Ludwig

Good article. Jamie Searle always gives it a good local flavour. It just highlights that there is more than just a focus on the big glamour meetings. They are vital but so are these grassroots heartland meetings. The industry ignores them at it's peril.

Much more enjoyable was the racing out of Wyndham today.

And all those people leaning over the fence, are they looking for the shopping mall?

Well the committee that rejigged the whole calendar decided that we don't need it anymore. Sad___but they are all wise and knowing.

I note that the Box Seat are sponsoring Race 1 at Cambridge tomorrow. Just curious as to why, is this a regular occurrence? And will they also be sponsoring races in Otago/Southland?😀

Bradley the worst driver____really??

What have you done with my Wolfgang?

I agree entirely. I think Northern racing has made a major blunder by winding up it's grass track racing. It's competitive heartland racing, which is popular with the public, and gets people interested in the sport. It's a great way for local hobby trainers to be involved.

How long is it since Alex Park had trainers based there? And what is the average travel time for trainers coming from South or west Auckland?

I just love it how those who are desperate resort to name calling.

And in such a case, what would the Williamson's get from such an arrangement. Yes, they have four stables, all built from scratch from honest hard work. Maybe that's the example that some Auckland stables need. Build it from the ground up, not ivory tower wheeling and dealing.

Interesting that Winton and Methven have huge fields, without resorting to the financial bribe. The size of the Auckland fields is a rather obvious problem, along with the lack of grassroots support for the industry. But as for solutions, I will have to consult with Wolfgang.

So according to Guerin, the ATC are"perplexed" at the low horse numbers for Auckland meetings . So their solution for April is to throw more money at the problem....$200 to each horse starting, irrespective of where it finishes!!! So where are these extra horses going to appear from? It appears that they want to attract ones who would be starting at Cambridge. So how does that help Cambridge field numbers? And if the ATC are only perplexed now, what have they have been doing? The dwindling numbers have been obvious for ages, so why have they only just woken up? And I love the time honoured solution! Throw more money at the issue even though you've got no idea about what is the root cause, or possible long term solutions. I think they've been listening to Cindy and Grant.

Is there anything good to have come out of Palmy?

Just curious at the use of "remote stewards " at harness meetings. I notice today at Winton that Shane Renault was remote. Why? What do they do? Are they remote because they have COVID? Or being socially ostracized. What's going on?

I tuned in to see him offering his expert tips. I have no problem with him being a tipster for meetings in his own region, but for Manawatu races.! We the poor viewer are being treated like mugs, and today I get a letter from Sky telling me my bill is going up .!

So the Otago/Southland caller wasn't on track?

Just wondering if there's any NZ race caller who hasn't yet called the Palmy trots.?

Call me stupid but that seems a long way to go from Tauherenikau. But then I started counting up all the closed tracks en route____Masterton, Marton, Bulls, Feilding, Foxton, Levin etc

I know the store well. It's the focal point of Oamaru's night life.

Which one's Tim Williams, and which is Bradley?

At least the pair of them gave some excitement, unlike the endless two by two racing in a funeral procession.

Agree. And I became tired of a dopey "Karen", whining at me, "you're just anti Auckland". No, tired of the drain on the country, and it should be made to pay its own way.

Have you seen the fields for the "big" night at Auckland this Friday?. Eight races, seven of which are just seven horses or fewer. Meanwhile, Waimate has 168 nominations for Sunday, yet isn't even allowed to run on its own course. Ridiculous.

Now that was a good moment in racing. The old Otago connection to the fore. A thoroughly deserved group one for one of the south's best jockeys.