Gammalite

Totally !!! I thought it was his job to report stuff. So if it perceived as negative, so be it. There is a Positive though already. All of us reading Van Beynen, or BOAY, or just harness racing news people are learning all the time, especially What Not to Do , and avoid these situations themslves if they can. Think of it as a warning or 'you're on notice' for harness racing industry participants..... from all the cases reported , Lessons are learned, ...... Kerr, Anderson, Orange ,McGrath ,Lamb, and others all doing "errors/offences, whatever you want to call it' does cause great reaction, therefore Improvements are made . ..... all good. NOT keen on people being called cheats, while doing the best they can in a race though as a driver/ trainer (unless they are convicted /penalised of/for such activity) Forbury/retarded driver drove me nuts lol ..........(don't think he is a reporter......lol)

Is hard to believe you are the one who argued so vehemently that the NZ driving standard was way better than Oz. lol..... I feel like you have reneged on that now? At least i'm winning that one. The intelligence level of the bloke you admire might be looked at? On the track well.... superman... give him a beer. Those people work darn hard Brodie , could be 7 days a week for some for decades .... maybe not the sharpest tools in some areas, but generally FOLLOW THE RULES better than some...... who? lol....... Why? he is picking on everyone else but the guilty party?

How do you know this ? did Blair and Bob leave the party driving ? so many questions? Chief was particularly upset by the difference between a road and the race driving permitted alcohol level. After the carnage on the road, (yesterday a driver in Brisbane with substance abuse of some kind killed a couple on the footpath walking their dogs, whom just had news at Christmas of expecting first child, Tragic beyond words) so alas I'm particularly touchy with subject , ROAD limit should be LESS chief is my thought on the difference. maybe same as the trots or better still, ZERO would be good ! Race Driving and PROFESSIONAL SPORT also ZERO.

Also some more truths are , he didn't get his timing right, he is guilty of an offence , and is going to get a penalty. Can you tell us with all this TRUTH you have, if Mr Butt would be ok with his limit in 15 minutes? Hopefully Blair and Bob got driven to the racecourse by family or friend , rather than risking a positive on the road , since they didn't know what their reading was ?

I don't see his articles , only what Davis put at the start here. BAD NEWS always hurts I'm afraid. Big news within the industry (and a GREAT WARNING for all other participants to AVOID this happening to them) So is well worth Reporting really. !! ???or you could just read all about it on BOAY ?? lol........ I'm not , and fairly sure VB is NOT on a Blair Witch Project ..... lol. I have not even commented once on LAMB as have never done that job. (which by reading BOAY is a TOUGH one??) hard enough controlling One 500 kg horse as a driver, let alone 14 of them and their 'potentially drunk drivers' (joke joke hehehe) , not obeying your instructions before the start of a race. standing starts should be yesterdays thing.

Brodie I do usually like your opinion too. You are very focused here on the actual 'Incident' itself. Which is fine . MarkyMark covered more the repercussions and broad effect on the Harness Racing Industry. And some thoughts on why PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS are required. Which was fine. You keep commenting Blair can beat everyone. which is fine. You keep 'bagging' Blair's opposition drivers all the time . which is surprising .!! lol he does need them. Very sorry that Von Beynon not popular there, (I don't read his stuff) but when leading driver is relieved of drives for Not following the rules (a second time so Does Know Better) VB has to report it ??? can't sweep under carpet......

Well in the general population of horses in country/ metro Victoria I can say it is a pleasure to watch the expert horse riding skills on display these days . The well balanced jockeys are really leading the way. Nearly all my bets are Vic racing these days, but without the 'Big Whip' riders these days , the lady jockeys and the apprentice jockeys are winning just as much as Ollie and Willow !! It's just great. ! Michael Walker ( a great whip rider) doesn't get the rides he used to.. The young ladies even winning every second race in South Australia it seems. Their Balance and poise is just so good and the reliance on whip riding is phasing out bit by bit. The two ladies in NZ leading the the riding ranks are doing brilliantly too. Less whip, Better Racing !! I would love to see any of them compete against Frankie (still no Melbourne Cup) or Ryan on any racecourse.

