Gammalite

Well the young driver Carter , has taken the Fast Class race easily at Addington tonight. Gave the AllStars and Diamonds a burn-off and left them to it (fight out the minors) with LAVER. Congratulations to the Trainers/Owners of LAVER to think to put this young bloke on with a claim .......... and finally LAVER gets a richly deserved win !!!! after many top runs behind Nz's very best. (SelfAssured, CopyThat , South CoastArden, etc) Luv ya work Carter Dalgety !! and Laver . He's a real trier and lovely horse. I wish I swooped on the 7-1 odds now lol........missed out, but was great to see that result .!!!!

Sounds like this bloke knows what he's doing. NZ racing to be again doing well when he returns. Congrats to Jamie Richards too. Will put NZ on the map in Hong Kong ,like Purton Hayes and John Size are doing for Oz in Hong Kong. Chief is the world Racing commentator at Hong Kong a kiwi ? he is very good. Am sure I hear the odd kiwi accent word now and then ?

An Alex Milne trained horse from the south cold zone, who won 10 races ( from 19 starts as a three year old) including GN Derby at Auckland. Here's another great pic of MATAI DREAMER winning at Auckland with hard driving from Bob Cameron. Jack Smolenski was his arch rival and Jack trained and drove his NZ Derby winner at Addington 'SOVEREIGN'. (Matai Dreamer 4th in NZ Derby)

$200,000 they syndicated the Lordship colt 'Starship' for as a 2 yearold . He burnt out as a young horse though. 10 wins from 30 starts as a 2 and 3 year old , then only 6 wins in whole rest of career over 60 starts in 4 years. $1,000,000 Tuapeka Knight was syndicated for in 40 shares (an astonishingly large amount for the 80's) Only had 5 race starts for the Syndicate (TK had First defeat and pulled up in first start for them a week after purchase) tried to come back as three yearold in Oct with 3 wins and then 3rd in the Sires Stakes on Cup day. (Starship unplaced) and that was It. stallion at stud after. Don't know if left any good ones or not. The exact same year 1986, as Master Mood winning the Cup and Race Ruler the Derbies too. The Peak time for Nz harness with Village Kid and Lightning Blue having Big results in Australia creating enormous Nz value... Happy Sunrise selling for $250,000 as well to Oz, so was a good time to have a winning horse (value-wise) for sale.

Well I feel absolutely terrible 'beating up' on NOODLUM with Lunar Chance (who went on to win that 1975 Nz Cup defeating the easy previous year winner Robalan to show just how good he was). made you go quiet. So to Honour your great horse "Noodlum', (sorry I never saw him as was just a kid) here is some photos of 2 of his foals that I did see at some stage . And what beauty's they were too .!!!!!!!!!!!! The first bloke one Both Derbies one season , while another famous Son there, Stormed to Victory in the NZ Cup, the Auckland Cup and just for good measure the Miracle Mile NSW as well. Top 2 horses that season in the country. Making NOODLUM a Champion Sire to be reckoned with !! I feel much better now giving your boy some credit lol. Can you name them Chief ?? from these brilliant photos ? Look at that crowd !!! nearly all of NZ there?. Even Ranga, Davis and Brodster are probably there enjoying the action? Go Noodlum !!!!!!!!!

No chance of that horse being in a Claimer unfortunately , Like this years Interdominion Winner Boncel Benjamin was a few times this year. A big chance of winning next years Interdominion would be Ragazzo Mach IMO, if they have the balls to have a go. 2 very impressive wins so far in 2 Oz runs in WA , and a LOT more to come for sure. The Reeds are getting him going well. He could go many wins on the trot. much better than chasing ALLstars and Krug around, I guess?

That's a fair call. A Legend would have to be at the top of the Tree Throughout their career you would think. Richard B having long fairly quiet stints as you described, and even left the country in the end . But still knows enough to beat Aussies in the 'trotting' gait it seems lol . Who's your pick for Legend status Brodie? Perhaps Derek Jones MNZM or Tony Herlihy MNZM for getting Nz Order of Merit titles ???

