jess

The sudden departure sans explanation raised an eyebrow around the place for sure - serious ill-health or wrong-doing are the reasons I've seen in the past for the rapid, unheralded exit from these sorts of positions. What I have heard since, I can't repeat here at this stage. Hopefully it's not true - and if it's not - and I posted it here - it would be a low blow to repeat a rumor of that nature. Here's hoping I am poorly informed. J

This sort of thing and the blatant team driving I've seen in harness has put me off betting at the trots. Only times I bet nowadays is if I'm on-course or have connections to a runner. Now don't get me wrong - the TAB won't miss me! - I am a very modest punter & spend my hard-earned more on breeding & racing my own (TBs). But I can't see any of this enhances turnover when you add these sorts of things to what you are up against every time you have a bet .... J.

Karrots - if you mean to sack the starter I personally wouldn't be comfortable to participate in something like that (but maybe I've misunderstood your post - apologies if so). This is about more than just that one employee IMO. What instructions is he working to - what support/education has he had in the past when found wanting - and how do the stipes and officials actually expect/direct these starts to be undertaken? And if I'm really going to cover all bases - what are the agendas for the various parties and is it a coincidence which runners got a huge advantage out of what some people just see as simple folly by one man. Even before we go down any conspiracy trails - I think the picture is a little bigger than the title of this thread suggests .... J.

Don't want to unload on anyone (or launch any conspiracy theories) but to my way of thinking that start was just so downright unfair. They shouldn't have a pacing race with a standing start if that shambles is the best they can do. Would expect the drivers to have been briefed before the race so they were clear on the terms for the start. And the starter & officials to be on the same page as well. I have noticed in standing start trots, some get the walk-up treatment - this was even worse! The blue runners on the outside were well into pacing (at a good rate too) when they hit the line - poor old Ray Green's horse was standing still - good manners both driver & horse - for what good it did them! And then Mr Purdon had the temerity to wahh on about how the horse wasn't reliable off a stand & he was so pleased he brought his A game today & went away etc - FFS - because it wasn't a bloody standing start for the horse - so he didn't need the manners! The commentator/comments ppl too were disingenuous - talking about everything but the elephant in the room - which was the horrendously biased start! This was the equivalent of a gallops race where the outside 3 gates opened 2 seconds before the rest of the field! I didn't have a bet so not talking out of my pocket - just feel sorry for the connections of the rest of those horses in the big race. Looked unfair & unprofessional. Yet the trackside coverage that I saw seemed ok with it as they blatantly ignored it! (or perhaps they too scared to offer an opinion/state the obvious in certain situations ....?) Disappointing. Jess

Thank you NZTR for doing this article. It was a very sad & sobering watch. Thanks most of all and the greatest of respect to Cody's dad, mum, sister and the others who participated. That can't have been easy & I admire that despite the pain of your own grief you are trying to help others. Cody never rode for us & I never met him - but I can see what a great looking, well spoken & accomplished young man he was. Clearly a loss to our industry but much more importantly - a terrible loss for Cody's family & friends. Kindest regards to all of you. Jess

Best of care - best of facilities - and still these things happen. Horses eh. Just an awful year for Cambridge Stud and I wish them all the best and a change of fortunes in 2020. J.

All right-thinking people are naturally disgusted at the behavior of the individual convicted of Grace Millane's murder. NZ has unique law when it comes to name suppression. We might not like it but sometimes there are good reasons. When people breach suppression laws thinking they are punishing the wrong do-er - they may end up creating collateral damage in the form of someone else whose rights are trampled on in the process - someone who most certainly does not deserve for this to happen. There is nothing heroic or admirable in breaching suppression in this case. And taking such action certainly does not make the 63 y/o (whoever it is) a good or righteous person. I am content to stay within the law and let matters run their course. And that position is most certainly not because I have any sympathy for that person who was convicted for that heinous crime. My father used to always say to us kids "fools & bairns should never see a job half done". I'm well past being the latter & I try not to act like the former. I am prepared to be patient. I believe all will be revealed in the fullness of time. Seasons greetings to you all. J.

Yep - things wax and wane for most stables over time. Staff must be super important you'd think. I expect Jo Rathbone had a huge positive influence when she was running Meyers' base down Bulls way.. I like your measured and wise responses on these sorts of threads Freda. Not short of an opinion - but certainly earned the right to have one & always the voice of respectful reason & wisdom. Rgds, J.

No Joe, they weren't named. And that is all the info I have. Which is my point I guess - hard to make informed decisions about your own horses when it's all a secret.

Hang your heads in shame. Race 6. An absolute disgrace. Watch it and weep. Mitchell thrashes the Micheal House trained $24 shot Changearound and on the second attempt finally wrests the lead from the $6 shot Ideal Tiger. Having taken out the main threat to his stable-mate, Mitchell's poor horse is gone at about the 800 and barely jogging as it finishes 99 lengths away. And the Micheal House trained, Blair Orange driven favorite, having sat back watching all the dirty work get done at the front for him - peels out and wins. 3 Questions: 1. How could you say Mitchell gave his horse the best chance? (actually it was quite heart-breaking seeing that poor horse drag itself off the track after the run it had) 2. How could anyone but a blind man say that wasn't team driving? 3. How could the stipes not see what everyone else saw - and do something about it? That sort of thing just leaves a dirty taste in your mouth. The owners of the sacrificed horse won't complain - because guess what - the House stable is in the ownership. So we rely on the stewards to address it. But it seems that faith is misplaced. They do nothing - not even asking the question it seems. Absolute rubbish.

