Chief Stipe

I'm sure some local Riccarton people would love to comment. How many horses has he raced? More than 90?

Seems Tim Mills is on everything. Handicapping Review, Jumps Review.

Getting Lauren To The Winning Post With Her Cancer Battle At Te Akau Racing, we know that team and family really matter - and today we are reaching out to ask for your support in the cancer battle faced by one of our valued team members, Lauren Russo. Lauren is an integral part of our team, our family, working both with our horses and as a superstar in our Matamata office. Recently, Lauren received the heartbreaking news that her cancer has returned, and she is now fighting Stage 4 melanoma. In order to give Lauren the best possible chance of recovery, she needs a combined therapy treatment, which includes a drug not funded in New Zealand. The cost for this essential treatment is $80,000, and Lauren needs to start this in three weeks - that's why are reaching out and asking for any contribution you can manage to help ease the financial burden on Lauren and her family. If you are able to contribute, no matter the amount, it would mean the world to Lauren and all of us here at Te Akau Racing. Together, we can rally behind her and show her she’s not alone in this fight. To view the Givealittle page please Click Here. Thank you for your support! With gratitude, The Te Akau Racing Team

So you need credit funding to have a bet? The TAB has probably worked out that you aren't worth the effort. Not black listed per se. They have worked out that you don't put much of your own money into the pool and therefore your contribution to net revenue is zero or if you withdraw cash regularly a net loss.

You and I disagree. The anti-racing brigade are a minority albeit a vocal minority. The social license construct is a self-defeating distraction to buy into. You don't need to have a majority of the public supporting racing just a percentage that is enough to sustain it. A corollary would be football vs rugby. The industry's focus should be on the bigger issues of safe tracks, handicapping, programming and the cost of providing the product. If those things are not addressed then there won't be enough product to sustain the industry.

I imagine the "wind it down plan" would be easier for NZTR. The "re-energise it" would require them to get on top of the very issues that affect flat racing!! They don't seem to be on top of the latter. Hopefully they will wake up soon and realise that Novelty and Slot races AREN'T re-energising flat racing when there are still track issues, programming issues, handicapping issues etc.

I'm guessing when they went through the App upgrades they worked on customer retention. The initial response from the customers was really negative and betting dropped off. So it made sense to incentivise customers to retain them. The focus now is on getting new customers particularly via the Betcha platform. So the marketing budget which comprises Bonus Bets and Top Up's will be focussed on that platform and/or new customer acquisition. Then again a BB is hardly a free lunch. Basically it is a loan on credit which if your bet is successful you pay back anyway from your winnings.

Well true jumps racing enthusiasts would also want change i.e. better programming and more opportunities which arguably would constitute change.

But change for what? Are the 90% animal welfare activists that want jumps racing stopped?

So master statistician how would you "fix it"?

Ellerslie given green light for racing’s return loveracing.nz Ellerslie is set to host some of the biggest race meetings on the calendar this season, but for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) chief executive Paul Wilcox, one raceday stands above the rest. The newly installed StrathAyr track is set to host its first meeting of the season on Saturday-week, with many industry participants eager to see how it will cope with the stresses of racing after undergoing remedial work over winter. The new surface hosted its first race meeting in January to much fanfare, however, a fortnight later at the Karaka Millions meeting it came under scrutiny after a couple of horses lost their footing. The track subsequently held a handful of meetings, including Auckland Cup and New Zealand Derby Day, before two meetings in April were partially abandoned due to horses slipping. The track was set to undergo some planned remedial work over winter, however, the club’s last scheduled meeting of the season on May 25 was transferred to Pukekohe Park to allow for the work to commence immediately. Following the remedial work, the track has hosted a number of successful jump-outs and trials, including 22 heats on Tuesday, giving the club plenty of confidence heading into their opening meeting of the season. “There was a surface tension that was created when we were feeding the grass to get it to grow that created a root matting at the top layer,” Wilcox said. “We have done the renovations where we have removed that and yesterday we had no issues. We are relieved.” Wilcox said the club has been canvassing trainers for their feedback from the trials, and they have received positive reports. “So far, so good,” Wilcox said. “Craig Baker (ATR Executive General Manager of Racing) has been talking with some of the trainers this (Wednesday) morning to see how their horses have pulled up and everything seems good there. We are happy.” Over winter, ATR flew in a number of track specialists from Australia to assist with the track renovation, which Wilcox said was hugely beneficial. “We got Chris Hay, who looks after the StrathAyr tracks in Tasmania, and Liam O’Keeffe from Flemington, whose track is a sand profile track and presents the same way as ours does,” he said. “Utilising the skillset of two guys who are at the top of their game is something we are never afraid of. We got them in to help to give us the advice and changes that were needed to make sure we had the surface to present to enable racedays. “Every track has its own intricacies. It doesn’t matter if it is turf, sand or synthetic, you utilise people with the skillsets that have the knowledge of preparation. We used them and they gave us some good advice, and we had a successful day (of trials) yesterday. “We did everything in the book to get it (track) to where it needs to be.” The StrathAyr track has cost the club north of $50 million, which comes with pressure, and Wilcox said the club has felt both support and scrutiny following the track’s performance to date. “The money is irrelevant, it is making sure we have got a surface that can perform on raceday,” he said. “We had a slip, and that wasn’t good enough, so it was making sure that we can get the surface that gives the confidence to the jockeys and horses that are going around. “There has been an element of negativity, but that is to be expected in the industry that we are in. All-in-all the trainers that have been supportive of us are wanting it to go well because they are wanting to have the ability to race at Ellerslie. We have been getting some really good support.” There is plenty to look forward to at Ellerslie this season, including the blockbuster Champions Day in March, which will host the inaugural $3.5 million The NZB Kiwi (1500m). However, Wilcox said his team’s primary focus at this stage is their first meeting of the season next Saturday. “We have got the new Champions Day in March, and we are looking forward to that, but I will be a happier man when we get that 21st (of September) meeting out of the way, which is what we are focussing on,” he said.

