the galah

Your at it again chief. Making out i said something when i haven't.Where have i said that an unresloved issue related to harness racing. And can't you make your mind up. When you say 'asides from being no ones business whatever those issues were,they were unrelated to harness racing".If you believe it was just to take a break,why post that.Maybe you should criticise yourself,that way you have both sides covered.

I agree with brodie. Cullen taking over was always a situation that many believe there was more to than just taking a break. So many contradictions and there still is much left unexplained. The resumption of the original training partnership has played out pretty much as predicted now they have obviously resolved all the reasons for the original decision. Cullen seems happy to have been the public face when they wanted,and now seems happy to have played his role and return to his previous position.No doubt they will look after him for being so loyal. But i'm with brodie.

I had been there a couple of times about 1980,lines of 15-20 people at all the betting windows 10 minutes before race start,many being shut out of getting a bet on. Huge crowds in stands located up the straight before the winning post. I went there 20 years ago.Three people in the remaining stand before the finish.I then went and stood near the winning post and that was a poor viewing spot as seemed to be lower than track. Thats my memory. Then went and watched the next few in grandstand near finish,but noted very few of those in attendance had any interest in watching the races when they were running,either socialising or eating depending where they were. What i did note was the next day called in again to see why there were well over a thousand cars parked there.I was greeted by a man at the entrance who advised it cost $5 for parking as there was some big event on nearby. At the time i thought this clubs onto it and you had to think harness racing would survive at alexandra park because of its many income streams. So my point is they have been trying and failing for decades to attract people on course for the racing,so no matter what the gimmicks,nothing much will change. And now due to awful business decisions their income streams have been reduced and they are also selling many of their remaining assets which of course further reduces income. My suggestion is they face reality,cash up and relocate while they still are so asset rich.They are responsible for the survival of harness racing in the north island,they can't undo whats happened,but they can try and turn the negatives into a new positive if planned properly.Part of that planning should be to locate into an area which will attract the public,the focus of this topic.

A bit like Israel's flag. Sure to be in the money.

Well you know it is i that has said brendon barnes is not a favorite of mine,I still have that view,but thats just my opinion.Each to their own.Of course i have referred mainly to his father and brother. While there have been many race videos that have seen me form my opinions, I have previously specifically given 4 race videos that i suggest should be watched. If you haven't watched them,then you won't understand why i said what i have. I was reading a couple of articles about the brothers recently. One said their grandfather played tennis for australia. Another that seems to be 12 months ago says they were going to give up harness racing and work in the mines for a while.While that may not have eventuated it quoted hayden barnes as saying they had nearly left harness racing a few times,and that the industry brings with it a lot of pressure and it was easy to get run down from the constant grind. Drivers over there do seem to have a full on lifestyle with racing 6 days a week, so you can see why some may feel in need of a break

Neither i nor j teaz have ever said Cameron was trying to lose . My only comment on his intent was that i assume he was trying.Chief might have suggested i said that,but he often says i have said things i never have. What relevance does this weeks drive have.For example if he carless drives and causes inteference one week but not the next does that mean he shouldn't be penalised. Theres no logic to that approach.

i would say Krug and saginaw are not similar.. Orange tried for 200m to steer krug outwards,but the horse refused to come out.It hung badly. If your suggesting drivers get the benefit of the doubt and be judged on intent then that wouldn't work would it.

Thats one thing i liked about J teaz as a commentator.He was never afraid to give his opinion as he saw it. No doubt some didn't like that,but whats wrong with honesty.Why has it gone out of fashion.He's a very good commentator as well. You watch trackside now days and so may times you hear presenters say this horse,or that horse was unlucky,even when its nothing to do with luck,but due to the driver making an obvious tactical error.No one wants to get on the wrong side of anyone by expressing an honest held opinion. What does that tell you?

Well gammalite that is what i said,although later speculated on this thread 3 days was more in line with similar penalties. To say i was looking for a rolling head is an inaccurate interpretation of what i have said. Do you think others who have made similar comments about the drive were looking for a rolling head? Why does anyone post anything on here if people think its because your looking to attack a person. I was once the subject of comment on some social media on a particular drive i had done. Not action from officialdom, but just people expressing a point of view.Did the comment bother me. Absolutely not.I viewed the drive as a positive drive.Others thought it too aggressive tactically.Did i get upset or take what others said personally. Absolutely not.But thats me. I understand every one is different and handle things differently. i do think the responses on this topic comment illustrate that topics are becoming more a battle of the personalities making the comment ,than the topic itself. Who can be bothered with that.

