Horace

Hey Yankiwi....without naming names...just want to clarify something. Are we talking an outfit with 3 letters...? riu/jca...or someone else.

Yes it is. With the conjecture over ' The Hill' and endless discussions about their track, will they ever get a Strathayr etc etc the Board at ARC are displaying an arrogance which has unfortunately pervaded the club for years and years. How about just coming out and making a statement? Why does the racing industry put up with this secrecy and gossip when the situation could easily be clarified? Ellerslie needs people a lot more than people need ellerslie right now. Racing is in the doldrums and I believe its the mentality being displayed by clubs like ARC which is turning people off the game..big time. And yes, I'm sure that what gets written here and on the other racing cafes gets back to clubs such as ARC. They just think they know better. Well, the cock ups at Ellerslie over the last few years show that they don't know better. After being too precious to have horses trained within the course precinct etc its almost like they don't really want to be a racing club..just a money making enterprise. If thats the case....say so. Open bars 24/7, if thats what you want.🤑

You could not make this shit up! Several years ago a horse ( Blizzard?) fell into a hole in the back straight.... Last year a guy playing golf wandered onto the track looking for his ball...in the face of a field of horses coming at him.. It seems the committee at ellerslie are going to shoot themselves in the foot by selling off a world famous part of their track ( the Hill) Today a couple of drongoes who work for ellerslie forgot its a raceday and have a siesta on the track in front of a field of 2 year olds.. I think a travelling circus should set up a permanant act at ellerslie..sure aint any shortage of clowns!

Well to be quite frank...or bill or peter....these arrogant pricks deserve whats about to come!

Has it got anything to do with people involved in syndicates racing greyhounds who....shouldn't be given their connection to a certain part of the industry?

Harness racing in the North Island is in its death throes already. Pretty much 3 tracks raced on ( Auckland, Cambridge, P North )..this should be a warning to NZTR, especially since it looks like greyhound racing might get the chop! ( Do nztr think the people who bet on the hounds will suddenly start betting on TB'S?) Unfortunately jumping races are on the way out also. If its true that the ARC are going to flick off 'the Hill' then thats the end of jumps at Ellerslie-only leaves Te Rapa as an option in the North of the country. Clearly NZTR see these synthetic tracks as their 'saviour'. Wait for an announcement when races start being held on them...' No. 1 horse will carry red colours...No.2 horse will carry blue colours...' just like the doggies. And the racing will be just as interesting too. So yes Freda, us old fogies just have to accept the new regime, and the future looks grim indeed!

Hughes has got away with doing nothing for years. She somehow got herself on the old Racing board...did nothing...why the Greyhound Industry wanted her to have anything to do with their industry is beyond me. but thats indicative of the whole racing industry in this country. When Hughes was 'appointed' a couple of years ago there was an opportunity for her to say...' this industry is on the way to being fucked. What MUST I do to save it?. So, what did she do? I hope for the 90% involved in greyhound racing in NZ that it survives..but this 'enquiry' seems to me a typical govt ploy. i.e...' we know the outcome..just go through the motions so we can say we held an enquiry nd the result is-no more greyhound racing in NZ'

Did you happen to see one of the bleeding heart greenies on TV3 news tonight? She said there were 7 countries in the World where dogs race ( not sure if thats correct )..she then said that there were going to be 6 after it was banned here in NZ. Thats your problem Greyhound Industry. If you were one of the suckers who voted labour back in in the last election...do you still think it was a good idea? labour don't need the greens..at the moment..but if you think deals aren't already being done ahead of the next election your'e kidding yourself.

The injuries/deaths in races are only part of the issue. I understand that stories abound about greyhound bitches having multiple litters, and 'breeders' selecting one or two of the best looking dogs and killing the rest; live baiting;drugging race dogs etc etc. This 'enquiry' is NOT going to be pretty. And of course greyhound people will point at the horse industry and say 'what about them'...

If the Chief is correct then you doggie folk can lay the blame directly o Glenda Hughes imho. The chickens are coming home to roost, and it's because people like Hughes ( and George and others) get themselves appointed to Boards, as CEO's etc and apart from taking the cash...do feck all. The carnage around the greyhound industry has been the 'elephant' in the room for a number of years. The NZ greyhound industry didn't react when NSW closed down greyhound racing a few years ago ( since re-commenced). Hughes has had the opportunity to take DECISIVE action but hasn't. Watch out...TB's / Harness are next on the Greens list.

