Comments worth a post but not a thread of their own

JayJay · May 2022

Re: Comet Again Chariots, nothing on computer data bases as according to HRA, the horse doesn't exist, which is pretty much the norm for a lot of "non breeding" horses. Stallions or mares that have bred on get a Guernsey but gelding cease to exist if foaled prior to 1990 . More holes in their data base than a rice strainer. Anyway, it then becomes a manual search using old year books and old clippings, racebooks etc. I have a disordered mass of stuff in the study, you know, it will come in handy one day, don't chuck it out.....and today, it has come in handy.

Anyway, to cut to the chase, foaled in 1960 by Kellett out of a Nelson Lass, one of old Mr Coverly's mares from Bridgetown. He bred 100's of horses, many by Nelson Direct. From Heather Lass, bred by former South West Registrar John Foster of Poppinax fame. Decent family, slow developers, Beresford bred a full sister to Comet Again in 1961, Comet Queen, after he got Nelson Lass from Coverly in 1959 to breed Comet Again.

Took him a while to get racing, I have good data on him when Ted Breese was driving him, 1967/68 as a 7 year old. Ted was private trainer for the Porters at the time. Curmudgeon will know better than me but I think the batting order after Ron ceased training was Ted Breese, Rod Starkie and Lou Austin. I didn't know the Porters that well, I was too scared to approach Ron who I think it not unfair to say had a high opinion of his station in life and young minions like me were not on his speaking circuit. But Rod was definitely there in 67/68 as he accompanied good horse Fortress through the classes (5 wins that season). Comet again won a 2.21 race of 24 yards in August, ran 3rd off 36 yards in a 2.21 behind Gentle Paul ( a young Jesse Moore), 3rd to Phillip Hall (Fred Snr) in a 2.18 front, 2nd to Smackerola (Noel Eddy) in a 2.18 front, won a 2.21 front off 48 yards in March 1968, then backed up off 12 yards to beat Tugman in a 2.17 front, ran 3rd to Gainstar (Leo Keys) off 24 yrds in a 2.17 front (on the same night that Ted won a qualie with Bonny Prince) and then rounded out the season by beating Mount Mist in a 2.17 front of 24 yards, taking him to a 2.14 or fast class classification back when when we had real handicapping. Maybe some of those names may ring a bell for you.

The race I recalled him running 2nd in at Richmond Raceway was the 1970 Navy Cup won by Killara Sky (Mick Taylor) when he came off 48 yards ....at Fremantle mind you. He also won the Royal Show Cup in 1970 plus several FFA's and ran 2nd to Daintys Daughter in the 1971 Fremantle Cup as a rising 11 year old. Both started off 24 yards. I searched and couldn't find but I am positive he did something ridiculous at Richmond one night, either winning or getting narrowly beaten off 72 yards.

Markovina · May 2022

curmudgeon said:
But but but ...NZ.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Chairman-s-Messsage-to-Industry.html?soid=1128612306576&aid=3Pul4LuM4ws

Thanks for that

You never see anything like that from WA which is very frustrating - have they got any business plans - even humble SA who are on the bones of their aarse - but they still release business plans for the industry participants trying to turn things around

Like that NSW article you put the link to - that was signed Ken Brown Chairman - so he is the chairman of NSW Trotting Board of Directors

Have WA Trotting got a board - have they got a Chairman . When ive asked who is the no 1 man running Trotting in WA - Chariots has said - that M Radley is just CEO of GP - he is not running WA Trotting which seems a bizarre structure

No wonder the industry here is going nowhere - where as the Vics and NSW - their industries are powering ahead - and they have had CEOs in the past who have had pretty powerful resumes - like being CEO at an AFL Club - pretty sure Anderson was

Chariotsonfire · May 2022

Marko the Principal Clubs in all states do not run racing only their individual clubs. The Ken Brown that you mention above is the Chairman of Harness Racing NSW and John Dumesny is his CEO and they are the controlling authority for racing in NSW. The NSW Harness Racing Club is chaired by Robert Marshall and his CEO is Bruce Christison. They are responsible for running Menangle only.

