Freda

Good song though.! The original was an International hit I think.

I think you've kinda missed the point....which is Richards was penalized for being honest. Nod's comment is on the button, though, the racing grapevine being what it is! IMO he should have been commended for his honesty, and perhaps warned, and advised to up his stable protocol. Nothing more. A fine is just b/s.

I don't really know, L..but I speculate it is a combination of poor programming, and fewer meetings in the Canterbury district. As well, the influx of Pike/Te Akau and others which wouldn't normally be about which adds to the difficulty of getting starts with lower rated horses as well as the escalating costs associated with travel to Otago/Southland. And, the Timaru track is well presented and offers a fair surface, suiting most.

Oh, hilarious. He is likely helping to perpetrate the myth beloved of our heirarchy that li'l ol' NZ is a lesser, but still influential offshoot of dear old Blighty...not as populous, or vigorous, as the convict settlement across the water, but oh, so superior and with much better grass. That started to slide off the map twenty or so years ago.

as well, if I read it correctly, Bruce Sherwin is now a councillor on the Pattern race committee on a rotating basis, representing 'developing' countries. How did we become 'developing' ? I should have thought 'disintegrating ' would be more appropriate.

..and got its Grp 1 status for its 20 mill Cup.

I wonder how the S.S would have regarded the gangs? Elimimated them? or recruited them..?

It's been blue before......

It's all academic, anyway, JJ, didn't happen, but who knows what happens when no one is around to query?

A few, although I don't think they'll get much use going forward!

I'm vaccinated as well. I have made what i think is a rational decision based on what is probably the best choice for me. I'm not blind to the arguments tossed around, I read avidly and there isn't much that gets past me, although, as a lay person only, obviously I don't have the science that some others have. But I have seen misinformation peddled by some who I would think should be very well informed indeed.

I'm in the unenviable position [ owing to being older than most of my social circle ] of having witnessed a bloody lot of elections. Even as a youngster, I was fascinated with things 'political' and Dad and I used to have some good debates. But, regardless of one's stance, I have never heard so much dissatisfaction, frustration, call it what you will, with a government since the Muldoon era, when the catch-cry was ' we have to get rid of Piggy ' . Get rid of him, we did, collectively, for - I think - David Lange. Hopefully common sense reigns, although looking back at the landslide victory last election, I have to wonder how much sense the majority actually have. There is nothing happening now that couldn't be foreseen.

Exactly. He should have been congratulated for his honesty, not penalized.

Because, if he had ( say ) invented an injury or an attack of colic, which had then resolved, it would not have resulted in the fine.

I reckon. Just encourages one to tell porkies.

Tsk. Churlish. Credit where credit is due.

Moves to second on the all-time training winners list, one more than Dave O'Sullivan, and now behind only good mate Graeme Rogerson. A terrific effort from his South Island base.

Agree. Sadly. It's stuffed in the south, anyway, and has only been hanging on by a thread for a few years.

I love Sam as a person, she is just delightful, but she isn't happy in amongst them. She rides a lot of winners, but she has to be in the right place. Otherwise she wants out.

Are you in?

she sure is..and, on the subject of jockeys, isn't Kozzi having fun..?

Ah. Yep.

you've lost me there.

Sad...but inevitable I feel. No one does jumping like the Poms and the Irish. Better to enjoy the quality they showcase and forget the mediocre. Not that I wish to rubbish the lovely horses of yesteryear, or their skilled handlers. But, today we see only a shadow of what was.

I'm sorry, Mikeynz - but, really, how many really give a shit? I don't. Trackside radio was great, we lost it, most have now now become used to not having it, and so the decline trundles on.