Gammalite

What a Win !! harness racing is taking off in Oz and so is SPELLBOUND . congrats Unhinged . For the first time Ever ......... We had a live broadcast all around Australia on free to air tele for the Melton meeting with many stars of the game interviewed and sitting on the Panel including Anthony Butt and Belinda McCarthy. They wore the 'Black Armbands' for Spellbound race !! in tribute to the late Roy Purdon . passing away this week aged 94 in NZ. His grandson trained the winner !!. Nathan Purdon so emotional after the win , he burst into tears on National TV and could barely get the words out. What a fitting moment for Roy though. ! Young driver MacDonald did a great job too. Fantastic night for harness racing . (Amazing Dream a game 3rd in Hunter Cup for Nathan too.) The next Generation of Purdon , taking over the scenes already !! the tradition continues .................

I had something on CAULFIELD with a great Australian name like that , and having had a runner placed at Hawera a long time ago, running 2nd to John Butcher (a fantastic NZ legend of the sport ) ,so had a little something on it. Was very surprised at the way the race panned out, considering the many points in this thread opening made by Walt. I believe stewards have asked a couple of questions ? as per this in report from Race Day 1. CAULFIELD - Driver D Butcher was questioned regarding his apparent lack of vigour in driving this gelding out over the final stages. After taking initial evidence from Mr Butcher and viewing the replays the matter was adjourned until the second day to enable Stewards to consider the evidence that had been tendered.

Hahaha that bloke does All the 'Crim Safe' company ads (for door screens in Oz) hope he keeps the crims away from harness racing too !!!! If NewPlymouth gallops are off today Wet, no way could sulky's go on the grass at Hawera tomorrow ?

All right then. I'll let him off. But only because Matty Williamson in the trot, let Midnight Dash roll along at his own descretion without any outside pressure, and nearly pulled off the win against a couple of good ones. ... Com'on Chief !! It took Gammalite 'near a lap' to get the lead in the 2nd biggest race of all , the Miracle Mile !!! lol... but unfortunately Vinny sat outside him with 'Popular Alm' and still ran him down. !! slippery bugger. 'Poppy' had to wear a few on the bum that night though, to catch the Mighty Gamma !!!! lol.........

I would say if your horse is Not pulling hard , and there is No outside pressure you just 'stay back' with the field. It was a little wet , and 60 sec half fairly moderate still, but why not hold back with the trailing horse ?? and run a 62-63 second middle half and then you can excellerate when the challenges come? , and not go backwards ....

Not sure Forbs. There is a little discussion on the forum about his driving on Allstars runners on a thread a little further down the page if you want to check that out. He is having a frustrating run . Didn't get flown up for drive on Self Assured Auckland Thursday to regain form either (drive was surprisingly given to McKendry ) which i found annoying when AGH didn't have a drive in that race. (Herlihy a close Purdon family relative) Herlihy had KRUG 'take charge' in the Great Northern Derby when driving it for Dalgety. Krug raced well clear of the field early. I thought it would get beaten for sure once that happened. however, Krug stuck it out to win. Not many can do that............. , as we saw with BUENA VISTA last night with clear of field in lead early, then run last. BuenaVista nearly/did interferred with other runners as it stopped home turn as well ... . So either the horse 'took charge' and sort of bolted , or it was a Very poor Cox drive worthy of attention from the stewards.

Temporale trotted his heart out to win his heat early in the night, and then 5th in Final later on. But Kate Gath drove Majestuoso to victory for husband Andy the trainer . To make it three on the trot !!! 3 x Great Southern Stars that is ! after Tornado Valley won the previous 2 for Norm Jenkin. Pretty sure Norm is a ex-pat kiwi too ? a pretty lucky one !! thats for sure !!. Kate just keeps on winning. What a great combination.

Yes quite a large population SE Queensland now . grows by 1000 persons per week. The gold Coast just had a brilliant Magic Millions carnival. Unfortunately they shut the beautiful GC Parklands harness track 2010, to build 'dwellings for the Commonwealth games that were held 2018. A place full of rich and retired folk too. I guess they can play golf and go to the Saturday gallops and harness racing misses out these days. The 'Horse population ' is very well looked after, with Albion and Redcliffe racing 4-5 days every week , so every horse has a chance to win ,with all classes catered for every week . and like Davis just said , an important aspect is the racing is short distance 1600m and 2100m so some horses race week to week , all year round , without being flattened (heaps don't hopple up unless at races, just have a swim and canter for training) . that long distance stuff , 3 wide for a lap etc, just too hard on these mediocre horses, That is why kiwi ones like LL Cool J , Deus Ex, etc do so well when they turn up. bit tougher !!! lol......

