Alex Park tonight

[Globederby19]

A couple I like tonite.

Race 2  Dina Mo. Out of Pullover Brown, a very good mare that won 12 of her 30 starts. Coming to it slowly.

Race  9   Neptune.  Out of Safedra a very good 3 yr old with 18 from 23 in the money . If it finally shows some of mums ability I will be on it tonite at 21s FF.

Good luck guys.

Edited July 15, 2022 by Globederby19

[karrotsishere]

Do hope Alex Park can lift itself out of the predicament its in. Its a fab place to go to experience animals for those in city. Facilities are good & its not pretencious. 

Some recent feedback apparently is members complaining about Lyell Creek area, bar facilities, only have 1 bar area operating, oppose the usual 2. 

Leading members to get very upset during peak times, waiting in queue. They are starting to behave like Americans. Moaning & very vocal, about how a disgrace it is. Not good enough. The waiting time. 

Clearly not used to any type of queue.

[Rusty]

9 hours ago, karrotsishere said:

They are starting to behave like Americans. Moaning & very vocal, about how a disgrace it is. Not good enough. The waiting time. 

Clearly not used to any type of queue.

If they are starting to behave like Americans, they won't know what a "queue" is as most don't use that word. But I definitely know what you mean Karrots. 

Have you ever had the misfortune to be on a cruise ship with all Americans, that are either newly wed, or nearly dead? Oh my goodness. That's next level! 

[Globederby19]

2 hours ago, Rusty said:

Have you ever had the misfortune to be on a cruise ship with all Americans

You know when a septic tank is around , their clothes talk louder than they do.

[Happy Sunrise]

19 hours ago, karrotsishere said:

Some recent feedback apparently is members complaining about Lyell Creek area, bar facilities, only have 1 bar area operating, oppose the usual 2. 

They don't open the large public area which leads out to the open air seating at Addington anymore. Just spectators which is overcrowded at times. No real locations for racegoers there anymore. The concept of a public stand is long gone, just as the concept of country tracks is going too.

HRNZ will look back on their decision and regret it in years to come for want of a strategic plan beyond simply economics.

[karrotsishere]

On 7/16/2022 at 7:01 PM, Happy Sunrise said:

They don't open the large public area which leads out to the open air seating at Addington anymore. Just spectators which is overcrowded at times. No real locations for racegoers there anymore. The concept of a public stand is long gone, just as the concept of country tracks is going too.

HRNZ will look back on their decision and regret it in years to come for want of a strategic plan beyond simply economics.

At Alex P the covered bottom public area, which usually opens out onto the parade ring now has a big fence built. So cant see out to horses. Maybe the horses took fright at seeing the people inside lol. 

Heard there are some type of inside interior renovations going on, which if correct is never a bad thing.

Also apparently this year the eye sore of an old out of place grandstand will be abolished, for a carpark. Which is a positive.

There is some positive sentiment that the govt wont let Alex P go under. As like Addington is 1 of 2 premier tracks in country. My only thought to that is, true BUT what about the prime land for housing. 

It really is a nice place to go for city folk to see animals. The smell & sight of them is a rare opportunity many city goers. Something that perhaps should be marketed more.

Im hopeful that some smart people make whatever changes needed to keep it or hold onto it for racing for as long poss. 

Seems tho that industry can be blinded to what they want, oppose what the general public want in order to survive. An example of this is over 80% of general public want use of whip as encourager to NOT be used. Compare that with the majority of those in industry who want it used. Then take the recent Albion Park CEO forced resignation due to govt officials. Compare that with the lack of pressure (with exception from Stripes letter), from within the racing industry. 

Too many conflicts of interest going on. Too much 1 eye bias. Too much of back in the day it was like this & not moving with the times. 

[Globederby19]

17 hours ago, karrotsishere said:

rue BUT what about the prime land for housing. 

You cant be serious Karrots. Sod the housing. Like the rest of the country its unaffordable, ( now there is a new name for NZ, "UNAFFORDABLE") and Auckland's infrastructure is already groaning at the seams . It would be a tragedy to see Alex Park go, and unthinkable. Some have compared it to Harold Park, but anyone who has been around the Glebe area in Sydney would know how compact and congested it is and in its latter days far too difficult to get to ,so it was a no brainer to move to Menangle. 

