Gammalite

Yes no doubt the very top drivers are able to do this on unfamiliar horses even. These would be Blair Orange and James Herbertson currently. the top of the 2 nations in wins. Others that are fully grade One would be Cam Hart and Pete McMullen. possibly Zac Butcher ? possibly John Dunn ? what do you/people think of them? happy to it on your horse ? Chris Alford (Vic) and is in his twilight years but still is solid , but like Tony Herlihy and Maurice McKendry and Ricky May you might be looking to the slightly younger brigade to be the more dominant now. Grant Dixon, Luke McCarthy, Natalie Rasmussen, even Mark Purdon himself rarely take/took outside drives , so are in a A grade class of their own . they are/ were Busy with Training for Results . and 100% successful with it. Wilson, Crystal, Carter and co in the younger brigade are just super. keen and enthusiastic. quite a few drivers in each State are doing fine like them too. Callaghan and Gallagher in NSW , Garrard in QLD especially The driving standard is Good as ever I reckon. they getting the horses to go faster than ever to go with it.

A very serious topic then . and one that needs Addressing. I'm one of the 'Marvel' at it brigade and in fact love it. Nothing better than having your horse given every chance in a race , By getting some aid from stable-mates this becomes a reality for some horses that otherwise wouldn't of won. The Fixer winning the NZ Cup, Amazing Dream in the Auckland Cup a couple of examples , but Dunns and Telfers have even used great tactics to effect at times. Ferguson's even did that crazy one one time . I asked a galloping bloke one time , why he hated the harness racing so much? , and he said "Mainly because they all seem to be related to each other and you don't know who's looking after who ". 🤔 fair enough I spose. NZ races are tough enough to win as it is , but if you can go into a race with your horse and 'Get some Cover' or whatever it might be . like Green you are discussing, Mickey House at Manawatu, or how Allstars in Group racing for many years in Sires Stakes and age features (exactly like the current Emma Stewart barn and Grant Dixon barns might in Australia) and Not be 'Put to the sword' by a stable-mate. well and good . you might just win It !!! the highlighted bits above quite important in the success rate of these great stables .

Yes I saw the heartbreak with Vinnie in Victoria when Popular Alm broke a bone, and BAG LIMIT and SINBAD BAY were constantly having issues , from over-stretching every thing . ( In between their many Super Big race Wins) The Top Level in both countries is through the ceiling good Chief. Esp Allstars (now on the wane) and Barry Purdon with a few stable stars taking over ( with all the hard work by Scott Phelan of course too) Allstars had unlucky accidents with Akuta and Millwood Nike to end their careers prematurely. and Cullens and Dalgety's are racking up many big race wins too. Very Sharp Trainers. It's a true pleasure to Watch them race. (just on a side note Chief , a very good friend of mine here in Brissy I used to drive for, has a horse share at Dalgety's. he loves to support NZ like Dean Shannon and that too. Horse named Magician , and should win tomorrow night at Addington too ) . Grant Dixon in QLD has Many 'very modest' horses racing too , some winning tonight even in slow old times and grades at Redcliffe where he sends the juniors to get a go. and get yet more wins. Something like the Dunns camp and the House camp does so well there. helping some smaller-time owners out which is nice 👍

Six races down , with 4 to go. They're sending them around the Redcliffe Triangle after-All tomorrow night for 3 races . with the 10th and Final Leg at Albion Park Race 1 Saturday night . James Herbertson sure to take the title before he steps out driving RAKERO REBEL on behalf of the late Greg Sugars in the Interdominon Pacing Grand Final. Here's the current race by race points scored in photo below. Herbie cruising to victory in Leg 6 by 3 lengths from NZer Carter Dalgety and a staggeringly good $68 Quinella . The class of driver well worth following as predicted at start of thread, and you can reap the rewards . (I missed it though as was in shock a little from the late Chris Garrards passing) POINTS UPDATE. Young drivers Championship. Herbie (Vic) 72, Jett (NSW) 53, Chloe (QLD) 52, Emily (WA) 44, Carter (NZ) 38, Sam (NZ)and Bernadette (SA) 32, Wilson (NZ) 30, Harrison (NZ) 22 , Brodie (TAS) 16.

