jess

HEDLEY!!! Just spotted you on here Squire - a warm welcome to you on a cold winter's night. Three cheers for your esteemed presence. It's always been a pleasure Sir ... ? Jess

Suzie the waitress shouted morning tea for the stable as a farewell gift before she returned to Sth Africa ... musta been some bad juice in it ... ?

Why haven't they Thomarss? The question should be - why would they? Why did he? Why would anyone? ?

Generally more confidence in their industry over there part of it no doubt ...

Anyone know how Lisa C is faring these days?

This is a very interesting point Freda. You might assume as much testing as possible would be undertaken in an effort to have as clean & safe a sport/industry as possible. Most people know - the more effort you put into testing/detecting/investigating - the more you will catch (in the initial stages at least, before the message/consequences hit home). But it could also be a case of be careful what you wish for. I know of a Police officer who was expert at apprehending drink drivers. Nothing sneaky or underhand - all standard stuff - just dedicated to road safety and seemed to have a real knack for catching them. I thought the officer's bosses would be delighted - but in fact there was some talk the officer, by prosecuting all these drivers, was making the campaign to reduce drink driving look ineffective. Soon after the officer was moved to other duties. So I am left wondering as far as drugs in racing - just how effective do they want to be in detecting drug use by the participants - and could they handle the outcome if they went hard-out?? J.

They might be a bit of a disparate bunch but all have (presumably) their licence issued by NZTR so I don't think that needs to be an impediment Boxie. There is an ability to educate via that central role. Yep I get the obvious "attractions" of the drug - the mistake many make is thinking they can use it to aid/control various things (their weight/energy levels/pleasure) - and thattheycan control their use of it. But in many cases it ends up controlling them. People become desperate to feed their addiction. People who will do almost anything to secure the drug. It doesn't take much imagination to understand that this too, represents another whole level of risk in the context of the racing industry and its integrity.

This partiocular drug is one which seems to span all tiers of society. I believe it is significantly represented amongst the racing fraternity to an extent at least equal to or possibly greater than average in the community (and don't be fooled into believing it's just the stablehands and track-riders folks ....) I agree CC - it adds a real and avoidable risk factor to an inherently risky business (incl handling, preparing & riding TBs on a track at speed). There are general arguments as to whether it should be treated criminally or medically (a la - poor things - they're addicted, we must help them). Amid all the hand-wringing I am disappointed there is not more emphasis on educating people - esp our younger ones - on the risks of trying this drug even once. It is highly addictive. People need to understand what they are buying into when they make that first call - it's quite likely they will not be deciding what they do that one day/night - they might be signing on to become a slave to the pipe for years - and all the misery that goes with it. The other fact is that there is not the capacity currently to "treat" all the P-addicted people if they sought or were directed to get help. The RIU must continue their efforts. And hopefully as well as detection they are investing in education as well.

... but I daresay not as tasty should you happen to face-plant into it Hesi ...

Shame. How's Trentham looking?

RC been hvng an excellent run of late. Good on him too. Dunno what his secret is but it's nit the purchase of half million dollar yearlings ... so i find it all the more appealing ?

Haven't looked at the proposal carefully enough Flash ... but the likes of say Te Akau have their fingers in breeding pies so I reckon they'd find a way to gain advantage from it ... and possibly other syndicators too ... As I say - I don't know the details but on the face of it I only see the big fish getting bigger and the small `uns shrinking still further ... Happy to be corrected if someone else has a better understanding ... And as I say - playing devil's advocate - maybe the likes of my participation (breed one or two a year; race progeny etc) is so irrelevant to the industry that it makes no fiscal sense to ease our passage and industry/political efforts are better placed solely to support the big players ...

Tax business announced sounds like it will need refining - to define what it deemed to be a worthy animal ... I can see nothing at all which will directly assist the likes of a small breeder like me - largely breeding to race - unless there is an overall uplift in the industry as a result which I can somehow coat-tail on. I think most likely however it will really only benefit the big players - the major studs, queen street investors and syndicators. The rest of us will continue to pay exorbitant fees for most services (wasn't talking stallion fees but might as well include them as plenty priced well up there) with our only hope an offshore sale or a decent horse and increased stakes. Mind you - maybe we are not really important in terms of industry finanicals - in which case I can see why no-one would seek to support or incentivise our endeavors ...

Nice looking horse IMO. 2018 fee $3K in USA.

Good for you Chief. It'll be interesting to see if you get a response. I think the rule that Curious has helpfully posted reads pretty clearly. But if Mr Pike is mistaken as the reportage suggests - and moreover - if indeed a NZ stipe is confused (and I don't know that this is the case) - surely it is time for an all-points bulletin to be issued to all trainers to clarify. Perhaps they need to use an example of a horse racing on a Saturday and tell the trainers the last minute of which day they can legally administer such a product to their horse. Or maybe they need to spell it out in pictures or cartoon form?? - pictures of a calendar, clock, horse, racetrack, pastes/powders/stomach tube etc .... I find this very interesting indeed ....

Be interested to hear opinions of others about this horse. Highview has rights for him for 3 years I think. Anyone seen him or have any comments?

Funny to hear in the course of today's racing and attendant interviews some significant divergence in what trainer and rider had to say about a horse's chances. Trainer had reportedly cast doubts on the horse coping with the track conditions ... However on returning triumphantly to the bird-cage, the rider indicated he had been reasonably confident as the trainer had told him the rain would help the horse. Horse gets up to win and pays plenty ?

Oh really? Silly me Richard. And I watched the coverage twice too! Better get to specsavers .... ?

Good effort getting the old boy through to a quarter century - esp given he retired from the serving barn 6 years ago ....

Yep - different opinions are all part of the fun and the appeal - but they can still be respectfully expressed - often with humor but without nastiness or derision - or outta control egos! And without moderators playing favorites. So far so good, I reckon. Looking forward to a greater presence in the TB Breeding forum ... we'll get there in time I reckon .... All the best, J

Thanks for posts about the mare Reefton. You mightn't have read the whole thread but i read and enjoyed each of yr posts. I'm with Newmarket. Best, J.

Yep Pete maybe. I do like him and thought he was very attractive at $7K but it brings a whole lot of other horses into the realms of comparison once you're talking the $12K fee - so will be interesting to see how well he is patronised this season. I expect he will prove himself worth the fee but whether it's the right time to almost double it remains to be seen. All the best, J

I wonder if the riders have considered taking some personal responsibility for the safety of themselves, their colleagues and the owners' horses - by undertaking in future not to angle their mounts out so sharply - dictating the paths of others and allowing little chance for them to adjust their course or pace safely ... The head-on coverage was pretty awful ...

Yes it was Flag. And I've seen it before from him. There is a part of him which is intelligent and has incisive wit. Now and again you also see compassion (only where he believes someone strictly deserves it, mind!). Now and again .....? ..........

Haven't followed the hype this time around. While I don't doubt there's been plenty - even if others agree NM that she's one-paced and past her best - I'd be proud as punch if I owned her and would happily install her in my broodmare paddock ... (like us not choosing our relatives - horses don't choose their connections - so I won't hold anything against the mare ?)