Freda

The top-rated horse in this time-honoured race is southerner Asathought, on 85. The bottom-rated is on 58. And to add insult to injury there is also a R 82 2500 hcp. The race has to lose what status it has, surely? Stick a highweight in the programme, ffs.

A good ride, no doubt...but taking the short way home is pretty sensible if you can get one, especially with the saloon passage he got! There is a battling jockey around here - usually on the slow buggers - who regularly takes the short way if possible. Not going well enough to go around, but sometimes, comes off. The apprentice schools should be shown the rides of Jamie Kah yesterday, and Tim Clark...when interviewed, Tim made mention of getting the ' sectionals right ' do any of these young riders know what a 'sectional ' is ? Or, for that matter, most of the seniors as well, or the stewards...time was, riders were hauled into the room for 'showing poor judgement' .... I am embarrassed to mention one of my sluggers in the same paragraph while referencing those superior performers yesterday...but I have a little mare, shortly to be retired as a twenty-something start maiden. She regularly posts the best last 800 in her races. But is ALWAYS in the wrong place, too far back, checked back while keen to improve, diving to the inside when she prefers room...she may only have the scope to win one, maybe two...but heartbreaking to see her trying with no results for her owners.

Have to agree with you there, they certainly didn't help their cause.

I didn't think the NZ public would be silly enough to put them in the second time. How wrong I was. I could be wrong again...perish the thought.

Just heard, absolutely appalling.

I don't think they are. My understanding is that the 'old' practice of rolling is not now deemed appropriate as it causes compaction.

Well done indeed. Enjoy! ( I've got a Van Brugh in the paddock )....🙂

Sadly indeed...the results of the change in processes we see daily. The old system was seen to be outdated and unprofessional. It goes without saying, of course, that not every former jockey-turned-trainer has the skills to teach. But by and large, it worked ok. The Racecourse Detectives had the welfare of the apprentices as part of their job description, and again, although not perfect, at least someone was looking out for the kids' wrt wages, conditions, and accommodation. Now, I don't think anyone takes much notice unless a particular apprentice is strong-willed enough to make him/herself heard, or has a good support network.

Yes, although I'm sure Michael didn't envisage the carnage that went on behind him. The filly was injured, was no good afterwards, and neither was another filly who went over the top of her. And, gutting though it certainly was for me, it was nothing compared to the hopes and dreams of her terminally ill owner, she was the last horse he bred and his last chance to have a star.

My 'namesake' Freda White achieved her lifelong ambition, to win a National. But she won by the original winner, ridden by the unfortunate Ronnie Weaver, weighing in light. I recall her shaking her head, and wiping away a tear. I always wanted a National, she said, but not like that. I endorse her regret, and - referring to Bosson - if I had to 'win' a race by knocking over the opposition, I wouldn't be very happy.

I'm told that Sydney paid his way.

Quite. Then it must have been brain fade then. Whatever, for a rider of his experience the display was awful. I agree - mostly - with folk who mutter about the standard of Sth Island jockeys...but bloody hell, he is 'supposed' to be the best we have. If so, our problems are worse than thought.

I would have to say he was pleasant and easy to chat to when down at the National meeting...very friendly and approachable.

Besides, it was fun then.

We learn from history, Chief. To look forward, you must have an understanding and appreciation of matters from bygone days. Never think the past has nothing to teach us .

Carve up indeed. Even years ago, there were instances of top jocks seemingly 'getting away' with stuff that lesser riders just wouldn't have. But I can't recall anything quite as blatant as Opie's transgression at Hastings. And it's not the first time. He nearly extermjnated a young Gosen Jagoo by doing almost exactly the same. Competitive riding, it was called. Another couple of 'ditties; that former partner of mine got pinged for something he clearly didn't do. I was righteously indignant. That's not fair. Appeal! I said, full of importance. Those stipes don't know what they're looking at. He listened to me for a bit, then said, ah, no worries, they got me this time, but they missed the last dozen they didn't see. Fair cop, he added. And another; A little horse we had won at Westport, on a very wet track, by a margin of some six or more lengths. After returning to this side of the hill, and being given plenty of time to recover from his trip, he lined up at Riccarton a pretty warm favourite. As it happened, he was one of the first beaten and was allowed to coast home a long way back. Into the room went his rider, facing the old 'not running on his merits' charge. After a lot of talk, accusation and finally being told ' you've pulled him up ' exasperation set in and the stipes on the day were given an old-fashioned dose of reality. If I had pulled him up, you clowns, do you think I would have drawn attention to the fact by letting him drop out? He's obviously not right. We'll get him checked by the vet. And - by the way, when I do pull a horse up, you'll never know.

To add, I never used to read them, years ago, but have to wonder if they contained as much drivel as now.

Joe - as a former rider - and Reefton, as an administrator of much experience, must have seen a myriad of stewards reports. Were they as chock full of incidents as they are now? Leaving out the silly mistake about Kin and his vet cert, I'm astounded at all the horses that misbehave at the barrier, feel 'indifferent ' in their action, 'lay in' ( or out ) ...and the grammar there pisses me off but that's just me being pedantic....run up on to the heels of...causing a check, overrace, were unsuited by the track conditions/ corners/the muddling pace....ffs are there any horses that just jump out and gallop around without hanging, pulling, or hating the track ?

But you'd have to feel a bit sorry for him, veterinary work is pretty expensive...

He was pretty canny all right. Street smart. That's exactly the matter that J.B.was referring to, the falls that we see now compared with the relatively few in his riding days. Now, many just don't see what's coming, they don't know their times, they can't read a race.

No, Kin looks like a young Malaysian man of Chinese ethnicity....nothing equine about his appearance at all 🤔

Yes, it certainly has. And the comment was made tongue in cheek, but seemingly you didn't get it. I've had female apprentices and many of the immigrant riders are my friends. But the clock in the head is badly lacking in many of them. The training of young riders ATM is creating a real problem. My former partner, a good rider in his day, used to reckon it was becoming next to impossible to ride a good race. Defensive driving was the order of the day.

Yes, agree with that. However, we know - looking at the latest TAB figures - that the industry is running on empty. The development at Auckland, and the possibility of a Greenfields development in Cambridge, will largely be funded by commercial means not industry money. So, whether 'pressure' is put on or not, you can't get blood out of a stone, if money's not there it just ain't there. So pointing the finger at Australia is not comparing apples with apples. Because their respective state operations do have money . Your former nemesis used to be very scathing of the idea that any extra funding should go towards stakes. Infrastructure, training, and r & d were vital to the overall health of the industry he used to maintain and he was right. But, as stated above, there just isn't the surplus to keep everyone happy.

Well, if that happened here, there may not be the problems we now experience, and have done in some shape or form since reconstruction. But it doesn't, apart from very occasional slicing, vertidraining and sanding. Can't you comprehend the difference? and the reason for the frustration of many stakeholders? Clearly there is neither the money to undertake a complete renovation every four years, nor the will to recognise there is even a problem. And therein lies a bigger one.

Good bloke, Pat. I remember, on one particular occasion, two senior riders [ Mouse McCann and Perry Thomas ] waving down his tractor to bring it to a standstill, and then proceeding to bring him up to speed over the state of the plough. To his credit, he took it all on board, and did the plough himself for quite a while after. It improved quickly and there were no more complaints.