nomates

Well after reading that summation i'm off to top myself , it was good while it lasted , cheerio .

Hate to think what racings position would be the last few months without this current spending spree . I'm sure the leadership are patting themselves on the back for the supposed improvements in turnover . Cant see the travel bubble happening anytime soon anyway , at least until Aussie get the thing under long term control . On top of that , even if they do get a bubble going i don't believe there will be a rush to travel , people still very cautious . As for the housing market , well cant see it slowing at all , upwards of 500k kiwis possibly returning in the next 5 years ,even if only 20% are cashed up and want to purchase a house , it's going to put huge pressure on the already tight housing pool . Even treasury came out last week saying housing market will increase 35% in next 5 years . I can get petrol in Levin for $1.66 at present , was $2.30+ not so long ago , can't see it going back there in the short term . I talked to 3 people in Scotland this week , they are very envious of us , wouldn't wish their situation on any one . We should all be very grateful that we live in NZ and are free to live our lives as normal , we take things too much for granted sometimes . I for one am thankful that my parents made the decision to come here 50 years ago .

Only 4 winners is a reflection of the paucity of 2yo races so far , they also started a month later than usual . There will be a rush of 2yo races now to give horses a chance to qualify for the big show . Hopefully not too many are rushed to try and qualify and get broken by the experience . Then the black type 2yo races come in a rush , New Plymouth , the G1's at Auckland then Palmerston . Another part of the calendar that needs to be looked at IMO . I also see that Te Akau have 7 of the top 9 in betting for the 2yo million race , i think they're a good chance of taking out it out again , perhaps . It would be nice to see a real battler with a cheap horse win it , give the rest of us battlers hope .

On the news a couple of nights ago they reported that last year kiwis spent 7 billion on overseas travel in 2019 , this year 1.9 billion , so 5 billion spare money to be spent . The sale of luxury cars had increased markedly and that boat yards were running out of stock , jewellers are doing a booming trade , along with the very buoyant housing market it shows kiwis are spending up big with that spare cash . I would say looking at the figures above that racing , both gambling and ownership , is riding that wave as well . Hopefully it continues and that the leadership of racing manages this windfall properly . Racing needed a fairy godmother , perhaps this is it .

Or spend minutes trying to get thru to them how best to ride your horse . Bumped into a couple of guys i know today , they race a horse together , 7 starts , 1 win , 4 placings , but they are still pulling their hair out as they reckon the horse has still to be ridden to instruction in even one of the 7 races .

Whatever the situation the owners are obviously happy with the situation , i prefer that if i'm paying a trainer that they are the ones with eyeballs on my horse and it's work , if not everyday then most .

Don't know how many times a i watch a horse at the back of the field and drifting and the jock is still hitting it behind the saddle , my wife will attest to me regularly yelling at the TV telling a jockey to stop hitting the poor bloody animal , and if it's been beaten because of a poor ride , i.e. the jocks left wide in the open i'm often suggesting they put it round their own arse .

Does S Marsh lay eyes on his horses at Riccarton or is it just his foreman who comes down every so often ?

They are few and far between now .

Very disappointing , when we are struggling for top class horses we lose possibly the best we currently had . He was very lightly raced so you could say his best was still ahead of him . Feel for the connections .

But plenty are , there are a lot of believers .

Action , comedy , drama or romcom , or all of them . Wouldn't be boring , i want to know who plays the RIU characters because they wont be bit parts .

Yes , Mr Te Akau on NZTR talking up the industry and how much stakes are going to improve going forward , has nothing vested in saying this so good on him .

My two cents worth , i grew up on the Copper Belt / Grey Way battles , it seemed every time there was a big mile it was those 2 scrapping it out , both iron horses , they don't make them like that anymore . Or that kind of racing . I'm getting all misty now . P.S. I see Alan Baker around town occasionally , talked to him about his winner about 6 months ago , said she could gallop , still into motels , has a few horses around him at the moment . Rough and ready describes Alan , and a bit grumpy . Had a tough little mare called Firenza , i think , about 20 odd years ago , won 4/5 .

