Walt

Back in the day Mardy it was very helpful going into the Nelson meeting to confirm which runners were owned on the other side of the Whangamoa's. Knowing which meeting was the target could be very helpful. Have always enjoyed racing at Waterlea. I've seen very good pacers and trotters race there. I remember watching Bustling Bill Skelton winning a feature race there in the 70's. Probably the Marlborough Cup. Pretty sure the wonderful Southern galloper 'Powley" was buried on the track after dying tragically. Memory is fading but was that the result of a terrible ferry crossing?

I feel certain you're right Shad. Still very much a sought after race but the days of 17 runners are unfortunately behind us. Every Saturday we'd have a big field contesting a feature two mile country cup somewhere in the land. Now, we are lucky to get half that number and those features have lost their allure. I always viewed the biggest race of the year to be the two mile NZ Cup. Six, seven and eight year old horses contesting the Cup. Flashing Red won it as a 9 year old and then again at 10. Cruz Bromac won the Cup aged 8. Now the system is geared up for two and three year olds, especially fillies and mares. I'm still incredulous at the shitcanning of the Easter Cup. Hands Down won the race three times. It was a great guide to the NZ Cup. Monkey King, Terror to Love, Gracious Knight, Adore Me, Homin Hosed, Chokin, Blossom Lady and Inky Lord etc. When you terminate the Easter Cup, you're banging nails into the coffin of NZ harness racing.

The Nelson Cup is always a sought after race. I remember the result in 1980 more for a horse that ran 15th than the winner. Just to prove that flop was no fluke he came out and ran 17th on the second day as fav. 9 months later "Old Bill" came out and won NZ's biggest Cup for DG and Pete after a titanic home stretch duel with "The Lady" Nelson Trotting Club Saturday, 26 January 1980 Race 6 - Benson & Hedges Nelson Cup, $4450, C3 & FASTER HANDICAP PACE, 3200m Weather: Fine Track: Fast (Richmond Park (Grass) - Grass) SHOW STIPES Participants for Race 6: Benson & Hedges Nelson Cup Place Book Horse Barrier Hcap Stakes Fav Time Margin Driver Trainer 1 16 Dainty Judy 10m 2,890.00 5/4 4-22.4 D R Cleal John Boyd 2 1 Trevor Hodgen fr 890.00 3/5 S M Miller 3 2 Reuben James(1975) fr 445.00 11/10 W F Fletcher 4 3 Alcester fr 225.00 14/12 P D Young (J) 5 4 Chileno fr 0.00 6/6 6 5 Pine Ship fr 0.00 10/11 7 6 Scholar fr 0.00 1/1 8 17 Royal Belmont 10m 0.00 15/15 9 18 Nugget(1972) 10m 0.00 8/7 10 7 Turf Lord fr 0.00 4/3 11 8 Ashley Lord fr 0.00 16/16 12 9 Mount Lambie fr 0.00 18/18 13 19 Regal Ryan 10m 0.00 9/9 14 22 Deluxe Circle 20m 0.00 12/13 15 20 Hands Down 10m 0.00 2/2 16 21 Rimuaser Boy 10m 0.00 13/14 17 10 Velebit fr 0.00 7/8 Pup 11 Regal Law(1974) fr 0.00 17/17

Just call me Little Lucifer ...sausages were "well done". I pleaded not guilty Gammalite. My defence was largely based on the fact I wasn't born until six months later Fire broke out 20 minutes prior to the last race on Show Day in 1961. Cardigan Bay won the FFA that day

I'd say Ben was likely watching Nelson Cup's years earlier sitting in his push chair. Jason Rulz won the Cup Prelude on the first day also.

