Gammalite

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.

Well some have said here the Punter is most important, and animal welfare too, I admire that. and as a Punter I was very impressed with Opie getting that runner home at Ellerslie. Yes he broke a current rule (and was punished according to current protocol) and Thomass has it as the crime of the century. He was trying to win the race.. and Did too. Some are screaming DISQUALIFY , jockey not counting properly. What if ANOTHER jockey had 6 slaps before the 100m peg ?? same charge? disqualify too ? ye old horse come back to scale , feeling no different , than any others in the race. Saying one is punished more than another because of a few more whip strikes? They can't count. so makes no difference if jockeys DO count. Who are you trying to please ? yourself , the horse or the punter? (Punters were HAPPY , the 3-1 ON shot Amarelinha won R8 Ellerslie!! excellent result for them) The horse not happy anyway 5, 10, 15 , 20? a whipping is a whipping ??? Chief says throwing it away is giving in to the activists. (looking to ban racing altogeather) I think Not the case , as throwing whips away can only lift racing perception , and we can all demonstrate to the newbies what an exciting product it is. without the whip even causing all these problems. Might need more Blinkers instead Chief lol......... Fancy race winning champion jockeys getting called cheats

Even though technically an apt description, This really LAPS OVER into the 'trying to Win' territory. In a race , jockeys and drivers (harness) are Paid to try and win that race. The punting public, The Stewards, everyone ....... DEMAND that you do your best to obtain the Best possible finishing position. Often you are Scrapping that hard you break the racing rules , pushing out, cutting off, squeeeeezing everything you can from your mount, (as Opie did with the case in hand) Not EVER ONCE did I think I was 'cheating'. You ride the boundaries of infringement in any sport (cycling ,etc) to Obtain the Best Possible Result. In Racing, your description to me fits the calculated 'Preplanned 'attempts at best position. i.e administering illegal substances, etc and also calculated 'Preplanned 'attempts to not try (as in a fixed race punt , etc) The Horse cannot possibly distinguish between 10 slaps or 20 . so either whip or no whip is the ONLY answer. regarding horse welfare, and public perception of racing. Why do jockeys have to learn to count ??? So to not be a cheat ??? what a lot of rubbish. poor opie. quite inappropriate i reckon. great ride !

In that case, my conspiracy theory , is that Brodster and Thomass are somehow related.

Have raced several kiwis purchased through John Devlin (R.I.P) and the South Auckland Bloodstock Agency back before children days, and I actually feel quite bad about it. So many good horses from NZ sold off to Aus over the years (planeloads over the years) leading to the ALLstars having nearly all the best stock left behind to race in NZ, and therefore dominating . Don't feel good that I was contributing towards that, and the small numbers left racing now in faster class. So NO WAY would I buy Spitfire and deprive the locals there in NZ, the chance to see the mighty beast in action.

Purple Patch. beats long barren patches.

Not quite true Thomass , it takes quite a serious breach to Relegate in a race, more likely a fine or suspension , like Opie got for his offence, would be the penalty. (causing tightening , etc) Horses taking the line of another late in the race might draw a relegation , if costing the other a chance of finishing in a higher position. just as likely to be a horse fault as rider /driver too. Are you Trying to be Clueless ?? Your knowledge seems limited??? so that is not EXACTLY the same at all. Speaking of the sulky, the 2nd leading Trainer in Australia (Jack Butler in QLD) has his terrific young daughter Chloe out suspended for next 2 weeks , from a third whip violation in 50 days is the rule. I would think Chloe could modify her style at being only 20 years of age approx , as Change is/was hard to do for Drivers / Riders that have been in 100's and thousands of races trying their guts out to Win. You calling Opie 'Cheat' is just part of your Modus Operandi. Are you finding it hard to change from it? Bit like Opie finding it hard to change from winning races? Opie has gone around a few times so he KNOWS what is required to Win . and does his absolute Best to achieve it.

'Animals don't think like humans ' that is what activists should be told. A million chooks in a giant shed are pretty happy as are with their mates, getting a big feed, and a drink. no drama. The greyhounds Love to Chase !! I've no problem with it. The dogs are almost dancing with excitement ! what a great thing the humans have brought to them. The racehorses !! bred to run ! they love it. I worked with horses for years , then vets, easy to see which horses were better looked after and enjoying life. Yeah !!! the last 200m of a race is tough , but it is for all of us !! hahaha

Hahaha yeah he loves to call Cheat hahaha Lucky he doesn't play Poker lol.... Opie far from a Cheat. What a great rider! I was thoroughly impressed with that win . good try by Grylls too. Great racing picked apart for not much reason. (a few 'extra' slaps) my guess is Horses Can't Count , so 10 or 20 makes no difference IMO, either some or none ? that way horse is up on the play of the day ?? hahahaha

