Happy Sunrise Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 The best driver in the country who has people punt on his drives just because of who he is and this gets notified after race 1. Not medical, not traffic, not anything. Matt Cross has avoided any mention from what I have heard. Hasn't talked about the driver changes. As I said in the Mot selections thread, it means it is not good. I will eat my hat if it is a justifiable reason because in harness racing nothing bad ever gets explained. I will bit my tongue at this stage. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mardy Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 Yes if nothing is said straight away then i think from what we have seen with other drivers that are under investigation or whatever,then it's probably not a good thing. BUT just like everyone else we will all just have to wait and see IF something is mentioned and WHEN they decide to say something. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 12 minutes ago, Mardy said: BUT just like everyone else we will all just have to wait and see IF something is mentioned and WHEN they decide to say something. It will come out in the stipes report soon. If the talk is true and it is the second time for Blair Orange he can probably expect a bit longer on the sidelines than what he got previously. Twice in 5 years for the same offence is hardly a concerning trend but given the tirade he gave stipes while under the influence last year one will have to wait and see if they tie that to today's events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 Here it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mardy Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 Ah ok then. Well i guess if it is indeed Blair's 2nd time then yea you'd think a longer penalty?. Again it will have to be a wait and see game to see what the penalty is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 This was the penalty last time so it will be a bit more severe. Double it? Bob Butt doesn't drive that often so he could be out for awhile longer despite it being his first offence Penalty Mr Orange has drives at Roxburgh and Cromwell. He was stood down from driving at Omakau, so he has already served the equivalent of one day’s suspension. Mr Orange is suspended from the end of racing on 6 January up to and including 14 January (4 days — Oamaru; Nelson (2); Invercargill). He is also fined the sum of $1050. This is in effect 5 days’ suspension (35 drives) and the fine of $1050 equates to 21 drives. The total is thus 56 drives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mardy Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 Hard to see it being the same,considering that its his 2nd offence.So yea you'd think it would be longer,as he has 'form'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globederby19 Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 Well there yah go. Yah cant drink and drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turny Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 CWJ got 4 weeks and more than a little grief along the way, can see a lengthy suspension here with counselling courses too Sad all round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 13 hours ago, Turny said: Sad all round Is sad the right word? Everyone knows the rules and they broke them. Those that hate the system which includes the stipes and the rules of racing can try and defend the both of them but there is no excuse. I would see this as the system actually working as it stopped a person(s) with alcohol in their blood from taking to the track and possibly preventing an accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turny Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Sad for harness racing image, not the individual 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 1 hour ago, Turny said: Sad for harness racing image, not the individual Will only change once individuals start taking some responsibility for their actions. Kerr, McGrath, Anderson, Orange, Munro etc If harness falls on really hard times in the future participants can be partially to blame. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Show Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Absolutely. If you are part of an industry you need to remember that the industry relies on what you do.. and you'd think that just for one split second you could give your actions and thoughts to that and what the outcome might be. If anyone ever thinks they are bigger than an industry that provides them with their livelihood.. then they need to reflect and take account of what is really meaningful for them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Dancing Show said: Absolutely. If you are part of an industry you need to remember that the industry relies on what you do.. and you'd think that just for one split second you could give your actions and thoughts to that and what the outcome might be. If anyone ever thinks they are bigger than an industry that provides them with their livelihood.. then they need to reflect and take account of what is really meaningful for them. Very true. But one could write a book on how fragmented the industry is. Edited January 26, 2021 by Happy Sunrise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Show Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Yes unfortunately that is the case currently. Still got some happy pockets to focus on though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 10 hours ago, Dancing Show said: Still got some happy pockets to focus on though. Like you leading the comp and Cambridge next up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Show Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 (edited) haha hadn't thought of that as a happy pocket 🙂 but to be honest I'm better on grass 🙂 it's closer to the tbreds 🙂 Cambridge is a lovely track though, can't beat that bar and deck out on to the lawn and track nearby. Great summer venue for families and kids to run around. Everyone should put it on their harness track bucket list. No I'm not Marketing Manager for Cambridge Raceway .. but perhaps I should be ... 😁 snort 😀 Edited January 27, 2021 by Dancing Show Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted January 29, 2021 Author Share Posted January 29, 2021 I believe it would be based on drives so I would would expect Blair Orange to get something similar to his first ban. Blair O hasn't got his defence sorted yet since it was not heard last night? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globederby19 Posted January 29, 2021 Share Posted January 29, 2021 On 1/27/2021 at 9:26 PM, Dancing Show said: Cambridge is a lovely track though, Brilliant venue. I don't take Andrew along with me though🤣 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted February 10, 2021 Author Share Posted February 10, 2021 Never fails to surprise me how much information the stipes put in a report which could be deemed private or how they make social judgements which I don't know how they possibly could. The Summary of Facts record that Mr Orange's two breath tests results were at levels almost twice the prescribed limit. In explanation he said that he had stopped drinking at a social function "at midnight" the previous night. "He has clearly shown remorse and knows he has let a lot of people down, including himself. He showed a commitment to improve himself and avoid this happening again in the future starting with his attendance at an AA course." The RIU contended, strongly, that: "Mr Orange needs to recognise he has an ongoing problem with alcohol .... and needs assistance to commit to a treatment plan. This is for his own welfare and to ensure that he does not put himself and others at risk in the future and that he has professional support that will enable him to return to racing." Mr Orange maintains his non race day driving work with another licensee so will have some income, and he tells us that he earned $37,000 in December and January. A fine of $1,000 is also required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted February 10, 2021 Author Share Posted February 10, 2021 Blair apologized on the Box Seat through a video off his own bat. Good work on his part in my view. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Posted February 11, 2021 Share Posted February 11, 2021 On 2/10/2021 at 6:15 PM, Happy Sunrise said: Blair apologized on the Box Seat through a video off his own bat. Good work on his part in my view. It appeared to be very genuine too, in my opinion. Far too often, many people fronting after an event, read from a prepared script and apologize, yet it doesn't come across as very sincere. Blair sounded like he meant it. I wish him all the best for the future and hopefully he (and others) learns from it and doesn't repeat it again. No winners with this kind of thing. I won't comment about the 37k. Other than, I'm off to practice my driving with my horse! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted February 12, 2021 Author Share Posted February 12, 2021 5 hours ago, Rusty said: I won't comment about the 37k. Other than, I'm off to practice my driving with my horse! To get 37k in 2 months it is going to have to be the next Christian Cullen with you on board! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globederby19 Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 On 2/12/2021 at 12:00 PM, Rusty said: I won't comment about the 37k. Other than, I'm off to practice my driving with my horse! Let me know which horse you will be driving this Frid at Adders in the CofC final. I shall make sure to pick something that is well away from interference. Oh, hold on my rules stipulate no correspondence will be entered into, so yr banned . Better give Blair a ring. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Appealed and down to 6 weeks. Back 22nd March which is a Monday! Did Bob Butt appeal too? 35. Accordingly, the Appeal is allowed, and the suspension period reduced to six weeks, meaning the suspension is until the 22nd of March 2021. The fine of $1000 is cancelled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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