Blackie

I quite like that metaphor for some reason.

Those Aussies been cutting the hopples again Gamma?

Agree with you Gamma. Its up to someone to take the track off you if you are leading. You either accept the challenge or you don’t.

Murphy blind are excellent at keeping a horses head straight if fitted right, see so many fitted wrong.If you block the forward vision of one eye, horse has to turn its head to see in front of them. Hole is so that they can see what’s beside them, and stops getting them keen. Just another tool in the arsenal and have there place, probably used a little less here because we race a lot closer than the USA.

Grant Crabbe’s champion mare Shartin right there.

Nothing new there, Gamma reeling on back foot. Nothing new about attendance either, takes something special to get bums on seats. Was at a meeting, must’ve been mid ‘90’s, Under Cover Lover had just come back from the States, Courage Under Fire going round, Christian Cullen to top it off, hardly anyone there. Lord Module, now, different story, excitement machine, use to pack them out on his name alone.

I think the CEO was put in a no win situation, after all , he has the final call when it’s down to that number. He would have been call a hypocrite if he’d called it off, but allowed a 4 horse go at Cambridge earlier in the year.

Hi Gamma, Happy New Year. I , like you, are the eternal optimist, but for about the last 10 years I’ve been watching the slow decline of an industry I love, wether it be bad management, financial considerations, social norms becoming abnormal, a decrease in foal numbers( big one), all the above is intrinsically linked to one another, and if all involved don’t have the confidence, it’s all got the feel of a sunset industry. People, and I mean everyone involved, have sat on their hands and let it ride. Those in charge haven’t the kahoona’s to make the really tough calls, Winston Peters gave us a chance(God bless, a Racing Minister on our side, here’s 70 m to pay off your debt), but has largely been ignored and we have blissfully spiralled into the mire. There is something seriously wrong when we race today for about the same stake money 30 odd years ago. Oh for a Peter V’Landys, who makes calls for the good of the game, rather than trying to make friends. An overseer who runs things like a business, it’s not personal, unlike us who seem to employ the same tired people over & over again. And Gamma, maybe you too are part of the problem, good folk relocating like good horses, or I tend to think it was more foresight on your part 😇, much like all the good folk that have moved to where they see a future.

I’d consider that a stock management tool for safety, rather than an ‘encouragement’ tool to run faster.

Agree there nomates. Gamma usually on the money 👍 but misses the point here. People have a choice, in this case, the horse didn’t. Why do it late at night or early in the morning if it was all cosha?

Now this is really the tail wagging the dog. Invercargill Cup Day, the first Group 1 for either code , Trackside 2. F**k Off. Get real, should be on Trackside 1, and HRNZ should be protesting in no uncertain terms about this, mega $ involved. Come in CEO, time to step up and be a voice for harness.

Somebeachsomewhere sire line the new super sire, just awesome. Just go and buy or breed one.

Who really cares about all this, none of my business.

His Brother had a punt against their hot fav stable runner and they 'Cut theHopples' to make horse gallop so it didn't win . Haha 😂, beats letting the hopples out a couple of holes.

Aussies.....

There’s probably no one better, ever that I’ve known, than MP is for setting a horse for a race, no stone unturned I’d suggest. Easy afterwards but typical was Akuta winning the Derby, MP loves winning that one. Just gets pipped a week before, pull down blinds go on, finds 10 lengths. What hasn’t been discussed is what a great driver he is , always in the right place, got plenty of time like a good footballer, seldom unlucky and gets beaten on his merits. You’ve only got to look at his record on the horses he doesn’t train.

It's just the way things have gone as Gammalite above points out, not much you can do about it, just evolved. Success breeds success. You don't belittle anyone having a crack and winning a race because your'e aware of the amount of $ and effort that goes in . Mark from a long lineage of professionals who live & breath Harness Racing , he's bound to have learnt a few things or two, and I'm guessing the great trainer that he is, is still learning to keep ahead of the pack. You just know that when they line up one it's had every opportunity to be at it's best. Not saying that it is great for the game, it's the way it is. Hard on the little guy with the big dream, and if Harness Racing is doing anything wrong, it's not catering for all those with a horse that is ever going to win a couple of races. Everyone has them. That's where the $ should be aimed at to keep it all going, breed a mare, get a foal, get to the races, win some money, have fun doing it without losing a fortune.

Blackie's record in races MP driving in : Blackie - 2 MP - nil He's just lucky I retired when I did(think I had the better horse both times just quietly).

Brodie, I think racing in general has been a sunset industry for awhile and the current economic conditions are only going to accelerate this. Certainly seen the golden years. People don’t race a horse to make money , that’s for sure. Gotta have a dream.

All good points. I've always been an advocate of loading(higher $) for maidens. Other than age group racing, all your expense of getting a horse to the races is in that period when they first compete for some money. Why not make it loaded, $20k, so that even the placegetters are getting a wee bit. Once through that grade, thats when you could race for a little less in races with conditions, as Gammalite points out. My 10c worth.

Yes, congratulations Trotsfan, don’t hold your breath waiting for the stake money, you’ll die( Gamma an Aussie). You can tell that by the way he’s laughing at the honest Blackman running second . Anyway Gamma, thanks again for providing some good entertainment and keeping score 👍( subject to audit of course).

Hope the Slapometer hasn’t been worn out too early, really works hey?

Gammalite making his move…

Gammalite home for the money in Trotters Derby 👍

Start signing that cheque