Rusty

I have to agree with you Happy. They are not wearing masks pre-race. And not wearing them post-race. So unless they are putting them on to retrieve their dogs, then taking the masks off again to lead them back post-race, surely some questions have to be asked?

Tsk-tsk... Do they think (viewers) are thick... or just plain stupid? Ban greyhound racing. Get rid of them. We don't need them.

From a racing perspective there was not much wrong with the old website. In comparison to what we currently have, it was miles better. The only thing that needed to be added to the previous website, was the option of "cashing out" live bets, but even now with that option added, the odds offered on any "cash out" are so skinny they are not really a viable option (unless track conditions changed etc) anyway.

Flicked on the telly this afternoon and saw a bit of the dogs running around at Manukau. Although I totally despise greyhound racing and think it should be banned, I observed something is different. So I thought I would turn to the good, intelligent folk within this forum (the trots, not the dogs), to maybe answer a small question on those God awful dishlickers that have returned to racing recently. The dogs go past the finish, but the camera stops at the finish line, and doesn't follow the dogs pull up post race, all trying to get their snouts into the fluffy lure. Viewers at home can't see their respective handlers retrieve their mutt from the lure post race. This is new... So what would be a fair guess as to why this is happening? The dogs get shoved into their starting box pre-race by their handler, and it looks like two runners at a time. You know, because this keeps the distance between each handler, and is a good look with the current social distancing requirements. So what is happening post race? Probably the handler whistles out to their puppy and it responds immediately and returns to its handler. One by one, all keeping their distance from eachother. I hope the greyhound outfit is not potentially letting the racing industry down, post race... I have every confidence in them and surely there is nothing to see here... so much nothing to see, that the camera operator oncourse agrees, there is nothing to see post race. At least not the dogs being retrieved from the lure anyway. I'm missing the Sunday harness meetings that is for sure. Can fully trust the horse people to do the right thing. No tricky camera angles required.

This is great stuff! I actually can't wait to lose my money again!!

Good on them, and well done, great news.

Sorry to hear that mate, not good. Hope you get the care and treatment ASAP.

Haha thanks mate, but to be fair, I do dig B Orange, so I'm probably a smidgen biased in my point of view.

Don't tell me... B Orange sporting a handsome manly moustache these days?!?!

Agree. Very silly, very stupid thing to do. I am not angry with B Orange. Just disappointed... But as a fan of the man with the softest hands in the business, I forgive him and can only hope and pray that such an unfortunate event does not occur ever again.

Anybody know how to set up a "Give A Little" page? Asking for a friend. He has received an unfortunate, unreasonable and unnecessary fine to pay.

I have read the report twice now. And I am sure it lacks a crucial part of the whole situation here... Nowhere does it say anything about the legendary B Orange giving stipe Scott Wallis, "the Blair glare"! Unfortunately I wasn't there on the day in question, but I know The Mailman would have given it.

Probably since King Ludwig II's death.

Despite all of this, I still have a man crush on B Orange. And I'm okay with that.

Thank you, that's it! My old age is killing my memory bank.

Better than nothing I guess, but the real test will be the stake money for next season. Might just be running for ribbons in season 2020/21... Ribbons that will be kept in a cardboard box and presented in the birdcage post race, before the said ribbons are returned immediately after the photographs have been taken. Cost cutting measures dictate that the ribbons need to be returned and reused after every race.

The name escapes me at the mo, but there was a horse that was running around in Auckland, around 2009/10 or 2010/11 and it seemed like it was being claimed every week or so (slight exaggeration). It won a stack of races however and had just about been stabled with every trainer in the region. A few owners never actually really wanted to sell their horses, for their real worth anyway, so just entered their horse (as a claimer, with the highest possible price), in order to get some stake money in what they thought would be winnable races. This may have been the downfall of the claimers races, as it defeats the purpose unfortunately.

Thanks for that. Has to be looking for something bloody microscopic, to be using the binoculars from that short distance to the horse. One would think whatever system she has, or her off-sider has, it must be working, as she has been doing it for years.

About 18 months, two years ago, I read over an employment contract being offered. Interesting thing was, there wasn't any formal structure for the trainee stipe, to move into the fully fledged role, nor was there any indication regarding time requirements as a trainee. The RIU do tend to get a bad rap at times, but the individuals involved with the recruitment were very professional and pleasant to deal with.

Claiming races may be more a viable option shortly, when racing resumes... with some owners wanting out. Admittedly the demand may not be there, but most horses have their price, and until the market is tested, the demand can't truely be measured. This is where HRNZ in conjunction with the selected clubs to commence racing next month, should be contacting trainers and owners, and being receptive and forward thinking.

Starting wage as a (trainee) stipe with the RIU is only $40k. Goes to $50k once the trainee is up to speed and becomes a fully fledged stipe. Having said that, it is only part time work in the winter (3 days per week). But yes, Brodie would make a great stipe!

Does aye, and that's what I suspected, but definitely not part of the RIU.

She would be about 35yrs old this lady....and word has it (from a a pretty good source) that she is working for a big punter down in the Otago region. What would she be looking for? The glint in a horse's eye?

Happy you have just reminded me... At the gallops meetings around Canterbury and the West Coast, there is a very unusual lady... you may say there are many, many unusual patrons at these venues, but I want to ask about one in particular. In the mounting yard she can be seen, eyeing up each and every horse through her binoculars! We are talking about 20-30m away from the horses and she is using bloody binoculars! And then writing notes down for each and every runner after she has viewed them. She then gaps it from the mounting yard, to the birdcage area and does the same. Looks at each runner through the binos and writes stuff down before getting on her phone, usually via an earphone. What the actual F*@%?! The lady in question is not part of any officialdom, never goes into any staff only area, and is never talking to anyone else on track. She is also definitely not a stipe, racecourse investigator or part of the JCA. God it sounds like I am stalking her... but honestly, if as a keen racegoer one was to see it play out, you'd be asking the same question. Thoughts anyone? Apart from mind my own business haha

Haha, 50,000 units of what?