Taku Umanga

Agreed - relegation would've been seen as the fairer decision.

Betcha if it was an amateur, junior or a "nobody", then this horse or it's driver would've been put out ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A3-EqJR_h8&feature=emb_logo

Only managed to get 7 races off the ground for Friday .....

Agreed - can't stand it and certainly won't attend (or even watch) meetings where every race is over a mile.

Jamie has trained and driven horses for me in the past. Not one was ever returned to the stabling area showing signs of excessive whip use, yet I've had horses blistered by the whip work of other drivers - drivers that have never been engaged by me since.

CRUZ BROMAC - raced three wide early and middle stages before crossing to race outside the leader passing the 800 metres. Driver M Purdon was questioned regarding his decision to surrender the parked position near the 600 metres to the improving ULTIMATE SNIPER. After hearing initial evidence from Mr Purdon and viewing the replays the investigation was adjourned to enable Stewards to give the matter further consideration. Who hands up the parked position at the 600 metre stage when everything is sprinting for home? Missed the win by a head ..... the excuse will be interesting.

Alexandra Park - race 2 - terrible look

Plenty of things that were around a hundred years ago have now gone - I tend to agree with Rusty, if harness racing is to remain attractive to the punter maybe it's time to catch up with the rest of the world (largely) and use mobile starts only?

I've bought four horses off Horse Trader and they won 13 races between them. Just bought my first one off Gavel House and the trainer reports she is coming along nicely (fingers crossed) - both sites and processes are very user friendly!

Still is

Yawnfest!

I think these hearings (hopefully) are just to confirm the disqualification of the horses so that stakes payments can be made - the charges against the trainers will follow (surely)?

Similar thing happened in harness racing a while back - trainers nominating multiple horses to make sure a Junior Driver race (penalty free for the winner) got off the ground ..... when it was known that at least one of the horses nominated wasn't even in work or had only just come back into work (memory fading with age). Horse(s) were scratched once fields were declared.

What's the handicapping system got to do with it - he's an "open class" trotter - how could he be handicapped any other way?

The RIU exist to enforce the rules of the codes. I've been told previously (by the RIU) that HRNZ rules only apply to Races and Race Meetings per the extract below: 102 (1) These Rules shall apply to all Races and Race Meetings ..... Surely therefore, according to their own advice, RIU don't have any jurisdiction over Facebook comments anyway?

I think a well known trainer/driver said in an interview once that the happiest connections are those whose horse runs second in a maiden trot - most likely true. I'm no punter, but simply wouldn't bet on maiden only trot races for that very reason.

No doubt they'll fix this up, but not sure if it was Frank that got fined or the actual driver of Banner of Art ...... ace 1 FAULTY TOWERS AT THE RACES-OCTOBER 3RD MOBILE PACE Show Video ROMANITE - no claims lodged. VANHALEM - over-raced in the score up and shortly after the start when being restrained. HIGHVIEW JUSTICE - over-raced in the score up and shortly after the start when being restrained. BANNER OF ART - held up rounding the final turn. Amateur Driver F Phelan admitted a breach under Rule 869(2) and Clause (b) of the 'Use of Whip Regulations' in that he used his whip on more occasions than permitted over the final 400m. The JCA imposed a fine of $200.00

He clearly had not had enough trials experience before being granted a licence - perhaps the senior horsemen and stipe that signed him off should be "downgraded" also?

.... and the owners who pay the drivers to "drive" them - not steer them around!

He came back after only a couple of months in Oz - is training from Luk Chin's property in Tamahere I think.

I think it is - he "speaks" the same way on Facebook.

Absolutely!

They have their own handicapping system within the Monte's so yes - pretty much penalty free

Have heard he's resigned - travel was the killer!