Gammalite

and What is wrong with HRNZ doing that ? of course they'll try and Help out the famous Club. A lot of sporting clubs (and Construction and all sorts of businesses) run at a running loss , but can keep operating because of the assets. ATC has more assets than the debt. They just need a way forward . I thought for a moment that Slot races might be a help. The rich racing for Big stakes and funding themselves to run for the BIG BUCKS, so the general non-group racing could have the usual funding (ALL Around NZ) . But I've lost that arguement, and after seeing what happened with the greed in the NSW Eureka this year, I'm not keen on Slots anymore at all lol. 🤣 that idea is canned lol. The new AFLW runs at a $50,000,000 Loss per year currently (now in it's 8th year ) women's AFL football. They're not packing up and going home because of a loss on the books . They'll take some action to cope and make adjustments. The Auckland Trotting Club has great assets and Great people. The debt was caused by issues during the apartment construction Phase. Yes . they shouldn't of done it . But they did (Hoggard arranged it but died at the wrong time alas and sadly ) so now a Recovery Plan is needed. Not abandonment and neglect. These are your fellow kiwi Champion trotting folk you are talking about. Not lepers.

Yes it's a bitter pill to swallow but the sale looks the only way to clear the debt. and develop Franklin or something that they already own. Eventually the prizemoney will drop like it has all over Australia already. The Future of the Sport is dependent on Keen Participants as much as the dreaded betting . Many Australian States are worse off than NZ harness racing, and are propped up by millionaire benefactors . Betting is very 'light' these days everywhere. This is the best way forward. Seymour is currently 'Sponsoring' SA racing for millions annually just to keep it going. QLD trotting would of folded without him . am glad he got a amazing horse (LeapToFame) as a reward for his lifetime of dedication to the sport. Dean Shannon raced many here in QLD and had a stud farm as well , but is choosing to buy and race them in NZ these days, to help keep you guys afloat. What a legend !!! The late Chris Garrard from QLD did wonders helping harness racing too, in both countries. A friend of mine races in Meant To Be and about 3 others. A QLD mate owns a share in Magician (and one other) at Dalgety's too. He's happy to race a horse or 2 all the way over there in NZ, to help keep NZ harness racing going. even though can't see it race. a good man. of course the ENTAIN deal , (as Ladbrokes in Aus do) are holding up the betting side of things to help out , and stop collapse. . HRNZ is full of employees doing a great job servicing BOTH Islands. they Cannot taking a biased stand like he or anyone else on forums wants. and subject the North Island to neglect because a field of 6 started in a race and not 10. At least all the connections racing in the North are likely to earn money , unlike a heap of South Island horses that earn nothing. HRNZ are there to LOOK after ALL your NZ participants in the Sport. the prizemoney and races are calculated by computer annually and run accordingly to Service Both Islands. Perhaps shutting some of the many South Island tracks is the answer to save a few bucks? they shut Hutt Park, New Plymouth , etc in the North. well they have shut Forbury I guess , so that's a start. could save you a few bucks if that's what you're so worried about . Victoria runs at a huge loss. HRV still runs over 20 tracks as a lot of Keen participants still spread out over . they need to merge some , but how do you do it ? it's hard. people are making a living. Brodie talks like the North Island have got nothing worth racing, when really it's the better competitors who are still making a quid from the sport. the better smaller fields allow this to happen. All the North Island stables would be winning currently, unlike a lot of South ones.

