Gammalite

I see young Tristan Larsen (from Southland) is still with ex-pat Brent Lilley in Victoria . Gets about a winner a week and still learning well. Hope he returns to Southland to boost them this year. Brent and excellent trainer of trotters. Ben Hope spent a few weeks there too a year or so ago. Did it help ? 😉 Spot on Mikey!!!!. The older Open class horses need a start every week or 2nd week. and should race at nearly twice the prizemoney of the mid-class races to have people keen to get to that OPEN class , to have a go at it. I just had a look at the Franklin Cup from last month. The first 3 home are just normal nice horses that can only get about 12 starts a year , with the programming available. ?? that's just BS . Miki Shan won the race (just his 7th career win ) and The Big Lebowski and Jolimont filled the placings at about 8 career wins each (that never even used to be Open Class ) very nice progressive horses with Jolimont winning a Golden Gait and a good 7 of his 14 starts last year. But where are the races for them now ? They could become horses people relate to, just as you say. They ALL beat Better Eclipse in that race, who is an Auckland Cup winner and has won over $1,000,000. we need races for these fine horses!!! , and a few more will join in and earn some cash , like Kango and that. In Brissie an old Auckland FFer from racing AKLD in 2018 is still winning these days, and Northview Hustler WON 10 races last year (with another old beautiful kiwi boy Turn It Up finally not winning anymore , after winning 10 per year himself) Open races put on for them all the time . It's what keeps the game going .

Used to be a big thing. I started out Auckland for a few years and was so MEGA Impressed with the South Island I can't tell you enough. They won all the Great Northern Derbies for that 6 years , All the feature trots , most of the Auckland Cups . they were some sort of harness Supermen / Super horses from a SI harness Utopia in a lot of opinion. Gammalite turned up twice at Auckland in that time and you JUSt Knew , there was an even Bigger better Utopia in another location to explore , after he smashed out the AKLD Cup and Interdominion wins at Alex Park. some things scar you for Life ? 🤣😅 We had Delightful Lady and also the great Roy and Barry Purdon fighting back to hold them ( Smolenski, Derek Jones and other champions from the South) out for a few wins. What a great rivalry Mikey !! hope it continued for many years. Think it's dead in the water too now though. Well no Matter HOW Big the population is , you need the traditional families of any sport to Hand it on to the next generation to keep Participation levels up in that Sport. Auckland area has failed at this in Harness . closing Franklin making it worse. Steven Reid moved out now. BTW forgot to add we have Tim Butt (Lyell Creek and 5 Hunter Cups man) and son Riley Butt here in Brissie too. Preparing a team of VERY average horses. Couldn't even get SWAYZEE going/winning just quietly 🤔 ) maybe they should of set up at Auckland instead ? instead of moving here from Menangle . To help the training matters/numbers out in that area. Probably the Real Estate is too expensive there. Kumeu used to have a training/trials track? . spose that's all covered with houses now?