This week a Very special harness racing man has passed away after a long battle with illness. Chris Garrard received a OAM (order of Australia medal in 2019) I'm sure he would of been so proud of that achievement as we are for his amazing support of harness. In recognition of the great harness racing supporter here's a small tribute to the wonderful supporter of our sport throughout Aus and NZ. Chris set up Horse and Hound from 1985 with wife Maureen and 3 sons and has developed the business over the years to help the participants with Rio harness and sulkies, Garrards Pesticides and even an Equine Veterinary practice. Many of my friends and colleagues from harness days work for the company in various capacities to this very day making the harness world a better place. Chris Sponsors many races throughout Australia and New Zealand, including our Main Australian feature races of the year , The Garrards Miracle Mile at Menangle . His last one saw two of the greatest horses ever seen, fight it out in Don Hugo and Leap To Fame. Chris helped set up the Redcliffe Yearling Sales . His dream to get everyday folk a horse to race at an affordable price, and sponsored the series for graduates of that sale. Chris being a long time President of the Redcliffe trotting Club , and is club Patron and life member. Chris still deserved a TOP horse himself though for all his years of support to many participants in the industry. a nice BOAY story for you is he paid the sale high of $36,000 2 years ago for the Redcliffe yearling sale top priced lo, t a nice ULTIMATE MACHETE Colt , and he gave Chris his biggest win in harness by winning the Sale Graduate Final for 2 yearolds One year ago. SINABUN would of given Chris one of his biggest thrills with the Win and am sure he got a Big picture on his wall to enjoy in his declining health times. Last Week on Friday night , SINABUN attempted to qualify for this weeks Group 1 Big Queensland Derby , but unfortunately didn't qualify as it is a Very very hot field. Chris would always recognize that horses is a 7 day a week job you can't get away from , and I remember him turning up at the stables on many Sundays, with a carton of beer to share with the staff , and share stories and toasts right into the evening sometimes , while we were hammering shoes and that sort of thing , getting ready for the next weeks work. A true Caring Gentleman , I'm proud to of known him , and certainly people like that are ones that endeared the sport to me and Many others for life. RIP Chris Garrard. A Champion of Harness racing forever.

Race 3 a good example of our QLD young drivers. running the Trifecta. The old Saturday Interdominion quality boys of Pete McMullen and Shane Graham and Robbie Morris out-driven in that race 3 🤣😎😂 Paige Bevan (22) winning from Leonard Cain (25 years old and with 800 wins ) who both could of driven in the Young drivers Championship ran the Quinella , and Chloe Butler (22) who is in the championship ran 3rd .👍 Our future very bright for young drivers. 🏆🍻🥰 I would say Paige and Chloe is about the exact equal of someone's like Monika Ranger and Emily Johnson in NZ . all the young lasses having a good go at it really.

Bugger the Dragon . couldn't get there for Herbie. Harrison Orange had to park and ran 3rd Heat 4. Couldn't get the lead off Herbie so 3rd was his lot. they went 27 , then 29 , then 27 , then 29 quarters in that 🤣😂 a 1.52 mile 😳 rattling along. and they're some of our slow horses here. That rarely start on Saturdays as would get smashed. West Australian young lass driver mowed my 'certain ' Quinella down late on too 🙄 . No justice in that . I better ring these stewards up and see what's going on ? 😎

A kiwi won the first race tonight at Albion. Riley Butt !! his colours have the silver fern too. Unfortunately Riley has given up driving for some strange reason at the ripe age of 22. And put our best local youngster Angus Garrard on his horses. You think he could drive with a name like Butt ? they been a great driving family. Riley must of got a fright.

Not a junior and hasn't claimed for a good while. This is Not a Junior driver Championship. It is the Australasian Young Drivers Championship being run currently. you have to be 25 or younger to qualify. The competitors were selected by their states. Junior drivers are much more like galloping Apprentices getting a claim. In QLD you get 5 Ratings point drop on a horse if it has a junior driver with under 100 career wins. and 3 ratings points off a starter if the Junior is 100-200 wins. Our 2 best Juniors in Jack Chappell at Dixons and Layne Dwyer are in that 2nd category. able to claim 3 ratings points as are both on about 180 wins. Funnily enough our QLD Rep in this Young Drivers Championship has 460 career wins and is only 22 years old 😆. CHLOE BUTLER is a part time trainer too, she sometimes puts a 'Junior' on her horses to get a claim and ratings relief !! incredible but true. at 22 she has to use another driver lol. Further, you can come back One Class on a Metro horse ( race for BIGGER prizemoney Saturday nights) i.e A race for One Win only Metro horses, those boys could drive a horse with 2 Metro wins in it. They claimed a class reduction. They can do this for up to 50 Career Metro wins. So really , No matter what their age , they are not a junior anymore when they have outdriven the claims, and allowed to start in Group racing as Senior driver. As James Herbertson has done more than 2 years now.

