Gammalite

Good point Chief, but to me, it comes down to how close you are to your animal. Virtually no-one would send their dog to an abbattoir. Throughout history dogs and horses have 'given their all' loyalty and effort for the benefit of their owner, whether be farming, hunting , entertainment for glory (The roman empire had Chariot racing with beautiful teams of horses) transport, war-horse and just plain old conquering . Like Genghis Khan and the mongol empire (the biggest in history) where he had no trouble slaughtering tribe after tribe of people but looked after their precious horses like gold ) Cows, pigs, sheep, goats do provide milk, hide, wool etc but as a true 'companion for the master , nothing beats his horse nor dog. Cowboys and Indians happy to kill each other , but both camps prized their horses more lol.... not quite a racing horse , but Bet they liked a FAST one to get away from the other mob ,when the calvary wasn't about lol..... Hi ho Silver !!!! sentiment to the end.... a horse is more of man's best friend through history than the dog. Let's look to re-home them all where possible. NZ and Oz have plenty of farms still (and you have grass too !! )

Brodster you are on a hammering today lol... , Spatchcock been dishing it up to ya, and now Kimberley with some evidence above, of Anthony Butt being the greatest Champion driver currently. from not being in your top 6. I also see that Anthony Butt WON the NZ Junior drivers title Twice back in his day?. Posted the results on the 'CONGRATULATIONS SARAH O'REILLY' thread. So Ant's has always been a Champion it seems..........??? I'm a bit biased as first time I ever saw him as a junior at Auckland , he jumped on a horse i was helping with named 'Metal Mickey' and he WON by half the length of the straight at Alexandra Park. I near fell down in Shock.! Who was that bloke A Butt? Maurice McKendry was Mickey's regular driver, but had his own horse in Most Happy Milly (who ran 2nd that night actually). The following week that great junior driver led up the GN Derby !, chock full of wonderful 3 year olds , Mickey got run down late for 2nd, but wow! !!!what a great first time impression he made on me (and many other junior drivers too) and Ant's still winning the big ones now near 4 decades later. exceptional talent.

Here's a list of the winners. North island had some good un's at the start of it all. Maurice and Tony H still go round each week. also in a lot of those junior races early 80's Auckland were Mangos and David Butcher. many young drivers had NO HOPE even then of getting established ( just as it is today) and along came another young Purdon too. Mark Purdon starting out as well 1982 with just 12 wins in his first 3 years as a junior driver !!! That tells you, Was hard to get drives let alone wins. he did take the title still one year on this list of champions which is fitting!! He was of course North Island Rep in those days. Junior Drivers Championship Winners Year Winner Second Third 2020 Kerryn Tomlinson Luke Whittaker Alicia Harrison 2019 Sarah O'Reilly Kimberly Butt John Morrison 2018 Alicia Harrison Benjamin Butcher Mark Hurrell 2017 Rory McIlwrick Ben Butcher Katie Cox 2016 Stevie Golding Dylan Ferguson Katie Cox 2015 Robbie Close Michelle Neilson Jack MacKinnon 2014 Michelle Neilson Dylan Ferguson Robbie Close 2013 Simon Lawson Mitchell Kerr Roydon Downey 2012 Zac Butcher Matthew Williamson Jack Trainor 2011 Tim Williams Shane Butcher Matthew Williamson 2010 Simon Lawson Joshua Dickie Roydon Downey 2009 Zac Butcher Joshua Dickie Anna Stormont 2008 Shane Walkinshaw Amber Jenkins Tim Williams 2007 John Dunn Reon Tither Amber Jenkins 2002 Lauren Pearson 2001 Stephen McNally 2000 Mark Jones 1999 Blair Orange 1998 Lauren Pearson 1997 Scott Wallis 1996 Stephen Boyd 1995 Logan Hollis 1994 Michael Langdon 1993 Brendon Scobie 1992 Logan Hollis 1991 Peter Ferguson 1990 Phil Jeffries 1989 Bradley Anderson 1988 Anthony Butt 1987 Glen Wolfenden 1986 Mark Purdon 1985 Anthony Butt 1984 David Butt 1983 Paul Black 1982 T Herlihy/J Curtin 1981 Tony Herlihy 1980 Grant Payne 1979 Maurice McKendry 1978 Maurice McKendry 1977 Maurice McKendry 1976 Maurice McKendry

