Chief Stipe

What did I say that wasn't accurate?

But that has been going on since the first time Winston was made Minister For Racing. Entain are just continuing the trend albeit with the difference that the low end stakes have been uplifted.

There is a an old saying - "if you can't measure it it doesn't exist" (Lord Kelvin). How do you measure if a horse in the first 5 has been hit on their flank

Again the issue is consistency. If the Jockeys are unanimous in wanting to keep riding and or opportunity is given to any Jockey who doesn't want to continue to vacate their ride without penalty they why shouldn't a meeting progress? Haven't the Jockeys then accepted the risk? At the abandoned Hastings Guineas meeting I heard that most wanted to continue however a small number of the Jockeys said no. I doubt that NZTR or RIB have sought legal advice on workplace safety issues. Motorsport is inherently dangerous yet continues. Correct me if I'm wrong but how many serious injuries have been caused by a horse slipping? My observation is often accidents are caused by Jockey error, poor riding or a horse breaking down. However with regard to the Stipes reasoning for Matamata they felt riders couldn't rode competitively and therefore would challenge the integrity of betting. You could apply that last condition to some tracks every time they race!

Nothing to do with the Mesara Report. The issue is around consistency in the application of protocols or process in determining whether to abandon a meeting or not.

AMENDMENTS TO THE WHIP RULES (RULE 638(3)(c)) After very careful consideration, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has decided to make some changes to the Rules regarding the use of the whip. These changes were initiated by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities to try to achieve consistency with the use of the whip by Jockeys over the world. As you will be aware, the use of the whip during a race is seen by many people as cruel and unless we take steps to change that perception we could face increasing opposition. The changes to the Rules are for the welfare of the horse, to demonstrate that we are serious about caring for our horses. The new Rules are intended to make sure that whips are not used in such a way that they cause unnecessary pain during a race. The changes to the Rules will come into effect next Wednesday (12th February). These changes are: The whip must not be used if you are not in contention of running in the first five placings. – The whip should only be used to get the best out of your horse when in contention. It is not a good look for horses out of contention to be getting hit with the whip. The whip must not be used on a horse’s flank. – The horse’s flank is a very sensitive area and getting hit there is painful. This area must be avoided. The whip must not be used forward of the saddle whilst it is held in the forehand position. – A horse’s shoulder, neck and head are also sensitive areas and should not be hit with any force. Tapping the shoulder using the whip in the downward position is ok. The whip must not be used in a manner which causes a welt and or injury. – Whips should be used for encouragement and not to cause injury. Injuries and welts may be seen by spectators or on television and makes racing look bad. In essence, most Jockeys will not have to make any changes to the way they use the whip currently, as it is not common for it to be used in a way which would breach the new Rules. The new Rules are to show that there is no intention to use the whip irresponsibly. The new Rules are not intended to collect more money in fines, the best outcome would be if no jockey was ever found guilty of breaking them. The rule amendments will be published shortly and will be available on the LoveRacing website. These are added to the existing rules, please check the rule book for all whip rules.

George Simon: We just want consistency trackside.co.nz The abandonment of the Matamata meeting on January 22nd after just three races, caused some controversy. Phelan The Power had won the first, In Haste, pictured above, had picked up her maiden victory in the second and then things all changed. Tempest Moon, ridden by leading apprentice Lily Sutherland, slipped free of interference with 250m to run. When I say it slipped it's probably understating the obvious. Calling the race, I was concentrating on the first few with Tempest Moon several lengths off the leaders and not really looking like a contender. However, the magnitude of the slip was enough to catch my attention. Immediately following the race, the dreaded track inspection took place. The usual delegation of jockeys, club officials and stewards were soon out inspecting the area where the slip occurred. In the meantime, I had watched several replays of the incident and was pretty sure we'd be going home. The upshot of course was the meeting was duly abandoned. As an expert Grandstand jockey, I wasn't surprised at that decision. Then the fun and games started. And it got rather interesting. The on-course Bush Telegraph soon had all sorts of rumours swirling around Matamata racecourse. I was reliably informed that the jockeys were willing to continue to ride, with the proviso that they would reassess their continued participation after each race. However, the Stewards vetoed that plan, in the interest of safety for horse and rider and pulled stumps on the day. The race day stewards report stated that the stewards were not convinced the riders would be riding competitively enough to fulfill their obligations to their owners and the betting racing public. Personally, I can see the argument for and against. Currently the Health and Safety Act ensures everyone errs on the side of caution. The ramifications of contravening those laws are obviously far reaching. My question though is all about consistency. I know that Matamata meeting was a low-key mid-week affair. But what if it was the TAB Karaka Millions night at Ellerslie? Complete with mega prize money, World Pool betting and huge International and local audience. Would the same outcome as Matamata prevail? Picture at the top of the page: In Haste powering away with her maiden victory in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) at Matamata on January 22, the second of only three races that day. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images).

