Happy Sunrise

A future line of defence for drivers who get questioned by the stipes for their decisions.

It is there for everyone to see. At least our grass tracks are better than yours lol I still believe racing has its place in today's society if they can work it out but I think they are so piecemeal in their approach. It is a bit like the Government saying they are fixing poverty levels in NZ but they won't take the big stick to it so it will never change.

Held up at times down the straight after deciding to go the rails when it was 4 back the outside at the 1250m and in a sound position. I haven't seen a decision like that for a while. Hope the stipes have a question for him. Maybe he had a bet on Special Dream. As I did.

Maybe not good enough.

If you watch the trial carefully, Rakasharp was still going strongly way past the post, I don't think they let it down. The only query is 2600 after racing miles at Sydney.

They are not interested in recreating the glory days. If the big stand was still there it wouldn't be open anyway. They couldn't afford it. Now they have an overcrowded Spectators Bar and don't bother opening the genuine public space on the floor above. The casual spectator is not catered for and they know it.

What do you like tomorrow?

You boys would have to go again tomorrow. Jordy has a draw in a very plain race where the horse with the best run will probably win it. They are not unexpectedly into Special Dream which was at 9s and you had to be quick but I think Fernz Goldy at 7s has just as much to offer and has run good races against better horses. The gap between races for him is no problem and she has good course and distance stats. Natives Inferno always seems to be overs, unloved by the bookies. Some value at 10s tomorrow considering his last start 3rd. Jack Tar with a draw too but a bit light in the odds.

So Auckland is divided from Cambridge and the North is divided from the South.......God help us.........at least we have Timaru trots on Tuesday.

Not in a million years. And the North can't conceivably break away. You can't have two sets of administration for a game that is shrinking and not very large to begin with. We are not talking about Victoria and NSW here, more like Thames Valley and East Coast Bays. Harness has to be united to survive (let alone thrive) It is not that hard for the North and South to get on is it?

Good on him.

Maybe a co-governance model would be best 😂

Competent in her own mind. Was smiling at the end when listening to others which just shows the arrogance. No one gives up a gravy train on a big salary with no accountability.

It is just like NZ where a few bad apples are destroying it for the rest.

It is incredible to see those in power eg the racing minister parrot how things are good despite the obvious evidence to the contrary. I think that is the worst part of these times, the lack of reason, objectivity, and responsibility by those in power. They just talk total garbage.

Tennessee Honey. 2.10FF to 1.70FF Formline 4909X This guy should buy some half-decent horses and see what he can do with them. A bit like Mark Jones getting Bella Button.

Why doesn't this club race at Rangiora on the grass?

Why is Sunnys Sister not in the futures market for the Sires Stakes 3-year-old trot in May? What am I missing? She sure can run.

And all too familiar.

And then we have 6 horse fields at Addington on a Friday night.

The ratings are quickly becoming meaningless. With so many horses under 50 horses are just all the same big melting pot and get packaged into races but essentially they race the same horses all the time. Is a 6 win trotter rated 37 worse or better than a newbie trotter with a rating of 43? The rating is limited value.

Not on your life. Wash your mouth out. 🤣 Brodie's bride doesn't scare me. (it is a joke chief so don't go nuts) Harness is a bit dull at the moment, with small fields but loads of meetings. I have barely been betting as a consequence. I saw the Nathan Williamson drive on Joe's Rock down south the other week and thought he will be suspended for that but he got off scot-free. If it had been a lesser light they would have got weeks. Akuta V Copy That was a fizzer too. It is interesting HRNZ said they wanted to reduce costs etc but they have the TAB etc going to Oamaru and elsewhere for 7 or 8 race cards with few horses. I thought it would have made sense to have fewer meetings with full fields and save money that way. I am also waiting to see what happens in the new calendar after the clubs have presented to HRNZ. This will be very telling on the direction of harness and will set the scene for years. Also good to see Matt Anderson get 5 years +, he should really have been gone for good. He can't change his spots it seems. Same old stuff on rinse and repeat. On the bright side, I love Buckskin, gives his best, unfashionable battler outshines the shiny stars in races over and over again. Need to get him in the Cup field this year. Buckskin V Akuta! Bring it on! Buckskin by 6L, Akuta second, Copy That a distant 3rd... The Team Teal females are a credit to racing. There are so many female drives these days. It is great.

