Chief Stipe

No I disagree with what you are inferring. The Duff is a cheeky little commentator who often throws out glib comments. Waterhouse and Bott's performance isn't anything out of the ordinary nor signficantly different to a number of other trainers. Anyone who follows the gallops knows that Gai Waterhouse is a meaner version of her father TJ Smith. No prisoners in her stable going by the attrition rate. Her horses don't start in a race to "have a run" or to warm up for bigger things. So early in the season her horses do shine. Compared to someone like Chris Waller who takes a more traditional Kiwi approach where he winds his horses up slowly with bigger targets later in the season.

A number of trainers have better or similar strike rates currently this season. Waterhouse and Bott were only 5th on the NSW Premiership last year and running about the same this year.

I've watched the replay and can't see any indication that the #1 dog actually connected with the rail. If they are the "dots you are trying to connect" then I think you are barking up the wrong tree. I thought I'd do some research on gracillis muscle injuries. They are very rarely if ever caused by contact but by the sudden acceleration of a greyhound from a cold start. In this case from my observation it looks clear that the dog pulled the gracillis soon after the start. Perhaps the issue is inadequate warmups of the dogs prior to racing. 2. Gracilis – We call this ‘the 0-60 mph’ muscle. It’s located on the inside of the thigh at the back. Its closest neighbours are the hamstrings. This muscle attaches from the bottom of the pelvis to the inside of the shin bone, and its job is to provide propulsion and to flex and extend the stifle joint. The gracilis is commonly injured as a result of the dog going from a standing still to accelerating up to 45 mph without a warm up. As the muscle is not prepared for action it commonly strains and the greyhound is left lame or with an irregular gait.

Which is the point I was trying to make in another topic - if the AWT's can't attract trialists then they will have to be subsidised from elsewhere. Doesn't bode well for the likes of Awapuni nor Riccarton. So there will be more pressure to close down places like Foxton to justify the local AWT existence.

Beautiful training facility offering many options that are kind to horses. "Green" vs "Artificial". Now wouldn't that be a great story to promote the industry positively.

Yep could graze a couple of hundred sheep on there.

Really? What is the point then of being in this business then? I don't actually agree as many Clubs run their business at a profit. Sure some of those have volunteers and diverse income streams that help. That's my point. Cambridge could have funded the AWT themselves - the PGF and the industry funded most of it instead. With over 1,200 horses in work at Cambridge they can't get sufficient numbers to run trials then that is a clear sign that trainers don't want to race on the AWT surfaces. Australia has worked that out. Sure a useful tool in the winter but that doesn't stop clubs like Matamata still operating during the winter.

Remember when a few on BOAY used to give Ben Hope a load of crap? Driving alright now!

Well there you go all sorted time to move on.

Well Cambridge of any of the three AWT's has the best chance of paying its way. However judging by the OZ experience their usefulness is limited. As you said trainers are looking to grass tracks now even though officially we haven't started Spring. Noticeable that recent big trial days have been on grass e.g. Te Rapa on the 1st. Between races at Taupo and I imagine Te Awamutu will be big next Tuesday.

Perhaps the dogs in the North are more metallic and are attracted to the rail.

Is there enough activity for it to pay its way?

Which is?

The gallops are worse a horse last week got $1,500 for pulling up.

MEETING NEWS Cambridge Trials Cancelled Due to insufficient entries the Cambridge Trials scheduled for Thursday 24th August have been cancelled.

Are you talking about track grandstands?

Doh! A dog returned a positive?

My post has you both covered.

I was trying to pitch at a Government employee level or a tax payer funded socialist.

Same age as my daughter and that seems Iike a lifetime!

I see the song is #1 in the States.

Only in your virtual reality. Answer the following questions:

Wow you are going back five years now........why?!

Don't think so Holey. Let's make it simple for you: 1. Did Pzifer know that their vaccine didn't stop Covid transmission? 2. Did they state that fact? 3. Did the vaccinated infect more people than the unvaccinated?