Freda

Fantastic.

oooo....the mind boggles....

A comment - and not a criticism of Otaki in general - while I am a staunch supporter of one-day country clubs, with the vista of rural NZ often showing in the background....snow-capped mountains, sheep peacefully grazing...such views add to the appeal of country racing, IMO. But a tatty wire fence and a weedy paddock isn't the appropriate background for a Grp 1.....also, JMO.

I was locked out of my account at the start of the new operation. After three weeks of trying to both email and ring the helpdesk, I finally got through and got the account unlocked . Took most of the funds out, leaving just a few dollars in for a few token bets. Had a couple of little wagers over the next week, then didn't bother for a while. Tried last week, and was told ' incorrect password'. Went to the 'reset password ' option, and bugger me.....' reset option denied.' Again. I won't be wasting any more time attempting to rectify things this time. Bet365 works fine for me.

Good point.

What implications for the industry..?

Haha, yes those two were beauties. Although not risque, I thought that the half brothers Pretentious and Pseudonym were particularly well named...the former by Resurgent - Pretend, the latter by We Don't Know - Pretend. Another one around that time was Me twopas....can't recall the two stallions who were involved though.

Same - but only a oncer, usually, second time of asking , no problem.

I agree in principle...but still hope we are both wrong and the rabbit gets pulled out of the hat. One thing is certain, the 50 mill is gone..never to return..and no doubt there are extensive - and expensive - clauses negating any chance of tossing the whole thing in the rubbish bin.

Ask Colin...he used to get sent to St Moritz regularly.

Obviously not....however, it hands the harness code hospital passes if it has to maintain facilities for those venues which were formerly shared .

Awesome. A helluva nice bloke, aside from his well documented equestrian skills.

Thanks Heds.....but if the clock turned backwards I'd be much relieved.....!

Certainly an interesting reaction to the article referred to.... methinks BdL will be gratified the sting was felt.

They can't...and don't.

Ffs.....

Changes - either arriving or departing - are supposed to be notified within seven days...and yes, MM...sometimes I've had to give myself a shakeup because the seven days has been and gone. However, things such as changes of addresses of licence holders, new phone numbers, changes of employers in the case of apprentices, can be months out of date to the annoyance and inconvenience of anyone trying to make contact.

That's an interesting point....whatever the employment conditions are, Jamie still is the one holding the trainer's licence .. so he should be the one to be paid in the first instance - surely?

An outbreak of E.I just announced in England....what odds the Cheltenham festival and maybe even the Grand National are affected?

It's in your genes, Reefton. By the same token, there will be other small club and/or admin personnel who feel the same, but they just won't be as eloquent. The ability to cut to the chase is not to be sneezed at.

I'd like to know those figures too.

Love Cheltenham....the creme de la creme....

Agree...and while all kudos are due to the connections of this good mare for playing the system as it is, SW & P don't belong - IMHO. Handicaps shouldn't be in the 'pattern' system, handicaps are all about betting - and clever placing. No reason why a hcp can't be worth huge money, but a measure of the class of the breed, it isn't. Black type races - esp Grp races - are about determining the best of the breed, the best of an age group, the best filly or colt of their generation.

so.....who the hell do they think they are going to meet with..in Westport..? ye gods....and they want to run our industry...ffs

Ah.....possibly, yes. However, the cost of maintaining facilities for gallopers [ grass gallops, etc ] far outweigh that of a grit track for harness horses - and why should a trotting club pay for the gallopers? Make the galloping trainers pay for the upkeep, you may say... I have it on good authority that track fees/rents go nowhere near the real costs of upkeep - and many galloping trainers struggle with the level it is.