Happy Sunrise

Not really. Any organisation or whatever it may be, can go through troubled times or restructuring, but harness seems to be in a phase of perpetually being in a state of chaos. Nice.

or a driver like Mangos.

I have always said the grass trots with its social aspect with family and friends is the key to maintaining interest in harness racing because it is generally free to go and a relaxing day out eg Methven or the Mot. If you can couple that with big syndicates requiring little outlay you might end up with generational interest and bigger ownership in the future. Dwindling fast in my circle as they have had enough of the crap that goes on with harness racing. There is way too much drama in general society these days to be bothered with more crap in what is essentially a social interest for most.

Quite an enlightened view considering the climate we live in. If you apply this to social scenarios, I know who will be getting in trouble, regardless. I wish harness racing sorted its act out.

Despite being in the minority over this, I am very pleased to see Cox lost his appeal over this. Time to do a harness hibernation as the nearly identical pattern of Friday and Sunday at Addington for the next 2 months is enough to put anyone to sleep.

Auckland TC got demoted from the Premier League to take the place of the forever-banished Forbury TC. Getting Thursdays for dates is like living in purgatory on the wrong doorstep.

He has a horse in on Sunday, Special Effects. It goes ok so I will be backing it. When did he move to Canterbury? Does anyone know his plans? Hey Bartender with him?

A coup implies a revolution, I don't think any part of the harness racing fraternity feels that this will make any difference at all. All I hear are crickets.

Drivers don't get pulled up on this. They probably should. 7 days for Cox.

Not with a horse behind you but on bends I have seen them guide horses to. Keep it safe. I just don't think punching is the way to go.

Jordy to Tyler Dewe.

We are like the Maori Party on this one, Rusty. Polling about 5%. Multiple personalities have said it is ok 😂

I stand corrected in my view that it was an unacceptable action by a driver in a race on TV. I am used to seeing a driver push their head back onto the horse or be a bit classier like Orange or Close and use a forearm to steer a horse away if it got too close. Fair enough though if people think it was ok to do that. Hope it doesn't become a regular occurrence as I wouldn't want the driver to fall out of the cart with a big swing and a miss!

So you think Cox turning back and punching the horse on multiple occasions is ok?

JUST MICHAEL - began awkwardly and shifted outwards at the start. When questioned regarding the performance driver J Cox reported the gelding had hung inwards from the 800m causing him difficulty and he would be recommending a change of bit prior to the horse resuming. Mr Cox defended a charge under Rule 869(3)(f) alleging he drove improperly passing the 1500m when striking the trailing KIWI HERO on several occasions with his fist with the Adjudicative Committee electing to defer the hearing to a date and time to be fixed

He should really have just bitten the horse's ear. If you are going to have a go, do it right

The thing about someone of his calibre/arrogance is they have a strong instinct for self-preservation so I doubt the asphalt will ever be laid.

Good on him. Great to see him so passionate. I don't see that on course much these days, unfortunately. Maybe it happens in the member's stand...

He seems like the real deal, but is he? I haven't seen (or can't remember) a pacer coming up the ranks like this who hasn't been part of the 2 or 3-year-old elite racing for a while. If you could put him in the market for the Sire Stakes Final, where would he be? 3rd to Merlin and Don't Stop Dreaming? At the top? Split favouritism with the 2 top ones? Down the ranks a bit with Captain Tom since he hasn't raced the gun 3-year-olds yet? Or not even on the radar for you yet? Talented family going back to Smarty Pants and Kincaid who used to run for third behind Tuapeka Knight and Starship if my memory is right.

What happened?

It is pathetic really. There are going to be no real winners at the end of the day.

Apart from the goodwill and energy of club members who still want harness racing to be an on course experience. Good on them.

It will take ages to decide this, if it ever happens at all, as it requires an amount of thinking that is not evident 99% of the time by the leadership. Do you think HRNZ would allow them to cut into their sphere of influence? Would it require more salaries to achieve? Would Auckland and Cambridge work together if it was not one of their own in charge?

$2FF Southern harness racing, you are a joke.

$2FF with average trial form in the race which includes a Telfer/Cullen horse. Comical.