Gammalite

Big as you can get is Competing at the World Championships. been watching these with my son to see the best athletes on the planet perform Currently being run in Japan, it's a man instead of a horse , that has conquered the World for New Zealand in a steeplechase. This is a Huge accomplishment in NZ sport history, and as big a result than any horse could achieve over the fences. Victory in the time-honoured 3000m Steeplechase. World Athletic Champions from down under are very few and far between , so well done to Geordie Beamish . World Champion !! Sat 5 back on the inner conserving energy, then Flashing home late to win and beat the Moroccon and Ethiopian track stars at Double Figure odds. Great stuff NZ !!! 🏆

A bit harsh. NZ feature races fields have been dominated by Multiple Runners from stables for years too. Currently Telfers and Cullens , but Dunns and Allstars big players at that too. and Williamsons and Hacketts in the trots. so nothing new. The Sires Stakes and state breeders division racing is dominated by Emma Stewart Victoria , and Dixon/ McMullen in Queensland for sure . But is only 2 groups of races throughout a season. Good on the stables winning that win them consistently. Mark won the Sires stakes at Addington 9 years running . (with several quinella's too) excellent. different horses every time UNDERLINES their incredible Ability as trainers. The Derby and Oaks in each state are completed for by Interstate and International runners for years , so is FABULOUS racing. Mark and Barry winning several over here over the years. Mark even won the last One run in July . The $150,000 QLD Derby won by Rubira. (Mark even used a local driver to defeat your team driving claims ) 😋💰 so Allcomers have their chance Every race , whether you perceive team driving or not. But of course I agree the public perception is not great on harness racing anymore , as even though you and I and BOAY people can witness and recognize the outstanding performances being achieved these days ( all sorts of records being broken by the participants) the lousy 'dollar' being invested will rule over their tiny brains. Not worth backing Allstars runners or Leap to fame etc, so the product is POOR. and they'll bet on the gallops instead. Fair enough . If they're in it for just for the money. (like Brodster or NowoeNever) I'm not. I'm in it for the participants . always. smaller the Field the better. Go Cambridge !!!

that is so cool. sort of fits the image I still have of Bernie too. was a very relaxed young chap. 😆. Glad to see his daughter driving quite exceptionally well most of the time and carrying the stable colours high for him. well I hope they had great turn-out for Oamaru yesterday . to see the great Mark Purdon win 3 out of 4 , and a very impressive Cullen Trifecta in the Flying Fillies. Must be a chance of Trifecta in the NZ OAKS in Nov too. the Cullen team are wonderful trainers. Any Chance of Don't Stop Dreaming taking the Cup ? I'm still 'Akuta' keen myself. As for the harness punters, well NZ sure to have a lot more there than Aus. as you were saying at your workplace the people were keen there even. for horse punters = Australia have a very large Thoroughbred industry with racing every day , and near world's best Galloping trainers and jockeys . That is something NZ has , and should be proud of ) in the Harness Racing ranks . (best trainers and drivers going) with decades of experience. so is no surprise to me NZ has (or had like Brodie 😉 ) much more harness punters. Ten years ago I would attend the TAB on Saturdays quite often. to bet and yak with mates , and late in the day Only one Chinese bloke was left in the last hour before closing ,between 5 and 6 as all the trots first 2 races kicked off in Vic , NSW, and QLD. None of the galloping blokes remotely interested in putting a cent on the trots. In Fact , they bagged the product and didn't like it at all. I was a little horrified, but that's just the way it is. is like comparing soccer , which they loath , to NRL, which is popular. Sport should be enjoyed for the great performances. I've even been watching Europe cycling Grand tours during the Winter. Not tempted to bet on it at all , but just admire the athletes. awesome.

