billy connolly

Haven't you been espousing (here and elsewhere) the fact that your partner was a former jockey??? A well heeled gentleman came to me for advice not that long ago. He'd been offered shares in a horse to be trained by you. My advice to him was that although she'd been in the game a long time, she wouldn't know whether a horse was any good or not ! Regardless of the sanctimonious nonsense dictated above, you've used horses to obtain a living for close to fifty years.

In my experience those who claim to know everyone and everything actually know very little. FYI, I've ridden winners for Dave Kerr and also ridden Domingo, and although I've never met the man I've also ridden a winner for Cecil Devine. Can you list a few of your achievements in the game please?

Cecil Devine (Lord Module) owned, trained and drove champions, Dave Kerr (Domingo) unlike Freda never took a horse to the races unless it could win, Jack Holmes (Karu) won a host of open handicaps and placed in a Melbourne Cup. With the odd exception, few of the best performed horses over time ever wore full hooded blinkers. Full hooded blinkers are a massive advantage when used sparingly and especially so when used for the first time on a cheat, but they're also a dangerous piece of apparatus when used on the wrong horse and IMO should not be permitted on two-year-olds or jumpers. Regardless of the arguments of the anti whip brigade, padded whips won't be banned here as they're first and foremost a control mechanism.

Then why the need for blinkers, bull prodders, pharmaceutical assistance etc? Even some very good horses were cheats but had that much ability it didn't matter. Domingo was a cheat, Karu was a cheat, Lord Module was a cheat. No doubt there's many more. Toporoa won the 1955 Melbourne Cup (defeating a near champion) but never won another race... funny that.

How many make it to races? How many salute once?? How many salute multiple times??? How many pay their way???? The majority are cheats.

How many laps in the pigskin? Regards cheating, most horses are cheats by nature but very few jockeys are ! Those who want the whip outlawed are all tarred with the same brush.

Aside from those who aren't good enough, the majority of horses who aren't putting in are either mentally or physically tired and any trainer worth their salt should know this and shouldn't need to consult a half baked veterinary surgeon to tell them so, just as any decent jockey should know when and when not to use the whip. The sanctimonious twits who write these papers are doing so solely for their own benefit and to promote themselves. We never heard from these people in good times of full fields and full grandstands.

The usual NZTR paper shufflers dictating the same useless information post the event. From my distant observations that Trentham track in January was far from a standard required of a premier meeting and an indictment on those involved, including management, stewards and NZTR.

He has a few children and one of his daughters is running the stud from memory, but you're right Anderton senior ate, breathed and slept horses so his family have big shoes to fill.

Exactly, I can recall a little known bloke by the name of Peter Moran winning 500k from a $2 bet on a Matamata jackpot in 1970 and immediately afterwards struck another jackpot when he outlaid $25,000 for the outstanding galloper Panzer Chief after he'd won his first two races as a two year-old. $25,000 was also a lot of money then but Panzer Chief went on to win thirteen races and was rated second best 3 year-old of his year. Amazing story and highlights that fact that everyone is equal on a racecourse. Jackpots were an on-course only promotion whereby participants were required to select the winners of six races and as the funds weren't invested on the totalisator, no deductions were made. The biggest jackpot pool was 850k in 1972. I often wonder how much the majority of posters on these forums have actually achieved in this game!

14 slots, 4 pre-sold at $450k to clubs hosting qualifying events, 9 auctioned at $700k approx and 1 freebee to NZTR. Not entirely sure of prize monies and field selection but each slot has a three year tenure and slot owners can either use their slot or lease to a third party (at an inflated price) close to the race. Seems a reasonable investment if you have a spare 700k.

Didn't seem to be that much interest, same select few chasing all nine slots at 700k approx. What doesn't smell right to me is the fact that the perennial CEO, Mills got a Slot for 450k... on time payment.

Absolutely correct, quality horses shouldn't be racing that far from the (inside) rail in February. Makes a mockery of summer racing, especially at Group 1 level.

12 starters who'd won 14 races between them prior. You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.

Wigley, IMO was one of a group of individuals responsible for kissing goodbye to half ownership of this now very valuable asset which is Rangiora. Wouldn't ask Wigley the time of day.

Jennings was the ultimate risk-taker and gambler. He once owned a large slice of land and stables in Craven Street, Sockburn which he would've paid no more than 20k for including the house he eventually built there. That property today would be worth in excess of 20 mil. Old-time Riccarton trainers would turn in their grave if they saw the value of their land today.

It'll be interesting to hear any witnesses turn of events because knowing the Police they'll lie and do anything to obtain a conviction. I'm currently taking the Police to court over (an alleged) trivial traffic offense to which they've so far sent me approx 5 courier packs totaling 34 foolscap A4 pages of absolute nonsense and lies and the court hearing is still more than a month away. A preposterous waste of time and resources for an initial $150 fine !

So an uninvited guest in our country who has lived off McKee's generosity for approx 6 years to the tune of at least 200k... then the rotten prick does this in return. I hope his Lawyer helps himself to most of the 10k and with what's left send him back to the slums of Calcutta where he belongs. The stable-hands of yesteryear were exploited to a far worse degree than this bloke... without any comeback.

Had a lot of respect for Maurice Jones. His son (Philip) rode from the mid to late 70's from memory. R.I.P

Lot 661 - Moroney vs Moroney !!! https://www.facebook.com/NewZealandBloodstock/

Lot 661 - Moroney vs Moroney ! Preposterous.

Doesn't the starter get an all-clear from elsewhere before he pulls the trigger? What is Wadley's role at the start? He's witnessed several starting debacles and always seems beyond reproach. If your attention span is limited Mr. Wadley, please fuck off back to the incompetent stewards room.

You'd think NZTR would do something about the lack of horse numbers and dwindling participation here. Why can't NZTR log into Gavel House, buy approx 100 reasonably priced horses on a per anum basis and syndicate them? When the likes of Ellis, Bosma et al turn their backs on the game it will be too late.

Clarification please?

Yes, a Daryl's Joy/Frankel/Tulloch would almost certainly chase the Slot event in favour of the Derby. Barrier draws a big factor over 1500 metres though. The Derby will end up a glorified maiden race... or maybe a Fillies race!