Dougie

Inept no doubt, turnover numbers will be interesting, with the late start none of the races will be covered here in AUS which is a shame, always been surprised HRNZ don't have a contract in place with AUS bookmakers etc to cover all races regardless if they're covered live on SKY Racing here, yes turnover would be minimal but every $$ counts for HRNZ.

Decent fields maybe helped by Invercargill falling by the way side. Shame Phil doesn't have a horse for the 'Jasmyn's Gift' trot but that could be the race of the day. Curious which horse Matty will choose to drive in race 10, nice race that too. Purdon/Cullen are back with looks like maybe 5 favs for the day.

Yeah if you follow the export list it's getting longer and longer since the flights opened up again to Aussie... the scary part is the amount of unraced and young horses being exported even before qualifying, owners getting offers they can't refuse. Look today at that first starter 'Raupunga Lad' at Winton today, had a huge rap on him and will be interesting to see if the owner/breeder can resist the huge offers coming probably from Western Australia. I see Springbank Mason sold cheaply on Gavel not long ago, 1 win and you recoup the price, if horses of his quality are selling for under $10K the industry in fair dinkum in trouble.

In 10 years time how many hobby trainers with 2 or 3 horses will still be around especially south of Oamaru? Wyndham raced July 7 then nothing until August 4 in Southland... I know it's winter but do the suits expect owners to pay for horses to remain in work for 4/5 weeks but offer them no racing options other than 7 hours to Addington.

https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/final-hurrah-for-steve-lock/ Within the link is a facebook video which is a great watch, Steve gets a tad emotional too. Can't all have fast horses and we all know Steve didn't have many good ones but geez a long career and looks like a great bloke.

Sensational stuff for her and Cam

Love the Williamson lads but be very curious of their winning % for horses that don't lead... then again also be very curious total % of horses that lead and win in all of NZ harness races. Off topic, anyone know why Jess Young-Grant hasn't been driving for over a month??? been driving at trials/workouts but not at the races.

Hate to say it but do they need horses just like Lizzie and Silverlinings?, just hope they eventually come right so the fields have some size to them ? surely not but you never know. Just like in the Orange report Chief put up ,half the dribble was about how popular as a driver Orange was and how the stewards usually don't have to talk with him.... even though as we know a relegated horse and multiple fines recently for breaking the rules for going inside markers, they just tell porkies and hope nobody notices or cares. Maybe TAB turnover is becoming a reason for light suspensions ... maybe that's why lessor drivers get high suspensions, lets be honest if a punter see's Alan Clark or Dennis O'Connell driving their money Isn't jumping out of their pockets to bet on that horse.

He made a split second decision yes but an illegal one hence the suspension......the suspension was too lenient and no monetary fine either

Don't want her charged ... Don't want people suggesting it was her fault her horse broke it's leg, it was a domino affect from an illegal drive which got a piss poor suspension.

Reading most of your posts on this topic without saying it you're basically saying Phillipa Wakelin is a average driver and her driving skills or lack there of were the reason her horse died on Saturday. Why wasn't she charged then with incompetent driving or lack of control of her horse then? Split second decision making from a owner/driver will never be as quick as an AGH or DD but that's the industry we are in where 90% are part timer's.

Great night IMO of low/mid grade racing... nice prize money and I know it's part of racing and Orange is yes a great driver but his part in the fall/death of Philippa Wakelin's trotter really annoys the crap out of me.... he drives aggressively but the amount of times in the last few months he's cut corners and knocked over pilons/pushed out/had drives relegated or incorrect use of the whip show's me chasing the money is more important than following the rules.. and to get a 2 day suspension when Philippa and Stephen don't take home their horse tonight really pisses me off ... and to cap it off in the same race Trevor Grant gets a 5 day suspension for careless driving.

Curious to see the turnover figures for the whole meeting, The Race itself was on Sky 1 in Australia but the rest on Sky 2 and the pools were small for all races, crowd on TV looked decent but whether they were actual punters is a different story. On a positive, Dr Luk Chin going gangbusters with his trotters, his horses always have good manners, a credit to his breed and his training skills.

Exactly, but surely they must attempt to put on a race for the 80+ rated horses, even if it's a small field these owners deserve a shot a good prize money........ Maybe this is the new norm for premier meetings which would be good, prize money for 8 or the 11 races is $30k or more, better than Cup or Show day. I'm sure Arna Donnelly who took Kango south and won a great race last week is confused with all this prize money available this week the best horses are sitting at home, we have horses rated in the 30's and 40's racing Saturday for $30k but nothing for the best... no wonder they all get sold to Aussie.

How am I desperate, I'm not even involved in the industry, just happen to have friends that have owned G1 winners and are breeders..... a long time trotting lover and punter.