Gammalite

Absolute jackpot observation as per usual . Getting them to perform season after season used to be a Hallmark of the Standardbred. Now we are lucky to get 2 good years out of them (the Krug syndrome ? lol ) .. the Oz wonderboy Jason Grimson seems to get great immeadiate results and they fade just as fast. His Nz Cup placegetter last Nov Majestic Cruiser , hasn't even won this year. Nor has Interdominion winner I Cast No Shadow from Dec, and their Interdominion winner from the year before (Boncel Benjamin) never won again . Wonder if he'll get Betterzippit or Swayzee or Loyalist to win again after there Big race wins this year ? ya gotta wonder. (Betterzippit and I CastNo Shadow were actually both tailed off 50m behind the field in july, in their last starts in Brisbane in same race , stopped to a walk the last bit .... there's a red light flashing ? lol) Nz Allstars doing great with Self Assured though at top level year to year. now soon on the 4th Cup prep . and a real chance too. yet another true credit to them.

Yes. granted that does throw a whole 'shadow' over the operation. years ago when his mate Weightman got 5 years for Blue Magic , Tonkin escaped with one from memory. They were tinkering with thoroughbreds and that , and probably where they picked it up. Tonkin Still 'lingers' in the background behind Emma and hasn't pursued getting his name on the licence. About 5 years ago they said Poster Boy was going to be their best yet. But Colt Thirty One for Grant and QLD knocked him off in the Blue Riband Victoria Derby .Happy Days !! and the following year Nat Spanked him (Poster Boy) at Menangle in the Biggest plum of the Miracle Mile with Spankem. Stewart/ Tonkin Barn Still hasn't won the Interdominion Final nor the Miracle Mile so are not as dominant as what you think really. do they need tips from Grimson ? hahaha😂 Great start with inaugural $2,000,000 Eureka this year though ?? ... 💰

Well they run a lot of races in Victoria. every day someone can win something. They've even had whole 'trotting only' programs at times. and with 6 x Group 1 trots being run next Saturday night alone there's plenty of scope for breeders and industry participants to make a quid. I think what they're doing is great. And Emma trains for a WHOLE range of people , quite a few South Australians got the thrill of their life with the EUREKA winner. that can only stimulate more people to achieve the same. Personally I think things are more 'dire' in Nz with Allstars only training for the same old multi Millionaire owners year after year. that pay for them at the sales etc . that Victorian lady and that . Such a shame 😪 to just service the 'Elite' ... And Queensland too. Grant Dixon might very well have the best horse in Australia ,LEAP TO FAME, but he basically trains for the same 3 multi millionaire owner/ breeders all the time. 80 horses in work and nearly the lot a with 3 owners. That does nothing for progress and getting new people involved in ownership. So that leads to more dire times than Victoria IMO. Seymour props it all up already for years , for his personal needs/gain or loss. In contrast >>>>Emma Stewart has the wide range of owners including all those Bain syndicates , etc. even some kiwis with Amore Vita !! (give her strength this week) May the Many Winners keep flowing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🏆🍾🍻

Yes the connections don't seem happy in the lead you put on this thread at all. Fancy saying they'd strangle some-one though?. Bunch of ungratefuls. I'd tell em where to go . Never saw that happen at the trots ever in my day. We made mistakes (well a non-winning strategy anyway) nearly every race-night , but owners Never said shit like that after. You have 8 horses all trying to win that MV race last week? . does that mean 7 strangulations ?? the winner was a good horse and deserved it's win ?? Mickey Dee did ok. I thought it had NO chance coming from last against the flying Queenslanders up front . But certainly wouldn't of roasted him if he got beat . you Can't all win . They're Good fast horses. Guess even Jmac even gets this poor treatment once in a while. he rides a LOT of horses.

Absolutely spot on Brodie. Remarkable progress this century . Half the fields are lady drivers in Brisbane now. All Inspired by our own Natalie , who Won everything here QLD with Blacks A Fake in the high pressure Group races , and then you got to see the incredible results at Allstars. Harness racing has really put the girls on the map as EQUAL players . and last I looked it was a sport still? .indeed very very competitive in fact. no room for the feint hearted. The holy pasta Rav probably doesn't watch harness racing (to his detriment it seems)

I think what all you guys forget , while you're getting stuck into each other, is 90% of the time the Jockeys whether in the country, Nz or the Everest , whether it's Willow, OP Bos, or an apprentice, are doing their best to ride to the Trainers instructions. willow has plenty of experience and winners. And all the while these brave jockeys are doing that is in a 'Very Hostile environment' ( a bit like Nz racing forums lol 😂 ) with many of your peers NOT wanting you to have your own Way in a race, and the real KICKER too , >>> trying to control a 500kg wild beast at the same time . (It's No Easy Feat) any of those 3 major things in play in a jockeys day. you guys are HARSH .

