Gammalite

One of the un-heralded greats of the harness track , has finally reached his lifetime achievement award . One of my favourite horses ever. can still run near 1.51 now lol. TURN IT UP joined a special group of horses that raced for years on end , racking up $100,000 quietly each season for 5-6. years . And last Saturday the young New Zealander new on the scene out-finished him . youngster WHO's DELIGHT taking the win after arriving from Dunn's. But 2nd place Prizemoney was enough to carry him over the magic $1,000,000 earnings, a spot reserved for the true greats of harness history. Turn It Up had won an Auckland Cup in his younger more athletic days 😅 for owner Mark Purdon . (he's raced here 5-6 seasons on lease for Natalies sister Vicki Rasmussen once the kiwi's got to quick for him , like stable-mate Self Assured and Co.) here's a part clipping of a tribute to him this week . Who's Delight sneaking up the inside of the old Warrior to take the Win . But he tried hard as always. Turn It Up reaches magic milestone 02 March 2026 | Jordan Gerrans Shane Graham would have loved to achieve the rare milestone with a victory, but nonetheless, he was chuffed to tick past the magical $1 million mark with veteran speedster Turn It Up on Saturday evening. Renowned for his lighting gate speed, Turn It Up has been chipping away at reaching the rich prizemoney level in recent months. The 11-year-old did so finally on Saturday when he went within a head of beating the Grant Dixon-prepared and driven Whos Delight in the Junior Free For All event over 1660 metres. The popular pacer joins an esteemed list of Sunshine State racehorses who have earned $1 million or more in stakes across their careers. Turn It Up was welcomed into the ‘millionaire club’ alongside Leap To Fame, Blacks A Fake, Colt Thirty One, Flashing Red, Be Good Johnny, Slipnslide, Fleur De Lil, Washakie and For A Reason, among others. Trainer and driver Graham has considered retirement for his evergreen gelding in recent times and was hopeful of achieving the prizemoney milestone with a victory and then pacing into retirement. “For a split second, it looked like it was going to be that way on Saturday night, but the other horse was too good for us,” he said. “You don't get too many opportunities to train a pacer that's earned $1 million. “I have had the horse for so long, it was pretty great to get it. He's been at that level for so long now, he's just kept sort of turning up year in, year out. “He races the best and he is always facing the new kid on the block that is coming through.

Chief has more class than that. needs a suit to wear to the races .😋 (we love ya Chief ) ya looking great buddy

Spot on by you Mr Galah. Swayzee after getting the lead after half a lap was an unstoppable force. Repelled the strong bid by Leap To Fame to hold him off well. The Fast ones and the BIG ones were action tonight . KEAYANG Zahara winning by lengths at Melton on their trotters night in the Just believe Group 1 trot . Gus destroyed the trotters in Brisbane too trotting home a brilliant last quarter from the back of the field. Also in Brisbane Greg Mitchell's new Purchase from NZ has won his first 2 starts in junior FFA's . WHO's Delight . defeated my old NZ fav horse 'Turn It Up' 2nd. looks like he's being super - seeded lol😂 At Menangle Don Hugo blasted to a victory in the FFA , and in the Paleface Adios Classic CAPTAIN"S MISTRESS was so impressive I think she could be the Best yet ? She Left the field struggling by lengths behind in 1.49. She is Supersonic and will be a match for Don Hugo or Leap To fame anyday . and also Mick Boots New star horse was in action at Menangle . Introducing to you the 'Jamal' Oz equal horse = HOLLYWOOD STRIP. could be the next Superstar the way he's going. Hollywood Strip , a Sweet Lou 3 year-old, made it 7 from 7 with another easy win. Has gone 1.50 miles his last five starts now (including some as a 2 yearold last Spring) for trainer-driver Brad Hewitt. is going to test Jamal and the kiwi's real hard at some stage in a Derby or two or the Velocity even. so the PICK 6 for me tonight backing the best ones going of Keayang Zahara $1.04, GUS $1.28, Who'sDelight $1.80, Don Hugo $1.04, Captain's Mistress $1.05 and Hollywood Strip $1.24. WON and Paid $3.24 🤣😂💰 😎 retired now

