TAB For Ever

My post from September 2024 with some of my memories of Timaru /Washdyke and racing in the area ! The ra ra crowd are doing their best to talk up another racing area which many years ago let itself slowly deteriorate . Some good memories from the area........then there was Phar Lap ,the Ranfurly Shield , South Canterbury Finance ( Ouch ). I think the Course Manager was recognised with an Award recently and today Timaru representing NZ in a Drinking water Test against Australia. But blaming NZTR for the current situation is drawing a long bow ....sorry DOOMED ! Maybe the new Airport there will improve things !

I guess Opunake is actually a place as Peter Snell ,my favourite Kiwi ,was apparently born there ! I'm in a home for the bewildered ,but Ducks are definitely not allowed here. We do watch Trackside tho and I must say the synthetic racing is good watching , I understand why so many big meetings around the world are held on all-weather tracks ! Our 'slow' syndicate horse ran a place today and it gives these plodders a chance to race and for the bettor IMO are easier to predict than the bog mud tracks !

JH certainly a hot favourite...surprised he been a Junior for 9 years ! As one -sided as the West Indies test !

Certainly an excess of horses in the Maiden and R65 grades , but otherwise predictable with the higher than average stakes. But it doesn't stop the horses being imported from the North Island. I did a very quick check of those nominated in the R65 and 12 of first 15 i checked had started racing in North plus the odd Aussie and Hong Kong visitor. And the number of meetings and stakes allocated based on historical results so going to be difficult to reverse. Back in the day racing Winter racing in the South was rather limited ,both codes. Obviously clubs and trainers never tried to change this , the weather never helped ,hence it is what it is. Those with jumpers, a poor betting proposition kept horses going , Rex Cochrane[Gore] based his horses at Waimate and the better winter trainers eg Bill Hillis travelled north ! Wingatui had 2 days at Queens Birthday then nothing till Otago Hunt in August ,and all Harness closed up even more !

Sure Thing Captain ,Udderly sweet I speak the Truth ! You talk with Fire and Passion ......I see one of our Goats Richard Brosnan driving over there to night , and another ex-Kiwi star AButt still getting the odd drive on big stage. Meanwhile Brooke been told to put Treacherous Baby in the race early this week when GRogersons mare tries to walk/sprint. Looks like the weather gunna be a big issue for us Friday. I like Major Hot for odds Saturday and maybe Not as promised. I'll BetN Win ! This Harness talk on here will no doubt earn me some slings and arrows of outrageous indignation ....oh well ! And most of the Harness Forums on social media in NZ are not anonymous so there are a few Licence Holders who try to Leap to Fame , maybe some will succeed ! Nothing succeeds like a toothless Canary. Great win Billy Slater and the lads !

As a licence holder they definitely will be coming after you......stay indoors and lock the doors ! Stuff written on Harness Forums recently has definitely crossed the line and once again brought this topic to the fore ....many organisations and clubs etc have Codes of Conduct plus the general responsibilites an employee has like ...act in good faith , not divulge sensitive information or tarnish reputations etc . If you not aware of this stuff you must be the Vicar of Dibley or similar !

Whitebait has no idea ! Indeed Gamma , not likely to be matched ...the Parsons , Nolans and maybe Mark Purdon have achieved and /or tried to achieve big success in both Codes but unlikely any will start to ride jumpers ! Graeme Rogerson has a CV which covers a lot of things in Harness/Gallops including riding ...over a log period. Michael House is another , currently still a contender for leading Harness Trainer and many will forget that only a few years ago he won the "Emerging Trainers ' award at the Annual Gallops Awards. Well known harness trainer/driver Robbie Holmes a descendant of Maurice and Freeman Holmes dabbles in gallops too......certainly still rides work as he appears in this weeks "Unhinged' Beach report video on FB. Check it out !

Sure Billy a little clap and some warm fuzzies provide those pouring their hard earned into racing with a little joy ! I'm sure you enjoyed those 'student of the week ' and ' player of the day' awards back in the day. In fact I believe you have a knighthood , Sir Billy , as well as many BAFTA and acting awards. In fact on your tour of NZ I paid big money to hear you talk ...I particularly remember your description of Dunedin with everyone in a time-warp wearing their fawn cardigans with buttons etc...after 27 years there I left immediately. And you well known for your Optimism , making the most of opportunities ,the worlds a great place to live in. Pessimism is a luxury you can't afford....pessimism is for losers ! You a very wise man Sir Billy , I hope you get a liitle clap too !