How is paying some of the Best horse people in the WORLD a waste or drain of funds.? surely it's the OPPOSITE. They're paying them more than the South Island because they're Worth It. The Leading Stables of NEW ZEALAND even see the advantage in racing their and Telfer's and Dunn's compete so regularly at Auckland and Waikato , they're practically North Islanders as well. Close em' down ya reckon ? Yes I mentioned a Lot of OLD BLOKES like Barry, and TonyH and Maurice and David Butcher and Bernie Hackett who were all competing there when I was, over 40 years ago. and winning then. And still Winning Now. but their kids like the young Butchers, young Orange, Crystal, Ranger, white and others are coming through to take up the retirements. Maybe Dr Chin should chuck it in shortly though ? 🤣👍 You want to show them ALL the door ?? because you can't bet on them ?? and HRNZ pays them instead of some battlers in the South . Instead of sinking the Boot into ONE of THE GREAT THINGS OF NEW ZEALAND. The World Class Trotting at Alexandra Park that has Happened for over a Century. you should get behind it . Be a Benefactor ? you got spare cash , save the day and feel good and do something great with your final years. Race a horse in the North and knock that QLD old mate Dean Shannon off the perch lol 😅 (who has tried to help out there each year) Wolfie and Roy would turn in their graves with the Support the Trotting gets these days on Forums . Thank Goodness HRNZ is still doing a great job and putting races on for everybody. A great mob who knows what they're doing thankfully. with so many feature races through the year it embarasses what Australia can do. 💰

Probably your worst stuff yet Brodster. We have WORLD recognized horsemen of 1 Barry Purdon , 2 Tony Herlihy (MNZM) , 3 Maurice McKendry, ( MNZM) for decades at not just the Top of the North Island but near best on the planet. TAB is in Dreamland if watching these fine blokes (and their amazing families) race along with the 4 Butcher clan , the 5 Hughes family, the 6 Hacketts family win every week nearly, and even old 7 Ray Green winning a couple of NZ Cups for the North in recent years , (when the Aussies aren't winning them) 8 Arna Donnelly leads up the lady stables with many fine performances to show the horsewomen are top quality too. the next five aren't too shabby either. Mr White and Dickie and Balle and Blanchard and Stormont all capable of getting a winner or three. Probably at the next level down which is about the South Island Mr House level general Metro/country level and he's your 2nd best winnigest stable there ? so 10 North stables would be more Group racing level ahead of him then ? with 9 Stonewall man, 10 Woodlands and 11 Dean Shannon being Not just big owners but Are GIANT ones , winning that many races with Merlin (inc the NZ FFA at Addington and the Velocity and a host of others , also Young 12 Mark Purdon coming home recently too, where he was winning Interdominions for his dad Roy at a young age with Mark Hanover. The Best Stables are indeed in the North . even your leading South training ones of Dunn's are keeping a satellite stable there to keep their foot in the door, winning a trot at Alexandra Park tonight even. I think they are near permanent Northerners now. with young Jacob. so you discrediting them with being weak ? is just plain embarrassing . For their amazing achievements for decades and the NZ Order of Merit achieved by some of the participants. So did some of these TWELVE harness names i've mentioned and numbered above, ring any bells Brodie ? with how good they are ? which ones aren't making the grade in your opinion and are 'Weak' and draining your funds ? that's just a terrible thing to say mate.

He could definitely claim to be his 'equal' should he win this year . and be the equal of 5 other greats as well. This is surely Blair Orange's BIG big chance to join the list of World Champions. The winning SIX x Nz World Harness driving Champions are Kevin Holmes (1979), Robert Cameron (1983) , Tony Herlihy MNZM (1985), Maurice McKendry MNZM (1991), Mark Jones (2003), Dexter Dunn (2015)

yes that will make a big difference. they won't be used to the slightly more contact that the pacers (and therefore Blair and Gary Hall) can tolerate and dish out during a Southern Hemisphere pacers racing this will give Blair and Gary a big advantage ( although I see the first 2 Kaikoura races are mobile trots Sunday so advantage lost in those first 2 races ) Blair (Nz) and Pete McMullen (Aus) copped the same in Europe 2 years ago in the 2023 championship, finishing down the ladder driving trotters Only through the series . they're slightly more tricky to keep balanced.