They still all have to kneel at the beginning of every EPL football match (watched by millions) so that is pretty loud. I'm hoping that Doesn't Have to happen in AFL next week. I must say that I KNOW that some need a little whip use towards the end of a race. (Thomass even knows that but won't admit it. I used a whip every race I was in. You don't run anywhere by just hoping , althought that would be nice. Full points to Oppie from me, employed and paid to try and win the race , And he did !! then punished hahahah. Likewise as Thomass and Nomates says , the Horses feel the 'consequences' of this trying to win. AND the public sees the whip being used whether 10, 20, or 30 times . WTF!! horses can't count , nor can public Just Stipes and jockeys, and BOAY (lol) either have whip or not , I'm happy either way. Horses don't HOLD GRUDGES , lol......

Very well put Nomates, and I would be certain with your years of experience you had/ have total empathy where required for your horses and indeed still show these days , for all current horses. The 'public perception climate' regarding the debate for horses welfare is paramount for the racing industry. as you have argued and quite correctly too, as many young folk don't have the horse knowledge you or I do. Thomass is 100% for horse welfare, you Chief and I know horses are looked after like Kings horses, when in training generally, and fed, brushed , treated, excercised and anything we can do for their welfare is Important. Alas at the END of a Race they find a few moments of 'hardship' as Flat to the boards, Peddle to the metal, engine screaming at highest revs possible ...... to get a result and Win That Race. Public SEE the finish of a race , so to me Total Hits is a FALLACY. they just see a whip, The horse just sees a whip. They're not counting strikes like Stewards, jockeys or us. So they can fiddle with these whip strike numbers like Thomass has through this thread (and get nowhere) , OR we just throw it out and move on. I guess horses that need more than Hands and Heals at the end of a race will have to move on too. Such a tough one ??? the horse Gammalite had 16 Group 1 wins and 94 wins. would of been only a fraction of that without a whip. probably No group 1' wins at all. I know you and Horace have said , yeah still carry whip , but How Will that Change Public Perception?

In the G3 Sunline Vase AMARELINHA got there for the win because of a well calculated and a 'great balance late' ride from a leading jockey. I was watching on TV and noticed nothing of the whipping from the TV angle provided . Looked to all appearances a great jockey getting a 3-1 ON pop home with a great ride , great effort by horse, and bliss for the Punters. Of course from the head-on stewards Film you could see it all clearly. (Oppies whip use) You take the race off that WINNER, and the industry is stuffed ! I wouldn't bother anymore, and at the moment I live off the punt. Yes indeed , there's always a deafening roar made by miniority groups, sex, religion, race or politics. I guess everyone wants to be different. I do agree with examples given by yourself , and Freda , and nomates and my children about the image of racing regarding animal abuse. Only answer seems no whips. happening one day I guess.

The reward is very good too, (winning the race) I thought both jockeys did what they thought was best to get the best result in the heat of Battle. was a small margin. A rule was broken and a penalty given. I see No problem . Same thing happens with lots of other 'Offences' that can effect the result of a race as well . (not keeping straight , etc) Even if the Thomass is right and the offence is deemed 'Serious enough' to relegate or disqualify because of Whip Overuse or excessive use , WHERE does IT all STOP? What if the rider on the Derby or Auckland Cup winner (or any winner or placegetter) gave his SIXTH WHACK 120m Out ??? that IS breaking the same rule ? Jockey and every Punter in the country looking at slow motion replay, trying to count the whip strikes ??? Jockey insists he was trying to count to five or thought he was at the 100m point. Still have to take the race off him Thomass, as same as Oppie crime. and the Nation in dismay and shock after. VERY very hard to disqualify someone with these dodgy rules .

Haha yes the CONSTELLATION CUP now safely in NZ hands (probably because you are a STAR Karrots) lol. The royal family should of kept Harry under wraps and away from the American girls. They lost a King once, (Edward) who Abdicated and ran off to France with an American chick. Perhaps Harry doesn't care as brother William and little nephew George are heirs to the throne anyway. Doubt the Purdon name is in any Disrepute? unless of course you read BOAY too much ? hahahaha.......

Of course !! It is International Women's Day today so I put it down to that . The Diamonds renamed Zirconia !!! lol. AND the Aussie boys PLAYED LIKE GIRLS and lost the 20/20 Cricket Final at Wellington yesterday !!!lol ... lemons !! AND Majestic Man beat up the Aussie trotters again !!! lol. Although our best Pink GALAHs is a girl. AND Mach Shard won the G1 at Menagle beating up on the locals for NZ. The lovely Katrina Purdon is an owner though, so doing her bit for the girls getting the Big races too. p.s (well done NZ in those 4 events, too good! )