Freda

I don't know anything about the alleged practice...but nothing surprises me. Nothing at all.

Very short-sighted of them...which is, I suppose, typical of things.

Exactly..why can't we just enjoy watching class thoroughbreds? I have watched with joy, and awe, the likes of Show Gate, Bonecrusher, Sunline, Black Caviar - from a distance Frankel - and now Winx...The Autumn Sun looks a super racehorse in the making - but why does any one of them have to be 'the best'..? what is the point ?

Well....reading between the lines...it would seem so...if it suits whoever is making the rules on the day.

Gear is NOT allowed to be added around at the barrier. We used to tie tongue ties to the bridle for barrier staff to add - it is not a comfortable piece of attire, and most trainers liked the option of leaving it as late as possible to put on. Now, all gear has to be put on in the saddling area to be checked off by the steward. The explanation above is a crock. Further to that, a sometime barrier attendant said to me this morning that they had all had a directive to not touch or interfere with any gear - with the exception of assisting with a slipped saddle, for example, or replacing a bridle that has broken. Recently a horse appeared at the gates with it's tongue tie chewed and slipping off- and all the staff were allowed to do was take it off. So it appears the feds don't even know their own rules.....but they can change them at will, of course. At the last Riccarton meeting, a runner which customarily is loaded last, was refused permission to do so. Why? asked the bemused trainer...because he's eight years old, was the reply.

Damn right, Jenny...but the bigger picture is the poor programming that allows overlaps of some grades/ distances which produce what you have indicated. Equally, there are horses languishing in other grades unable to get a run. Basic stuff, but instead of addressing it, hey, let's spend money charging around telling people that their tracks are going to be closed and how grateful they must all be.

Ah...I see . Well then....grand idea.

What hope might you have that even claimers could be handicapped suitably?

Will be a great sight...but I had to cringe at those heavy bodies clattering around on that very firm ground....wherever it was. Thankfully they weren't going very far, or fast!

Early seventies for me...I do remember discussions as to whether they might be a good idea...but never had them as far as I am aware.

What makes you think Ms Jonker wouldn't just say what she was told? She is the stable rider after all. It can't be 'proven' that the object was 'dodgy' - in other words, anything but a tongue tie. It may well have been. But it didn't look good, many comments have been received from over the ditch wanting to know wtf was going on, and one of the protagonists has form as long as your arm.

It has washed.....

No, we sure don't. However, that is [ by the look of it ] American-style dirt, which isn't what was on our agenda. Things seem to have gone a shade quiet over the Cambridge allweather...what a surprise. Shane Jones run out of lollies?

Was chatting to a Waikato-based trainer just this week..he tells me that Bernard is still trotting out the 'close the tracks' line. There is a real absence of quantitative evidence as to how much - in real terms - is going to be realised by this process. If we could all see, we may - just possibly - grudgingly accept that there is no choice. But there aren't any such figures for us all to digest, or none that I have seen, so .....

Different horse, you plonker.

He wasn't the only one...you can bet that many orders were taken to buy on the basis that stakes ' would double' next season.

I might be thick..but I don't recall Mardigras suggesting not to punt horses.

I ALWAYS ask nicely...but I repeat, it is not my job to to be a policeman. My concern, if not bloody obvious by now, is that given our awful integrity reputation already, questions should have been asked. I haven't claimed any wrongdoing - other than a possible oversight - but, if I leave off blinkers or add a piece of gear without notification, I get fined. The stipe at the inspection plate has to check off all gear notified.. Handing over something in the birdcage to be applied at the barriers just isn't allowed - end of. As for the baby you spotted ; as far as I am aware they are not yet an extinct species. Lots of women have them..it could have been anyone's.

Thank goodness we don't need to go down that patronising path.

Ya think? you aren't getting any argument from me, I agree wholeheartedly with your comments, but I have a sinking feeling that stupidity may still be the operating code....as for the K.M support, the breeders still have huge influence, can't see them allowing that to reduce.

Don't think it's any done deal....but I sure hope common sense prevails.

Hmmm. Wise advice indeed.

That is the single most significant point that just is not comprehended.

Nope, don't agree, any sort of restricted race shouldn't count.

In the meantime we are a laughing stock wrt integrity matters.