Freda

Exactly

Yes, there is a programming committee, and I must correct my statement that of the T.A. wasn't involved...apparently they were, at least as far as the extra Sundays were concerned. They were prepared to go along with that provided that there was a stakemoney increase to reflect the extra costs.

Some decisions that are certainly hard to fathom. The extra meetings for trots in the north are astonishing...someone like the enterprising Michael House will no doubt target many of them, but otherwise, where will the horses come from? All the tinkering seems to have little real connect with what is needed in any specific district. As far as Canterbury is concerned, I must re-iterate what I was told by Tim Mills, that the South Island is considered 'one area' by NZTR. Any desire to increase permits in Canterbury over [especially] that summer period will be waved away. And the T.A, certainly in our area, was not consulted in any way. There have been so many changes to programming and funding over the years, and we are told we mustn't look back, but forward; or worse, that we are 'negative' and against progress. But, really? I can't for the life of me see much 'progress ' here. As far as Timaru is concerned, it beggars belief that this club would be treated this way. Sure, it has had its problems, financially esp, over the years...I recall, a VERY long time ago, when the club gave up some weekend dates and opted for Friday, as the remuneration from off course betting was much better at that time. Naturally, on-course participation fell away and the club battled for a fair while. Recently it has managed very well and now produces an excellent raceday. Surely success should be encouraged? rewarded? but seemingly not. Another factor with much more Sunday racing - staff. The small teams with friend or family involvement will probably battle on, as they do now; but extra labour costs will be a big factor for many. The Chief will point out that Sunday trading has to be dealt with by many businesses and he is right in that respect..but capable and reliable staff to travel horses, or conversely to be left behind to manage the home team aren't that easy to find. We're not talking checkout operators here, whatever some may think about stable staff.

Hmm.

Dust off the camper-van and head south looks like the plan.. 😒

Exactly. As Reefton pointed out - probably several times - when punters don't want to bet, owners don't want to race and trainers/riders won't come to our track, we'll put the white flag up. But until then, why should we? At the risk of 'harping on' the Coast club that was refused a licence on its own track - Westland - had the capital in kitty to make any improvements deemed necessary without calling on industry money, as well as abundant local help and goodwill. So Greymouth ran a successful ' Westland' day on that circuit but no, not allowed now. And some think that the committee were out of line donating the asset back to the community. FFS. Good on them, I reckon. Far better that, than giving it away to be mismanaged.

Interesting result. From a legal perspective, I guess the right decision has been made, vis. the obtaining of 'better' results in races as a result of the actions. The recent RIB inspections of training facilities wrt the welfare of the horses, spanks of the same unrealistic and airy-fairy ideas about horse management. For the record, I'm not against such inspections at all, but some of the comments attributed to the personnel involved are hilarious. But the cruelty aspect of the actions is a different matter altogether.

Ploughed paddock? just what were you watching? because it sure as hell couldn't have been Timaru. There were some cows standing knee deep in mud shown on the news, you must have been confused.

I'm still surprised that Strathayr has allowed the finished product to be called a 'Strathayr' track, given the deviations from normal installation procedure as well as the rushed resumption.

For once, TAB, I find your post quite agreeable! However - just one point I must make - in the earlier times you mention, trials were not as they are now. You are quite right there, but rules, and public perception, were very different then. It was the norm to go to the races with a novice horse to educate it. Often a very promising type was 'pulled up' until connections deemed it ready to 'let go' and have a bet. The public wasn't considered in this practice although most experienced punters would be awake. Now, that is not considered acceptable, the public must be able to bet with confidence that their choice is, at least, familiar with what it is required to do, and is fit enough. The number of trials that some trainers give their horses before running, begs the question that they might be 'over the top' before they ever have a raceday start..but that is another topic.

They have their place, esp. for training. What WASN'T acceptable [ IMO ] was the butchering of a very good facility here at Riccarton to install, the arbitrary closing down of courses to 'rationalise' costs - and force the use of said AWT's for races/trials - and the use of taxpayer funds for their installation. Cambridge with the climatic conditions they face have, I think, found it invaluable for training, but also, there are still available grass courses in the Waikato. The CD has faced track closures, forced - again - by edict from head office. But clearly, the demand for AWT trials is still not there. And the heavy load placed upon the remaining tracks , some of which just can't cope, shows how little knowledge those charged with directing the industry really have. Although Purcell made an ass of himself over the 'I raced 90' rubbish - and cost the industry yet more unnecessary money in bringing the action he did - he was on record of saying he was NOT in favour of forced track closure, but that NZTR would work with any club that chose that option. Saundry took things much further and left a messy legacy. By all appearances Sharrock might have just left! Locally, trainers are getting behind a move to get jumpouts back at Rangiora. Balcombe has been down for a meeting with locals, is quite OK with this, has given verbal indications to this effect, and the team are just awaiting a formal tick from head office. When asked why the course had been 'decommissioned', he was unable to give a reason, but indicated he was impressed by the facility as he had never seen it before. Go figure.

COO Darin Balcombe has been the source of the corporate b/s for quite a few weeks now. Is this a 'baptism of fire' readying him to be the new CEO? Sharrock could be forgiven for preferring the management of elite sportspeople to the embarrassment of his second portfolio. If he is unwell, or merely 'on leave' surely there should have been some announcement to that fact?

Probably lying on couches watching TV, like mine.

Great post, Walt. Jumps racing is well gone here in the south, anyway. The Grand National - as it is now - will only remain while there is the will to travel horses from the North Island. The Hurdles at least will be safe this year, Tim Mills has an ownership interest in Berry The Cash, who is reportedly on target to defend his title. All the tinkering over the last few years didn't help one iota, and IMO, the demise of highweights down here was one very potent factor. No chance for jumps riders to have off-season opportunities - so why bother being here - and those horses suited by highweight conditions, not catered for and gradually dropping out of circulation. The discussions I had with many about this, to be told, oh, but we don't have enough highweight riders...so, I said, make them welters then, with preference to be given first to a jump rider. Didn't seem difficult to me, but maybe I was missing something. Southern trainers have been blamed for not supporting the jumping scene, but developing a jumper is time consuming and expensive. Who on earth would bother, with no riders and no certainty that next season there would even be any events to target? The typically very hard tracks in Canterbury particularly are not conducive to that discipline either.

I note Tory Whanau [ would that be her given name, I wonder? ] is now a Green member and intending to run for office. It fits I suppose. I bet Jeannette Fitzsimmons would be unimpressed with the carry-on of the current lot.