Chief Stipe

The memory hog just keeps climbing. You'll find your PC performance will start slowing down for everything. If you are using Chrome and hover over the tab at the top of the browser you will see how much memory is being used.

Just noticed something @curious with the TAB website. It has a very bad memory leak. Over time it gradually starts hogging more and more memory. The only way to fix it is to close the browser tab and open the website again. I've seen it go over 4Gb memory use and still climbing.

The Everest isn't exactly for "the battlers"!

Probably not but it seems to be mandatory if a horse slips.

A see the winner of the 4th slipped in the straight. Track inspection?

I take it you don't like The Everest either?

Seems Verti-draining is a standard regular part of the Ellerslie track management. Was done again this week. Seems a very aggressive form of turf management. Will the frequent mechanical intervertion affect the Strathayr components?

History Made With First Slot Filled for NZB Kiwi Waikato Stud has made a bold statement of intent by becoming the first Slot Holder to declare their runner in the inaugural $4.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). The powerhouse Thoroughbred nursery has announced the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Sought After (NZ) as their representative in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race to be contested for the first time on the all-new Champions’ Day at Ellerslie Racecourse on 8 March 2025. Sought After is a true-blue product of the Matamata nursery as a son of Waikato Stud stallion Tivaci and the Savabeel mare, Popular. “We think he’s the right horse for us and he has a lot of ability, so we identified him early and we are very happy to have done so,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said. He began his career in perfect style with an impressive debut win over 1200m at Taupo in mid-September, and will be in action at Te Rapa on Monday in the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m). “He’ll go into the Sarten in great order and hopefully we can begin to collect points, that would be a great start,” Chittick said. The Sarten is a qualifying race for the $1million bonus attached to the NZB Kiwi. To be eligible, a horse must win one of the various nominated New Zealand and/or Australian races and also run a top three placing in the NZB Kiwi. In a move to further reward foundation Slot Holders, the three horses who accumulate the highest number of points in the lead-up events to the NZB Kiwi will earn a share of the $175,000 bonus challenge with $100,000 for the winner, $50,000 for second and $25,000 for third. Sought After will also chase bonus points in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. “He’ll go to the Sarten and then the 2000 Guineas before he comes home and a break before the NZB Kiwi,” Chittick said New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Chairman, Russell Warwick, is thrilled to have the first runner confirmed for the country’s biggest-ever race. “We’re delighted to have Waikato Stud involved in the NZB Kiwi, and to have the first runner in the field confirmed adds a whole new layer to the hype that’s starting to build ahead of a new event in New Zealand’s sporting landscape”, Warwick said It takes Waikato Stud’s involvement in Australasian slot races to the next level, having also been involved in the last two runnings at Randwick of the A$20 million The Everest (1200m), which now has Gr.1 status. Their homebred I Wish I Win, raced with co-trainer Peter Moody, finished a luckless runner-up in the 2023 edition before a tough run last weekend. “It wasn’t the result we wanted, but it was great to be involved in a massive day at Randwick and if we can replicate something similar to that then it will be just fantastic for our industry and our country,” Chittick said.

As long as the camber was Ok. There are tighter corners in world racing.

They could have moved the 2400m start further over and extended the corner camber until the straight lined up. Even making the bend a little tighter would have helped. I tried drawing it...

FFS you have no idea.

Love your work Gamma! I hope to see you in January!

Slot 9 please.

I haven't seen that with the new track at Ellerslie. Horses have been making up considerable ground in the straight. For the life of me I have no idea why they didn't fix the problematic bends into and out of the straight. The one into the straight and the sudden dropping off of the camber late in the turn really restricts back runners. BUT as with most perceived biases those that have the most influence on tempo - the Jockey's - tend to sit back and wait too long to make their run. In my opinion that is a mindset not a track bias.

NZB Kiwi Charity Partners Announced for Sarten Memorial Day New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is excited to announce 15 charities that have partnered with NZB Kiwi Slot Holders for the 2024 Sarten Memorial Day at Te Rapa Racecourse. Earlier this year, NZTR announced the public auction of its year-one slot for the 2025 edition for NZB Kiwi, with 50% of the Above Reserve Fee ($125k) earmarked for donation to one of these deserving Kiwi charities. "The NZB Kiwi Slot Holder charity initiative is a fantastic opportunity for us to give back to the community while celebrating the best of New Zealand racing," said Russell Warwick, Chairman of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. "We’re thrilled to have partnered with 15 deserving charities and through the generosity of our Slot Holders and the success of NZTR’s public slot auction later this year, we’re hoping to support a significant cause. “It’s exciting to see racing bring people together for this wonderful day of racing at Te Rapa and we look forward to seeing which charity will benefit from the winning horse on raceday,” he said. Due to fewer than 14 horses being accepted for the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m), NZTR and Waikato Thoroughbred Racing (WTR) have made a slight adjustment to the raceday schedule. A different race will be selected for the charity draw, with Slot Holders and charities being notified on Monday 28 October, following final scratchings. The charity connected to the winning horse of the selected race will receive the portion of NZTR’s public slot auction proceeds in November. In addition, each charity involved will receive a $1,000 donation, ensuring all partners benefit from the excitement of this outstanding day. The 15 Kiwi charities and their chosen Slot Holders are as follows: The public auction of NZTR’s year-one slot for the NZB Kiwi will take place on the eve of the Ready to Run Sale, Tuesday 19 November at 5pm. This will be auctioned live during NZB’s Ready to Run Sale ‘Welcome Drinks’. For more information about the auction, contact emma.thompson@nztr.co.nz. In addition to the NZB Kiwi's base prizemoney, an additional $1 million in bonuses will be up for grabs each year for winners of a number of iconic New Zealand and Australian races leading up to the NZB Kiwi race day in March (1st - $600,000; 2nd - $250,000; 3rd - $150,000). To qualify for a share of the $1 million bonus pool, a horse must win one of the Bonus Eligible races in New Zealand or Australia and finish in the top three of the NZB Kiwi, which will be held on Champions Day (8 March 2025). The first of these Bonus Eligible Races will kick off at the end of this month, with the Group 2 Callander-Presnell Stakes (1600m) running on Saturday 26 October at Royal Randwick, the Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) running on Monday 28 October at Te Rapa, and the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on Saturday 2 November at Flemington. View further information about the NZB Kiwi and a full list of Bonus Eligible Races here. NZB Kiwi Contact Emma Thompson - NZB Kiwi Programme Lead emma.thompson@nztr.co.nz

