Ashoka

hesi, How dare you put up this version? There is only one "right and correct" singer of this song and you know it...you old Pony you! Please correct your abomination at your earliest convenience. Thank you. That is all. Ashoka

Great Horses... I don't recall Kingston Town being given special barrier privileges on any occasion. Perhaps, when "the accurate one" states in a Cox Plate commentary "...Winx can't win", and she does, then...what...can't happen? Well, I guess we'll never know whatever it is that this discussion is about. All the best. Ashoka

barryb, You are revealing who you really are. Please keep going. Thank you. Ashoka

Poisoned Dwarf, You are aware from a previous thread that I post under my real name. You are clearly a deviant by nature and deed. Please seek psychiatric help.

The above is what appeared in your posting. Please note the use of the word "some", which changes the meaning of the sentence from what you have stated. The fact that Mr Higgins showed "little remorse" is evident from reading his own words, as previously pointed out in this thread. You initiated the phrase "horse thrasher" in this thread and I have continued its use as it is an accurate description of what Mr Higgins did on this occasion. I am deeply concerned that an animal that provides me with pleasure and excitement, and is also a sentient being in its own right, can be treated in the manner displayed by this rider on this occasion without the rider acknowledging that he has transgressed. Ashoka

Poisoned Dwarf, Thank you for your explanation. You are telling me to put up with being racially vilified and viciously libelled. I have put up with a lot of such conduct, growing up in New Zealand as a member of an ethnic minority. Where I draw the line as to what I will or will not tolerate is entirely my business, so, please, just go away and mind your own business. Thank you. Ashoka

barryb, You are ignorant because what you stated was clearly not accurate based on the actual facts, and you are arrogant when you state "case closed" based on your own opinion. Ashoka

Poisoned Dwarf, Please change your name to "Mentally Retarded Dwarf" in order to be even more accurate in your self-description. Ashoka

barryb, The poster "Weasel" has, above, succinctly summed up what my post demonstrated. Mr HIggins is being called a "horse thrasher" because he thrashed a horse. Whether he has done this before is irrelevant to the matter at hand, at this stage. "Thomass" averred that the jockey had shown no remorse. The accuracy of that statement is eloquently evidenced in the words of the jockey himself. Your arrogant, ignorant post does you no credit. Ashoka

barryb, “I’m absolutely gutted, I can’t believe it,” Higgins told www.theinformant.co.nz tonight. “I should be out celebrating with everyone else, but that’s the last thing I feel like doing. “Amanda and I are back at our motel and me, I have to admit all I can do is feel sorry for myself. “Once I’ve ridden at Te Aroha on Wednesday that will be it for the rest of the year. That will mean missing the Great Northern meeting, Pakuranga, National Jumps Day – whatever’s left of the season. “It’s very hard to take, from celebrating my biggest win and thinking what it means for my career, then to be hit with this. “I’ve put heart and soul into making a go of it over the past couple of years. It’s not easy based down in Invercargill and being the only committed jumps jockey in the whole of the South Island. “But I’ve really pushed myself, I’ve travelled where ever I’ve had to and felt like I was making a contribution. The way I feel right now though, I’m wondering why I bothered.” The above is taken from the Informant article available on this website and clearly backs up what "Thomass" has said. I both admire and appreciate the dedication and ability displayed by Mr Higgins but sincerely hope that someone this jockey trusts has a quiet word to him about both his whip action and his attitude towards the welfare of his mounts. All the best. Ashoka

Poisoned Dwarf, I don't understand the meaning of your post and sincerely doubt that you do. Please refrain from involving me in your meaningless drivel. Thank you. Ashoka

Flagship uberalles, The simple fact is that I use my real identity. Your comment on this represents an attempt to discredit the points that I have made and are meaningless. I haven't let the comments of the bigot and liar affect my view of anyone but the bigot and liar who made them, as indicated by my continuing full participation in this excellent website. I am not dragging anyone else into this discussion and I hope that you take the same attitude. All the best. Ashoka