This is it exactly. It used to be so hard to win I remember one Auckland stable I used to attend at weekends, had about 30 horses , with only a handful of them being race winners, and those that were only had about 1 or 2 wins each mostly in the slow grades. There was a pair of C5 and C8 pacers though that were the 'stars' of the stable and could compete at Alexandra Park. most South Auckland Stables only won a race a month on average. Roy and Barry Purdon , and Charlie Hunter/Smith had about 2 wins each training (average every meeting), so were the stars of the show, and the exception to the hard to Win . Every win really counted as a a huge achievement to every other stable , and meant something. and was celebrated like a Big Deal for sure. even a maiden Win was a thrill. Nearly all fields were 14 runners everywhere is the reason. Just too hard to win with 14. The racing was excellent last night NZ as usual. I laugh at you guys complaining about it every week on forums. Is so much better than the Aussie product. I feel like the Aus horses look better though (as in more tractable) as get more experience , as have LOTS of race starts and end up being experienced Pros' just like their drivers and trainers. Where as NZ has a few 'Greenhorns' lol. that last race at Addington was funny. those horses had that much gear on , it looked like a Tack shop , and the leader wiped out half the field too. A GREAT REASON to JUST have 8 HORSE FIELDS . They all had room to take evasive action and not crash or gallop , except for the Favourite of Bob Butts sadly , CRYSTAL flattened out the back. (Thankfully Bob won the 2nd last race just prior with DYNASTY for his mum and dad, in a great drive in the 8 horses field , which was an excellent race too. Eight runners meant that ALL the mares had a chance to win. And so was a good spectacle for the Punters and the owners) Meanwhile at Alexandra Park in the last race, old mate BERNIE Hackett on the 2nd horse Happy Hill, is in trouble with the Stipes for the bad body language you mentioned of 'Was he trying?'🤣 didn't even pull the ear-plugs lol . On ya Bernie !! 😎 Love his work after all these years , but better get Crystal driving ALL the Team mate 🤣 How good was Tony Herlihy megastar though ?? 2 wins and with a 2nd place on his 'Pink' trotter from 3 drives. Best driver in NZ for decades (not counting Allstars) and still winning after All these Years !! A total legend of the sport and statue should be made of the great man. 🏆 A Stunning drive by Tony on the Rogerson trained Trotter , to easily win the Feature 2 year old trot. That race a PRIME example of the advantage of 8 horse fields giving youngsters a chance to 'Balance up' early in the race WITHOUT losing their chance. Only 1 of the 8 galloped. You need room with those learners. EIGHT runners was ideal , and it was a great race because of that. Gives them All a chance without getting any of the knocked over / held up / caught wide/ or just chances ruined by some Desparate mug trying for runs that aren't there 😎 and All that sort of stuff👍 well done Tony H , and NZ trotting for great racing again Friday night lights. special stuff.

I think you do know. The reality is they don't want to win every start. You'd get too tight a rating too quickly . Best to run a heap of placings In-between the wins . works well with the ratings system. The company at Auckland with Barry Purdon and Ray Green runners are just too good. (and Hackett and Herlihy in the trots) so you need these Cambridge races to give the Donnely and Chilcott and Teaz type horses regular runs. Six horse fields should mean a win every six starts. So that's better than the one win our country horses get once every 9 starts in the 9 horse QLD fields. (on average) That happens all the time to go with the scenario I just described. Racing Completely won by the Barrier draw in low class events, no matter who is driving. So it Leads to Very 'Boring' racing at Cambridge ( and Redcliffe and a gazillion Aus locations) as you and Brodie describe it. So a 'better watch' is the fast class like tonight at Alexandra Park /Addington. Standing starts sort of ruin it a little at times like we saw with AKUTA last week, but stands have been around since time began , so have to suck it up I spose 🙄

It is the Point. The racing at Cambridge is Important . Many many north Island tracks have been closed in past years and there's barely any left 😧. This has BEEN HAppening for Years . It's not a recent developement at All. Ruakaka, New Plymouth , Hutt Park , scenes of some great action for many. Now Out the Gate. and some say Cambridge is a Burden on the system ? it's in the Waikato , great horse country ?. SURELY surely you should see the need to run it ? , whether it's 45 horses or even less ? Once you stop running =It's over. I HATE the idea of selling Franklin as the ATC already in crippling debt will be out of business if DON"T HAVE ASSETS (and somewhere for the good Pukekohe folk to train as well) or reduced assets is just asking for trouble. Victoria still trades and run's races the same as NZ (same population) even while 80 mill odd in debt , because it has the ASSET of MELTON Park track. most of the country tracks still function because people CARE , and still race them when 45 or 86 horses turn up on the day. It's a Sport. Let them race. If you're worried about half sized fields then Cut the prizemoney in half then. it probably will come to that at some stage. Stopping them altogether is silly though. I remember being Matamata on-course only meeting once racing for $1000. Lightning Blue won his Very first start that night. Shipped off to Aus then. And came back to Addington 2 years later to win the Interdominion and NZ CUp double. was easier for the horse at Cambridge 🤣😉👍 Auckland has many Millionaire owners who pour thousands into the game in yearling purchases , training and driving to WORLD class levels by the participants , and Metro Class fast horses . Of COURSE they should race for the BIGGER dollars. more the merrier. Don't let the gallopers owners/trainers have it all 😅🏇. ENTAIN have PLENTY💰 The HRNZ is doing the best they can for those still going. I get the point that it's not a great betting product , but as you pointed out with your thoughts on Menangle driving, and QLD race driving, it's not a great betting product in Aus either. I don't even watch most of the races. Just if someone I know is in it. In FACT No-one in Brisbane barely knew the Interdominion was on .No ads. no nothing. I could of asked a thousand people, anywhere in Brisbane, who won the Queensland Derby at Albion Park and would be likely to get ZERO correct answers. the game is gone.