Walker teams up with Kheir www.racing.com Ozzie Kheir has an impressive string of spring contenders to look forward to across Melbourne and Sydney on Saturday, but also front of mind for the successful owner is a comparatively lowly maiden at Geelong on Friday. When Savabeel filly Exuberance contests the race for three-year-old fillies over 1140 metres, it will be the first horse to race in Kheir's colours for Matamata (New Zealand) and Cranbourne-based trainer Mark Walker. "I met Mark for lunch and really enjoyed his company and passion towards horses," Kheir said this week. "He is obviously extremely good at his work to achieve what he has in New Zealand and I'm very excited to have him train this filly, who looks a really nice type." Kheir is not alone in expecting Exuberance to start the relationship with a prominent showing on Friday, as Walker sees plenty of quality in the unraced filly. "She's shown a lot in our trials in New Zealand and jumped out well at Cranbourne, so we think she's a nice filly," Walker said from Cranbourne on Wednesday morning. "She can go a little bit keen, but she's got a lot of untapped natural ability." Kheir has also sent Walker a homebred Frankel two-year-old who Walker said is likely to one day make her mark. "She's more of a staying type of filly," Walker explained. "We will give her a two-year-old prep just to make sure she knows what she's doing as a three-year-old as she looks an Oaks filly." The Cranbourne arm of Walker's flourishing training business is set to expand this spring after a smaller opening more than a year ago. "We've got 30 boxes completed and they've started the next stage with an office block and owners' area and another 40 boxes and hopefully that will be ready in six-to-eight weeks' time," Walker said. "We won the (New Zealand) premiership last season again and we had a very good season at home. It's good to have the best of both worlds racing in New Zealand and Australia. "These days, it's very easy to bring them across. It's much easier from Matatama to Cranbourne than it is from Matamata to Trentham. It's actually easier on them." On Saturday, Kheir has shares in the likes of highly talented group Daggers, Nadal, Interpretation and Jimmysstar at Flemington, as well as Bustling and Molly Bloom at Rosehill.

No images? Click here NZTR Outline Next Steps in Future of NZ Jumps Review With the submission date now closed, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) would like to provide an update on the next steps of the Future of NZ Jumps Racing consultation process. In total, 240 submissions were received with representation across all areas of the racing industry. “The volume of submissions that we received is testament to the passion of those involved in the racing industry and is further proof of the need for immediate action,” NZTR CEO Bruce Sharrock said. While there were differing views, 90% of the submissions agreed that the status quo was no longer acceptable. “In early August we asked for the industry to have their say, and they delivered with well thought out ideas and responses to support the next stage of our process in this important decision.” Submissions ranged from owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys and even included racing fans and punters. “Today, a recommendation panel has been announced that will be responsible in reviewing the current state and putting forward a recommendation to the NZTR Board in October aligned to a decision-making framework,” Sharrock added. The independent panel is comprised of those with broad industry knowledge and experience. NZTR Chief Operating Officer Darin Balcombe has been appointed Chair, and will be supported by Mark Chitty, Jessica Brosnan, Regan Donnison, Brad Taylor and Tim Mills. To ensure integrity and robustness of the process Alan Galbraith KC will provide legal overview and endorsement of the decision-making framework. NZTR would like to thank those who took the time to present a submission to the consultation and we look forward to providing more information in the coming months. Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Catlyn Calder +64 27 252 2803 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

Why? The tracks ok.

