billy connolly

Deacon and Gray gave their apprentices opportunity, they had no idea about race riding.

You can NOT teach the art of riding from the ground. You must physically ride alongside a current successful licence holder with experience and model yourself on that person.

According to the article below there's NO evidence of use of these so-called jiggers. If I was Weir I would have contested the charges. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/racing/weir-given-four-year-disqualification-by-rad-board-20190206-p50vy6.html

Typical sermon from a prick in a suit who prides himself in taking away the livelihood of a legend of the game. It's not only Weir who is rubbed out, he probably takes 500 or more owners, punters, friends etc. with him. The bull prodder (jigger) has been in use since time immemorial and if the authorities are going to destroy the career of one man, why not target all users of the common cattle prodder ???

Phenominal result to get that horse to peak two years running against quality opposition. Third horse's run was just as meritorious from outside barrier. M. Pitman has come a long way since Ben Ahee and southern racing would be the poorer without him and his wife.

Even if the starter (Donnelly) isn't the sharpest axe in the shed he has far more on his plate at the start than the useless dreamer stipe Wadley, yet the starter is relieved of $450 and Wadley walks free! An incredible and preposterous episode that will undoubtedly be swept under the carpet.

This debacle is similar to the Riccarton Park episode a couple of years back where "road cones" were left on the track for the field to hurdle in the first race! Is it too hard for a stipe to at least drive around the track and ensure all is in order before the meeting commences? Why pay a blind stipe (Wadley) to stand around at the start in a suit and do absolutely nothing of any consequence?

The buck stops with Wadley (the blind stipe) .... is he on a fixed salary, if so how much please ???

Totally correct, I know poor jockeys when I see them and this lot are abysmal. Virtually every race most of them lost their compass at some point and if I was paying the riding fees I would be asking for my money back.

And what is the purpose of having stipendiary steward Wadley at the start? If he can't pick up errors like this he shouldn't be there. I always thought a stipendiary stewards role was to observe the races. Wadley spends the whole day at the start doing fark all, then when the field is fully loaded and dispatched he gets in a four wheel drive vehicle and follows them .... from a distance !

Pleased to hear that Reefton is capable of extension. Judging by your posts on these forums you seem to be reasonably clued up and have the good of the industry at heart, maybe your energy would be better utilized at a higher level than club administration.

Maybe better footing wise but it's a "bull ring" and if it didn't have a prime holiday race date it's gone burger. Whoever said Westport is "by far the best track on the coast" has obviously never ridden there. All coast tracks are BAD and if they never had prime holiday race dates they're history IMO. Mr. Pitman has the right idea though, he gets all the spoils on the southern Christmas circuit while the others wait for the usually heavy coast tracks with North Island competition !

Maybe better footing wise but Reefton is a "bull ring" and if it didn't have a prime holiday race date it's gone burger. Whoever said Westport is "by far the best track on the coast" has obviously never ridden there. All coast tracks are BAD and if they never had prime holiday race dates they're history IMO. Mr. Pitman has the right idea though, he gets all the spoils on the southern Christmas circuit while the others wait for the usually heavy coast tracks with North Island competition !