Special Agent

How does that make you feel curious? Left out?

And what hasn't already been sold off at Trentham.

I'd say Ellerslie, Avondale, Awapuni and Riccarton (even the small amount left still owned by the club). Not sure about Pukekohe. All would be worth squillions more than the country courses preferred for selling.

Feilding racecourse should still be in operation. I think there are very few members left in the clubs that joined RACE but, someone might have more factual details on that. It proves how useless these amalgamating deals are to the clubs losing their land.

Have clubs had this in writing Huey? What sort of clubs would be interesting as some of the worst performing have the most valuable land.

Reading the Wanganui Stipes Report it seems there were quite a few horses shying, running off, and generally green or wayward. Hard to fathom with the number of practice events in Central.

I'm not sure how many movies you've worked on or how many horses you have ridden in work Gamma but, what you see at the races is the finished product no matter how it has got there, and do you think all those movies are completed in one take without any discipline?

Just another area of racing on the not so champagne turf that smacks of unprofessionalism

I notice there was a BYO area on offer. I wonder how patronised that was. Drink prices oncourse last week were eye watering.

No. Have you ever seen so few spectators at such an event? $50 entry for general admission is steep. They seem to be trying to be something they aren't. Perhaps the WRC should look at what Flemington do away from the carnival and for that price include a $30 food and beverage voucher, a book and punters club ticket.

Yes. Normally there are two paramedics with backpacks patrolling at Trentham. Not sure how equipped the ambulance bay is these days, or if Lisa Allpress was conscious and able to utilise that while the race ran. Unfortunate timing with two ambulances being required with the Upper Hutt incident with a vehicle hitting 4 pedestrians, that's how it sounded anyway.

Newmarket, wash your mouth out. We've not long got the Wellington Cup back to 3200m. I think you'd have to say the experiment in reducing the distance failed. The topweight is interesting to me in the fact that, in my opinion, stake money aside he's not much above the level of the rest of the runners. If he bolts in it may encourage other Aussie trainers to venture across the Tasman whilst stakes are high. Personally I don't know how we can have a topline 2 mile field without adequate programming and lead up races. Horses through the grades need to run over a distance before getting into the higher ratings. Be keen to hear what others think. It's a bit comical hearing the comments on course about the big crowd in attendance. There are more workers than spectators. There's no public stand, no patrons infield and very few in the stand. On the jockey injury, is it too expensive on Wellington Cup Day to have two ambulances at Trentham?

Nobody in authority cares.

For instance, the whip rules also apply to trials and jumpouts and I've never seen a Stipe take a rider aside there either.

I'm not saying they shouldn't. Just asking if anyone has seen it policed at the trials on the same terms as race day before. I don't believe there should be a "win at all costs" mentality, even if trying to sell.

Gary Stewart in charge at Matamata. Brady Jones in charge at Te Rapa.

I see on today's Te Rapa Stipes' Report Sam Weatherley was issued a warning for one of his rides at the Matamata trials. Has anyone seen this happen before?

Any feedback on how the dogs now in the US are going?

It shouldn't make any difference what the race is.

This is a stupid conversation. Why are you blaming the south island trainers? You all need to go and sit in on some of these meetings. You have no idea. If NZTR are not programming suitable races what is the point trialling to be all dressed up with nowhere to go. Just like Kevin Stott said about jockeys not being listened to, do you think the trainers fare any better? Every group of administrators that come along are more stupid and more ignorant and arrogant than the last. Freda keeps pointing out the disconnect.

The punishment was harsh and he looked hard done by to me. When was the last time a jockey was fined $4K here?

I thought part of the Entain/Government deal meant relinquishing the pokie money. Maybe that's changed.

A big effort making other clubs in Australasia look pathetic.

Integrity is an odd word to be associated with a gambling industry. Thomas, why do you think many were up in arms about the loss of various revenue streams through the TAB, like the pokies? The entire industry is funded in some form by punters who invest through the TAB, and as such they often refer to themselves as the life blood of the industry.

Tauherenikau is a club which draws a good Christmas crowd for the gallops, much like Thames. How did the latter's meeting go at Te Aroha, or wherever it ran?