Blackie

Stupid game.🙃

Way back in last century, I was at Los Alamitos Raceway, watching all the NZer's clean up, has since closed. They had some amazing promotional ideas. Granted, it was surrounded by the Hispanic population, but use to giveaway stuff at the gate to get people throught it eg carry bags, watches, cheap little items but free. Now, once on the course, the racing became secondary to all the other activities, more a fairground type of atmosphere but it worked, maybe 3-4000 people.It was like rent a crowd. And then , on some special nights, a Friday or Saturday, for the cost of $10, they'd have a music concert in the middle of the track, and in between races a Country & Western singer(I fell in love with Crystal Gayle🥰)) or the like would perform. I would think SIX60 would pack it out.So now you have 10,000+ people who have come for the occasion, and in between times lets have a harness race, and maybe a % of those will have a bet and get interested in the chariot racing going on. We tend to forget it is a thrilling spectacle under lights with the colours up, the speed and the shiney horse flesh. My point is, the young demographic today, with or without families, don't want to be 4 hrs on a course with not much happening, their attention span is too short nowadays and HRacing ain't the only gig in town when it comes to choices as it use to be. I think we are in the entertainment business, not the racing business. Auckland , and Addington for that matter, are in prime positions to take advantage of their localities. They should be Horse Central, everything to do with the equine. How about a dressage arena in the middle of the track? What about running classes teaching people how to place a bet, which I know with all it's permutations puts young people off. What about hitting the schools with guided tours, much like the MCG does, teaching children about the history of the horse, driving a virtual horse, and maybe one or two may get keen. Man, I've just read what I've written and a few ramblings I know but it comes from a place where we feel we could do so much more. Pretty hard in the prevailing conditons we find ourselves I know, but could be an opportune time for a reset.

6 harness meetings in 6 days, gotta love it . I’d see that as a positive.

There are many honest trainers who share ourconcerns and all are talking about it but they cant say anything in public because of the rules of the executive. I think that is a big concern as well Enteebee, although I can see how hard it would be to get a totally independent governance of Harness Racing in little ol’ NZ. Perhaps we should be engaging people completely outside the sport, and running this more business like, with no conflict of interest.

Ha! Now you've put me into a "neither confirm or deny" position 😇

Karrots Don’t want to get into pedantics but that horse probably always had a 27 quarter in it, just not at the end of a race before. If a race horse can zip a quarter in 27, 28 or 29, that’s it, you know what you have, but let’s say it leaves the gate in 27 and then all of a sudden comes home in 27, we’ll, that’s what I call improvement. The ability to hold its speed for longer, the champs have it, that top cruising speed, think Lazarus, is what those drug lords are selling. Gets rid of all that lactic acid out of their legs so they don’t get tired, but, that’s when the average horse running on ethanol will hurt themselves, and they won’t last. I get suspicious when an old timer or average horse grows another leg, wins in a row, then is sold. Just my point of view, I enjoy your postings, gets us thinking.

Karrots Disagree there Karrots, can’t give a horse speed, they either have it or they don’t….but! I’m sure you can make them run as fast , further.

Happy, if the top trainers find something wrong, the turn around can be that quick, it’s that simple, the horse is fit, just needs some fine tuning, get a horse sound and the results come.

Happy. Just breathe mate, life’s to short. I’m vested in this industry, been a whole lifetime, been out there amongst it, don’t bet because you know what can go wrong, know what goes on, and call it as I see it, governance would be the single biggest problem IMHO, be nice to have some strong independent leadership.

Happy, with your observations , you should be making a fortune following the money trail. If you can spot that $ movement like you did , then if I was a punter, I’d jump on. Sometimes it comes off, and sometimes it doesn’t, that’s racing. Just saying that mare today needed all favours to get home, probably not a lot left there. Just my observations.

Of course it’s not Addington, as long as money is involved people will try and beat the system, even the top trainers get done. Nothing Happy Sunrise has put forward has been backed up with any facts, and is all innuendo, until then…

Hi Happy If what you are suggesting is true, surely, surely, anything untoward would’ve been exposed by now. IMHO no stone gets unturned in that stable, together with experience and top drivers, it’s a hard act to beat.

Greg a protege of Robert’s.

I think John Dunn if not the best , close to it, he seems to get them all into a great rhythm and they just keep running for him, very Dexter like.

Hi Happy How you can place those scoundrels in with a thoroughly professional outfit like the top trainers are is ridiculous. Those cheats got found out and were exposed for what they were, cheats. Then again, no one is squeaky clean…….RJ Dunn served time out for DMSO with Defoe in Aussie I think, and M Purdon did his time for Blue Magic. But to group all those together(, those three you mentioned are nowhere in the same league as the other one), draws a very long bow I reckon.

Why do people get jealous by someone getting a winner. Despite everything I just described above what usually happens, there is always someone to cut someone down, that’s the game I suppose. Good on the owners for getting one with all their persistence, they’ll be well behind the eight ball.

That’s the betting analyst’s job if anything untoward

Yes, All Stars seem to pass them on if they have major problems as they have plenty more to work with.

They’d go over everything with a fine tooth comb, bloods, lameness, teeth, gear etc and can turn around a horse pretty quick if they find a problem that someone else has missed.

Morning I've followed this thread with interest. This is all just hearsay until this race is run. I'm the first to point out any injustice( the High Flying Harry race at Reefton was disgraceful but won in the judicial room, if that boy had of pulled his right rein at the quarter would've gone close, plenty of room), but like to see the overall picture. No, you can't give a horse any more ability than what it's got, but one thing I know about this top stable is that they are very good at diagnosing any soundness issues with a horse, all the little things that someone else may have missed , RJ & Co are masters at this , and employ top people throughout their operation. Together with the change in scenery and the straight line training, they get the best out of the animal. I doubt anyone else would of got as many seasons out of Master Musician with his soundness issues, through RJ's expertise. Diamond Racing has'nt just happened, it's been built over many years of experience, right from when RJ started, they have always been near to the top of the tree, their record speaks of that. Can you blame the bookmakers? Because of the stable's history of getting the best out of a horse, this horse has drawn one on the second line, following the likely leader, and going to get every chance if good enough. The smart punters amongst us(I'm not a punter) would have taken the value on offer, and looks like a few have. I don't bet but it would'nt get any of my money, No 1 looks like the winner, but who knows? My 10 cents worth.

That Karrots, is she getting swabbed? Thanks again LB, great effort, know from the quizzes I do a lot of research goes in. Have a feeling we've lived through a golden era, though I suppose every generation can say that as the bred gets better & faster. Ah , nostalgia, gotta love it!👌

They are really strong looking foals if that is anything to go by.

Hi Josias Was Flashing Red trained by Tim Butt & Phil Anderson for both of his wins?

1. Is this a trick question? I can only see 3 in that line up - Arden Rooney, Lightning Blue, Steel Jaw. 2. The Curse? Being favourite in The Cup :Master Musician 1993, Elsu 2004 3. Lazarus, Smoken Up, Tiger Tara - 3 great stayers.

Chokin Elsu Christian Cullen Geez, weren’t we spoilt.