I don't know about that Mr Galah. He'd have to be a strong chance of running Top 3 with Ohoka Cobra (heat 3) and Aldebaran Crystal (Heat 2) ?? Blair has driven both of those into placings in the last few months at Addington . which is much harder than here ? I actually think they'll both WIN. young Gary Hall NOT at ALL used to driving Trotters. They'll be a chance of galloping on him lol 🤣 even though he has over 4000 wins to his name , very few were trotters. and in Monday's 2 Pacing heats Gary is on the rank outsider in Heat 4 , ( the Dutch bloke looks a certainty in that heat on the nice Pacer It's Tough. should win by lengths. and in Heat 5 Gary is inside of 2nd row with a $1.80 favourite Semba. can't win from that draw unless the number one horse leads can he ? and it's the rank outsider of the field. Blair drove Gem N Em (his drive in this ) to victory at Addington just 3 weeks ago. He'll WIN this for sure at 15-1 !!!!! go the Gem !!!👍🍻💰💰

Posted By The Galah today is looking at the horses orange has drawn,it would be a surprise to see any of the 5 horses he's drawn at kaikoura run in the top 3. so you would think his chances have already taken a real dive. I guess all he can hope is he draws some of the better chances thereafter. G hall jnr has drawn what you would expect to be the 3 hot favorites in all 3 heats on the sunday and another likely favorite in one of the 2 heats on the monday. he clearly has been the luckiest from the draw of horses,by a long way. thats why the tab now have him a clear favorite.They have him at $2.50 ,which actually seems rather good given he should end up a clear leader after the kaikoura meetings,it just a matter of how far he is in front if his horses run up to their recent form. Edited 5 hours ago by the galah

Starting at Kaikoura for 5 heats the World drivers Championship will be underway from Sunday . 10 great drivers from around the world competing to be World Champion . Let's post some support for Blair Orange to take the Title and join Tony Herlihy MNZM and Maurice McKendry MNZM who won the title on NZ soil. Blair light earn himself a Commonwealth Order of Merit like those 2 great drivers should he win it . The Galah has posted some original thoughts on the first few heats , so lets discuss here . (i'll repost his post)

some great thoughts Mr Galah. I think the topic of Cambridge field size has been under the microscope for months, so hoping you don't mind will copy this interesting post about the World Driving Championship onto a New thread so we can discuss the event over the next few days. It's quite a Big event for Harness racing , and could lead to a NZ World Champion.

It'll be ok Mikey. They run the races as ratings Penalty free , and hopefully for as much as Kaikoura ($17,000 per race) to attract the locals to start their horses. The Handicapper should do a ring around to the many fine trotter trainers in the area like Balle, Hackett, Teaz, Chilcott Rogerson, stables and that , and make sure you have some great trotting action. Certainly wish them well to achieve that. afterall , BlairO must be the favourite for the series for New Zealand . and you deserve your 3rd NZ driving Champion Winner on NZ soil ( to go with TonyH MNZM and MauriceM MNZM ) and Blair might even get some NZ Order of Merit letters after his name , if he can win it !!! big local knowledge should see him home. (like young Angus Garrard had winning here in Brisbane beating Carter and Dexter among others) Best of Luck Blair Orange. 🏆 the sport (and your country) are behind you old matey 🏆 .bring home the bacon.

no. he's way to short now. RP was $7.50 when I started up the NZ Cup 🏆 2025 thread. should of backed him then 🙄. backed Akuta instead . at 11-1. he's now at 15-1 😅👍 Odds I can see today on Sportsbet are Leap To Fame $2, R.Party $2.50, Kingman $3.80, Swayzee $5.00 and DSD $9.00 What to make of the Purdon runners . well Oscar Bonavena still $4.00 in the Dominion so a nice chance for Mark and NZ to beat the Aussie 's that turn up. Muscle Mountain at $7.00 is trotting so well currently too, so must be a big chance ?

