Furlong

Wouldn't like to see standing starts go, but the starter has to walk them up to the tape, hold them until all in line and then let them go. Drivers need to be fined heavily if trying to get a "flyer". This running them up to the tape just confuses the horses who don't know whether they are meant to be standing or are actually racing. The starter should be fined also, each time he allows shambles like yesterday. A look back at any old film from the 50's and 60's could be most helpful as Ron Carter didn't have all this trouble.

Walt, that happens to me now and then and if paying a big price I usually think it is not likely to come in. However they do come in on an odd occasion and I kick myself for not having a bet. There must be something in the back of your mind that you have stored away in your sub conscious and for some reason have recalled. Good luck with Better Eclipse.

Not only place dividends missing but the printing on the tv screen is a bit too small. I have good long sight but have to really look hard to read the trainers/drivers details they are giving us. Ok on the computer. They say they want to show more of the animal but increasing the printing size just a little bit wouldn't take much room. Full marks for trying to improve things but a little bit of tweaking required together with the place dividends which are crucial.

Richie if you don't want to vote for a party then put your voting papers in blank. This will then count as a protest vote which are usually 30-50 thousand per election.. Personally I like the look of the DemocracyNZ party who look the best of the minor parties and are getting a good following around the country.

Thank you so much Walt. Boy those calls still make the hairs on the back of the neck stand up, and bring back fantastic memories. I really do think he is the best caller we have had although Reon and Peter Kelly came close.

As a very young child listening to David Clarkson call the races over the radio. His calls were sheer excitement to a youngster. Later on going to the races with my father really hooked me on particularly the trots.

Have a good look at what Matt King of Democracy NZ is saying. We need new blood in parliament to force out the ones who have imposed hardships and poor health on us all in the name of Covid.

Many thanks Chief Stipe for the info. It certainly is a lot better than it looked watching the sales, and as you say those figures will improve.

Me too Honestjohn. The mobile starts were brought in to ensure every horse got a fair start and there would be less breakers. But with the mobile going like hell at the start, drivers hanging back and giving a start to the others (unless the horse can't keep up of course) and no penalty to a driver for not being up to the arm or close second row this just shows that mobiles havn't improved the starts much at all. Sprint races with a wide draw you are out of it on most occasions, but with a stand a good beginner still has a chance.

Dexter Dunn.

As a youngster surely Carter would have learnt a lot from Dexter even though he was quite young himself, but what a driver. Carter drives like Dexter in a tight finish too.

Agree it is an awkward starting position but horses break at all starting positions whether stand or mobile. It is not good for those drawn wide but you can factor that in when selecting a bet, and it does provide something different as long as it is not over used.

1) Arapaho 2) Adore Me 3) Armalite.

Roman, he got that from Dexter, who I think was the first driver to use the go hard from the 800 to the 400 and take the sting out of the opposition.

I don't want to get into an on going argument but those who think Brodie is wrong in what he says will find out before too long that he is right. Chief Stipe is also correct when he says it is not health driven. If the Government were being honest why are they not telling us how to alleviate symptoms when catching the virus, instead of having to find the information on the internet ? Why also are many brave doctors speaking out against the vaccine. Unfortunately so many NZers believe everything the media and the government and now the health department tell them. I have had the first jab so far against my will because I want to go and watch my grandchildren play sport and go to the races. Great, we are now a socialist state run by a dictator.

The 50-60-70s were great days in the sport with large crowds, big fields with divisions etc creating an exciting atmosphere which is lacking these days. Also David Clarkson's calls ending with his "neck and neck, stride for stride" nearing the finish and sometimes the "I wont place it" in a very close finish has never been bettered although Reon Murtha was a close second particularly in his early days. You have brought back many happy memories Chief Stipe with that list of drivers and the horses mentioned. Thank you.

These idiots who come up with rules that are not practical and then prosecute good "kind" drivers such as CJ are drunk with power, and obviously have had no race day experience to any great level. The rules were in place to penalise overdue use of the whip where it was bordering on abuse, but these ridiculous variations are just a way for the powers that be to collect money and show how powerful they are. That evidently satisfies there egos and makes them feel "big" men. It is a shame because most drivers are doing their best to get the best out of their horse for the punter and owner without "hammering" their charge. They love horses otherwise they wouldn't be in the game. Messrs DeFillipi and Negus spoke well and tried to explain to them the problems but the idiots didn't want to know.

Thanks for that Davis. On looking at the replay I was a bit hasty in my judgement of the drive and admit I got it wrong.

It certainly didn't look good when Cosmic Major was driven to sit one out without the trail when in that small field there was no need. Could have been over confidence by Williams perhaps, but I do hope the drive is looked into with reasons given.

Not sure if he went back to Australia, but if he did how much would it have cost NZ Thoroughbred to pay for quarantine. They could have called on Davey Mac for a one off help out, although he may have told them to stick it.

Must have had a really big magnifying glass to reach that conclusion. For that penalty you would have thought they had thrashed their horses.

You have driven a lot of horses have you?

Perhaps he is on a contract that still has time to run. Being ex police he will know just how much he could cost the club if they sacked him.

I am sorry galah but I have been watching standing starts way back to when Ron Carter was the Addington starter and never have I seen so many shambles of starts as in the last few years. That Italian Lad race was the doozy of them all. Some standing, some walking, some running and the front line in the shape of an arc.

He doesn't seem to know the difference between a trotter and a pacer as well.