Best to keep Franklin for the trainers. otherwise No Participants = No racing. Sell Alexandra Park . it goes the WRONG WAY anyway and needs a Red Arrow to go with it's In the Red Books , to be turned in the other direction !! Albion Park "The Creek" Used to go that way round . to the right . Stanley Rio winning the Interdominion here 1978 for George and John Noble for New Zealand . a fine win against Paleface Adios and co. But We saw the light 😇, and threw out the gallopers 🏇 and turned the track Left handed. to Modern standards. And of course don't mind a bit of water on the track . Not called The Creek for nothing. They've gone a bit woosies in NZ with their thoroughbreds, and call the gallops off when light rains nowadays.😉

Put a bit of Shellgrit on the old Car racing Track Ranga !! . and send the trotters around that. 👍😁😂 would be some great action . Sure to be a bit of fun and tightening at the hair-pin at the far right there, at the end of the Back straight. That'll sort the men out from the boys. 😋 You can see the top bend of current Franklin training track top centre of this photo just the other side of the railway. Trainers not far to go to race.

No he wasn't . Herbie drove 3 x 3rd favourites for 2 wins and a 4th so far. It's a level playing field Brodster, and I made a point of saying all the horses were fairly even. all those 3 horses yesterday, had all run 6th and worse at their last 2 starts each. But with Herbie on they were always going to do better , and were well backed in the market accordingly. Alas our best Queensland Young Driver didn't get a start. ANGUS GARRARD (alias The Kid) is coming up on 1000 wins and is only 22 years old. He won the World drivers Championship here defeating Dexter and Pete so probably eliminated himself from todays contest for being 'Too good' 😋 James Herbertson driving 3 absolute Pussy-cats tonight, so we'll see if he can still win. even your old ENTAIN mate Dean Shannons horse he has drawn tonight . DRAGON in race 2. Am sure Herbie can get much closer than presenter Brittany Graham (a poor driver) did with Dragon last start. they compete in race 2 tonight at 7.54 NZ time. young Harrison Orange probably win that with Vinsanity as it performed quite well last week in a fast Metro Class race. Should be head and heels above a field of Redcliffe country horses . But can he Drive to win ?? 🤣😅 Better than being a Late Galah is what I always say 😁 Lets go kiwis . show us what ya got . 🏆😎

Its a race for the old veterans . 7 years old plus. Most of these old boys won their races many years ago to win that money. Think i'll stick with Herbertson. Miracle Moose a Cambridge winner twice back in 2019 🤣. old Barry Purdon horse there too. ''Major Jellis' started in a Franklin Cup once. they still try hard. Jordy, Major Jellis , Obi One and Miracle Moose still ran placings in 1.51 and a tick last start . home in 55 seconds last half . How good are these old warriors ? juniors might make em' go 1.50 ???? 🤣😎 Tuesdays are nearly always $9,000 races , so one of these old pensioners, will be taking home $5,481 to add to his rocking chair collection of cash.

A Fair call mate. I've been quite happy backing Crystal, and Harrison and Carter over the past year. And got quite good results really. The juniors here in Oz go round and round that often they make you giddy. you couldn't possibly follow them and get anywhere. Tassie very good at supporting juniors as are 'cheap' horses racing there. Our 2 Big QLD stables both give their NSW junior stable driver about 20 drives per week . young Tom Callaghan for Pete McMullens stable ( driving in race 10 today) and the young Chappell lad , another teen from NSW gets a whole heap of Dixon stable (slow horses) drives. That's the way to do it Brodster ! send em' round and round. they can only get better and learn more each drive👍. Your NZ most experienced Bloke , Sam Thornley drove a 'bold' race just now (on 'Kash Tin' in the 2nd Heat ) . But didn't quite get there . 3rd was his lot. certainly made them run hard down the back in 27 seconds though 😅. got them off the bit lol. maybe went for it a bit too soon.?