There is a similar system in each state and in WA RWWA is the controlling authority with Gloucester Park Harness Racing headed by John Burt as President and Michael Radley as CEO responsible for racing at Gloucester Park only.

RWWA is unique in that it oversees the three codes of racing and specifically harness racing is represented as follows:

Jeff Ovens (Chairman)

Bob Fowler (Harness Racing Director) nominated by the Eligible Bodies.

Ian Edwards (CEO)

Charlotte Mills (General Manager Racing - 3 codes)

Nathan Scott (Harness Racing Manager) - brother of JayJay's trainer Matthew Scott.

Chariotsonfire · May 2022

JayJay thank you for clarifying the racing career of Comet Again.

As an aside to the pacer there was a good galloper of the same name trained by Alan Walkerden at Lancelin. At the time I was the TAB Agent for the restricted agency at Lancelin (Friday night trots and the five state race meetings on the Saturday). Comet Again won a major race at Ascot (Easter Cup I think) and everyone in Lancelin backed it and I did not have enough money to pay everyone so they had to wait to the following weekend to collect.

Some interesting clients of the TAB were Jessica Lee Steere (wife of Sir Ernest) and Claremont champion Kevin Clune.

Writing up all the jockeys names on the coloured wall cards was a challenge.

Markovina · May 2022

Chariotsonfire said:
Marko the Principal Clubs in all states do not run racing only their individual clubs. The Ken Brown that you mention above is the Chairman of Harness Racing NSW and John Dumesny is his CEO and they are the controlling authority for racing in NSW. The NSW Harness Racing Club is chaired by Robert Marshall and his CEO is Bruce Christison. They are responsible for running Menangle only.

There is a similar system in each state and in WA RWWA is the controlling authority with Gloucester Park Harness Racing headed by John Burt as President and Michael Radley as CEO responsible for racing at Gloucester Park only.

RWWA is unique in that it oversees the three codes of racing and specifically harness racing is represented as follows:

Jeff Ovens (Chairman)
Bob Fowler (Harness Racing Director) nominated by the Eligible Bodies.
Ian Edwards (CEO)
Charlotte Mills (General Manager Racing - 3 codes)
Nathan Scott (Harness Racing Manager) - brother of JayJay's trainer Matthew Scott.

Thanks for that information Chariots

From your list their - Ovens Edwards and Scott - ive never heard a squeek out of any of them

Look Vlandys isnt everyones cup of tea - he is a big mouth - and can say gross/crazy things - eg -id rather watch Bonanza repeats than watch a game of AFL - hah hah hah

But he gave Trotting a public face - 25000 to a Miracle Mile at HP - $1 Million annual CUB sponsorship for sires stakes racing . And he was loyal to the quid paying him - being NSW Harness Racing - and he could not careless whose nose he put out of joint - that could be the gallops - the dogs - or the football codes - he couldnt careless - he was hellbent on making Harness Racing Number 1

Those 3 blokes listed - when do ever here them say - Harness racing is a sensational product - and we have got big plans for it - or as the late and great Kevin Newman once said " Harness Racing is about 10000 times more exciting than the gallops "

Cant_Refuse · May 2022

Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards conducted an inquiry on Thursday, 28 April 2022 into the reports from the Chem Centre in Perth and Racing Analytical Services in Victoria that the pre-race blood sample taken from DISCO UNDER FIRE prior to it competing in and finishing 10th in Race 7 at Gloucester Park on Friday, 15 April 2022 was found to have a level of total carbon dioxide content (TCO2) in excess of the prescribed threshold of 36.0 millimoles per litre in plasma.

After hearing evidence from the trainer Mr G Inwood, Chem Centre representatives Dr N Beckett, RWWA Head of Veterinary Services Dr J Medd and RWWA Senior Investigator Mr G Johnson, Mr Inwood pleaded guilty to the following charges:

1. Charge under HRR 190B(1)(b) Log Books, with the particulars of the charge being that Mr Inwood did fail to record treatments of Neutradex administered to his horses within his logbook as required by Rule 190B(1)(b).