and Greatest

you're a good trainer of trotters. so keep at it. Victoria is really taking off with trotters . In fact 8 of the 9 races at Melton on Saturday night are trots. something they have a lot of in Victoria to cater for all classes of trotters. The Group 1 is a Keayang Zahara benefit race though lol 🤣 A few good kiwi trotters trainers made the change to Victoria so well worth considering if you wanted to really enjoy your craft, and win some TROTS. Young Tristan Larsen still driving for ex-pat Brent Lilley , who has several group 1 wins training , and also ran 2nd in the TAB trot last year Cambridge with his star horse. they surprisingly only have 2 in on Sat. and another kiwi Kiwi Trotter trainer Richard Brosnan has done well. None in this Saturday though. Richard and Son Emmett winning the Interdominion trot Final 3-4 years ago with Maori Law and win trot races all the time in Vic. Another disgruntled kiwi trainer Kyle Marshall from Cambridge arrived a couple of years ago and does well. He has the favourite in race 2 . Alas the prizemoney in Victoria is very low these days , as not a lot of betting on them these days. Kyle's horse picks up just 3-4 thousand per win from it's 4 wins so you have to get used to that with the state of the economy. so has about $20,000 earned . but it's just a sport , and a wins a win . Auckland has several great trotter trainers like BarryP , the Dickies, Balle , Hacketts ,McGowans, Herlihy, Mark with OscarB, Chilcott , Dr Chin should retire (but whatever) and several more even . What they should do is Double the prizemoney , Double the trot races number . and that would double the number of trotters competing . and get them off correct rating races too . Dunn's even sent some there for a while like 'Bounce and Beyond' and 'BraveheartHighlander' so they would support the trotting too no doubt. send all the Pacers to the South Island and have the North exclusively trotters and greater than Sweden . 😅 🏆 And MAKE AUCKLAND the Trotting Mecca OF the World for trotters . Bigger and better than Sweden even. Run the richest trots in the world . NZ has had world class trotters (and trotter trainers) for decades. they should still try and prosper from such. The upcoming 'TAB trot' has made the Aussies look good so far , so has lifted the Aussie game. Look what GUS did in NZ. and QLD is Not even a Trotting state lol. So things are Possible if you aim Big.

are you talking about the people, the horses or the trainers ? lol. or just burn down the building . There's seems to be no one in New Zealand that can do anything right . lol . Com'on Brodster . How could that archaic system ever work ? it never really did. I could give you bucketloads of examples of horses 'Reaching their Mark ' within a couple of starts and just being sold off to Aus. even from when I was in NZ. Lets look at Rangiora for example . Most of the races have been handicapped beautifully by the Handicapper and the races have contestants that are close on Ratings points . 35-40 , 41-50 etc. Jason wants to sack and burn HRNZ though , just a BOAY forum normal thing these days it seems ? 🤣😅😋😂 EXAMPLE The trot has Sods Law (15 wins ) off the front as a 38 rated horse. Rachmaninov (also 15 wins ) is off 30m as a 53 rated horse. Brilliant !! the great rating system ALLOWS the OUT of FORM horses to drop back in grade when they're out of form . AND there ARE PLENTY of Out of Form Horses around All the time. So you'd have those 2 old time trotters unable to race because of a tight DINOSAUR life time win handicap??? ,and they would be FFAer's and taking on Muscle Mountain at every start. That's just a joke mate. LIfetime wins????? . not really an option EXAMPLE 2 . we just had our SLOW Horse race day at Redcliffe today. As we do every Thursday to GIVE ALL horses in training a hope of a race win . 2 of the Maiden class rated races . Thats 30 - 40 rated (the lowest rating you can get) were won by a lifetime 9 win horse and John Mc's own horse Crime Time (currently rated 31 after a long run out of outs ) won race 5 . his 25th lifetime wins from 300 starts. The old bugger is closing in on $200,000 earned. and won today in 1.59.5. the absolute fastest he can go. the 2 winners in next class up today (41-47 rating ) have 19 career wins each. How good is the Ratings ?? fantastic. The STUPID Lifetime wins idea would have him having to take on Leap To Fame . instead of Beginners grade and just above, and winning today lol.🤣 LONG LIVE the Genius who made the Current Rating system. More brilliant Ingenuity for harness racing.

Win a lot of races those tangerines 🏆 , and Damask Rose wasn't far away down there on the rail Sat. Leap To Fame , our best pacer was just $42,000 at the yearlings sales , and now won over $5mill. there was great prices this year at the Standardbred sales. Full brother to the 'Horse of the moment' Captain's Mistress went for $180,000. quite a bargain. Think the most a trainer charges NZ is $75 day roughly ? at Dunns. I remember training a horse for a bloke in the early 90's for $75 a week lol 😂 and i'd shoe em' for $30 lol. we didn't race for much dough though. just the fun of it. 4 blokes doing 25 horses, racing 3 times per week (and sometimes 4 if went to Gold Coast) no days off. ever. How Much Per Day for a horse is the Usual (or Average ) Cost at a Gallops Trainer these days Chief ? or don't you know. I think it would be pretty large as engage a lot of staff ? the yearling Prices are staggering too. 🙄

