This post is the first in a series (I hope) of updates on the progress of my horse, the aptly named “Solidarity,” who first entered Labour Party folklore when he won a race during the Mt Albert by-election campaign.
At the time, we were all stuck in Parliament on a Saturday debating the super city legislation under urgency. For a bit of light relief I convinced a number of my colleagues to put $5 each into a group bet on Solidarity. The proceeds from our well-timed winning bet were donated to the Labour campiagn in Mt Albert and David Shearer subsequently bolted in.
I put it all down to the the great “karma” Solidarity generated when he “bolted in” that day at Te Rapa.
Anyway, Soli kicked off his 2010 Melbourne Cup campaign (he didn’t make it in 08 or 09 but this could be his BIG year) at Tauranga on Saturday and he nearly won!
He came in second and was beaten by a short neck (that’s the margin, not the name of the horse).
But here’s the exciting bit – this race was all wrong for him. It was run on a hard track over 1400m. To date, he’s been at his best on a soft track over 2100m.
Did I mention what a great name he has?
Yee haa! Go Solidarity
The ‘horse’ national was backing not so long ago was called Blue Chip!!
I understand some of the winnings were pretty good while, they lasted
LOL
oh dear betting! gambling! that may not go down well amongst some groups
I’m all for it – why don’t you see if the Nats will put a horse team together?
I wonder if the recievers will go through the books of Blue Chip to find the ‘donations’ Telecom seemed to make extra donations of $1 mill in election year that havent turned up in election returns under their name, could the old nag Blue Chip paid out plenty?
What are the next races in the build-up Sue? Will he be doing any of the big Aussie races before the Cup?
There were way too many things the last Labour government did that was not done in solidarity. It’s always very amusing to see current Labour MP’s using language as if they’re there to save us from the evil tories. While I’m not a fan of John Tamahere, he was spot on when he said the difference between national and Labour is that the former stabs you in the front, but the latter stabs you in the back. Maybe we could add another difference, which is when Labour stabs you it’s done in solidarity.
I dunno Anton, a lot of voters are feeling like National stabbed them in the back… not a new phenomenon as we look back through our electorial history.
Tamihere is like M Laws, they consider anyone who doesnt think like they do and what they do, must be back-stabbing idiots who are envious of their achievements.
JT talking about being straightforward. Ha Ha
You have not got His Highness Winston Peters to prop up (with taxpayer money) the Sport of Kings, Horse racing will have to compete on merit.
well, who ever thought that a blog about a horse could draw such interesting comments? I think the Blue Chip tip is worth following up!
@Grant, you took me too literally. Every horse I have ever raced is embarking on a Melbourne Cup campaign every year. Haven’t had a starter yet, but I keep the dream alive! My trainers have learnt to accept my eternal optimism.
I’m sure you’re right Tracey, there’re always going to be those who feel that, but my comments were general ones and aimed at how despite the apparent hope after the 1999 election Labour employed some pretty unsavoury tactics that you’d expect from the tories, hence my reference to the difference between the two. I agree with your comparison of John Tamahere with Michael Laws – their views are often sickening. I don’t, for example, trust that John Tamahere is aware or fully understands the potentially dangerous slope Whanau Ora can take us down if the tories get their way, but I felt I did need to acknowledge where I’d heard the quite funny remarks about different ways of stabbing. Some of those right-wing plonkers do come out with some funny things. I like how Bob Jones says he never employs anyone called Shantelle, anyone who wears sunglasses on their head indoors, or anyone who says “not a problem”. It might be the only time it’s happened, but that’s pretty perceptive.
Goodness me Anton, you must lead a sheltered life.
Have you heard of Ian Wishart?, or even Gerry Brownlee efforts as bouncer at national party meetings.
Lets not forget how the doors were held open late at the selection meeting for John Key so the ‘ring ins’ could find their way to Kumeu
Just as well it is more than a two horse race.
Weight for age the punters have done poorly with the insiders taking the divies.
Billions of dollars per annum off to the Ozzie circuits and out of our pockets as we borrow more to pay out.
Which trainer has an answer to stop this BANKruptcy.
Kiwi bank is seen as a poor bet but with excellent form. Although it is running well and keeping income in NZ pockets as well as making the Pharlap fraudsters watch their charges, there is danger of it being hobbled with a foul underarm blow from National. We probably won’t even see it coming. TINA scratching.
So, the government is just picking winners only? I am currently developing & working on 2 start-up software ideas and basically, I do knock on doors of both local & overseas (some are quite prominent) entrepreneurs looking to back me up financially. It is a hard task and I have experienced being shot down (lots) before I even make my pitch. My ideas if I do it the way I have envisioned, then I believe that I am going to be very competitive against various Wall Street incumbents in the same market. Ok, my comment is based on what I have seen so far since I have done my homework of checking out the functionality of those products from incumbents (very big companies). Google started out in a bedroom, and by the time they took off, Microsoft were just playing catch-up and the reality is they’ve never really caught up with Google, despite their billions they have poured into R&Ds over the last decade or so. The first thing when one is pitching ideas is that investors will ask. How are you going to survive, if your competitor/s (e.g., Microsoft, Google) reproduce what you’re doing and therefore killing your product/market? A continual innovation is top on the list of what they want to hear from you. This is where R&D comes in.
I am not asking for government help and this is the risk that entrepreneurs must take, in that they must rise and fall on their own. Don’t forget that there are investors out there that one can knock on their doors. At least I am out there taking the risks and not sit on the side line like Loota (a government worshipper) who demand that government should put (more unnecessary) regulations for businesses to comply with. Oh, and also demanding that the owners surrender their rights to their properties (businesses) to the workers they hire (who don’t share the burden of carrying the risks in running a business).
Final question to Labour MPs is, what advantages to the taxpayer when the last government (Labour) gave interest free loan (about 10 millions) to Right Hemisphere a few years ago. This was picking winners and I am keen to hear anything good that came out of it.
Why are we picking winners? Is this fair to taxpayers?