the galah

No doubt those in charge have seen that ,and are working on a 5th and 6th shot.

given the endless adds we continue to see and hear,it makes you wonder how much they have received from the government. The media pretty much were in boots and all on the government message,without any encouragement anyway. Even the nz media is heading down the woke path,and pushing the message that the current generation somehow have more righteous values and beliefs than any previous generation.Its all about indoctrination through the education system.They have been very effective in achieving that,and it will only get worse as more like minded woke types get embedded in the system. Today theres a news article on the internet relating to two recently advised dog positives to meth in aotearoa greyhound racing. There is a link which talks about another story involving aotearoa greyhound racing. I just checked and its still called nz greyhound racing. I suppose its just the person writing the article,but the push to use the maori name for everything continues to accelerate. Last week i read the headline in a local newspaper. Seems the main story for that district that day was the announcement that the provincial rugby team would wear jerseys with the "pride logo" on. Seems there has been a big push by nz rugby to promote the message of inclusion.So its not just the labour government,its institutions like nz rugby which have already gone woke. Thats nz today,give it another 5 years and we will see an explosion in people identifying as gender fluent. I was talking to someone this week who goes to a local mental health group each week and they told me 2 new people attended who had recently come out as being transgender. Just look at soap operas nowdays,

and brodie is right when he says influenza is more of an issue. to quote our dr bloomfield today....."'interestingly,currently of those people who are admitted at the moment to hospital with what we call SARI,severe acute respiratory infection,only20% have got covid. Well over half have got influenza,and its the influenza type that is rampant out in the community" In reality its just what they have been saying in the uk for months. So, instead of our government admitting the flu is currently more of a concern than covid,this government strategy is to hype up the risks of influenza. So they are encouraging everyone to go out and get their flu shot,and while they are there they can book in the 4th covid jab,which has just been made available.

Covid has warranted at times extreme government action,but the extreme approach hasn't been watered down as the threat became less of an issue. The failure to recognise that and the manner in which they have encouraged a lack of respect for one another ,no matter what ones opinion,and the continued emphasis on promoting fear,well its something that is just so very sad. Another thing that has surprised me is how many people have had closed minds. Its as if once they have made up their minds,thats the way it is,irrespective of whether the data has changed. I personally haven't taken the vaccine,and from what i've seen,i believe i have made the right decision. But i also recognise that those that have taken the vaccine have done so in good faith and with the belief they are doing the right thing. So good on them for doing so as well. Just as i thought we should respect an individuals choice to not take the vaccine,we should also respect an individuals choice to wear facemasks whenever and where ever they think appropriate.People obviously wear them because they believe it is an extra layer of protection,so everyone must respect that choice.Thats the massage i believe we should have been getting from our government throughout the last couple of years.

At least you got to go in the store. There was a time,not that long ago,when only vaccinated people would be served in many places,and those who chose to not take the vaccine based on their own personalised health issues,were treated just like you experienced. Then you have all the people who lost their jobs based on their vaccine status,that every day live with those consequences. The message we are still getting with the endless adds on all media is one of fear and discrimination.So in some ways,its to be expected. Whats the difference in what you experienced?Both are wrong,but thats the world we live in.

I have just read the news from a district where some family live. And after reading the main stories,it just confirmed why we think the government is run by imbeciles. It seems their firefighters no longer have the staff to keep things running,with some contiunually working 80 hour weeks. As to be expected,they are getting well and truely tired of doing that. Then the other headline is the hospital ward of what is one of the biggest rest homes in the district has been closed for 6 months because of the very same reason. No longer enough staff,and those that they had are totally burnt out. So that means most likely 29 residents will have to be moved out of the area away from family,,as there was already a shortage of beds. It seems they will take 6 months to recruit new staff,in other words get them from india or the phillipines. Now the government imposed the vaccine mandate rule that has seen large numbers leave those work forces,and the carnage they have created effecting so many as a result,all to make people take a vaccine that never stops anyone from getting it anyway.

