Special Agent

Ronaldo, that is a particularly sad situation and brave of the Canadian Cardiologist to make such comments. New Zealanders really were railroaded into thinking they needed to be jabbed, not for their health but to continue working or be able to have coffee with friends. It's interesting you say there was not a lot of choice. To say "no" to the mRNA vaccine you'd likely have done a lot of reading and listening to non-mainstream media. If you made any comment whilst non-vaccinated regarding how difficult and restricting life was, you were promptly told "well that was your choice to not be vaccinated" or things like this from a leading female jockey "people like you make me sick, you are holding the whole country back from getting back to normal". Many, many, many Kiwis are now wishing their choice had not been pro-vaccine.

As Matamata is racing with the same fields on another day, has the meeting not been postponed?

With Allpress, Collett and D Johnson getting the bulk of the rides over the last four seasons, and all currently out of commission, opportunities for the other jockeys may not be as reducing as at first glance.

Brodie, I agree with all four points 100%. Mainstream media is a joke and I wouldn't think viewership of TV1 or TV3 news would be strong. New Zealanders must be a weakened breed now with shot immune systems to the point where minor infections and viruses could be a serious problem to many. Galah, I'm not so sure your comment regarding the National Party fully supporting vaccine mandates is factual as I believe National, ACT and the Maori Party voted against mandating the vaccines, all conveniently forgotten as time has moved on. However, on your point regarding the amount of money being sent straight out of the country by overseas workers, this is something I have been trying to explain for a long time. The idea that these people are bad for the racing industry, the economy and our country's wellbeing has been falling on deaf ears. I get sick of hearing how New Zealanders do not want to work etc when in some cases they are not actually valued for their experience or paid what they are worth. I love those figures you have provided as concrete evidence we should not be relying on workers from other countries and should be nurturing our home grown. Charity begins at home. Gammalite, I don't recall childhood vaccines being a big deal when I was young. Not everyone was jabbed but, we all had measles, mumps, whooping cough, chicken pox at least. I remember feeling really ill but, not for long and only once with each flavour. Our immune systems were/are fine. Mind you we didn't sit on our arse, eat junk food or hunch over a device. We read books, magazines and newspapers, worked two or three jobs, played sport, were respectful to our elders, had a good time and lived life. In my opinion there are too many pussies today, as the Covid Era proved. Unfortunately there will be more serious medical events such as that suffered by Gary Woodham. Any updates on his condition, hopefully on the mend. Without trivialising what happened to Gary, aren't the terms of today crass. How does heart attack become serious medical event? It sounds like junior nurses are being taught how to find a vein and take blood on a Carry On episode.

So do you think those who believe Covid vaccines are dangerous for your health are still in the minority?

I think the National Party being fully supportive of the vaccine mandates is a sweeping statement. I spoke and corresponded with many politicians during the Covid lockdowns (because I was unable to work within the racing industry) and I can guarantee not all of the individuals of the party were "fully supportive". Like many others in the country a "no jab no job" policy applied. Definitely coersion in my book. To not allow MP's who are representing the people to talk to protestors showed a definite weakness, a thought I relayed in no uncertain terms. David Seymour was the only sitting MP I could see who fronted those in Parliament grounds. Whether you follow ACT or not, those actions would have done David no harm. Good to see you reciprocating the lack of respect to Michael Guerin by calling him Mick, he hates that. The overlooking of locals is the sickest and most damning action of the Government. All political parties are screaming that we can't survive without an influx from overseas. New Zealand is already a dumping ground for substandard people in all professions. I'll get ready to be hit by a lightning bolt but, because citizens from poorer countries where racing is pretty average are willing to do almost anything to send money home to family we now employ the worst horse people in the world. The sad thing is I know there are very capable experienced New Zealanders in most regions who are cast aside for cheaper labour. When former greats of the industry talk of how riding standards are at an all time low yet they too take the cheap and nasty option, ask yourself!!