Gamma, Were you on course for the Interdoms last night ? I see Kate Gath ran in the Sunshine Coast marathon today...3 hours 3 min ...thats some effort !

Correct.....,.,a few years back , overall 2% of Punters were contributing 56% of Turnover !

Well ONE year doesn't make a lot difference for the quicksand crowd ! Head whinger thinks the kid who trains the 20 x start maiden and never will get to posers day [ Ellerslie I guess] needs an Award ! Other old farts admit they don't know many of the nominees [ they under 40 !]. While Whitebait fish says he was thinking of nominating someone ...all talk as per usual , sigh ! Currently they taking noms for Stable hand of the Year and anyone can nominate [ again!] The battlers often are like the negative posters on here....they go thru the day doing the same thing today that they did yesterday and do/say the same thing tomorrow as as they did today. As a result ONE YEAR later they are in the same situation that they in today The Award winners are constantly looking for ways to improve ! For fish it worse....they start to stink after 3 x days 😀😀😀

Absolute rubbish........ 50 years ago my neighbour's horse won NZ Horse Of Year , twice from memory and there have been at least 20 Awards given out annually in NZ for a variety of things at an Annual function. The list is added to from time to time when recognition deserved. There was an Award for strapper of the year from at least 10 years back and it now called Stable Hand of the Year. Then for the X -Factor participants there is the 'Hall Of Fame' . For younger folk there are a number of Awards including Sunline Trust Scholarships etc among others. The Breeders also have awards ...in fact all aspects of racing/equine have had Awards ,rankings and various forms of recognition etc . Entain obviously decided to increase the publicity around them and add some Financial awards to some of them. Harness Racing also has a heap of Awards , in fact I personally was 'Owner of Month' one month back in the day ...no function but a trophy ! Some clubs still have Horse of Year , Performance of night etc with a small reward . Always much appreciated and well received !

ALL the people I have known in employment , sport , racing , clubs ...all walks of life have NEVER been any thing other than totally chuffed to be either nominated for or actually win an award . The total opposite to the rubbish you are suggesting .

Name these deserving people, we can work on getting them nominated next year !

I doubt you been laughing for a year...you come across as too miserable for that ...but when these excellence awards began last year you labelled them laughable/jokes . At least you consistent and your bitterness permanent ! When Chief eventually asked you if you liked anything at all about NZ racing you replied ....yes , The Cossack. i don't think the poor horse has won since ! Is there anything else you like about NZ Racing . Any other priceless quotes to remember you by ?

Well Gamma, The 'oldies' from the annuls of Interdoms still showed their worth at the ribbon of light on Friday. Plus young Harrison Orange warmed up for his upcoming Junior Drivers champs in your backyard next week ,with a couple of wins...horses run well for hime ,fastest Kiwi to drive 50 winners ! But no sign of Nathan ,he supervising his elite team in Queensland...he now the boss and dad Mark the part-timer. The young lass who was caring for and driving Treacherous Baby who ran a good 4th from bad draw in good time is Aussie lass Brooke Wilkins who rotates as the elite strapper for the Purdons while in Queensland. She has had success in Australia as both a trainer and driver in the past but in recent years is the top travelling strapper for the Purdon barn. She just started driving in NZ on an overseas Junior license . Her father boards the Horses in Sydney and she has worked for J.McCarthy ,Amanda Turnbull and Jaso Grimson who gave her her first win as a driver.She also worked and won races for Emma Stewart ! One interesting winner at the Park was elderly trainer Ron Richardson ,who won a Trot race with his 4 yr old trotter Itmusclebelove. He recalled a godd young pacer he won first up with....Classic American [American Ideal] ....at Cambridge then sold a majority share of it to Perth where it won some 30 races and raced in the Interdoms in Perth recording a couple of 4ths. He has a brother of his winner to night ,a travel companion , who is only horse in NZ by Up and Quick ! You heard it here first !

Great memories Gamma......you doing your best to provoke some enlightening discussion. I about to get my hair done [and oil change] and a petticure as off to the much discussed Auckland Trots tonight. I think there are 4 x 6 horse fields ...sigh.......but it gonna be great ! Mid Xmas Dinner...free parking ,free water , free racebook ,free sports bar ,my friend has a 150th share in a tenth of 3 x horses so 3 x free beers. And many of NZ's greatest ever reinspeoples....many with Interdom memories .....I'll try and tweak a few comments out of them. THerlihy, BPurdon and Phelan, McKendry , JDickie, MWallis [ Delft ] MWhite ,PFerguson, DButcher, RDunn ,, TMacFarlane ,ICan doosit team ,Stormont. 82 yr old driver Luk Chin , ....the list goes on .

