eljay

Harness needs to be promoted both in the Manawatu & Taranaki. Look what happened to Hawkes Bay & Wellington and latterly Northland. Need to keep locals interests up or more followers/participants will be lost for ever

In harness no one seems to tackle the problem. But of course the first problem is to get the Southern administrators to talk to the Northern Clubs and then attempt to find a solution to this insular thinking in the game. Perhaps first move would be to get an even split of administrators from both sides of the straight. And then form committees of doers, not talkers who meet consistently not just once or twice a year.

Aaron back at Palmy tomorrow. I think Trackside do this deliberately to piss off the punters.

Yes Chief Stipe - too many rules left to make own interpretation. That case (Williams/Williamson) a classic. I'm sure an appeal would result in a different (amended) decision. I remember one of my horses was disqualified for "causing" another horse to fall. The (fallen) horse went for a gap that didn't exist, ran out of room and fell. We were blamed. We spoke to a senior horseman who said a horse fell so the authorities had to blame someone regardless of circumstances and they wouldnt blame the fallen horse. So an appeal was senseless, their minds were already made up. We lost the win - but the horse that fell never raced again. In those days the passing lane narrowed before the post at Alexandra Park - it was subsequently widened!

Doesn't a stipe check the horses brands before it goes onto the track. Surely the wrong number should have been discovered then. Very sloppy work by whichever stipe doing this job. Public & owners penalised, trainer fined, but presumably stipe gets off scot free. Will be interesting read RIB report when (if) published.

I dont either make or interpret the rules, Brodie!!

Brodie - you know that & I know that BUT that is what happens and I do NOT make the laws!!!

Don't forget mate in the run to the judge, you have to keep a straight line or they fine you!!!!

Brodie - the penalties (especially for "minor" offences) are formulated so that if you say guilty (even if you not) and smile sweetly your punishment is smaller than if you fight the charge and of course if you appeal and lose you are dinged with a heavier penalty and also the RIB costs hearing the appeal. In other words you cant win so it usually cheaper to say guilty and bite your tongue.

TAB want money. Anyone who tips is a friend. No doubt callers have been asked (instructed) to give their selections. If they tip something you dont select, they can be your friends, help your divvy!! Do you really they would trumpet their own bet????

There are so many of them (stipes) around these days that they have to be kept employed. Even stipe at a meeting who is not actually at the meeting!

Caulfield. Hope you didn't anchor it!

Like all failures, the blame must and does lie squarely at the top. Time for change, don't you think! The age old signs are showing clearly - they are holding on - and on, and on an..... The big problem is have they held on too long leaving the club so broken it is past fixing??

ATC AGM coming up mid Oct - if Auckland is out of the present lockdown. Or unless a new one hasn't started!!

Alex Park - the old stand. They selling that land - about the last bit of land they have left (LOL) so the stand will go.