That is because of the the obvious reason that you need a 'Catchment ' of participants (in any sport actually) in a certain area to sustain the sport . And around a big city is the obvious place to do it . A catchment allows you to have a regular Base of racegoers to form fields of races. People like to live close to major centres in general. I realise the South Island has the Participants spread from one end to the other (like Victoria) which is nice and allows meetings to be held in Many many places still. BUT most catchments don't , like QLD, WA, NSW, and the North Island NZ of course where the training and racing are concentrated in just one or 2 areas. just the way it is. Brodie , Mikey and several on this thread/ and harness Site's often just 'Hammer North Island trotting' at any opportunity. so it's not even popular from the Sport's OWN FAN base? . with any ideas to save it. That is the Saddest Bit. Fan's that hate the Sport Lol 🤣 oxymoron of the highest order. It's DEAD in the water with that attitude , and No one saving it. (Dean Shannon almost propping it on it's death bed recent years or 2. ) May you get MANY more winners next year or 2 until it (the Sport) dies Dean !! bless you for trying. The critical factor why harness racing is Failing (all over really) The next generation hasn't come through. Young people who have parents that were involved in the industry as a family tradition , have other things to do rather than the 7 day week job that is harness racing for just a modest return. young people WITHOUT family involvement barely get a look -in. wouldn't get a drive to keep interested. Tony Cameron gets a go .one of the only ones? Often you see people crying on these forums about the size of the fields racing all the time . It's not the horses fault , or clubs, or owners... it's the horse worker participants unfortunately 🙄. they don't want to do it anymore. even in the South , the greatest of them all Mark Purdon, had 2 sons who don't want to drive races , and are young . A sure fire sign how things changed in/with the next generation coming through. In the North it's tragic only the BUTCHER family kept the family tradition going. No young descendants of Barry, Les, and Sandy Purdon seem to be around, the young Herlihy are overseas, Peter Wolfenden 2 boys gone, no McKendry's, no Charlie Hunter descendants? Mango's ? no nothing. It's all over mate . Over and finished. Harris, Brosnan, Lilley, Newberry, and their sons all gone to Aus long ago. (to the Sunshine) Auckland has that many old drivers going around it's embarrassing. old man Mitchell,David Butcher,Ferguson who should have handed the reins to the next gen ? . you don't see that in Australia. Fields are FULL of the younger 20 and 30 somethings age drivers. In all the states driving in all the races. we had juniors winning the Interdominion. The Next generation has FAILED you . (except good old mate Bernie who supplied young Crystal , almost holding the fort on her own for the young gen in the North) . (Monika and Emily and Harrison trying hard too ) BUT They will Not Save the Day. Where's Doomed ? when you need him 😅 he could step in here like the old bloke on 'Dad's Army' TV. 😂

A real tough one this time. With the Hunter Cup (the people's race) on soon and 3 or 4 kiwi's trying to knock off LEAP TO FAME on Sat, here's one for you guys that came from NZ to run 2nd in the great race. Beaten by a kiwi who i've never heard of lol 🤣. but he must of been alright to beat this horse. It was a New Zealand FIRST 4 too, with our fabulous horse beaten a length off his 20m handicap , Robert Dunn was 3rd with his great horse off 30m, Mark Purdon was 4th. clue = (his brother won the race) A/ Can you name this horse in photo ? B/ Can you name any of the First 4 for NEW ZEALAND in that great Hunter Cup for the kiwi's ?

Great work TABman and also the yank in photo here , was bought in by LEAP TO FAME'S owner millionaire Seymour and was the 5th winner for Tim Butt training in the Hunter Cup . to go with the 4 you named . well done. Kevin Seymour realized the error of his ways because this horse won the Interdominion not long after and beat the best of the time BLACKS A FAKE, so if he imported more , it would of destroyed the local racing industry. As what happened with the gallops routinely now with horses like Via Sistina and any number of Melbourne Cup winners , all imported by millionaires and have 'sadly' destroyed the local horses chances in many feature races like those every year it seems now.

I think most of the feedback i've seen on public forums has been quite positive and supportive of BGP. Everyone seems to enjoy that people are attending an are invested in the actual racing (rather than just a social gathering that is the young persons go these days) tickets were just $150 too? , so not bad for what they got. Some oldies didn't like being excluded from the stand seats they have warmed for years, but a small sacrifice to make in getting a great Attendance (and interest in the racing) I think it acceptable for some to question the large amount of dollars being spent if 'some ' returns aren't made , but the racing is very competitive. And the horses were all trying their guts out. so is hard to come out in front. and only the astute ones can come out ahead on a regular basis on the punt . Think about 90% end up donating something monthly and leaves a miserly 10% of investers winning something for the year. Probably a good thing in a way , as the young participants can see that money is lost , even by learned folk doing the form for BGP, in this sport gambling , so might even be More CAREFUL with what they do in regard to their own investing. Sportsbet sponsor our racing station on TV channel 7 in Australia, and make an absolute squillion each week, and are careful how they promote their product , with warnings after every cross to them with things like "You might be about to lose .ring the helpline , blah , etc" they know they are mugging some for thousands $$ and they are MUGS losing it. BoysGetPaid just have an investment amount straight up so is a better way for the not so great tipster to have a chance of a return. They will lose interest in doing this if no Big returns though as just seems a waste, so as Chief says the model they use needs some success or interest would decline , these people aren't mugs lol 🤣

