Gammalite

well I think we all know you would be a great stipendiary Steward as you spot a lot of stuff. Not sure if race will download or not that you are worried about. This high prize money race was also a qualifier for the EUREKA so they did really want FREE THINKER to win, and go to Menangle. Sure , YOU are RIGHT , Grant Dixon dropped his horse out of the one-one sit trailing the favourite , to go down on the marker line 3 back. (clearly seen in the drone footage down the back straight with 1400m still to run. This allowed FREE THINKER to get the one-one and ultimately Win the race. So Grant ran 7th 4 lengths from the winner. Did he stop his horse winning ? I don't think so . There is someone 3 back on the fence with the 5th fav nearly every race lol. 😂. someone has to be there. You can't expect the stewards to Throw the Book at a legend horseman with 4000 wins , just because he went 3 back the fence with 1400m to go on the 5th fav ?? . you see WORSE things happen every race day. I love all the drivers. NZ and Oz. they can't win all the time Mr Galah , I'm actually going along to Albion Park tomorrow as have 'plenty' from the Brisbane Lions win. and Grant has 4 horses in the fast class Race 4.😅 ARODA won the Redcliffe Cup , ran 3rd in a Group 1, then ran in race behind the EUREKA winner at his last start. You could hitch him backwards in the sulky' and still beat this lot. 🤣 if he's paying $2 I'll be laughing and double some of my cash . only 8 starters too. so no Excuses Nor getting held up 3 back on the markers LOL😅 I'll ask Grant what he thinks about The HAYDEN (the race you don't like what happened) for you and let you know after tomorrow. I think he'll say "A wins a win" 😉🏆 APM20072403.mp4

Mate, I can't agree with any of that. Probably the most disappointing thing is you didn't read my post at the beginning of Chief Stipes Velocity Slot holders thread. (where I said who Solid Earth was ) and that they won our $500k Slot race in July. 🤣😂 I rely on you for sanity too 🤣 Grant Dixon is by FAR one of the most honest and reliable blokes racing. He has a very cushy time as far as dealing with owners go. He has about 80 in work and has 3 millionaire owners so barely has to chat to anyone about his horses (anyone being Questioning owners) . some stables with big syndicate owners the poor Trainers must spend 90% of their day filling in owners , when some of them they've never even met. What a nightmare that must be as you collect the money and give excuses, updates , blah blah . I suspect in NZ's leading stable Jenna would be doing that role. Picking on a team driving example seems pretty pointless in this argument. Although Stewards in Australia Are VERY GOOD and take no shit from the participants as you are making out. I know that many that are currently barred /restricted it's a wonder anyone is left racing 😆🤣 Legend John McCarthy currently DQ as well. As for 'Favouratism' for Grant.?? Bullshit mate. Trista did a one year DQ for changing ground in the home straight one time when star 50 win Trotter (another old Nz one) OUR OVERANOVA won a trot at Albion driven by Grant .there's No Favouratism in a ONE YEAR DQ Mr Galah ? 😂😁 Australian stewards here got rid of VERY High profile cheats . so can't agree with that in the slightest my friend. Gleesons, Webberleys, one of the fricken Halls is still out in WA, Hunter and Donahue in QLD (were top of the tree once) , Fitzpatricks . I think BY FAR you have that wrong. Inca proving Nz is weak as Piss in getting to the bottom of anything. Although they did nab McGrath , so some credit to someone I guess catching them out ?? It's (trotting training) All like a GOOD GAME of CRICKET mate. All good while you're getting the runs, but you tempt fate with a rash shot, you could be caught out or Bowled at any old moment.