well I think they do. All races are carded to be run Annually. So that's only once a year. We have 4 slot races in NZ . Once a year is not gunna hurt anyone , and made Cup week even better at Addington with the Ascent and the Velocity to make for a great racing product (Aus v NZ V your other slot holders , etc ) good bit of fun . It's a Sport . it's spose to be fun. Your big end owners like Mick Boots winning the Hunter Cup the other day with old Swayzee has over 300 horses now with over 30 trainers. He's looking out for a lot of people. Buyers like him help the breeders , etc. although he is starting to breed them himself now , as a new enterprise. We still have all our Derbies and Sires Stakes and that ( NZ and every State of Oz ) which has been the case for decades. The high end trainers set their horses for these races every year. Same at the Gallops. they have feature racing every month and people like Waller dominate with the most horses running and all millionaire owners. They Showcase the sport. We can't use Mo'Unga racing at Nelson Cup as a promotion can we ? But the 1000's going to Cambridge to see Leap To Fame , Keayang Zahara and others compete get to see the best going . Once a year . That's hardly an over-focus . And $200,000 to put it on by HRNZ ? they're in Dreamland and can't believe their good fortune . I guess you guys think someone else should get the $200,000 but ya just have to suck it up i'm afraid. The galloping clubs put on 100's of thousands💰 for Group racing every week , and you don't want a club like Cambridge to run 2 of the BEST races of the year . just once a year . for a $200,000 outlay . where they get the best horses like Leap To Fame (sensational 2025 win ) and Don Hugo last year who had won the 2 previous Interdominions, and Arcee Phoenix who went on to win the next Interdominion after winning at Cambridge in the TAB trot. Just don't have em' ya reckon ??that is best for NZ harness racing ? com'on old mate . it's not that bad .😉🏆 Here'sthe winners so far 1 Oz and 3 kiwi horses. All Aussie owned but we're the Lucky country. And support our races , and the Best in The WHole World Trainers. that we see are winning the Betcha race. I Hope THE JANITOR can join the list this year. Pete has him pinging nicely too . 2025[17] $1,000,000 Leap To Fame[18][19] Grant Dixon Grant Dixon 2:33.55 Chase A Dream Merlin 2024 $1,000,000 Merlin[20] Zachary Butcher Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan 2:35.10 Don't Stop Dreaming[21] Kango 2023[22] $1,000,000 Copy That[23] Blair Orange Ray Green[24] 2:36.3 Old Town Road Self Assured 2022[25] $862,500 Self Assured[26] Mark Purdon Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen 2:37.5 Majestic Cruiser Spankem

This is the EXACT problem with NZ Harness at the moment !! you've hit the nail on the head. Harness racing Suffers from too many folk Not wanting to SHOWCASE it. Every other Sport has Show case events for it's very best. examples : NRL has State of Origin for it's Millionaire participants , which people love more than the week to week product. they don't need to have it but it Showcases the sport. Tennis and Golf put on 'Majors' for the very best to assemble and showcase their sport. etc The Race by Betcha, the TAB trot( and the Interdominion Championships) are 3 of the pinnacle events of our sport and you don't want to have them because someone at HRNZ has to put in $200,000 ? that's hard to believe you think like that. It SHOWCASES our Sport to TWO nations . Queensland puts in $1,500,000 to run the Interdominion to run it for the next 2 years. QLD already had 2 of the last 3 of those Contests with Leap To Fame winning both. QLD travels along the same as NZ harness (on a Entain funded budget via Ladbrokes) but can still come up with a few Bucks to run the Show Case . I'm proud of them. whereas you guys just go "Waste of money" . But it's Important to SHOW CASE your sport. And appreciate the best of the best. any sport. at least once a year. We only get 2 nights of Trotting on National free to air TV in Australia . Hunter Cup night (recently where we had the Great Southern Star for trotters that Keayang Zahara won , and Victoria Cup night (October) the Interdominion doesn't even get a run on TV . That makes me feel ill , as it's the TRADITIONAL SHOW CASE of our sport with both Pacing and Trotting Championships involved. The last Interdominion Grand Final on TV was Beautide at Menangle 10 years ago . Now that's hopeless at Showcasing your sport , and just like you blokes , most participants and observers 'don't care' if it's Run or Not anymore as a direct result. I weep about that. tiz very sad for the sport. A sad state of affairs when you can't enjoy a SHOW CASE of your own sport .