Why you are constantly getting stuck into the 'driving ability' of the competitors is a mystery. These 'NIL drivers' as you described them earlier in this thread, are doing a fine job, and you should be grateful for the entertainment IMO. Sure, Blair is doing a GREAT JOB, I am sure everyone thinks so in regard to driving horses. Yourself , Chief and some, are thinking this whole Situation (penalty still pending) is over-reaction, Stupid Silly Limits, etc. because of the very Small limit and the driving ability of One BLAIR ORANGE (and mr Butt) It is much BIGGER than that , The Integrity of the Sport of Harness Racing on the line (as reported by Von Beynon to lead the thread. General public People will laugh if they even remotely think the competitors are 'Under the Influence' in any shape or form whatsoever, whatever the limits on this are. How well they (anyone) drive Under the Influence or Not (your arguement) is just Speculation and Opinion. (not fact) Professional Sport deserves better ! Zero Tolerence is best. And here is WHY The following is compliments of MarkyMark and is worthy of re-posting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! most professional athletes and sportsmen are required to be free of drugs, and have no alcohol in their system. In my view a driver should be required to present at raceday free of drugs with no alcohol in the system. It protects the integrity of the sport, and stops doubt. Doubt in relation to any concern over tha drivers ability to drive, and provide confidence to all participants that "alcohol and drugs" have no bearing on any outcome. It would also help with the reputation of the industry. Harness has a poor reputation, there shouldnt be any discretion for alcohol. If you have a zero tolerance, then there can be no confusion for drivers. If I was betting on a race, or was an owner of a horse in the race, and knew that any driver had a reading above zero i would want out. its not hard, nor rocket science. If you want it to be a proffesional sport, with integrity, and helping give confidence to all participants, then no brainer, zero tolerance

CRAIG CROSS NSW 75 24 14 - 7 $281,917 13 $196,130 11 $85,787 32.00% 60.00% BEN YOLE TAS 227 18 18 - 24 $155,256 0 $0 18 $155,256 7.93% 26.43% JACK BUTLER QLD 62 13 5 - 8 $94,261 1 $13,564 12 $80,697 20.97% 41.94% A M BUTT, S L SMITH VIC 17 11 1 - 3 $147,630 6 $127,530 5 $20,100 64.71% 88.24% AIDEN DE CAMPO WA 42 11 7 - 7 $91,800 2 $42,764 9 $49,036 26.19% 59.52% KERRYANN MORRIS NSW 56 11 6 - 4 $77,729 1 $17,800 10 $59,929 19.64% 37.50% ANDY GATH VIC 28 9 5 - 3 $118,210 5 $99,310 4 $18,900 32.14% 60.71% EMMA STEWART VIC 34 9 7 - 1 $119,485 4 $94,700 5 $24,785 26.47% 50.00% JOHN MCMULLEN QLD 50 9 1 - 7 $37,834 0 $0 9 $37,834 18.00% 34.00% CHANTAL TURPIN QLD 36 8 6 - 3 $63,625 0 $2,444 8 $61,181 22.22% 47.22% GRANT DIXON QLD 131 8 17 - 17 $97,719 0 $6,858 8 $90,861 6.11% 32. Australian racing Season 2021 underway from January 1st and Anthony Butt has partnered with his partner Sonya as Co-trainers. And Ant's has 11 wins from just 17 starters this season ! what a strike rate !!! well done team NZ ! Craig Cross (the kiwi farrier for McCarthy's) has 'finished training ' for the moment lol, as ALL horses are back in BELINDA McCARTHY's name as Trainer from Now on . perhaps he missed the shoeing too much ? Gee GRANT !! what has gone wrong mate?? 8 wins from 131 starters this season (since new year) Pull your socks Up ! maybe Ring the Ex-Mrs Natalie Rass in NZ and get some Tips I think Grantley !!! she has become available from training duties !!!

I did Chief, my very next sentence I said Why >>>> . Because they are PAID to do so, and they are role models. A true professional would 1. Follow the Rules, 2. Do his best to provide 100% service to paying clients, and 3. Always be 100% considerate of all his fellow competitors regarding safety. (before even mentioning Integrity) Even a slightly ' jaded ' bowler in the cricket nets, could course a nasty incident , if not 100%? That professional bowler is not paid to go in at 99%, ( a horse race IMO being 100% is just as important !!!! ) The Role model factor important too. (e.g The tennis wankers abusing everyone like Kyrgios need evicting) In horse racing You can't have the young (or old) drivers, jockeys all thinking "Blair or CJ were partying hard last night ! and then rode Sunday" "We can do that next weekend at Blahs 21st Sat night then!!" Unfortunately these guys / girls are in these sports so HAVE TO set a higher standard than you or I.