What are you talking about ?? It's great for racing what Emma is doing . You are talking about 2 different 'training' things and 2 different field 'numbers' things. Tas = Ben Yole purposely loads LOW Class races in Tasmania with the entire field of runners , to try and dominate via weight of numbers. Hasn't even won a feature or even a metro class race . Although last weekend there was 3 x Tasmanian feature races on the program and his 2 year old filly actually ran 2nd in one of them !I shock - horror 😲. Is he improving ? lol..... In Victoria , people are queuing at Emma's door to take their horses (even the Nz owned Amore Vita made it in when Nathan went home to join with Mark back there... She qualifies horses through heats and Semi's ...9 Semi Winners last week !!! impressive by even her exhalted standards. wow-wee.. So this Saturday the 12 x Group 1 Vic bred Finals worth 100k to 150k each are on with 12 runners in each. Emma qualified about 30 horses .... so there are still 114 horses running for other trainers. I know who I would like my horse running with though 😂. So thats hardly a complete domination??? (except for Amore Vita's race with 8 4 year old mares) 144 horses racing !!!!!!🏆 12 Group 1's !!!!🏆 1/2 trotters and 1/2 pacers ! 1/2 colts and half fillies ! And not one of the 144 horses valued at under $50,000 probably? . The are best racing for the Big bucks. This is GREEEAAAT for Harness Racing . Bring em on !!! (consolations are Friday night at Bendigo) . Emma has about 6 in who didn't qualify.

Fantastic you got to see those famous tracks at Yonkers and Meadowlands on your trip !👍 . Yeah Irvin Behrns was down Cambridge way , along with Charlie Hunter (who sent Young Quinn to USA) and had staff and horses to send to America in the 70's which would of been cool for all those young lads. Cardy had returned from USA , and was living out his days in NZ , and only very plain to look at, even in his racing days. 😅. Here in photo , Cardy is at around 22 years old (He lived to over 30 years I believe) being "Spruced Up' by the Purdon Boys with Barry on the 'backbrush' there, think that's Owen and Mark on the hooves, and Jeff King hanging on to Cardigan Bay's head , ready for a Champions night out somewhere. The 'good winning vibes' rubbing off back onto the Purdon lads 😂 . they're STill winning races 45 years later !! after touching the Best in the World for a day . 🏆😆🍻

Alas in the Final next Saturday 'The Real Sherlock' has drawn out at barrier 6 for Nathan Purdon. so only a runners chance with the speedy Captain Treacherous colt 'Petracca' drawn one. Emma Stewart has 8 mares in the 4 year old division . The New Zealand owned 'AMORE VITA' drawn 3 , ( same draw where she won it from last year in the 3 year old fillies Final defeating the EUREKA winner Encipher then who was $1.20 fav on that occasion) 'Encipher' having won $1,000,000 recently at Menangle, has no need to go round in this and can leave it for one of her 8 Stable-mates lol 😂😂. Good news for Nathan though with 'We Can Have It ALL ' drawn the pole , one alley , in the 2 year old trotting Fillies Vic bred Final > Huge chance now ... best of luck Nathan and owners !!!!!

That is amazing Walt 🏆 . The american racebook. Did you see races in America by being there yourself at any stage.? Cardy's bracketed Mate there 1A , looks to of run 3rd to Lordship at Manawatu in the form . Must of been a handy horse in Nz ? Cardinal King ? And How about the number 7 in you racebook?? still repping for Australia. what a win he is showing there !!!!! The Interdominion Grand Final at Auckland 24th Feb 1968. Very very very lucky to win it of course . The brilliant Halwes from Tasmania scratched (paid out by NSW bookies). You can see First Lee running 2nd to Halwes in the Miracle Mile in the form guide there in March at Harold Park not long after the February Interdominion win (not paid off on that occasion obviously lol 😅) . First Lee was beaten many lengths in the Inter heat win showing there too on 17th Feb. My dad was travelling with Halwes from Tassie as farrier with 3 other men including Aub Wesley (the owner trainer of Halwes and a bit of an eccentric bloke) I got to go to Nz as a little lad because of this .

got beaten on the horse in March race by Artorius. it's always a mistake when you get beaten.

