Last week I was venting about people in this Country moaning why we can’t be the same as Australia. My mood wasn’t appeased after reading comments from a New Zealand trainer who won more money that anyone at the recent excellent carnival in Brisbane, one who is rather renowned for slagging off at all and sundry when things don’t suit him.

As I think I’ve said before, I get angry when I hear industry participants bleat on about why can’t we be like Australia. Well, last week was the perfect answer to that question, as if there weren’t enough obvious reasons such as population difference, and the fact that big money is offered for our horses, whereas our neighbours sell very few overseas.

There was a certain irony in a horse by the name of Dodgethebullet winning the final race to be staged on the Forbury Park track. Let’s face it that venue has been dodging bullets from various parts of the racing industry for quite a few years.

I know everybody and his dog has written tributes to Ricky May, and so they should have, but I feel it’s appropriate for this website to contribute also, as the man from Methven is probably the epitome of what our game is all about.

For ages now, there has been a strong call for Clubs to programme more races for fillies and mares, and with good reason.

With the change of horse’s birthday being approved, there will be slight complications to the time that qualification for season awards cover for this and next year.

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.