AndrewFitzgerald

Max Hill driving a horse he's never driven before at Oamaru on Sunday - got himself another drive thanks to the potential of half points if successful.

The "Scuffy" T-Shirt is actually a HRNZ Branded Polo Shirt and the "Tatty old denim shorts" are just denim shorts with "designer" rips in them. It was a bloody hot day in the sun at Ashburton, don't think you could blame anyone for not wanting to be in a suit jacket and pants. We've got bigger problems in the Industry than the CEO wearing shorts and a polo on a 25+ day in the sun - at least he's out and about at the races taking the time to talk to participants. I saw multiple people having long talks with him.

Don't let facts n figures get in the way of your pot shot. I've gone to the minor effort of looking up the figures of the 4 relicensed in the past fortnight. Only took a couple minutes to find the right info. Jnr1) 15 Winners from over 300 drives as a Jnr Jnr2) 22 winners from roughly 500 as a Jnr Jnr3) 37 wins from roughly 600 as a Jnr. Jnr4 (ME) 7 wins from 147 drives as a Jnr. Good on your for your achievements in Racing - it's a shame when your bank manager is rubbing your back telling you how healthy your account is looking that he hasn't gone to the effort of also telling you, there's more to life then sitting behind your computer having pot shots at someone having a crack in the Industry you apparently made your fortune in. Young people aren't lining up at the door looking to be involved in this game - and it's people like you who take pot shots at people you don't like for no reason that actually drive the young people we have involved in the game out the door. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

What about the others that have made a comeback to the Junior Ranks under this new rule? Or are you blind to that fact and just taking a pot shot at me behind ya fake name😂 I'm one of the biggest supporters of Juniors with my Syndicate horses - have a look at Arnie's Army down south, hardly had a senior driver on him since we've owned him. Frequently have used the follow Juniors in Carter Dalgety, Mark Hurrell, Alana Cameron & Korbyn Newman in open races on other horses too. It's the owners involved in the stables these new juniors are working at that need to support them more, but it's a tough one - rising monthly costs and then being asked to put a inexperienced driver on. The new HRNZ change which sees 4yo and older horses only get half points if they win, should help encourage owners to put Juniors with under 50 career wins on their horses as a way to beat the handicapper.

You've done well to back against me in Junior races lately when it was my first drive back in the Junior ranks for 3 years 😂

If I get some spare time I'll get back through the figures and report back.

Could be. Although I did tell her that front wasn't there when she first came, and also for the next mile and she still never took hold of her runner. Either way, wasn't a great look and not what we want in the amateur races as we're trying to improve them, which they had been.

I was happy to take my place in the amateur ranks as a way to keep my hand in with driving horses, which is something i enjoy while obviously not working full time in a stables or driving full time. The amateur racing has improved significantly in the last 5 years from what it used to be, you've seen the addition of a number of drivers who have been relatively successful as juniors or open drivers and a lot cleaner racing. Turnover, Field Numbers, Starts per horse per season in amateur racing is still up on a large number of the other races held in the country. While racing for less money. So it is actually providing a better return on the money then a significant amount of racing in NZ. Not only that, but the horses involved are almost always the same horses and either owned and trained by the drivers or someone they're closely associated with. A decent amount of horses and benefit to the industry. All drivers will tell you that race wasn't a great look, but things like these are happening alot less often then 5 years ago in the amateur ranks, drivers are dealt with the same as open class drivers. amateur ranks growing with additions such as Ben Laughton who was successful in junior career but now working outside of the industry. It provides a platform for him to remain in the industry instead of being lost for ever like has been the case for probably hundreds of people over the last 20 years.

No i never wanted to hand up. I'd come out the gate and not handed to two x front running drivers in Alan Edge and Gavin Cook. Both well known for likely to lead up. I made my intentions clear that i was staying in front, whip up, horse strong on the bit. I was attacked and again made it clear the front wasn't there. The outside horse has persisted with it's attack. After a while i was happy to have that horse sit a bit in front of me by half a length as i was strong on the bit and still trying to dictate the pace as much as i could from the position i was in. If i had kicked up inside then id think it could have easily turned into a speed duel. My horse had gone a good run the last time in amateur grade when able to find the front and bowl along, this was his first good barrier draw in 8 starts for us and we were keen to use it. Don't be starting lies Mr Teaz, there was no abuse from any driver towards any female horsewoman. An official made mention of this to the stipes, but the female horsewomen you speak about did not agree with that official's view of it. The stipes brought this up with both the female horsewomen and all other drivers and there no action taken or needed. Hope that helps you with the facts before you continue along your path.

They're public figures if you read the right information Who knows, I'd out it more down to the staff they've hired in some important areas over the last 3 years You're not the only restricted punter in the country. You'll actually find the closer to race time the more you're able to get on for, regardless of restrictions on account. Have a look next time and you'll probably get your bet on before start time instead of on opening 😂 Put your real name up ya tosser, instead of hiding behind a fake name.

