jess

Yes Curious! - that one grinds my gears! And for good measure:- a few more of my personal favorites: "moving forward" (someone trying to sound progressive when they most likely are rooted to the spot & full of 💩) "aspirational goal" - (pie in the sky - impossible dream. Sometimes seen hanging out with its equally irritating cousins "blue sky thinking" and "thinking outside the box") "but what I CAN tell you is ...." - (the way to start an answer when one totally ignores the tricky question that's been asked but one has been directed to deliver the speech prepared by your Comms staff member - no matter what's been asked ) "standing up" - as in a system, process or infrastructure (seems we've retired the work "established") "at this particular point in time" (previously known as "now") "socialise the concept" (= serve up some 💩 & give the ppl some time to suck it up) "consultation" - (see above - very similar but also giving the (false) impression the people can stop the 💩 being served up)

Good lord! That's unreal! Not sure the hapless riderless victim didn't get galloped on either - seemed to falter and drop back at one stage. Geez if my horse got hurt by some idiot cowboy performance like that I'd be pretty dark ... Thanks for posting SLB2.0

Oh Centaur - you mythical beast. What have you done! ..... when I open the message and play the NZTR video some day hence - I'll know who planted THAT seed ....😜

Bloody hell I know right? The little catch-phrases they kept repeating - the cheer-leading corporate speak propaganda. As soon as people start talking about ruddy "journeys" they lose me. Unless it involves a passport & a very big aircraft - don't give me bloody journeys, people .....

Yes Chief - this is what I wondered. If it was all on NZB - then it's harder to argue (so long as it's additional to NZTR's contribution). But for the likes of an owner-breeder like me - who doesn't go near Karaka with my home-breds - it just feels like another tightening of the screws as I continue to be squeezed out of the industry/sport I've loved. The game is increasingly expensive to the point it's prohibitive. And the whole enterprise is increasingly dominated by, and incentivised for the big players. This is just another example. I'm now trying the last of my horses. Must admit - feeling less optimistic and more like a mug. I will see it through - they will either succeed or be found good homes as sport horses. If a filly is worth breeding from - someone else can carry on with her. Because when this lot is done - I'm out. You win, fat cats! - NZB - the mega studs - the big syndicators. I don't expect any sympathy - it's a first world problem after all ! But I still feel a bit sad about it - and sad for the history of NZ racing - all the farmers I know whose grandfathers - fathers/mothers - and then themselves - had a mare or two and raced the progeny on their own account or with friends. Our time has come and gone, and I doubt we'll be missed by the those who run the show now. Best of luck to those of you who stick around. Jess

Yes - generally the ponies don't want to hurt us but if I ever saw potential for humans being collateral damage - it's the starting gates opening and 6-7 horses either side galloping off when the middle horse has a human trapped in front of it. Probably just a good thing in this last case that the horse still had the blindfold on - stood still. Assistant unscathed. Dumbfounded by the stewards' report. Gates not directed to open by the starter. if that's the truth - how come there isn't SERIOUS concern? Apparently we seem to have no idea why/how this happened - or presumably when it will next happen? If that's the case - every time an assistant is in with a horse - potentially the gates are going to open and he's going to get smashed! The report may have got one individual off the hook - but I can't see how this is a lot of comfort or the end of the story ....occupational health and safety anyone?

Ahhhh! Really? And so that makes it therefore believable? Are you at au fait with how a Group 1 runner's prep might go? Have you seen dairy cow pasture? Have you seen dairy cow fencing? Have you seen ....? Oh - never mind. There's none so blind as those who will not see ...

Is that you Leo? Sorry ... just something about the turn of phrase and tone .... 😜

Note for Freda - thank you for the warmth of your welcome upon my return. I'm always looking out for your runners when I'm following fields or results. And I wish you well. This forum's value relies largely on posts from the likes of you. Intelligent - reasoned - fair-minded - and credible on account of your experience and expertise. Oh and a sense of humor as well. Not trying to talk you up here - just the way I see it. I'm sure we all have posters where we spot their moniker and decide that post will be worth a read - or conversely - that post will just be ill-informed vitriol I might not bother with. Great to see you still here gracing the forum! J,

I don't care to engage in an argument or a slanging match with you Chief. We're each entitled to our opinions (although I imagine you're more entitled than many of the rest of us). And I'm mindful of where this forum's predecessor went wrong in the first place. An egotistical and objectionable "chief" who wielded his power over the forum by shouting down every opinion that didn't concur with his own, abusing & belittling the poster and playing favorites. But if you want an example - you could always start with a judiciary who "bought" a defence/mitigation that their derby horse was living on a dairy farm with the cows right before the big race thus inadvertently drinking cobalt-supplemented water. I wonder with your recent tours of top establishments - did you have to venture out in the range rover to visit the Friesians and Jersey cows in order to view the elite runners in the late stages of their preps for the upcoming Group 1 assignments ....

