Chief Stipe

So Thomarse you know that 11m out the lane is stuffed. Can you explain to us how you will use that information in your selections?

To do WHAT with them?

I guess they won't be running down the track 11m out - that was off last time!

MEETING NEWS Riccarton Park - Hororata | Saturday 27 March Nomination Morning Weather: Fine Track: Dead 4 Rail: True Weather and Track last updated at 9.35am Tuesday 23 March The following races will remain open until Wednesday 24th March 9.00am - OPN 1800 - OPN 1400 - R74 1200

Rule Number(s): 869(3)(b)Following the running of Race 2, Graham Consulting Pace, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr P Williams, against Licensed Junior Driver, Mr KT Newman, alleging that, as the Driver of MAXIMILIAN in the race, he drove carelessly near the 500 metres when striking the sulky wheel of BLITZEM ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2)& Whip and Rein RegulationsFollowing the running of Race 7, BPC Cars Handicap Pace, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr SP Renault, against Licensed Open Driver, Mr TS Chmiel, alleging that, as the driver of ANNIE RICHTER in the race, he “used his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the home straight”. ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 870(3) and Breaking Horses RegulationFollowing the running of Race 1, APS Machinery Limited Trot, an Information instigating a protest was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr SP Renault, against THE FUTURE (TS Chmiel), placed 3rd by the judge, on the grounds "that it galloped in excess of 50 metres in the final 200 metres of the race”. Mr ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 211(1)& 213(1)Prior to the running of Race 3, Probuild Rolleston ITM Mobile Pace, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr SP Renault, requesting a ruling “to determine whether JOHNNY NEVITS should be scratched on veterinary advice”. Mr CT Jones, Trainer of JOHNNY NEVITS, was present at the hearing of the ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Forgot to add in my weather lesson above. The other similarity between the South Island NZ and California USA is that both have cold sea currents flowing up their coasts i.e. the sea is cold. The current in the Sth Island comes from Antarctica and in California from the Arctic. So the sea breeze phenomena doesn't work the same especially in winter. Hence the temperature inversion over land AND water.

Yes and no. To be honest I'd rather live in the Canterbury climate than where I live now. The seasons are pronounced - you experience Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. The Summers are hot and the Winters are cold. Autumn and Spring are fantastic. That's why you get good wines and great apples and tough horses - well harness wise!

Sorry to disagree but it doesn't quite work like that..... I'm a weather nut - favourite subject at Uni and as a pilot, horticulturalist and sailor. Canterbury is similar to parts of California especially Los Angeles. You have the predominant wind coming from across a mountain range (west coast), then a wide plain and a uniquely cool sea on the east coast plus Banks Peninsula (BP) which creates a basin. The wind being uplifted over the Alps warms but the plains on the East Coast quickly cool during the Winter. So you get a temperature inversion occurring between the mountains and the sea/BP - worse in Christchurch because it is closer to BP than Waimate. The sea breezes are actually prevented from having an impact or breaking up the inversion. This basin/funnel is quite large and even though there isn't the same geography scenario at Waimate the effects created further north are still experienced. However there is also a temperature inversion over the sea - warm over cold. Basically you get a layer of warmer air sitting on top of cold air. Cold air sinks and the warm air keeps it down low. Causes Fog and the smoke particulates can't disperse so you get Smog. The inversion can be so pronounced in a short distance in altitude that you could have a -7C Degree frost on the plain and then go up in altitude onto the Port Hills on Banks Peninsula and have no frost at all!