Nathan Purdon in action last night at Melton with the good Nz winner The Real Sherlock (aka Sherlock) 12 Semi Finals of the Victoria Sires Stakes were run . The Real Sherlock a nice 3rd after working to lead but run down by 2 Emma Stewart runners. Still on a Stable high after Encipher won $1,000,000 first prize in the Eureka slot race the other week . Emma won 8 of the semi's !!!! one of Emma Stewart's winners was New Zealand owned Amore Vita won ok (an ex- Nathan Purdon trained horse ) The Stewart barn qualified 28 of the 33 horses they lined up across the 6 different age and sex divisions (2,3 and 4 yearold , mares and colts) the 5 that missed out , well 3 of them were 100-1 shots . 28 horses qualified is a SUPreme Training Effort and must go close to Winning all 6 Grand Finals 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🍾 ?? Let's hope Sherlock can get some of it for Nathan though 💰

Yes it all seems a bit weird. I'm not a fan of seeing Trainers charged , horses reputations tarnished and owners losing the races too, so really hope you are right and there is a technical error somewhere in the testing procedure . There might of been a faulty batch of a product in the manufacturing bottles ? I don't know. I give up. Trainers don't deliberately use any steroid when quizzed lol. One unlucky bloke here in QLD got a horse from Tassie once and won with it about 10 days after being in stable. Tested positive to a steroid admin ed by the Tassie trainer. So trainer here did the 6 months DQ lol. think he did a milk-run for the 'time' and quite enjoyed a break away from the horses actually 😅.

Why ? thanks for your support Chief . I was just commenting on how a dose of steroid works , and some of the things it works on , in an article. Yes they've been around a long time. Can NOT comment on what the common Link is , as Don't know (regarding the Vic Trainers with swabs early this year ) . Probably the same Vet supplying the stables would be my 'humble guess' .. Guess that could indeed be bollocks I spose .😄😂 Those Horses probably continued to race after as All the Checks are/were being made retested , etc........ the standardbred mentioned in this thread, Regazzo Mach raced twice more in WA after his positive so was disqualified from All 3 races at beginning of this year. and the Trainer given the usual 6 months DQ .That finished yesterday for Mike Reed actually . Hopefully back licensed soon.... Not sure if the horse got 12 months DQ like the gallopers get or Not. I'll have to try and find out that answer...

Of course they can help in a one -off administration . the horse gets mental stimulation from the drug and performs differently towhat it might without it. sometimes mares squeal like stallions when another horse is close by, etc. In the race horse it's as much 'Mental' training as 'physical'. you can pour the same work-load into a Barnful of horses and have them all fit enough to race , BUT and it's a HUGE BUT (lol 😆) only a very few are 'tuned ' to win . Horse's just like people and dogs, >> think. you mentally tune them to 'dive-bomb' opponents, cope with sitting parked out, even get on the truck in the first place lol. Steroids make them think differently to what they otherwise might ... and thus it really helps racing performance .. almost always.... I wouldn't worry about muscle mass theory. Here's a little more in an article >>>>>>>>>> First used medically in the 1940's, steroids are very potent anti-inflammatory medications that have many uses in human and equine veterinary medicine. They are based on and modeled after the body's own corticosteroid hormone cortisol, which has many vital effects in the body, including a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Steroids work by blocking the body's main inflammatory cascade (arachidonic acid cascade) at a high level, reducing the production of many inflammatory mediators and reducing the action of inflammatory cells. This reduces the body's response to an insult, and reduces body-wide inflammation, as well as local effects of swelling, redness, itchiness and irritation and pain. Many different synthetic steroid types have been derived from the basic molecular model of cortisone. The most common injectable steroids used in equine veterinary practice are dexamethasone, methylprednisolone acetate (Depomedrol), triamcinolone acetate (Vetalog, Kenalog), and betamethasone. Each of these has different effects, potency and duration of action. In equine veterinary medicine steroids are commonly used for a multitude of conditions including allergic skin conditions, airway disease, anaphylaxis, brain and spinal cord injury, autoimmune diseases and shock. Oral medications are often given when long-term treatment is needed.

