curious

Probably the opposite to what I do. Don't necessarily back the horse I think most likely to win, rather the ones that I think are priced greater than what I rate their chance of winning.

I agree with you and Prof Tobin on that. Needs sorting. Witness the ridiculous cobalt debacle.

Can't imagine there's many that never use them?

Do they blood test the All Blacks before every game to check on their health and conditioning status?

Firpo was indeed by Pep and Alberto rode him numerous times including at least 3 of his wins. Showing my age but the first horse I ever raced was by Pep.

True but he only gave him 5 or 6 inside the last 100. Nothing before that.

I was thinking the same thing. One of 3 excessive use charges on the day. T Comignaghi (IDLE LADY) - Admitted a charge in that she struck her mount IDLE LADY 7 times prior to the 100 metre mark. After considering submissions the Adjudicator imposed a suspension of T Comignaghi’s licence to ride in races from the conclusion of racing on Saturday 29 January until the conclusion of racing on Thursday 10 February, 7 national riding days, and in addition imposed a fine of $200.

Be a good day for Foxton

+ Whanganui.

If it's on or after the post it is surely not "consecutive strides at any stage of the race" which is over at the post isn't it?

Absolutely. And any breaches, the horse should be disqualified.

That's the bloody trouble with these left handers. But I can sort of see now though the posted stewards vision is very poor quality and the darn vision for that is attached to race 5 instead of race 6 but that's the level of competence that you expect from Petone these days. That sorted out it was two consecutive backhanders down the shoulder hands off reins, so a breach. Both were in the last stride though and it appears the second one was either on or after the line. Does that count?

That would work.

No idea what that has to do with Levante or the whip rules.

Long time ago now, I remember NGH riding an enigmatic mare for me at Riccarton Easter. A Class 4 race back in the day when we had proper handicaps. Wouldn't pretend to give the likes of him instructions but asked him what the track was like. Few puggy patches he said. Just said you have to kid her through those and she's only little, doesn't like getting tightened up between horses. Watched the race in the bottom of the members' stand. 2000m, 3 wide without cover the whole way. 3 across the track, the two favourites I think and her at 33/1 in between. I'd long given up backing her. Every time I thought I had her dead on and had a punt she'd stop dead and run 30 lengths last. Decided that wasn't a good way to try and make a living! Anyway, I was muttering under my breath at the 150, think you need to give her one Noel. Hadn't touched her. She thinks this is a track gallop and is just doing enough to keep up. Told me after he was afraid to hit her in case she stopped. Thought she was gone at the 500 but grabbed the bit again 100 later (probably the worst part of the Riccarton track disaster there). Anyway, he gave her a good slap and she drew away to win comfortably by 3/4 l. When he came back to scale, he just said they told me she goes the odd good one. That was a good one!

I quite like it with spurs on.

Think he got enough of a serve. Lot more than the riding fee and %. And he's trying to beat someone else breaking that rule. Neither probably changed the result. Did think about donating the stake to a horse welfare outfit though.

Of course not. What a stupid question. If the horse is trying its best it doesn't need whipping at all, only to be told it needs to do its absolute best now. Determining that comes down to the professional judgement of the rider. The NGHs and CWJs of the world were/are masters at that. One or 2 other contemporary riders, some mistresses not masters that I can think of but they are rare birds here these days.

If you think it's a feather duster, have a walk round the tie ups on raceday and look at the welts they leave or get someone to give you a couple with one and see if it hurts. If they can't enforce their use or make appropriate rules and penalties, then they have to take them away altogether. If they don't, someone will take the whole game away. That you can break the whip rules and still win a race, or run second or third or earn any stake money is a crock of shit. Just encourages others to do it to compete.

Agree. And know bugger all about sociology.

That happened 25 years ago when they relaid what was a perfectly good track aside from the undulations in the straight which could have been fixed in 2 days with a D9, a rototiller and a direct drill. They'd also have kept all the mountain of topsoil that they carted away and replaced with clay. Only got worse since. But what would I know? Just an educated farmer. I'm about to sell my groundhog if they need one and someone there knows how to use it. Just about donate it if that would help. Might want to race one there soon.

You mean clicked late?

It's hard to metricise but global data would tell that competitive racing, i.e. good handicapping and programming systems and well prepared fair tracks are key. Clubs can't do much more than sort the latter. Don't think the day of the week would have made any difference to the above. Let's not revert to Purcell's Monday/Tuesday racing solution for heaven's sake.