There used to be a straight track at Edgware in North West London. This was in a Racing Post piece about closed greyhound tracks - the dogs ran over 200yard and 300 yard trips. Edgware Straights This was one of the more unusual greyhound experiences I had and, although not strictly a track, more a field running parallel with the most northern section of the M25, it hosted regular flapping meetings until the 1980s. People brought their greyhounds along in vans or estate cars, registered their interest to race and were allocated a contest. As the name suggested, the runners set off along a huge grass straight, chasing a rudimentary drag hare. Good fun.

Don't see how any of this has anything to do with Winston Peters.

Very simple arithmetic. Prior to the Entain deal the TAB distributed $126million  to the 3 codes. This year, and for the next 3 years, Entain will distribute $180million to the 3 codes. Maybe each code distributes that extra income steam based on who’s around the table, however the bottom line is that stakes on all 3 codes have never been better. Year 6 is going to be fun but for now how anyone can knock the current return is delusional.

Thursday Sire-line stories: Today’s dominant sire-line After tales of ultimately failed and probably failing sire-lines, we now come to what is undoubtedly the most successful of the 20th and 21st centuries – and, indeed, the only one likely to survive into the 22nd.    This is the main Darley Arabian/Eclipse line coming via Pot8os through Waxy, Whalebone, Sir Hercules, Birdcatcher, The Baron, Stockwell, Doncaster, Bend Or, Bona Vista, Cyllene and Polymelus to Phalaris. It is appropriate to honour these stallions by giving the full list, for many were distinguished winners of Classics, the Ascot Gold Cup or both. Phalaris was not.   Although winner of 16 of his 24 races, he was instead a ‘sprinter’, best at up to seven furlongs - not a good thing to be back in 1918. His breeder, Lord Derby, tried to sell him for £5,000; but, with no takers, reluctantly decided to keep him at his own stud. There, the speed Phalaris imparted to his offspring helped transform the breed.    At least four branches of the Phalaris sire-line continue today, between them dominating racing and breeding worldwide. Three run from Phalaris to his son Pharos and then to the great Italian racehorse, Nearco. The fourth passes from Phalaris to another son, Sickle, and three generations later reaches an equally great American racehorse, Native Dancer.    An ironic element of these lines is that both Pharos and Sickle, while good racehorses (Pharos was second in the Derby and Sickle third in the 2000 Guineas), had far superior siblings. These were the St Leger winner Fairway (a champion at two, three and four) in the case of Pharos, and Derby and St Leger winner Hyperion for Sickle.    Indeed, in 1934, the intention of Federico Tesio, a legendary Italian breeder, was to send his mare Nogara, winner of the Italian 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, to Fairway: for Tesio had determined that the stallion, an outstanding racehorse with the ideal blend of speed and stamina and a near-perfect physical specimen, was the appropriate mating for Nogara, a somewhat blocky individual with plenty of speed but less stamina than he deemed ideal. Accordingly, the mating suited Tesio’s ideas on how individuals should be matched.    Unfortunately (or so it must have seemed at the time), Lord Derby’s former stud manager, who was a friend, had recently retired; and the new manager refused Tesio’s request for a nomination to Fairway. Accordingly, the mare was diverted to Fairway’s brother, Pharos, a less talented racehorse with less stamina and scope than Fairway, and therefore less likely to be a suitable match for Nogara. The product was Nearco, a brilliant, unbeaten racehorse from seven furlongs to one mile and seven furlongs - and the most important of the many outstanding horses Tesio bred.    Phalaris/Pharos/Nearco sire-lines: Northern Dancer Three of Nearco’s sons established sire-lines that thrive to this day. Possibly, the least talented of them as a racehorse was Nearctic, who was imported in utero from England after another eminent breeder, the Canadian EP Taylor, purchased his dam, the Hyperion mare Lady Angela. While Nearctic proved to be a sound racehorse who won 21 of his 47 races and became a champion in Canada, this was hardly the stuff of which legends are made. Furthermore, although Nearco and Hyperion were the two best sires of their era, the cross between them produced numerous disappointments – probably the strong-willed temperaments of each did not make for a perfect match.    Overall, although Nearctic produced a few good horses, one was the most important by far - though initially it may have seemed that his breeder too had been unlucky . . .    In early 1960 Taylor owned a three-year-old filly named Natalma, a daughter of Native Dancer in training in the US. She was a good two-year-old; but before she could race as a three-year-old she developed a bone chip in the knee that necessitated retirement. She was shipped back to Canada and covered by the first-season sire, Nearctic. It was so late in the season that their foal wasn’t born until May 27. He was named Northern Dancer.    