Can't fault his current form. But might need a few more years under the belt to be a legend. What about the Bonnie's Chance / No Response man ? Richard Brosnan being a Nz Legend ?????? Training / winning the Trot Interdom Final ? or is he an Aussie now lol?

Well it seems this horse has got the better of Noodlum as well .? one not many of the readers would know or remember. He Seems to race on Grass too , a True ALL-Rounder !!! as in photo. Down the pecking order another spot for Noodlum then sadly. Lunar Chance coming in at horse of the Year apparently. LC in photo therefore, might be more of a Gammalite type than Noodlum lol..... hehehe

Really good ones you mean ??

Testing Times did just 3 years later. then went to America with Kevin Holmes to take on the 'worlds best 'in the WOODROW WILSON pace, the richest in the world at the time. So I would rate Testing Times slightly higher myself ?? . He also set the Juvenile Race record. (probably taking it off Noodlum)

Well the harness bred site doesn't want me to put his picture up . So try and stop my camera then you wally's at harness link lol........ Gammalite Wins again !!! And here is Noodlum .

http://www.harnessbred.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/BB1-1-300x192.jpg

Not too shabby a record at all , But,, you sort of have to smack out an Interdominion or 2, and\or a NZ Cup or 2 , or even an Auckland Cup or 2 to reach the dizzy heights of Legendary Status !! lol . Here's the handy young horse Noodlum in a nice photo from the 70's. http://www.harnessbred.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/BB1-1-300x192.jpg

Great news for you blokes is this week Gammalite has finally caught up to 'Popular Alm' and Vinnie , like he did all those years ago at Auckland in 1983. This week Gammalite was formally inducted to be the 9th Australian Legend. How Legendary !!! I'm sure you are all thrilled and rightly so . Here's the Induction Info . Harness Racing Victoria 12 DEC 2021 Last Updated 13 Dec 2021 Brilliant Terang pacer Gammalite was inducted as a Legend on a special night on TrotsVision, which carried the 2021 Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame Awards. Elizabeth Clarke accepted the award on behalf of Gammalite's connections and fans, with the tough Terang champion becoming only the ninth legend, joining Gordon Rothacker, Maori's Idol, George Gath, Globe Derby, Popular Alm, Vin Knight, Bill McKay and Edgar Tatlow. The announcement was made at the end of the 45-minute special, which also saw Peter Manning, Lou Robertson, Shakamaker, Angelique, Father Brian Glasheen and Sir Gilbert Dyett inducted into the Hall of Fame. How Fantastic !! Very exciting the great Gammalite, being a Legend for Christmas lol ..... Bet you guys can't come up with a NZ list like that ?? I'll go Wolfie and Cardigan Bay as the TOP 2 Nominations. Mark Purdon and Lazarus 3 and 4.

Here's Josh and Jason Grimson after Winning the Interdominion Final .Looks like a young Anthony Butt !!!lol..... The youngsters doing a great job taking it right up to the powerful McCarthy Barn All year. great stuff !!!

One of them Won it too. Josh Gallagher at just 22 years old . The winning trainer only 28 . quite amazing. Two young kiwi lads only in their 20's won training the 2 x Interdominion 'Consolations' last night at Menangle. A pace + a trot. Jack Trainor now NSW based won the pace and Trent Lethaby , now Queensland based won the trot. Does show the 'LEARNING Groundwork' that they get in Nz is great TOP Notch conditioning. and they are winning Group Races , beating the best Trainers around in Oz. Trent and Jack (just like Nathan Purdon) are only in their first 2 years training too !!! . Is quite amazing. Hope some of the young guys stay home in NZ , like Carter Dalgety , to reach those sort of heights in Nz as well.