Yes I agree Freda. Historically the humans in the equine field have handled the likes of Strangles outbreaks poorly - and in so doing, further endangered the population. As I have mares and foals moving about the North Island I would like to know more so I could make informed decisions. I religiously vaccinate each of my mares every year for Strangles/Tetanus/EHV - and if the stud they visit requires more, they quarantine and vaccinate for those extras. It's not cheap and requires multiple boosters in the case of the Pneumabort vacc and I do wonder if all breeders are as diligent. Herd immunity is generally a poorly understood concept IMO. Just look at those righteous, zealous anti-vaxers in the human world who puff their chests out and use as proof the fact that THEIR little darlings Fern & Skye have never been jabbed & haven't yet caught measles .... those parents are probably too young to have known anyone who was afflicted with Polio .. or who was born from a mother who contracted Rubella while pregnant .. but I digress!!

Email from NZTBA ... I'm not sure if I'm reading too much into the bit I've highlighted in red or could it be that some farms were not as responsible as they should have been? Confirmed cases of EHV-1 We have been notified of confirmed cases of Equine Herpesvirus-1 on several Lower North Island properties, causing abortion in mares. As we are at the height of the breeding season this is a timely reminder for all breeders to be vigilant on vaccination and quarantine practices. I would like to acknowledge the responsible actions from one of the affected farms, who made the correct decision in notifying the NZTBA and subsequently the NZEHA, together with other affected parties so we are able to notify members promptly. This will enable breeders to be vigilant in management practices to avoid the spread of the virus. We have some excellent information available on our website. Please can you take a moment to read the links below, and I strongly advise you to adopt the quarantine procedures recommended, especially when your mares are returning home from stud. We also strongly urge you to discuss your vaccination program and management of your mares going to and returning from stud with your veterinarian.

Oh yeah ... whereas if we were really dealing with animal cruelty they would have been in the barn hung up with teh head collars eh Boulevard .... Oh and I love the victim (or in this case - witness) blaming from one of the posts above - it's now all the fault of the "nark" and we should turn on that person & leave Darren alone. Geez you guys can be special sometimes .... (and if it was all meant to be a joke and a play on words about the "PRICK" & the jigger - I just didn't find it all that funny).

Punting is only part of it for me - I look at form and breeding. I just want to get the nzracing site on my mobile that I see on my desktop. No drama - I can live without it.

Thanks Barry & co ... I tried that - uninstalled the mobile app, selected desktop version etc and still it reverts to its crappy format ...frustrating. Thanks anyway .

Hi Huey - I have indeed! And it loads something that looks like that initially - but again - once a field is up - I'm back to the very limited info as above. It's as if it sends me round in a circle and I end up back in the same dysfunctional place.

Thanks Freda. I can get fields up but can't click on a horse and get further info - only trainer, jockey and horse name shows on the screen. Not loving this part of racing .....

What am I doing wrong plse folks? When I look at fields & results on my mobile - I can't seem to get the website format on my phone that I can access on my desktop. The desktop will tell me the breeding of each runner - my phone doesn't (even when I try to select the desktop format on my phone). Any ideas? Cheers, J

I don't disagree with some of the observations here but I guess I don't find them bad enough to burst into print here and complain about the guy. I like the quality of his voice and most things about his calls. I am not a big fan though of the wee segment they seem to do now where he talks to the Trackside host as the horses parade pre-race and comments on each runner. It reminds me of the old txt msgs - maybe he only has 160 characters (or 15 seconds more like it) to comment. It's the format rather than Tony that is the issue but I find there's not usually anything very insightful beyond what you can observe for yourself. Maybe they should just let the guy use the time to prepare for the call & suck on a soothing lozenge (or should I say sneak another durrie if he hasn't given that up yet ?). All the best to you T Lee - I haven't got anything racing just now but would be happy for you to call mine. Just make sure you do cover the back half of the field though - I live in hope but mine have been known in the past to occupy those positions in a number of races ...and if you don't call their name, I'll be worried sick that they've broken down at the 600. J.

That's it in a nutshell I believe - and a bit of publicity drummed up to boot. They know precisely what they will have to pay out - so it's a calculated risk - and more calculated than risk. I wouldn't think they are talking a huge amount of money ...

I like to hear about every horse. Because I listen to a lot of races on the radio while I am outside (sometimes with my own horses). I also like to hear about the breeding of the place-getters. But I do understand there are time constraints and in the rush to catch them jumping at the Dapto Dogs, Woolloomooroo trots or the Tullamarine Toad Jumping - there might not be time.

I doubt the guy even liked or was interested in racing ... not a very good starting point really ....

Rockit - a kindly word of advice given the contents of some of your posts and the fact you seem to be a new addition here with a recent flurry of posts on this subject.. From what I read - Mr Cole may already be facing some allegations in regard to interference with witnesses. If you are in fact Mr Cole - or acting (posting) at his behest - this may present some further difficulties for you/Mr Cole. Now I don't think it's the Chief's style to deliberately expose his members (unlike some people elsewhere ...) - but should the feds come a-knocking on his door with a search warrant he may have little option. Rgds, Jess

Some insightful points made by Freda IMO. That is one of the big disappointments about the inept and self-serving "leadership" the industry has been subject to (victim of?). Many pockets have been well-lined courtesy of exorbitant salary packages -but they've done us no favors in projecting ourselves as anything worth supporting/saving/investing in.

Ae, Freda. And he says it in that calm, wise, laconic way of his. No drama or histrionics - just the plain facts from someone well -placed to know them. Quite grim, really .... (and just makes me realise I'm almost certainly a mug to still be breeding to race ...)