Gammalite

track fees where they train are quite high as Chief says. At Doomben and Eagle Farm the Trainer is able to go to just one of those where he is paying for a certain amount of horses each day. they are quite strict on numbers and times. (thank goodness harness trainers nearly all train at daybreak, instead of in the Dark) But mainly the Race Stakemoney a gallops trainer can earn for owner is WAY More than the trots , so they can charge that bit more in training Fees, as the owner returns will be higher from those thoroughbred races.

I can speak from the coal face. having worked at 6 harness stables and 1 thoroughbred stable (for just a few months) during my term with horses before vet. The gallops trainer in Aus (and his son) were total pricks and Far More Likely to just 'crack the whip' on the staff than go near any hands on work with the horses. which was all but zero. Couldn't imagine them trying to shoe one ? hahahaha perish the thought. They NEVER touched a horse and were even awful the way they talk to you. more likely to be sucking up to the La-De Da owners (that you never saw either). However, ALL the harness trainers (3 in NZ , 3 in Aus) were all the most humble professional horseman, ALL could break in , shoe them, drive the horse truck even, drive the race, and were also kind , generous folk and who ALL could do ALL the work with their horses if required, including shoe,feed,treat, swim, vet, brush and even do their teeth.

That was terrible. I picked a race at random to see what you mean. Picked race 5 . Sam Ottley has the Third Favourite 'YOU CAN FLY ARDEN" beautifully sitting One-One a lap out . Then hit's the crossing. Lose's Balance while going over the crossing, galloping , so run's long last !!! How Would Anyone have confidence betting in those conditions?. unhappy Punters with that sort of thing.

Still partying from $830,000 in stakes and 2 (two) x GROUP 1 Quinella's last week. Rest night last night?

Perhaps that's why they spoke to Barry? to ask about the horses progress, (already a proven winner Artisan) , I agree a trial wouldn't hurt before another raceday , as you don't want them going field-shy. Of course Mangos was racing tight as still out 4 wide. He's driven a lot of races. He was driving a favoured runner from an awkward draw and was looking to press forward. Some were pushing through from the second row. No one there not trying to get a 'prominent' position with horse. Good on them. Still learning 2 year olds so Not surprised these things can happen? are you? Herlihy was forced into the 'wrong' not by the horse, but the bloke who drew One was shoving his front legs up the inside of a horse inside Krug, to try and keep the trail . (sorry forget blokes name now but he went for a gallop) . Possibly AGH did technically cause it by tightening so should of got a penalty. The rules clearly state you have to be clear of horses legs inside you before crossing over. Of course you Don't bag your mates in the Stewards room? Just tell stewards it's horses fault . All good. Of course yes, there are 'errors of judgement' as you said. only one can win. I've been impressed with the tactics lately. Esp. TELFER stable with multiple runners , getting them into positions to be best chance of winning, along with defeating "The Main opponent' everytime. 4 out of 4 wins last 2 Auckland meetings ! perfect !

Get away from McCarthy's Barn winning everything. AND forcing the pace in 1. 51 -1. 52 miles ALL the Time , burning your horses out chasing them ?

Is great that you want action for a , well it was a massive incident. But Eljays steward report above, is laying the blame on Artisan , which could be right. A two year old can race greenly anytime let alone while barrelling along, and with Mangos pressuring and racing tight from the outside. Could very well of ducked in on KachingKaching. And you answered the question yourself, about the tactics, i.e Because they are 'mates' you think covering the truth, why would he be squeezing them into a gallop DELIBERATELY anyway? . because he probably wasn't. Very very few drivers would that , even to someone they 'Don't Like' to tell the truth. If you want to see some foul driving , check out the Tasmanian Cup last night , where the winner used tactics to knock Anthony Butt on the hot favourite out of the race at the start. Bloody disgrace. standing starts. pffffhhh

Good point. Would be unlikely he is sitting in the gig at any point ,probably doing the owner liaison work. Very unusual for standardbred trainers though . I would think upwards of 90% are getting in the gig. Thoroughbred trainers = only a very small percentage jumping on the back of the animal for a bit of work.

Throw them off Chief.!!! There was about 8 runners in the $5 million Allstar mile with them on at Moonee Valley . The Three Placegetters did NOT. Mugatoo, Russian Camelot and Behemoth in the heavy rain. lol......

