip others in a race i bet on. For example trainer ray green on the lincoln farm website said of riverboy ben was "he will need a big form reversal to figure". I had it rated on top by a couple of lengths,and i believe it ran accordingly,just neaten by its own driver. Its all about comparing the form of who you are running against. Incidentally for My copy he indicated it a good chance who he expected to get handy. I read that after they had run to see what type of explanation they would be giving. As to toodaloolou. If he ends up a similar race to last time,he will be a whale watch horse and the Bookies will open him a hot favorite anyway. Tote prices are very heavily influenced by the FF price and if the whale tips them they pay half of what they real price should be.

Better than yours

No own goal. I "m pretty sure i know how to read a race,and evaluate how its driven. You can't seem to work out when we both say he knows what he's doing,it actually supports my opinion.As i have said think about that when you watch the video of toodaloolou at canbridge.Or perhaps the simply sam drive that he got suspended for recently. You say "when you get up and go around,well not a lot can do it.All horses look good chasing." You sound like you think punters are mugs.

Maybe he has been in recent years. Robalan has referred to that as well. Personally i would still give him an "A-" for talent,but an "f" for desire. You earlier refer to him driving over 3000 winners. I would argue your comment actually is proof what i am saying is accurate.You don't drive that many winners without knowing what you are doing.

I get what your saying about my wording. I think gammalite has read my mind(which isn't always easy) as far as interpreting what i meant to say.I should have really said "not trying'.. as hard as punters would expect from someone of his capabilities. I had said earlier that "i don't think hes not trying,just lacks the desire he once had".

So because someone has driven 3000 winners means they are beyond reproach or don't drive like they aren't trying? Got it. Like i said,just watch the races i refer to.

The videos tell the story. Just put them up and anyone can watch them and make up there own mind.

Well its a forum where we give our opinions, so mine is Mossdale Mac-i've backed it a handful of times but have come to the view its a horse that doesn't seem to give 100% in a finish and its level of performance in some better races isn't replicated when it runs in fields of not as well performed horses. Of note it was driven by blair orange just the once and won well. Enghein-Well that performance last night was a bit puzzling because it seemed to be travelling so well in front,but ran out of puff.Maybe they gave it an easy time in training since its previous run or maybe that 1st up run for so long took the edge off it or maybe its not 100% like you suggest. King of love-Another horse i have followed-A couple of times i have felt Ben hope may taken the wrong option a few runs ago,but recently he has been giving it every chance in what i thought were winnable race but not quite delivering. I actually thought it pretty much ran up to its most recent form last night and was just beaten by better horses on the night.Its a horse that should win if it drops back a grade or so,and with the confidence it would get from that may be competitive in its current grade again. Of note Ben hope drove the perfect race on all 3 last night. I do think some of the hope pacers become too familiar with the driver and seem to not always put in. However i think when he drives the trotters for some reason he becomes one of the best in nz and any perceived under performance by the trotters is more due to the horse.

Yes,i've invested on 3 of his drives in the last week.All to me had clearly the better formlines. All were non trying drives. Toodalouloo at cambridge-went back from wide draw,made no attempt to improve from last on slow pace,3 lengths last turning in,puts in a very quick finish,eventually running over several markers and the horse lucky not to have an accident near the finish as it ran out of room. Riverboy ben at auckland.Heavily restrained at start from handy draw and settles last. Made no attempt to improve on slow mid race speed-last by a length turning in,switches to rail where it finishes fast but another to run out of room and locked wheels at the 100m. My copy-gets off rail when horse in front of him goes rough at start,sits at back on average speed,makes no attempt whatsoever to improve until about the 400m by which point it had no chance,checked,goes to fence and runs up the straight untried and with earplugs not pulled. Another good form analyst has told me he prefers to avoid backing any Mckendry driven runners because he too thinks he just is there to follow them around half the time,and you can never be sure he is trying. Both of us think he can still drive ok and that its more he just doesn't worry where he finishes a lot of the time.

Another interesting observation of racing last night was the lack of moves by drivers. Of the 10 races,in only 2 were there moves from drivers to improve their position between the 1000m and 400m.. It highlights the importance of draws.If your horse doesn't go forward at the start,then unless there is excess tempo or excess pressure from the horse racing parked,then the reality is your not going to get a good result. A lot has to do with so many races being run over 1980. Thats why racing over 2600m is a better watch as those races generally have a drop off in tempo at some point and the good drivers take advantage of that. Thats why,unless you back the winner,a lot of punters are left with the feeling they didn't get a run for their money. I'm sure its part of the reason why its hard to attract new punters. If seasoned punters with an understanding of race patterns get frustrated, what must new punters think? As to Brodie and i talking about negative driving,i'm sure he is like me ,referring to horses with the capabilities of making a move to get a result,but driven by drivers who don't have a positive mindset. And there are some of those in most races.

I think W house has an alarm clock which he sets when he goes out for each drive.He sets it for a couple of minutes after each race is finished so he's awake for when he returns to the stables. To be fair. He is the most consistent driver to have driven for some time. You know what you are going to get when he drives,so punters shouldn't complain,but we still do of course. There are positives of course for the connections of his drives. They have an easy run and drop back in the ratings. I think that is the plan with the house horses a lot of the time. I've always been a fan of the House stable,and W house plays his part in their success if you look at the big picture.They pay the bills anyway,and when you look at the success the house stable has, it obviously works very well for them.

I see matt cross keeps going on about franco hoffman needing a draw at addington. It got me thinking about bob negus.I wonder if W house will drive a NZ cup winner?

Letters on keyboard didn't quite line up with the brain.Doesb't help when half of them seem to have worn off. "Missed by that much" as maxwell smart ,my favorite tv character used to say.

The drivers i like following up there who always give their horse a chance are the likes of todd mitchell,peter ferfyson,tony herlihy,james stormont,benjamin butcher and zev meridith.

I have been watching him drive recently,and i have formed the opinion he often goes out there to just follow them around.I could give several examples,but not much point. I don't think hes not trying,just lacks the desire he once had. I don't know how he will drive copy that,i'm guessing in advance he won't bother trying too hard.I keep saying racing at auckland is not very competitive. Just a shame they can't run more south island meetings instead..

So your working on the assumption that none of the "hapless bunch" ... have no racing knowledge,nor that backgrounds in uncovering rule breakers and with life long knowledge of passing fair judgment in other jurisdictions has any relevance to whether they can do a decent job. Instead your suggesting people with strong connections ,whether it be former workmates,extended family members or friends of those they are to investigate and pass judgment on,should instead have those jobs. Is that what you are saying? If not please clarify,because to me you don't make much sense. So wigg has made the point,and i accept it a fair one,that for justice to be done,and for it perceived to be done,it must have no potential conflict of interest and must be impartial. Well your suggesting instead another group with the very same problem take over. You,and others are just looking for scapegoats. It doesn't surprise me you saying de lore speaks for 99% of the harness industry at the moment,i don't believe it ,but one of the most obvious observations anyone can make about the harness racing industry is its an echo chamber. People say what they know others want to hear,or the say nothing.Thats why whenever anyone gets charged they take it badly,and it often effects their mental health.Haven't you noticed the pattern,its so out there no one can not have seen it. Have you ever actually analysed why that happens. I'm guessing not. And what about the punter. You do realise that your industry is based on wagering. What punters think matters. It is the difference between losing their support or retaining their participation.