Well they have had meetings and introduced things. There's more feature racing and great things happening in NZ harness to list here. Including Dean Shannon getting /pushing ENTAIN involvement in Nz harness racing , leading to the Great prize-money and races that are in effect currently. Resulting in Enormous Australian Participation in the racing, the likes I've never seen in my lifetime , the past 3 years . The ENTAIN NZ Tab contract is 25 years. They won't stop dead at 5 years Brodster. They will continue to subsidise harness , as their sub-branch of LADBROKES does here in Queensland. adjustments made as they see fit. The difference being in QLD , we have many week to week horses racing . It is quite boring as NZ recognizes ( just the same as Cambridge no doubt) but peoples livelihoods depend on it , and the owners here get a 'Return ' because of our regular Nine horse fields. They should win 2 races every 18 starts in 6 months as the goal of achievement . This keeps them in the Sport. This is what Cambridge and Manawatu does. It's good . excellent even. If you're MISSING a 3rd PLACE divvie' because the field is less than 8 in size ? Is THAT the be-all and end-all of NZ harness racing for Punters there ?? Can't BE ?? I can't believe it. seems such a strange thing to worry about. I put most of my bets on the Football. Like most Punters now a Sports Bet is much more better value than an obscure trotter in a far flung place to risk your dollars on. In football There's Only TWO starters and Returns are often and calculated. But 6 horse fields are good too at the trots. The best horse /driver can usually win without bad luck. My replies are based on the small sarcasm I feel i'm reading here mate. that inspired you to another thread of the same stuff . Just trying to offer you excuses/ and reasons it is Indeed GOOD to have these meetings (STILL)

They take a few thousand per year to pay very mild stakemoney, to Good, Hard working New Zealanders. Begrudging anyone a GO in their Sport and/or means of livelihood is pretty poor form imo. and should be Everyones opinion who loves the sport. they Should be encouraging and mentoring and rewarding. to keep the sport alive . Once it's gone (like Hutt and Forbury and Gold Coast ) it's gone. Gone. makes no difference to you Severe critics in the South Island , who seem to wish it to happen with all the hate of North Island trotting'. a shame it came to that. Good on the trainers going around today , and their young drivers. the future of the sport. Grizzling over dollars ? gotta spend it on something. Buy a Standardbred yearling boys and SUPPORT the Sport . Victoria operates at operating debt each year. -24 mill last year. approaching around 80 mill total I believe. But HRV still supports the participants across the state with races , nearly every day. thousands of peoples work depends on it. adjustments are made each year You blokes are the opposite? . just worried because of the odd 6 horse field . lol. 😂 what a Stupid thing to worry about really , in these days and times when a RESULT is very helpful to cover costs. I TELL you again . The small fields are good for owners, trainers, drivers and Punters as you can GET RESULTS consistently . enough to pay the way of the Horses in training (which is expensive these days) and the winners pays the same as it would in a 10 horse field generally for punters, as the Pool is more concentrated on less horses, which elevates the price of the winner to a better level. I'm not gunna try and explain the mathematics of that as is probably not in the Capability of most ( That don't recognize the laws of averages and numbers as the reason for success rates ) six horse fields should be the Norm to compete with the law of averages. the only persons that todays racing at Waikato doesn't suit, is the North Island haters you see on NZ harness forums. seems an Embarrassment to your nation and to the once great Sport of Harness racing.

Wellington a fabulous place for racehorses then Chief. Should of given him a race start to thrill the locals.😎 Great pictures on his ship you posted Chief 👍. was just reading a funny story where Phar Lap not only had a sand roll on the ship as well, but used to Jack up a bit when Tommy wasn't around so Tomm had to eat in the Bosuns cabin so the horses could see him , and sleep beside his stall as well. I would think it is the human that has the 'Connection' issues and not the horse, but that's what they say anyway. Have never found a smarter horse than any dog myself. But I guess if you're a famous in history one , the stories become elaborate.

with the long ocean voyage, makes sense to have a stopover in beautiful windy Wellington for a few days ? I think he would have taken the usual International freighter between Aus and Nz for part of the journey ,and then had to wait for the Big ship to America some time after. What would it be ? 3 weeks on a ship NZ to USA 1931 ? something like that. Wellington probably had the International Port being somewhere in the middle of NZ.