2. Charge under HRR190(1)(2) Presentation free of prohibited substances, with the particulars of the charge being that Mr Inwood, as the trainer, presented DISCO UNDER FIRE to race in Race 7 at Gloucester Park on Friday, 15 April 2022, not free of the prohibited substance alkalinising agents as evidenced by a concentration of TCO2 in excess of 36.0 mm/L in plasma.

In view of the nature of the charges and his plea of guilt, pursuant to Rule 183, Mr Inwood’s licences were suspended in full when the inquiry adjourned on the day, pending the stewards’ deliberations on penalty.

The stewards have today determined to issue the following penalties:

Charge 1 a fine of $400.

Charge 2 a disqualification of six months effective from 28 April 2022, to take into account the suspension of his licences as of that time.

Furthermore, DISCO UNDER FIRE was disqualified from the race in question in accordance with HRR 195, with commensurate implications for any payments to apply.

In considering penalty, stewards considered the following factors:

Mr Inwood’s pleas of guilty and that this was his first offence of this kind.
The long period of his licensed involvement, the number of horses he currently trains and that he relied on his licence for his livelihood.
The absence of any explanation for the reported readings.
The nature of the prohibited substance detected (TCO2) and the levels detected.
Previous penalties issued in relation to the detection of this prohibited substance, all of which have been periods of disqualification.
The potential for such matters to tarnish the image and reputation of racing.

Markovina · May 2022

Kellerberrin today - im going to have 1 e/w bet - Race 5 - the no 9 - Make It Quick at the $9 ( win boost

How i look at that race - the $1.40 fave was terribly unimpressive last start when winning at Narrogin - beat Lorrinda Kate by 5 metres that says it all - and it looked really pluggy in the home straight the last time - thus today i think it is beatable

I wouldnt mind MIQ - sitting in the breeze - one observation - and as allways i only post my honest opinion - what i actually think - MIQ - the trainer - hes probably a very good trainer sometimes his horses can put in indifferent runs - they will put in a terrific run - then when ive backed them next run on face value they seem slightly dissappointing thus because of that fact - im only having something small e/w - im not smashing it

Gilgamesh · May 2022

Great effort by Mighty Ronaldo last night over east.

Gilgamesh · May 2022

Markovina said:
Kellerberrin today - im going to have 1 e/w bet - Race 5 - the no 9 - Make It Quick at the $9 ( win boost

How i look at that race - the $1.40 fave was terribly unimpressive last start when winning at Narrogin - beat Lorrinda Kate by 5 metres that says it all - and it looked really pluggy in the home straight the last time - thus today i think it is beatable

I wouldnt mind MIQ - sitting in the breeze - one observation - and as allways i only post my honest opinion - what i actually think - MIQ - the trainer - hes probably a very good trainer sometimes his horses can put in indifferent runs - they will put in a terrific run - then when ive backed them next run on face value they seem slightly dissappointing thus because of that fact - im only having something small e/w - im not smashing it

Good first four if you played some novelties marko

Markovina · May 2022

Had a nice win at Leeton on race 8 - so im going to have a dabble on the last at GP

Very limited field - quite a few Mares - and their form card says there are quite a few Plain Janes

But the no 12 horse - hasnt had a run for 5 weeks - bit concerning - but it is well graded - something small e/w at the $8.50 - to put a bit of icing on the Leeton cake

Chariotsonfire · May 2022

Hayden King's selection this morning Marko.