Sorry you missed out on that one. It's getting harder to pick as (just like West port and Nelson) , because there are 2 days racing close to-geather , several runners are just sitting back , and not even trying to get a win on the first day. laughable. .. American Me and New York Minute were easily the best horses in that field and even the commentator said they were just running on late , waiting for the 3000m on Sunday. I think that's poor they didn't have a go today though. Will very likely Quinella Sunday , but what about 'todays' first day Punters ?? leave them out of your trifectas because you suspect they won't be trying ?? It's getting rediculous really.... I'm getting cynical like everyone else now lol..... used to enjoy it lol.

A couple fell at the post , but no one injured, and race abandoned. The track looks particularly rough and Race 5 just then was dog's breakfast and was like Browns cows. Fav way out the back. Horses can't get balanced on that sort of running properly. I've given up the punt today already after the passive drive on Caulfield in an earlier race . Better off at the gallops to bet really .

One problem is the centres are usually out of town. So you get No crowds (public attendance) Harold Park Sydney used to have huge crowds. When it closed they went to Menangle (an hour away ) 65kms. so it's pretty much just owners that attend regularly. Moonee Valley Melbourne was a fantastic venue for the pacers/trotters with Gammalite, Popular Alm , Scotch Notch and Maori's Idol (and bucket loads more greats) strutting their stuff. Shifting to Melton 40 kms out is great for the local trainers there , but not much public at all these days. just industry participants mainly. BUT if Auckland is knackered as this thread (and everyone suggests ) Cambridge should be the place ???? Lots of great studs , and horse country in the Waikato. Hamilton people could surely support the 2 codes in that area , just bring back some On-course only Jackpots or something ?? get benefactors to put a 'car' up for grabs , pick the card or something like that on course. People would turn up , IF there is a chance they can get something out of it. ??

Victoria is very strong Chief . Day and night trots every day. There are locations all over Victoria. most people have their own. Victoria as you fly in as plane descends, and look out the plane window , you can see private training tracks in all directions . Is amazing sight. TONIGHT the Whole Melton Race-card is for the Fabulous Square-gaiters !! McShane would of loved it . Victoria (Maryborough esp.) promote squaregaiters fabulously, to keep some tradition going...... A racecard for all the beautiful trotters!! . The very Best actually race Twice !!!!!!!!!!!!!! how cool ! like the old days. TEMPORALE is one of them for New Zealand ! may the racing gods see him go close to taking it out hopefully , as would be great for Suzanne Herlihy and fellow Nz owners. (Great Southern Star)

They're Run by People with a 'vision' and different attitude to what Brodster just posted ??

Have seen snippets of HarnessXPress on facebook. Looks a U-Beaut publication !!. In Australia we had something called 'Black Saturday' once . A very 'nasty and unforgiving 'day with bush fires. I think the 'Black horse' and profit site rubbish mentioned at start of this thread, should be consigned the same fate, and all thrown in the fire where they belong.

That would be tragic ! imagine no harness at Alexandra Park after all the great racing there for decades. sad.. Albion Park would of 'folded' years ago except for the efforts and financial backing of harness loving businessmen Chris Garrard and Kevin Seymour. Auckland needs 'Rich' support . Call the 'Hugh Green Foundation' or something ? The Greens won bucket loads in Auckland , John even got married at the Alex park track , Surely he (and businessmen like him) could save the day ??? (or do we need to start a 'Go fund me Page ?lol.. ) And if you need more stables and horse to fill up fields !!! EASY FIX . Get rid of this stupid Training 'Partnerships' . Have One trainer per Licence ?? Instant fix Solution . BarryPurdon with own horses , Phelan with own horses ; Steven Reid with own, S McMullan with own, Hollis ; Ferguson ; Cooney .... etc etc get more stables and horses going so more Competition , therefore more fields , therefore more Betting

Thanks for that great Video Chief and Unhinged and the fantastic Nz Horsemen /women at Woodend Beach. Hope many people get to enjoy watching that ! and enjoy seeing the Top harness racing people 'at work' with even the horses looking like they all enjoy themselves. The 'open' forum has allowed everyone to see why the Countries leading stable has some of best performers in the nation, with years of great results and near the Best trotter (Sundees Son) of all time. 2 more 'Beach' trotters in tonight too at Addington . 'Five Wise Men' and 'Muscle Mountain ' . Fabulous trotters. The Beach is a amazing place for these amazing horses. Well 'Dunn' to them all...

