Karrots

Both your last 2 posts well written with humour there Whippee. Well done. I wonder if Harness needs a neutral journo, that is not friends with anyone. That comes in and writes the news good and bad on a regular basis. Objective and not subjective. Maybe that is what is lacking. Because I know thru some of these things I have been curious to know exactly what the facts are. And published for all the harness industry to see, not for the general public. Of course the bigger news, meaning leading trainer/driver news would go general anyway. But that is normal. This could be an opportunity maybe … for someone to take …. People couldn’t get all funky monkey with the person as they would be there to provide all facts good AND bad.

Hahaha. Whippy psst psst, me thinks, me knows da answer. Thinking its nada. But not 100% sure. Double checking. Which would bring me to my point of why does only Harness have a special journo? Surely gallops and doggies peeps are not all perfect princes & princesses all the time. Anyway could just be someone talking to someone for a story. Yes I believe in integrity thru-out the entire system is paramount. My point is not that. It is that this special journo is out to attack Harness.

You might be onto something here Davis. Didn't know of this man, until you have highlighted on here. Took a look at his UDR & yeah quite good. I wonder how much our list of trainers cost all in comparison to each other. And who is the most value for money for example.

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/summer-of-glory-majestic-raid-as-kiwi-crushes-4-year-track-record/ Yes Newmarket I recall you saying go to Oz. He was flying, like he had wings on 😁 Isn't dat da point, to go where the best opportunities are for your horse. That would be my strategy. Shit I'd have no prob taking the Group 1 cheque. 2nd grade opposition or not. I'd be laughing all the way to the bank 😁 There was no let up as Majestic Man stopped the clock in a 1:55.4 mile rate, slashing six-10ths off the record that had stood since Keystone Del’s win in the 2016 Australian Trotting Grand Prix. Kiwi trotter dominated proceedings that has tongues wagging. “A lot of people back home probably thought we were mad coming. “It didn’t feel like we were running as quick as we were, I actually thought I got it quite easy the first 500 or 600 metres. He was just happy to run, he felt tremendous, it would be scary to think he could improve off of that.”

I read a nice article about Cullen how it was a relieve for him to get his 1st win. I see the 2 Sweet Lou's, Darling Me & Aladdin look like they are enjoying change of scene up North, by weekend workouts. I'm looking forward to see how Darling Me goes for new stable, hopefully new stable won't just had up lead to favoured stablemate. Be interesting to see how they rate her against Enjoy Me - on a par, slightly below or a lot below ... Was a nice last start win by Enjoy Me.

You asking me Chief, oh I don't know why charged. But what I do know is no-one has put forward a nomination for the equivalent journo for A). gallops and also B). dogs. I can extend nominations again to make it work so we get some entries. Earth calling Milo come in Milo. Or Mehe, you guys would know about doggie journos?

Is it a bird, is it a plane, no it's Majestic Man flying 👏👏

Nominations have been extended until tomorrow 9am. A Junior concession has been added. Any Junior journo can have just 5 negative articles. So rating band R6 or R5 with Junior concession. Articles that name and shame only within industry media are not counted towards the rating band.

How about a follow-up story in a positive light, by the journo on how Harness are cracking down; Driver B Butt admitted a breach of Rule 513(3)(a)(c) & (4)(c) in that he provided a breath alcohol sample in excess of 100 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. After hearing submissions on penalty, the JCA suspended Mr Butt's licence from the conclusion of racing on 31 January 2021 up to and including 28 March 2021 (8 weeks). R Houghton (EXECUTIVE BANNER) [Rule 869(2) Whip & Rein Reg] - Using whip free of the rein and with more than a wrist flicking motion. Fined $500. B Hope (LUELLA) [Rule 868(3)] - Failed to drive out to the end of the race when having a reasonable chance of finishing 5th. Fined $200. R Close (NOT OVER) [Rule 869(2) Whip & Rein Reg] - Using whip with more than a wrist flicking motion. Fined $200.

Think MM is racing tonight. Good luck, fly that Kiwi fly while over there. Good luck to all connections tonight. Great he made it over & great decision I think to take risk, whether it works out nor not. Gotta try these things sometimes in life!

Nominations for the equivalent journo for galloping land & also doggie land? To meet criteria candidates must have in past 6 months, 6+ or more, negative articles. (if your candidate has written a positive article during this time, then they do not meet criteria sorry). * Could just be someone talking to someone - no problem. * Or change of a rule - small minority asking for review - no problem. If you think of a candidate to put forward please nom here

Hey Newmarket, Fair enough, however its not my point re sympathy for them. I agree Harness needs integrity. I am talking about the writer as a whole towards harness & how he is going about his way writing with no balance, all negativity.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/96988656/word-is-out-the-death-of-gossip-in-new-zealand This is GOLD. Brods this is what you have to do lol. Get a rude photomontage of him - just joking. Might send him packing too. Googled her name after this thread brought back memories. The rivalry between the writers came to an unusual head in 2006, when Saunders received an anonymous letter, containing a rude photomontage of her. (Looks like she left 2 years later). "Gossip is what no one claims to like - but everyone enjoys. '"Interestingly, Saunders, who was once so ubiquitous around Auckland, has seemingly vanished, and none of her former colleagues know her whereabouts.