My local meeting. Will be doing my form and catching up with folk. Thursday night BBQ under the stand. OTB will be running their famous breakfasts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The track is in great condition where all runners should get their chance to shine...Hopefully the weather also shines. It's Nelson so chances are. Will post on this thread runners that are likely contenders and feel free to do the same. I'll add photos from both days which will be mostly taken close to the finish line. If you see me, come and say hello. Just look for the most devastatingly handsome dude on course....also the most humble

He's a beauty alright. Monkey Bones has produced numerous. Idle Bones won plenty for Mango but I think Bandar has more game. Milliondollarmonkey won his share for the Hill's. Overzealous was a nice mare for Pete and Margo. Nicky Chilcot has the promising The Moonstone who looks a very promising filly. Grey Stoke won his share as well. I'm sure I've forgotten some good ones.

haha...he'd give Sir Alex Ferguson a run for his money in the gum chewing stakes

You stumped me Gammalite. Easy to pick Robin on the winner but couldn't remember a race where JS ran second to him in record time with a mare. Assumed it was a mares race. Naval Officer was in the same race and many of us will remember him winning the NZ Derby ....that should have been abandoned

In the races I watched it seemed there was a strong leader bias. Shortest way home etc

Great stuff Gammalite. I can still picture Yvette Bromac going around. Lovely filly As soon as I looked up and saw Don Baker I made the connection to the Barry family training out of Ardmore with their fine mare Dawn Mist who I only have fond memories of. Many of us gravitate toward greys in harness racing, especially the good ones. Mi Muchacho is one such grey that comes to mind who won the Auckland Cup in 2006 beating Mainland Banner. Just harping back to Time's Up in the last at Greymouth today. Trainer Robbie Patterson looks a genuine contender to win the last three races there including the Miss Scenicland Stakes.

haha no such thing as coincidences Gammalite. I haven't done any form there but a quick look says he's the best horse in the race, will enjoy the turning track and will cop the Greymouth summer conditions Will anchor him in trebles and trifectas and then drink a toast to you for the heads up. Ironically, my wife is in Greymouth today in her medical professional role. Jack Smolenski certainly left his mark on NZ Harness Racing.

Great photo Gammalite. The horse that ran second Up Tempo was raced by Dougal Steel and his mum who bred her. She chased Times Up around numerous times. Reg Curtain trained Up Tempo. Dougal and my brother went to Otago Uni together and are still close mates 40 plus years later. I remember hearing how excited they were about Up Tempo before she even raced. She later produced Torch Song who won a double at Nelson in the late 80's.

Time's Up was a beauty Rangatira. Jack Smolenski trained and drove so many superb horses. Arapaho won the Cup, Sovereign and Amaze both won the Derby, Gina Marie, Gina Rosa, Mel's Boy, Nardinski, Seaswift Franco etc etc

Pretty sure you're right Brodie

You're spot on Gammalite.

Eddie was a big boy Brodie. Still managed to get the good trotter Kahuna Pele home a dozen or so times. There is a driver going around in Victoria that looks to be similar "shape" to Eddie. Can't remember his name. Always wondered how the horses would go if they was towing Rick May around instead of Demis Roussos

Hondo's Dream was a decent horse in the 80's Blackie. Certainly won his share

I remember the handy mare I think you're referring to Brodie. Frees Best? Pretty sure the trotter Bossy Boy also went to Eddie Clarrie raced the good trotter Best Bet in the 70's that must have run second to Bevan Heron's superb Nigel Craig more than most.

I've copped the same along the way but they usually have the tote prices up more often than not at my end.

He did Brodie. A few years earlier he had a much better performed horse named Alec Peterson. Many of his horses were out of a mare with Peterson in the name. Must be a family connection there. Most were sired by True Averil who Clarrie also trained to win the NZ Cup in the early 70's beating Robalan and co.

Haha...I bet Sunseeker several times via heart over head and learned my lesson. Even now when a stable I support has a runner I generally have a saver on the stable runner just to avoid having egg on my face. As to why Ces moved to NZ. Memory is hazy but his brother raced a few horses and bought them over to NZ to race and Ces bought them over. I may stand corrected on that? .