More lessons for NZ? Did Racing Victoria misread the play in their “nothing to see here” response to the breakdown of their Richard Laming case prosecution? You will recall that RV were quick into speed telling us what wasn’t the reason – “false or misleading evidence”, but not telling us what it was and all would be ok and revealed as such in an independent inquiry via the Victorian Racing Integrity Board. Well that body and the new Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll, basically put RV on notice last week in statements issued, and again RV wasn’t entirely clean in releasing them via normal media channels. Why not? "Accountability, transparency and public confidence in the integrity of racing mean that there must be full public disclosure of the steward's conduct including publication of details about the relevant actions and the disciplinary actions taken,” wrote VRIB chairman Jack Forrest. The VRIB forwarded RV its proposed disciplinary action against the steward arising from “the steward’s conduct whilst giving evidence”. Carroll wanted more information and documentation from RV, who have complied. “Clearly, there is potential for damage to public and industry confidence in the integrity of the Victorian Racing Industry which demands independent assessment,” he said. The steward?, in corporate speak is on “restricted duties”. I was informed stood down pending this inquiry. You may recall this stems from a comment made by RV counsel Brendan Murphy at the hearing which led to its closure and charges dismissed. “It would be a very dangerous to ignore the circumstances and it would put the tribunal ultimately, I would have thought, in a difficult position.” In a recent Racenet column I quoted an RV source who defended their position but with a possible looming mea culpa. “There are clearly different versions of events, we have a certain set of facts and are satisfied with what we have said, but if it is found to get it wrong we will put our hands up and say so,” he told me. And that is what the industry expects and seemingly will need to get reading the play in last week’s developments. “RV has been and remains committed to making a detailed public statement at the conclusion of the review, including any action taken,” their statement said. “The timing of this will be following the conclusion of RIC’s additional assessment of the matter.”

Sydney's racetracks need upgrading YES or NO? Article Author Bruce Clark4:03PM22 March 2021 24 Comments Sydney’s racetracks at Randwick and Rosehill are perfectly fine and in no need of a rebuild. Is that a YES or NO? Says me? No. It's actually what Racing NSW supremo Peter V’landys said in the wake of concerted criticism from many industry quarters and commentary from those pesky Mexicans in Victoria. Like me. “Reports from Victoria regarding our tracks are the greatest act of desperation that I have seen, and it does not border on the ridiculous but has gone completely past it,” said V’landys pushing off the sightscreen and only building into stride. “To use a once in a 100-year natural disaster as a platform to question our tracks is using opportunism to a level that is vile. There is no track in Australia that could have raced safely under those extreme conditions (Rosehill on Saturday).” The tracks for Sydney’s carnival features were called into question as to long term sustainability again as the autumn carnival was pushed back a week after the deluge forced the Golden Slipper meeting to be rescheduled (the first time since Pago Pago in 1963). Of the last 10 Golden Slipper days at Rosehill, only Capitalist, Vancouver and Pierro won on tracks rated good. She Will Reign won a heavy (10), Kiamichi and Mossfun on heavy (8), Farnan, Estijaab, Overreach and Sepoy all on variations of slow. Take the Queen Elizabeth Stakes days at Randwick to close The Championships. Winx won two of her three on good (4) rated tracks, Reliable Man and More Joyous on a good (3). Addeybb and My Kingdom Of Fife got home on heavy (8), while before the first of Winx’s treble, Lucia Valentina, Criterion and It’s A Dundeel each were on soft tracks. While Flemington sets an Australian benchmark from its 2006 renovation, and Caulfield and Moonee Valley have each been rebuilt in the new millennium with new profiles to handle wet weather, V’landys refuted any call to do the same in metropolitan Sydney where the older profiles of Randwick and Rosehill tend to hold water for longer. The Australian Turf Club is so concerned about contingencies, such as losing race meetings to weather with their tracks that become un-raceable, they insure them. Footy grounds have been rebuilt over the years so we no longer see Norm Provan and Arthur Summons like vision of the mudheaps they played on. But Sydney’s premier racetracks have seen droughts and floods come and go with little more than haircuts and top dressing and a little tinkering rather than a remodelling. And then, despite the carnival being pushed back a week there is little doubt the Golden Slipper will again be run on a significantly affected track and Randwick when it kicks in, most likely the same, despite improved weather conditions. Sydney tracks simply don’t dry to the same degree as Melbourne’s as the weather turns and improves. So if you are in Sydney for the autumn, you virtually take it as a given that you will have to cop a soft track at some stage. “The metropolitan tracks in Sydney, with the exception of Warwick Farm which is planned to have a significant rebuild, are perfectly fine and in no need of any major rebuild,” V’landys said. “The drainage rate of over 100mm/hour is the right balance as any higher rate would create an imbalance with the tracks becoming too firm, along with an inability to retain adequate moisture and nutrients. “We have an ongoing maintenance plan to ensure that the tracks are at their premium. It is not necessary to waste funds on a rebuild when we believe that our tracks have the right balance. In fact, high profile trainers tell us that the tracks in Sydney result in horses recovering much better post-race as they are not running on hard surfaces as is sometimes the case in Melbourne.” Got it! “We, however, will never spend money to make people feel warm and fuzzy without any advanced outcome,” he said. Noting already $100m had been allocated by Racing NSW to training tracks and track upgrades.