So why hasn't the Covid vaccine wizards created a vaccine for chickens? Surely a EUA could be granted that allows them to circumvent all the normal development and testing protocols. Or are Moderna and Pzifer waiting for the H1N1 pandemic in humans?

What if it isn't appealed? If the decision is appealed then stands then what?

How do you accidentally drop your foot from the foot rest and hit your horse with it?

If it isn't broken why do you keep banging on about it?

Why ask a question that you already know the answer to?

Westbury are running a business. They have high end products and low end products. Hard work being a private breeder not running it as a taxable entity. Otherwise you are relying on windfall luck.

Situation Normal Stewards video up.

Depends what their objective was. They've cleared a lot of yearlings off their property so don't have to carry them anymore nor spend hours trying to sell or place them somewhere else. Perhaps they have a new strategy - Studs that have been round for a long time have quite a ruthless approach to culling non-performing or marketable stock. They aren't emotionally attached! Also many overlook the cost structure for a stud. The largely own all their assets, put their own mares to their own stallions and have bloodstock taxation write off's. So the sales margin for them is a lot different to Joe Breeder in Taihape.

It amuses me how many in the industry talk doom and gloom about Book 2 EVERY year. "Bloodbath", "absolute carnage", "poor breeders not covering costs" and so on and so on. I've been hearing those comments from the days of the Book 3 Festival Sale. Although I always thought callong it a Festival was a misnomer. The fact is this years Book 2 statistics are no different than the average for the last 5 years. Sure costs have increased with inflation therefore in real terms returns are down but this year isn't any different to many before it. The difference this year is that the average is down and the clearance rate is up. Those metricd were influenced by Wesrburys decision to put their lots on the market with no reserve. Every year there are excellent bargains in Book 2 for those who are good judges and have an eye. Chris Rutten and Paul Moroney spring to mind. Sure some went very cheaply but most of them went to good stables. Generally horses sell cheaply because of being by an unfashionable stallion, a poor pedigree or having conformation faults. If you don't produce what the market wants then don't expect the market to buy it. Look on the bright side 742 yearlings sold for $86m at a 79% clearance rate. Deals are still being done. Given the state of the economy there is still hope for the naysayers.

I guess that would be consistency. Only problem with that is ,using your policy,once a driver does drop a foot from the footrest,why would they keep trying, as they know they are guaranteed disqualified anyway. Then add the condition - if your foot or any part of you leg makes contact with the horse when your foot is out of the foot rest - disqualified. Easy peasy.

True but then you did do the comparison.

Yep disqualify them all. Black and White no defence no mitigating circumstances.

Kheir buys NZ Oaks fancy www.racing.com Prominent owner Ozzie Kheir has purchased next month's New Zealand Oaks favourite Leica Lucy, with an eye to further Group 1 Oaks races in either Sydney or Brisbane this autumn. Leica Lucy, who has won three of her four starts in New Zealand, is due to race at Te Rapa in G2 company on Saturday as she progresses to the NZ$1 million New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 22. Leica Lucy will race in partnership with her current owners and breeders Peter and Heather Crofskey and will continue her preparation for the New Zealand Oaks under the guidance of her current trainer Robbie Patterson. Kheir said on Monday that the deal, which was brokered by Mathew Becker of Group 1 Bloodstock in conjunction with Bruce Perry, will see Leica Lucy transferred to champion trainer Chris Waller at Rosehill after the Oaks for a potential ATC Oaks tilt in April. Leica Lucy is likely to start a short quote on Saturday in the G2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic as she steps to 2000 metres for the first time. Kheir has been active in New Zealand of late, with three purchases out of the recently completed Karaka sales. A Proisir filly and a Sword Of State filly are to be trained next season by Ciaron Maher, while Waller is to be the trainer of a brother to Stakes winner Scarlet Oak.

All good. I wonder what @Huey thinks about the Sandown race.

But was the Grp 3 at Sandown which was all maidens and won by a first starter OK? Other than the size of the field how is it any different to the one held at Ellerslie on Saturday?

Fair point. I was just making the point that many of the reasons used to negatively critique races in New Zealand could apply equally to races in Australia.

He would have been competitive. At least he had already won a Listed race before winning on Saturday. The winner at Sandown was a maiden - winning the G3 Chairmans! Actually they were all maidens in that race! I guess @Wingman , @Doomed , and @Jim Green all think that Group 3 two year old race at Sandown was a JOKE!