Chief Stipe

Suggest you watch the race again. The horse missed the jump then got squeezed. Didn't miss it by much but enough.

Mmmm @Pitman just said on Trackside that "racing is going good in this area"...presumably the area is Riccarton?

But what does it have to do with a Handicapping Review? Isn't programming a different subject for a separate review?

My information says you'll see it go to a Good 4 or better. Arguably the reporting may have been a grade out all week! Still same range of improvement. Good old early spring Nor Westers!!!

Latest report is Ben Butcher sustained a broken scapula (shoulder) in his fall last night in Race 5 at Alexandra Park. Could be out for 7 weeks.

Race 5 DUNSTAN HORSEFEEDS SIRES STAKES HEAT 1 2 YO FILLIES MOB PACE Race 5 DUNSTAN HORSEFEEDS SIRES STAKES HEAT 1 2 YO FILLIES MOB PACE IRON HEART broke shortly after the start and fell severely checking ALWAYS B MISTY with Driver J Dickie being tipped from the sulky checking MUSIC MISTRESS which broke. ALWAYS B MISTY continued on driverless before being caught by the Clerk Of The Course. The race was then stopped by Stewards pursuant to Rule 211A(2) due to IRON HEART and Driver B Butcher lying prone on the track and was subsequently abandoned. Mr Butcher was attended to by St John Paramedics and found to have injured his left shoulder and was transported to hospital for further observation. Mr Butcher will be required to supply a medical clearance prior to resuming driving. IRON HEART was transported from the track by the Horse Ambulance and underwent a veterinary examination which revealed lameness to both front legs with lacerations to both knees. Stood down pending a veterinary clearance and will be required to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on one occasion prior to resuming. ALWAYS B MISTY underwent a veterinary examination which revealed an abrasion on the off hind fetlock. Driver J Dickie was attended to by the St John Paramedics and was cleared to fulfill his remaining drives, however Mr Dickie elected to stand himself down with driving changes being made as per the meeting summary. MUSIC MISTRESS also underwent a veterinary examination which revealed no abnormality. All three fillies were treated by the Veterinarian and Stewards will follow up with connections regarding their recovery in the coming days. The remainder of the meeting was put back one race with Race 9 rescheduled for 9.52pm.

Maybe they took a Bit Of A Yarn approach. Sit around the table and have a chin wag with a crate of the finest brown ale like Speights! Or...

"REVIEW OF RATING AFTER LONG ABSENCE The trainer of a horse that has not raced for twelve months or more may apply to have the horse’s rating reviewed and potentially reduced at the discretion of the handicapper." Mmmmm

The bottom of page 3 was repeated at the top of page 4. I guess for added emphasis?

The Dunstan and Stella Artois series are working well. Um what does that mean? From a handicapping perspective? A review is underway into the Whangarei RC Winter Championships. What's wrong with it? From a handicapping perspective?

"EARLY ENTRY RACES Lengthy discussion by the panel on early entry races – numerous benefits and negatives." Wow! They had a lengthy discussion!

"The current Set Weights and Penalties (SWP) conditions, form a handicap/weights perspective, tend to advantage the well-performed Group winners and placegetters, and disadvantage progressive and/or lightly raced horses. The panel recommends trialling a selection of 3yo SWP races as 3yo Handicap races - 60kg topweight, 54kg minimum. This will be progressed at regional programming meetings." Why trial? What was the analysis/data they used to determine there was a "problem"? What will be the metrics to determine success? The number of starters? How will the "regional programming meetings" determine which races will be "trials" of the new policy?

Agreed.

At the end of the day regardless of whether GRNZ are hitting their KPI's they are doing considerably better than NSW or Queensland.

Still no measure of variance. Any seasonal variation? Perhaps dogs shouldn't be raced in August. However your figures do blow your AKLD and Straight Track theories out the window!

20 Thoroughbred Meetings in OZ today.

But that is probably just buying turnover with a likely reduction in net revenue. Do knowledgeable punters I.e. those that don't have hunches really bet on maiden races with minimal exposed form? Perhaps we'll see the return of the trackwork spy!

Worthless nonsense unless you compare to same time last year at a minimum AND produce a measure of statistical variance. A D- grade at best for Chazza. Probably worse as you have manipulated the figures and their presentation.

Didn't you watch the trials?

How will it increase midweek turnover?

Isn't the number 5 as in 5 years?

Only a select group of breeders?

So can someone explain what the strategy is? It seems to be throw money all over the place and hope something works.

Betcha solves that problem.

A little unfair? So is the promotion about NZB or promoting the New Zealand bred thoroughbred? Arguably the industry was built on horses bred by owners and raced by them.