Paul gallagher used to train and sometimes drive hi foyle,not that i ever saw that myself. I was speaking to paul one day and he told me a story that i may have told previously, not sure,but its worth repeating and its a true story. He told me about the day a horse he trained managed to be first past the post at hawera, while still wearing its blue cover. I have seen the photo. It finished a neck in front, apparently coming with a fast finish through the centre. Now your probably thinking how did that happen? Well paul told me he had a small team competing at the hawera meeting and after one of them had raced he put it in a paddock near the bend out of the straight,where other horses were also in paddocks. Then he went and saw some friends and together they watched the next race.Well as they went down the back straight the last time a friend yelled out,look theres a horse following the field. Well paul said he looked ,and to his dismay,he saw the horse had a blue cover on. He immediately knew it was his as he had recently bought his horse a cover,and unlike everyone elses who had green covers,it was blue.He realised it must have jumped the fence where he had put it. So the horse came through the field and crossed the line a neck in front of the rest. As i said,i have seen the photo,which was published in the newspaper.. Another story was one told to me by my uncle.He had worked for pauls father who was a top trainer going back a few decades. Anyway,they often started horses twice in a day back then. The horse in question,broke and took no part in its first run on the day,so p gallagher senior didn't bother following the field round given he was so far back,and just waited at the top of the straight, then when the field went past on its final lap just followed them to the finish. Well the owner came round after the race and told everyone what a wonderful race his horse had run as it had made up so much ground after being miles behind them after the start.Apparently no one said anything to the owner,and just thought it very funny. Well low and behold,the horse came out and won at its second run on the day,paying a decent dividend,and the owner came round after and gave out slings as he had punted it and couldn't see it beaten after its earlier run.

brodie,i know its off subject,but just wondering if you have had covid yet?I assume you are still unvaccinated. It seems virtually everyone i know who took the vaccine has had it. I met someone at the weekend who was unvaccinated who told me his whole family was unvaccinated and none had covid yet. A bit like us.

So you didn't get that i was talking about 2 different events?Obviously not. We are going in a bit of a circle again around this topic. Those who see things as you do sort of wear down those expressing opposing views to the point you create an environment where the only ones happy to engage in discussion are those who agree with you. So it then all becomes an echo chamber,which then leads your supporters to think they are right and in the majority, which leads to them telling those they support that they are always in the right and are being persecuted. Then that in reality leads to extreme pressure being placed on those who have to deal with authorities as they deal with a sense of injustice,real or not,and understandably that leads to some struggling to cope with that pressure. All the while you make out you've got their backs,but its them under the pump. When real injustice is there,and it is sometimes,because you've helped create the them and us environment ,does it limit the chances either side will compromise or back down a little even if they recognise things aren't what they say or what they thought they were? The question i think you should give some thought is,no matter how well intentioned you are,have you helped or hindered those who you support? And do you sometimes deny things even if you think they are true? Also ask yourself,which of us frustrates the other more when we get into topics like this? Who knows.I think both of us are pretty thick skinned anyway.

Who knows. i also know of one small time trainer who was questioned as to what,if anything he knew,months after his horse had won. He knew nothing and was surprised he was part of an investigation.I just had a look at the video,and the 2nd horse should have won had its driver been serious about asking it for an effort in the straight. That was 20 years ago. Like i have said,that was then and prior,now's different. But the point is you need proper and adequate enforcement to discourage even the thought of such activity. Where i think there is disagreement ,depending on what side of the argument you support,is what the definition of proper and adequate enforcement is,and who is the appropriate body to take such action.

Well you must be able to guess that one if you've been around harness racing. I'm not going to give a name.The previous race he drove another hot favorite,which took no part. Just before i went to give him the colours the owner of that horse went into the stall with the horse,its trainer and the driver and asked what happened. All he got was laughter while he repeared his question a couple of times. He walked back out,shaking his at and said to me its a waste of time if you want to get any sense out of them.It was at a time it was well known that drivers wives had a syndicate that struck some pick 6"s. Thats why i continue to say harness racing today is more honest than its ever been.And part of the reason is enforcement.

