Caulfield

[Walt]

Hi folks,

Long time harness enthusiast signing in. Greetings.

For many years I was a keen weekly punter but several years ago I witnessed a pattern that I didn't enjoy so I reserved my betting only for the Premier days.

The pattern I witnessed was stables using tote races as trials and clearly not doing all they could to achieve the best possible placing. The aspect that concerned me most and destroyed my confidence and betting enjoyment was the fact Stipes seemingly condoned what was unfolding on most race days. They accepted what appeared to be very weak explanations.  Unsure if this was due to favouritism, not wanting to undermine the game or the cases in front of them being in the too hard to prove basket. High profile drivers especially were invariably gifted a free pass. It didn't surprise to see senior horseman appearing in the room to help obtain a free pass for a much less experienced driver associated with their stable. I felt there were serious question marks over the driving of the horse High Flying Harry in a race when it appeared the horse was gifted a perfect opportunity to obtain a better result but didn't take that opportunity. Most of us accept the racing career of horses are managed. If a horse wins a race at the wrong time for example, it can end up being a negative outcome especially if it has another race or races on it's radar. 

These issues I speak of are like rocking horse poo on Premier race days which is exactly why I only wager there these days.

I've respected the training and driving of the Butcher family for many years. I felt John was a master conditioner of a horse well prior to the days of Abdias and co. David was and still is a superb driver. Where things got murky for me was when you have multiple family members driving against each other in the same races. Even if everything is kosha, there is so much scope for little things to happen during a race that can ultimately become a major factor in the outcome of that race. I've witnessed many hundreds of examples over the years that were the main reason I reserved my wagering for only the big days. This is not meant as a slur against the fine Butcher family but I just didn't have the confidence needed when they are racing against each other in run of the mill races. That is most definitely not the case in feature races. No favours on show there. 

I watched the horse Caulfield, trained and driven by David Butcher have it's first race on January the 20th at Cambridge. I really like the look of the horse and believe it will win many races. I noted two of David's sons Benjamin and Zachary driving in the same race so watched their drives also. After watching races for 50 plus years I felt confident Caulfield was going best of all at the 300 and should win. I noticed the horse didn't pull out to let him down until much later than I expected. Had he pulled out earlier I'm certain he would have at the very least finished much closer to the winner which was driven by his son Benjamin. The ground Caulfield made up over the last 75 metres was impressive which only added further weight to the prospect that it had been a fairly soft drive almost the equivalent of a trial. 

https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/infohorsews/wsd06x?Arg=hrnzg-Ptype&Arg=RaceVideo&Arg=hrnzg-RacehdrID&Arg=293774&Arg=hrnzg-rSite&Arg=TRUE

With that in mind I was especially interested in how it ran in it's next start which was yesterday at Hawera. Again the horse carried a lot of public support. 

Again I noted one of David's rivals was driven by his son Benjamin. 

Caulfied had a relatively easy run in front and appeared to have no steering or gear issues. He looked to have the race at his mercy turning in. I was expecting to see David get serious and let the horse down but that never occurred. He sat as quiet as a church mouse apart from a couple of VERY quiet perfunctory reminders to the horse. In the mean time David's son Benjamin was able to get his drive that had done far more work, up and win. Caulfield looked to my eye like he could go around again. It was another very soft quiet drive where the main benefactor was son Benjamin. I'd expect that in a trial, not a tote race. If this horse is driven like that in every race start from now on including much higher value races then fair enough but if David suddenly starts being vigorous in any future races with Caulfield, very serious questions need to be asked about these two highlighted races for the integrity of the game. I sincerely feel anyone foolish enough to have wagered on Caulfield to win his first two starts will have just cause to feel aggrieved. 

https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/infohorsews/wsd06x?Arg=hrnzg-Ptype&Arg=RaceVideo&Arg=hrnzg-RacehdrID&Arg=293949&Arg=hrnzg-rSite&Arg=TRUE

Edited February 5, 2022 by Walt

[Chief Stipe]

 

[Chief Stipe]

 

[Gammalite]

36 minutes ago, Walt said:

very serious questions need to be asked about these two highlighted races for the integrity of the game. I sincerely feel anyone foolish enough to have wagered on Caulfield to win his first two starts will have just cause to feel aggrieved.

