hesi

As I mentioned before, the anticipation of Ellerslie on Boxing Day used to be enormous, so not just the smaller clubs What created the anticipation at Ellerslie on Boxing Day? 4 things, in my opinion anyway 1. The overall high quality fields 2. The Derby and Queen Elizabeth which was always a superb field and the lead up race for those serious about the Auckland Cup on NYD. 3. The picnics and boot parties on the infield,. along with all the other activities that led to a real carnival atmosphere. They used to get 10,000 people 4. The huge coverage in papers like the Auckland Star and Friday Flash

It is one of those tricky forecasts. The rain arrives a couple of hours early, it is wet all day The weather arrives a few hours late, they just get the program finished before the rain

It's a forecast for 48 hours' time. Keep an eye on it, the rain may not arrive till the end of the day Some of those fields a bit skinny though

Remember also, that even though people are saying Well Written is a home run, and we think she is very good and probably is. There are a lot of 3-year-olds in Aus, still to show their hand. Evaporate and Perfumist were late additions and ran well. Ironically the first nominated , Domain Ace ran last

At Fantasyland

Just testing, always good to know that they keep on reading BOAY

That too

Make that 12 out of 32

Here is a question or two for the experts then Would horses like Wahid, Jimmy Choux and Silent Achiever, who had shown good form in the months leading up to the Derby in 1600m races, and who were then aimed at the Derby with runs in typical lead up races like the Waikato and Avondale Guines, would they have gone on to run in the Derby or NZB Kiwi if it had of existed on the same day as the Derby. Would Excellent have run in the Derby or Kiwi under the same scenario. I see, he who never had an original thought, getting ideas for threads from this site. I note Chief Stipe, that there is hope for you yet lol, with the thread on this site getting more views and a lot more replies. Admittedly 12 out of 18 have been mine

It was moved to be 3 weeks earlier with some weird logic that fillies could then run in the Oaks and the Derby

Correct but no P

We could always start a nostalgia thread lol

75 days is a long time in racing

Let's see what other horses are targeted by slot holders. Even your mate's horse Pivotal Ten last year lol

If you look back at the winners of the Railway in 70's, 80's and 90's it is an impressive list of horses Mayo Gold in 1970 And of course as we progress into today's world Avantage and Imperatriz

Just reminiscing

Off note, ran 4th in the Railway handicap of 1975 as a 2 year old

JOCASTA, by Pakistan II*. Third top filly on The 1974-75 NZ 2YO Free H. 6 wins at 2, Avondale JC Nivea S., Gr.3, WRC North Island Challenge S., L, Matamata Breeders' S., L, WRC Fitzherbert H., Hopeful S., 4th ARC Railway H., Gr.1. Half-sister to PORSHA (dam of Nerissa, Shylock - Smart Guy (Aust.)), DUN ALLEN, Jezza (dam of TOUCH JUDGE). Dam of 8 named foals, 6 to race, 5 winners, inc:-

Jocasta won the North island Challenge Stakes in 1975

Yes GK & W Sanders

75 days out and already it looks like this race is going to well and truly screw the pattern of 3 year old racing. Well Written, we will never know if she was a candidate for the Oaks and Derby. She has Pakistan 11 blood in her, with Jocasta being her 6th dam, so unlikely Remember Jocasta. Romanoff and Lollapalooza have both run in a manner and have sufficient staying blood to suggest they would have been aimed for the Oaks and/or Derby. That won't happen now as their program will be built around peaking for a 1500m race. At this stage unless the late bloomers step up, the Oaks and Derby are looking like very average fields

Many of the so called advances in technology are not necessarily for the best. Xmas was all about racing. The Auckland Star 4-page broadsheet lift out for Boxing Day races at Ellerslie. The trip to the TAB to put your bets on The infield at Ellerslie with all the Xmas day left overs and a few BYO so you weren't robbed blind The 4 day carnival at Ellerslie, with the best betting day, by far the last day All gone

And no smartphones, so people had landlines, still have lol

Tend to agree, it's last run was very impressive, at good money for a place against a couple of very classy horses in Mary Shan and EV

Seeing as it is a racing chat forum Here's a pretty tame topic for some of the many watchers to maybe have a post. Only rule, no sniping at other's selections Titicaca 13/3.90 Good value, made up a huge amount of ground in the Metropolitan (2600m), then failed in the NZ Cup, I presume due to the heavy track. Surprising as he is by Tarzino Adrian Bull is a renowned trainer of stayers and Kelly Myers gets the ride. Nereus and Ghazzah to also run well