We often listened to 3zb as the canterbury races were broadcast through there. Racing had a high profile,and the only time they delayed a broadcast was if the news was on or an important part of a shield game.One of the announcers at our local radio station used to give precedence to a race call over the news sometimes. The late 70's and 80's were a great era to be young and a lot of the focus if you were young was on sport,and harness racing in the south island was a big part of that. Talking about saturday radio covering sport,i remember driving to addington one saturday afternoon listening to ken anderson on 3zb give his normal outstanding,colourful coverage of a ranfurly shield game. I remember him saying how dark it had become on a wet afternoon,then a couple of seconds later the canterbury 1st five put up a high ball,and anderson described how as the opposing fullback waited to catch the ball, he had one eye on something coming towards him",its victor simpson,the outstanding Maori centre,with only the whites of his eyes visible,and oh he's dropped it,and who wouldn't drop the ball if they saw that coming at them." He had a way with words.Everyone loved it ,but now days he wouldn't be able to say stuff like that. But back to harness racing,for it to attract new customers,it needs to firstly somehow have those new customers experience what it has to offer. Personally i've always believed that the focus on attracting younger customers has been a strategy doomed to failure.History also shows that. We aren't australia. I've always believed any business should analyse who their current customers are,and then use that information to expand the numbers, by using their resources to target like minded,like circumstanced people.Thats what makes sense to me. Whats the point in focusing on trying to attract people under 35 who don't have the financial means to support an interest in racing.The best way to get initial exposure to that group,and their children is to encourage their parents or grandparents who you have attracted,to make racing a family event. Thats part of the reason why grass track racing has such an important place.They are places for extended families to attend. If resources are somehow to be used to focus on young people, harness racing needs to works its way into receiving exposure in the education system. Not just one off visits. For example say approach schools,organise with each of them visits to individually chosen stables,and vice versa and make it say a 2 monthly thing,and as a sweetener for participation in the programme from the school,it is receive from sponsors,or a horse's owner or a driver part of a selected horse/drivers purse which would go to a fund raiser to support some type of worthy school project. Access be given to pupils to any websites,and emails obtained from pupils so regular updates can be sent to them on the horse or driver who is representing the schools progress. Stuff like that.

Your story has quite a few similarities to mine. Both my parents enjoyed going to the races,and so it seemed did nearly all my uncles and some of my aunties,and grandparents. I got started with betting when i was at primary school,and myself and my brother would use our pocket money from jobs like mowing lawns to take the 50 doubles. My father would have one of his employees put his and our bets on when he was out doing his rounds. Back then the local radio stations would do coverage of all the local meetings races,and the doubles from other meetings..Our local radio station at one stage had an announcer who on saturdays would broadcast all the south island races,so we were lucky with that.Up until my late teenage years sport always took priority, but if the timing was right it was off to the races with the family afterwards,and regular trips to christchurch for a weekend with the relations which invariably included the night trots. Once i started work i had a boss who would let me finish early if a local meeting was on.Back then i ran a betting syndicate with all the employees putting in $5 and everyone taking there turn betting,and the payout coming in handy for christmas. I too used to be supplied the video tapes of nz racing by the man who ran the local tab. Thats when you rung the local tab with your bets on the phone betting. He was super fast with putting them on at the last minute. Silly thing was he a top bloke who knew the right thing to say whoever his customers were in his local tab. Then the TAB changed premises,and he had to reapply and they gave the job to someone who while nice,had no experience with punters and just wasn't the same character the fella they no longer wanted. Seemed crazy,but thats when i realised the TAB really didn't understand how punters tick. Most of the time mu focus has been on the punting.Back in the day i used to back on all 3 codes,but now days i just focus on the harness racing. I have always bet on every race,mostly on the tote,but due to pools not being as big i have been doing part tote and part fixed odds. Unfortunately the tab now just slash anything i back and the tote price drops because people back the ff movers. Just in the last few months its lead me to reduce my betting significantly. Personally i know someone(not me) who was spending about 2.5 mil a year just through the tote,but the tab with their algorithms have seen his spend drop in recent months to about 1/10th of what it was prior. I tell him why do you bother. I say that because thats what i often think myself. I agree with those who say the TAB only encourage losing punters,and discourage winning punters. It doesn't take a genius to work out that this strategy will ultimately lead to less punter participation. If someone thinking about having a bet only know punters who lose,why would anyone bother. The thing i like best about the sport is watching the horses and drivers. I don't have the level of anticipation or excitement that i used to ,but i think thats just an age thing.Besides you don't have to bet to find harness racing entertaining. When trackside took away the free to air racing it meant a lot of people who watched it ,including those who were introduced to it for the first time,would not be exposed to what it has to offer. I was talking to a bloke the other day who had a couple of run ins with authorities and no longer trains.Seems a shame to not use his talent.I asked him if he missed it. He said yes he missed the horses,but not other aspects of it. At the end of the day it is the horses that is unique to this sport,and it is them which is the greatest selling point.Maybe the current and future generations no longer can relate ,or won't get the right type of exposure to the horse and the sport of harness racing,but i will keep enjoying it as it will always appeal to me.