Be surprised if they improve enough to be competitive in cup…. the aussies will be hard to beat and the winner today has grown a leg Republican Party having a perfect preparation to take out the NZ Cup this year. Has had 'a leg growing' for a year now since his spendid 3rd in the Cup race last year to Swayzee. At this stage last year he was dueling with Merlin, Don't Stop Dreaming and Alta Meteor for the Cup placings , after finishing 4th behind them at Ashburton Flying Stakes, but this year , with that clear cut win over them yesterday at Ashburton (and /or last week in the Canterbury Classic) > he has proved superior to them now. Looks Ready for the Ultimate Prize Win . A NZ Cup for Republican Party . Carter's driving of him is AAA +++ quality to go with the job as well. (Akuta not quite at his level it seems this time in. But no one else is either at the moment )

Chief. Are you giving the answer to the quiz or what ??? apprentice win in Auckland Cup

you make some great points Mikey. But to me a future bet on any Footy Premiership winners , that doesn't make the final is the same as a horse not making it into the future race you bet on it in. I had to message Sportsbet (who I use for bets) to get AKUTA included in the NZ Cup Futures field. as he had been off the scene with injury for quite some time, and they forgot to put him in. and seems a chance in the race. 🏆👍 They sent back the quote 11-1 , a month or 2 ago. so have taken some of that. (combined with footy team wins like the Bronco's etc) . just a bit of fun and i'm interested in the race. don't want to wait till the day to bet on it. too keen lol. Anyone putting $1000 on a horse is madness in my opinion. It only becomes about the money then and not enjoying the racing. you're just enjoying the money. No one I know bets 1000 anyway, who would want to lose a thousand on a horse bet ?Answer/ no-one. then why do it lol , let alone bet $25,000 that you said ?? that would have to be millionaires who don't care. or a punting group Like BGP, but they operate on race-day only I imagine. You wouldn't be betting like that if you needed the money anyway. 🤣

Have you lost badly on a future market or something Mikey? you sound so bitter with them. Thousands of Punters bet on the football as the Finals approach every year, every code , even though their team mightn't even make the Final. most don't . only 2 do. It's just a fun thing to do and if you lose a few bob , who cares ? It's a chance to back your team and hope they get there . Only 2 teams will make the Grand Final and Just one will be Premier. There's a 'LOT' of losers. Why is a Horse race future market so different ?? the chances are the ones you take will start in the race , and give you a run for your money. Akuta nearly did it for me 2 years ago. (He might redeem this year yet) But it's fun trying , AND It keeps You Talking About the race !! Just like you are now. Excellent stuff !!! Get on the 'Pub Party' and Party on after the race !!! 👍🏆💰🍻

Was it this one Chief ? The young lass Gemma Sliz had a race fall injury soon after her big win it seems. I hope she repaired ok . Is she the apprentice for your quiz ? Sliz, who rode Upsetthym to victory in the group one $350,000 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on January 1, said she was "very, very sore" but was confident she would ride again. "I'm okay to ride again. It's just going to be a long time." Sliz, who is apprenticed to Upsetthym's trainer, Karen Fursdon, at Matamata, said she could recall the fall and felt her mount panicked when getting into tight quarters.

First thing I thought was the Brodster must have managed to get on somehow when it came 15-1 into 3-1. 🤣 A 27 start maiden I think it was. someone got a few bucks anyway 💰. keep them in the game a bit longer lol. Dover Terrace won the last with a leg in the air too , having a look at the replay . could of lapped em' if went further 😉. Brodster knows his stuff 😆

happy to go with that. Fabulous with a horse is Luke McCarthy. Kingman did it well the other night. and for the NZ Cup trifecta > Akuta is a great horse and Mark has prepared a lot of Cup winners. and Republican Party for the trifecta. Carter really got him pinging , and he went great over 2 miles in it last year and Auckland Cup too. Left 'Leap To Fame' out of my Vic Cup trifecta altogether as well lol 😆 think he's won enough for one lifetime 😎 . I had HiMynameisJeff - Kingman for Quinella with Catch A Wave for 3rd from the pole draw. thought was gunna get it in the run too , but Catch A Wave had pulled a bit, so stopped late after trailing leader the weak Wally 😅.

