Happy Sunrise

He is not suspended from training, it is just his fine that is partially suspended. He walks away with a $500 fine which is what some get here for excessive whip use.

Signals the hypocrisy of the the owner.

Won't make a difference. Another predictable number of nominations at Auckland this week. There must be serious questions being asked about the viability of Auckland racing. That club must be bleeding money in its own right and not contributing to the general health of the game with its turnover. Why don't HRNZ publish figures anymore? Can someone direct me to where they do? Looking at Invercargill Cup Day nominations I feel very sad for the industry down there. 5 noms for 3 year old race, 9 for a non winners $15 000 race, 7 for a fillies race, 7 for a 2 year old race of $20 000 and 17 in total for 2 $20 000 races. What are the owners and trainers thinking not being involved in this day? At least, the Cup holds up to some extent, a paltry 10. Is this finally the emergence of lower breeding/foal numbers in recent years?

Just shows you how unprepared HRNZ is. Dipping into reserves is only good if you are a Middle Eastern country producing oil.

Maybe Mr Woodham can conjure up something with this Turkey and turn it into a glazed ham like last year

Harness Racing New Zealand - Funding Update 7 December 2022 , News Harness Racing New Zealand - Funding Update Just what the TAB's proposed reduction in funding will mean for all three codes should be known before Christmas. "We have had a lot of discussions with the TAB since the announcement was made last week and we are continuing to make progress," says Harness Racing New Zealand Chief Executive Gary Woodham. "We are now in a position to confirm that there will be a reduction of funding of $15m for the remainder of the 2022-23 season, so that takes us to the end of July next year." But it is too early to say what that will mean specifically for harness racing. "The finance people at all three codes will be doing a lot of work to determine how much each code will be affected by this reduction." "And then once we know our figure then we will have to work out how that shortfall impacts us." A meeting of all three codes' Chairs and Chief Executive Officers will take place next Wednesday to discuss the implications. "As soon as we have more information we will provide more updates."

This article, taken from HRNZ shows perfectly why the industry will continue to struggle in this country. Hard to believe there is no place for the likes of Arabian Blue in NZ. Can sharper minds tell me why we don't just copy the Aussie model? 7,9,8,10,10,6,9,10,10,9,10 field size for Addington on Friday for reasonable stakes, field sizes should dictate stakes I reckon because I am not sure how much betting there will be Friday night. They should be lowered accordingly on a sliding scale. What was the turnover on Grand Prix Day? Australia beckoning Arabian Blue 6 December 2022 , Punters Info By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Australia is beckoning Canterbury pacer Arabian Blue, but trainer Steve Dolan is hoping that he can eke out a few more wins from the four-year-old gelding before he heads across the Tasman. En route to Auckland, the son of Auckland Reactor is making a pitstop at Manawatu Raceway on Tuesday where he will contest the T Market Fresh Mobile Pace (2000m). It is a big drop in grade for the gelding and Dolan is expecting a positive result from the meeting. “He will be super competitive, he has raced against much better horses. He is quite a nice horse,” Dolan said. The Russley horseman has plenty of time for Arabian Blue and said it will be a shame to lose him offshore, however, he has to do the right thing by his connections and believes the handicapping system in New Zealand has forced his hand. “He’s heading to Manawatu with a view to heading to Australia,” Dolan said. “He probably won’t stay there for long, but the long-term plan for him is to go to Jack Trainor at Menangle. “It is a reflection of programming and handicapping in and around Canterbury." “I just can’t find suitable racing for him. He is up against horses that are really seasoned and much higher in the ratings, or he can’t get a mobile on a lesser day. “It is really tricky to place a horse like him. Once you get into R55 or better, next thing you are up against horses that are very good.” A number of stable predecessors are plying their trade across the Tasman and Dolan believes Arabian Blue has the potential to bank plenty of money for his connections in Australia. “A couple of horses we have sent to Aussie are doing a fantastic job and their handicapping system allows them to earn quite a lot of money,” Dolan said. “I would say he is very capable of winning a lot of money in Australia. It is unfortunate that I will lose him, but I am just trying to do the right thing by his owner Les Purdon. “Les is really enjoying racing him and I just want to get him a return.”

