Probably the smallest fields I have seen for Nelson, while Timaru has big fields for smaller stakes. Timaru not so obsessed with running 11 or 12 races either. I suspect in years gone by the Coast, Nelson and Marl circuit didn't have to compete with so many Canterbury meetings. Interesting to note that Nelson and Marl don't follow the SI obsession with having maiden stakes significantly higher than stakes for winners: an amusing little quirk that does make it hard to take trotting seriously.

Lamour, how bout you re watch the race? I have and probably more than you; and I never said Merlin was the best stayer in the country! all I'm sayin is, and I'm glad someone finally had the decency to agree that Merlin ('for a horse that won't get the 2 miles') put in a bloody good effort on the Auckland Cup night in the Cup! I have no idea why you all keep referin to NZ Cup run as a measure who is better; when I never said Merlin was better than RParty; all I am sayin is, for a horse you all keep sayin won't get 2 miles, he put in big whilst bein short of racin against a horse fully match fit, ok, and only went down 3/4 of a length on the line, that's it....just short of the line, convincingly beaten 🤣 no bloody way.....   Cheers Iraklis

Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone returned to the worktab Jan. 6 at Payson Park Training Center in Indiantown, Fla. with an easy three furlongs in :37 4/5 as he begins preparations for the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).View the full article

Winter weather in Bensalem, Pa., continues to wreak havoc on live racing at Parx Racing as the track canceled its Jan. 6 card because of snow.View the full article

Five of the nation's top riders have been nominated for the 76th George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award at Santa Anita Park, which recognizes accomplishments on and off the track.View the full article

The race will be held March 22, with a special first post at 12:45 p.m. ET. As a marquee stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Jeff Ruby Steaks awards qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale. View the full article

what a shame winston changed his view bowed to pressure greyhounds are so well looked after vetted before they race unreal decision but when you get politicians that have no interest in racing this happens talking to a few greyhound trainers there mental health dosen't seem to be a concern to those decision makers as placing the dogs now  with the spca  and others  how are they going to look after them  just euthanase them are they as they watch these lovers of animals life dreams be destroyed

Does that mean that the Crowd, [all of us combined] are pretty good?

https://www.dia.govt.nz/Resource-material-Our-Policy-Advice-Areas-Racing-Policy#submissions   Some interesting reading here (including the links) for those who haven't found this.  Gives an outline of the timeline of the decision making, and the meetings/conversations had in parliament etc.  Interesting they are mostly banging on about injury rates which is just a misinformed, blown out of proportion statistic, greyhounds are pro athletes that get 'injury' stand downs all the time for as little as a few days for minor injuries, 'sand toe' or a skinned pad etc. And I also read in there somewhere that, basically, one of their main concerns is that they'll never be able to appease the animal activists... 🤢

Last Friday’s Zabeel Mile at Meydan produced a thrilling finish. The Godolphin second string NOBLE DYNASTY set the pace with the more fancied stablemate OTTOMAN FLEET just in behind but the latter was always just struggling with the pace and James Doyle went for home on NOBLE DYNASTY and was more than a length up entering the final 200m. However, he was a target for the finishers and both HOLLOWAY BOY and favourite POKER FACE ran down NOBLE DYNASTY in the final 50m with POKER FACE snatching the prize for the punters by a short head with HOLLOWAY BOY having a neck in hand of NOBLE DYNASTY so the first three were split by half a length so a triumph for the handicapper except this wasn’t a handicap. POKER FACE was rated 108 and his British form is all on soft turf so this was a big improvement. However, he’s always been found out in Group 1 company. HOLLOWAY BOY won the Chesham at Ascot on his juvenile debut but that was a while ago and he had more recently been plying his trade in warm handicaps and Group 3 races but he’s rated 109 and this is his level. NOBLE DYNASTY is rated 113 but his British form is over 1400m and he ran here as though not quite seeing out the trip. OTTOMAN FLEET was a further three lengths back in fourth and a shade disappointing. Last year’s winner, SAN DONATO, was also disappointing never threatening. It may be this was just a stronger race than the 2024 renewal.

Its for the reason Pete mentioned.  From memory the scratched horse was paying 41s which meant the deduction was at best 2%.  Insignificant in the grand scheme. No idea on exotics sorry Ed.  We're still getting our heads around the basics for now 😂

Trump is pulling out of the Paris Accord and stopping their payments on the 20 Jan.

No  

Looked like a big crowd at Cromwell today as well. You do wonder why the gallops decided to dump Omakau.

Maybe because the  rule according to the TAB states ... "may be affected by a deduction" rather than will be? https://help.tab.co.nz/s/article/Scratchings-and-Deductions#:~:text=Q%3A What if a runner,being placed do not apply. Q: What if a runner is scratched after I place my bet? A: In the event that a scratching occurs after your fixed odds bet has been placed, the estimated return of the wager may be affected by a deduction. Deductions from scratchings that occur prior to your bet being placed do not apply.   

The crowd at Omakau looked fantastic and the video I saw on the Harness racing enthusiasts Facebook page showed lots of people having a good time, long lines at the totes and plenty of family entertainments. The meeting has obviously become an annual fixture for holiday makers and locals and congrats must go to the club and all their volunteers. It is those sorts of meetings that give harness racing our "license to operate" and not go the way of the dogs.

It is my go to Dave, along with Mlbs Herald Sun Friday racing section, all 20 pages. Subscribe to the Herald Sun solely for racing section which is brilliant 

Are deductions used on fixed odds trifecta and exacta and how are these calculated?

Global Warming in UK and USA should we pay an extra 1 billion a year to the Paris Accord?

Those Central Otago figures are for last years meeting, which incidentally had Stakes of $165k, and Funding of $222k, which is still less than GBR of $299k, it was an extremely good result considering that favorites won 64% of the races. I don't have the information for last weeks meeting.