mikeynz

55 mills of rain yesty for Gore after a few days of none and being warm that would make grass as greasy as a butchers diddle, a heavy 8 may have been a exaggeration, not much you can do I guess, Wingatuis heavy as at yesty but gee what a battle racing thoughrabreds in Southland only 4 days before Xmas.

No South Island trained horses at Auckland at all, one can't deny they have improved fields wise recently but it's at the expense of other clubs, why Westport who produce one of the biggest turnovers for the year only have a 25000 feature is a bit odd. One wonders if Southeners will go North for Auckland Cup, might be the odd hit and run case but spending new years eve in Auckland, who would want too?

They would have to be very hypocritical to accept bets on dogs from elsewhere if it's a no goer here, as for the harness clubs the lost revenue will be significant I've heard a figure of over 100000 that Ascot Park may miss out on.

Maybe rhe TAB should have offered 4 bucks, might have dragged a lot more optimist in.

5 trialest at Blenheim today, 8 Westport tomorrow, none wanting to qualify. Despite the Coasters being thin in numbers normally get a win or two over Xmas.

Futures markets as they are a con, if horse don't start you should always get a refund.

Would certainly boost numbers.

Maybe we're retired and after racing were employed at Gloriavale pulling plows and hay trailers.

I often wonder if it's financially viable sending the tv crew to some meetings, particularly greyhound meetings.

Just Believe not going to Auckland, maybe that may alter some southerners strategies, we will see.

Can't recall Hands Down crashing but do recall Lord Module on the second night blowing the rest of the field off the track, were some good horses there too, ended up same in the cup month after, Forburys meetings were significant events in those times, less meetings but higher quality replaced by more meetings and less quality, and we see the end result, many sports seem to be following same pattern. There is a clue from the name Lord Module as regards to Hills horses, it was unusual to see horses trained out of Nelson at Forbury or from the North Island for that matter.

Have to say that the fields for Auckland on Friday are a improvement on recent times, and more importantly its basically all Northern trained horses, as for Auckland Cup night time will tell if southerners travel.

1979 Oct at Forbury, Hills campaigned 4 horses, Single Lord, McShane and two other, without googling can anyone name the other 2 ?

Not hard to see why looks like all six have left town for a wee while, one would doubt there are anymore trained out of RIchmond these days.

Scotch Tar, what a horse he was, I'm surprised Cameron trained him for a period of time.

Lord Module is on You Tube, somewhere.

Most racedays today you would stand out.

Some good horses and drivers, can anyone tell me if Robert Cameron is still alive ? Also note crowds, imaging trying to jam them in like that today, watching Cricket yesterday, despite apparently being sold out plenty of space, must be health and safety again. Robalan was the first cup I can remember, was probably the first on TV live, I stand to be corrected though. That 49 bucks for the quinella would buy a fair bit of piss then.

And next week $200000 for 3yo trotters, not even Ellerslie can better that today.

Race 1 Addington, 2yo trotters, 5 starters 100000 stake, tote win pool just over 3 grand, no good singling out Manawatu, this can't be smart decision making, Whanganui cup today 80000, probably do more than 30000, the mind boggles.

Tact McLeod out of the Inters, one wonders if he will make it to Invercargill.

Maybe Entain will have got it all back by Dec 31

Gamma the issue isn't about the Auckland Cup, the issue is is this the right move to go Dec 31, there is a $100000 Free for all on Dec 20 for Pacers and Trotters, same days as Invercargill then theirs New Years Eve, question is will southerners go, especially any trotters if Just Believes there, bearing in mind again there are FFA races for both pacers and trotters on Jan 2, at Omakau Auckland have been the ones messing around with their Cup days, Invercargills day is perfect timing for them, finally they have a Cup Day that's fits perfectly. As for the crowd at Alexandra Park partying after the races for New Years Eve, probably most ain't bothered if it's Auckland Cup or Franklin Cup day

Looking like Invercargill is preferred over Auckland at this stage, bearing in mind Omakau race a $40000 free for all on January 2, may be that HRNZ have got this wrong, time will tell.

We're any paying more than $2 ?