Despite his late start and modest height (circa 15.1hh), Northern Dancer became a leading two-year-old in the US, winning seven of his nine races and second in the other two. He was even better at three, taking the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, then failing for lack of stamina when third in the Belmont Stakes before ending with a win in Canada’s top race, the Queen’s Plate. In all, he won 14 races and placed in the other four of an 18-race career that covered little more than ten months, retiring after sustaining a tendon injury when less than one month beyond his actual third birthday.    Northern Dancer then became the most important influence on thoroughbred breeding since St Simon - probably even surpassing that great stallion in this regard.    He was champion sire in Britain and Ireland four times, and once in the US; but it was his success as a ‘sire of sires’ that really created Northern Dancer’s legacy. Every champion sire in Britain and Ireland from 1990 (and three before that) has been a descendant; while others have gained multiple championships in France, the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.    Beginning his stallion career in Canada, Northern Dancer produced Viceregal, an unbeaten Horse of the Year at two, in a first crop that ultimately produced ten stakes-winners from 21 runners. This was followed the next year by the son that established his worldwide reputation: Nijinsky, the last horse to win the British Triple Crown. At stud Nijinsky went on to produce Caerleon, twice-champion sire in Britain and Ireland, Green Dancer (champion sire in France), along with Ile de Bourbon, Niniski and Royal Academy, who all became sires of major winners.    However, each of Nijinsky’s three Derby winners and his one Kentucky Derby winner disappointed at stud; while the offspring of more successful stallion sons also failed to establish viable male-lines. Accordingly, Nijinsky’s name does not feature among the ‘Magnificent Seven’ sons of Northern Dancer whose lines continue to this day.    Neither does that of the horse that was probably his next best runner, El Gran Senor, champion two-year-old and subsequent winner of the 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby. El Gran Senor was found out by the stamina test of the Epsom Derby, being narrowly beaten by another Northern Dancer colt, Secreto; and while he sired major Group 1 winners in Belmez and Rodrigo De Triano, neither they nor Secreto’s best son, the somewhat less talented Mystiko, were able to establish lasting sire-lines.     The ‘Magnificent Seven’ do, though, include another colt from that 1981 crop, one who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes but never ranked as El Gran Senor’s equal – until they went to stud. His name is Sadler’s Wells.    On his retirement Sadler’s Wells was probably the most valuable stallion ever sent to Coolmore. Given his subsequent record the decision to keep him In Ireland turned out to be quite a good one; for he became champion sire in Britain and Ireland a record 14 times. Although several of his best sons were focused on jumps breeding, Galileo and Montjeu never were; and these two in particular proved vital in extending both Sadler’s Wells’ sire-line and his overall influence on the breed.     Galileo too became a multiple champion sire (12 times) in Britain and Ireland. and was the first stallion to produce 100 Group 1 winners. While sons like Australia, Churchill, Gleneagles, New Approach, Nathaniel, Teofilo and Ulysses have enjoyed various degrees of success (with high-class grandsons like Mill Stream and Vadeni to follow), another son dominates the rest to such an extent that the continuation of his sire’s line (and perhaps even his grandsire’s) may depend on him.   This is, of course, Frankel, the best Flat racehorse I have seen (and, unlike some that may be reading this, I saw Sea-Bird), whose line is increasingly represented at studs in both Europe and Japan by Group 1-winning sons and one grandson. Among them are Ace Impact (grandson), Chaldean, Cracksman, Mostahdaf, Onesto, Triple Time and Without Parole (in Europe); and Adayar and Westover (in Japan).    However, if Frankel (pictured below) follows his grandsire’s example, rather than his sire’s, his best stallion son will be born in 2025. You heard it here first!    On Timeform ratings Montjeu was Sadler’s Wells’ best offspring, gaining six Group 1 victories including the Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Derby, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and a spectacular win as a four-year-old in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. At stud he was unable to match Galileo’s achievements, but he did just pip him in joining the roll of honour of those that have sired four Epsom Derby winners (following Sir Peter Teazle, Waxy, Cyllene and Blandford). However, Galileo finished with five.   In temperament Montjeu was rather more difficult than Galileo; and he was also less consistent as a stallion, with his colts generally far superior to his fillies. His Derby winners all achieved a degree of success at stud (Motivator sired dual Arc winner Treve, Authorized the Irish Derby winner Santiago, and Pour Moi a fellow Derby winner in Wings Of Eagles), but hopes for continuation of his sire-line probably rest on the fourth of them, Camelot. However, given that Camelot’s best colt to date, Luxembourg, has just retired to National Hunt stud duties, even his prospects seem uncertain.      