The fastest horse always wins @Huey you should adjust you punting strategy accordingly. When you start winning you might get a bit more excited!

The word I heard was that Avondale are going to invest North of Auckland. Why wouldn't you?

So from an average ride by JMac on Broadsiding to Jamie Kah at 49.5kg.

Te Aroha complete return to racing protocols LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 24 October 2024 Racing is set to return to Te Aroha next week after the club successfully completed the return to racing protocols on Wednesday. The course held a set of nine trials, with 59 horses from the Cambridge, Matamata, Te Awamutu and local Te Aroha training centres attending. Through the latter part of winter, several scheduled meetings at Te Aroha were transferred to other venues to allow for extensive renovations to further progress the track surface and profile functionality. “Over the course of the renovation project, we have completed extensive work on the track including sub soiling, air injection to a depth of 500mm and verti-draining with a variety of tines, among other things,” Te Aroha’s track manager Ryan Gartner said. “We under-sowed the track and applied fungicide multiple times as well, including hand seeding and under-sowing the weak areas almost daily. “I’m pleased to see the jockeys comments reflect the hard work that has been put in, and we will continue to put the effort in to produce a quality surface for the industry.” Among a strong contingent of senior hoops was Joe Doyle, who expressed plenty of confidence after riding in six heats on a Good 4 surface. “It rode perfectly today, there is loads of grass where we are racing,” he said. “Its seems to be holding up perfectly and if the weather holds, I don’t see there being any problems. It rode really, really nicely.” Graham Richardson, who trains at Matamata with Rogan Norvall, had an unraced three-year-old in the final trial and was equally positive in his review. “I’m really pleased with it and it’s so nice to be back,” he said. “The track seems nice and safe and it looks great. I’m looking forward to racing on the 30th.” Northern-based commentator and Racing Te Aroha board member George Simon had hoped to see the venue come into play earlier in the season but is looking forward to the upcoming period of racing, which includes meetings on October 30, November 12, November 27 (Christmas at the Races) and December 8. “Our return has been more delayed than we would have liked, but we needed that additional time to go forward with confidence and be able to maintain our scheduled programme,” he said. “After the trials that took place today, I spoke to a number of senior jockeys who were very complimentary of how the track was presented. They said it rode well, had a little give and was well grassed. “From my perspective, it looked good and with the positive feedback received, it augurs well going forward. “The track will undergo further work in March 2025 after a period of racing.” The Club awaits a final ‘go ahead’ to be given in the coming days, after consultation between the Club, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and the Racing Integrity Board. However, Stipendiary Steward, Brady Jones, gave the club some assurance with his feedback following the trials. “The feedback from the senior jockeys was positive, and I see no reason not to proceed next week,” he said.

What happens when a world-class jockey hits back at the media? Jamie Kah and Ben Melham aren't holding back. Just before one of the biggest events of the year, The Everest, Kah fired off at News Corp for a “garbage” article that dragged her personal life and past controversies into the spotlight. After dedicating her life to the sport, this hit her hard. But the couple isn’t staying silent. Melham didn’t mince words either, calling out the “gutter journalism” they’ve come to expect. #JamieKah #BenMelham #HorseRacing #MediaBacklash #CoxPlate #Racing

Yeah Na. All that money is being pumped into novelty races on tracks that aren't up to spec.

When will they do the AWT review?

NZTR would like to provide an update on the Future of NZ Jumps Racing consultation process No images? Click here NZTR to Provide Jumps Recommendation in November New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) would like to provide an update on the Future of NZ Jumps Racing consultation process. Following the formation of a recommendation panel in September, the decision has been made to delay the presentation of a final recommendation to the NZTR Board until November, to give the panel sufficient time to meet with relevant stakeholders and consider the review of jumps racing in Victoria. “The panel has met and while excellent progress has been made, we believe there is still work to be done before providing a robust recommendation to the Board."– Darin Balcombe, NZTR COO and Jumps Recommendation Panel Chair. “Racing Victoria’s review into the jumps racing industry came weeks after forming the panel and we felt there was also an opportunity to collaborate as they undertake a similar process.” NZTR acknowledge the jumps fraternity will be looking to bring horses back into work in the coming months and want to ensure all participants that any decision made on the future of Jumps Racing will not affect the 2024/25 season. The recommendation panel is scheduled to meet again in October with the intention to provide a recommendation for the 26 November Board meeting. A further update will be provided following this meeting. Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Catlyn Calder +64 27 252 2803 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

Where is the evidence of that? It would appear that the relevant machinery wasn't being used at Riccarton. At least not until recently when some people started blowing whistles. But were resources increased at Awapuni and Riccarton when the AWT's were added to the workload? Those two racecourse were struggling before their addition of the AWT's. There is no evidence in the CJC accounts that additional resource was added nor that sufficient revenue has been generated to pay for any additional resource. The proof of under resourcing is clearly evident with the poor track outcomes.

I've been told the Awapuni and other CD trainers didn't want the track in the first place.