It is time to sell up everything and follow the Aussies as in Melton and Menangle. We might as well do what they have done and are doing and spare the NZ industry some pain. In the Canterbury region, Addington is sold, along with every other track which can provide $ such as Rangiora. 95% of the rest are jettisoned. A new complex based on the Albion Park alternative model is built somewhere south of Christchurch (preferably in a not so windy spot) so it is in a central place for trainers. Will have training and stable facilities (Hong Kong gallops model?) which may help reduce costs for everyone. It should be built properly with decent viewing eg stands (one floor only spaced along home straight, grass embankments with an actual winning post and camera angle that is in line with the finish. This place will allow racing several times a week so owners get more opportunity to race their horses for admittedly limited stakes. It will have its own vet, onsite testing regimes, RIU and HRNZ can be based there. Again, reduced costs. Every other track in Canterbury is gone except for Methven and Motukarara which will alternate Sunday grass track racing between October to April. If trainers are too far away, they move to be closer to the action. In the deep south, Everything is gone except for Invercargill, any profits from closure can upgrade Ascot Park to a second class citizen status and see how they survive. If not, move to Canterbury. In the North, Palmy gone, Auckland gone (it is beyond resuscitation, lets be honest - the bigwigs are only protecting their salaries before retiring into the sunset) , everywhere else is gone too, no grass racing whatsoever, everything is out of Cambridge. Any profit (😂) from the sale of Auckland goes to upgrade Cambridge and we will see if it survives, if not, move to Canterbury to continue to be involved in harness. The only debate would be whether the summer holiday destinations of Central Otago and the Coast and maybe Tasman survive. Why? Reduced stakes next season is a sign of hard times coming, super low Cup Day crowd, really soft crowd numbers yesterday for the best racing of the year, weak crowds at country meetings, ageing and totally unacceptable facilities eg Methven toilets, Mot grandstand covered in bird poo or Ashburton stand seats covered in dust, undersized fields, seemingly poor turnover figures, limited and self serving leadership from HRNZ (they didn't even know the reduced funding was coming? Goodness me) and a list of crooked and corrupt trainers in recent times who do the game no good at all. Harness is stagnant at best and facing an enormous challenge with being spread so far and wide. The ownership game makes no sense as an owner unless you are one of the elite with the All Stars, not everyone is wiling to chuck money down the drain for 'fun' and big syndicates can only put a few horses on the track at a time. Time to face up to the fact harness is not widespread like football, or even rugby, harness is rugby league but should aspire to be something like Aussie rules - localised but popular. Isolated solutions and band aid remedies will not fix anything. I am not even sure I support what I wrote, as I would be the first one to champion the little clubs but from what I witness it is time to get radical and go full 'Messara'

I think Robert can think for himself. A Bettor You's connections must be wrapped they are team driving for a stablemate to win.

Race most likely to have an upset....Oaks.

I agree, keeps the race follower interested. If it wasn't happening we would be gearing up for Boxing Day at Westport. Nice touch to have the Mot on Saturday before it. As for the marketing, haven't seen or heard anything. Good to keep the momentum of Cup Week going.

Very even race. 15FF was worth a go when it entered the Futures feature, especially if that sit eventuates.

Have I seen a mobile for one and a stand for the rest? Have now. Jimmy Arma gets a gift, gets the trail and wins all because of an unequal start.

Good question. HRNZ are in charge aren't they? They didn't consult with Addington over the NZ Cup handicapping.

Everybody except themselves.

The article in Stuff yesterday doesn't make sense as the programming on HRNZ says it is a 3200 handicap event. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/130570865/invercargill-to-host-its-first-ever-100k-group-1-harness-horse-race A recent addition were the (updated) handicaps. So it seems there has been a bit of dodgy dealing going on. How convenient R111 - 120 horses are off 20m and not 30m. Why wouldn't one have the handicaps up to the max of 130m? Maybe, because Self Assured is rated....(you guessed it)...120! Spankem is 119 so Gary Woodham had a bit of breathing room lol This is just so dodgy. I don't want to bring a cloud onto Mark Purdon and Natalie but it wouldn't surprise if he sent the acceptable race conditions on to the owners who just so happen to be in charge at HRNZ. 😂 On a serous note, the altering of race conditions within weeks of a Group 1 (also the rubbish with the NZ Cup and Woodham giving the go ahead for a 4 horse field wasn't it) is unacceptable. The altering (or meddling) brings the game into disrepute. How can punters, owners, trainers and club officials operate with confidence if this kind of thing is happening. I am glad Reid's articles have shone a light onto these unacceptable practices. Serious questions have to be asked. The nepotism is almost too much to take.

The funny thing is social media sites have been highlighting the ineptitude and hypocrisy for years but have been brushed off as 'extremists' but now a recognised outlet in (harnesslink) have lifted the lid on it, everyone within the industry is piling on. I don't think it will make much difference as the inner sanctum have such control over matters they make teflon look sticky.

How about the talk about the Invercargill Cup. Are they really changing it to a FFA so it is a cushy number for Board member's horses?

Have a read. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/130538463/banned-harness-trainer-apologises-publicly-for-first-time

You are right, the weather is uncontrollable. It is what it is. However, they need to have their processes in place where they are seen to be responding properly. It all just seems so amateurish when it is the livelihood of so many people.

And here is another example of how weak the system is. This is from yesterday at Timaru, on the 19th! Can drive on a big night on the 25th and comes back just in time for the very big day on the 4th of December. They even allow him to drive at Geraldine on the Saturday so he only misses a non descript Sunday meeting at Addington and Akaroa. J Dunn (EXCUSE MY FRENCH) [Rule 869(3)(b)] - Careless driving, shifting ground when insufficiently clear first bend (2 days). Suspended from 27/11/2022 until 03/12/2022 inclusive.

Even worse in the hollow about six metres wide that is right in the middle of the track close to the winning post....

Sounds like you need a supplement.

Harness never sleeps.

What with? Maybe Riccarton and Motukarara can do a review of their processes together? Ya know, combined learnings and all that.