I had something on CAULFIELD with a great Australian name like that , and having had a runner placed at Hawera a long time ago, running 2nd to John Butcher (a fantastic NZ legend of the sport )  ,so had a little something on it.

Was very surprised at the way the race panned out, considering the many points in this thread opening made by Walt.

I believe stewards have asked a couple of questions ? as per this in report from Race Day 1. 

CAULFIELD - Driver D Butcher was questioned regarding his apparent lack of vigour in driving this gelding out over the final stages. After taking initial evidence from Mr Butcher and viewing the replays the matter was adjourned until the second day to enable Stewards to consider the evidence that had been tendered.

[Rangatira]

31 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

I had something on CAULFIELD with a great Australian name like that 

The Galahs darts would be a more profitable methodology 

[Walt]

2 hours ago, Gammalite said:

I had something on CAULFIELD with a great Australian name like that , and having had a runner placed at Hawera a long time ago, running 2nd to John Butcher (a fantastic NZ legend of the sport )  ,so had a little something on it.

Was very surprised at the way the race panned out, considering the many points in this thread opening made by Walt.

I believe stewards have asked a couple of questions ? as per this in report from Race Day 1. 

CAULFIELD - Driver D Butcher was questioned regarding his apparent lack of vigour in driving this gelding out over the final stages. After taking initial evidence from Mr Butcher and viewing the replays the matter was adjourned until the second day to enable Stewards to consider the evidence that had been tendered.

Hey Gammalite,

With a user name like yours it would make sense you had a nibble. 

Hot fav the stewards will gift another free pass.

I'm sure David wanted to win the race but thinking of the horse long term appeared to be a bigger priority. I can understand that but isn't what trials and workouts are for? I'm sure it's just a coincidence that when he's been beaten twice with quiet drives, it was his son that beat him both times. Not the best look in a sport where authenticity and integrity are so important.

Wouldn't it be ironic to say the least if the horse was sold to Australia and went on to be another Smoken Up. 

Edited February 5, 2022 by Walt

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Walt said:

Hey Gammalite,

With a user name like yours it would make sense you had a nibble. 

Hot fav the stewards will gift another free pass.

I'm sure David wanted to win the race but thinking of the horse long term appeared to be a bigger priority. I can understand that but isn't what trials and workouts are for? I'm sure it's just a coincidence that when he's been beaten twice with quiet drives, it was his son that beat him both times. Not the best look in a sport where authenticity and integrity are so important.

Wouldn't it be ironic to say the least if the horse was sold to Australia and went on to be another Smoken Up. 

Surely you didn't expect him to whip the horse with more than a wrist action?

[Forbury]

It is obvious the greats can lose there touch.ive been backing the chief David butcher until recently.now he's in the group of never to back.hes driving very poorly and the stewards have questioned alot of drives on favs

Edited February 5, 2022 by Forbury
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[Walt]

3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Surely you didn't expect him to whip the horse with more than a wrist action?

I didn't expect him to whip the horse at all. I also don't consider any strike of the sulky or dust sheet to be whipping. What I expected was something more than a couple of gentle late perfunctory wrist movements especially when you are a real hope of winning the race. I believe a driver of David's considerable experience must have been aware there was a horse leveling up to him out wide and he was in danger of being narrowly beaten. I'm also sure he would have known the colours of his rivals including those of the horse that got up late and beat him narrowly .....driven by his son.

My five decades of watching harness racing in NZ, Australia, the United States and Canada tell me that had David got even a little authentic in the home straight, Caulfield as a dominant favourite would have very likely won race 4 at Hawera yesterday. 

If there was a genuine reason Caulfield was driven so quietly in the home straight when victory was seemingly his for the taking, then I will promptly apologize for my input here but if it is as I suspect, a blatant example of failing to obtain the best possible placing, I'd hope a well deserved lengthy suspension is forthcoming. 

[Doomed]

Certainly a different style of driving to those at the Hunter Cup meeting last night.