And they ran the New Brighton Cup from a stand too. was gunna be total chaos (with horses misbehaving) but the drivers are so good they still got them away mostly. That Aviator horse was always going to gallop , he was as tense as a mouse in the cattery. Ben Hope would be delighted with Mossdale Ben ? a great last half mile closing in well for 2nd. And BD Joe after running second to the stablemate last year , goes one better went nice. so a good call by you there . Joe home pretty easy in the end Think Mark Purdon drove ANYTHING GOES an absolute peach of a drive , and 'No Way' could it win the Cup . or any of the lead ups either at Oamaru, Ashburton or Kaikoura the way it went . was quite disappointing for a Purdon trained horse getting such a good trip.

'Reasonable bet' for the TAB to collect as it panned out. 😉😎 John Dunn out-sticking young Ben again . Just when Ben was glad to see the back of 'Sundee' too. (with Sundee's Son retired) The Dunn stable turn up with their next star trotter . very nice Win by Aardiebythehill.

A Tester for Ranga then ? Does he know his Gore horses and drivers ? Geez the inside part of track looks a bit rough mate ? No graders in Gore ?

Is that the horse nathan williamson trained. how is he going in australia? Hey was just reading where a heap of galloping blokes in Victoria have got positives the same as Mike Reed , the WA trainer of Regazzo Mach got with Steroid use , as mentioned earlier. Might be the same sort of stuff doing the rounds. Seems silly to me as years and years ago , you knew Steroid derivatives were traceable and even tiny doses were 'long lasting' . Kavanagh got lucky and eventually escaped the Cobalt fiasco , unlike some, but wonder how he will get out of this one lol? here's a bit of the article. Chief would know of some of these Trainers . they all do quite well generally in Vic country racing. >>>>>>> Racing Analytical Services Limited reported the urine samples taken from the five horses contained Formestane (a steroidal aromatase inhibitor) and 4-Hydroxytestosterone (an anabolic androgenic steroid), which are prohibited substances under Australian Rules of Racing. Racing Victoria reported the five trainers and horses involved in the inquiry are: Smiley Chan (Lake Tai), Mark and Levi Kavanagh (Circle Of Magic), Julius Sandhu (Alphaville), Symon Wilde (Sirileo Miss) and Amy and Ash Yargi (Yulara). Sirileo Miss is a multiple Group winner who has won $963,000 prizemoney. Two of the five samples also contained the prohibited 6a-Hydroxyandrost-4-Ene3,17-Dione (a metabolite of a steroidal aromatase inhibitor).

Exactly as you say, and to gain some performance, well the owner placed a lot of pressure on Mike Reed , a long time distinguished trainer in WA to get the horse Regazzo Mach into the big Nullibor slot race this year. they paid $500,000 for Regazzo off Nathan and he was only performing moderately. The owner pressure ten-fold with these 'high-price' purchases. I've seen it happen a few times. (trainer trying to get a BIG race result from high priced purchase over does it). Mike Reed gave 'Regazzo' some anabolic steroid (that makes em feel good and go good) , and got 3 positives in January so 3 race DQ's and 6 months disqualified !! lol... they're a bit strong and long lasting the old steroids. Actually Mike's penalty ends tomorrow as it pans, so might be back training again next week. The horse still having only earned $150,000 lifetime . too much pressure.

Terrific writing Mr Galah. (your whole article above) and yes fully agree with you NOT to read that Archie Peter nonprofit stuff , as is damaging beyond belief to ones sanity (as well as not even a remote semblance of respect for the harness racing industry that guy has) i'd rather stick tooth picks in my eyes. wish he would. After doing 20 years harness I then did 20 years vet , and can say that if I had did it the other way round, one could of had bucket-loads more success lol 😆. the negative effects to treating a horse, are usually supplied by the Trainer i would suggest. there haven't been cases of vets going with milkshakes elephant juice caffiene etc. and things like steroids they can supply but usually don't administer. Hey did you guys hear the Regazza Mach story this year?