Well whether you expect it or not , Professional Sportspeople Have to set a higher standard. They are Paid to Do just That Chief. (plus they become role models whether they want to be or not) Warnie and Boony a great example, as we laugh hard out loud at their Exploits , but you can BE SURE and certain that Cricket Australia everyday sits all the players down and says either 'Don't do what Warnie and Boony did"" or "This is what is expected of you .......blah blah...." And of course minor Safety issues will come in to it as well regarding alcohol limits, as in any job. Not having alcohol in your system Match day (or even training day) is SURE to be a major Priority for most Professional sporting organisations. Harness Racing Integrity is 'doomed', if our fine Horsemen can't Set the HIGH STANDARD MarkyMark mentioned.

Haha very good lol ! Won't be able to Chief, for a while, as he got 5 meetings suspension last time in 2016 , How many does he get this time? I'll just have to await his return for a bet !! lol..... Don't think his overall driving ability is in question at all . MarkyMark covered many aspects that were in question. Did you agree with them? (on previous page regarding professional sportspeople)

Yeah true, It's getting like a harness race. I guess it was such a serious incident, (more than a Spitfire gallop lol) and your leading driver's reputation is now in tatters (especially dumb second time around), and didn't want you going down that path condoning that behaviour leaving your reputation in tatters as well. Afterall , THE VERY BEST must lead by Example .....hahahaha

Geez Brodie , You miss the point in your rush to defend Blair O who Broke a Rule in place for the benefit of everyone. You already asked how is he spose to know whether he's 100 or 120 or whatever. That is in effect the actual problem. The answer is glaringly Obvious. And how the hell do you know Blair Orange alcohol metabolism rate.???? When was his last drink?? Why did he present over the limit at the track? At what rate per hour does it clear from your system Dr Brodie.>>> ZILCH by the time he drives you say ???? You're ZILCH CHANCE of knowing that, so is a rubbish statement. Are you being dumb? , just like Blair , to prepare to drive with that silly arguement. "Gee I hope i'm ok by race 1" MarkyMark gave an excellent post on what should be the professional approach by sportspeople and what is expected of them , etc . You should go back and read it.

This comment is EXACTLY the problem Brodie . That is why we are arguing against him instead of FOR him (being unlucky, still able to drive better than all others , etc......) Anyway MARKYMARK has answered it PERFECTLY just now up above in a post regarding Professional Athletes and Sportsman. Thank-you Marky Mark,!!!!!!!!! you and Blossom and Galah have summed it up so well , after I was going down the gurgler to the Chief too. ..... What do you think Brodster? It's Australia Day so time for a beer to celebrate !! (no drives tomorrow lol....)

Blair made a mistake (twice) and YES it would be great if the journo didn't report it as is detrimental to harness racing. But it's a pretty big error by a leading driver and big news when he gets the penalty coming. (and the Penalty suffered by punters as some of the BOAY posters said already) I was Trying to come up with a solution to avoid recurrence . Don't 'dance with limits' being the easy one. If I was in a race with someone been drinking , I'd swack em with the Whip so hard they'd probably want to bail out, then I would hopefully win and pay the UNAPPROVED use of the Whip fine...... lol

YES, that is correct !!!! The Rules are different, and you are actually doing a different TASK chief. as for your up and coming drivers , well for Under 20 year olds on the road here in OZ, the limit is ZERO already. Should / would be the same in a horse race I really hope??????. (WHy not for all ages then, and make it Completely safe !! even nuns could drive !!! lol........ fun photo you found, (is that returning to scale Avondale?) and avoid the dreaded BLAIR BLUNDERS altogeather. !!!!!!!!!

Would you seriously UP the threshold for race drivers chief , ???? to that of the road ? and then run the risk of 'Bad judgement" of people still driving over that limit when 'thinking' (i call it Not Thinking) that they are FINE to drive? Surely better to drop the road threshold back to the mild trots level would be better. (ZERO% the BEST level) IMAGINE in a race , with some 'drunk driver' sticking his wheel under your horses legs ????? your life in their hands for the sake of a few drinks ?? HAVE a beer after the races FCS.