Tuesdays are usually good . 1.55 horses. Wednesday night is usually Redcliffe with 1.58 horses . but they're running it here this week so the Juniors can drive on nearly the best track in the Southern Hemisphere. As predicted James Herbertson Completely OUT-drove All of them in Heat one . Except for Carter. who followed him all the way for a clear-cut Second. so easy to see the better drivers. 👍 Gamma Collects 5 bucks of the quinella paying $18 without even having to think or raise a sweat lol 😋 ?? (should of taken 10 bucks worth but am not greedy 😉)

Yah sound like you're going like PINSEEKER there Blackie? . Welcome to Albion ! the fast lane .😎 Hope Pinseeker can actually finish his race next time. ? you better give Jonny some tips old mate 😉 your juniors look a good bunch there ok. Crystal a bit stiff not to get a gallop though ?

All the top horses made the Pacers Final above ok . Driving standard of NZ and Aus is just superb these days. Like wise the TOP trotters are All through and here's the Field !!! 12 Grand Final Runners with the BOAY boys in Great form getting 2 Trotters each through to the Grand Final . (except for Gamma whose Yank trotter broke, and Ranga with old NI horse Taylad To Use who just couldn't keep up so they have one horse each in the Interdominion Trotter Grand Final below.) Here's the field with Barrier draw and BOAY owner for the race. 1. Arcee Phoenix ( Ranga ) 2. Love Gun ( Gamma ) 3. Sir Fahrenheit (emergency) 4. Parisian Artiste ( TABman ) 5. Bet N Win NZ ( TABman ) 6. Not As Promised ( Mikey ) 7. Golden Sunset ( Galah ) 8. Constantinople ( Brodster ) 9. Harry Stamper ( Chief ) 10. Zealous Spur ( Brodie ) 11. London To A Brick ( Chief ) 12. Oscar Bonavena ( Mikey ) 13. GUS ( Mr Galah ) there is No Interdom Trot consolation. Just a FFA with Ranga and Gamma's 2nd runner 's in it. so no points 😢.

About to go , and was going to go check out the action , but the horses are that slow it's almost embarrassing. the ones that they have put in the heats. haven't even heard of most of them they're that obscure lol. 🤣 Tomorrow night at Albion Park in Heat rounds 4 , 5 and 6 , they are on the slowest of the slow even. NR 30 rated horses in heat 6 😳 is as slow as you can get. You can't get any lower. Poor old Wilson House has drawn one of those 🙄. They can't break a. 2.00 mile so will be strung out like Browns Cows . James Herbertson is a bit of a smokey here 😅🤣. nah seriously he has been driving for 9 years already and has near a couple of thousand race Wins nearly. He is driving Rakero Rebel in the Interdominion Final on Saturday night even, , and has won 6 x Group 1's by the age of 25. He should run rings around these Juniors , that are jumping on these strange slow horses. I'll call it Now, that he'll win 5 of the 10 Heats. so half of the races being run for this championship. He's that far ahead of the rest. he might as well be named Leap To Fame. Give him the Cup now ? Like in photo below lol 👍😎 Carter of course has Group 1's wins with Republican Party , so will run second for New Zealand in it (all going well ). Good luck to All the Combatants !!!!

Fields are Out for the 2025 Interdominion Grand Finals. Here are the Horse draws with the BOAY owner for the Grand Finals . with the Pacers Grand Final worth twice as much in dollars than the trotters DOUBLE POINTS will be scored in it. 1. LEAP TO FAME (Leap to Fame) 2. RAKERO REBEL ( Chief) 3. SPEAK THE TRUTH (the Galah ) 4. CYA ART ( Brodie ) 5. PETES SAID SO ( Gamma ) 6. DON HUGO (the Galah ) 7. CATCH A WAVE ( Tab4ever ) 8. NYACK (emergency) 9. CAPTAINS KNOCK (Chief) 10. TIMS A TROOPER ( Chief ) 11. MAX DELIGHT ( Brodie ) 12. SURE THING CAPTAIN (Gamma ) 13. ARODA (Rangatira ) In the Pacers Consolation Race 3 (earning same points as the Heats) Number is their barrier draw. 1.Beach Ball NZ (Brodie), 3.Jimartee (Tab), 4.BetterEclipse (Ranga), 6.TangoTara (Mikey), 9.WispaASecret (Tab) 10.I Break The Line (Mikey), 11.Nyack (Gamma) and sorry Ranga but the kiwi 'Pinseeker' is Out of Play altogeather. the 2025 Trotters Interdominon Grand Final Field will be up here later too.