hahaha. yeah a great day for the stable winning 4 of the first 5 races 👍🍻 at Addington (with a Quinella ) and 4th in the other race . In The last 3 races of the day , there is just one HOUSE runner. Old 11 year old WARLOCH . coming up soon R7. Com'on NewMarket !! you know you want to bet on it ?. he's won 3 of his 91 Addington starts and warmed up nicely . Get the $100 on at 14-1 ?. the stable is flying . Warlock might turn back the years lol. 🤣. The Brodster might be trying to get 1000 on somewhere, so watch for an odds plummet 😁💰

Well you're probably right , and Mikey too. Of course there's going to be the drop outs and what not that make All-In betting a risk in future markets. and the Late entries you mention too. Bit of a drought in the NZ Cup actually with not taking Copy That nor Swayzee the past 4 years who won it twice each. But being the Big race of the season I'm quite prepared to have a go . (usually on Allstars lol) Last year dropped 50 on the day on the race anyway , with $50 on Don't Stop Dreaming at 6-1 . so it's all the same to me. I just take whoever I think will win race . Time to find the Cup winner this year yet ?? hopefully. 😁 Akuta would be good. You might remember a month out from the Brisbane Interdominion in future markets I tried to get you 100- 1 with Leap To Fame , into Fate Awaits (the Rising Sun ) and GUS in the Interdominion trot. ended up 2 wins and a 4th . But had fun trying at 100-1 with 10 bucks on. 'NoworNever' right here at BOAY tipped the EXACT 3 winners to us the same day . LTF, into Fate Awaits and Arcee Phoenix. he would of got 75- 1 odd for the treble. so what's wrong with a fun Advance future's Pick ? It comes off on occasion fine and you can collect on the day without even betting on the day (sometimes lol 😂🍻) don't worry . I gave up doing the gallop ones (futures) years ago . like the Melbourne Cup and that. Just too hard to pick and trying not to be a total moron 🤣😋😉. of course they (harness racers) RUN Much much more 'True To Form' at the Trots harness racing , than the gallopers could ever hope to achieve. 💰🏆 so are a much more solid future Bet . BTW . KEAYANG Zahara won from it's stable-mate last Saturday night at Melton , running home in under 55 seconds last half cruising . they careered away by 6 lengths from 3rd in incredible fashion. great trotting. If she turns up for the Dominion , then my OscarB futures at 7-1 are looking decidedly 'Shakey.' 🤣. the Galah on the money again? , not liking this future's stuff Might be correct yet again 🙄

as you know, i'm an absolute moron as often bet on the NZ Cup futures market , in my multi's. The TAB has to have a market for it because how could they possibly list the race with out putting odds there with it ? the TAB are all for Betting . that's what they do. If you just want a list of possible candidates then you could just go to the HRNZ website and find the field of nominations I spose. Betting is just a bit of fun . None of the blokes here (or that would BET into a future market ) need the money. Brodie wants to put 1000 on some obscure horses in the bush , so why not have a heap of Punters investing on future markets for a bit of fun ( risking just a few dollars )??? I had AKUTA running for 9000 win 2 years ago, made up of $300 of multi's I had taken during the year with Imperatriz and assorted other fine horses. Swayzee blasted my tickets to confetti, but I didn't feel like an absolute moron. lol. just one of those things. I lost about $30 worth of bets on Leap To Fame last year . Didn't turn up as got sick in the end. who cares. It's just a bit of interest in the race mateys . I've taken a few in the DOMINION trot already . as Like some of the trotters. OscarB at 7's and that in some multi;'s, etc. If he doesn't win , at least he's sure to give me a run for my money. The Brownlow Medal was announced in Australia recently for the AFL . I take a few players with a few bucks for FUN each year. Before and during the season in Future Markets. The winner Matt Rowell started $12 on the day but I had some tickets on him ( as is a great Gold Coast player) at the beginning of season (6 months from event) at 20-1 so collected a couple of hundred. Future Markets are great for an Interest in the sport , and tracking your Bets progress. It's ALL FUN. sorry for me being an 'absolute moron' 😧🙄. probably wasn't trained well enough lol 😎