I agree with you and hunter in that i think Teaz is the commentator that should do the northern trots.We are well served with top commentators in nz of harness racing,but mr Whites calls at the trots just lack a bit of something which is hard to put a finger on.They just seem to lack a bit of oomph.Yet somehow like you say,White seems good at the gallops and tops at the greyhounds. Its just the way it seems to me.

Actually Walt that was meant to read the only "extra." thing..Your reviews of racing whether they be the non win at hawera or the addington ones interest me.

I wasn't having a crack at your personality. I was aware what i posted could be interpreted that way,but left it as it was. The negative thinking as related to aspects of life comment, related to how i view a lot of mikeynz comments.Maybe i should have been more specific.He might wonder why i said that,but then again maybe he already knows how he comes across sometimes. I'm not saying he should change,just thats what i think. Your review of racing on 2 june was a topic that i found interesting because it was an interpretation from a like minded person.The only thing i would have like to have read was your view on the couple of races that you said hadn't taken your interest.Racing at the lower grade meetings can often be more competitive than the higher grade races with small fields in my opinion,which is why all meetings have the same potential to me.

You have a down to earth way that seems to be able to interact with anyone,and from any walk of life.Whats clear as well is you have a love of the animal and that is something which you are able to get those you interview to express as well.I think that is what makes this racing channel such an interesting watch. Jo stevens(if thats how you spell it) is also very good.I like both presenters,they are natural and interact well.While Jason teaz's commentating talents aren't utilised as much as they deserve,it has meant we have been lucky enough to see him end up on this channel. Harness racing isn't just all about getting the last $ out of the punter which is why to me this channel is a real bonus We watched it from start to finish this week.I just hope people become more aware of what it offers.

Tomorrow is a far more attractive betting meeting in my opinion than last nights auckland fileds. Its all very well to reminisce about days gone by,but people must realise at this time of year there are less numbers in work and obviously no grass tracks. Besides,aren't tomorrows fields just the same class of horses that make the bulk of grass track racing that everyone likes? How can they be good one week and crappy the next? I think some posters comments just mirror how they see many things,not just racing. As regards harness racing,it seems now days that the negative is always being accentuated and the positives are being pushed to one side. I think its gotten worse in the last couple of years by having a government that pushed agendas that undermined so many thoughts and values that previous generations still believe in,and has weaponised fear,and that has effected the way people think. But thats a whole different subject. On a positive,mikeynz has been referring to the new harness channel and asking for comment. well i think its very good and reflects well many of the things that makes harness racing fun. One of the most positive things you get to see is the pleasure and satisfaction those lucky enough to have success experience.It captures the moment. It also has given us a connection with the horse. Wall to wall racing on trackside does none of that.

you've come to your conclusions based no doubt on your own observations and experiences.I don't doubt you have grounds for having the strong held views that you express. But as to the jealous argument you put forward as being the basis for an opposing view, as you have done here,i believe its not always an accurate explanation. My own personal experience from about 25 years ago of having a horse i trained,who was a red hot favorite, pulled by a high profile,stoned driver was an experience i won't forget. At the time it was a waste of time referring the matter to officialdom as i didn't have a good opinion of them, besides thats not how i would do things anyway. But the point is being a highly skilled/successful trainer or driver doesn't automatically mean you possess total honesty.That comment doesn't relate to anyone current.

And i agree with that. That must be one of the lessons learnt. If the RIU think a drive is dodgy,they must be seen to have the confidence to be investigating it themselves,whatever the outcome.Appropriate action from them must be a factor in acting as a major deterrent. Go back a few years and the previous approach of the RIU was that of not wishing to rock the boat because of the fear of criticism from within the industry,and simply because it was easier. But importantly there also needs to be a recognition from factions within the industry that if your going to show no respect to those who's job it is to police the rules,then that attitude will have destructive results for themselves and the whole industry. And of course respect must work both ways. If the riu or its investigators are investigating someone or something they need to recognise that many harness racing industry participants have attitudes that have been engrained in their mindset from decades of behaviors of previous generations.Things that at one time was deemed ok and the norm,which are no longer viewed that way. Its complicated,and the RIU investigators need to wrap their heads around that is what they are dealing with, and need to factor that in when they deal with anyone.Somehow do there job but be more aware of how they are effecting peoples lives.In no way should they ever back down from policing integrity,but do it with respect and compassion.

I believe you make some reasonable points there with both those posts chief.