Fantastic you had a win! with that great driving by Sarah and her double win today, and her great driving through the whole series . John Morrison a close second just 8 points behind. Both these fine drivers now get to represent NZ in December, at the Australasian Young drivers Championship , to be held during the Interdominion (making a return after a year miss), at Menangle later this year. Even if they don't take that young drivers title there, they'll get to see "live" some of the fastest horses ever to race, as some of these amazing horses like King of Swing, Copy That , Amazing Dream and Expensive Ego strut their stuff. WA with Shockwave as well, who is sure to give them all a fright. gunna be grand. and very very fast.

Sarah O'Reilly managed to hold on with the trotter in Heat 3 today as well. a good effort. Also clinging on to 3rd with an outsider in Heat 4 , to hold out John Morrison into 4th with his drive, by 1/2 head. Those few points could be enough to win it from John ? both drivers are on a 10-1 shot in race 5 the final Heat on Sportsbet. thought ChaCha B would be 5-1 , so might have a small something on that. John does seem to have a great chance of taking the title now.

There's not exactly a Chris Waller or James McDonald kiwis in the racing world doing well, in the harness racing arena. NZer Jack Trainer at Menangle , is having a great patch lately with fast wins. 2 Good kiwi horsemen I know, Richard Brosnan and John Newberry been here many years in country Victoria and very moderate success for years. barely a horse good enough to take to the big city tracks. I'm just trying to say it's Not as easy as what you think for the kiwis to dominate. Graham Harris here in Brissy very moderate success indeed. I agree it is 'harder' to win NZ , but i put it down to way less races run and the 'Big' fields. It is much easier in 10 horse fields to get a win. And also the very accomplished horsepeople in your races (Herlihy, etc ) make it harder to win. Although the races throughout Australia are full of horsemen with Thousands of drives and experience. even last nights GROUP 1 winning driver Brendan Barnes (who you wouldn't know) with his very first Group 1 win defeating Amazing Dream , has 4000 career drives for 500+ wins . so not shabby at all. Anthony Butt of course doing very well here with the Stride Corp Ltd' company support. led by the brilliant WOLF STRIDE with 6 wins from 10 this year (and got 100k for 3rd in Miracle Mile) to King of Swing ,also.)

What a great trot Championship that was. Yeah Luke McCarthy got suspension for that drive on Humble Lad. Had to push out down the back (like the old days) and contacted sulky. He gave up the lead to the defending Champion of the QLD trotting Championship ,Majestic Simon, a handy trotter, and 'Leader Peter' McMullen, who always tries to lead with anything. So Luke probably not much choice but to hand up. Did you see PINK GALAH's go? pocket rocket. she takes a while to get going early and took a lap to even tack on properly lol..... 50m off the lead. What a rocket after.... whizzed away from them all at the 1/4 pole. and a Gammalite favourite , the old boy OUR OVERANOVA trotting into third , off the backmark. But No match for the Interstate trotters. Game as anything as usual though. a true marvel. The NZ rep, Mr Bob BUTT ? charged his horse straight 'out of it's gait' (GOLD CHAIN NZ) into the first corner? What was he doing? Had Blair and Ant's sitting on the sidelines? Think he should of used one of them lol......

JERADA's DELIGHT actually beat Spellbound home fair and square last week in the Group 3 mares when they finished 2nd and 3rd, so didn't think was hopeless chance as Spellbound was second favourite last night. Hard to go past Amazing Dream and Anthony Butt though. only beaten 1/2 hd and a head. She went terrific Yet Again. Yes he has been here a while now. but wouldn't he resume the Top shelf if in NZ driving ? I guess it has been a while since BLOSSOM LADY and all those Tim Butt trotters, And, if you're driving the best all the time , you do look good!! lol.........