None of that is a hard fix. Let's face it it's a decision by NZTR to not race at Avondale or an argument over who pays. The fire was end of December 2023. 8 Months ago.

Sorry I didn't realise there were TWO different roadshows. I guess that means double the airpoints.

Report from Tony Pike: “We’ve got through the day well, the jockeys have been happy with the track and there’s definitely more indentation in the track then there probably was previously,” Pike said. “Obviously getting later in the afternoon now, it is starting to firm up a touch, but I think everyone has been pleased with the surface.” Pike collected his first stakes success of the season with Poetic Champion in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) with Matt Cartwright on board, who was also able to provide a fresh perspective on Ellerslie after moving from Victoria, where the StrathAyr is utilised at the likes of Moonee Valley. “One of the comments from Matt Cartwright, who has ridden on StrathAyr tracks a number of times in Melbourne, was that a bit more grass cover would be ideal, and talking to Paul (Wilcox, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing chief executive), they have fertilised the track and will be getting more grass cover ahead of the upcoming race meetings,” Pike said. “I think it’s been positive all round and we’re looking forward to getting back to headquarters on race day.”

No money to fix it? No insurance?

MEETING NEWS October 9 meeting to Tauranga The meeting scheduled for Wednesday 9 October at Avondale will now be held by Racing Tauranga at Tauranga. This is due to on-going power supply issues at Avondale. The programme remains as advertised

Surely Ellerslie is recording something in order to manage the track. Or is it just how far a finger goes into the ground?

Yet for the StrathAyr at Moonee Valley the following information is provided: Meeting Type: Metro (TAB MEETING) Print Friendly Rail Position: True Entire Circuit Dual Track Meeting: N Track Type: Turf Track Condition: Good 4 Weather: Fine Penetrometer: Track Information: Inspection 6AM 7/9; Going stick 9.2, Shear 11.2, Penetrate 8.2. Moisture 22.5%. Track was mowed Tuesday at 4" Scratchings Last Published: Sat 07-Sep-24 7:48AM AEST

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) wishes to advise that throughout the StrathAyr track testing process at Ellerslie which included gallops, jumpouts and trials, ATR found that the penetrometer readings taken on each occasion did not provide an accurate guide as to how the track was performing. In collating feedback from stakeholders, it is apparent that the readings are stating the track is much firmer than how it rides. After discussing the matter with the team from StrathAyr, Chris Hay, Track Manager at Elwick Racecourse in Tasmania (a racecourse also in possession of a StrathAyr track) and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, it has been agreed that using penetrometer readings to determine the level of firmness of the Ellerslie track is a flawed process. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, the Ellerslie track will be declared a Good 4 irrespective of rainfall. This track rating will be a more accurate guide for stakeholders including the wagering public. ATR has every intention of continuing to publicise the Ellerslie track penetrometer readings once they are more reflective of how the track will perform.

Moonee Valley is StrathAyr is it not? This is their track report for last Saturday: Please note that no further Track Condition Reports outside of the four Racing Victoria submission timeframes and deadlines outlined below are required to be submitted unless there is a change in Track Rating. If there is a change in Track Rating at any stage an additional report will be entered by the Victorian Club Track Managers. For further information please contact the relevant racing club. Item Inspection Timeframe Inspection Deadline for Track Rating to be Submitted Non Submission Follow Up 1 Day of nominations close [after nominations close] Following Noms Close & Prior to 2:50pm By Racing Victoria Post 3pm and prior to 4pm 2 Day before acceptances close [after nominations close] Prior to 2:50pm By Racing Victoria Post 3pm and prior to 4pm 3 Day of acceptances close [before acceptances close] Prior to 6:50am [where there has been significant weather conditions overnight resulting in a change in Track Rating since the prior day's report] 4 Day before Race Day [after acceptances close] Prior to 2:50pm By Racing Victoria Post 3pm and prior to 4pm 5 Race Day [after acceptances close] Prior to 6:50am By Racing Australia Post 6:50am Meeting Type: Metro (TAB MEETING) Print Friendly Rail Position: True Entire Circuit Dual Track Meeting: N Track Type: Turf Track Condition: Good 4 Weather: Fine Penetrometer: Track Information: Inspection 6AM 7/9; Going stick 9.2, Shear 11.2, Penetrate 8.2. Moisture 22.5%. Track was mowed Tuesday at 4" Scratchings Last Published: Sat 07-Sep-24 7:48AM AEST

What about the NZTR Roadshow?

Uh? A G4 irrespective of rainfall? What about moisture content readings? Do we have 4 AWT's in NZ now?