Markovina · May 2022

Encipher won the SA Oaks at Globe Derby last night - all the SA feature races ( to protect the locals must be SA Bred - and this horse was bred and owned by T Linke - SA trainer who i think is way out in the Eyre Peninsula - but the horse is trained by Emma Stewart

Dont know what the track record was but it would have smashed it - a 3 yr old filly - and it rated 1.52.4

Gaita Pullicino drove it - didnt muck around - pulled the plugs at the 600

And it has got a sensational pacing action - dead straight and perfectly balanced - and in my opinion thats why that horse has got a much better chance of going right to the very top - than say Magnificent Storm who under pressure ( done it about 3-4 times ) wobbles and throws it head about

Rocket_Reign · May 2022

Markovina said:
Encipher won the SA Oaks at Globe Derby last night - all the SA feature races ( to protect the locals must be SA Bred - and this horse was bred and owned by T Linke - SA trainer who i think is way out in the Eyre Peninsula - but the horse is trained by Emma Stewart

Dont know what the track record was but it would have smashed it - a 3 yr old filly - and it rated 1.52.4

Gaita Pullicino drove it - didnt muck around - pulled the plugs at the 600

And it has got a sensational pacing action - dead straight and perfectly balanced - and in my opinion thats why that horse has got a much better chance of going right to the very top - than say Magnificent Storm who under pressure ( done it about 3-4 times ) wobbles and throws it head about

Mag Storm is already there champ

Markovina · May 2022

Rocket_Reign said:

Markovina said:
Encipher won the SA Oaks at Globe Derby last night - all the SA feature races ( to protect the locals must be SA Bred - and this horse was bred and owned by T Linke - SA trainer who i think is way out in the Eyre Peninsula - but the horse is trained by Emma Stewart

Dont know what the track record was but it would have smashed it - a 3 yr old filly - and it rated 1.52.4

Gaita Pullicino drove it - didnt muck around - pulled the plugs at the 600

And it has got a sensational pacing action - dead straight and perfectly balanced - and in my opinion thats why that horse has got a much better chance of going right to the very top - than say Magnificent Storm who under pressure ( done it about 3-4 times ) wobbles and throws it head about

Mag Storm is already there champ

In your opinion Champ

The great thing and exciting thing about Encipher - apart from the horses fantastic ability - is it is SA bred filly - by an SA based harness racing trainer

It isnt Champ - yet another NZ import - which in my opinion champ are the biggest pox on the industry - and the worst plague on Aust shores - since the rabbits of the 1960s

freodockers · May 2022

Very true Marko the letters NZ have destroyed the industry in WA in particular.
Schrader, Oliveiri, Hall and Bond over the decades have bought in 100s of high priced imports and in turn smashed the breeding industry. It was/is their right but I cannot understand why it wasn’t quashed by the controlling body years ago (despite repeated requests to do something about it).
People in high places ??
Money talks I suppose.

Chariotsonfire · May 2022

In my time HRA introduced an import duty on NZ horses with the funds received used to promote the Australian breeding industry. The complaints reverberated throughout the industry.

I am not sure what your comment on "money talks" is eluding to Dockers.

JayJay · May 2022

The import duty, once paid to the states relative to the number of imports entering each jurisdiction, is now held by HRA and is being used to partially fund the Eureka Slot Race. A $2.1 million dollar race, which unlike the Everest where all the stake is provided by slotholder payments and sponsorship, which will see the slot holders stump up 10 x $100,000 with the rest ($1.1 million) to come from Industry import fees and breeders stallion taxes (which will doubtless be passed on to broodmare owners). So the "small people" in the industry are predominantly funding a race for the big end of town to race for 2.1 million and a guaranteed $45,000 for finishing last. I think that is a case of money talks!!! The top 10 Australian Bred 3 and 4 year olds with few exceptions come from a very few select owner/trainer combinations. Every Breeders organisation in Australia is up in arms.

Chariotsonfire · May 2022

As I understand it the Eureka is restricted to Australian Bred horses JayJay.

I must say that in my opinion the racing industry should not be a socialist industry but it is obvious that many do not share my sentiments.

freodockers · May 2022

As I understand it however correct me if I’m wrong the racing industry has had for some time a restriction on NZ imports.
Is this correct Chariots and can you clarify what it is.

JayJay · May 2022

Chariots, I stated that above...."the top 10 AUSTRALIAN Bred 3 and 4 year olds et al....." It has been well publicised that they are the criteria. I will continue to object to import fees that have been imposed and collected for return to the states to be put into stake money, breeding schemes or whatever, being hijacked for a race that only a privileged few can afford to enter (you have to stump up $300k up front for a 3 year slot, that sort of limits the field), money that should be available for all to race for. In reality, only the purple circle of oligarchs will get a crack at the $1.1 million of industry money barring the extraordinarily unlikely occurrence of some backyard breeder fluking a champ from their bread and butter broodmare.

