"Is Neil not allowed to drive it?"
Neil's owners would welcome it : )
I like how you said 'demand greater professionalism by default'. Could not agree more.
Don't need to go making silly rules and regulations (as it is only A Grade drivers can drive there anyway - so its not like they let any man off the street); McCarthy, maybe Darryl Graham are moving and I'm sure others will follow suit; the standard of not only driving but trainers and horses will be lifted automatically.
Plus you will have regular interstate invasions imo - which will turn a 10 horse race from having 3 or 4 winning chances into it having 6 or 7 winning chances!
"Is Neil not allowed to drive it?"
Neil's owners would welcome it : )
he wont have many horses after all the big boys come to town
The Stride horses are all he seems to have these days anyway (at least the ones that can run a bit) - and that won't change until the day the Strides stop owning horses or the day Neil stops training!
Maestro, I'm with you that on that my own horses (if I had any) and as a punter I want only the best of the best driving; Bennett, Alford etc but to make rules depriving the likes of the Trevor Munday's, Jackson Paintings or Neil Day's from driving is not a plausible idea in my book. We need more participants having the chance to earn a buck from the game, not less. Where do we stop? Only millionaires can own horses, trainers must train 20 winners a year to keep their licence?
The ever present egalitarian beauty of Harness Racing is that no matter how big the stable and no matter how deep the pocket of their Owners, the smaller operations can ALWAYS get a good one to knock off the big operations. It has been the same since its inception. That being said, one thing I think we'll see happen in an ever increasing fashion over the coming years is that the scouts will be out everywhere and a lot of young horses that are showing promise at the trials or in their early starts will be purchased by said owners with deep pockets and then moved to the bigger stables. One way or another the $$$ flows and it's all good.
wouldnt be surprised if neil is on very thin ice with rosarti, just because he has money doesnt mean he likes tearing it up
He could send some horses to the Fitzpatrickershaha
The Industry could do with 100 fellas like Emilio. I think he's a terrific fella.