Makes me feel more sorry for the Saginaw bloke than before lol... Hope you don't mind but had a look at Play Philly as you described, and well.... what happened ? Surely, Close mistook the laps or something? must of forgot it was a mile and thought there was a lap to go ? That was pretty poor ,I should say 'Very poor' steering for a 7 horse field . $1.60 fav and not in Trifecta. should of bolted in really. hard to work that one out.

One of the Nicest gentlemen I ever met in harness racing . Just sent this photo to a relative of his a couple of weeks ago actually in Auckland , who was going to take it along to show him so he could remember a moment in his fine Training days . This is SOLE COMMAND with Roy, catching up on the news on a Victorian raid. (He had won the night before)

Hey Chief , do you have free to air racing channel in NZ ? I'm pretty excited, as just watching the Wednesday Victoria races on Racing .com channel 78 as usual. (there are about 40 free to air TV channels in Oz these days ) And they just announced for the first time ever Racing.Com is gunna do the Melton Harness racing Saturday night !!! About time they looked after the Good Tough beautiful horses !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is the start of the HARNESS revival ? I hope so . how good ? Pure Steel (a Hunter Cup specialist would be proud ) will have to see how Gammalite did in that race now ? lol...)

Live and Learn

Sorry Chief , was just trying to be funny and it didn't come off to well. Of course YES, I think most of the misdemeanours are just 'spur of that moment' mistakes in training and driving , and not calculated Cheating . Knew a bloke who popped the wrong horse on his float once (first starter) and it got picked up by the stewards at Tweed Heads lol.. .. Another bloke won with a horse he got from Tasmania . It won 10 days after he received it and up came a +ve for steroid. ( the Tasmanian trainer must of been up to tricks) but Out the Qld trainer went for 6 months DQ. he presented the horse at races with it in , so paid the penalty. took it on the chin too. enjoyed the break i think lol..... Race driving is even HARDER. there are many doing everything they can in the space of 2 minutes to beat you. I thought giving Cameron (Saginaw) and some others long suspensions for Spur of the moment 'errors' or Mistakes in the heat of the Moment, is Very Mean in my opinion . ( when NOT causing interference to other runners , which IS serious IMO and worthy of penalty)

Well don't those 2 things go Hand in Hand in life. Anyone who cheats is making a mistake lol.... Life is all about honesty and respect . the 2 critical things. Rules are in play everywhere for safety , and in sport for Fair Play, and even though you are trying to beat your opponent , you have to show some respect (to the sport, yourself, and rival) and beat them without breaking the rules and/or cheating. using skill is a way better option? And if you make a mistake.... e.g and say 'give a bit too much dosage to horse', and get called a cheat , you aren't showing the' skill level 'necessary to deserve the victory anyway lol ?.

Each case is different Chief. All the factors involved need to be looked at. There's been plenty of Cobalt controversy , we had the Te Akau cow paddock , we had ICE in a Waller runner or 2 , Caffiene in some Dunn runners, theres a few steroids floating around .....and don't forget ... a cherry on top lol....

Mark P and Robert D (just like anyone else) have had minor penalties in the past . Fully agree with you that the RIU are doing a great job , and I think the sport is fairly clean . compared to last century anyway. I saw elephant juice days (see Laurie Connell Perth Cup , they had to carry the horse off the track) makes your blood run cold . And a heap of milkshakes . (swear on mothers grave , never gave one myself though) and any amount of methods to get a win. Galloping guys Far worse than any harness guys. Fine Cotton ? lol....... Chief is saying the Dunn horses are improving AFTER they leave the stable so think he is on our side really , not like Happy and rival jealous owners who see stuff that isnt there. Am sure the swabs are taken from Sundees Son and stablemates the same as anyone else , and if a stupid Alford type character comes along trying to flaunt the rules . Give em 7 years !!!! well done RIU (agree with you) !!!

I took the kids to Melbourne a few times and they don't have any beaches??. Just 'sludge' dumps in Port Philip bay from the huge amount of freight shipping traffic in and out of Port of Melbourne. We went to Geelong once , around the famous pier and that, on a 35 degree day and all these people were swimming right next to this black oily sludge on the rocks. We took kids to the council pool instead !! lol in the Chlorine. We are really spoilt in SE QLD with Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beautiful beaches. I wouldn't even put my horse in the water in Melbourne (maybe Mornington Pennisula is better) let alone step in that St Kilda , Altona etc. Nathan Purdon doing an awesome job with Spellbound. Yes ! big chance from the pole draw indeed. (no swimming needed lol)