For sure, there is no doubt about how hard working with horses is but how tone-deaf is a driver to do it on race day with the public, cameras, stipes present, and attendants holding the horse? I thought harness racing would be trying to restore its image for a bit of respectability after recent events but it is seemingly ok to kick or punch a horse on race day. I think it reflects much more on the person and their actions than the horse but I don't care anymore as this industry just can't help itself. While the Adjudicative Committee accepts that no harm was done to the horse, such actions being shown on nationwide television coverage (an aggravating factor) do raise obvious animal welfare concerns and, therefore, cannot be condoned, but rather must be viewed seriously. Fortunately, such incidents are rare. At the same time, the Adjudicative Committee accepts that the case also involves Driver safety issues. CONCLUSION: Having regard to the Penalty Guide and the penalties in the previous cases referred to, the Respondent Driver, Colin DeFilippi, is fined $400.

The excuse-makers are out again about this I see. Not a worry for them, they turn a blind eye to even Burrows giving a horse vodka as well. If you don't mention it, it doesn't exist theory? With Mark Purdon venturing down the galloping route ( https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/purdon-announces-change-of-focus-at-all-stars/ ) he mentions the challenges harness is facing, He and Natalie were very open during the Covid times about the issues facing the game and obviously, they think it hasn't improved. With these two being the most professional, the industry should be beyond worried if Mark Purdon is diversifying out of harness and looking beyond next week's meeting to years down the track for himself and his boys' future. If people think it is defensible to kick and punch a horse on race day (with cameras and the public around no less) then there really isn't too much more to be said and I can see why a few of my friends have given up on harness. Hopefully, we will see similar penalties to what was dished out a few days ago to a couple in WA HARNESS STEWARDS’ INQUIRY – TRAINER HAYDEN REEVES AND STABLEHAND ASHLEIGH REEVES FEBRUARY 10, 2023 HARNESS Racing and Wagering Western Australia stewards conducted an inquiry on Thursday, 9 February 2023, in relation to the conduct of trainer Hayden Reeves and stablehand Ashleigh Reeves towards standardbred Dukes Empire at the Pinjarra Trotting Club on 20 December 2022 when it returned to the stabling area following track work. The inquiry heard evidence from RWWA Senior Investigator Mr T Walton and RWWA Industry Veterinarian Dr C McMullen in addition to hearing submissions from Mr and Mrs Reeves and their witness, trainer Mr K Prentice. Mr and Mrs Reeves pleaded guilty to the following charges, with the stewards determining to impose the penalties as indicated below. When determining penalty, stewards considered, among other things: • Their pleas of guilty and remorse for their actions • That this was a first offence after many years of licensed involvement • That harness racing was their livelihood • That the degree of force when contacting Dukes Empire was not severe • That the horse regained its feet shortly after with no evidence of injury and has since returned to racing • Previous penalties issued to others with respect to related horse handling matters • The potential for such conduct to bring the racing industry into disrepute • The need to ensure the highest welfare standards with respect to horse handling, with these actions falling short. Charges and penalties Hayden Reeves Rule 218A (1) A person shall not mistreat a horse. (2) For the purposes of this rule ‘mistreat’ means to abuse or treat a horse badly, cruelly or unfairly. Particulars relating to charge one: At Pinjarra Trotting Club on 20 December 2022, Mr Reeves, being a licensed trainer, did mistreat Dukes Empire by treating it badly when it returned to the stabling area after significant physical exertion in completing track work by kicking it. Penalty: $1500 fine with $500 suspended for a period of 12 months Particulars relating to charge two: At Pinjarra Trotting Club on 20 December 2022, Mr Reeves, being a licensed trainer, did mistreat Dukes Empire by treating it badly when it returned to the stabling area after significant physical exertion in completing track work by lifting its foreleg four times with the horse falling to its knee and to the ground. Penalty: $4000 fine with $1000 suspended for a period of 12 months Ashleigh Reeves Rule 218A Particulars of the charge being that at Pinjarra Trotting Club on 20 December 2022, Mrs Reeves, being a licensed stablehand, did mistreat Dukes Empire by treating it badly when it returned to the stabling area after significant physical exertion in completing track work by kicking it. Penalty: $1000 fine with $500 suspended.

At least the kids karts weren't there. Mind you, they seem to have a love of horses this lot don't.