Fair enough. John is a great driver. Drove Harrison John with Gammalite-like style the other night and won accordingly. But he isn't on the training ticket for Diamond Racing, so can drive what he likes. It feels like he does a lot of the training work himself though. But just thought he would be feeling awkward in a photo finish if it came to that ,if he was alongside with someone elses horse. It does happen occasionally though, Chris Alford (one of Australia's best ever drivers) often drove Queen Elida for her Nz ex-pat trainer and owners against his wife's trotter Sleepee , and others. our top Pete McMullen will very rarely drive against wife Chantel Turpins trotters , even though he does all the work with them and is too 'shy' to go on the training ticket as trainer. In the wild West , Inderdominion winning driver Gary Hall JNR actually broke the rules IMO. they are going too far with him driving horses still in his dad's name as trainer (the famous Gary Hall SNR trainer of I'm TheMightyQuinn) , as they have always done . BUT last Friday, in race 4 at Gloucester Park Gry JNR had a horse in listing himself as Trainer, and then had someone else drive it (Regal Cheval) while he drove the expensive NZ Purchase SKYLOU for his father. That sort of thing stinks, and has always been against the rules . Trainers Should NOT be allowed to drive horses in the same race for Other Trainers. Reeks of race fixing.

A nice strong drive by Korbyn today with a Trotter he trains out at the Woodend Beach . for some relatives the owners. Well done again Korbyn at 16-1 odds too. In Race 10 Timaru SPECIAL EFFECTS trotted away beautifully for him and powered to the lead and won well. quite a nice trotter. BUT unfortunately , in race 4 VERY MAJESTIC galloped away , and lost too much ground from the stand. Along with the other 3 unruly horses all galloping madly off the second row. the 4 Unrulys All out the back Notice = One of those was driven by John Dunn for another Trainer , and he did the same in the last race of the day driving the favourite TAKE THE DEAL for someone , while the Diamonds junior RHarrison battled hard with the Dunn stable runner JUDINE in the same race. Is that sort of weird that John Dunn is trying to beat his stable horses of Very Majestic and Judine for other trainers ?? sort of doesn't feel right 🤔 as Surely. He is hoping that Very Majestic and Judine are winning those races ???

yes they will be pressured heaps soon. Leap to Fame will be doing that . He won with a leg in the air during a sudden heavy shower last night. jogging 55 second last half in neutral gear. Must of been a weird feeling for our best horseman Pete McMullen and good young local driver Matt Elkins . (they Quinellaed both races 3 and 5 at Albion, BUT jammed in between, they were both exactly 20 lengths behind LEAP TO FAME in the fast class R4 unable to keep up with their 2 runners ) some sharp contrast for them in a short space of time 😂 one was that old Addinton runner FIREFOX. (also a Sweet Lou) you could be right about Sweet Lou's. I thought JOLIEMONT would of been a Strong chance this year and progressed as a 4 yearold well into Cup class contention after a 'Solid 4th' in the NZ Derby last December behind Merlin. but hasn't done much really 🤔. Spirit of St Louis seemed a good stayer and was a good winner over distance (occasionally) Thank you for your kind sentiments regarding the football team win 🙂. Go the mighty Brisbane Lions !!! AFL is a religion in Aus (and much more enjoyable than Islam too 🤣👍.) and my son rang from UK and chatted for an hour on facetime about the great Grand Final last night , when I hardly ever hear from him otherwise. so I am over the moon. Daughter Fiona working in London too . both been gone a year and a half now (both played Aussie rules at a high level in their teens. Fiona at State level) before injury and studies took over. now world travelling in their 20's.

Just looking at that horse. A nice 7th in the Derby last year to finish a handy 4 wins from 10 starts 3 year old season. WAG STAR has had Only 4 starts this year ?? for 2 wins. Do you think he has soundness issues maybe? I ALways thought a horse's absolute PEAK year would be as a 4 yearold . and yet Just the 4 starts for $30,000 ? it's like his best chances are slipping by. we'd be giving 4 year olds 40 starts in Australia lol. Hey about the 'Sweet Lou' that Won the Canterbury Classic ? TACT McLEOD. He won really well (and could be a 'staying' Sweet Lou rather than speed horse?) It only had 6 starts last year as a 4 year old as well ?🤔 and Only 11 starts this year for 6 wins. he'll soon be 6 with best years behind him? and only got 100k so far. You really don't have enough races in Nz to make Good winning use of some horses talents. and did you see HARRISON JOHN win R4 ? John Dunn driving a very exceptional race there. Not copping any team effort from the Cullen runners at all , and winning with Gusto. left Sam out 3 wide when they came round the field 🤣. John is such a tryer. gives it everything. good on him. Great win by that horse. And Go Brisbane Lions !!! Premiers 2024 ! i'm so happy I have tears. Last time they won the Premiership the greatest horse I have seen , BLACKS A FAKE was just starting out . went on to win millions and 4 Interdominions (twice 2nd too) . Now a generation later the Lions are winning again and we have LEAP TO FAME winning the Interdominions for QLD. (and NZ CUP real soon) A beautiful 20 year swing!! . I won't make it to the next one I don't think (20 year swing 🤣 )

