Brodie

Lol tell Petone that!

As I say, I reaffirm that we should not be discussing this event on here! I reaffirm that I dont condone violence, but to continue to harangue someone on a public forum without knowing any background and what happened js just not cricket. No I dont need anyone to publicly mention it on BOAY either! The BS with Operation Inca is an example of other people being vilified over several years at huge cost financially and mentally. Time to give this a rest as dont think anyone needs their dirty laundry aired!!

So surely, he needs support from the harness racing community, rather than trying to castigate him on a public forum? I do not know what went on and do not need to know, but sounds like alcohol had a significant impact on the incident? Not condoning any violence at all Blossom, however sometimes there are extenuating circumstances and people handle things differently, I would be far more concerned about the atrocities that were forced upon the citizens of NZ during the reign of the worst government NZ has endured, for 2 terms from the Labour government! The detrimental effects are coming to fruition but not reported on, and yet you want to castigate an individual? Seriously, we need to drop the discussion as it is not beneficial for anyone!

Gamma, in regards to North Island racing, I have been pointing out just how poor the state of harness racing in the North Island is! I have not been bagged any-individuals as far as I can recall? My point in regards to the N.I racing is that there needs to be changes or it will fold eventually and throwing big stakes and having 4 maidens line up in Auckland is and never will be in the best interests of improving harness racing! There are issues that need addressing Gamma, and you are aware of these as much as anyone. The industry can not meep their heads in the sand and expect things to improve as that js not what happens! Auckland problems started with the decision to develop Alexandra Park as we know! As for the incident on the west Coast recently, I reiterate it should not be discussed on any forum for reasons for personal safety! I personally do not condone violence and kicking someone in the guts when they are down, is violence!

Young Sam Thornley is a very promising driver and is doing a great job, and that is why he is picking up plenty of outside drives. I doubt with how hard it is to win a race, there is ever going to be race fixing from anyone! It is without doubt that Sam Thornley would say that the drive on Flo Motion was not his normal level of expertise! What I see from watching young Sam is that he always tries to put his horse in the race which for a punter is good! The harness industry for young drivers is not a route to wealth and we need to retain them! Harness Racing Unhinged video yesterday from Mot interviewed young Gemma Thornley and she stated that the job she is going to in England is going to be more lucrative financially! We dont need to knock our industry participants who are doing the hard yards for us to enjoy harness racing! There are bigger fish to fry, the ones that do not treat punters fairly,

I dont know why we even need to be talking about this? Personally do not think it is beneficial to anyone and think we should drop it! Discussing it in public is not going to achieve anything positive, in fact I believe it is very poor form, and why do some like to kick someone when they are down? Thing is, we should be more concentrating on support for people in the industry rather than trying to put them down! We have had this sort of thing before and will again! We were not there and I do not know what actually happened but if it was your son or father, doubt you would be impressed if people were posting stuff about them!!!!! Let’s just hope that the person involved has great personal support around him and he comes thru this hiccup in life all good!

Same issue again today at Motukarara, and crowd nowhere near as big as the pre New Year meeting! Watch harness Racing Unhinged video today to see just how bad Nigel Armstrong feels about the issue! Where is the TAB response? All is good as there was a big crowd on course! News for them is that it is the picnickers that are there and you need punters there, as that is your bread and butter! You need to look after them far better!

With respect Gamma, unfortunately “ The Race” isnt going to save anything! Cambridge are giving it a go but I am sure they can not afford to run it under the current set up and it may go to Addington in a year or two? Doesnt really bring that much excitement although media might paint it like it does! What we need is to entice new people into owning and punting and by running a race that only the corporations and wealthier owners to participates doesnt achieve this! Anyway good luck to the winner!

Serious punters want to be able to get their bets on, Chief! A serious punter also might like to attend a meeting such as Mot at Xmas but they will not bither in the future if they know that they can not get a bet on oncourse unless it is thru the ticket sellers! If the industry is to stay viable everything needs to be done to retain existing punters, but the TAB in particular are doing an extremely poor job! The big crowd is due to somewhere for holiday goers to go over Xmas just like proplr go to Addington for Cup Day once a year! Reality is that they DO need punters whether it be oncourse or offcourse wagering on harness racing, whether they be losing punters or winning punters! Their current policy of killing off losing punters so that their yield is better is totslly flawed! The flow on effect from this is one of the reasons that harness is going to continue to slide, whether they appreciate this or not? The truth of the matter is that there really does not seem to be anything of benefit coming out from the hierarchy unless I have missed it? Anyway Cromwell today which is going to provide a bit of action for us all! Good punting everyone!

