The Centaur

Not all bad from the above. Real Class got shut out in the straight and doesn't appear a horse with acceleration. Jockey too cautious or else not a strong rider. If they keep going this prep like to see it in a smaller field with stronger rider. The Aussie's don't seem to rate this horse so somewhere along the line a good divvy in prospect. Textbook looked OK parading but obviously needs longer trip. Worth following as price also should be generous.

Given the selections threads on the other two "sister" forums can't be any worse for results perhaps we can revive the thread here. Sat June 7th Eagle Farm Race 8 REAL CLASS $61 purchased primarily for an Oaks prep originally for NZ Oaks, also skipped Australian Oaks now Queensland Oaks. Well built good sized staying filly. Impressive winner 2000m stakes race Jan1 Ellerslie. Only 3 starts in Aus. Last start went very wide 1st turn in Rough Habit plate won by 80:1 Waller runner. Also track was heavy and not convinced suitable for it. Before that lovely triallist for a 2400m horse in Sydney. Punters often not interested in Waller second stringers hence the price. Realistic price would have to be about 12:1. Trentham Race8 TEXTBOOK $41 has won 4 races at Heavy10. Been working well. Trialled early April when too fat. Leah Hemi obviously sticking with Sotirio but Chris Dell has won on Textbook before. Trentham mud can produce outsize divs so can Chris Dell.

Cambridge has had a few "wet" days. This from 1940

Good point. This group have had plenty opportunity to make an impact with any good ideas they may have had. OK they have been successful in their business but much of the skill has been in employing the right people. Perhaps they can bring onboard that skill but as for new ideas very remote. Look at iconic outfits such as Apple, Google, Facebook etc all those were started basically from garages or bedrooms. The whales of the time like IBM, Xerox, ICL etc although possessing the assets like technology and knowledge failed grasp the opportunities. Even Microsoft once fully established was slow grasping the future of the internet and gave startups an opening. Good ideas can come from anywhere but I feel they have already been drained from this group.

When Belardo won the Dewhurst Stakes as a 2yo in 2014 it came as a major turn around in form attributed to the soft nature of the track. Quoted at the time Belardo had been twice beaten in Group races before his Dewhurst win which was on much softer ground than most of his rivals had experienced,” Roger Varian said. As a stallion even in the UK he is regarded as a soft ground specialist. So here is a list of Belardo runners for the weekend. With some of them striking heavy track after a long period of firm tracks so will be interesting if there are some good winning dividends. Some have already bolted thru the stable door. Te Rapa Race 1 Gina Rosa Race 3 Justice Race 4 Bradley Race 5 Blondie Race 5 Oppenheimer Race 6 Whiskey 'N Roses Race 8 Barcelona Race 8 Proudtobehere Wanganui Race 4 Blondie Race 5 Farravallo Race 5 Hokitika Bell Race 7 Belardo Boy Race 8 Ragamuffin Wingatui Race 3 Chase 'N' Gold Race 5 Nobellem Race 6 Night Raider Race 6 Quartz Queen Race 7 Miss Belle Race 7 Quartz Queen Te Aroha Race 4 Caitlyns Wish Race 5 Heza Warrior Race 7 Chasing Warrior Race 7 Florenza Race 9 I'm Lulu Race 9 Lerado

Thats a silly response Chief. Below snippet from an American publication... “I do know for a fact that when you fall on it, it’s a lot harder on you,” said jockey Richard Migliore said to Billy Finnly in a 2010 article for Thoroughbred Daily News. “It seems like when you fall on dirt or turf, you hit and then bounce and roll. It kind of disperses the energy a little bit. I fell on this track [at Santa Anita] about a year ago, and I got planted. I didn’t get hurt, but I was sore for a month. You see more blunt force kind of trauma. There have been some catastrophic injuries with riders, as we know, though I don’t know if it would have been different on dirt. Jockeys are definitely starting to wonder. There’s no doubt about that.” There were also issues with how quickly these surface deteriorated, namely in California, when at one point, the issues got so bad that the track couldn’t drain properly. ****************** Now its not the job of jockeys maintaining the tracks but by logic their input is of prime importance.

Interesting article. The key to in store betting is the creation of a temporary account being an extension of the deposit slip. That way the customer comes in and funds temp account by cash or direct transfer from bank as an oncer. To make bet customer scans temp slip and straight away starts betting as if normal TAB account. Along the way various aids e.g. qrcodes can be used and bonuses from the actual venue for such things as meal or drink credits. At the end of betting the balance is transferred back to bank a/c or paid out at the venue in cash. TAB should not go overboard with ID verification as there is sufficient ID fallbacks such as phone, CCTV etc for security. It's got to the point that ID is a huge dissuader to TAB participation.

"Coordinated" ...well I don't see mention or requirement of jockeys input. Afterall it's them who take the tumble on the surface.

Condolences to the whole Southland racing community. Judging by Jamie's Southland Thoro website on facebook community was what Jamie was fostering. Hope it can be continued.

Looks like Final Orders must have broken down before getting to Australia. Some great reads on the calameo.com web site. I suggest everyone bookmark the site. For Syd Brown article go to page 34 of https://www.calameo.com/read/000373495c30f2eb30895 From ThePress below

H'mm looks right as I'm looking at the photo and I'm only on coffee. Now one of the interesting horses of the Brown/Skelton combo was Final Orders. Came to Hawera around 1967 for first start kept quiet in training but smashed on the tote by a few in the know. Magnificent chestnut who won his first 4 starts but I can't remember what happened after. The racetrack probably Awapuni but maybe Masterton. Can't figure it out.

Sad but not unexpected Syd Brown passing at 99. Also a passing of a great era in racing. https://loveracing.nz/News/49352/ValeSydBrown.aspx However I'm intrigued with the Loveracing photo. Where is it? Whose colours is Bill Skelton wearing. What horse has just run? Now the jockey board being positioned to the right of the winning post adds to the puzzle. Any takers.

According to Craig Rail Jamie in hospital and it sounds quite serious. The end of the season racing awards have media and journalist categories. Jamie Searle deserves journalist of year award. Its all much easier if one is employed by say NZTR, TAB or leading industry outfits but Jamie launched the Southern Thoroughbreds facebook site on his own giving a complete range of industry activity in the deep south. Plus some great tips. Its a formula that should be repeated in other areas Anyway best wishes here's hoping there is recovery.

Strangely I'll say no. Take for instance Stratford. Jan 1st would seem an excellent day for a community fun fair with large screen for racing & betting elsewhere and businesses getting behind it. Plenty horse related events could be held without the need for racing on the course. e.g. parade of local thoroughbreds & harness, show jumping pony rides etc.etc.

So you are saying clubs like Auckland shouldn't have a function centre used by hundreds of organisations nor lease space for a golf course and clubs shouldn't use their facilities for markets, concerts, sports etc. etc. NewPlymouth is an interesting case where the local council is intensifying the community use of racing assets.