[karrotsishere]

16 minutes ago, Globederby19 said:

You cant be serious Karrots. Sod the housing. Like the rest of the country its unaffordable, ( now there is a new name for NZ, "UNAFFORDABLE") and Auckland's infrastructure is already groaning at the seams . It would be a tragedy to see Alex Park go, and unthinkable. Some have compared it to Harold Park, but anyone who has been around the Glebe area in Sydney would know how compact and congested it is and in its latter days far too difficult to get to ,so it was a no brainer to move to Menangle. 

Oh not meaning me wanting it to be housing. Just thinking surely someone somewhere would be thinking prime land could be used for housing in Auckland. Doesnt help the development lost them alot of $. When will the vultures begin to swoop ... ? 

[Lightning Blue]

15 hours ago, Gospel Of Judas said:

Yes Harold was right in middle of that gully wasn't it? never heard  one good word about the place. 

No gully mate Gospel,... there's the Sydney skyline right behind the Famous track. Com'on mate ..WHo would of said a bad word about the place ? Did you like it ?

Here's a paper of all the great occasions that just goes On and On.

So many NewZealand Superstars that loved the place it defies belief. 

Robin Dundee (the very first Miracle Mile ever) Young Quinn and Locarno (cleaning up the Aussies from the 6 barrier in Miracle Miles) photo of Iraklis (track record holder), Caduceus in front of 50,000 people wins the Interdominion !! fantastic stuff, Master Mood (defeated Lightning Blue sadly lol ), Chokin (more than once) Holmes DG (more than once) Village Kid ,and Aussies Popular Alm , Westburn Grant , Koala King (Interdominion and 40 Harold Park wins ....... I could go on for hours.....

And ALL would good words to say about the place ....... plenty of NZ success there . It was FANTASTIC if you want one good Word ? all the best LB

[vanturk]

Agree lighting. Great place , great  atmosphere and great racing. Even what's there now does it justice, but meangle  was the right choice 

[Globederby19]

Yep I was there as a 20 yr old for the Interdominions. Packed to the rafters , hardly a standing place left. Brilliant fields and to be honest I haven't experienced an atmosphere any thing like it since. Finals night was bonkers. I used to go there every Frid night with a pay packet tucked into a pocket. I worked in Glebe on some of the terraced houses (plumbing) behind the park with lots of back alleys. Hondo Grattans trainer used to jog him around those alleys and we saw him jog past a couple of times. Loved the place back then and it has many iconic memories' as it was the venue for so many historic races  and Champion horses.

And it didnt rain to often like frigging Hutt Park.

[vanturk]

Hutt Park. Another good track . 

[Purple Parsnip]

15 hours ago, vanturk said:

Hutt Park. Another good track . 

I remember Vanturk racing there for Lew Driver

[vanturk]

5 hours ago, Purple Parsnip said:

I remember Vanturk racing there for Lew Driver

Yep. Had a share in her

[karrotsishere]

Cool.

Edited July 24, 2022 by karrotsishere

[karrotsishere]

Wow thanks GOS.

Edited July 24, 2022 by karrotsishere

[karrotsishere]

Why would I randomly make this up. Its actually really sad. And actually brings tears to my eyes.

Nite all. 

Edited July 24, 2022 by karrotsishere

[Field Commander]

19 hours ago, vanturk said:

Yep. Had a share in her

Great Broodie

13 foals of which 10 were winners.

Chariots winner Slipnslide the pick of an outstanding bunch. Almost 100 individual wins between them.

[vanturk]

Yes she was. We sold her to aussie  . 

[Lightning Blue]

5 hours ago, Field Commander said:

Chariots winner Slipnslide the pick of an outstanding bunch.

Happy memories with that horse!! . one of the very first leading Trainer these days , Luke McCarthy ever trained. 

Went down to Tassie Interdominion 2006  (me and these horses) , and on the first night 'hit the jackpot' with nailing the 4 heat winners . All from Queensland. Big night out that night , some classy performances..

Blacks A Fake (for Nat),  SlipnSlide  , Be Good Johnny (for Luke's dad) and Flashing Red .

  they ran 1st, 3rd, 4th and 8th in the Grand Final too. not far off the trifecta at all.

[karrotsishere]

Good stake money up for grabs this week Alex P.

Re good stakes also noticed in Charimans letter all Fri nite racing will be for a minimum $15k & premier racing nites $20k. As well as the minimum stake raise for maidens to $10k Sept thru Apri. Thats excellent! 

A 2yo race at Alex P this week. Interested to see how Gandalf goes. Saw a Lincoln Farms article saying "they" think Gandalf maybe better than Merlin. Guess when Green said "they" he was referring to Gandalfs trainers, or stable or connections. 

