Last Sunday saw the thirteenth edition of the Harness Jewels since GTH Aveross caused a monumental upset in the first race of the first one. According to reports, the latest, thanks to the efforts of Cambridge Raceway, was successful and certainly, as usual, there was some pretty spectacular racing. Will it be the last, only time and a lot of discussion will tell.

Being a rather private person, the idea of posting my movements and ideas on line (well apart from those about harness racing), doesn’t appeal. However, whether we like it or not, social media is a part of everyday life, with or without my participation.

The fact that the proposal to change the standardbred horse’s birthday from 1 August to 1 January went through the Special General Meeting without dissent, and without even any questions being asked, was a credit to the way the idea has been promoted and ‘marketed’ by the staff at HRNZ.

Next week sees a Special meeting of Clubs and Kindred Bodies to decide whether or not to move the birthday of standardbreds in the Country from 1 August to 1 January, arguably one of the most momentous changes in the Industry for decades.

On 9th May 2021, new regulations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 came into effect. These regulations clarify who can carry out certain surgical procedures on animals and how they should be done.

Full credit to the Ashburton Trotting Club for responding to a request from the Trainers & Drivers Assn. to move their 1609m starting point back almost 100 metres to a 1700m start.

When the Trainers & Drivers National Council met recently, a number of the topics covered were duplicates of those recorded at the Greater Canterbury meeting which was reviewed here last week, so may not be covered here.

The Greater Canterbury branch recently hosted a meeting of invited license-holders to meet with HRNZ’s Gary Woodham and Catherine McDonald where a wide range of issues were discussed.

For old codgers like me, there is a satisfying sense of nostalgia when someone you either know, or that have a name you are familiar with from past years, win a race after a long time away from the victory dais.

Once again, we are faced with the dumb scenario where horse racing is not permitted on two days of a public holiday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.