Why are the Stipes constantly in the sights as the problem here. ? Allowing abuse and cheating ? why not the horses Owners and Trainers ? they are employing a jockey on race-day to get the best out of their steed, and if all the casual observers of a race on the sidelines like on forums , are speaking out about and spotting this so-called 'abuse and cheating' then why are the owners and trainers Allowing these jockeys to drive their pride and joy horse home in a race finish ? . If things are that bad with alleged 'abuse' surely the On the Spot participants of owners and trainers would be standing up to protect their horse (and not condone cheating ) ?? and remove this said cheat ? Stipes are employed to keep racing fair and safe. NZ racing has had a lot of accidents in recent years with jockeys 'changing lanes' when not clear of rivals and all sorts of things .there's a lot to think about in most races. they're very competitive lol. Perhaps they need some help from other participants who are actually PART of the Horses connections to say something ? to help avoid all this cheating ? funny footnote: I lost the drive on a regular horse once because the owners decided I didn't drive it hard enough with the whip and was running 3rds when could of been running 2nd etc. I laugh thinking about it now. reading all the whip complaints lol 😎😁

The State of the economy has changed. People don't Bet on harness now. well the 2 year olds AREN"T the Top end horses. Any Owner or trainer can Pay up and start in these races for big money. in Victoria alas Emma Stewart nearly wins the Lot lol 😆🤣 Victoria Harness racing lost $25,000,000 last year 2024. They are trying to sustain the industry to all corners of the state which has about the same General population as NZ and about the same amount of people working in Horses. they don't want people losing their livelihood's. they (Vic Harness) have a fierce competitor that takes nearly ALL the gambling dollar in the Victoria Thoroughbred industry. a totally IMPossible Rival to beat. HRNZ won't beat the galloping industry either. The thinking of those in charge hasn't changed 🤔. At HRNZ nor Harness Vic. it's just not a great betting product. It's the Landscape Mr Galah . you need Benefactors to keep you going and racing. (Keen Participants) 😎 Alas the funding in Victoria has been cut Dramatically 😧 , Just as you have said here , and Predict will happen in NZ. yes indeed . you will have $4000 races like QLD in the future if you want to keep racing going probably. *** One of the Top races of the Calender was raced last Saturday night in Victoria . The time honoured Victoria Cup . And was Broadcast Live on National TV. (our one of only 2 nights that happens in Australia for exposure ) The winner KINGMAN got a Paltry $142,000 first prize . laughable for the tip top prize. BUT . Luckily they still have some big Prizes (like NZ does) for the 2 year olds (like on this thread) and 3 year olds to create the BEST racing and keep people interested. ( for example : Like Mr Stockman NZ and Mr Seymour QLD, and Mr Shannon in both QLD and NZ as is a legend supporting the sport 👍 )

they changed the date for a reason. So more people could race their horse as a actual 2 yearold . Past its 2 year foaling date. I find it very Logical , that the effect of the changed date is EXTREMELY Good. the Sires Stakes can now run at the Cup meeting instead of Late Autumn for starters. It's only a few that can blossom in that late Autumn . Now many can blossom late Spring and into the Summer. The Derby colts are nearly 4 now , when they compete in the NZ Derby . Been some great racing with Fully developed horses that don't have to be rushed anymore. Is so LOGICAL it Slaps you in the Face. Marketplace and Got the Choc's and Rubira are just about on their 4th Prep already ( as late 3 yearolds) this is Marvellous for their development and Way way way better than the poor 2 year and 3 year olds of previous seasons had to cope with. Summer Racing is best for em' . but you don't seem to understand that. Maybe not logical enough lol. When you've got 6 MORE months of racing time for your 2 year-old (than previous to the Season date change) OF COURSE you're gunna have more opportunity to win a race with near a full grown horse. TOTAL LOGIC my friend.