Its kinda basic that when you are a licence holder or employee you have a 'built in and understood' responsibility not to bring the Industry or Company into dispute. Some may say its biting the hand that feeds you ! Correct ,the piece questioning the persons personal financial history is completely 'out of line ' ! Its disgusting ! Boards ,nowadays ,include folk with a versatile set of skills and governance and finance are definitely must haves.

yeah nah Brodster....my post does not defend HRNZ decision ! It basically about Mark Jones who at some stage up to recently was a senor rep on the Trainers and Drivers Assoc . What made him lash out ,when it seems he was in a strong position to influence and communicate with industry leaders ? Was he not able to get support to push a personal agenda ...did his fellow trainers and drivers not agree with his personal views ? Thats all ! And unsure if the Winston committee are going to start overturning HRNZ announcements........doubt if there be much instant slash and burn !

Mark Jones comes from a Family who COULD be referred to as Harness Racing Royalty . Plus I seem to remember he was on the Council of Trainers and Drivers of NZ. Maybe the chair or deputy Chair ,so I assume this gave him a fairly direct line to the decision makers who he so directly criticises. I see B Mowbray now heads the Canterbury division so maybe Mark stepped aside tho his photo and name still appears on the website as Vice-chair. And maybe Mark wrote this letter as a private communication and didn't intend it to be so public ...but accidentally on purpose distributed it widely. Cos surely A license holder criticising HRNZ and some employees so publicly will be against the Rules and Regulations of HRNZ ....bringing it and them into disrepute . Maybe he has put his horses in somebody elses name ??????.....to let loose !!!

Paul Moroney very happy with his 3 x buys ,in particular his Noverre [Savabeel] for $5k. And a quality Proisir filly for $85k and Sword of State [Snitzel ] for $20k.

My understanding is the passed lots have a period [ one month ] to be sold at not less than the reserve price ,with the Sales commission being sold. Of course the entry fee to the Karaka races also needs to be paid within a period of time. I have been an vendor a few times in past so went for a peep. As usual there would be some happy sellers ,some very disappointed ones too especially those who sell below the service fee which I experienced a few times. Normal auction ....it is horse trading......just not so many buyers keen to take on a young horse so early !

The real Themightyquinn... Q How did he become an Aussie ,and how is he 'unique' with a feat that will never be matched ? A. Themightyquinn started in Canterbury with Peter Bagrie and had to race against a very strong group of NZ youngsters including Auckland Reactor ,Fiery Falcon and Ohoka Arizona. He won a few races and was third on Jewels day before being sold to Gary Hall stable in Perth for good money. Then he became an Aussie and I'm Themightyquinn and soon started winning big......he won his second Interdom Final before he won his first. He won his first over a year after the race. Smoken Up[ Lance Justice] was relegated/DQ 'd. He then won a third....quite a story !!!

Yes the year was 1975 .....Young Quinn was one of NZ's greatest ever winning most of NZ's big races , The Interdoms and Miracle mile as well as BIG races in North America. Won 59 races. He started in Wyndham with Bud Baynes ,moved to Charlies as a youngster. In 1975 he was against Aussie great Hondo Grattan going for 3 x Interdoms on end. HG was off 25 in final Young Quinn off 15 .He won like a good horse from Hi Foyle driven by Southlander Henry Skinner tho trained then by Roy Purdon [I think] .The Foyle horses used to battle around Forbury. Were they from Palmerston South ? Maybe dreaming ! Bay Foyle was an Aussie. Little wonder Southlaners love Harness when a short list of their champs would be headed by YQ ,Cardigan Bay , Tactile ,Holy Hal ,Lunar Chance , Robin Dundee [Otago] Holmes DG to name a few plus David Moss ,Poupette , Night Allowance among the trotters. YQ was by Young Charles out of Loyal Trick [ Hal Tryax]............then in 1996 Aussie Young Mister Charles was Interdom Pacing Champ. Plus ImaMightyQuinn was a real champ winning 3 x Interdoms from 2011. Back to John Langdon /Charlie they got the trotters final with Castletons Pride for Roy McKenzie who owned JayAr and many great horses trained by George Noble but Roy [later Sir Roy] never won the NZ Cup. Had a lot of great horses incl Royden Glen and Sundon. Ahhhhh the memories and the Associations ! ps Young Quinn named after well known shearer "Snow' Quinn

Haha...Young Quinn , was Charlie's drive but after a mishap young John Langdon stepped in and won both finals !