We are quickly becoming a laughing stock.  Still, massive stakes on offer so all good. We are going to see the depressing sight again on Saturday of massive stakes at Trentham and multiple group races in front of about 23 spectators.

New York regulators fined Thoroughbred trainer Gary Contessa $1,500 March 24 for violating a rule governing the timetable for when horses claimed in-state may race again in another state.View the full article

Aidan O'Brien's "unusual" pair of late bloomers Twain and Expanded are vying to pick up the mantle from The Lion In Winter as Ballydoyle's chief Two Thousand Guineas hope after the champion trainer cast doubt over his participation.View the full article

On the March 24 episode of the BloodHorse Monday, trainer Brad Cox discusses Final Gambit's progression from maiden winner to Kentucky Derby qualifier. Editorial director Frank Angst previews the April edition of BloodHorse Magazine.View the full article

Jose Ortiz was named leading rider in his first meet at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots March 23. Bagging 98 races, Ortiz was best by 43, winning the most by any jockey since Florent Geroux tallied the same amount in 2016-2017.View the full article

And worth remembering the Slipper winner would never have got a start if the Aussies ran things the way we do in NZ. Only stakes money earned in proper races counts towards Slipper entry. Restricted and novelty races don't count.  We are almost dividing into two classes of horses in Aussie and NZ between those who target traditional races and those who target the restricted races for often bigger money. It's a bit like Liv golf and traditional golf.  I don't know how long the divide can continue and how extreme it might get, but I don't believe its a good thing for the industry in general. But, that's just my view.

Don't you feel for Jason Collett though . Rode the winner in its first two starts and ended up falling on the horse he rode instead 

It's about time they made some changes . As mentioned before bring back the rule , where if any horse causes another horse to break anytime through a race , they face disqualification regardless of where they finish  Often you see horses squeezing up others to get into the trail , 3 back etc but never anything said . It's funny how drivers can push a horse in anytime through a race but can't push out until the last lap .  Stupid thing is and I have mentioned this often . There is no longer is a running rail , so any incident up front horses can go on the inside of the track . Back in the day we only had a running rail , so no option but to go over a horse that fell or over the running rail . So bring back the push out rule where drivers can push out at anytime through a race it's a lot safer now .  With the current rule only being able to push out on the last lap makes no sense either , because that's when horses are going at max speed other than at the start , so more dangerous anyway pushing out then 

