I've been thinking! We now have two relatively newly constructed grass tracks in NZ, both designed to sop up the water when it rains, and to perform well throughout our summer. Ellerslie being a StrathAyr exactly like they have in Hong Kong and at Moonie Valley. Awapuni being similar in construction to Flemington and others in Australia, in that it is a basic grass track with superior drainage when it rains. Ellerslie seems to be performing very well now, and Awapuni [at this early stage] has been very well received. Then of course we have the three Polytracks that in general after three years, haven't been well accepted.  Give me your opinion [at this very early stage ] on which one you think will be the number one option. For my threepence worth, I think that the Industry now needs to sit back and see how the two grass track perform over the next couple of years, before they rip up another track and cause havoc like has happened recently, at Te Aroha for example.   

I see the latest Entain betting machine has "tap and go".  That is place your bet and stick it on your credit card.  I am just a little concerned that the anti gambling people will go apeshit about sort of practice.  I believe that if you need to borrow on a credit card to bet, then maybe you should not be betting.

Congratulations to our 12 grand finalists! Reacher, Peter RS, Pheroz, Majestic, Pegasus, Gubellini, Ohokaman, Montydrum, Blaird, Sayer, Floyd and Kiwignome.     Same format as last three weeks. 1.  Either pick two horses in each race listed below - you will have $10 each way on both and a $2 quinella; or if you'd prefer to pick just one horse in any (or all of the races) you can do that and you will have $20 each way on that one runner,  but you will forego the quinella. 2.  You will have two best bet races where your bet is doubled.  They can be any two of the 12 races listed below. Posting deadline this week is 1.00pm  This weeks 12 races are as follows - we planned this to finsih on a big day at Randwick so we're all in there.  As always we need six of the 12 races to be run for the results to stand. 1.  Riccarton R8 2. Trentham R8 3. Randwick R1 4. Randwick R2 5. Randwick R3 6. Randwick R4 7.  Randwick R5 8. Randwick R6 9. Randwick R7 10. Randwick R8 11.  Randwick R9 12. Randwick R10 Please enter horse numbers, not names and remember to nominate two best bet races, and some form of punctuation between your two numbers is very helpful - thanks.  Same scratchings and abandoned race rules as last three weeks.

Sorry - the Racing Post only shows Group race form in Australia and New Zealand so I didn't know about the win in the Australian Cup Prelude race.

“Could”, “Might”…..Just like his tariffs could/might not affect everyday Americans……

When the agreement with Entain was signed, they told their shareholders that Geo-blocking would bring in $200m, that has now been reduced to $180m, I don't know what the overall ratio of GBR to T/O is for all 3 Racing codes + Sport, but at the moment for Harness Racing it is about 18%. That means that to get the $180m, NZers would have to be Turning over $1,000,000,000 with overseas agency's.

Still haven't told mine🙄

Well you might not like him but he keeps winning . Europe's pharmaceutical giants warn of 'exodus' to US over tariffs European pharmaceutical companies have warned EU chiefs that Donald Trump's tariffs could cause an 'exodus' from Europe and toward the United States. The European Commission president was warned about the potential shift at a meeting on Tuesday.

The rest of the Randwick card for Saturday. Great fields as you would expect. The Oaks has only 10 runners but full of class ---Leica Lucy , Treasure the Moment, Dubai Goldrush etc. https://forum.thoroughbredvillage.com.au/randwick-saturday-april-12-2025_topic70775.html?SID=22953-ebzzzf5bba313fda3fdz1839583333

@john legend We just had a quick look in Papers Past NZ archives using the keyword "Dead Heat" and there were a number of them prior to the use of Photo camera finishes which were introduced era 1945.   There was one race that had 5 horses finish in a Dead Heat. From recall they still had a run off race to establish a winner between Dead Heat horses up until the 1980's, stakes were divided evenly between the parties involved.   It's where the old greats in Racing came in handy to share those stories and learn from them.   It's much appreciated you have shared such a feat here for us to learn from.   All the best 

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=607414948782642 Dr. Eric Berg on Muscle preservation

Byron King's Top 12 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Spendthrift Farm.View the full article

Another reason, if you need one, to hate this scumbag…..😠    

Green Light for Awapuni Racing After Positive Trials Yesterday  New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and RACE Inc. are delighted to announce the successful completion of the final phase of the Club’s ‘Return to Racing’ plan for the RACE Awapuni track, marked by a full day of trials held on the newly completed track proper. A total of 88 horses took to the track across 11 heats run over 1000m, 1200m, 1600m and 2000m distances. The trials were attended by senior Jockeys including Jonathan Riddell, Leah Hemi and Kate Hercock, who provided positive feedback on the track’s performance, especially in the face of challenging weather conditions. Senior Jockey Jonathan Riddell shared his enthusiasm following the trials. “The track is great, it’s really quite exciting. With the rain we’ve had, it just went straight through it and the footing is great. In the future here, we could have one of the best tracks in the country.” RACE Inc’s General Manager of Racing, Brad Taylor, echoed the optimism. “It is really pleasing to continue to get such positive feedback from the Jockeys today.” “The track faced its toughest test to date with extreme weather conditions and the largest number of horses on it. With this positive response, it gives us great confidence as we head toward our first meeting on ANZAC Day.” Jockey Leah Hemi, who participated in the Jump Outs last Monday, praised how the surface handled the heavy rain. “We are really excited with how the track held up with the rain. I was a little skeptical at first, but now I have no worries at all.” First-time rider on the track, Kate Hercock, was equally impressed. “The track is lovely, it’s very consistent all over.” Despite receiving 13mm of rain in the hour leading up to the first heat, the track was rated a Soft 5 at the start of the trials. As rain continued throughout the day, Jockeys noted it felt closer to a Soft 7 by the conclusion of proceedings. Following the running of the successful trials, the track is now cleared for racing to resume. Awapuni Racecourse will host its first race day on Friday 25 April, with the Listed $80,000 Manawatu ITM ANZAC 1600 as the feature event. NZTR Chief Operating Officer, Darin Balcombe, acknowledged the successful trials and the positive feedback from riders. "Completing the final phase of the ‘Return to Racing’ plan at RACE Awapuni is a great achievement.” “The track performed well despite challenging weather and the feedback from riders has been very encouraging. We’re now looking forward to getting back to racing on ANZAC Day,” he said.

Sent sir...thanks for the interest.

Details too please Leigh. The missus will be pleased…..

Jockey Luis Saez, unseated in the second race April 8 at Keeneland after his mount, Fateful Lightning, bumped with another horse in midstretch, escaped serious injury and could possibly ride as early as April 9, according to agent Kiaran McLaughlin.View the full article

Eight years after they ran McCraken in the Kentucky Derby (G1), jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., trainer Ian Wilkes, and owner Janis Whitham of Whitham Thoroughbreds are Derby-bound again with Burnham Square.View the full article

Godolphin and trainer Michael Stidham were thinking big following a pair of allowance turf victories by homebred Think Big, and they were rewarded with a graded stakes victory in the $376,563 Shakertown Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland April 8.View the full article

Yes Nelli, no complaints from me at all just wondered re. odds of Polly having so many DHs ....Manawatu a very well run club and do appreciate their PR efforts . Even TAB are good to pay full fixed odds bets on DHs !