Gamma, “The Race” is a financial loss for harness in NZ, Cambridge are a club that is also losing money, just like Auckland is! Cambridge tried to plug the financial hole for “The Race” by running a raffle last year! It is just an exchange of funds between the corporates and the more financial owners in Australasia! We need to be hearing what the plan is from The Suits that are really well financially compensated!!! The TAB bring out these new betting options like the Power Plays and het they have no option no.s to be able to bet at agencies or pubTabs. If you can not get money on, then wipe them and concentrate on the punters that want to wager!!!

Tab For Ever, you say you would expect Nigel to investigate these serious types of issues I moan about? Firstly, I am not moaning, pointing out something that is not right and needs to be looked into!!!! Secondly and most importantly, Nigel is UNPAID, thats right UNPAID, for the great job that he is doing in promoting harness racing! Surely to expect that it is Nigel’s job to investigate is just further taking the PISS????? Yes Racing Unhinged probably enjoys what he does but I would imagine it takes many hours each and every week, to produce what he does and all for the good of harness racing! Yes he is doing the promotion off his own back, but my personal opinion is that he is doing a great job and he is now taken for granted by the industry! You clearly work for the TAB, and the fact that Motukarara turnover is so good, shows that the powerhouse of harness is in Canterbury! How about sorting out the North Island issues? Turnover would be improved further if you would allow all punters to be treated equally!!!!! Here’s to a great 2024, with the TAB giving more freedom for all punters?

TAB FOR EVER, for the record, Harness Racing Unhinged/ Nigel Armstrongis doing huge unpaid work promoting harness racing if you hadnt realised!!! He is promoting it by syndication and also his many videos! If you havent watched the video he produced on the day of Motukarara races, you should probably watch it? He left the course early which he would not normally do! Why? he was pissed off due to the fact that he was unable to bet oncourse the way he wanted to as well as many others!

Your name says it all doesnt it? Great that you are an employee of the TAB and have come on to support them! TAB FOR EVER, if you believe that the Mot situation was satisfactory then we all can see why the industry is in deep shite with your attitude! As for betting on NZ harness racing, that is basically all I wager on. I do have a major gambling problem and that is that the NZ TAB will not allow me to wager what I want to!!! If you hadnt realised TAB FOR EVER, Bit of A Yarn is a forum for racing enthusiasts and like to express opinions and thoughts on racing! This includes things that are right and things that are wrong with the industry currently and my personal opinions are designed to get people talking. I would hope that anything that seems wrong can be looked into by the TAB and HRNZ etc. because I can tell you now, if the TAB and other relative parties continues on its current trajectory, harness is going to be decimated! Your bury your head in the sand and think everything is rosie attitude, is one reason things are not that flash! Great to have you here and we all welcome your future contributions!

There are a few top weight drivers in Oz! Was it David Magri you were thinking of Walt? Dont think he needed Xmas pudding this year 😂

Clarrie owned Rhodes Rental Cars, way back when, which wouldve been one of the largest fleets, I would say?

Eddie sat in the cart like Eric R lol! The good days of NZ harness racing.

You are correct Blackie. I was just hoping the TAB would suggest that I could have a free bet, although I know that isn’t happening

Wouldnt have thought that giving a horse Saline after a horse had left the course and arrived home was not permitted though?

Clarrie I think had a freelegged pacer, think it was called Free Bet and was pretty fast! Wouldve been faster if it had a lighter driver than Eddie Cowie! 😂

Does show that punters arent too interested in North Island racing anymore. Mot souldve had more turnover as well if they had cellphone and wifi connection!! Cambridge and Auckland figures are depressing reading !

Special Effects came down from Auckland with James Stormont and did show a wee bit down here ! Korbyn Newman will be training from Woodend Beach which would certainly help it!

Lol. I did have a spell Paleface! Thing is Xmas racing is when punters should do well , and this is the case once again! If you are good at something Paleface, it is hard to not participate! No Bookies dont play fair, but I overcome that!

Who trained the winner True Peterson? Was it Clarrie Rhodes, from memory?

With respect, Mot runs sufficient number of meetings each year to deserve internet and phone reception It is not in the Wop Wops, it is only about 15 to 20 mins from Halswell! Methven is more Wop Wops and it has reception. Some of the serious punters want to bet late, On account or phone when the bookies change the odds! There is absolutely no way on earth that anyone can defend this situation in the 21st century! Yes there are issues regarding the hills but seriously if men can land on the moon in tge 1960s then how hard is it to put a tower in the correct place to obtain cell tower reception?? Just undefendable and tragic for harness racing once again

Was wondering why you would be needing an assistant judge? Is it really that taxing that it needs at least two people to decide placings? Surely in this day and age with the photo finish, it is very easy to judge the placings? Wonder how much the assistant judge actually wagered? Lol