You can have some close calls with horses for sure. Wishing Samantha a speedy recovery. Alas the Oz based successful NZers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young lost a popular stable worker 2 weeks ago , while on the job at Cranbourne training . tragically receiving a kick to the head from a horse, and was unable to be revived. A very experienced horse- lady too , Peta Tait had been a picnic jockey , a full-time track work rider and lately strapping horses at race meetings from several stables. Peta working hard behind the scenes , sadly killed in the sport we love attending to the horses she loved working with for nearly 3 decades. Peta now passed at just 43. RIP Peta. Busuttin Racing released a statement to reflect her contributions and condolences including this “At this time our thoughts are with those nearest and dearest to Peta, her immediate family and many friends, both inside and outside of the racing industry, as well as her team of colleagues of whom she had maintained strong personal and professional relationships. “Peta was an incredible person who was dedicated to her role and will leave a long-standing legacy. We are heartbroken by her loss.”

After 2 Rounds of Heats LEAP To FAME (pacing) and BET N WIN (trotting for NZ ) look near invincible next week for the Interdominon Grand Final night . No-one is invincible at BOAY though , all champions , and with a hot contest for the Draft BOAY Interdominon Champion next week is up for grabs. One round to Go !! the Grand Finals and Consolations !! next Saturday night. Carry over points . Space POINTS UPDATE BOAY Interdominion. TAB4ever 103 points , Gamma 97 pts, Ranga 96 pts, The Galah 93 points, Chief Stipe 96 points, Brodster 88 points, Mikey 57 points (OscarB didn't want to play Mikey) Leap To Fame 48 points. sleeping soundly.

Final Heat hits the Line . Beach Ball disappointing. Former NZ pacer Rakero Rebel makes the Grand Final running 4th to join the Jess Tubbs trained stable-mate Better Eclipse to race Leap To Fame next week. am sad Greg Sugars not here to drive one of them for his wife 😪 RESULT the Final Pacing Heat Speak The Truth gets the Win and the 16 pts for The Galah Captains Knock 2nd and with Rakero Rebel 4th and DOUgs Platter 7th pick up 28 points for Chief. sneaking in-between them is Cya Art 3rd for the Brodster , who also bounced 7 points with the beach Ball to score 18.

TABman cracks the ton with a Pair of Trotting Winners tonight !!! crack a champers for that 🍾. well done team TAB. Ranga 18pts from his 2 Trotters, Gamma 14 from his 2. Chief got 9, Brodster 6, and Mikey 7 with OscarB. POINTS UPDATE BOAY Interdominion. TAB4ever 103 points , Gamma 97 pts, Ranga 96 pts, The Galah 77 points, Chief Stipe 68 points, Brodster 70 points, Mikey 55 points Leap To Fame 48 points. (and on the way home) TABman , Gamma and Ranga are finished for the night , so can these Stragglers of Galah, Brodster and Chief make any ground or Not ?? one heat to go.

Final Trotters Heat. Parisian Artiste wins for TABman and gets 16 points. You would think he would be happy to have just Bet N Win 🙄 Arcee Phoenix trots boldly into 2nd for Ranga for 13 pts Love Gun , the local outsider 3rd and 11 pts for Gamma. Harry Stamper 4th with Anthony Butt driving is into the Grand Final for Chief (and got Chief 9 pts) Oscar Bonavana just hates trotting slowly behind the mobile , and being a Stallion is getting too cunning for it. Full points shortly. One Pacing Heat to go . Beach Ball is in it for New Zealand .

Anyway it's 17 points to Ranga still with his team. Better Eclipse 4th and Aroda 5th. No points for Pinseeker . FIRST 4 Heat 5 Pacers. Leap to Fame 1st scores the 16 points for himself. Gamma on the Tassie horse NYACK 2nd gets 13 points .Up the Tassie !!!! no one on 3rd horse Ranga on the 4th and 5th (as above) TABman has 6th and 7th with Jimartee and Catch a Wave to score 13 points and keeps the lead . and The Galah a meazley 5 points from the current Interdominion champ Don Hugo 8th . POINTS UPDATE BOAY Interdominion. TAB4ever 87 points (hard driven now) 😎 , Gamma 83 pts, Ranga 78 pts, The Galah 77 points, Chief Stipe 59 points, Brodster 64 points, Mikey 48 points Leap To Fame 48 points. (and feeling cruisey)