Fair enough . Seems there was a foul act and a disciplinary measure taken. (in both cases) QLD and Vic. you would like the penalty to be the same . in both cases. and it isn't. because of the obvious reason they're in different jurisdictions. perhaps it would be the same in the same state and with the same stipe panel. different places are different places. Have a look at how the crowd/observers scream at what's a foul and what's not All the time in footy. (all codes) we are still debating here what boot touched what even 🤣😅. (I say the horses hoof was hitting him (Moran) a few times lol) not him hitting the horse. But as Harrison said earlier "A fine is applied for a drop foot " at times to drivers. We can start a 'new thread' shortly on driver style actually . Did you know Pete McMullen has been fined quite a few times here in Brisvegas for having his body outside the 'confines' of the sulky'? . Carter Dalgety is bordering on this too . with their American Style driving. they are in a World driving slot championship Big event here next month and will be a HOT topic. I know why they do it 😉 lol (Pete is our leading Metro driver and a real gun , knows the tricks) I've backed him at 6-1 to win the title as is a Albion Park maestro.

Well I see what you're saying regarding consistency. And agree, it would be great if all Penalties were universal. especially for horrific crime. but it just doesn't happen. it's case by case assessed. But the truth is in law courts and sporting events as well , the local governing body, judge, stipe panel, revue panel, all assess and penalize as they see fit at the time. with whatever misdemeanor happened. It may always causes some consternation as some serious offenders get off light. and some like Nigel McGrath or Phil Coulson get a huge penalty of seven years DQ each when others are at 1-2 years for milkshaking or even a fine for caffiene. New Zealand leading NZ trainers the Dunns had 4 horses disqualified with positives for Caffiene 2017 and got off with a small fine , where-as Phil Coulson , one of the greatest WA horseman ever (and a hall of famer inductee) was given SEVEN years DQ . and Junior's Image disqualified for Caffiene positive swab a week after winning the Interdominion Grand Final at Christchurch when it was nobbled. some things don't work out well (for some) regarding rules of racing. or even in a court of law. (depends who's on duty lol ) All the cobalt cases are looked at on a case by case basis. different penalties are dished up all the time for different cases. Probably would be great if all the same , but they're not. Moran is different to the NZ situation(s) and QLD situation regarding the dropped foot. he drove on with a leg down in a tight race-winning situation. Let's say we look at Race Day treatments. Some trainers might get one year, and others 6 months, and it might come down to prior history, warnings, first time infringements , mitigating circumstances , all sorts of things for assessing what penalty to give. Not sure what they did with Emma Stewart that time , maybe 6 months?. Kiwi Lad Jack Trainor is out at the moment DQed (Grimson sidekick) but shouldn't be looking at what others got for similar offence as each case is slightly unique , and dealt with and penalized accordingly . just quietly I don't think the horse Captain Hammerhead should of been DQed , but Moran himself should of been sanctioned as the Penalty, in agreement with your assessment, but it is what it is, and the Penalty given Makes an impact, and hopefully we won't see it happen again. (driver boot hitting horses hind legs/hooves ) any time soon. Stewards have discretionary powers when it comes to Penalty, like a magistrate. so operate as such. that's life. ..

So you're saying I should appeal if I'm driving at 120 kph towards NSW and get a $500 speeding fine this side of the border , and then in NSW I get a $1000 fine as well a few kms down the highway ? , while on exactly the same road and driving at exactly the same speed. (albeit too fast) ? The penalties should be the Same as is ''Relevant in lawyer Galah eyes? , as the rules are the same (similar) . But the penalty is different so that is great evidence for an appeal case ? It's a different state mate. as is Moran . he's in Vic .What happened in QLD or NZ no good to him . he couldn't possibly win an appeal on that evidence. he'd need to convince them he didn't make contact with the horses legs . can't undo that. can't go whimpering about some other bloke got off, why shouldn't I . actually he didn't get disqualified anyway. The Horse did. do you think he still got a unplaced driver Fee ?? or should he appeal that too 😉

Depends on your interpretation of the word 'Relevant' . Harness rules and for example road rules are' similar ' , but in no way are penalties applied (or appeals heard) or cases assessed , because of what happened in another State (or definitely not country)?? Texting drivers penalties in cars are applied everywhere, speeding fines etc, BUT are controlled By the GOVERNING Body of that state (or country) . Just like Harness. just like USA states too. Stewards in Victoria applying a penalty couldn't care less what happened in NZ or QLD. they're employed to enforce the rules in their own state. maybe you're a lawyer in another life ? trying to get people off based on other cases all the time. clogging up the courts lol 🤣.

