Lincoln Farms trainer Ray Green says the morons running racing have squandered all the industry’s money.
Ray’s losing horses already and warns racing will be dead and buried if stakes drop too low
By Barry Lichter • 30 April 2020
Lincoln Farms trainer Ray Green fears very low stakes will see an exodus of horses from New Zealand, leaving it little more than a pre-training ground.
Even before an imminent announcement from the technically insolvent Racing Industry Transition Agency on what prize money will look like for the next three months, Green is feeling the effects.
Leading Sydney owner Emilio Rosati has just told Green to put his good three-year-olds Platinum Stride and Prestige Stride on the first flight out.
Smart colt Platinum Stride … lost to New Zealand.“If I hadn’t gelded Vanquish Stride this morning he’d have been on the plane too but I imagine it won’t be long before he’s gone.
“Emilio quite rightly says if the purses are going to be as low as everyone’s saying, there’s no point in keeping his horses here.”
Green has two horses left owned by Rosati but has been told that as soon as he finds out if they’re any good to dispatch them to Australia, or to get rid of them if they’re not up to it.
Green says the other big Australian owner with horses at Lincoln Farms, Merv Butterworth, is likely to follow suit.
Australian owner Merv Butterworth sharing better times with Ray Green at Alexandra Park.Already The Empress and Bettor My Dreamz are booked to go and he worries for the future of his standout colt Copy That, arguably the best three-year-old in the country.
“Why would these owners want anything trained here when our stakes could be less than they were 20 or 30 years ago?
“I’m afraid a lot of people will be abandoning New Zealand. I imagine the thoroughbred industry will be even worse.
“If the rumours are true about how low stakes are going to be, then racing in New Zealand will be dead and buried.
“The people running the show have squandered all our money over the last few years and RITA has put a couple more nails in the coffin.
“Surely no one could be that stupid to have put us so far in debt and now the morons want to finish us off.”
Already Lincoln Farms is developing a new model of getting young horses up and running and either selling them or sending them to Australia to race and it won’t be long before others follow, says Green.
“All we’ll be doing is pre-training horses for Australia.”
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