Chief will be out and about trying to win the rich Hawkes Bay Guinea's tomorrow too with CAPTURED BY LOVE , the only filly in race 5 against the big bad boy 3 yearolds. $2.50 odds. All the very best to Win the Day down at Hastings Chief !! She is a real live chance and have all my fingers and toes crossed she gets the money in that Big Group 2 event 🤞💰👍

Hopefully you blokes are keen on some of the Big races coming up ? with the Top Horses having a crack for the Big prizes. tonight we have some handy ones. BEACH BALL is bouncing back into action tonight after his solid NZ Cup 3rd last year. Paying $19 / $5 place tonight race 8 . go boy !! HARRISON JOHN at $6 is in race 4 and racing beautifully . go you good thing !!💰 ARDENS MEMORY for Allstars drawn 2 and won last 2 starts as well . Yes Please !! for some 5-1 there in race 9.🍻 ALWAYS BE MATTIE in race 6 Alex Park , beat Mark Purdon who trailed it last start. Must be good to do that ? i'm convinced lol. and 4-1 excellent. BETTER ECLIPSE in the Kilmore Cup (that he won last year as well) is on at 10.30 your time so you're probably asleep for that one. 😁 The current Auckland Cup defending Champion looks well placed to get some of the $3.50 on offer tonight. He is near 2nd Best horse in Australia. BRISBANE LIONS at $2.15 for the AFL Grand Final tomorrow . I'm all over that and cheering like mad for the Brisvegas Stars to outstrutt the Swans in front of 90 to 100 thousand people tomorrow at the MCG. wish us luck to get the win there after the narrow 5pt loss last year 😉👍🏆 go Boys !!!! WALLABIES v All blacks at $11-1 tomorrow !!!! no way!! . (No Way would you take them that is 😂😂 ) Go AB's !!🤣😎

He bought a slot in the trot the 'Ascent' I see on the same day. Maybe we can pick the winner of the Velocity by the Slot holder before knowing who the horse is? 😆. The list at the beginning of Chief's thread here. I'll go for number 4. Montana Park stud (that's in QLD) and Dean Shannon is blessed really in these sort of things , and of course races MERLIN . near best NZ horse. Would love to see no9. Arna Donnelly Racing win it though !! she is doing great really, and had the 4th best 3 year old last season in the country (with Joliemont 4th in the Nz Derby to Merlin) I wonder if she has any nice 3 year olds this year/season to put in the VELOCITY ? ??

Who is Small car world ? sounds like a small player ? 😆 yes it is probably companies likely to buy slots as can use it for Tax/expenses right-off , etc. actually I was telling balderdash by saying the bloke in QLD buying a slot was a average Joe, when really( now I think about it) he is quite a wealthy man these days. was just normal when I raced him. NevertheLEss if you guys were more 'motivated' and ''keen to support the industry and race one of the Top 10 horses in the 2 Nations BOAY could/would/should of bought a Slot 👍🍻 and a few of us Average Joes raced a BIG winner (in halvies with the actual owner for the day ) and a great old time once a year. But everyone here Far To Negative to anything proactive like that. Probably could of roped in Chief Stipe ? maybe not 😂 but TABman would of been a starter I reckon. He seems to know a good thing when he sees it. not many of us left.