It has increased. Plenty of examples of this, including a club i work with Nelson Harness Racing Club at their meeting in Jan 2021 did over 3million dollars turnover for their 2 day meeting. An increase of over 1 million dollars turnover. A significant effort on promotions and marketing had crowd numbers up and on course turnover up tens of thousands of dollars. Fixed Odds betting now equals about 52-54% of the total turnover. While tote pools are the remaining 46-48% of turnover. Add to that the fact that the % return the TAB are making on their Fixed Odds Harness Turnover has improved by a couple of % over the past 3years, which has resulted in a better return to the codes.

Gammalite - He removed the ear plugs. Many of our top drivers do it now, commonly done by Dexter Dunn when he was driving here and it's actually a safer way to activate plugs or sliding blinds instead of using your hands. That's because you have full control of the horse when the plugs or sliding blinds are activated so that if they react, which some can, and run out or in, you've got a hand in each rein and can react. At the moment when you pull the cords with by hand you have to have both reins in one hand and not as much control. (1) NZ Metro 17 June 2021 Race 1 - YouTube Check out the Video at 2.15-2.18. focus on the head/neck of the horse and you can see the plugs flapping about after Korbyn removes the plugs. Hope this helps you understand,

Crosscodes - you're letting your hate of me get in the way of any rational thinking that you might have somewhere. Worse then a eyed cantabrian 😂 Least we know you wouldn't have lost any money on Jenabella as surely you couldn't bring yourself to place your hard earned dollar on someone you hate so much. Hope all's well with you, Catch up soon 👍

Don't check this site everyday and missed the opportunity! Ah well 😅

Tickets to our Boys Get Paid Area at the Jewels launching this week Karrots. Get your mates a ticket with us and we'll show him a good time in with the lads - Will send you ticket link when available from Cambridge

Might be the other site he's on.

Incorrect - A ban from racing means he can't do anything with Registered Standardbred Racehorses. Can't step foot on a racing property. He couldn't breed or sell yearlings at a sale as can't own or have anything to do with them in the lead up. NZ is abit different to Aus around this as there is something different around ours being registered at sale time and Aussie ones not or something. That's why some disqualified people are allowed at sales in Aus (well it was allowed last year when I was at the Aus Sales and a disqualified person was their inspecting) - I was surprised at Don's comment, I haven't heard anyone say anything (not saying it hasn't happened) bad about anyone who was ripped off. There are a number of others owners who sat down with the RIU to give their evidence and information re their dealings with Mr Kerr and they're still regular attenders of Racing Meetings in Canterbury and have never had anything bad said to them. Don is on this site, so perhaps he could let us know who said the comments as they're pretty disappointing.

Funny you say that as I was thinking of getting into politics. But you'd have already known that as you seem to keep track of my movements 😂

Correct Whiplash. BlossomLady - Feel free to come up to me at the Trials/Workouts or Races and ask your questions face to face. I have no concerns over last year's 2 Yearlings. As you can understand; it wasn't a great year to try a new idea with Covid and the major supporter/funder having major cashflow issues due to Covid. In the end its all worked out okay and syndicate members are looking forward to their pacing colts debut this year. If reports are right then it could be an exciting ride 👍 if I could find a missus who was as obsessed with me and my life as you are Blossom then I'd probably have to marry her 😂 Are you stalking me too?

Bit rough from you Blossom. A very good client of mine purchased the horse to race with Jesse and asked me to see if I could get some others in with him as he likes to race horses with other people. Finds it more fun. As soon as I was advised of today's issue - I immediately removed the horse from my available horses list. Please advise what else I possibly could have done? Thanks in advance. Andrew Fitzgerald.

Tactics all depend on the race. So many things go into it and you can never go in with one set plan as something unexpected always happens. We don't really have a notification of tactics here in the trots. How quickly you set; distance of race; quality of opposition; track conditions; horse condition..how the horse has warmed up; how it feels etc. Plus so many more. Add to that that during the run it's all split section decisions that drivers have to make and they don't have the view that you do from the tv screens. Some think it looks pretty easy; those that do probably should call into a local stable and ask to drive their most unruly horse and see how you go 😅

Great Drive Jessica Young on John James Preston 👏

I actually asked the Vet myself to come down and take a look at her which she did. There was nothing obvious and she said it's difficult to check them for little things after the race and it's best to let them recover and do it in the coming days. So Matt is having her fully checked over on Monday. She gets regular body massage and checked over so it was a surprise to us that her last two starts at Addington she's done that but been fine at Motukarara last week. Usually on a smaller track they'd want to get in on the bends.

Never get too worried about criticism, although I'd much rather they put their name and face to the comments rather then hiding behind fake names. Clearly from CrossCode's history of posts on this site he doesn't seem to have much good to say. Clearly no Mark Purdon, but i'm happy with my 8 driving wins so far and a few training wins - which seems to be 8 more then CrossCodes... or perhaps he's driven a few.......???

Clearly you've either got no idea or a personal grudge against me and Jessica. If you had a clue about horses you'd have seen Jenabella locked on one rein the whole way running out badly. I'm happy to cop criticism when I mess one up; but at least have an idea of what you're talking about before you get on here under your fake name and have a crack.