Walt

My bad T.W

You rub shoulders with good people Gammalite. Jim Smith is a good man I've only met briefly a few times at the Park decades ago but those I know rated him highly. He was an asset to Trackside but unfortunately for Jim, he talks too much common sense and made the mistake of being a straight shooter happy to advocate for all in the game and point out things that could easily be improved. That's not what Trackside wanted. They want yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir with their presenters. ..so out with colourful Jim and in with the cure for insomnia who has been there ever since. As for the "Mountain" horses...Mountain Gold, Mountain Peaks, Mount Pride, Mount Cargill, Mountain High, Mountain of Glory etc etc . What a breed. The pacers final you quoted highlighted again how good Yulestar was. Pocket Me was a very nice horse also.

I don't remember him to do recall Mighty Lee and Waitaki Gamble who he raced against. When I look at his record it's remarkable. He raced in 9 seasons. Had a three year break as an 11 year old in 1973 and then came back as a 14 year old in 1976 when he had two more runs for zip. Maurice Holmes drove him in at least one of his runs. 87 starts for 4 wins and stake money of $2875

I always felt that as great as Take A Moment was, he always raced in the shadow of Lyell. What chance of getting two trotting superstars at the same time? The Scott family are very well regarded as you know Kim. They've had their heartbreaks so it's great to see Bob carrying two of their horses forward in Don't Tell Jenny and Ready Set Jet. Both won nicely first up recently. Long may that continue. I enjoy the way Bob drives. Similar to the way Davey drove but without the chewing gum Both as cool as a cucumber

Is that Norton with Kerry O'Reilly ?

haha..I'm pretty sure Brodie meant Take After Me Kim.....not the great Take A Moment that Tim and Ants had a field day with. You would have been right there taking it all in. What a buzz that must have been. He raced until he was 10

He went well Newmarket and on his day he was a beauty......but he could also do your head in. Lopez Hanover was a fav sire of mine

I don't disagree H.R but I have considerable respect for Roy so won't speak ill of him. I will say he and Barry dominated the open class pacers in the 1990's in the North. They'd often have multiple runners in the field and happily used their numerical advantage in a way I disliked. The Bru Czar and Franco Ice are two I remember being on the receiving end. Sole Command won the NZ Cup in 1977. My first Cup I attended. I remember Wolfie driving him . Final Curtain was in the field and Barry drove that but can't recall his run. Very good field with Wee Win, Palestine, Captain Harcourt, Bolton Byrd, In or Out who DG drove and Stanley Rio.

and he still puts in Brodie. He's a game horse

I remember Game Lark surprisingly well Shad Believe it or not I backed him just about every time he went around. He didn't mind a bit of moisture on the track and ran in some good races against decent horses. Was no world beater but was an honest trotter that you knew what you were going to get. I remember having a good size place bet on him at Nelson. Pretty sure he ran third. He ran third behind a horse driven by Royce Cleal. Can't remember the horses name for the life of me but Game Lark was one of the roughies of the field. Trevor made it to 77. I recall his passing being sudden despite his age. I think you and I have followed the same horses Shad....uncanny.

I know Easton Light and Idle Scot raced and won aged 13. I remember a trotter going around at Forbury in 1980 called Bob Crane (Hogans Hero's). He was 14 and managed a 2nd at that age. I'm pretty sure there have been 15 year old's but can't recall names?

of course it's Mark P Gammalite. Doesn't look a bit like a young Tony H....and yes, there was some Wild West stuff back in the day. Far more civilized now As for Mark P....as good a trainer he is, I also rate him as one of our best drivers and feel he doesn't get the driving accolades he deserves.

Tony H driving Godfrey home in the 1988 GN Derby.....unfortunately, that race brings back bad memories for me Gammalite. Don had Dillon Dean nailed down. Roy & Barry had two in the race. Godfrey smoking the pipe behind D.D.....Duel Fuel with Barry in the cart up outside D.D pushing him hard and obliterating his own chance. Duel Fuel was going backwards before the turn and ran a bad last. Godfrey nailed Dillon Dean on the post by a neck. I have a lot of respect for the Purdon family but zero respect for what unfolded that night. I'm an idealist who very much enjoys a fair fight.

Would loved to have owned the tail on either Gammalite. Dillon Dean and Dillon Dale who won the FFA for Don Dwyer (top man) were out of Birdie. She was by Gentry who produced a lot of winners including the wonderful grey mare Dawn Mist who we spoke about recently. I've been blessed to rub shoulders with the owners of some great horses and enjoy their successes vicariously. Would give my left one to own a piece of one like Starship or Tuapeka Knight. I picture myself doing what DG did with Blossom Lady. He did so much for our game and will always sit at the top of the tree for me. He's also sired wonderful offspring himself both male and female that have flown the flag magnificently on and off the track. Pete was a master and drove like he was Fonzie ..Mark is of course a world drivers champion and a superb trainer. The legacy still going strong. Derek and Adele have the fine trotting mare Eurostyle who is the real deal. Pete and Leonne won with Belleophonte at Ashvegas on Tuesday.

Gave myself a slap for not remembering Canis Minor. I always followed him. Lopez Hanover was a fav sire for me especially on grass tracks, even more so if any rain arrived. Canis Minor won 11 and was exported. Canis Major won....zero.

Tuapeka Knight was magnificent. Only ever beaten twice. Ian Dobson pulled his horses from Brian around 2000.

Some superb names there Rangatira. One I remember especially was the mare Chesapeake. Nelson training icon Noel Berkett bred and raced her. She won a handful and usually from the front. She lived to the grand age of 41. I think her best offspring was Sundon's Peak who Colin DeFilippi won a few races with. Chesapeake produced Strawbs K Two who produced Nottingham K Two who won half a dozen.

Fair enough Forbury. I didn't factor that in. Was just aware of his ability and was impressed by the way he ran home. He's been scratched anyway.

Horses like Starship bring people into the game and likely keep them in it for decades. He was a beauty. I remember Joy Boy also starting off long marks at Westport back in the day we had a two mile country cup on the grass virtually every weekend. I remember Colin Cleine's Gypsy Winkle. You're right, she won the 1990 Oaks beating Jiffy's Girl. Gypsy Winkle produced Western Flare who Mark Jones won 10 races with. Trover Thomas was a superb trainer. He had a horse I had a connection with in the early 80's I had a connection with called Lopez MacFaber. He could peel off a quarter at almost breakneck speed. I'd drive to Christchurch from Nelson to watch him race on occasion. Will always remember getting a large tax refund and then driving down to watch and punt him. I put the lot on him. Still have nightmares about that race won by Ces Devine's horse, Capri won the race. Lopez was flying home and would have won by margin and then broke 150 out....settled and then got going to run fourth. That's why they call it gambling Trevor had some superb horses in his day. $120 buy Stormy Morn won 32 races including a Dominion and Rowe Cup. He was a beauty. I can still picture him doing his thing. He didn't have the same tool box as some of the big stars over the years but what he had, he used magnificently.

Haha...we may have to find a 36 start maiden racing in the mud at the Te Awamutu track in the 1970's trained by an obscure trainer than only had one ex milk cart horse and then retired. We'd be a runners chance of outplaying him

Two out of three aren't bad Rangatira

You'll recognize the driver and the colours.

Excellent post Shad. A very good read. Have attached a photo you'll appreciate despite the quality being poor.

Political observers...those with a sense of humour....people that despise Labour for dividing NZ and then being blissfully unaware of what they've done......and Labour Party sycophants. Which category do you fall into Ravioli? Perhaps Honest John will be disappointed that I didn't include a bed wetter's category