Taupo trials abandoned today. Horse slipped in Heat 2 

Yes if you are going to check a horse make sure you take it right out of the race otherwise you might get disqualified if the horse you checked runs in the top five. Current rules encourage drivers to do just that which in my mind is absurd.  Have a look at the rules for the running of the race and ask yourself how many times do you see these rules breached? FFS for the first one there is usually several a meeting that go unquestioned.   RUNNING OF THE RACE 868 (1) No person including a driver, shall run a horse, or cause or permit a horse to be run other than on its merits. (2) Every driver shall take all reasonable and permissible measures at all times during the race to ensure that his horse is given full opportunity to win the race or to obtain the best possible position and/or finishing place. (3) Every driver shall drive his or her horse out to the end of the race if he or she has any reasonable chance of running first, second, third, fourth, or fifth. (4) No driver shall trust to the chance of an information or proceeding. 869 (1) No driver shall look around unduly during a race. (2) No driver shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Whip and Rein Regulations made by the Board. (3) No driver in any race shall drive:- (a) incompetently; (b) carelessly; (c) recklessly; (d) dangerously; (e) in a foul manner; (f) improperly; (g) in any manner capable of diminishing the chances of his horse winning. (4) No driver shall during any race do anything which interferes or is likely to interfere with his own horse and/or any other horse or its progress. (4A) No horse shall during any race do anything which interferes or is likely to interfere with any other horse or its progress. (5) A driver shall trail with his horse's head behind the seat of the sulky being trailed. (6) Subject to sub-rule (4) hereof:- (a) drivers are permitted to move ground inwards or outwards at any stage of the race to improve their racing position; (b) a horse during any race shall not be forced to race wider on the track; (c) a horse during a race shall not move ground outwards once the nose of the wider runner coming forward is in line with or past its sulky wheel and until the wider runner going forward is fully past. 25.11.19 31.7.10 9.8.08 1.8.98 1.8.97 1.8.97 1.8.97 31.8.17 1.11.22 25.11.19 (7) Sub-rule (6)(b) and (c) of this Rule shall apply until 1000 metres from the finish of the race. From this point all drivers shall be expected to make moves, with safety, to ensure the horse obtains the best possible place in the field. (7A) Every driver who moves inwards shall ensure: (a) that contact is not made with any track marker (b) that any part of the sulky does not protrude inside the marker line (c) that the movement does not cause any other driver, horse or sulky to contact any track marker or protrude inside the marker line. It shall be a defence to a breach of this sub-rule if the driver establishes that the breach was attributable to the behaviour of his own horse or any other horse or driver in the race. (7B) Where any horse or its sulky wheel moves inside the track marker line and gains an advantage the horse shall be disqualified from that race or relegated to behind any horse in respect of which an advantage may have been gained except where it is established that the breach was caused by interference by another horse or driver. (8) Deleted 9 August 2014 (9) For the purpose of sub-rules (2), (3) and (4), the “race” shall include the preliminaries, the starts, and time period after the finish whilst the horse remains on the race track. 869A (1) For the purpose of this rule: (a) “placed horse” means a horse placed by the Judge 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th; (b) “interference” means any conduct referred to in rule 869 which interferes or is likely to interfere with the progress of any horse in a race. (2) When a placed horse or its driver causes interference to another placed horse and the Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that the horse interfered with would have finished ahead of the horse that, or whose driver, caused the interference the Adjudicative Committee must, in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed, place the horse that, or whose driver, caused the interference immediately after the horse interfered with. (3) If the Adjudicative Committee is satisfied the interference was as a deliberate or reckless act or omission on the part of the driver who, or whose horse, caused interference the Adjudicative Committee, in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed, shall place the horse who, or whose driver, caused the interference immediately after the horse interfered with irrespective of where the interfered horse finishes. (4) If the Adjudicative Committee is satisfied, as a result of interference, the horse interfered with was denied a higher stake bearing place it may order that the stake monies, or a portion of the stake monies, payable in respect of the horse that, or whose driver, caused the interference be paid to the owners of the horse interfered with. (5) An information applying for a ruling under sub-rule (4) must be filed by the owner, or the owners’ authorised agent, of the horse interfered with no later than 30 minutes after the last race on the day of racing. 870 (1) When any horse breaks from its gait in any race its driver shall immediately take all reasonable steps to return it to its proper gait and where clearance exists immediately take such horse clear of the field. (2) The following shall be a breach of sub-rule (1) hereof: 1.8.05 23.7.11 6.10.11 27.8.15 1.11.22 25.8.07 1.8.97 9.8.14 27.8.15 (a) failure to take the horse clear of the field; (b) failure to take all reasonable steps to return the horse to its proper gait; (c) failure to lose ground by the break. (3) Any horse which breaks from its gait shall promptly regain its proper gait. (4) Any horse which breaks from its gait in any race and: (a) which fails to promptly regain its proper gait; and/or (b) which is not taken clear of the field; and/or (c) in respect of which all reasonable steps are not taken to return it to its proper gait; and/or (d) which fails to lose ground by the break; may (in addition to any penalty that may be imposed pursuant to Rule 1003 hereof) subject to the provisions of the Breaking Horse Regulations made by the Board, be placed by the Stipendiary Steward immediately after any other horse in respect of which any advantage may have been gained. (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-rule (4) hereof any horse which is not in the correct gait when its nose reaches the finishing line and which is lapped on by any other horse or horses in the correct gait shall be placed by the Stipendiary Steward behind such horse or horses provided that where such first mentioned horse is not in its correct gait as a result of interference to such horse or its driver, then subject to rule 869A such relegation of the horse shall be at the discretion of the Stipendiary Steward. 870A (1) The licenced person in charge of a horse that finished in a stake-bearing place that may be relegated or disqualified under rule 870 may elect to have the matter determined by the Adjudicative Committee rather than by a Stipendiary Steward. The election must be notified to the Stipendiary Steward at the time the licensed person is first advised the horse may be relegated or disqualified under rule 870. 871 No horse shall be assisted to fill a stake bearing place by the co-operation of any other horse or driver after breaking gear during the running of the race. 872 If an accident or interference occurs during the running of the race every driver concerned therein or directly affected thereby shall, unless incapacitated, immediately after the race report the matter to the Stipendiary Stewards who shall thereupon, if they think it necessary, conduct an investigation into the cause of the accident or interference and take such further action permitted by these Rules. 872A Where a horse is involved in an accident or pulls up or is pulled up due to injury or potential injury while on the racetrack (either before the start, during the race, or after the finish) the horse must only be moved by the horse ambulance (if available) unless permission is given for the horse to be walked off the track by the race day veterinarian or in his or her absence a Stipendiary Steward.