They randomly pre race, post race test horses. Jockeys too ,They have found cocaine, weed etc, Luke Tarrant , Katsidis in QLD got long sentences. KEEP TESTING , yes indeed. The track needs to be safe , a dangerous workplace already. Definitely get some breath tests if you hear about the big parties night before. Good on the Stewards !!! There prime job is to make the races SAFE AS POSSIBLE for the competitors. Heaven forbid it be like the roads.

USA has one alcohol related death on the road per HOUR , zero % seems a better idea to me. Bloody virus, not sure what is best there, but haven't NZ and OZ done well overall.? UK in total crisis. Hope Auckland folk ok and that SA strain contained. Aussies and kiwis pretty smart (unless drinking night before the Day trot's Blair and Co ...lol......) Even as far as 30 years ago we had designated driver every weekend for your adventures/ parties !! works fine . Drink Poweraid or some shit like that and no alcohol on your driving day. (car or races) not hard to do. I think its awful that some think it ok to drive in a horse race with 'some' alcohol traces. Hard to believe some do that. There's obligations to consider. Blair is good, but that's no excuse. I could drive the same in a race after consuming a '6 pack' or not, BUT wouldn't do it. It's against the rules. and against your mates and punters etc too.

Should be the same Chief YES , at zero . None of this BS then, No alcohol related deaths on road, Hundreds of thousands saved in court cases (OZ and NZ) heaps of people Saved from EmBarassment. ? Like Mr Orange. But because it isn't BLAIR and others have to follow the RULE in Place. Brodie is doing the Old Timeframe arguement. (Should be good to go by the time the first race hits the track) wow , talk about 'run the gauntlet.' better not to Brodie. People are poor judges of their own abilities while intoxicated lol...

Unfortunately He Did put himself in that position to be tested. (again) . Most over the limit people thought the "Alcohol would be out of system" before getting behind the wheel. What a Poor excuse. As for being dobbed in ? Did you want them to sneak about at the Mot after the big party ? just in case? A lot of people would be talking about the 'get togeather' so was GOOD reason to test some IMO by the stewards. safety is paramount. Why should other people in the races be compromised by a repeat offender , who might be driving at 99%, 98%, 97% ,96% ........coherence? Yeah yeah not much you say BUT It should be 100%. not this guess about how much 'limits' leave you impaired BS. The rule is there ! follow It , or look like a goose.

Rules are in place to make racing safe as can be for all competing. Blair Orange (and Mr Butt) has breached an important rule (and should KNOW BETTER from previous experience) Of Course its a LOW threshold (and definitely it should be too !! ) Some posters think they can 'drive' fine at certain readings , well everyone is different , WHY take Chances .??? Blair and Bob did the Wrong thing and will be penalised for their stupidity. (but will be back winning at some stage). why people are worrying 'Who broke the story is a mystery'. It's a big story (and IMPORTANT learning one for all industry participants. (Some People learn faster than others apparently) OF course when the Leading driver is relieved of his drives it Should make the 'Headline News' really. and is another Black eye/embarrassment for harness racing (von-beynon or NO von-beynon)

Don't get so upset with it Karrots, All good. just a bit of fun. JJFlash has plenty of posts here , there , wherever. and doing fine. My guess is NO-ONE left this site because of the Flash. so probably don't read it like that Perhaps he meant you sound more like Chief because you and he, both have an Excellent eye for all the yearlings at the sales ? whether be thoroughbred or Standardbred. ........hehe I use the Rossini 'WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE ' for motivation !! play that one and your horses seem to go Faster !!! OR>>>>> When they get beat just kick in with a bit of Elton John and SAD SONGS (say so much) lol....... You can play either one while at BOAY. !!!

Hey Thomass***** , there's 30 years of winning races for Nat, 39 years exactly for Mark, both in your fine nation and all over Australia as well, without being DQed, even if you think Allstars get 'legal' protection there , they certainly wouldn't get it here. (and they won PLENTY over here over the years) In fact, Natalie Rasmussen's sister VICKI as trainer, won with the 2 Allstars horses (again) last Sat night in QLD. Do you need to investigate???? Look for some foul play in your imagination? Maybe it's just the The Horses are Pretty good, and the horsemen / women are exceptional !!! INNOCENT until proven guilty , and sentenced. That's where case is at. also its 'Damocles' if you want to use big words from history.