It's part of a HRNZ race program . So you guys are wrong if you think HRNZ should not be contributing to it's feature races ? that's just rediculous. Who said the Slot races are supposed to be self funding anyway? that's just your guys wishful thinking because you want the money for someone else. As some believe the Cambridge /North Island racing should be stopped because Canterbury deserve it more because there's more players there (whether involved in the industry or as punters) pretty much a LOP-Sided Pyramid ? lol😂 We used to pay acceptance fees to start horses in races at one stage, until someone worked out that you had to pay the competitor to turn up , with some petrol money or so , so everyone gets a few bucks for turning up now. even if at the back. The feature are only run Once per year each , and the people at HRNZ have expert staff that allocate the annual budget of prizemoney as they see fit. I'm sure they are doing the best job they can , like any accountant does at any company, to pay all the workers/participants. Queensland sadly has just the one month of Group Racing per year , with ALL the features. NZ being much better off , running features through the year so is way more entertaining . I think it's pretty cool the new Features for Show Day anyway. personally, .I sort of think the NZ DERBY should of been bought forward to that date (from December) , for various reasons , but will definitely settle for a Brilliant Slot races contest for the 3 yearolds . Will be an absolute cracker!! 🏆 Viva La Velocity !!

What a lot of balderdash. you must of missed the many threads where I've argued the point with Brodie about putting races on regularly for the Battlers. and Cambridge have been doing that. The Base of the Pyramid racing. Brodie has put many threads to can them as dogmeat. and they only race for $45-50 k for the entire meeting. Here's Brodies Pyramid for you 😁😉 and by the way , the Slot holders DON"T have to be the elite either. so you got that wrong too. An average joe friend of mine had a slot in the Queensland one , and therefore the opportunity to race a GREAT horse for a day. was thrilled to bits. What an amazing innovation by forward thinking people. Well done NZ harness going with the times and putting these amazing races on for Not just the BEST Horses, (and elite owners as you say) But some Happy savvy slot holders from all walks of life too. NZ gallops will have em' soon to keep up with the best innovations going. 👍🏆

They have race sponsors as well Ranga( investing some for their profile and taxes purposes lol) also what a great way to spend some of the millions they (HRNZ) have to allocate each year in Prizemoney, by assembling some of the best fields of horses ever seen in these quality race's. also they need to get the 3 Placegetter's to return a profit . it's probably $250,000 for 1st/ $100,000 for 2nd and $50,000 for 3rd , with $100,000 split between the other 7 runners to cover their transport costs and that. (for a $500,000 slot race) So they do need HRNZ to chip in something. An excellent idea to help out where they can 😆. (don't listen to the Brodster.😉 nothing 'Diabolical 'about it lol . great racing is great racing. The best of the best. )

Being the same total Prizemoney (of $1/2 million ) for the 'Velocity' and the ''Ascent' at Addington as we had with the New 'Protostar ' 2 year old slot race in July. I imagine it would cost the same Ranga. $30,000 + GST to get in these events. Queensland needed ballots to assemble the field of slot holders. (8 Queensland applicants went in ballot for 3 slots) and another Ballot of 10 applicants were drawn for 5 slots) Ladbrokes (the main sponsor) kept 2 slots in the 10 horse field.. And as if Kevin Seymour's luck is running hot enough with LEAP TO FAME he won a slot, and then won the race with FATE AWAITS picking up the $1/4 million first prize in a Fantastic 1.50.6 for the 2 yearolds. absolutely flying. here was the media release about the slot holders and Price. (Seymour = Solid Earth) as he is a property developer multi millionaire and someone the ATC should call in to help lol) The $500,000 Ladbroke’s Protostar for two-year-old pacers is Queensland’s new showpiece event and will be held during the Constellations Carnival as part of the “Blacks A Fake” final night at Albion Park on Saturday, July 27. The feature introduces the slot race concept in the north. Two “slots” were reserved for the sponsor Ladbrokes, and a further eight slots for $30,000 plus GST each. Successful slot-holders are Ladbrokes (2); Gemma Hewitt; Jamie Durnberger-Smith; Solid Earth; Goozdolphin Racing; Daren Garrard Racing; Terry Cluse; Aaron Dunn Racing; and GSM Racing.