...as our old friend 100 to 1 used to say - "Sit back and watch the show"

Trump vs the Judiciary This is the contest to be watching. The others are mere sideshows. President Trump, who has a history of seeking out Judges friendly to his cause and of tying matters up in Court, now complains of the US judicial system and wishes to override it. He belittles and threatens members of the judiciary and asserts his mandate from the people overrides judicial rulings. This is not tariffs, or stopping funding to Ukraine, or ending friendly relations with neighbours. This is how much power should be in the hands on one man, in the USA. If Trump succeeds, it places a very large nail in the coffin of an increasingly fragile US democracy.  

That would entail stipes to actually do some work so no chance Charlie

White Robe are very astute with their stallion selections. Great to see a different sire line coming in. I have been looking at the Aclaim yearlings at the MM March Sale and I think they are really nice looking horses ( and my pick Lot 182 in coming to NZ ! ) I'm really looking forward to see how the Ancient Spirit progeny from White Robe go as 3 year olds. From the press release about Aflaila it seems Brian's grandson was involved in finding the horse, so that is good see White Robe is obviously going to carry in the family.

And so good to see the very impressive Autumn Glow back.  Not to mention Via Sistina. I am also looking forward to seeing Wodeton when he’s 3.

Capsules of this year's Florida Derby (G1) runners from ABR.View the full article

Hollie Doyle celebrated a landmark success when Handle With Care became her 1,000th winner in Britain in the opening six-furlong Fillies' Handicap March 24.View the full article

What a great day’s racing at Rosehill last weekend, with some superb performances across the card. The Golden Slipper lived up to expectations with a homebred filly MARHOONA  just lasting to beat the unlucky, expensive colt WODETON, who ran the fastest last 600m of the race in 33.7 to just go under. Great effort by the Freedman team and superb ride by Damian Lane to get the filly home at just her third start, something only done once before by Toy Show. RIVELLINO and TEMPTED were two of the unlucky runners. GRINGOTTS  has always been highly regarded by the Maher camp and proved his quality in an epic battle with FANGIRL and CEOWULF. FANGIRL was huge in that race, three wide all the way yet still ran the fastest last 600m of the race 32.98 to go under a lip. PRIVATE HARRY enhanced his growing reputation in the sprint, but BRIASA was the run of the race from a terrible draw, running his last 600m in 32.6, compared to the winnners 33.49. A decent draw and things would have been very interesting. Certainly a few to follow.  

I would not waste time trying to debate him...he is a stirrer nothing more.

One more confirmed for the TAB Trot - Not As Promised - to race out of the Dunstan Horse Feeds slot, it's startin to heat up 🤗   Cheers Iraklis