Happy Sunrise

Good on Sarah for saying she made the wrong decision. A real time driving decision which results in inaction is always more likely to bite one in the bum than a decision of action. Unless you are Maurice McKendry, of course. I find this decision much more palatable. No question of deliberate intent to pull the horse up, driver made a clear error, gets a few days and everyone moves on. This differs from McKendry because he made a decision in an attempt to win the race. If he had a habit of reverting to the inside then it would be different because that would be a pattern (possibly of deception) and he would need to be reminded of his obligations. Stipes should be looking for patterns, not one off events. If they think a one off event is that bad, have a look at the betting patterns etc and do some detective work to find motives.

Would a human want to be in the care of his two previous trainers and all their hanger-ons? Have a good think about that scenario.

Really good to read about Johnny N. It is a very nice story.

Stipes know better 😂

They clearly do not strive for consistency. They are not interested in addressing this kind of thing. It is easier not to shine the light on the more murkier aspects of harness racing.

I should have read the Lincoln Farms article before I wrote my response. Insightful the Newman case just gets disregarded. Maybe the northern stipes consider it to be the Wade V Roe decision of harness racing.

The stipes don't do their job properly. Here is some evidence. This is not directed at Sarah O as she is highly capable, has a great future and a breath of fresh air in the driving ranks. How can the stipes identify this drive as being questionable but only consider it worthy of a warning while McKendry is charged? I am perplexed. TASMAN TEMPEST - over-raced early and middle stages. Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room in the run home. Driver S O'Reilly advised that the removable deafeners had failed to activate due to the cord becoming entangled. Miss O'Reilly will be spoken to regarding the manner she drove on the final bend when electing not to shift wider on the track when an opportunity existed before being covered by an outside runner. https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/infohorsews/wsd06x?Arg=hrnzg-Ptype&Arg=RaceVideo&Arg=hrnzg-rSite&Arg=TRUE&Arg=hrnzg-RacehdrID&Arg=16461567-04C2-427C-AFB6-EAA0FA167858&Arg=hrnzg-rSite&Arg=TRUE In 1-1 approaching 400. Covered up at top of straight. Held up down the straight. And at the finishing post

What would it cost to do this? Probably millions a year. I don't think they have the money to do it.

They are doing some good things which they should be applauded for.

Good. He has been hard done by. Revealing the stipes choose to dismiss comparisons to the Newman case but keep harping back to the Higgs one. I will repeat myself but if you watch enough replays of races you will see drivers go up the middle or go down to the inside instead of taking the run wide often enough. Does it always work, no, but it is a viable option rather than being stuck 7 wide with no hope of winning the race. McKendry: So now the stipes can tell how a driver can drive when it suits their agenda. [32] The measure that Mr McKendry had available to him, which was both reasonable and permissible, was to maintain his position on the back of HARDER THAN DIAMONDS before then shifting out off that horse’s back where he had clear running thereby ensuring that SIMPLY SAM was given full opportunity to do the best it could given the circumstances. This may not have been Mr McKendry’s preferred option, but Stewards submit that it was clearly the best option at that stage of the race. Newman: But the stipes let their mate off with this gift card Mere errors of tactics are in and of themselves not sufficient to found liability for a breach of this Rule. Given the nature of Harness Racing, at any one point in a race a Driver may have a number of options available to him or her. The decisions made by the Driver are required to be made in a mere instant during the race with multiple uncontrollable variables. A Driver must, relying upon his or her experience and expertise, balance up a number of competing factors and chose one. The Driver does not have the benefit of hindsight, multiple video angles or the pause button. The Rule recognises this reality and does not hold a Driver to the standard of perfection.

They should be encouraged to go up the grades. Higher you go the more you race for. If I owned a mid range 55 rated horse and and saw 35-43s racing for 20K I would feel a bit peeved. I suppose if one looks at Friday night the stakes range from 13 to 17k. Low grade 13 and higher grade 17 so you could say they are doing that now, however, the ratings range from 35 to 73 so not really at all.

I don't really get the grading system these days. When did the 35 rating come in? I thought the bottom was 40. When you have a 4 win horse like Royal Pride racing in a 42-53 I don't get how the ratings system can go up to 130. It is a horse still on the up, won 4 races but can still be racing plodders with no future at all. It feel like 90% of the horses are below a rating 50 judging by the racing served up. The system seems weighted against horses going up the scale but rather designed to make them go south of the 50 mark. If you are above 50 then maybe you should race for more money like Royal Nod suggests.

They are the type who race every week because they are not very good. Low stakes but go around often to recoup.

I find it surprising given the climate the country is in the flag debate does not reappear. How the woke community can live with a symbol of colonisation such as a Union Jack on the flag is something I cannot comprehend.

But where does the money come from?

But stakes come from punters having the confidence to bet into races which increases turnover and then stakes. Hence, the reason I harp on about the little things like stipe inconsistency, starting issues, movement notifications etc. Punter confidence is key. HRNZ are doing some good things for sure but they turn a blind eye to the little but important things around racing. When you compare a harness race to a gallops race in Australia I know which one I would have confidence betting into.

Which must mean Cup Day stakes etc will be boosted too? I really like the upped stakes but it must be done comparatively.

Cup Day stakes might be increasing this year? Seems a lot of positive changes to stakes so to increase the value of Cup Day races seems logical and overdue. Even the graduation final on Show Day last year is only $10 000 more than Forbury on Thursday.

4 races out of 9 are worth $20 000 on Thursday. Including one for 35 to 42 pacers. The supporting races at the NZ Cup were only $25 000 last year. The junior free for all won by Krug was worth $31 000. Not sure if it is good or bad.

😂 I can't wait to read the decision.

I know no one is interested or cares but why is this not a false start or a late scratching of Phone Tap? If Phone Tap tried to take its place then Sharp Lou couldn't have got into position. If it is out of position at the start due to another runner then surely it is denied a fair start. Drew 1: SHARP LOU - Slow to leave the pre-race formation and was out of position at the start. Drew behind the 1: PHONE TAP - hampered in the score up and was out of position at the start. But hey, it is only the punter, driver, trainer and owner who is disadvantaged, not the TAB, not the starter, nor HRNZ so all good.

That is a false start. The horse on the second line was disadvantaged. It could not get in its rightful position. Should be late scratched. Harness is a joke. Sorry, but it is. That starter needs to be reprimanded or retrained.

Before he admitted it.🙄 There are still some who choose to believe everything is just dandy to this very moment.

A tip for you, Karrots, still value here. Wonder where it is being trained?

Pocket Call. Watch it's last few runs. Incredible isn't it.