Well Luke you 'should' of drove the horse that drew One which would of been the smart thing. and put Moran on the 2nd row drawn horse. Also training them in YOUR own name would help and probably be good 'Karma' as well. And yes does Show how hard they (Interdominion's) are to WIn . McCarthy's had a ' 4 Horse Play' , then they Gets one to the post first even, and then........... STILL DON'T get the Win. lol. It's tough at the top. And finally Congrat's to the DUNN's with their fine 3rd Placing with the old Marvel I adore ALTA ORLANDO (a true trier of the highest order like Gammalite was)

Yeah Baby ! .......Gammalite knows his Interdominions having won 2 of them. join the list Maori Law. And now the Great kiwi horseman Richard Brosnan has 2 of them as well to become an Interdominion legend . Smashing run MAORI LAW !!! great drive Greg Sugars !! and great Training Richard and Emmett !!

Of course!!!! . But all horses are treated and it's the business of the Trainer. even VE gets something. How anyone can possibly Train out of one Barn with other Trainers? (as Fitzgerald claims at start of this thread) is an absolute DISASTER. ?? How is it possible (security wise)?? You would live in total fear of someone nobbling your horse. or this being dobbed in type of shit as well. I worked at 5 different stable locations (Nz, Vic, Qld) and PRIVACY is Essential , I would of thought. How can you do stuff with your horse in such close proximity to Rivals? Doesn't make a skerritt of sense to me. I never once gave information to Trainers about previous trainers establishments treatment methods. Totally Out of respect and it's Not their business . sometimes might have shared Trackwork experience's but definitely Never treatment and feed options used. You need Respect and Honesty in Life. 2 main things.

Well it seems the 'Stables' are all in close proximity going by the A Fitzgerald response. Alford could still be contact with some folk , even if banned 7 years from the premises. He got outed via injections given , as in the official report of his conviction it states that Johny Nevits failed to co-operate with his nasal tubing on the day , earlier in year . They can't even do that right lol. Using decades old methods (like McGrath as well sadly), so ...... Why would the Stewards Not be keeping a Serious Eye on that barn ???? snitch not needed.

Hopefully the stewards would order Pre-race blood samples be taken , before scratching horses with rule 213. That way they could gather physical evidence from the lab over future days..... to justify actions. And like-wise the Trainers name can be cleared if Nothing is found , instead of being in Limbo with accusations.

That's a co-incidence you mentioned this horse, that Kevin Holmes used to drive TESTING TIMES , as here he is in this photo running a national record , while doing that 'SCOTCH TAR' trick of veering off the track to the outside fence at Alexandra Park . What an excellent moment in time captured in this shot !!! Testing Times nearly cleaned up for his whole 2 year old season, with 14-15 odd wins before finishing 5th to the great LORD MODULE at seasons end, in the Nz Juvenile Championship at Auckland in June 1977.

Excellent article Brodster !! so very true . Can only help keep the Harness racing game going. With the young O'Reilly's and Thornton's , Ben Hope , young House started, and Crystal i(Bernie Hacketts daughter) n the North Island has 8 wins from 48 drives already giving a 'Glimmer' of hope for them up there. ( Some Young ones are arriving on the scene.) Never thought I'd see the day , but three Junior drivers are in the Interdominion Pacing Grand Final tomorrow night. They drive excellent races too, and have had stellar seasons , and doing just as well as Andy, Todd and Luke McCarthy did at that age. Todd went on to win the Interdominion with ex-kiwi 'Tiger Tara' before departing to the States like Dexter did.

The world driving Champion Kevin Holmes . was quite a story in the day. Tried a suicide after the 'Incident' as guess it didn't go as well as intended. Woke up in hospital days later after the shoot attempt and jumped out the hospital window to his death instead. only 38 yold. Probably one of the most tragic Nz harness events to happen. Like-wise in Oz, one of the greatest ever Vinnie Knight at just 37 years old , shooting himself dead due to a relationship issue, while ruling the harness world of Victoria with an extraordinary record up to his death in 1991. Had young daughters left behind as well. unbelievable tragedy. Two countries sharing a similar tragic outcome , still grieving decades later. RIP Kevin and Vinnie.