Rusty

Haha sorry, just needed to get all that sh!t off my chest. I'm feeling better now, having had a cup of tea (same one that the monkeys drink), and a lie down.

Far from ideal. That photo sums it up really, and one could understand why some punters would be discouraged from wagering on the trots. There are probably a few variables as to why this happens, but if the mobile was to have a lower maximum speed at the point of release, would that help things?

"Evidence gathered by RIU inadmissible so not progressed further under the Animal Welfare Act" Interesting. Disappointing. Not surprising. Typical. Useless. And that's why I have asked MPI for all the info they have on the Jesse Alford case.

And those 4 cases were: 2021 Harness racing horse injected with banned substance Investigation conducted by RIU – Trainer disqualified for 7 years. MPI reviewed RIU investigation. Evidence gathered by RIU inadmissible so not progressed further under the Animal Welfare Act. 2021 Trainer seen with syringe near horse Investigation conducted by RIB under the Rules of Racing – Trainer disqualified for 21 months. MPI advised of investigation as per MOU. MPI reviewed RIU investigation. Testing unable to confirm what substance horse was injected with, therefore no evidence to prove animal harm. 2022 Thoroughbred horse tested positive for Methamphetamine Investigation conducted by RIU – Trainer disqualified for 18 months. MPI advised of investigation as per MOU. Positive result due to contamination / exposure in environment. No evidence of animal harm. 2022 Thoroughbred horse returned positive test for methamphetamine Investigation conducted by RIU – no outcome to date. MPI advised of investigation as per MOU and undertook additional inquiries regarding testing. No evidence that positive result was due to administration of drugs. No evidence of animal harm.

I also asked MPI: How many horse racing stables MPI have visited (in the last 12 months), to investigate the use of prohibited substances, or performance enhancing substances, on race horses. Their response: "In regard to your request for information on MPI visits to horse racing stables in the last 12 months, we have searched our records from 1 January 2021 to 19 August 2022 and found four cases relating to the use of prohibited or performance enhancing substances. As per the MOU, these cases were investigated by the RIU, and MPI did not visit the stables."

On 16 September I raised a further OIA with MPI: Why didn't MPI fulfill their commitment to meet with the other 2 parties involved with the MOU (as outlined in the MOU, to meet in person, twice a year etc). To be fair, I'm asking the other two organisations the same question, not just MPI. Under the OIA may I also please receive all information that MPI hold, including copies of photos and/or video footage, relating to the events, and investigation (that the RIB conducted, and shared with MPI), regarding horse trainer Jesse Alford (suspended from training for 7 years)?" As yet no response, but I will post it up on here once received.

Here's my question to MPI: In April, July and September this year, racehorses died during a race, or immediately afterwards, with no apparent explanation. All three horses were from the same harness racing stable. Can you please advise what actions (if any) MPI take regarding racehorse deaths, and if post mortem results are available? MPI's response: "There is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Racing Integrity Board (RIB) and the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Incorporated (SPCA). This MOU has been provided as Appendix One for your reference. The MOU clarifies who investigates incidents involving racing animals. Under this MOU, the RIB investigates all race day and non-race day incidents under the Rules of Racing and notifies MPI and or the SPCA who, under section 3.2 of the MOU, may also investigate the incident under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 (AWA). Regarding the racehorse deaths you mention, as per our MOU, the RIB advised MPI of the incidents you refer to on 23 September 2022. The RIB has concluded their investigation of the horse deaths and neither MPI nor RIB will be taking any further action. MPI do not hold the post-mortem results, nor do we believe it to be held by another agency that is subject to the OIA or Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA). As such, this part of your request is refused under section 18(g)(i) of the OIA." Clever use of words there. My pick is that MPI know that there are post mortem results, but they also know that HRNZ nor the RIB can be subjected to OIA requests. But once again MPI show their true worth in these cases. Frickn useless.

And just to be be very clear on this, I am not part of the anti-racing brigade, and not part of the cult that are out to try and shut down racing. Just wanting MPI (a government department of Jacindastan), to hold the bastards that mistreat horses accountable for their actions.

I've asked MPI why they have elected not to meet the other two parties at the same time, and why they initially agreed to meet twice a year, but nope, they can't be arsed.

I also raised an OIA request over this exact issue too. I will try and post about it, on this thread soon, as I finally received a response from MPI.

I raised a OIA request with MPI recently, as I was keen to find out what's happened since the introduction of the MOU. Farkn nothing is the answer, as seen below, with this response from MPI: "The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the Racing Integrity Board (RIB) which has been in place since 1 July 2021 (replacing the Racing Integrity Unit (RIU)) and the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Incorporated (SPCA) work closely to help ensure animal welfare standards are met for those involved in racing. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the parties clarifies who investigates incidents involving racing animals. Under this MOU, the RIU investigates all race day and non-race day incidents under the Rules of Racing and notifies MPI and or the SPCA who may also investigate the incident under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 (AWA). There have been meetings between those parties since 2021 but none where all three parties were present, and none where minutes were recorded." It's all b/s. They say they work closely, but have never even been in the same room together. What makes it even worse is that this directly contravenes the MOU that they all signed up for, under the heading 3.1 Commitments, where they are meant to have met twice a year. Garry Orr from MPI, hang your head in shame.