Can't relate in what way? I think that Emma has that many runners and winners , It's hard to keep up ? Here is the Vic Sires Stakes Final result from December. Last nights winner ENCIPHER a hot favourite but beaten by the New Zealand owned (former Nathan Purdon trained Filly AMORE VITA. Emma I think 'Trifectaed' both the 2 year old Vic Sires Stakes Finals of colts and Filly's to show off her great team, staff , horses and training ability . The Miracle Mile winner CATCH A WAVE (Gaths) who led up last night in the Eureka won the 3 year old colts to stop the 'Emma' clean sweep . What a prize for Encipher last night ! A million dollars !! amazing ...... ALWAYS B MIKI VICBRED SUPER SERIES (3YO FILLIES) FINAL (GROUP 1) 2240M $130,000 3YO Fillies. RBD. PACERS. Mobile Final Results Pl Horse Prize- money Row & Br TAB # Trainer Driver (C = Concession) Mgn (m) Starting odds 1 AMORE VITA NZ $ 65,000 Fr3 3 Emma Stewart Chris Alford $ 5.50 PRS BAY FILLY 3 by ART MAJOR USA out of CASTELLINA LOVER NZ (MCARDLE USA) Owner(s): S A Dolan, Est of G R Adamson Breeder(s): S A Dolan, Estate of Grant Ronald Adamson 2 ENCIPHER $ 20,800 Fr1 1 Emma Stewart Kate Gath HFNK $ 1.20 fav 3 SOHO HISTORIA $ 13,000 Sr2 10 Emma Stewart Mark Pitt 3.50 $ 12.00 P 4 PETILLANTE $ 7,800 Fr6 6 Emma Stewart David Moran 9.20 $ 81.00 3W 5 STAR CELEBRITY $ 5,200 Fr5 5 Emma Stewart Allan McDonough 9.80 $ 81.00 6 JO AN JO $ 2,600 Sr1 9 Emma Stewart James Herbertson 11.50 $ 71.00 5 7 NONPARREIL $ 2,600 Sr3 11 Jess Tubbs Greg Sugars 11.70 $ 126.00 7 8 TALK TIME $ 2,600 Sr5 13 Emma Stewart Jodi Quinlan 17.40 $ 71.00 12 9 RELENTLESS ME $ 2,600 Fr2 2 Sebastian F Steenhuis Anthony Butt 21.90 $ 81.00 10 BEACH LIFE $ 2,600 Fr4 4 Emma Stewart Kerryn Manning 26.70 $ 81.00 10 11 LEAVE YOUR HAT ON $ 2,600 Sr4 12 John Yeomans Rebecca Bartley 28.10 $ 151.00

Excellent performance by LEAP TO FAME circling to the parked out position after the early rush in the Eureka at Menangle. finished 2nd 4 lengths clear of 3rd placed Captain Ravishing. But the day belonged to Australia's long-time best 2 Trainers Emma Stewart and Luke McCarthy. ENCIPHER , the only mare in the field , picks up the Million dollars , with a great steer by Luke who knowing the track like the back of his hand , pounced at the right moment and took the BIG prize ahead of Leap To Fame. Luke McCarthy because of not having a stable runner in the race , drove for the great Victorian stable of Emma Stewart in an 'Instant Win partnership' , from 2 of the greats of the sport. (Emma's regular drivers Mark Pitt were on The Lost Storm and Kate Gath had her husbands runner Catch A Wave to drive ) so Lucky days for Luke !!!🏆💰🏆😁

All the sort of stuff you mentioned would work brilliantly I reckon. 10 slots at $6000 each gives a nice $60k pool . $40k for winner maybe , the rest split 2nd and 3rd make races for horses 0-2 wins, or 3 -4 race winners, or whatever you fancy really. to select field you have to watch for interlopers. maybe have them trained in that 'province' as eligible entrants ? where the race is held .. or something similar. or one way they did it here in Brisbane at a country track that ran big races twice a year, was the horses selected had to of had 2 starts at that track during that current season . That worked well as made it hard for them to come from too far away and knock off the locals in just the Feature , so a few 'handy' horses were seen racing at the track to get their 2 starts in , to be eligible for the Big race heats resulted in >>>>>> you had quite a few weeks of seeing nice horses race instead of just all battlers all the time, and the racing and betting was lifted accordingly ...

trotting never gets anything in the media. we had the world drivers championship recently and it was lucky to even get mention on the harness site 😂. marbles would get more cover 😂. Hey , I like the idea though . I think the races should be funded by the participants all the time . Put your money up - Put your horse up - and go for glory !.... be like Arabia Shiehks lol. The Everest gallop sprint is great !!! near the best race of the year every year.....with people holding slots and inviting horses to run for them for that day. At the trots, If we owned a slot in the EUREKA or the RACE by Grins , or the NULLIBOR (where Nz Plodder Betterzippit went and won 1/2 million earlier this year with Grimson) you can be an owner in partnership for the day Of the BEST horses in the nation !! fantastic .. Grass Roots Level ?? you ask . why not do the same . Have slot races for loose class horses with a Big Prize ?...... they'll come , even at Winton or Ruakaka maybe ...if there's money to be made.