Chief Stipe, You have not addressed the issue that I have raised. You maintained the right not to provide the details you had to me, even though you recognised that the posting was offensive. As I said to you, I had no objection to you leaving the post up. My sole aim was, and is, to identify the bigot and liar who is able to publicly post his or her bigotry and lies while being protected by the anonymity you provide. I realise that there are many facets to the situation here, one of which is the right to know who one's accuser is. You denied me that right. No amount of "high road" posturing on your part can alter that fact. When you say "BOAY will respect the right of any individual to remain anonymous and will respect their right to privacy", you are, in fact, telling any prospective bigot and liar that they are safe to practice their despicable activity on your website. There are measures that you could take that would alleviate the situation, but you choose not to take them. So be it. Regards. Ashoka

wally, It has affected me. I have been racially vilified and libelled by an anonymous poster on this website. I realise that people have legitimate reasons for not posting under their real name and am always curious as to what those reasons might be. The price of liberty is said to be "eternal vigilance". If people are reluctant to post under their real identity, then that concerns me I want to live in an open and democratic nation in which, unless they are criminals, people are unafraid to state their honest beliefs and be responsible for what they say and do. It is not the actual abuse that concerns me here. It is the abuse of the gift of anonymity that is the issue for me. It is one thing for a website owner to take the seemingly "high road" and state that they will protect the identity of the posters on their website. It is quite another when doing so protects a bigot and liar from being held accountable for their bigotry and lies. A fundamental principle of English justice is the right to know one's accuser. That is not the case here. Cheers. Ashoka

Newmarket, You say that Scooby3051 is "too gutless" to sign up under their own name. You haven't either. What is your reason? Please advise. All the best. Ashoka

curious, Nor do I. This anomalous situation is a direct result of this, and any other, debate on the subject of Lasix use in the equine industries. Actually, I was trying to make a joke and, as usual, fell flat on my face. I forgot to quote your personal remark regarding lasix use. All the best. Ashoka

curious, Are you putting that forward as a positive or a negative? Please advise. Thank you. Ashoka

Gavin, Thank you for your postings in regard to Robalan. I really enjoyed watching his Cup win again, and hearing the names of horses I used to follow again, two of these being Fab and Lightsey. All the best. Ashoka

How can a discussion such as this (excellent though it is) have gotten this far without somebody mentioning Robalan? Young people of today...memory spans of a knat... That is all. Ashoka

The Dead Kennedys reckoned they fought "De Lore" and they won. Who can you believe these days? Cheers. Ashoka

Andrew Neal and his wife, Lyn nee Bebbington (daughter of trainer Frank Bebbington) started out in the this region before relocating North. Max Miller had two outstanding juvenile trotters many years ago, Black Miller and Hocquard. Black Miller was killed by lightning striking the jogging pole while he was being worked, while Hocquard ended up racing in top free-for-all events in the United States as a pacer. Nobody knows where good, top and great horses are going to come from. They just arrive, which is what makes our sport and industry what it is. The journey from pauper to a king is always just one horse away. If you don't understand this, then find something else to do and just leave the rest of us alone. We don't need you and we don't want you. Hope springs eternal. That sums up the human species in a nutshell. All the best. Ashoka

Justify has, hitherto, done everything he has been required to do, and he has done it with aplomb. He showed, in the first two legs of his Triple Crown, that he is a street-fighting horse of singular ability, remarkably so given his lack of racing experience. He showed, in the Belmont Stakes, that he is in a class of his own. We witnessed, in this race, a masterclass delivered by both horse and rider. Both showed that they are, indeed, the masters of their chosen domain. Those who seek to diminish what Justify showed us on Sunday (our time) are simply chasing shadows. The time of the race is irrelevant in the given circumstances. Justify controlled the race from the front, his cruising speed eliminating most of his opposition well before the run home. Vinno Rossi, trained by Mr Baffert's great rival, Mr Pletcher, and Hofburg came to challenge, but could not sustain their efforts. Gronkowski got closest in the finish, but was never going to get to Justify's hindquarters. Justify won the Preakness without having to be ridden out fully. He coasted home in the Belmont. He has won all of his six starts. What more is he supposed to have done? Secretariat was an imposing physical specimen, perhaps the best-built racehorse of all time. Justify is also an imposing physical specimen. I am unaware of any detected faults in his conformation. We could be witnessing the career of the best racehorse to grace a racetrack since the immortal Secretariat. Only time will tell. I have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated watching Justify win his last three races. I am really looking forward to experiencing the rest of his racing career. We all have our favourites. Justify has become one of mine. Cheers. Ashoka

Precocious...his best trotter? A legend in his own lifetime. Sad to hear of his passing. Regards. Ashoka

Reefton, I understand and empathise with your expressed attitude towards the "good fight". I also know that, while it may become dispiriting at times, you will not cease to fight it. Nor will I, and, I am sure, nor will others who frequent this website. You are not alone and never will be. The seeming arguments that arise between like-minded souls are, in reality, merely quibbles and will be seen as such in the fullness of time. All the best. Ashoka

Rowley Mile, I admire your scientific approach to horse racing analysis. My opinions are based on hunches, omens, entrails and wishful thinking. C'est la vie...! Ashoka