This inca thing has generated the "remaining charges dropped" topic on social media over and over again.For some that is taken literally and immediately is interpreted to mean everything has been dropped.Yet there always seems to be another day to come when the same headline for a topic is dragged out again.Each time it is,its a contradiction of the previous topic.It must come to an end one day,hopefully soon,but in reality it doesn't appear to have yet.. Also every time charges do not proceed, we are told on social media that there was never any evidence of wrong doing, and the norm is we see the ones claiming vindication, are those who said it was all a manipulation of evidence designed to bring down certain targeted individuals. On top of that each time operation inca creates discussion, we are also told that the allegations had involved widespread collusion to fix races,this despite in reality the allegations apparently only involving a very small number of people,and only a limited number of races. The "widespread" claim seemed in an effort to generate more sympathy for those charged,by making that the perception. Ironically all while those charged never claimed anything of the sort. Also,rightly or wrongly,those who support those charged, view of minimal consequence the use of recreational drugs,and believe whether anyone should care or not should be based on who used and who supplied them, and what standing the person had within the industry,either way.The approach being that because said activity is commonplace in society,harness racing is only reflecting that and besides the drug use came to light as an incidental of the investigation,which somehow is a reason to minimise it. And no one seems to have answered yet whether the evidence gathered by the police can be made available to the RIB to use in their prosections.Is that matter still with the high court for a ruling? Isn't it fair to ask,why would you spend a small fortune trying to stop evidence gathered by another investigative authority,unless you thought it was in your best interests to prevent such evidence being available. This topic refers to cran dalgety as no longer having any charges. Thats the first time personally i had heard his name mentioned in relation to operation inca. All the above are perplexing and a little confusing. I still go back to the point i made when this all started. Matt andersons drive on johnny white at nelson and the evidence gathered at the time which was in the relatively early stages of the investigation, in hindsight seems to have been a factor in giving impetus to the investigation. I still believe anyone with any sense must recognise how that contributed to the investigation of others. Why didn't he just try??Was it all worth it?It would have made life so much less complicated....

So someone having an opinion different from yours makes someone an "Abuser". If that is the case then you must owe me an apology.At no stage did i ever abuse you,nor will i do so now. My earlier comment on this thread that people have firm views on the enforcement of rules relating to the possible use of performance enhancers and subsequent penalties is just as applicable to the inca cases you refer to.Thats not a bad thing in some ways as that helps create the balance of where the most just action taken finally sits. Of course whatever enforcement is done,and whatever penalties are set,they will be either too little or too much depending on what side of the argument you have. What is destructive is the them and us attitude. My impression from reading the many comments made over recent years has been many have taken the approach that "if your not defending us then your against us". As a result there has not been the level of self reflection that should have resulted from these cases. I've also had the view that sometimes there has been cases of unnecessary targeting by those who enforce the rules,and which is why i believe there should be some type of industry groups from both sides which can have concerns brought to them and take them to a 3rd party with no bias and whom could foster a more respectful attitude from both sides. Some who read my comments and my previous comments on related topics seem to interpret my words as meaning something else or that i somehow think i know better or that i am anti certain groups or have tall poppy syndrome. I find that irritating, which is what those with opposing views seem to want to achieve,and which is why you don't get as many engaging in discussion as perhaps may want to.But personally i think what i say should just be taken on face value.

Your words are.. at last some traction, closed shop, same old. Funny thing is.... at last some traction,closed shop,same old... thats what many with opposing views to yours think when they read about another trainer caught knowingly breaking a rule which is there to help prevent anyone gaining an unfair advantage. Its been referred to that miss wigg didn't think her actions especially serious. That was probably the most interesting thing of note in the judgment in some ways. Did she ever really think that?Who knows. I found it surprising that on the HRNZ website there is a lead story about her commencing training and driving again,pending the outcome of her high court case. How does giving more coverage to the case help Wigg.It may give her some type of publicity,but inevitably draws more attention to what she did. Reality is those who agree with you long owner will, if they are still around, have the same opinion in 20 years time,and those that don't won't have changed theirs.

personally i thought its run last friday was a massive improvement on its recent runs. Hadn't looked like being competitive in that grade prior in my opinion,but had it been driven with a bit more confidence it could well have won.It finished the race off strongly without being asked for an effort due to no clear run.I don't blame the driver for the cautious drive as she was just driving it the way it looked like it needed to be driven on its prior runs.