COPY THAT wins the mini Interdominion for NZ !! trainer Ray Green and driver Anthony Butt !!!! In the feature Group 1 mile. exceptional performance for NZ. What a performance in 1.52.3 ,, beats the Oz dual Miracle Mile winner champion KING OF SWING by 1/2 head !!! What a driver that Anthony Butt is!!!. (Is he best in world?) but guess he was only third with AMAZING DREAM tonight in the above photo behind Jerada's Delight in mare's Group 1, so maybe just 2nd best in world to the great Mark Purdon?, who WON with Amazing Dream last week lol............ PINK GALAHS charged away with the mini trot Interdominion like some sort of Scotch Notch clone lol , so Oz got something at least on the night. Hope some folk in NZ enjoyed it all, as much as Gammalite !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well there you gooooooo!!! It's a local win in the Golden Girl Group 1 !!!!as Nathan Purdon has to settle for a very close 2nd and 3rd to our local Butler trained Hero !! Jerada's Delight. Here's a small article they posted during the week , and gave it a great chance. Look at the dividend !!!!! $254 win and $28 place in QLD (see under photo finish) wow , never seen one that big in 40 years of bets. crikey!! HERE"S the ARTICLE ...................................................... Butler hopes they can grab Group 1 glory for the first time together on Saturday at Albion Park. “We get on really well, he drives my horses great,” Butler said. “We have always been mates since I have been up here and we are more mates than anything, instead of people that just work together.” Butler is a Group 2 winner earlier in his career back in NSW while Barnes’ best chance to break through was when he was beaten a head in the NSW Breeders challenge on a $100 shot. If not for the horror draw of 11 for Saturday night, Barnes was more than optimistic that Jeradas Delight was a big chance against the star power of Amazing Dream, Spellbound and Fame Assured, who she ran second to just last week. “She ran really good the other night, obviously the draw is not kind for her this weekend but she is quality mare,” Barnes said. “She has got great speed and she follows speed all day, we just have to hope for a little bit of luck and tempo in the race this week. “She is a pretty easy going sort of a mare and does whatever you want her to do, she is easy to have around. “There are some good quality mares in the race and there is going to be speed, maybe not as much as last week, but hopefully there is enough early on and we can get a good cart up. “I think she is up to Group 1 level but she is the type of mare that needs everything to go her way.” The Bettors Delight mare has recorded two victories and a number of minor placings so far in 2021 and Butler feels the consistent racing put into Jeradas Delight, on top of one solid hit out at his property every Wednesday, has his mare thriving of late. While disappointed with the gate for Saturday night, Butler says his mare is on top of her game after running home in a sharp time last start. “A big thing for her is just keeping her in a routine, which we have done for the last six weeks,” Butler said. “She has hit her straps at the right time and we could not be happier with how she is at the moment.”

Well it's all on tonight in Brisbane for a kiwi Banquet . !!! We have Nathan Purdon a HUGE chance of a Group 1 Quinella with Spellbound and Amazing Dream drawn 1 and 4 in a $100k mares race. American Dealer and Anthony Butt in the Group 3 southeast derby. ( not Queensland derby so No Krug tonight) Humble Ladd a former Williamson trotter to beat our best Pink Galahs in the QLD trotting Championship. Spirit of St Louis (former Aucklander ) to win the 4 year old Championship ) AND the 'creme of the crop' in the Group 1 Sunshine Sprint ! with King of Swing and Colt Thirty One both second line , maybe someone off the front ?? Miracle Mile placegetter Alta Orlando and Blair Orange ?? for the Dunn's (owners) at 25-1 ?? go Boy !! he's a beauty ! stablemate number 1 should let him lead too !!! King of Swing probably mow them down , but an American Dealer- Spirit of St Louis- Alta Orlando treble is $340-1 sportsbet. worth a shot.

Has been quite an 'Honest' chap until now then. ?? no sins? Might be one of the 7 deadly sins in that case.? 'Envy'? or 'Lust' ?after a win. Gluttony would be best.