Because I like you guys and you like a punt more than enjoying the Big prize racing . here's one for you to admire. In the photo above in previous post, to the far right, is a very nice NZ trotter (formally of McGowans about a year ago in NZ in the North ) that Keayang Zahara was flat out to get past here in the Group 1 Great Square trot in December. SUNSET HILL has had that close 2nd to 'Zahara' (by 2 metres in that photo above) and has Three Wins in Australia from his other 3 starts. winning each one by 4 lengths or more each time and twice in 1.55 MR. tiz a very good trotter. I think SUNSET HILL well worth a ticket or 2 in the Interdominion . and is currently 50-1 in the early markets, and is being kept in cottonwool ready to spring a surprise . ( For the place punter Brodster is 14-1 for the place) . just beautiful to throw in a multi here and there. e.g a Leap To Fame - Sunset Hill Interdominion double is 150-1 . Thank me later when we're all rich and collecting 😆😂💰👍

yes , I guess NZ's best 2 trotters in Oscar B and Muscle Mountain had their Butts kicked in both the TAB trots to date , so if Marky and the Hope team can't beat the Aussies no-one can . Those 2 you mentioned weren't even part of the Aussie Trifecta's run in the Slot trot so far either. But should be this year (along with Gus) NZ trotters have really fallen away badly recent times. Ran a gallant 2nd and 3rd in the rich Interdominion last Winter in Brisbane with Bet N Win 2nd and Oscar B 3rd, so there's always some hope if they come over. But Keayang Zahara will be here too in July for the Interdominion , so just might frighten you guys off again . She is certainly the Real Deal , and one of the most Pure trotters ever seen since Maori's Idol (the best ever) here's a photo to enjoy of the great mare winning at Albion Park late last year. Just a magnificent trotting machine.

What do you do when you're in deep shite mate ? A/ you dig yourself out. A company worth over $3,000,000,000 has bailed out NZ harness nicely. Many owners and trainers still enjoying themselves. they Won't disappear at 2 years Brodster. Stop shitting yourself about it. ATC are trying to sell assets to help with their debt. IMO selling off Training facilities of 20 trainers and 200 horses is a MAJOR mistake, and I keep praying it doesn't happen. It will only speed up the demise , like selling the Takanini training track of the thoroughbred Trainers that time by the Auckland Racing Club. just ruins it. IS Not HRNZ job to treat the public . They provide racing for the participants . and Rules for the hands on Participants too. I could go in to more detail , but you hate them already. Your fellow kiwi's putting on a sport. HRNZ are doing an amazing job of it. So much so the Aussies are back in force to capitalize on this amazing good fortune for them . The clubs put on the facility for the public . As Cambridge do each year annually for 1000's of your NZ People (public to enjoy ) along with music and that . bloody legends doing that. where's the contempt you talk about? that's just BS Brodie in your head. Did I give you THE JANITOR tip mate ?? 😉 watch out for stablemate GUS too. in the TAB Slot trot. Might as well make Cambridge Part of the Queensland racing circuit ? the way Leap To Fame kicked in last year.

I doubt I have it wrong as you say , the cost of anything these days is a strain on organisations of all types. That many pony clubs folded around here it made me near cry. Insurance is a huge cost these days for Sporting groups and social clubs of all kinds. Trotting clubs really feel it too , as have large premises. There's a lot of detail in running a club. for any sport. The Australian Turf Club Sydney went bust , even with running expensive thoroughbreds racing . Racing usually does much better than harness , as is 10 times more popular. I thought people on forums are/were supposed to be Harness racing fans ?, but offer No support to the sport . On this site anyway. Thankfully ENTAIN did for NZ and QLD harness racing, BUT you all get stuck in to them as a bad business decision ???? . hahahaha that's so ironic it's funny. And then the way the HRNZ have supported All the clubs is tremendous with the Entain funding. you blokes ONLY want to support some of the clubs. (and hardly any of the New races and concepts put in place the last 3 years.) Fancy thinking you all have the right to Allocate the funding as You see fit when it's been the job of HRNZ for over hundred years? . They know what they're doing. But keep picking on em' . The racing is better than ever. We even had driver Slot races at Albion last weekend . twas brilliant stuff innovations for plenty of people to enjoy something different. Brodie and Galah would pick it to pieces though as someone had to put up some money for a slot lol 🤣 Thankfully in OZ people make moves to keep the harness racing going, (Seymour sponsors SA trotting to keep them going for example) (Vic State Government bought land of HRV to prop them up from a $66,000,000 debt.) Entain have done the same in NZ but this forum site doesn't appreciate a company worth over 3 billion dollars helping.😂🤣 bite the God's hand that helps them lol. Using punting dollars they made too. so what goes round comes round. . Of course we want the rich Participants to do ok as in getting winners. BECAUSE They pour in the Most money to breeding and yearling sales. Seymour and Mick BOOTs with 300 horses plus each doing a tremendous job (Like Stonewall there I guess as the equal of that effort) so plenty of staff , breeders and trotting clubs benefit. Excellent stuff and never been at this Racing level before . Too high up for you blokes . probably why all the angst. Harness Racing is obviously running very light on the punting dollar everywhere. Not just because it's a very poor betting sport (things galloping out the back taking peoples money with them for example) , but Pokies reign supreme for the average gambler and returns are instant. also animal welfare is a 'thing' these days. My very own 2 children wouldn't support horse racing even though I love it. there's also the 'State of the nation's economy' for people too. There's simply better things to spend on , like your bills, rent or mortgage lol 😋 . people love all the cruises and things like that these days for recreational dollar spending. They're smart and will take a holiday rather than waste hundreds on silly horses . that may or may not be even trying lol 😅