I see Chief posted the Pacers Slot holders , so here are the 3 year old trotter Slot holders for SHOW day. If I was any of these slot holders , I would fly to Melbourne Saturday and pay the flights for KEAYANG ZAHARA complete with travel boots , blankets and anything else , as she is one of the best 3 year old trotters ever seen, and Will WIN if she lines up. (she is $1.10 fav this week won all 6 starts and trotting 1.57 MR already. She is quite special . Look at that trotting action in photo where she Won the Vic Sires stakes recently. Tremendous. .

A new first Brodster. 😂 Have to say I agree with all six of your points here. And some are quite important for/about the harness racing industry future too. a bit of worrying times for sure.

I see . it is a mare . and just the one win per year for her. spose that's better than some , but not by very much lol. Being a mare i'd try her with a tail tie. Used to drive all the Mares with their tail tied straight back to the cross-bar under the dust sheet. This kept their attention well and were surprisingly more concentrating when you did that. A bit like a dog or a cat , who is playing , fighting or whatever mood it's in , and using it's tail for signalling intent. Once you grab it by the tail you have it's full attention and concentration then lol. and it will be reacting to your moves thereafter lol. The geldings never seemed to use their tail like that , so didn't tie them hardly at all . Mentioned the other day about the use of Boring poles and/or rein burrs on stallions. (When we saw most of the field in the open trot at Addington had one on) this was similar to keep their attention , when the going got tough. Gammalite and Lightning Blue and Colt Thirty One all wore 'Poles' even though not hanging or anything. just a device to keep there attention. and won a lot of races when they almost certainly wouldn't of won what they did without it. Didn't use Bit Burrs at all as found them too aggressive and you need to be able to 'steer the horse accurately' at all times and there's a chance they could interfere with that requirement. Did you say SUNDEE's SON had 2 poles on at one stage ? one each side ? that would be incredible. I've never seen that anywhere ever. He was a bit of a rogue at one stage jumping around all over the place from memory. John sure got him going straight in the end though. Straight into the record books with that amazing Dominion win that time . and 34 wins total. Sure got his attention in the end. and the attention of the nation. Fantastic Trotter . goat probably.

well he's 'Unleashed' anyway. What a great driving display today with getting the Win with Rock Lobster in a perfect drive for unhinged Nigel and his Westview team in race 1. A 10/10 drive from the unruly position in the first race today at Banks Peninsula. Then backed up with a fabulous drive on Nigel's trotter in race 3 on Very Majestic . driving perfectly from the unruly start position as well , ended up trailing the hot favourite of Allstars and grabbed late for 2nd , but a 10/10 drive again IMO. and Korbyn had a crack in the Junior Drivers race with Major Happy in Race 6. If you watch the video the very poor Non-trying horse Couldn't even keep with the mobile towards the start point, and was throwing it's head around up the home straight trying Not To Go at all. But somehow Korbyn got the squib of a thing to run 3rd beaten a head and a neck. some sort of miracle . I'm giving KORBYN NEWMAN a maximum 30/30 for those 3 drives today . A fantastic effort . Korbyn Just the needs the chances . He won the last at Oamaru last Sunday with a perfect drive too on a Telfer runner. Very well done young man !!!!!

yes that was the only race they broadcast here as it panned on the Sky channel . rest was just results only . what a turn up for the books too 😳 . Mark Purdon trailing the leader in a Group 1 and Not winning. Blanchards winner Beetastic paid $197 on the Queensland tote lol. Mark might be a fading star ? 😎😁 I thought the racing was very good tonight. Really can't see how Brodie thinks these quality horses and drivers are 'average' at Auckland. I enjoyed the replays just now, after enjoying the Brisbane Lions win tonight too at the MCG. very big for the town. NZ Cup winner Swayzee was way out at Parkes last night. That's like being in the middle of the Arabian desert in the middle of no-where lol. Now that is 'Average racing' out there lol🤣😂 what a comedown for a NZ Cup winner. don't know why they don't try and defend title ? I watched one local race and old Ray Green horse from years ago Northview Hustler won our Albion fast class FFA. he was chasing Vincent about 8 years ago 🤣. still going strong. Mark Purdon's Auckland Cup winning horse TURN IT UP just a shadow now of last year (when ran placed every start.) stopped to a walk tonight in that FFA as $2.00 fav. and seems he must be near washed up. rest of the racing was pretty 'Average' as Brodster would say lol 😄 so didn't watch it. Hope Auckland was successful in NZ and some people went along , so they can do more Saturday nights for entertainment.