[karrotsishere]

Quick question. What are the rules on scratching a horse because of a bad draw? Just asking as noticed a horse lining up at Alex this week, that has nom-ed & accepted, past 2 weeks in a row 1 from an Alex meeting, then again the following Cambridge. But scratched from both. Then was at workouts nxt day. Now again a week later lining up again. This time a prime draw. Both times it scratched it had bad draws.

Maybe reading this wrong & without all actual details could be other reasons for 2 scratchings, but on paper it does look that way.

What are rules on scratching? Is a bad draw a legit enough reason? Know gallops can scratch due to bad weather (heavy) track which is fair enough if it doesnt suit the horse racing style.

Edited July 25, 2022 by karrotsishere

[Double R]

51 minutes ago, karrotsishere said:

Quick question. What are the rules on scratching a horse because of a bad draw? Just asking as noticed a horse lining up at Alex this week, that has nom-ed & accepted, past 2 weeks in a row 1 from an Alex meeting, then again the following Cambridge. But scratched from both. Then was at workouts nxt day. Now again a week later lining up again. This time a prime draw. Both times it scratched it had bad draws.

Maybe reading this wrong & without all actual details could be other reasons for 2 scratchings, but on paper it does look that way.

What are rules on scratching? Is a bad draw a legit enough reason? Know gallops can scratch due to bad weather (heavy) track which is fair enough if it doesnt suit the horse racing style.

The rules as updated 24th May 2022.

SCRATCHING PENALTIES
The following regulation is made by the Board pursuant to the Rules of Harness Racing from 1
September 2006.
1. Any horse scratched from the meeting will be subject to the following penalties:
(i) Exceptional circumstances as determined by the Stipendiary Stewards – no
penalty.
(ii) Within a six month period:
(a) First Offence – horse stood down from all stake bearing events for five days
from the date of the meeting from which the horse was scratched;
(b) Second Offence – horse stood down from all stake bearing events for 14
days from the date of the meeting from which the horse was scratched;
(c) Third Offence – horse stood down from all stake bearing events for 28 days
from the date of the meeting from which the horse was scratched.
(iii) A Veterinary Certificate may be provided to confirm a horse was unfit to race
and why it was scratched. In such situations, the Stipendiary Stewards will
have discretion to reduce the sanctions outlined in clause (ii) if considered
appropriate.
(iv) Any horse that is balloted out with right of re-entry and is subsequently
scratched prior to the owner/trainer or his authorised agent being notified by the
club that it has regained the field shall be exempt from the above scratching
penalties.
(v) Any horse that is dually accepted at the meeting shall be exempt from the
above penalties provided it starts once on the day for which it is dually
accepted.
(vi) Where, subsequent to a scratching penalty being imposed, the horse has been
sold and exported from New Zealand, and a Certificate of Clearance has been
issued by Harness Racing New Zealand, the scratching penalty shall cease to
apply for any races that horse may enter in the country to which it was
exported. Provided however that where the penalty was imposed for a
scratching that was not in time to allow a balloted horse in the same race to re-
enter the field, then the full period of the penalty shall remain in force regardless
of where or when the horse is sold and exported.
All penalties are to be controlled by the Stipendiary Stewards.
2. A Veterinarian may not issue a Veterinary Certificate to support scratching a horse in
which they have a training and/or ownership interest.

[karrotsishere]

Thanks for the DR. The stipes have only issued it with a 5 day stand down both times this month. And none were for exceptional circunstances. 

Based on the rules you have presented above it should have got 14 days for the 2nd scratching. But too bad. As it was only issued with 5 days, then can start this week. Trainers are only going on what horse has been given stand down, so its clear to start.

As said earlier there could of been reasons beyond bad draw, for why it scratched x2.

I find it slightly comical.

[Double R]

6 minutes ago, karrotsishere said:

Thanks for the DR. The stipes have only issued it with a 5 day stand down both times this month. And none were for exceptional circunstances. 

Based on the rules you have presented above it should have got 14 days for the 2nd scratching. But too bad. As it was only issued with 5 days, then can start this week. Trainers are only going on what horse has been given stand down, so its clear to start.

As said earlier there could of been reasons beyond bad draw, for why it scratched x2.

I find it slightly comical.

Hi Karrots,

I have just written to Catherine McDonald to seek clarification for us, and stating all the points that you have made above.

Cheers.

Robert.

Edited July 25, 2022 by Double R