Tony Perucich. At the same time as Stormy Morn , Tony had a very handy gelding named TRIO. won a heap as a four year old. Too hard in Open class though against Armalight, Gammalite, Lord Module and Delightful Lady though in the early 80's for Trio. A funny bitofayarn, for a few weeks as a young fella, i was doing the Pukekohe Sunday workouts (quite a busy trotting hub with Reaks ,Blanchard, Herlihy,heap of others too) and was commentating from the little box at top of track , on a voluntary basis , as give owners and trainers some idea , as pretty quiet without a commentator. sometimes there was like 15 workouts ,one after another. I got dismissed hahahaha, after one heat saying "and there goes Tony Perucich driving his usual race three wide in a four horse field " lol..hahahaha

Those are definitely trotters Race 2 Brodster. I always look on the HRNZ official site. and just like race 4 which is a maiden trot with their regular drivers , the mobile is not mentioned , so therefore , is a Standing Start. The mobile start races seem to always have that indicated, in the race description /title on that site.

well the three horses that galloped away all got going after a few metres, so thankfully no one was tailed off with no chance anyway. Meanwhile John Morrison 1-1 all the way with SHEEZA ARTIST at $3.90 / $1.80 Qld , so very happy now personally lol........

Think if you got on that and took that bet , what a great start you have had !!! cool under pressure and gets up by a nose in heat 1. Sheree going great guns. Gammalite was on John Morrison at 12's and thought had won it too.!! stupid whip rules is what I'm blaming lol.... a couple of decents whacks on the bum and PRO SURFER wins by 1/2 length lol.... and if I smart like Brodie would of had a place bet as well lol....

Think you might be right Brodster and it's more of an Individual competition, than a North v South one. (unless they in fact do have a prize for the winning team) which seems unlikely. The trot on Sunday has good form on the runners ! nearly all running places lately . will be a good race. great to see the juniors are trying to get some trotters to stay in gait as a test of their ability, (also a standing start today as well??) . both races could get quite messy? lol........., buts thems the breaks . I'm going John Morrison to Win as my pick. CHA CHA B seems to be going well and might bring John home in the 5th Heat on Sunday. Forbury cheering for his fav BenHope ? lol....hehehe who do you think can win?

number of wins was fairly predictable in the past, C1, then C2 etc, but still led to problems like being Open Class as a three yearold on occasion. so that's not great. The best handicapping is done on times run , and where you win. obviously Manawatu form isn't the same as an Auckland win. I think horses with a 1.57 mile rate should be pitted against similar paced horses these days (from their last so many 'x' amount of starts, maybe 5 or something) This allows older horses to 'come back ' a few notches as you can't expect them to come off long handicaps from wins they had years ago as a 3 or 4 year old.

Does it really cost $2000 a month to have a horse trained nowdays.Thats about $70 a day. On your NZ harness racing website it shows Steve Telfer ( a fairly handy trainer) advertising at $55 + GST so that's like $60/day so fairly close to your 2k per month. and as Dougie is saying the short course racing in QLD means you can race once a week all year round without 'flattening' your horse like 2400-2700 m races do , where they work hard in the run sometimes. Just sit and sprint much kinder on the horses ( even though Brodster not liking it) The really 'Slow horses' can still pay their way , which is important obviously for the owners. You end up with 50 starts per year a lot more than NZ. but roughly 50k average earnings from that many starts v the 22k ($60 per day) training fees. so a small profit from persistency ? lol... hopefully some fun had too.

paleface adios no need of driver. he goes that well he steers himself to try and win. Problem is you not getting paid stakemoney or paying a divvie for charging off around the track like this paleface.!!! lol..... you have forgotten to take a Very important item with you, as you can see in photo. hehehe......