Great way to put things Gamms from the other perspective. I actually agree with it anyway in sense that yes all trainers on notice. Journos do target people or potentially an industry. Anyone ever been targeted? Brings back memories when 1 day, I woke up to a gossip columnist writing a negative article about myself. Shock was 1st reaction & thinking wait, what, why, this is ridiculous. From then on I was targeted 😔 until the journo left 😄 Not for any reason of bad behaviour, no scandal or drugs, absolutely nothing. For some unbeknown reason this journo decided they personally didn’t like me. The journo also picked on others too. The journo also had pets. I'm guessing the journo left in the end as had picked on 1 too many people …. maybe was just a toxic person in general. Can see the other viewpoint btw Galah/Gamms. Have just come to conclusion this journo is biased against Harness as a whole for an unknown reason & speaking from experience.

Hey G again Just to clarify the suggestion was not mine, just something put to me, the idea was along the lines to counter him so that when another negative article come out, the public would be go in reading it that he maybe on some sort of crusade against the industry. I would consider myself as being someone that mainly writes positive on here. I first & foremost am seeking balance of sort. Even if it was 1 positive to 4 negatives. Ok over and out, have a fab day :-)

That was actually a suggestion, that I received Brods. Reverse role have him as the "subject". Something along the lines of ... Veteran Journo tearing down the Harness Industry - (Opinion piece) Its not my thing to participate in, hence didn’t mention it. I'm just replying to you, not suggesting it at all.

Hey Galahs, 1. Drugs, choked & even potentially banned I see as being (bad) words having a negative impact on reader. These words are free flowing. How does that make harness look as a whole. The subject is about a ex not current harness person. 2. Omitting from article Orange attended a industry function night prior (if true). Potentially results in misleading public to think Harness drivers drink same day & drive. 3. D Butcher writing a letter to ask for a review of new whip (encourager rule) rule. Did journo follow it up saying the result of outcome? Did he follow it up with a story about how much drivers are being personally fined for breaking rules. Comes out of their own pocket. To add balance? 4. McGrath article was borderline whether it would be interesting to general public. It could be argued he was just a harness trainer. The emphasis was that he was a cheat. Title Champ to Cheat. Story could have been written that industry are cracking down. It leaves the reader feeling like potentially lots in industry are cheats oppose the industry cracking down. Projection out as current pattern, could be 12 months 12 more negative stories. The impact that could further have on perception of Harness as a whole ... ? I know everyone see things differently so I wont push my view point anymore.

I have already read about M Anderson about the strangle thing and drug thing in previous articles, along with others members of the public. My suggestion would be for Harness NZ to go to the Racing Minster about this journo. That is now 6 negative articles in 6 months. How many jobs does this industry employ & how much $ does it bring to the economy again? How much did the govt recently give to racing not that long ago? A reprieve, a balance or as the idiom goes to cut the head off the snake, would all be options to discuss.

https://muckrack.com/martin-van-beynen/articles

No that is not what I am saying Bloss. Having a dinner party with friends & posting is not the ideal thing to do. Saying a drunk is a gross mis-representation. I am not supporting a drunk. I am pointing out facts about the journo. Besides don't we have a reputation for all being a bit CRAZY on here. Just living up to our rep. Oh and that includes you as you post here too.

Oh no sorry Chief, she got done for drinking and driving. My point was that she received a degree of sympathy, rightly or wrongly so. Im not defending poor decisions, even my own on this thread yikes. What I am pointing out is I feel this journo has to a degree declared war on the industry and why and what he wants to achieve, I have no idea. Only he knows.

1 final point Ill raise is, I remember reading an article about a top netball NZ player. The article stated she had been out nite prior drinking, & next day in morning drove. She was over the limit. The article I read about Orange, this piece of info was seemingly selectively omitting the same details, that he went to a industry party the nite prior and was tested in the morning (if that was in fact the case - if not then fine). This could mis-lead the reader to believe that he was drinking that day oppose the nite before. See how the 2 similar stories were presented to the public.

Yes Big Bang, he is on record as saying something along lines of he takes emotion out when writing a story. That seemingly translates to me, as he has no empathy for others when writing. He cares not about you, me, nor anyone when writing & no regard for any collateral damage short or long term he causes in the process. He seems, relentless when he latches onto something, maybe similar to a dog with a bone. If so then that is what the industry is dealing with. The potential mentality of this 1 person. Forgot to mention also P Lamb, when all the small voices rose together to collectively roar out, he was also cancelled. There is a term in this new online society we live in courtesy of social media its called “cancel culture”. His retirement age is within this decade, so the industry could just ride it out until then & in interim everyone get it together, as a collective whole (if that reality is possible). Why do I care about this some maybe thinking, because I care about the industry, the participants, the people, & it’s survival. I see this as a potential long-term problem, which could contribute to its long-term demise.

Gosh, apologies everyone I did a B Orange (writing under the influence) oppose driving under the influence. Regret & apologies to everyone, even Van Beynen for the outburst. I broke my rule 101. Oh dear and yes Bloss very silly indeed. We all make mistakes. Here is Van Beynen profile. https://muckrack.com/martin-van-beynen/articles Top harness driver pinged for excess alcohol before race meeting - 5 days ago Young trainer Mitchell Kerr 'oversold shares in harness horses - 1 month ago Rising harness racing trainer quits as concerns sent to police - 2 months ago Harness racing drivers protest new rule depowering the whip - 3 months ago Champ to Cheat - The fall of Nigel McGrath - 6 months ago To write a balance, he actually has some really great work. Some positive articles but any article related to Harness is negative. He is in a position that he does not have to write a negative article about harness to get published, so why in the past 6 months has he written 5 negative stories when in contrast he has written positive articles about others in other areas. How many jobs does the industry employ? How much does it bring to the economy of NZ? Yet it seems he is selectively choosing to push it downhill. On a different note, I see J Banks was switched off. So was A Jones (Oz), forget about what they said, point being as a collective group of voices, result they got shoved out.

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