Odds are very long I would think on getting him off. especially with your evidence lol. I like to think of harness racing in Australasia as one country myself, but the reality is the States run like 7 different countries, completely Oblivious to each other in Many Ways. There is NO CHANCE what happens in NZ would even be remotely considered in a Moran appeal in Victoria . you're dreaming . (his leg was down and in possible contact for 9 strides as well . between the 200 and 100 out . He shouldn't get off , as he broke the rules. Penalty harsh. But You can be as Sure as certain is , that Not any one else will be doing that now . unless they're a real dumbass 🤣.

He's a beauty. you saw him here first . alas he won't be at Karaka for sale , but at Christchurch on February 18th. big Colt 'BIT OF A YARN' > The winner of the 2026 Sires Stakes Final, the 2027 NZ Derby and onwards to the 2028 NZ Cup .(where will press for victory as well hoping Grimson doesn't turn up again lol. full brother AKUTA one of the best ever and won the Sires and Derby himself, and a great 4th as a 3 yearold in the NZ Cup , and then 2nd as a 4 year-old to the Aussie fluke-artist Swayzee .

Bit of difference to the start of a race as opposed to the finish of a race old mate. case upheld . none of this NZ get everyone off light stuff all the time 😋🤣 (except for poor McGrath) He (Moran) was DQed for gaining advantage by coming into contact with the horses legs while driving it out at the 200m near the end of the race. case proven and penalized . Did any of your blokes today make any contact with the horses hind legs ???? Happy Australia Day to you as well . a great day today 🎉🍻🍟 lol ( kiwi's looked good at Melton last night, need a bit of Mark Purdon with DSD added next week to give Leap To Fame a fright next week in the BIG Hunter Cup . (like he did last year) gunna be a good one 🏆. and as Chief Brody says in Jaws . "gunna need a bigger boat" 😂

Stop pushing him Dammit. We need the Chiefs money to race this horse up for sale. We're gunna name him BIT OF A YARN , and after we have a word with old mate Dean Shannon (who can buy half of him and sponsor our half) we will be racing the Next Champion of New Zealand . A full brother to AKUTA . He will win ..... everything. get the wallet ready Chief . (are we cutting Huey a share ? ) he might get too excited so is risky? 😋 LOT 261 coming up at the sale

Good improvement last night by Tact McLeod. A great 2nd to Leap To Fame in preparation for the Big Hunter Cup at Melton next week. Anthony coming out of the gate with purpose with the NZer and trailing up Leap To Fame then after half a lap. Proven CUP class horse a gallant 3rd parked out for NZ in Republican Party after taking the Invercargill and Auckland Cups recently. SWAYZEE the Nz Cup winner will be there next week to make a exciting race . (as might his NZ Cup runner also last years runner up in Hunter Cup Don't Stop Dreaming) but the Cup class horses are very low in Both Aus and NZ , as that is about it . ( Merlin not won a Cup yet I don't think but NZ FFA and Grin race wins were excellent) Aus really struggling with 2 very old (now retired horses of Grimsons winning 2 Interdominions recent years) and lately old BULLETPROOF BOY , who has raced ok for 8 seasons without troubling anyone in Group class racing at all, just winning 4 or 5 average races per year , can SUDDENLY win the prestigious Bendigo and Ballarat Cups lately , picking up 100k and be in contention for a Hunter Cup ?? no way. every other year , we would of laughed at Bulletproof Boy winning these races but the old trainer S,Ewen has put great young driver James Herbertson on driving lately , and so has MUCH better results now, (than driving it himself) The class of horse racing has dropped that much though , Bullerproof boy can win more often. Old MAX DELIGHT won the FFA at Menangle last night , but even after placing 3rd in Interdominion and last years Hunter Cup to LTF and DSD, he is surely just an old battler who can't beat those 2 ? ) He beat up the current Eureka/ Interdominion Final winner DON HUGO last night easy enough , so is the 'Don' an over-rated 'New Kid on the Block' ? So Same TRIFECTA as last year then ??? Leap To Fame- Don't Stop Dreaming - Max Delight . for 2025 Hunter Cup . (Swayzee (NZ and Vic Cups) and Republican Party (Akld Cup) the only other 2 real Cup class around really.