Another of Sadler’s Wells’ sons, El Prado, was champion two-year-old in Ireland but disappointed at three. He became a surprising success at stud in the US, being the leading sire of 2002 after getting the top-class dirt campaigner Medaglia D’Oro (also a good stallion - though his best produce being fillies, geldings and a son who died young hasn’t helped his male-line) and grass champion Kitten’s Joy, twice leading US sire based almost entirely on his runners on that surface. His best sons in Europe were the ill-fated Roaring Lion and 2,000 Guineas winner Kameko; while his leading stallion son in the US is triple Grade 1-winner Oscar Performance.    Of Sadler’s Wells’ other sons: High Chaparral is dependent on offspring such as the New Zealand-bred multiple Group 1 winners So You Think and Dundeel, both at stud in Australia, where the emphasis on speed is unhelpful to them; In The Wings’ male-line prospects rest largely on his grandson, the Arc winner Torquator Tasso, at stud in Germany; Poliglote (although once champion Flat sire in France) has succeeded largely with jumpers; Opera House’s line seems to have died out in Japan; while the multiple South African leading sire, Fort Wood, left no long-term successors.    Among other sons of Northern Dancer representing his sire-line, the most prominent is probably Storm Bird, an unbeaten champion two-year-old who encountered various problems at three before being sold for $28 million to a US stud. He owes his position to a single son, Storm Cat, since his US Classic winner Summer Squall, and dual Classic-winning grandson Charismatic, were far less effective stallions.      Storm Cat was a leading US two-year-old who was a close second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile before suffering soundness problems; but, despite only modest early interest, he became a remarkable stud success. He was leading US sire twice and leading sire of juveniles seven times, while the fee for using him reached $500,000. A strong influence for speed in both Europe and America, his most notable offspring was ‘the Iron Horse’, Giant’s Causeway, winner of six Group 1s in Europe and narrowly beaten by Tiznow in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.     Leading US sire three times, he produced US Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar (now in Japan) and dual French Classic winner Shamardal, who sired Lope De Vega (another to win two French Classics), champion sprinter Blue Point and champion two-year-old Pinatubo. Lope De Vega (pictured below) already has two promising stallion sons in Look De Vega (what imaginative nomenclature!) and Phoenix Of Spain; while Blue Point has sired triple Group 1-winner Rosallion and leading sprinter Big Evs, who is also at stud.     Two other active Storm Cat lines lead to great-grandsons Into Mischief and Scat Daddy. Into Mischief has been leading US sire six times, with major winners including Life Is Good (Pegasus World Cup, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile) and Authentic (Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup Classic) now at stud. Meanwhile, Scat Daddy is the sire of the US Triple Crown winner Justify (who produced the outstanding champion City Of Troy) and is the prominent sire of speed horses such as No Nay Never.    Another son of Northern Dancer, Danzig, was a fast but unsound horse who won all his three starts, but none in top competition. He was leading US sire three times while establishing himself as a worldwide influence for high-class speed. His sons Danehill, Green Desert, Chief’s Crown and War Front all became important stallions. While some of the Chief’s Crown line were disappointing at stud (Erhaab - very; Sinndar - fairly), rather too many of War Front’s sons have shown this trait.    Particularly intriguing is the case of Danzig’s grandson, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown, whose only defeat (by 55+ lengths) came when his trainer sought to demonstrate his lack of reliance on anabolic steroids by racing him without them. At the age of 20 he stands for a fee of $5,000 in New York.    However, both Danehill and Green Desert fared rather better as stallions.    Danehill was a top-class runner over six furlongs, winning the July Cup but also good enough to place third in the 2,000 Guineas. He became a great stallion, being champion sire three times in GB/Ireland, twice in France and nine times in Australia.    The Danehill line is particularly important in Australia, where his stallion sons include champion sires Redoute’s Choice (three times), Fastnet Rock (twice), Exceed And Excel and Flying Spur. The likelihood is that some of these, along with four-time champion sire Snitzel (by Redoute’s Choice), will leave important sons of their own.      Some of Danehill’s best European-sired sons suffered ill-luck. Champion sire Danehill Dancer’s grandson, Starspangledbanner, is a good sire but was initially impacted by fertility problems; champion sprinter Mozart died after leaving just one crop (containing Dandy Man); and the stud prospects of Rock of Gibraltar’s best son, Big Rock, were surely damaged by loss of form after his owner decided it would be a good idea to change trainers after a successful three-year-old season.  Even Danehill’s best European stallion son, Dansili, had setbacks, with one son, Zoffany dying young, leaving behind two inexpensive stallion sons; and major Group 1 winners Flintshire and Rail Link failing to fulfil stud expectations. However, his best son, Harbinger, managed to overcome immense competition to sire eight Grade 1 winners in Japan – but his sons will need to repeat the feat to continue his line.   