Well here's a great row of wins for you then TW , with the 'Clean sweep ' at the Auckland Interdominion 1975 with both Charlie and John Langdon sharing the wins on Young Quinn (after Charlie's crash 2nd night) Thanks to Chief we see, yet another fantastic NZ horseman (or 2) My first night at trots, was 1978 with flashy South Islander LOCARNO winning the Messenger for Robin Butt .Loved it all after that. Locarno went on to win the Harold Park MIRACLE MILE from the impossible 6 Alley coming from last in the run!!!! Exactly like Young Quinn did 5 years earlier !!!! in 1975 Miracle Mile. (Charlie back driving again) My first Interdominion was at Alex Park 1983 , and the great GAMMALITE won the Pacers final . Meanwhile , in the trotters Grand-final 1983 , a trainer /driver named CHARLIE HUNTER ran 2nd with JENNER !!! Charlie also a fab trainer of trotters!!! JENNER ran 2nd to the amazing 2 -time Interdominion champion SCOTCH NOTCH ( with the late Graeme Lang driving) and defeated the following years 1984 Interdominion Trot winner SIR CASTLETON into 3rd place.

It seems Mr 'Tank' Ellis and Kristin Barclay have split after 3 years. What a shame that 'U MAY CULLECT' broke down on them. and Watch Me Now sold off. makes things real hard , once the stable stars go. and you just lose momentum. Is the real shame for NZ harness, that these type of horses , that can mix it with Amazing Dream , just get sold off. More millionaire owners needed (like Seymour keeps breeding several for Grant Dixon every year in Brisbane) And Like a John Green type (millionaire , with No need to sell) who in NZ was racing THE AGENT ORANGE. so everyone can enjoy seeing these 'star horses' race. TANK not that great a trainer ????? says here 75 wins between 1999 and 2018 ? crikey!!! a Professional trainer in QLD harness, needs to get 75 wins per year, to keep in business. TANK must be keen to keep going . Go TANK !!! here's a clipping................... While the Barclay-Ellis partnership’s first win was with Honey Cullen at Forbury Park in August 2018 their latest, and what will be their last, was U May Cullect at Riverton on March 4. In winning his first eight starts U May Cullect turned into a cult hero and right now the seven-year-old’s career record stands at 9 wins from just 16 starts. The stable’s other star has been Watch Me Now who gave them their first Group One success in the Breeders Stakes against Amazing Dream at Addington on February 12. At the time Barclay called it a career highlight and a dream come true. Altogether they have had 85 wins from 694 starts. On her own Barclay had 50 wins from 2006-2018 while Ellis had 75 winners as a trainer on his own account from 1999 – 2018.

Well the Sun has risen today in the 'Sunshine State' shining on last night's inaugural $250k Group1 The RISING SUN winner AMAZING DREAM for NZ. (and the great Quinella with COPY THAT too) driven by greats of the sport from NZ in Mark Purdon and Anthony Butt. Both super impressive in knocking off Australia's near best in Expensive Ego. At least had a winner at WIMBLEDON during the night with our super girl Ash Barty .!! meanwhile, another Channel is reporting a 5 length win to WATCH ME NOW first up at the Meadowlands USA for champion Aus driver Todd McCarthy. in 1.49. WATCH ME NOW might very well become the best NZ mare ever? Even Better than AMAZING DREAM ?,having run that mare down at Addington in the NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes in Feb, for Kristin Barclay. (9 lengths clear of 3rd) She could be a sensation over there USA the way she is tracking.

Pink Galahs (your little trotter friend) was giving the leader 50m start a lap out and caught it on the Post.!! She's a little ripper. she came up from Victoria, so a bit easy against these local plodders. AMAZING DREAM, what can you say? she is amazing alright. I thought the 12-1 on offer Thurs was good. paid $19 here. $30 Quinella and $312 the trifecta in The Rising Sun for AMAZING DREAM, COPY THAT and EXPANSIVE EGO (3 wonderful horses) and I can't believe this QLD 'FIRST 4' Divvie (with Krug 4th) paid $3,526 !!!..... I didn't take one sadly. could of got that easy too. Bet it paid a lot less in NZ>>>>

The three MASTERS strike again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow wee , those 2 are the best drivers I ever seen ever. Luke will have to settle for 3rd best at the moment ! Blair still a bit to learn ??? lol, (just kidding) It's hard to beat the MASTERS !!!! and $5 of a more than $300 trifecta too, makes supporting the best pay off nicely!!!! congrats to the Amazing Dream and the wonderful MARK PURDON. what a driver.!