To get one of these senior positions , when did it become necessary to have a sound understanding and knowledge of the race horse industry and associated knowledge of any part of that industry where you would be required to make sound fact based decisions that impact the industry . I can't think of one person at the top table of NZTR that could say they were in their position because of their knowledge and sound hands on understanding of NZ racing . Till this changes , nothing changes.

This isn't just a racehorse welfare issue , this should be about an all equine welfare issue . If the SPCA and any other bodies that are truly concerned for equine welfare they should be pushing for a central equine information body , where all horses are registered , from miniature through all sports horses through to racehorses , anything that calls itself a horse . Every horse gets registered there , gets a registration number , and everybody who moves a horse on or receives a new horse into their care must inform this central entity . If it can be done with cattle , who's numbers exceeded 6 million at the end of last year , then it should be a doddle for the equine sphere to do the same .

I had NZTR on the phone to me asking what had happened to 4 horses i had owned , which in itself was sweet , 1 had gone to polo , 1 deceased , 2 rehomed , BUT of the horses that had moved on they didn't ask where or to whom they had gone to . It then becomes a pointless exercise , but as far as they are concerned they are now another sports worry because they are no longer in the realm of racing . They have done their bit as far as they are concerned . And i have no real problem with that process in itself , but don't go throwing out the shit above to make out like you are all caring . This is all a publicity stunt , they have to be seen doing it .

If people aren't following these basic cares they shouldn't be having horses in their care . I have seen far more horses not being given basic proper care by people outside of racing than i ever have of racing participants . I have also witnessed and heard of plenty of instances of horses getting the bash for not performing or playing up and misbehaving at eventing comps , usually younger persons have been the culprits .

My first ever job was at Gressier , difficult man to work for . Had a good eye for a yearling from all accounts , his record since moving to Aus suggest so .

Well actually i do believe i met Mr Walton , not positive but i think he retired back to Otaki , if not it was a different gentleman . Can't remember exactly why but i was with someone who went to visit him for something , '82 i think , but anyway he was a nice man , i think he was living next door to Anton Koolmans stud Gressier lodge . Foggy old memory tho .

I know where you're coming from , after my last one , who was like a mate he was so cool , raised him from a weanling , sold as a late 2yo after a trial win , i was in tears putting him on the float , i was glad it was 5am and dark . Swore i would never send another up there , just a shit life never mind the end , but needs must at the time , and plenty are still in that situation . But it's like most things in life for those of us that are starting or are getting older , things are a changing . Christ i've lost my racehorses , English football and the cricket have gone to Spark and our internet isn't good enough for me to watch , so that's gone , can you imagine , now i've got to have whole conversations with the MRS .

I don't know why this debate has gone on for soooo long , doesn't matter how fast a horse can go as opposed to another , the single biggest leveler in NZ racing is the jocks .

That's the bit i just don't get , it's like he's walking around with his bits out , but no one notices . I don't know why i worry so much about it anymore , got no more horses , bar 5% in a 2yo with some friends . I'm even starting to struggle spending my Saturdays watching the races , it's just i've spent near 50 years of my life in and around this game and i'm just seeing it implode . Freda's right just sad , i go further and say Fucking sad .

Anything that is saleable will be available for sale if it performs , and who can blame people , it's a tough game winning 100k here , after training and associated costs you not putting that much in your pocket . The biggest problem if you have got a nice horse that can win good money you go thru the grades so quick and then if you win 1 open your towards the top of the ratings , and genuine horses get punished for consistency by being kept at the top of the ratings . If you are not a commercial seller you keep all of the sale , it's a no brainer . I sold a late 2yo for 100k , bought as weanling for $1400 , sold 20 months later , costs to get to that stage , 17k . Bosh , money for jam . He was a nice horse , i think he would have won that much but would have cost another 50k getting there . No brainer . Can't blame anyone for doing it .

And getting lower .