All sorts of Sporting clubs run in debt Brodie . But they don't just give up like you do . Things are expensive to run these days. Barcelona and Real Madrid and Manchester United FC's , The BIGGEST Football clubs in the world that are hugely popular and followed by millions around the planet. and all 3 have debts over a Billion dollars. Close em' down you reckon ? would be the Brodie way lol. and just support grass roots football clubs for mugs ? the world doesn't work like that mate. The AFL clubs are hugely popular here but the only reason they stay afloat and are not in debt as well, is the Pokies at their club Social rooms that generate enough for them to pay the staff and participants of their clubs/sports It's hard to make money as a sports club Brodie. ENTAIN make money from betting around the world and prop up what ever sports they see fit. They helped NZ harness , and will probably continue to do so . the amount it costs them is very small . Ladbrokes helps run races in Queensland . Now we can run the Interdominion for 3 years. excellent ! and all the hacks can race weekly too. You say silly slot races at Cambridge. 🙄 One of the very best things to happen for the sport in recent years, and yet you are Sure to shoot it down as usual . the Club or HRNZ has to put in 150 to 200k to run it ? to have the Best horses in the Southern Hemisphere attend ? . a measley small amount like that? to have that major event . What Brilliance programming to promote the sport and have people (with money ) diving around searching for the next winner of it . and syndicate people too. Enormous progress for the Industry. South Islanders aren't Dumb. well most aren't anyway . as They saw how Good this is at Cambridge, and Copied for NZ Cup week to have the 'Velocity' and the 'Ascent' to support the young 3 year old Pacers and trotters as well in Fabulous slot races . Kiwi Ingenuity Mate !!! well done HRNZ . supreme racing with Supreme horses attending in 2 places now. Brodie can keep crying about the 200k they had to spend to achieve this awesome feat . Which is the Bargain of the Century and you can't even see it lol 🤣. But most will be saying How Good is Our Sport with these horses assembling. Don't forget my tip for ya too. THE JANITOR is coming to Cambridge . Buy a ticket and go and see him mate . You might get a quid lol and enjoy yourself for a change . if you open your curtains from being in the dark all the time 😂💰

Plenty of excitement still for the grass roots participants. As far as I can see , NZ is still running meetings every Sunday , and the Manawatu Club are still racing , Southland seem to have plenty of meetings.?? Is hard to follow them all with there being so many. Indeed The Galah commented on the extra money that was put in to Southland last season , and Mikey thinks there is too many meetings already midweek (at Waikato and places lie that) . so how is that HRNZ Not looking after the grass roots pressure you strive for ? overdoing it according to these blokes ? In fact your Metro Friday clubs run MAIDEN races at most meetings ? never did that much in the past . But it does give, your so-called 'poor trainers' that train bugger All winners can have a go in the city at that even if they want too. Won't get anything against Telfers, Purdons , Green, Kentuckiana and that though. so better to stay in own class. So I say it's better to have REGULAR (52 weeks a year) midweek meet at Cambridge (and/or Southland) that would Encourage the small players (with a smaller team of horses) to make a living , and regularly participate. Just like Queensland and Victoria and NSW do quite successfully. there's a race for every horse , every week available. that's Important HRNZ are getting close to achieving it as well. so are doing the best they can with the amount of participants left running. Good Luck to em ' 🏆 YES = racing horse numbers have dropped everywhere. Because the Costs are very high to run a horse these days , so if you're NOT making a living out of it , and it was just a hobby, might as well do something else these days . like me and Brodie and Galah and Chief . Go and play golf or something 😁 . or get a small Te Akau share in a horse lol . they are still popular 😂😂