Queen of the turf !! What a beauty she is. The 'Empire Rose' G1 Win (pictured) was a ripper at Flemington a while back too. An honour to win that race named after another great 'kiwi' mare. Now the 'Belle' bound to get a race named in her honour too.

Reckons "people look past what is portrayed in the media". hahahah I doubt it . this article proof that media can't get over it, (anything bad they could re-hash YET AGAIN.) and stops people/ punters/ anybody getting over it too. Fancy putting a Disqualified Persons photo with a big Cup in the article.? achieves nothing. Trotting has image rat-shitted again. Show some winners for crying out loud. let the 'baddies' fade into oblivion and be gone.

Most races the drivers have a fair idea who the leader will be. (horses with gate speed /and/or Good draw are easy to work out. You can talk before going on track or around at the start. BETTER if some opponents know what you are doing to AVOID confusion. In NZ occasionally you'll see 2 duelling for the lead, (obviously didn't communicate before race) and usually bring your horses unstuck doing that (gassing them early) Most races everyone jumps into 'formation' quickly. GREAT TACTICS by Telfers Stable runners again last night !, in a couple of races , leaving Barry Purdons in deathseat both times. Your example above, my guess would be the inside driver would be saying " Geez you're a f.......,I told you I was leading tonight....." lol.....

Hahaha gee Karrots , I've seen an endless list of drivel from drivers mouths .John McMullen Jnr is by far the best. He had funny things to say after and during every race. (Dad of current QLD champ driver Pete and also his 3 daughters win at every meeting too, incredible family) Junior would come out with things like . "What were you thinking?. Wait on, thinking would be a new experience for you?" lol "I'm taking the lead, or you're tasting the track" ( as he takes you on up front of field) "If you do that again , I'll put you that wide you can buy an ice-cream in the grandstand!" " If you had a brain, it might fill your helmet , so it sits on your head better and you don't drive blind all the time" " I'll win this by so far, I'll organise a search party to look for you guys when I go back to scale afterwards"

Don't worry , Chief will be cheering loud for Probabeel and Trainer Jamie Richards tomorrow in the BIG one, Blinkers and all. lol....

This guy has been near the best since ever jumping in the sulky as a teen. As well as the enterprising KRUG drive to win the Derby last week, what a fine horse he has tonight winning in Last Tango In Heaven. It won very easily and is gunna be a fantastic horse. Part owned by wife Suzanne.(nee Purdon) Wonder if the O Purdon in the ownership is Suzanne's brother OWEN. He is in my top 5 north Island drivers. battling it out with A.G.Herlihy and P.T.Wolfenden each week, and doing a great Job of it. Then young brother Mark took over the reins and the wins. Here's Owen showing great concentration winning with GAME GIRL who is posing for the camera, at Akld.

What the ........ over fences as well ? that is amazing. how does he do it. I say give him the NZ Polocrosse Team as well , and then prepare for victory.!

Forgot to mention , Savabeel's daughter is in tomorrow and is going around at this very racecourse. (Moonee Valley) The multi Million dollar All Star Mile. PROBABEEL for NZ !! complete with Blinkers like her dad (and Fields of Omagh shown running 2nd to Savabeel above, and was the 2003 and 2006 W.S. Cox plate winner) bursting to Victory for New Zealand and Jamie Richards .!! Go you Good Thing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well it's not exactly a FINE COTTON ring-in Brodie. You make it sound like someones being dishonest. Horses all over the place have problems and behaviour issues until something is changed. It's NOT a major conspiracy . They may of well just pulled the hopples up a couple of inches to fill his gear better. He was going very rough at times. well worth trying. Even open class horses have problems. Hands Down , Lord Module , Scotch Tar all rogues at times , went on to win the BEST NZ races going, but these examples were improved with headgear and SHOEING, which makes a great difference to some as well. for balance and coping with the Many hoof issues standardbreds have. quite a few have sore feet and tendons.

How good is this bloke at being involved with Training all sorts of horses. The first race at Alexandra park tonight sees GAZ MAN trot to victory. The colours looking familiar. The colours Carried to Victory in the 2004 W.S.Cox plate (pictured) by a three year old SAVABEEL(by champ NZ sire Zabeel) The Cox Plate being the Feature WFA race on the Australian racing calender worth millions. Now Graeme winning trots at Alexandra Park , well that is ultra impressive !!! Twice as much as what most trainers ever achieve. I guess quite a few know of this already , but still worth a re-boot for some like Karrots new to the caper. What a life accomplishment ! quite unique Graeme !! ridden by a little star jockey from QLD too. Chris Munce.