Not all of us were sucked in but, if another deadly virus hits town and the Government of the day advises us all to take some form of application will you and your family, without self investigation, willingly take whatever is being offered? Or might you say, well actually I choose not to partake in your medical trial on this occasion?

Try this https://rumble.com/v2gxr4i-silenced-nz.html

Taken down no doubt. What are they scared of us seeing?

I didn't know Covid was still a thing? Isolating for 5 days but your family can go to work and spread the deadly disease with only symptoms of a cold, maybe because it's not much more than a cold. Ridiculous to have perfectly able bodied professionals still out of work, with inferior overseas workers taking their place. Do employers not hire applicants because they haven't been vaccinated for herpes, shingles, tetanus, measles etc ? You wouldn't be looking anywhere other than the unvaccinated if you were needing a blood product to keep yourself alive.

Wouldn't have won the fair play award that day.

Hastings.

All apprentices want to be like Opie Bosson. I haven't heard one say they'd like to style their riding on Chris for a while. Surely credit where it is due. Chris spent time in the racing wilderness and still holds the record, and whilst based in the south island too. Cameron George doesn't hold a spot on the Hall of Fame panel does he?

The only errors I can see have been written by the galah, and of course Basil's statistics are awry. Sorry galah your points make no sense and, as you say, you are guessing.

Oh goodness Robalan, Gammalite and Paleface Adios were some of the best ever yet the three using these nom de plumes are quite unreasonable on a forum where it appears there is still freedom of speech and where an opinion can be aired and shared. Usually when someone has a poor or no argument they revert to some form of verbal abuse. Maybe some of us on here are talking rubbish, suckers and conspiracy theorists ... or maybe we are just more intelligent. We are certainly more healthy than anyone who willingly took the jibby jab. In racing I would have to say the trainers and jockeys who could not operate as normal because they were unjabbed look the most healthy of the lot, like two year olds bouncing off the track. As for the few who did time for producing false passes, I wonder if they were the only ones.

It does appear to be a popularity contest and strange to me to induct jockeys who are still riding. I feel there will always be an excuse for not including Chris Johnson on a list of greatness even as New Zealand's winningest jockey. I also find the order in which inductees materialise strange. The two recently retired mares have just gone in at the same time as Beau Vite, the three trainers are from different eras and how do you compare the current jockey inductee with a champion of the past, one whom you'd wonder was not already there.

Sounds like a "no" Chief.

Are you surprised by that? I liken it to being well informed yet only watching mainstream media.

Possibly but, how would we know when no one has seen what is being agreed to? We should never expect anyone in charge at NZTR to be naive or stupid. They do seem to be ignorant to legislation and have no regard for it. Racing CANNOT touch the sports betting money. Even at club level they ignore the club's constitution. If this is a form of insubordination isn't that a sackable offence?

Message from Bruce Sharrock says a decision expected by end of May on Entain partnership.

The word is 3-5 years is when the effects will be most predominant. Funny how many people are now saying I wish I hadn't had the jab. Their health obviously was not a priority.

Any update on this situation?

Yes, I don't think it is rocket science no matter how these affairs are dressed up. I don't know about anyone else but, I feel physically sick about what is going on in racing. I can't explain any of it. We can't keep looking for people to blame. There are just so many incompetents stumbling into our industry. I think what these folk have on the rest of us is the ability to talk their way out of a paper bag.

So one job, no matter how well you do in it, just leads to another and another. Real job title should be spin doctor.

What a nonsense response. No appreciation that the horse racing is the show. It indicates too that he doesn't know of Zane Tate's appointment and his contract could hardly have been discussed at board level. Was June employed solely to look after the one event on one day? Replacing her was hardly newsworthy. Why couldn't someone in the office run a best dressed competition? With wages at $1.5 million not one extra cent should be spent. Keep up the good work Freda. I wonder if others will come back with a more intelligent response.