Freo, my understanding is there is no restriction on NZ imports other than the size of your cheque book. There are import fees dependent on age, sex etc and where applicable NZ GST to pay on purchase price, fees and freight.

Chariotsonfire · May 2022

Not to my knowledge Dockers but the thoroughbred breeding industry competes admirably with what NZ has to offer but regrettably that is not the case in harness for a variety of reasons.

curmudgeon · May 2022

Chariotsonfire said:
As I understand it the Eureka is restricted to Australian Bred horses JayJay.

I must say that in my opinion the racing industry should not be a socialist industry but it is obvious that many do not share my sentiments.

The misuse of the term socialist is your usual attempt to politicize & thus cause division in the management & governance of the industry @Chariots. It is of course a nod & wink to the status quo.

Any measurable benefit it in the long term through increased participation in breeding, owning & racing has to be encouraged at a local & state level in all three racing codes.

Thoroughbreds in all states but especially NSW VIC & QLD & WA have had Breeding Bonus Schemes policy in place for decades now BOBS VOBIS SUPER VOBIS WESTSPEED etc. . In essence it has made it comparatively uneconomical to import horses from NZ for average weekly racing & caused the upswing in Australian Breeding. It's a no brainer to positively encourage the local economy.

Westbred racing is the future of WAHarness....not exclusively but the considerable majority of races for the long term health of the industry. The socialist claptrap is just a red herring refusal to make the hard decisions & kowtowing to the drum banging noisy vested interests

John Messara is as far from being a socialist as Donald Trump yet from the early 2000's he drove the policy of restrictions to an increased number of Ausbred races in the Thoroughbred code in NSW & Vic as a measure for the holistic health of the Australian racing & breeding industry. The results have been outstanding ... Australian sprinters are now the best in the world consistently because of it.

If it is not continued to be done here with a deliberate strategy in the harness code we will peter out with lack of interest 5 horse races & remain a way station for the conduit of the NZ breds from NZ to the US to the detriment of the WA industry.

There is a vast difference between intelligent industry sustainability & growth & negative political sloganism.

We have heard this ad nauseum for years.

Chariotsonfire · May 2022

No further input from me. We are poles part on the socialist issue and am wasting my time and yours in attempting to convert you to my way of thinking.

freodockers · May 2022

Curmudgeon can you elaborate on the Westspeed bonus system please.

savethegame · May 2022

freodockers said:
As I understand it however correct me if I’m wrong the racing industry has had for some time a restriction on NZ imports.
Is this correct Chariots and can you clarify what it is.

Freo. there was a time it wasn't viable to buy tried racehorses from N.Z. even they had won only one race equivalent of Leonora standard they would be in open company in Australia..So they had to buy unraced or maidens. Of cause open company horses--also started in open company----

curmudgeon · May 2022

Both Westspeed (gallops )& Westbred (harness) are on the RWWA site somewhere I think @freo.

Which one were you interested in.?

getthechange · May 2022

re westbred westspeed links

https://www.rwwa.com.au/harness-hub/westbred/

https://www.rwwa.com.au/thoroughbred-hub/westspeed/

https://www.rwwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WinnersforDecemberRWWAWebsite.pdf

Gilgamesh · May 2022

Rock Me Over has finally found it’s race tonight. Surely.

curmudgeon · May 2022

Was distracted by something else.....missed the kick....event closed...The Last Drop $12.00....dammit..... I hate that

PackedMetalPanda · May 2022

curmudgeon said:
Was distracted by something else.....missed the kick....event closed...The Last Drop $12.00....dammit..... I hate that

Prices been up since 8 this morning, missed it by that much ay Curmudgeon haha

G'day Punter!

In this Discussion

Who's Online

Comments worth a post but not a thread of their own

Comments