Green Desert was a champion sprinter at three, when he won the July and Haydock Sprint Cups after placing second in the 2,000 Guineas. He produced several important stallions, including Cape Cross (sire of Sea The Stars and Golden Horn), Invincible Spirit (sire of Kingman and triple Australian champion sire I Am Invincible), Oasis Dream (sire of Muhaarar and Showcasing) and multiple New Zealand champion sire Volksraad. His line looks most likely to continue through sons of Sea The Stars (Baaeed, Hukum and perhaps Stradivarius), Kingman (Palace Pier and Persian King) and I Am Invincible.       Of Northern Dancer’s other sons that have extant male-lines:   Nureyev was a potentially brilliant racehorse who went wrong after being disqualified when finishing first in the 2,000 Guineas. He was champion sire twice in France, producing high-class winners and good stallions such as Peintre Celebre, Polar Falcon, Soviet Star, Spinning World and Stravinsky. Probably the least talented of these as a racehorse, Polar Falcon, is the one with the most promising male-line; for his son Pivotal sired the top French stallion Siyouni, whose sons include St Mark’s Basilica, Paddington and Sottsass (now in Japan).    Fairy King was a full-brother to Sadler’s Wells, which earned him a chance at stud after he was unplaced on his only start. His best runners were Falbrav and Helissio, along with Derby winner Oath. None made much impression at stud; and his line continues today from another son, twice Australian champion sire Encosta De Lago, sire of dual Group 1 winner Zoustar.    Try My Best was an unbeaten champion two-year-old, winning the Dewhurst Stakes, though he finished last in his only three-year-old race, the 2,000 Guineas. His great grandson Acclamation was a consistent sire whose best produce was £20+ million-earning Hong Kong champion, Romantic Warrior (a gelding); while Acclamation’s son Dark Angel was champion sire in Britain and Ireland in 2024, helped by multiple Group 1 winner Charyn (now at stud in France). Another of Try My Best’s sons, Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Last Tycoon, was a successful sire in Ireland and became triple champion sire in Australia. His Yulong Stud-based grandson, Written Tycoon, was also champion sire in Australia and is represented by sons at stud.        Vice Regent was full-brother to Northern Dancer’s first champion Viceregal; but he was a far less successful racehorse, winning only two of his five races to earn a mere $6,215. However, the male-line from his Canadian champion two-year-old, Deputy Minister (also twice champion sire in the USA), led to three Breeders’ Cup Classic winners in Awesome Again, his son Ghostzapper and grandson Knicks Go. The last pair, along with Ghostzapper’s Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide, are still active stallions.    Among other sons of Northern Dancer without active sire-lines today, one of particular significance is Lyphard, a top-class miler who twice became champion sire in France and once in the US. Lyphard’s best son was the great racehorse Dancing Brave, who was sent to Japan before it became apparent, via a third crop containing Derby winner Commander In Chief and European Classic winners White Muzzle and Wemyss Bight, just how good a stallion he was. A great-grandson of Lyphard, Linamix, later became dual champion sire in France; but, with several of his sons targeted at jumps breeding, this line too seems to have ended.      Another of Northern Dancer’s most notable sons was Northern Taste, a Group 1 winner in France who became champion sire in Japan ten times. However, his daughters proved to be his most important producers, perhaps because they had the benefit of liaisons with Sunday Silence and several of his sons; whereas his own stallion sons (along with Dancing Brave) had to compete with them.      Others worthy of mention are the miler Be My Guest, both Northern Dancer and Coolmore’s first champion sire in Britain and Ireland (in the year his son Assert won four Group 1s); Northern Guest (champion sire in South Africa); and Rakeen, sire of six-time South African champion sire Jet Master. None of these, nor other top-class sons of Northern Dancer such as Ajdal, Shareef Dancer and The Minstrel, sired sons able to continue their lines - although The Minstrel was not helped by his Breeders’ Cup Classic-winning grandson, Cigar (winner of $9,999,815), being infertile.   So, even when reviewing the career of the greatest stallion of the 20th century, we encounter a few ups and many more downs. While there are no certainties in predicting stallion performance, when it comes to outcomes for their sire-lines by far the most likely is that most will ultimately fail. However, the Northern Dancer male-line seems unlikely to suffer this fate any time soon; and, even if this should happen someday, its founder will remain one of the greatest genetic influences on the breed, worthy to rank with Herod, Eclipse and Highflyer in that regard.      As a yearling, Northern Dancer was unsold when offered for $25,000. When he was 20 years old, an offer to purchase him for $40,000,000 was rejected. Certainly, the economics of thoroughbred breeding had changed in the meantime; but one small but determined Canadian-born stallion had played no small part in changing them.   The third and final installment of Bryan Mayoh's sire-line history will feature in GMB next week.