Ha! I haven't been round these parts for a fair while ... dropped by last night ....didn't take long for me to attract opprobrium from the Chief Stipe ... or should I say "Grand Master" ... there's a lot of re-branding in this day n age and BOAY no exception, it seems. You're dreaming Jonesy. It's one of the issues NZ racing has. Top heavy with big players - in the breeding - the racing - the buying/syndicating - and the training. If you think it's a level playing field and people are treated equally - I'm surprised at your naivety. I think as far as some "leaders" are concerned - some players are "too big to fail". Whereas the bottom feeders are less well positioned to fight their corner, easier pickings & essentially expendable. If this is not the world you live in - then enjoy your utopia. And make sure you close your eyes before you take off the rose tinted glasses each night before bed. Sir. Grand Master. Chief. Kind regards Jess

Freda - greetings to you. I respect your knowledge and experience - both greater than mine when it comes to horse racing. So tell me - would it really not have been possible until after 2 races had been run (and the destruction of one horse - no idea whether that was related to the "inconsistencies" in the track however) - to tell that the track was not safe to race on that day? Would a track manager and any others involved at the venue have no way of knowing prior that there were issues? Do they just rock up on race day not really knowing what the track is like - assume all is well & hope for the best? (known round my place as a "suck it & see" approach 😜) Or would there more likely be a inkling of trouble afoot (no pun intended) - but keep it on the down-low, fingers crossed for clement weather, good luck & we all get through ok? Also interesting to know how the rate of these mid-meeting cancellations compares with other venues around the world running on turf ....

Well I'll certainly miss his calls. IMO a very good commentator and the nicest quality voice of them all. Pretty easy to listen to. Wry humor - and appeared to have a genuine affection for the horses. Shame I won't hear you call another one of mine T Lee - but tbh, I won't be far behind you as you exit stage left. Too tough for small owner breeders like me now. I bow to the might of the dominant big studs and syndicators and ticket clippers and trough-feeders. I'll see through the last handful of ponies I have and then leave you all to it. Kind wishes to those little people who stick around - I'll certainly cheer you on against increasingly tough odds - and raise a glass when you manage to pull it off. J.

Sorry - I must be a bit dim. I read the original post - and wondered if someone would be kind enough to translate the meaning of this for me please: "The MJC's apparent reasons for this were due to their operational difficulties and the inability of horse racing activities to meet the current development needs of society".

If the jungle drums beating in my neck of the woods are correct and they've got the rumored trainer right - there'll be a defence advanced and no matter the likely plausibility - I predict it will be swallowed greedily and without question by the powers that be. With narry a burp or slightest hint of indigestion to follow. Nothing to see here folks (but best not try your luck some of you little no-names battlers training a couple from your back paddock - I don't fancy your chances). Happy new year one and all - may your horses be swift & the luck of the Irish be with you. Kind regards, Jess

Long time since I passed by this way. Firstly - like all of us here I was immensely saddened to read of this tragedy. Sincere condolences and love to Taiki's family. As I recall from previous times here at BOAY - Freda is the voice of reason & commonsense - with intelligence and experience in the industry that always lends real credibility to her posts. Respect. Chief - go easy - I know this is an awful thing that's happened but I do think people are being respectful here - and largely constructive too, when speaking of racing, safety and related matters. I didn't hear David Ellis speak - but the one thing that gave me pause for thought was why he was the one approached when so many others would have been better placed to speak to this. It seems he has shown by his own utterances, however intentioned, that he was a poor choice to speak on the matter. Perhaps he would have been better when approached to have offered his sympathy (which I'm sure is genuine) & then to defer to someone who could speak more eruditely on this. Fly high Taiki - may all your steeds be fast & true. You felt the wind on your face & you've known the grace & speed of the thoroughbred. Your final salute to the judge came way too soon. Jess

