Is Harness Racing going soft? Is there really anything that wrong with the Wingatui Crossing?

[Chief Stipe]

I've seen worse crossing's over the last 50 years than the one at Wingatui today.

Are we getting soft or are horses not trained like they used to be?

[Gammalite]

7 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

I've seen worse crossing's over the last 50 years than the one at Wingatui today.

Are we getting soft or are horses not trained like they used to be?

Why ? they just had race 1 and nothing happened . ( they all got over it without galloping) 

It does look like a quick rise and fall as you go across it though.

This might not suit the trotters , where balance is important. So maybe you'll see something gallop at it in Race 2 shortly ?

Don't know about soft ?? not a great description ? more likely use that for POMMIE Batsmen at the Ashes lol 😂

but the harness horses generally race with their heads up a lot Higher than thoroughbreds Chief. Just so they can keep their pacing or trotting gait at high speed. But they are prone to spotting things out the corner of their eyes accordingly rather annoyingly at times. so >  Hence the common use of blinds and shadow rolls and all sorts of head gear to keep them concentrating. 

[Gammalite]

21 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

I've seen worse crossing's over the last 50 years than the one at Wingatui today.

Are we getting soft or are horses not trained like they used to be?

looks like 3 of the 10 trotters in race 2 galloped going across it soon after the start of R2 . Not a great result .

All the drivers looked like they were approaching BECHER'S BROOK Chief . 🤣😂  nervous times for all lol.  

[Chief Stipe]

6 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

Why ? they just had race 1 and nothing happened . ( they all got over it without galloping) 

 

Two drivers complained about it.  It seems that the problem is the wind blew the cut grass cover off it and or the other reason given was that it was very dry and dusty.  Hence the have a kids plastic watering can putting some water on it!  
 

9 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

But they are prone to spotting things out the corner of their eyes accordingly rather annoyingly at times. so >  Hence the common use of blinds and shadow rolls and all sorts of head gear to keep them concentrating.

Well you know my views on too much head gear.  The best one's don't need it.  The more you put on them they more they need to trust their driver.

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

looks like 3 of the 10 trotters in race 2 galloped going across it soon after the start of R2 . Not a great result .

All the drivers looked like they were approaching BECHER'S BROOK Chief . 🤣😂  nervous times for all lol.  

Yeah but 2 of those 3 have a knack of galloping regardless!!!  Straight line training on a beach surface with variable softness can help.

[Gammalite]

7 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Yeah but 2 of those 3 have a knack of galloping regardless!!!  Straight line training on a beach surface with variable softness can help.

funny you should say that , as was thinking John Dunn races a lot of trotters . Had the very best in Sundee's Son in recent times. 

But nearly all of his can fly to piece's any old tick of the clock as well .  not just at Addington but grass and country racing too. He has as many gallopers as any other trotting trainer so not sure the Woodend Beach is your complete answer to the problem at all. 

HOPE's team train there too , and don't have as many gallopers , and are trotting specialists , so there is the chance that Beach training is of some help as you say. Habibti Pat a bit erratic at times , but great Win in the trotting Derby recently. They're quite a fickle beast to train the old trotters. 

[the galah]

8 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

looks like 3 of the 10 trotters in race 2 galloped going across it soon after the start of R2 . Not a great result .

All the drivers looked like they were approaching BECHER'S BROOK Chief . 🤣😂  nervous times for all lol.  

yeah,i had a look at the replay and of the 3 gallopers,one was galloping 50m before hand,another the horse was in front but not concentrating well before the crossing and galloped a couple of strides before the crossing  and then the 3rd galloper seemed to resent being restrained when having to change ground so galloped.

the horse in front on the inside kept trotting but wanted to run out bad before and after the crossing so it wasn't th crossing.

what about the person who put $5000 on my bonnie lass to win on the ff.

It was the horse that galloped early but really settled close enough,but n williamson simply sat far too long before he asked it to go over the last 300m,just coming up short.

Really it lookied like it was being given more an educational type run,so imagine having  $5000on and watching that race.They would have been cursing to themselevs a tad.

 

[Gammalite]

3 minutes ago, the galah said:

what about the person who put $5000 on my bonnie lass to win on the ff.

It was the horse that galloped early but really settled close enough,but n williamson simply sat far too long before he asked it to go over the last 300m,just coming up short.

wow , that's a crazy bet on a 6 start maiden trotter. $5000 ?  sanity is gone in NZ for some ? lol. 😉

Best thing to do would be tell them just have $50 on like you and I would, and live without misery 🤣. and just enjoy the racing lol.

Must say Nathan Williamson did the same in race 3 as well. took far too long to get HILLARY up and running. She came home well but he gave it NO chance to get there. Nathan is well down on driving form lately. wouldn't touch a thing he drives.