8 Sold at the Inglis sale @ average of $398,000. Top price $800,000. Every chance one of these will be a champion. He is by Danehill, surely a sensational stallion and a huge influence on Southern Hemisphere breeding and racing. Stallions like Snitzel ( very hot at the sales), Fastnet Rock, Not A Single Doubt, Exceed & Excel, to name a few either by Danehill or one of his sire sons.. When you look at the results of the Easter Yearling Sale which finished yesterday, you realise just how strong the industry is in Aussie. Amazing prices, or am I just an old geezer who still ogles houses getting a million plus😁 Don't think so, racing is flying in NSW and Victoria especially, and their seems to be so many new names listed as buyers at the sales. Top price $2.5million, a number of others $1m plus...

Fair call.🐇

If it is that simple, Cameron... Why hasn't it been done before, and Just. Fucking.Do.It. don't tell us how its going to be, heard it all before.

Cameron George...Australian....ex real estate agent....kicked out of riu after very dodgy carrying on....now this? Can NZ racing get any worse?

I got robbed of a very healthy trifecta at ellerslie once...still don't believe the photo😆

Spot on mate. I can recall going into that pub for a quick beer a number times before this murder took place. Hope the bastards die in prison..however no doubt the lawyers and QC's will want to keep the gravy train ticking over so as soon as they're sentenced ( has to be life ) wait for the appeals..and on and on...$$$$$$

'Limited' in number, severity, strength used...I thought that would be self-explanatory. However if I have to spell it out..again..' limited use' is a transition step between the present bash at all costs, and no whips. But if you guys want to carry on with the status quo then go for it. When the industry finally sees the light and takes some serious measures to combat/stop whip use... don't ask ' what the feck happenned'?

Of course you're correct Thomas. I'm astounded to think that anyone who posts here believes that a horse won't feel pain after being thrashed to the extent that weals are so obvious. It's arrant nonsense to say so. What do these people think would happen if someone walking a dog on a lead suddenly pulled out a 'weapon'..i.e. whip...and thrashed the dog in public view? Because it misbehaved.. How long would they last as animal owners and would they face consequences? ..or children who misbehaved? And so why don't horses have the same protection? Just because they are 'expected' to perform to the 'owners' satisfaction..does that give anyone the authority to belt them and cause weals and draw blood? Yes, I've seen blood on horses after races, and only caused by whips. To take the matter further, if these apologists for horsepeople feel that it's ok to thrash horses and cause pain during and after races..why stop there? Why not use metal whips? Sharpened spurs? Jiggers? could this be justified on the basis that ' we want to get the best out of the horse'? don't think so. I've stated before there is a place for very limited whip useage in racing-but not to the extent that it harms horses. It would be limited to a short number of strikes throughout a race-its up to the rider to determine when to use it. And transgressors must be protested against if they fill a dividend bearing position..lets see how often that rule would be used if it came in? Bugger all in my opinion. Start taking races off connections and they'll soon sort out the rider they want on their horse/s. And Opie..? I'm surprised that a rider of such quality needs to do this to horses. If there were no whips in races and horses won due to the riders capability and horsemanship...Opie would still be Numero Uno in my book.

Awww shucks Chief, whydya have to go and spoil a good chat with this type of shite? ( Is that what you think?)

Au contraire Chief! I bow to your all encompassing knowledge. I AM all for transparency, and another question for you or whoever knows the answer....since you say there is no ' threshhold' when it comes to positive results for prohibited substances..then I would have to assume its a ' fait accompli' when a swab comes back -positive'? i.e. all positives result in charges by the r.i.u. Is that correct?

All in good time Chief.

So you're part way there. Prohibited substances that show up in swabs, where there are threshholds...do/should the r.i.u. be told? And what should they do if thats the case...should those in charge of the horses concerned be alerted? Or if they're aready ' on the radar' what then. Seems to me that there are a number of issues in the pipeline and when mentioned comments like 'oh yeah we knew about that' etc are made. Or in the alternative connections claim absolute ignorance, say ' must have been contamination' when thats not the case if the feds are aware of near misses.

A serious question in that if you don't know the actual answer...don't guess😍 When horses are swabbed after races and the result comes back 'negative'...but...the analysts do find traces of prohibited substances ( lets say..morphine for example ) do the r.i.u. get informed? Even though the threshholds haven't been breached.?

Mostly its an acknowledgement that fewer and fewer people can be bothered going to the races...trots or gallops. Apart from a few days/nights, easier to stay home and watch trackside. Unfortunate but true. And the t.a.b. know this. As a matter of fact why bother having 'night trots' at all? Really, especially if the harness meeting doesn't clash with a gallop meeting, why have them at night? Would trainers etc be just as happy to be at home instead of at work..especially in the winter. Why the hell would they persist in having trot meetings that go until 10.30-11pm?