Most trainers now have a share in some of the horses so are relying on that for any profit they earn, too. You would hope and think they are still having fun trying though. It's a long day/ week but usually they enjoy the challenge, and love getting a Win for their owners and the joy that goes with it. (as well as a few bucks)

Standardbred trainer. Horse training cost, Just say average is $400 per week + vets (that's double the 1990's) per horse. Trainer has average of 10 horses , 2 staff. so that is $4000 per week IN. OUT, so you pay 2 staff , missus doing the books and helping out as well, about $2000 (triple the 1990's) Property lease or rates, utilities, power, land maintenance bills, fuel, transport, feed, harness and equipment, etc, etc, $1500 pay yourself $500 , there's not much left to fix the bull injury.

Not that many ever have. A full day in seven day a week job. It's all up to How many you train and how good staff are, and how many staff you have. A lot of stables have/had 'volunteer' persons at weekends that would turn up keen to help with anything , and loved horses, from their Mundane week jobs. that was a blessing. And just made it more Fun. One positive you could get is the ability to work a few at one time. One place we had 3 of us doing 20 horses. You could pop one in the gig, tie one on each side, tow 2 others ,jog 45 mins, hose or walker or quick swim and hose. and bingo 1/4 of the team done in less than 2 hours by one person. Lots of geldings in the world at that stage thankfully. Stallions a bit more of a prick. I love the Hands on work by ALL the trotting folk everywhere. The galloping gurus stand around giving instructions and grizzling all the time. Much happier times in Harness !!!!

Hehe now that WOULD generate some Grand opinion !! would our driver be able to attend parties and have a drink the night before the BOAY horse racing.? like us would Mark P come out of 'retirement' to train it for us? (Gammalite wants a NZ Cup lol.... ) If not, are we going for North or South Island trainer? and a junior driver? would the owners be happy if he hands up the lead to a stablemate? lol would a defeat to the Spitfire cause some owners to spit the dummy? would we be able to get the amount of money bet on it that Brodie would like on without TAB shutting down? so many questions. such little time.

Once again showing a very pro-active attitude there Karrots and enjoying the racing, sales and Jnr's even !! hundred people like you and the industry would kick on again. Key is keeping a Base Number intact , in each area . numbers mean you have races. No good everyone selling off or racing in Aus or USA . I liked that idea onc but numbers don't support it now. Some need to stay and race at home. As Brodie rightly points out the TRAINING COSTS of a harness horse very (too) high. nearly caught up to the thoroughbreds now. That makes it hard to want to race them. I calculated you had to win a race every three months in SE QLD just to Break Even. So as you were trying to say , the street person needs to be rustled up into a syndicate. This is Thwart with danger as people blow their budget, and/or lose interest, and/or can't or won't pay anymore at the drop of a hat. Better a stable Knows its owners. Syndicates are a lot of work ???? very hard to get money from anonymous people who want out , when results are scarce, etc. On the bright side Family groups are good (sharing the costs and the excitement of racing around) and much more likely to pay running expenses. As would local SPortsclubs. An old group of Bowlers, or Golfers would have money, fun and even enjoy naming their horse. e.g There goes the TITIRANGI FLYER ! what a good name . they'd love it.

An interesting thought.......... Some of those jock's look like they whack pretty darn hard. I always drove using the animals 'in-built' fight and Flight response. I added in Fright as well. with the amount of yelling in any race these days , the horse is being manipulated into initiating this response. They are experiencing 'discomfort ' on many fronts, with tiring legs, burning lungs , brain is spinning (hopefully from the fight, fright and flight response to WIN) a whip flapping about just another insult to their senses I guess. Pretty tough rump , on the trotters. the flank on the gallopers a bit more tender? the rodeo horses 'perform' as in get a reaction from flank discomfort. Think jockeys are looking for this 'discomfort' or better word is 'reaction' as well, to go faster (or just longer) in a race?. so you could be right. A horse with actual 'Pain' pain would be more likely to stop/ or slow (as we ourselves would) when in motion.