'Hillary' is 8 year old as well. (9 next month) so is running out of time to break maidens ranks ?  😂🤣😁

 

[the galah]

2 minutes ago, the galah said:

yeah,i had a look at the replay and of the 3 gallopers,one was galloping 50m before hand,another the horse was in front but not concentrating well before the crossing and galloped a couple of strides before the crossing  and then the 3rd galloper seemed to resent being restrained when having to change ground so galloped.

the horse in front on the inside kept trotting but wanted to run out bad before and after the crossing so it wasn't th crossing.

what about the person who put $5000 on my bonnie lass to win on the ff.

It was the horse that galloped early but really settled close enough,but n williamson simply sat far too long before he asked it to go over the last 300m,just coming up short.

Really it lookied like it was being given more an educational type run,so imagine having  $5000on and watching that race.They would have been cursing to themselevs a tad.

 

I've always thought the canterbury drivers who drive a lot of grass tracks seem better than the average southern driving on grass tracks,simply because they like to get handy.

race 3 another examlpe of that.N williamson,who is normally a very good driver,again waited 200m into the straight before pulling out when 6 lengths off the leaders.  A canterbury driver would have been getting their momentum up well before that.You wouldn't expect them  to go all out when they make a move,but you would think they would be trying to position there horses in a position to give them a chance.They should know its hard to make up 6 lengths in the last 200m of any race.no matter what the track.

[the galah]

13 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

wow , that's a crazy bet on a 6 start maiden trotter. $5000 ?  sanity is gone in NZ for some ? lol. 😉

Best thing to do would be tell them just have $50 on like you and I would, and live without misery 🤣. and just enjoy the racing lol.

Must say Nathan Williamson did the same in race 3 as well. took far too long to get HILLARY up and running. She came home well but he gave it NO chance to get there. Nathan is well down on driving form lately. wouldn't touch a thing he drives.

'Hillary' is 8 year old as well. (9 next month) so is running out of time to break maidens ranks ?  😂🤣😁

 

actually i just  posted the same gamma without seeing your post about the next n williamson drive in race 3.

i get what your saying about putting $5000 on a non win trotter.That person will never get their money back as they will make it a $1.80 favorite next time and it may not win.

But having watched the race today,the punter did actually get it right.It really only had to be let run and it would have won,but that happens sometimes and its just part of gambling on the trots. No ill intent,just  the drivers and trainers sometimes are thinking of their horses long term earning potential and getting their confidence up.Of course if it was the anyone connected with the horse who put the $5000 on then they would be feeling a bit sick  after the race.

Edited 52 minutes ago by the galah

[Gammalite]

10 minutes ago, the galah said:

I've always thought the canterbury drivers who drive a lot of grass tracks seem better than the average southern driving on grass tracks,simply because they like to get handy.

race 3 another examlpe of that.N williamson,who is normally a very good driver,again waited 200m into the straight before pulling out when 6 lengths off the leaders.  A canterbury driver would have been getting their momentum up well before that.You wouldn't expect them  to go all out when they make a move,but you would think they would be trying to position there horses in a position to give them a chance.They should know its hard to make up 6 lengths in the last 200m of any race.no matter what the track.

John Dunn and Carter Dalgety are hands and heels above the others. They drive with a lot of aggression these days , and like the best Aussie drivers, sure aren't scared to work their horses early , and are often on the move Mid-race to apply pressure up front . Time and time again they pull off a victory with the great proactive driving.

yes . sometimes they get caught out and drop away. But when you look what is happening with GOT THE CHOCOLATES and REPUBLICAN PARTY , they have developed in to 2 of the hardest to beat horses in the country , because of being driven boldly , and are winning some BIG ones.

Marketplace still doing well though , and we've had discussion before about him getting beat with very cold drives , so is good to see the NZ Derby Winner driven with more 'Gusto' lately , and rightly getting the Big Derby Win . 

[the galah]

7 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

John Dunn and Carter Dalgety are hands and heels above the others. They drive with a lot of aggression these days , and like the best Aussie drivers, sure aren't scared to work their horses early , and are often on the move Mid-race to apply pressure up front . Time and time again they pull off a victory with the great proactive driving.

yes . sometimes they get caught out and drop away. But when you look what is happening with GOT THE CHOCOLATES and REPUBLICAN PARTY , they have developed in to 2 of the hardest to beat horses in the country , because of being driven boldly , and are winning some BIG ones.

Marketplace still doing well though , and we've had discussion before about him getting beat with very cold drives , so is good to see the NZ Derby Winner driven with more 'Gusto' lately , and rightly getting the Big Derby Win . 

personally i prefer b orange,but dalgety and dunn always give you a run for your money. S thornley,s ottley are like that. Lots of good canterbury drivers. Thats why the racing in canterbury is a better product,because the races are more competitive and they to win.

[the galah]

What about that race. Brother Rob runs 2nd after being about 6 lengths behind the others at start,then sat parked all way and may have won but for going rough early in the home straight.

If you watched that horses last 3 trial/workout runs in the last month,it had dropped out by 200m each time,couldn't leep warm.A bit of an improvement shown today.

Edited 29 minutes ago by the galah