The driving standard is very good these days , and they certainly have a crack more than they used too. I quite enjoyed Oamaru Hannon Memorial day last Sunday . some great racing . And you don't need Big fields either . they all get a chance when just 8 runners start. examples >> Blair Orange drove well to win the Juvenile Stakes with Rubira in a 8 horse field. Had to come from last because drew the outside gate. (John Dunn pushed 6 wide turning in lol in the small field, so shows even the good drivers have to stay sharp to win) And in the last race of the day Race 10 at Oamaru Blair Orange must of felt young again 😅 driving against 6 or 7 Junior drivers , and got outdriven in the end too. Was very entertaining for just moderate class horses , as the Juniors ALL had a great crack at winning it in a 8 horse field. KORBYN NEWMAN (who I have criticised at times so need to give credit where credit is due) , drove a 10/10 race to take Victory with Miki Bennett . They (all those juniors) all gave Blair quite a run for the money anyway . he ended up 3rd in that one.

some excellent points Tabman . All the blokes at my local tabs hardly ever bet trots . they just are used to the chances of their dollar going closer to winning betting on them , than the reputation and just the fact you're more likely to have something go drastically wrong in a harness race. (gallop) held up a long the inside , etc) so doesn't tickle their fancy to lose money like that. my guess is 90% of them not betting harness. is more of just an interest in racing than a money making pass-time. (a bit like racing your average horse as an owner really) As far as getting to Alexandra Park , they should race Every time Ellerslie does , and the club supply a Luxury coach to ferry as many patrons as possible across to the trots that could start an hour after the gallops are completed. two or 3 round trips if necessary. And have a nice mid-class bistro (affordable) for the patrons to enjoy dinner at the TROTS. would of lapped that up as a great Saturday out.

Absolutely . People like to sleep in on a Sunday so a night out on a Saturday night is a Much better idea. dime a dozen racing on Friday nights . Much better to have the good Metro Class horses standing out , like on a Saturday night as you suggest, and have the punters that Won at the gallops meetings during the day , ready to spend some of their winnings with some bets and a night out somewhere. brilliant for everyone 👍💰 Alexandra Park not far from Ellerslie for them to do it too. could capture new players/supporters. Average Racing comment is rubbish though. You have Mark Purdon racing , possibly in the top 6 Sportspeople of all time in NZ, and Merlin , who won the biggest prize races ever in NZ and beat the Aussies in the GRINS race , Sooner the Better (2nd in Oz biggest race the $mill Miracle Mile) , Duchess Megzit last week, top Auckland filly (who won a Group 1 at Addington in Dec at her last appearance there ) NZ leading trainers send horses round each week in Akld both Dunns and Telfers . Herlihy and Barry Purdon race every week. The quality is Very High indeed. just insults them to call them 'average Racing'. Who can you get there that is better ?? ( above average in your opinion )

Yeah , just usually quiet mid-week racing with not many there. 😂 Next week though they have their BIG night of the year, with the Kilmore Cup 🏆. There will be a Big crowd to see possibly last years winner ,(the Auckland Cup winning) BETTER ECLIPSE take his 2nd victory in the event. 3 years ago Anthony Butt won it for NZ and trainer Nathan Purdon with another Auckland Cup winner in the form of the great mare AMAZING DREAM.

Usually the heavy Mesh drag can deal with it quickly , and they can often get a smooth surface (to have it not like corrugated iron) even during a meeting after a downpour. but if the ruts go too deep after particularly heavy run off , you need the grader with a big blade that would take several hours. with follow up spreading/ sealing/ compacting and that. Kilmore transferred to another nearby track for that days racing, after the damage in photo. Like Alexandra Park should be ok tomorrow , they were good to go the next day again.

you can get those deep ruts with heavy run-off sometimes. Think it is on the home bend at Auckland tonight where the camber is steepest they got some. Kilmore had the same problem after a downpour.