To be fair, up until about the end of last year, the TAB had probably the most convenient system I had come across. You could simply transfer money between your TAB and debit (not credit) card with no fees. Deposits were instant, withdrawls took just 1-2 hours.   Now though, you can still withdrawl your balance, even if there is no profit, - but you have to phone up and ask for it to be transferred for you. Only net profit can be transferred online from your TAB account back to your debit card.   The work-around, I suppose, is to make multiple small deposits, instead of one larger deposit to last you over a day / weekend. In other words, just deposit the equivalent of one bet stake and then only make a further deposit if that bet loses. That way you still have the remainder of your discretionary betting funds in your bank account.   I would tend to think the new rule affects intermediate bettors the most - your $20, $50, $100 type people.  Won't bother the whales or the 50c trifecta crowd.

With Ohoka Connor PS , a lot of those misses were from a stand , he never steps . A lot of people forget how good he was a year or so ago and has two runs to get him fit  If Tim puts him in the race , look out if he paces evenly he is very smart . But I hope my favourite Mo'unga goes forward with Rakero Rocket as Gavin will be flying the gate with him . But looking forward to this race will be exciting 

Marhoona by Snitzel out of Encosta De Lago mare Salma this cros  has left so many winners

More to the point for the simpletons on here…. ”America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves…” Abraham Lincoln      

I feel he's been "forgotten" for a reason. He just hasn't been delivering. Was weak first up and poorly driven second up. Even then he should have beaten that lot, especially with Duchess Mexit being driven to lose. But last time in he wasn't his former supersonic self either. I suspect he's sadly past his best even though he's only a 5 y/o. I will be thrilled to be proven wrong - and he's possibly a better chance than 9th favourite in a 10 horse field tomorrow night - as he was one spectacular horse to watch when at his peak. I have a humble pie ready to eat if proven wrong 🤣 

Geez Charlie, reckon the Ohoka horse should be 100-1. hasn't won for over a year. they're hard to get back (winning after long lay-offs)  in this company . Thought you would be all over BIG Mo' with Bob Butt now driving. You were touting him near best NZ horse? won't get blocked in drawn out there either 😎. If Jonny Cox reckons Pinseeker a chance next week in the Betcha Mile against the Aussies , he'd want to jog this Mile in drawn 3 tomorrow night. Pinseeker should just speed to the front and leave em' to it. Is showing 12 over 3's too.  "have a go Jonny . don't be shy" . ( is what they should tell him 😁 ) 

The forgotten horse in tomorrow's mile is Ohoka Connor he is a very smart horse . Third run back and provided he doesn't pace roughly like before , he is a big chance . $2.80 to run top 4 looks good but am not having a go lately so will watch as usual 😀

Damn those anti-Trump voters how dare they chant Trumpster's song

If the last guy wasn't such a mutton head, they wouldn't be pushing shit uphill now.

Everyone is a Fuckwit who catches out the bullshit you spew on this platform you are more to be pitied you simpleton.

We put a proposal to GRNZ about 4yrs ago to put a straight track in at Ashburton we had the full support of the racing club board and the other 2 codes they did surveying last year and priced it up but it's gone no further 

Isn't that what Balcombe did?  Poetic justice if he's back in charge.

If the previous guy had any brains at all he probably decided this wasn't at all what he thought it would be and took the first opportunity to head for greener pastures.

D Balcombe is the COO of NZTR. Assume the club is under administration pending a new leader

Sorry but I missed the location of the target , might have been the south pole , anyway with a new team they bound to make a misjudgment they are all allowed one and only one .

These amateur morons are now all ducking for cover. Deny, deny, deny……. Still trying to blame media/Goldberg ( did he ask/want to be involved ? ) and more laughingly Biden…..🙈 And looking at their responses you have to wonder what school they are still in….