Bloody glad I held on to all of my stuff too, and didn't give it away to the buggers. The spiders will get some use outta it.

I was oncourse tonight Happy, and noone that I asked knew where the photo could be viewed. The admin office was vacant, and the team member from Addington at the service desk, had no clue what the hell I was on about. To make it worse, she pulled the Jacinda trick of smiling, when delivering bad news. I asked if she could point me in the right direction, or asking someone else to assist. Nope. She could not give any less of a ****. Funny that, because last year, I asked the lady if there would be someone at the club that would be interested in taking a look at some harness racing memorabilia that I have in storage. Hundred year old racebooks, photos, trophies and the like. They couldn't have bent over backwards for me fast enough, as I suggested that they they may like to have it, and put some of it on display etc. Great customer service that time, but not so tonight unfortunately. I tried for ya mate. I tried.

It's an advert for "Cup and Show week", and not merely the NZ Trotting Cup. It's a collaborated effort between the three racing codes, plus the A&P Show outfit (they have a new name now, but old school, we all know it as the A&P Show). The whole week goes off its chops in C town. The Friday (Show Day) is a public holiday (Canterbury Anniversary day), but half the town unofficially closes down on Tuesday afternoon for the Addington races. Cup day at Addington is obviously the main highlight of Cup week for most, but Riccarton's Cup day on the Saturday is becoming more and more popular every year, and whilst it probably won't catch Addington's big dance anytime soon, it is certainly catching up in the popularity stakes, if crowd numbers are anything to go by.

Always a welcome addition, any Aussie runners in the Cup. I wish more competed in the great race. Perhaps the "standing" start puts the Aussies off a bit maybe? It's a bit of coin in airfares etc to go all that way, with no guarantee that the start is going to be clean. And let's face it, the start of the Cup is more often a shambles than not.

Big call that, but it'll be interesting. As a social event, I don't think NZ Cup day will be surpassed by The Race anytime soon. A decent chunk of the Cup day crowd don't give a rat's about the horses. They go there to see, and be seen. Pull duck faces, (try and pull the opposite sex whilst at it), and stick it on the 'gram, tick tock, and update their Bookfaces lol Cup day is ingrained into the Canterbury psyche, so I can't see the crowds steering clear unless the laws of Jacindastan are imposed once again. But strictly from a horse race perspective, The Race is going to be the premier race for the harness code within 4 years I'm picking. Better horses (than the Cup) + better stake money (than the Cup) = premier race.

I dunno about that. The Everest and the All Star Mile are hard to get in to, but it would take a lot for those races to become more prestigious than a slipper, a Cox Plate, or a Melbourne Cup, just in my opinion. The other thing too, with the slot races, a horse could win it, but there is usually no knowing how much of the winning stake the owner(s) actually get of it, depending upon the contractual arrangements agreed upon prior to the race etc. So may not be as prestigious as other races.

Sorry, I misunderstood. In terms of chances, of Heza Sport getting a crack; yeah look he wouldn't be in my first half dozen picks, but there is no reason why he couldn't be picked up, if he was to take the step up in the open class grade. Looks like a really nice horse, that could go on with it. Time will tell. I'm stoked for CJ and Julie DeFilippi too. They deserve to have another top liner, so I'm hoping for Heza Sport to have every success in the future.

Horses can't "qualify" for The Race, they are picked up by the slot holders. So I guess it comes down to negotiations between slot holders and connections of horses.

I told you Gazza!! I told you that we'd get caught out! There are a few switched on in this forum! Ask your own bloody questions next time. P.S start digging out your mum's old Christmas recipes. That ham one from last year kind of missed the mark.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute... You'll telling me that horses need to qualify, in order to start in the Cup?! So they just don't let anyone in? Asking for a friend.

Yes, I couldn't agree more. NZMTC would do well, to take a leaf out of the Moonee Valley Racing Club's book (with the Cox Plate), and not try to bugger up their flagship race. Here is a prediction: Cambridge's "The Race" will overtake the NZ Cup as the country's premier harness race within 4 years.

Yet the club will still have 15 horses start in the Cup. Regardless of the depth, or lack thereof. One of my pet hates, throwing 3 or 4 horses in the Cup every year, that aren't really old school "Cup Class" horses. Clutters up the field in my opinion. Dumbs it all down. Common thing to do these days though I guess.

That's where the old school Weekly magazine was brilliant. More often than not, it would have a piece on a lesser known trainer, or industry participant, and it would make for a great "human interest" story. Sadly, it seems those days are well gone.

I was just wondering the other day where the NZ Cup and Dominion were going to be run. Thanks for the confirmation Gary.