Nah . Twas excellent. NZ needs a meeting like that every month (less the blasted rain would be good) . As they have in Aus a feature race day each month somewhere to keep everyone 'motivated' .

What a beauty Orchestral is. won that easy peasy. Didn't BOYS-get-PAID have a big win on her last Cracker day ? this time they put $50,000 on something else in that race ??? bunch of mugs lol 😁😋

100%. rather than get hemmed in 3 back the fence , was off and rounded up John Dunn driving the favourite, before he knew what was happening. and then rated the filly Vincent Reactress so well , that John couldn't grab him in the run home. That was even better than his (Wilson's) win in the Juniors race a little earlier. Very impressive by young House. He's going places alright , as you suggested with this thread. getting better and better. 👍🏆

Drove Shard De Arch with confidence and precision at Addington tonight. Punters well on board too. against the junior Drivers Wilson was way too good. doing almost as well as Carter lately. 👍

Wondered where Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand were getting their Black Ice cream from. Black listed for Whippy infringements probably.? 😅 I like a choc Dip with flake . Are you still selling those Chief Whippy in NZ?

yes the 2012 one . by half a head in an upset. also in Hunter Cup there that year for NZ were , HighView Tommy (Nat Ras 5th) Gold Ace (P Ferguson 6th) and Pembrook Benny ( BarryP 13th)

Yep. That's him in photo TABman. the B/ answer . yeah won a few down your way in the deep South at Invercargill and Winton and that and a couple of cracks at the NZ Cup . (both won by the Terror To Love including that fantastic win by the Terror when he galloped at the start and gave them 40m start and a beating ) . He was the 5th and final Tim Butt trained pacer to win the Hunter Cup.

Horses in the movies are absolutely amazing. Just love them . from Zorro to the Lone Ranger. Warhorse is a great Spielberg film if you can catch it. fantastic movie. The charge of the Light Brigade , just stunning photography , as is Ben Hur. These horses just gorgeous and give it everything 😁. can't beat a good harness horse. The Roman dude got a HUGE Whip fine after this race in video 😉 , plus a 6 week suspension for 'tightening another runner' once he got out of hospital 😋. (this reminds me of my driving days when ya really 'Had a Go !!!' 🤣)

Blossom Lady one of the true great NZ Mares to go with Delightful Lady, Armalight and Adore Me. no Aussie Mares have gone close to their records, but 2 recently retired Emma Stewart trained millionaire Mares Ladies In Red (28 wins from 35 starts ) and Encipher ( 18 wins from 30 starts including Defeating the champ LEAP TO FAME in the Eureka Slot race 😳 , the richest race in Australia ) were very quick and Very Good. Here's Anthony Butt with brother Tim Butt . After yet another Hunter Cup win .🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆. Anthony winning driving 2 for his grand-dad Derek Jones with Blossom Lady , and 5 with Tim ! amazing stuff. A/ name any of the 5 massive Tim Butt trained AG Hunter Cup winners ?. B/ here's one , for extra Brownie points can you pick the horse with a one eyed Blind ? , Ranga might be needed for his eye to detail ? (or the Galah eagle eye 🦅 😉) TABman leading Blackie so far and Goldilocks in the points today too

A good example then Chief. Harness racing has modified to stop horses getting a flogging /bashing THIS CENTURY altogeather. So was just thinking of ways At the Gallops could do the same. nothing sinister . And it comes down to training? , as they do for Movie horses as mentioned or any sort of working horse or dog for that matter? . It just makes me sad to see this STOTT bloke , even Oppie at times , and many others are doing this stuff , like Mark Zahra here for example , but it still continues and Upsets a Lot of people. . like Thomass and many others. Perhaps a modification or change could be made to Prevent this? . aren't we advanced enough to try New things ? just getting Same old News , same old problem all the time like this one, which was broadcast on National television . Why is that happening to the great sport ? Caulfield Cup winning jockey Mark Zahra cops massive fine and ban for whip breach The champion jockey was found guilty of a serious rule breach in the stunning vi blah blah etc.....