Wet weather update: Racing’s reshuffle continues Randwick will host a meeting on Thursday if weather permits. Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images Article Author Mitch Cohen12:46PM22 March 2021 0 Comments Persistent heavy rain has seen the NSW racing reshuffle continue on Monday with substantial changes made to scheduling at metropolitan, provincial and country levels with potentially more to come. Warwick Farm was officially deemed unsafe for racing following a track inspection by stewards at the venue on Monday morning and the meeting has been transferred to Randwick’s Kensington track. The meeting, which was scheduled for Wednesday, will now be held on Thursday with acceptances moved one day now closing on Tuesday at 9am. The rail will be out 5m the entire course and the distances of the Benchmark 78 Handicap will be moved from 1600m to 1550m as well as 1150m to 1200m in the Benchmark 72 Handicap on the card. A forecast of up to 80mm has still been forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology in Sydney on Tuesday but sunny conditions and a top predicted temperature of 30 degrees on Wednesday should allow the Kensington track sufficient time to recover. Warwick Farm won’t host its scheduled Wednesday meeting. Photo: AAP Image/Brendon Thorne However, the same can’t be said for Hawkesbury. Thursday’s meeting in the west of Sydney was the latest to fall victim to the state’s big wet with conditions unlikely to improve enough between now and raceday. The region has been one of the worst affected in greater Sydney with the neighbouring Windsor Bridge underwater from swelling floodwaters from the Hawkesbury River. There is also a significant cloud over Tuesday’s meeting at Gosford, where the track is currently rated a Heavy (10) after receiving 52mls over the course of Sunday and a whopping 361mls for the week. The same can be said for Wednesday’s Grafton meeting – transferred from Coffs Harbour in the Tuesday timeslot – with the Northern Rivers venue also rated a heavy (10). Meetings at Tamworth, moved from Muswellbrook on Sunday, and Queanbeyan were both able to go ahead on Monday.

Looks like the Golden Slipper meeting might be abandoned again? A rare event with no racing in NSW today.

How long is "a good time" Horace? This month or next season?

Yet not scratched until 12:45pm? I assume because Jones appealed against the horse being scratched and that appeal had to be heard. Was Jones charged before or after he appealed? Why was the horse selected for inspection? Was a drone used? How many other horses were inspected prior to the first race?

Isn't racing all about theatre? Don't we all past and current owners get our thrills vicariously through the emotion we have invested in our horses?

I agree.

They are called tags. You can add one if you wish. Just click the "+" under the Topic title.

My apologies Harness people but it has been many decades since I was up to date with the machinations of Canterbury harness line breeding.

Well no it isn't that obvious if Cams stepdad is a Jones. I guess one of then could have been a Smith or a Brown.

Rule Number(s): 869(2)& Whip & Rein RgulationsFollowing the running of Race 2, NZB Standardbred Mobile Pace, an Information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr NM Ydgren, against Licensed Open Driver, Mr RT May, alleging that, as the driver of NIKKI NOTO in the race, he “used his whip free of the rein in the early stages of the run home”. ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)This charge arises from the running of Race 6, the Stephen Marsh Racing Stables 1600. Senior Stipendiary Steward, Mr Williamson filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d) alleging W Pinn allowed his mount, VIRTUOSO LAD, to shift in when not sufficiently clear of SAVASTEP which was hampered near ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Why make an issue out of it? You talk about the "public making an issue of it" but who are the "public"? It isn't a very big group. It isn't an issue unless racing makes it an issue. FFS wake up these anti people don't want racing full stop. I wish some of these horses could talk and be interviewed. They love racing! It is in their DNA.