Probably the 2nd option you put there out of A B or C. Eye Keep Smiling is the Best mare in Australia and can run 1.49 . The fast pace suited her , and she flashed home from the back to just miss. (needed 5 more metres and would of won. But the fast 26.4 3rd quarter is nothing new. For the last 3 years now since Leap To Fame and Don Hugo adopted this tactic to win Interdominions , Miracle Miles and that. ( and you saw first hand at Cambridge in the slot race ) they just torch the opponents down the back straight and wander home in 28 seconds or so. It's just the way it is done these days in Open class Racing. The Janitor is a very good horse. But when they 're going lickety Split 1.47 bat . a lot of good horses can get the speed wobbles lol. 🤣. He was trying to gallop in his gear a few times to go that hot pace I think. Just not used to it. Vinnie Knight used to gallop a lot of his horses flat out in training (with out hopples obviously) , so they get used to going Fast lol. I saw him go six laps fast gallop, on the morning of a big race in Adelaide once. Stepped out and won the feature races that night no trouble at all lol. ( mind you races were 1.58 MR then , Not 1.48 😂😂)

Was exactly a year ago Chief. What happened to her was after the great win in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield on August 31 last year. she went to Flemington for the big Mares race, the LET's ELOPE Group 2 . But as Luck would have it a very Heavy Hailstorm Hit the course right in the middle of that race. So she got smashed in the face and lost all confidence after that. Can't blame her . Even the tough old Standardbreds would have trouble getting over something like that. An Ice Blast right in the face. while travelling at 50kph. Big job to get your horse back after that. But the Te Akau team have done it ! congrats to them for the Big Win last Saturday 🏆. She's a great mare.

yes the 100-1 winner (old kiwi CYA ART) in the Group 1 FFA, was lucky to get the run up the fence from 3 back inner in the running . the leader was driven by a catch driver for Luke McCarthy because he had 2 horses in it , so drifted out slightly . which is unusual. and caused tightening. The horse 4 back on the fence of Emma Stewarts came through and piled into the back of the race leader that was tiring. The junior driver showing her inability to be in a Group 1 contest. and galloped out of it. was a chance too. without a passing lane as you say, it was way to hard for her to deal with . even with a 400m long home straight lol.

and speaking of Grimson. SWAYZEE just resumed at Menangle unplaced in the Group 1 Len Smith Mile a few minutes ago . They went 1.47.5 !!!!!!!!!!!!! just flat out the whole way. Swayzee sat parked out and gone by the home turn. Old NZ horse CYA ART won it from the pole draw at 100-1 . Cya Art Did get 3rd In the Interdomnioin Grand Final in July though , so is no slug. Only a Neck between the first 5. EYE KEEP SMILING enormous for Luke McCarthy . The Grand mare roared home from the back of the field after drawing 10 and having to go to the back. ran 3rd and would of won in another 10m .

Pretty good. Looks like you're been reading a few true-crime threads lol 😅🤣 better than those ' crime fiction novels' I spose. You speaking of drugs and stuff which are sadly rife through the community. I guess the horsepeople moving about is a way to shift them a bit around the country . Feds catch so many with phone records and tracking is how they do it. The amount of community crime and drug busts by the Feds and all sorts of stuff like that are just going crazy at the moment. Huge weekly events . The Tabacco war is in FULL Rage right across the country in Aus with arson, illegal imports , all sorts of stuff, practically every day. Just five days ago this even (article below) warehouses of the stuff . just up the road. there's that many people involved in crime they'd fill the prisons if they arrested the lot. Meth and hard drug imports are seized every week too. to think > People used to go to the trots or races for a bit of entertainment once ? . Not so much nowadays ? 😅😂. probably no one even knows the Eureka is on tonight. The galloping guy host just shrugged it off on tele today , saying he didn't know what it was. (the harness Everest equal) and we had 2 channels broadcasting 40 gallops as every Saturday. Harness racing absolute ZERO. not even an Ad. In short: More than $70 million worth of illicit tobacco, cigarettes and vapes have been seized north of Brisbane. In a joint operation, the Australian Border Force and Queensland Police Service executed warrants across 17 storage facilities last week.