Fred

It is more than 50 years ago but Thomas will recall a young Walter Hoysted [son of the famous trainer] delaying the start of the hurdle race at Sandown . Armed with a shotgun he demanded that no whips were to be used on the horses. Promises were made but they were Australian promises and the lad was given a month in the calaboose. They should have given him a medal.

He commentates well but the extras are way ott

Fact -have a look at Toms Cox plate predictions and stop being a sook

It's o k , the time of year perhaps unsuitable with changing track conditions making it hard to have suitable lead up racing. Those who comment about the strength of the field should find their own [better] horse and reap the rewards. I enjoyed the day recently with a rating 62 mare picking up some money !

no

Not sure about that -he got an 11 month holiday for not trying -that was a bit wicked by the stipes

Have a look at the previous run -the only thing quieter was the stipes.

I have looked up my last 6 runners who had blinkers applied -1st time -4 won, 1 was second, the other 4th.

TAS looked extremely light-it seems he cannot take regular racing and must spell. Probably grossed around 500k for his placing.

What an absolute load of childish rubbish in this thread. Any horseman knows that blinkers can be an advantage to a horses chances.

Get real -NZ has a small broodmare band and Australia about 7 times as many. So if a NZ bred runs in the first 8 in OZ then things are pretty even. How many play rugby in Greenland ? I expect NZ would beat them ....

Yes, one of the reasons many trainers suggest blinkers

Boss is a loud mouth know-it-all albeit naturally talented. Ignores instructions as he knows best -I would not put him on again.

It is time to face cold hard facts -the earnings do not cover the stakes on offer so the only sensible option is to cut stakes so we live within our income. Directors of public companies operating in such a manner as racing does would face serious charges. At least a reduction in stakes would help reduce the huge number o -f horses in training -most 'waiting to be sold'. There are around 2000 in Cambridge and Matamata alone. There could never be enough races to accommodate just them. Hopefully Australian trainers [ and others] will take away the bulk of 2yos on offer next month -they could be rather cheap. For those screaming for increased stakes ? increased stakes does not equate to increased earnings. Only a fool would race a horse expecting it to be a money making exercise, it's an expensive form of lotto. NZTR tell lies about the earnings of a horse by including in the total the amounts that they pay to the trainer and jockey ! -the term is 'gilding the lily'

Kumai -I have a lovely photo of my 3 kids riding him.

Statistics are a stupidity These mares are past their best and have been sent to stud -obviously a better career choice than racing them for another season

As Freda or anyone at the coal face will tell you the use of 'jiggers' is and has been widespread. I complained to the racecourse inspector back in the eighties about one particular trainer only to be told "they are all using it" Vicks sales soared. But it is not a tazer and a decent cut with a bullwhip or cane would hurt more.

Good to see you have been released Tom Tom Perhaps you could give us your thoughts on the electrical stunning of animals -before they have their throats cut Thanks

This whole affair is a beat-up, the cutting down of a tall poppy whose success knew no bounds. The emotive language in the charges a farce. A jigger or a cattle prod ? They are the same thing -a battery charged device designed to give an electrical shock . Cattle prods are used by bull farmers and stock carriers to induce a bull to go up a race or onto a truck. What is the difference between use on a bull or a horse ? Why have all the bull farmers in Australia not been charged by the police?

I don't think the owner is short of a bob or two and the senior trainer merely supplements his pension. The horse has only just kicked off again with some short races but she did not look that comfortable on the firmer footing.

She has never looked like being a sprinter and should do better when she goes over more ground.

Do they not realize it is a horse race? Have they never heard of Final Command ?

Knock it off you mugs -We are well served with common taters , compared with some of the overseas coverage we are very well off.

The world wide trend is towards a total ban -I support that .

It's not just hay and straw, you need to watch the water troughs.