Thomass Posted Thursday at 12:11 AM Share Posted Thursday at 12:11 AM A real shame that the Omakau thoroughbreds are no longer I've been there a few times over the years, on the Sth Is. moonshine tour and the sights of a thoroughbred at full tilt @ a tight circuit brought joy to the heart It's great the harness people are allowed to still bring their hairy pets in too..all harnessed up with a pink lead rope Joyous scenes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shad Posted Thursday at 07:20 AM Share Posted Thursday at 07:20 AM Yep agree, went there myself many years ago, country racing at it's best. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Thursday at 08:52 AM Share Posted Thursday at 08:52 AM 1 hour ago, Shad said: Yep agree, went there myself many years ago, country racing at it's best. I gather you approve of the pervert @Thomass imagery? Oh the irony. One minute holier than thou nek minute... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shad Posted Thursday at 03:45 PM Share Posted Thursday at 03:45 PM 6 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: I gather you approve of the pervert @Thomass imagery? Oh the irony. One minute holier than thou My only thoughts were bring back the racing there, the rest all over my head, very disappointing you'd think anything else. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomass Posted Thursday at 10:59 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 10:59 PM 14 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: I gather you approve of the pervert @Thomass imagery? Oh the irony. One minute holier than thou nek minute... What imagery? The mind picture painted was the joy of 'bush' racing Kiwi style Do you want a fun free zone however? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Thursday at 11:38 PM Share Posted Thursday at 11:38 PM 37 minutes ago, Thomass said: What imagery? The mind picture painted was the joy of 'bush' racing Kiwi style Do you want a fun free zone however? Only in your salacious mind. Hypocrite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomass Posted Thursday at 11:57 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 11:57 PM When was the last time you allowed FUN on here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Thursday at 11:59 PM Share Posted Thursday at 11:59 PM Just now, Thomass said: When was the last time you allowed FUN on here? When I let you post on here. It's hilarious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomass Posted Friday at 12:40 AM Author Share Posted Friday at 12:40 AM it was a television shot that 'television' ruled appropriate You're dead against 'CANCEL CULTURE' Hypocrite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted Friday at 12:44 AM Share Posted Friday at 12:44 AM I think today would have been the day Omakau normally raced. Instead we have no racing at all anywhere in NZ other than a low grade trot meeting tonight. Seems like a massive wasted opportunity. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Friday at 01:01 AM Share Posted Friday at 01:01 AM 19 minutes ago, Thomass said: it was a television shot that 'television' ruled appropriate You're dead against 'CANCEL CULTURE' Hypocrite No it wasn't it was an out of context zoomed in shot taken by you while you sat in your underwear watching the TV. Good point about Omakau all the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted Friday at 01:58 AM Share Posted Friday at 01:58 AM 1 hour ago, Doomed said: I think today would have been the day Omakau normally raced. Instead we have no racing at all anywhere in NZ other than a low grade trot meeting tonight. Seems like a massive wasted opportunity. In recent times trainers stopped going to Omakau and Waikouiti,with Kurow 2 days before Waikouiti, numbers were just too thin, some of the numbers for the coast are rather light too, Kumara may be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted Friday at 07:01 AM Share Posted Friday at 07:01 AM Didn't Omakau used to be the same day as a coast meeting and jockeys had to choose which meeting they would ride at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted Sunday at 10:38 AM Share Posted Sunday at 10:38 AM On 1/3/2025 at 8:01 PM, Special Agent said: Didn't Omakau used to be the same day as a coast meeting and jockeys had to choose which meeting they would ride at? It was the second week of January and they had two days for many years , which could have been a challenge for housing the horses etc as many raced two days. The time I remember quite well was when Wingatui had a heap of trainers as well as Gore/Invercargill. One of my neighbours Cliff Reece-Jones was a regular trainer there from Wingatui and Ted Winsloe and Rex Cochrane from Gore who were often at top of NZ premiership , plus others regular like the Dennis Brothers , Wilson Ellis , Ray Pankhurst etc . It had two historic Cup races the Moran Memorial [Open Handicap] and Clare Memorial [ Hack stayers race ] , both valuable gold cups. The Clare Cup is apparently valued at $100k and I believe is still raced for at Cromwell by Central Otago JC. Of course back in the day Omakau was the Vincent JC. In the early days it was a Cross-Code event with harness and incuded Saddle Paces and I believe Cardigan Bay may have competed in these in early days. Plenty of good jockeys rode at Vincent incl the Skelton Brothers and Bob won on Treasure Pond ,the mother of Trelay who was a very good stayer from Hec Andertons stable from early crop of Mellay.Trelay also became a sire ...he was owned by White Family who from memory were from Central Otago. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted Sunday at 10:53 AM Share Posted Sunday at 10:53 AM 8 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said: It was the second week of January and they had two days for many years , which could have been a challenge for housing the horses etc as many raced two days. The time I remember quite well was when Wingatui had a heap of trainers as well as Gore/Invercargill. One of my neighbours Cliff Reece-Jones was a regular trainer there from Wingatui and Ted Winsloe and Rex Cochrane from Gore who were often at top of NZ premiership , plus others regular like the Dennis Brothers , Wilson Ellis , Ray Pankhurst etc . It had two historic Cup races the Moran Memorial [Open Handicap] and Clare Memorial [ Hack stayers race ] , both valuable gold cups. The Clare Cup is apparently valued at $100k and I believe is still raced for at Cromwell by Central Otago JC. Of course back in the day Omakau was the Vincent JC. In the early days it was a Cross-Code event with harness and incuded Saddle Paces and I believe Cardigan Bay may have competed in these in early days. Plenty of good jockeys rode at Vincent incl the Skelton Brothers and Bob won on Treasure Pond ,the mother of Trelay who was a very good stayer from Hec Andertons stable from early crop of Mellay.Trelay also became a sire ...he was owned by White Family who from memory were from Central Otago. Just checked November Central Otago meeting at Cromwell held Clare Memorial race in 2024 ,over 1220 m for nice stake of $35k. It was won JParsons trained La Bella Nera, yes a North Island import. At church today the man on pulpit said we should reach out and interact with others as many find this time of year troubling. So I hope you enjoy these missives from 'back in the day' when things much simpler ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted Sunday at 04:25 PM Share Posted Sunday at 04:25 PM (edited) Interesting recollections, TAB. I recall being at Omoto races one year, the jockeys had to head south to Central in the middle of the then 4 day Coast circuit, most went through via the Lake Coleridge road , and then had to drive back. What a mission. Mentioned the potential risk driving/riding/driving/riding, all the while watching weight and negotiating holiday traffic to boot, to a local official enjoying the racing. He shrugged. They don't have to do it, he said, goes with the territory. Sure, it does, but highlights the complete disconnect of management from reality. BTW just to be a nitpicker, La Bella Nera is Parsons-owned and bred. A Cantabrian through and through. Edited Sunday at 04:27 PM by Freda 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted yesterday at 01:01 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:01 AM 8 hours ago, Freda said: Interesting recollections, TAB. I recall being at Omoto races one year, the jockeys had to head south to Central in the middle of the then 4 day Coast circuit, most went through via the Lake Coleridge road , and then had to drive back. What a mission. Mentioned the potential risk driving/riding/driving/riding, all the while watching weight and negotiating holiday traffic to boot, to a local official enjoying the racing. He shrugged. They don't have to do it, he said, goes with the territory. Sure, it does, but highlights the complete disconnect of management from reality. BTW just to be a nitpicker, La Bella Nera is Parsons-owned and bred. A Cantabrian through and through. At this time of year the travel demands on many jockeys is not what it used to be......but the Harness drivers are still doing those big drives to various parts of the South Island in particular. And also the TAB staff in both the Broadcast truck and tote staff.....I guess the tote staff still do the Nelson trots on Friday ,Kumara on Saturday and Nelson on Sunda.In past there has been road/travel issues to add to the tiki tour ! Obviously these days there are less meetings on some days eg New Years day cos of the limitations of the Broadcast trucks . Yes correct re the Parsons horse , the good mare Arietta should have made it obvious to me but La Bella Nera made my Northerners list cos it was a lot of top Canterbury sportspeople , Canterbrians thru and thru but educated elsewhere. La Bella Nera was educated by Clinton Isdale in Cambridge ,trialling at 2 on Synthetic there ,plus Ruakaka twice , and Te Awamutu twice before lining up at Trentham and bucking early ,running last in Isdale's silks. Back to Cambridge to trial ,back to Trentham where she won before returning to being a Crusader ! Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted yesterday at 01:01 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:01 AM 8 hours ago, Freda said: Sure, it does, but highlights the complete disconnect of management from reality. An arrogant and uncaring attitude. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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