I don't mind long days - some would argue I don't have many of them - but I do wonder at the common sense that goes on when Wingatui gallops and Forbury Park harness are held on the same day, such as yesterday.
It's no fault of the clubs, really, but the dates committee made up of industry representatives and the New Zealand Racing Board does need to have a decent look at clashes when it is putting together the meeting dates for next season.
I'm probably the least of its worries, but when Trackside gear and crew is getting ferried up and down the country, that all starts to be added to the bottom line.
It gets more interesting, mind you. In a Thursday in mid-June, there is an Oamaru thoroughbred meeting during the day followed by Forbury Park at night. On the upside, I might have time that day to stop off for some fish and chips at Hampden ...
Pacing ourselves
I mentioned nominations being open for the top five pacers of the past 20 years a couple of weeks ago. Dave Cannan, the esteemed The Wash columnist and an outstanding racing writer in his own right, put his list up on Twitter: Christian Cullen, Terror to Love, Elsu, Monkey King and Chokin.
Beaumont Racing Club president Phil Williams also contributed his list, which is slightly different from Dave's. He had three-time New Zealand Cup winner Terror to Love on top followed by Christian Cullen, Monkey King, Iraklis and Master Musician.
As for mine? I giggle with delight every time I watch Christian Cullen's utterly dominant 1998 Miracle Mile win, so I will have to have him on top.
Next would be Monkey King, due to his record in the 2009-10 season where he won the New Zealand Cup, New Zealand Free-For-All, the Miracle Mile and the Auckland Cup. Rounding out the top five would be Terror To Love, Elsu and Iraklis.
Our horses over there
Good luck to Paul Richards and Bill and Sandra Duell with Natuzzi, who makes his Australian debut at Caulfield tomorrow in a $A100,000 ($NZ108,000) 1200m open handicap.
He will have to carry 58kg and has been given the visitors' draw of 15, but with the wily Chris Johnson making his way to Australia for the ride, you can be sure Natuzzi will get all the shortcuts.
Lazy Fiver
Back to the dark old days of mid-2013 for the Lazy Fiver with Alexandra Leaving coming in seventh at Rangiora on Sunday. Ironically, I considered the winner of that race, Waterloo Sunset, as a candidate for the Lazy Fiver but changed my mind. Well played, Smith, well played.
The draw is not ideal for Whisper Jet in race 5 at Addington tonight, but she's from the in-form stable of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, and Rasmussen takes the drive.
