Queen Azteca takes on males in the UAE Derby (G2) April 5 at Meydan Racecourse. She will be the lone Scandinavian on the card, and a first ride on the big night for Carlos Lopez.View the full article

The Road, presented by Gainesway and Darby Dan FarmView the full article

You do meet some great people over the years in harness racing. JD was definitely one of them and a great eye for a horse too. and a lucky streak too. I always feel gained something good for life from his confidence and good will.  One trip in the 80's, we took his nice Colt to Adelaide but got beaten by top Vic man Vinnie Knight . which was pretty normal and not unusual at all,  but afterwards we tottered off to the brand new Casino that had opened in the old Adelaide Central train station, and people were queued right down the block at near midnight to get in . ( Many losing their holiday/Christmas pay in one sitting that went in , as had no idea what they were doing with it being all new to them.  so JohnD says "F ..this  . follow me young fella" , and we went right up front of queue and JD flashes his badge from the Auckland Star paper.'  '' Journo !!" he declares at the door, and they let us straight in lol.😁  Then JD sits with his mates drinking and gossiping for a couple of hours , constantly giving me casino chips to take to the tables for him (being a young bloke first time in something like that as well)   while he relaxes. so he never went near A gambling table. but Kept giving me a chip's to put on for him on this and that. roulette mainly . and he won a few bob and kept slinging me chips so I was well in front too 😆. we often bounced good luck off each over the years. nothing better than harness racing as a sport. and been great to meet blokes like JD (and Jim Smith)  along the way. 

Only met JD once but left a lasting impression with his generosity and joie de vivre. Always remember a story a bar owner mate of his told us about JD.  He had been in Auckland hospital for an operation on his leg,  still  on crutches,  on the way  home he stopped the taxi while he went into mate's bar for a beer.    His mate  made the mistake of telling  him a joke, JD laughed so hard he banged the operated leg on the table, hobbled out to still waiting taxi and it headed back to the hospital.   Reckon shortest discharge ever.  There are too few genuine , decent characters in this life they we can afford to lose people like JD.  

Yes we are going to suspend you but we will still let you drive next Friday in the two slot races. After that when you will not have any important drives we will suspend you so you can sit it out with no penalty at all. Well played Mr Purdon running rings around the stipes as usual. CHASE A DREAM - pre-race warmed. Driver M Purdon admitted a charge under Rule 869(3)(b) in that he drove carelessly by allowing his runner to shift inwards near the 1400m when not sufficiently clear causing interference to LITTLE SPIKE which broke losing all chance. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Purdon's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 4 April up to and including 22 April 2025 (4 days).

It was funny . I looked at the field , saw Chase a Dream and thought why is Mark starting him after last week lol 

Purdon still the best driver if his horses are spot on. Great drive to knock one out of the way to get the best trip. Masterclass even if he does get a holiday.

I can't understand why Bob didn't follow Gavin over . Am sure Gavin would have handed up . Haha soon see if Mark is driving next I wondered why Little Spike galloped . I just pray for the connections Mo'unga draws well he has had so much bad luck in his racing 

Has this worked anywhere in the world? I think I remember Laurie Laxon telling Steve Davis it was the answer to New Zealand's problems. Singapore raced at just one track.

Perhaps tomorrow at Trentham might give us an idea where the industry is headed. Probably the last really big raceday of the season, surely a big crowd in store.

hahaha oh dear. Mo'unga did get hemmed in after all. What is wrong with them actually having a go with that horse ? 4 back the fence after drawing outside gate. just can't quite work out Why they doing that with a good horse every start. ( 3 in a row now anyway) hard too win driving them like that.  and old mate Jonny Cox wouldn't go for the lead with Pinseeker either?  would of won it if he did. Mark would of been left parked , after giving the Little Spike a nice check into a gallop early on,  to get his spot behind Pinseeker in the running line. I'd suspend Mark for that if officiating lol 😆. Driving carelessly the old Master 😂. 

And six for the Andertons I think. Impressive day all round.

Crawl back under your rock you cretin. Your news source is appropriate…..💩

She has been in good form the last couple of weeks, and I see has been starting to ride quite a bit for Te Akau particularly at trials.

Well CNN is biased, and Fox just straight out lies and the Wackos on here believe that it is gospel

Well three won and 1 ran 2nd  ( got hampered by a breaking runner), the other ran 4th. Will review the other two races via the replays on HRNZ.

If my ears were on., through all the mumbling and smiling, the way forward comes down to rationalisation (close and centralise), don’t have assets sitting idle between race meetings, and don’t share any funding with the dogs.

Well what can you say Chase a Dream killed them he is definitely back . Great run by Merlin and also Mo'unga , Ohoka Connor terrible . If Mo'unga draws well next start I will be on because lead , trail he can win 

Judging by the double acceptors there will be a few scratchings in OZ tomorrow. Our mare UNTIL VALHALLA runs at Doomben R5. Surprised at that because her last run was awful. Stable is happy with her though and stepping up to 1600m on a wet track is seen as positive. Drops in grade from BM 78 to 70 and gets an apprentice allowance. $7.00 currently so fingers crossed. Maher stable has some excellent chances headlined by Pride of Jenni, Duke de Sessa, Berkshire Breeze/Shadow and Qatars Choice at Morphettville. Amazake and Nugget also expected to run well. Trentham - interested to see how CROUPIER goes against the Marsh pair. Astute stable and owners so $13 is tempting. Rosehill R2 QUIETLY ARROGANT - backs up from slipper last week where I expected better. Up in distance and JMac on $10. R10 RHAPSODY CHIC - a fave from last prep when she won 4 in a row. Trialled well and loves the wet. $15 looks overs. Flemington Will be interesting to see how Alabama Lass handles the straight. On ratings she should win but no certainty there. R2 STRICTLY BUSINESS - nice trial recently and $23 looks good value at her first start. R6 PISANELLO - lovely fresh up run in Sydney and good here so $3.40 about right.

The man with the money is always the boss and always right. Absolutely huge.