No-one's putting their hand up to administering P/meth to their animals. So there is a lot of talk about how a horse can "inadvertently" return a positive to meth - mostly supposition/speculation. Like whether it can be picked up (absorbed through the skin, feet or by inhalation) in a box where a meth-user has pee'd in the corner - or from casual contact with an owner who's used P? We really don't know for sure. And in the ensuing investigation - how much do negative tests on the people associated to the horse mean? If these are urine tests undertaken some time later - possibly not much, as P is so rapidly metabolized/excreted). And we might never know about these various theories producing positive swabs in horses - I mean imagine designing a trial to test these (& other) theories - good luck getting that past an ethics committee! It’s all got me wondering though. If there was an individual who was a meth addict & who worked with horses in several capacities (short of race-day riding) – would this be a concern? Would it be any more of a concern if that person frequented a racing complex? Would (– or should!) this situation attract attention/action from the authorities? Not sure how many of you can think of someone you know, in your areas, who could fit this description – or partly fit the description. But if you can – how come it’s allowed to continue? Besides those pesky positive race-day swabs – competent & focused investigations could yield benefits and enable risks to be mitigated. What comes to mind is enhancing safety & integrity - & reducing exposure of young industry participants to drugs. Who knows – it could also bring change & support to the hypothetical individual/s to get themselves clean & sorted? God knows there are enough people hell-bent on shooting our industry down - why would we hand them the gun & the bullets? – because that’s what we seem to be doing currently. No use being those 3 monkeys with their hands over their ears, eyes & mouth - that won't make it go away. IMO there needs to be a more serious commitment to cleaning up our act. Detecting & dealing with drug users in the industry will bring short term bad press – but allowing it to continue could wreak long term havoc – to horse, human and the viability of racing. So what will we choose? J.

So I went through our hay paddocks after they were cut this year - picking out the weeds before it was baled. Thought at the time I was picking out docks & the odd scotchy ... now I realise it was probably poppy plants! Growing wild and free with their nasty opioid ways in my hay paddocks! Well bugger me! Who knew?! So thanks for your help Chief - I'll pay more attention next time. And then there's the matter of how I feed it out. I will change my ways and will follow the example of the exalted and in future, will carefully allocate individual supplies of forage to individual horses. You see I have this weird habit of opening a bale and feeding it to everything until it's time to open the next bale. Which could have resulted in positive swabs for morphine for the entire tribe had they been lining up at the races! Ouch! Really appreciate the heads up ....always something to learn in this game .... Cheers, J

No argument this was an idiot. Interesting though to hear the Police Summary of Facts which outlined his (idiot, drunken, disorderly) behavior in a very public area of the course before he decided to jump fences and go onto the track .... where were those members of the security staff hired for the day ... or the racecourse officials - or any other capable guardian in the vicinity? Don't get me wrong - this is one person's fault - and theirs alone. Just a shame no-one saw fit to intervene prior to the ultimate act ... Jess

Give me a flippin' break. Morphine contaminated hay? And morphine contaminated hay that no-one bothers to test before it's thrown to the cows? But then again - some ppl believed that tale spun about derby ponies hanging with the herd & swigging on da cobalt enriched H2O ... Some are not so green as cabbage looking ... or whatever that ole saying was ..... And here's another that may apply here - there's none so blind as those who will not see ... Greetings & kind regards one & all. J

Very good & well respected vet, Bill Stewart. And I believe his dad before him. There's some great technology about these days but I admire the likes of these guys who achieved so much with so little (as far as technical aids, I mean).

Spot on Freda. "doin' it all day, Ref". That "reinforcing the service" is AI by any other name. And those stud masters smugly chalking up 170 odd mares to their expensive horse are dancing on the head of a pin when they describe their practice.

Apologies - I posted that before I read the whole thread. My father used to tell us kids - "fools and bairns should never see a job half done". Clearly I didn't listen. And sadly I am no longer a bairn. Only leaves one option I guess .... 😜

Dr Bill Stewart by any chance MN?

You're right Huey. LL stable did go through a real soft patch - someone told me 100 starters without a winner but I have not researched that to check the accuracy. Anyway - I think the ship's been righted & having success again now - just as I'd expect of her. Again - I'd say some significant & various changes in that stable too - might have been some adjustments & accommodations to settle back into the rhythm. Also - for a long time she's had big numbers (& a diverse lot of horses of various abilities) - strike rate is not typically the stat she stars by - but nonetheless - she's won most races worth winning in NZ & I would never underestimate her ability.