Chief Stipe

Walker is a minority share holder. I would say Ellis is the only reason TA still do most of their racing in NZ.

Mills should have been cut 20 years ago. Goodbye Guineas!

Probably won't but not because of a poorer training effort but for the fact that he can't get a track to race his horses on when they are ready!

New Zealand Cup Day at Riccarton abandoned NZ Racing Desk 12 November 2022 One of the biggest days on the domestic racing calendar, New Zealand Cup Day at Riccarton, was abandoned after race three on Saturday due to safety concerns following a horse slipping whilst free of interference rounding the home turn. Harmonious, ridden by Lily Sutherland, clearly slipped on a lush patch of turf as she commenced her run into the race at the 400m mark. A track examination by stipendiary stewards and a delegation of jockeys saw remedial work undertaken on the affected turf to try alleviate the issue of the excess moisture trapped near the track surface. Despite extensive efforts the situation did not improve and the decision was taken to abandon the meeting. Leading rider Lisa Allpress was present during the track inspection and admitted she was bitterly disappointed to see racing abandoned but felt there was no other alternative available to officials. “On the firm surface underneath, the fact that the grass is quite long and with a little bit of rain overnight, it just hasn’t dried underneath which means that there is an area of the track that is unsafe,” she said. “There is more than just the one slip mark and there are quite a few out there. “We really tried (to save the meeting) and with daylight saving hours available, we might have been able to put the meeting back, but with the length of the grass and the amount of moisture in it, it just isn’t going to dry out. “Jockey and horse safety is paramount, but this isn’t a decision made lightly and it is just devastating for everybody.” An announcement on the fate of remaining events at the meeting, including the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) and Gr.3 Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m) will be made by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing in due course.

I see the old chestnut excuse blame the irrigation has been rolled out. The problem is they can't get enough moisture into the soil and then maintain the right levels. The Track Manager hasn't a hope in he'll of managing it.

1 hour 14 min ago Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images The New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton has been abandoned (file photo). New Zealand Cup race meeting postponed to Monday due to unsafe track at Riccarton Stuff sports reporters One of the country’s biggest race days, the New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton, Christchurch, has been abandoned after three races due to an unsafe track. Chief stipendiary steward John Oatham confirmed just before 2pm on Saturday that the meeting was off, after a horse slipped on the track during race three. The remaining nine races including the Thousand Guineas and New Zealand Cup will be now held on Monday at Riccarton, officials said. A sellout crowd of around 15,000 was expected for the third day of the week-long cup carnival under sunny skies. Alden Williams/Stuff Leonard Stewart, trainer of Ekstremiss in the New Zealand Cup at Riccarton. Harmonious, ridden by apprentice Lily Sutherland, slipped but didn’t fall around the home bend, which Oatham described as “a significant slip”. After jockeys and stewards inspected the track, and machinery was used to try and alleviate the problem, it was agreed the meeting was over for the day. “There are concerns that areas in the middle of the track seem to be a bit wetter than other areas. That’s the comment we’ve had from riders; it’s a little bit inconsistent whether that’s due to irrigation with all the wind we’ve had in Canterbury,” Oatham told Trackside TV. “It’s a bit of a sweaty base under good lush spring growth which can be an issue, then underneath it’s still relatively firm so as they take the top off they’re just moving on it.” Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images A sellout crowd of 15,000 was expected for day three of the meeting (file photo). Jockey Kylie Williams expressed her concerns before the meeting was called off. “There is quite a big slip mark where Lily’s horse has slipped. There’s a lot of moisture in the grass and the moisture hasn’t gone into the track and there’s a real hard pan underneath. And there’s actually quite a strip of the track that’s the same. So it’s not looking too good, unfortunately,” Williams told Trackside TV. Trainer Leonard Stewart had travelled 160km up from Timaru for the races. He had three horses scheduled to run, including Ekstremiss in the NZ Cup. The cancellations were “disappointing”, he said. file:///android_asset/icon_play_button.png TRACKSIDE/SKY SPORT The North Island horse won the $600,000 race for a second consecutive year. At 90, Stewart reckoned he was “most likely” one of the most senior trainers there. He had travelled up for the Riccarton races nearly every single year since 1972 – minus a few in the 90s. “I’ve got a crook leg anyway, so golfing wouldn’t be much good.” Racing was a also family affair for Stewart. “I’ve got a granddaughter who loves the horses – that’s a big part of it. “I told her when she was about four I’d have to get her a pony. She stuck her lip out and said I don’t want a pony, I want a racehorse.” -Additional reporting Amber Allott

I hate to say but I told you so.

I said this would happen months ago.

Yes a mistake that should have been picked up BEFORE racing started. Same as the hole at Ellerslie. But who does inspect tracks or walk the track on race mornings anymore? I've told this story many times but I walked Ellerslie early morning on a Group 1 Day about 16 years ago. The track was appalling but worse there was a hole about 10 inches round and over 3 foot deep half way up the straight and 5 horse widths out. I went back and got the Trainer and if we hadn't travelled so far he would have scratched. Nigel Tiley was with us and he scratched because of the track. We placed a tree in the hole and told the track manager. Disaster averted.

It's not flawed. Just impossible to implement when the tracks are so stuffed and need major renovations.

A lot of our riders have lost confidence which just accentuates the track problems.

I'm not defending TA. Their record speaks for itself. I would say that the moment David Ellis retires and or TA ceases doing business in NZ is the day NZ Racing’s lights have been turned off.

With all due respect why do some people always qualify their posts with "just my honest opinion"? Aren't they sure of their opinion? Just asking for a friend who also has an opinion.

Isn't that an RIB problem not a GRNZ one? Do you have any proof to support your inferred allegation? If you don't then aren't you assisting in the fall of greyhound racing?

I see the usual Te Akau knockers are out and about cutting down tall poppies. Criticising Mark Walker and spruiking Jamie Richards without any idea of the stats. Walker currently getting a win every 6 starts. Richards still finding his feet with 1 win in 30 starts.

Um how does that work? Down but shows improvement!!!! FFS. That figure is a real worry as punting revenue drops off real quick when the fields drop below 8.

I thought horses don't slip at Riccarton?

Alleged "cheating"!

So you predict that Ardern will still be the leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister next year? I guess punting on racehorses is a type of prediction which you clearly have no interest in.

No accurately predicting the future.

L I was talking about her next gig once she gets the boot next year. Open your eyes!

Debt reduction is a target. Like the rest using the failed experiment increasing interest rates is the only tool in the kit left to contain inflation caused by QE. Your point? Same cause same impact. Although each measures inflation differently NZ 7.2%, US 8.2%, UK 8.8%. So Muppet do you see the link between QE and inflation? Sanctions? You'd love Venezuela 🇻🇪!

And a fine club that is too. Have you got your bags packed and your red shirts and undies ironed to follow Comrade Cindy to some Global Fucked Up Organisation?

So fuckwit you don't consider 8.2% annual inflation to be much? Is that why the Fed Bank is now trying to roll things back? There could be a job for you in Venezuela 🇻🇪!

I wouldn't be concerned Joe - that kind of endorsement from Holy Pasta actually puts you in the good knowledgeable guy category.