Thats part of my post you edited to the first 8 words. We can both play that game,but that just says maybe we should do some gardening or go for a walk,as perhaps we sometimes have too much time on our hands.

Pardon? Or should i (like you just have), pick out part of what you post to fit the narrative i want to potray?

Same old same old. I asked the question whether someone who is happy to put mind/performance enhancing drugs like ecstasy into their bodies, going to be against using drugs on horses. No one has ever argued the point i raised,just people like you say my point is all about the personalities. What a load of rubbish you write. And i never said 3 months did i. i said 2 months. You are a master of exaggeration.

Well in some races yesterday they had 4 drivers with the same colours. Theres 7 leading drivers in the south island wearing the same colours and whats to say they all won't drive in the same race.

So you accept you make it about personalities. Is that not an admission that your argument is not strong?And you go beyond that and also make it about the personalities making the comments. There may be grey areas as far as the enforcement of some rules go,but that excuse should only be argued in cases of inconsistent application of the rules.This case does not involve that. You seem to have missed the point of the topic.Cameron is the current focus because of how he drove,not because of who he is.

Well done for supporting prostate cancer,but to have so many drivers in the same race in the same colours is dumb and confusing. Some even have the same colour hats.I don't need a commentator to recognise the colours,drivers and horses,but i am finding i have to constantly stop,pause,rewind and replay the videos of races i am reviewing. When the races are run in real time,and you take multiple combinations and therefore don't always focus on a particular horse, it becomes a real headache. Also at the start of say a 16 horse stand you can't be sure which one your watching until they settle into their positions. Imagine if your a casual racegoer ,you would be even more confused.

"If i get my way". Whatever. You do talk a load of rubbish a lot. What i have to do with making,breaking or enforcing the rules is unknown to me. This is a typical chief stipe reply. When you have no merit in what you say,you make it about personalities.You do it a lot.

Who knows what you are getting at.Hes a trainer/driver i have had a bit of success investing on. Always have had confidence in his driving ability. That doesn't mean i'm like you and can't recognise when he gets it wrong. Islas joy at motukarara paying about $50 a couple of years ago is one that springs to mind.

You've got the theories thing going today. I just thought he had confidence in the horse and drove it the way he felt it was travelling. You don't actually see many making the move he did from the position he was in,but it was the winning of the race. I never invested on it,but hopefully those who have recently stuck with the ship knowing that his winning drive was more in keeping with camerons driving ability.

Cameron back in form with a top tactical drive to win the last. Can't keep a good man down.

I personally thought it could win,but really punters were ignoring its previous record.It had broken or gone very rough,or had a bad check in 2/3 of its previous 7 or 8 starts.O.k that may have been last season,but only the one handy run since this season.. Hindsight yes,but tonights run hardly surprising. It can only get better and has the abilty to improve,and no doubt will.

Yes,but that horse used to have a bad habit of breaking in the running last season.Then it got a bad knock on cup day,so it still lacks confidence like i suggested last week.

Yes,seemed to want to make sure orange got a run. Maybe appreciated him giving the lead to him early,and paid back the favor. On that driver,Kiwi x factor is one to follow. Maybe a junior driver race,or maybe with a change of driver next time could help.

There was plenty of media coverage. I'm not going to go on about it as i think she is operating as an honest,play by the rules trainer. Thats how i perceive her.I think she has learnt from her mistakes. Giving opinions is what we do on here. Thats mine

You don't let up do you back at you. I was referring to her trying to import ittp from the ukraine that never arrived. That turned out to be a waste of over $1000 for her. And the tb500 given to her by one of her owners. She claimed it was not going to be used on raceday,but in training.Only people like you would believe that. Her lawyer exposed the failings of hrnz rules which meant it was not illegal to possess such substances. As i said earlier,that was then,and i'm guessing not how she thinks now. Your the one who can't see the wood for the trees,because you never have your eyes open.

I don't know. Personally i think chilcott has a nice team and her horses always race consistently. She had 3 favored runners in last night,all seemed to be paying a little less than they should have,but they all went ok. Shes had 15 wins so far in the last 12 months,so thats pretty good. She had that case in 2013,but now days her horses run like she doesn't break any rules.And it looks like she enjoys the success she has.