Pitman

After just one second placing what will the moaners from Muttermutter say now about the track, they can’t blame the track for how bad the team went.

Why is this not on the NZTR web page?

Exactly. CWJ should get his license back prior to NZ Cup Meeting (next week), and I hope we give him his record breaking ride, though Karen and John Parsons might hope otherwise! Unfortunately once again racing will lose a great promotional tool, imagine how popular his mounts would be during NZ Cup Week if the record is in his sights, it still may be, 3 or 4 winning rides Otago Melbourne Cup day and it's all on. This is ridiculous to say the least I understand Chris has been tested more than thirty times, only once has he failed an alcohol test and he was still below the level to drive a vehicle. Other riders and drivers have not been treated like Chris is being, why? He has ridden for us for over 35 years and of all riders that have ridden for us consistently he has been the best. Three Group 1 wins, multiple Stakes wins, etc, Chris is not perfect, we all know that, but he is a professional, an outstanding horseman and he is certainly very popular. Chris, I hope you smash the record, I hope it's in Red and White colours

I agree with what you are saying BUT please get it right CWJ Christopher William Johnson CWJ

Most shifted for financial reasons

Sounds like you have been an exceptionally good trainer Why hide?

Dubai??!! Sand ??

Not the 1200m they got decidedly quicker fillies race 1.07.90 Wekaforce 1.07.15 oh that’s right track was off!! don’t blame the wind!!

You are a tosser name one horse that went amiss Big fields firm track fast times NAME ONE

Why would you go to Oz when there is a $500k race on home track in 5 weeks and others to suit Do you not think that the sand slitting done a few years ago would have something to do with the “dust”. There was nothing wrong with The track our 17 runners pulled up in good order

I believe its how you condition your horses Personally I am and always will be a huge fan of Arthur Lydiard's thoughts. His group of athletes trained around the sealed roads in Auckland, not at stadiums. They conditioned bones, ligaments, tendons, etc Freda will confirm that we mostly use the hard, roughened grass training tracks at Riccarton, we do have longevity with our horses AND WE BUILT OUR BUSINESS DOING SO WITH BROKEN DOWN OR CAST OFFS FROM OTHER STABLES. AND WE DO CARE It is only in recent years we have built up a nice team of young untried horses to develop.

WATCHMAKER, That's what we waited for a firm track and he won accordingly. Pulled up great, bucking his brands off this morning. Answer this do you think Grey Way would win as many races if he was racing now on the doctored up over irrigated tracks we seem to get more often than not.

Can you put your name to your comments instead of hiding? How many winners have you trained? Watchmaker, not your average maiden We care greatly about all horses we train and don't have an endless supply if the above refers to us. all 17 runners we had in have pulled up well including the one that fibrillated. Don't hide be brave enough to tell us who you are We train more than our fair share of winners at Riccarton and they keep coming back and doing it again and again, often on tracks rated 3 or less. El Chico was a great example won 2 Stewards, 3 Timaru Herald Stakes a Timaru Cup 24 wins and $667K, raced for 10 seasons and won races every one of them, he loved it like concrete and was still winning as a 12 year old have you ever been associated with a horse like that. Retired 100% sound

Don't let the truth get in the way not once have I said will cover the AWT maintenance READ AND COMPREHEND "some of this"!!!!!!!! We have been told at Pakenham they punt $9million so some people must have confidence to have a bet Riccarton is the best firm track in NZ as for the 'TOO MUDDY" comment that's why they are building an AWT and running 12 race meetings May to September that's the winter, can you not understand that. You're intelligent enough to understand that, surely

pam From my point of view you are wrong If you went to the presentation you would have been told They intend running 12 meetings during the months of May to September on the AWT, all mid week industry days. The consistent surface should throw up more consistent racing and results which is what punters, owners and trainers want. At least I do. The trials will be run on a very regular basis, fortnightly? at considerable savings (travel) to all participants except those based at Rangiora, which aren't many The all up costs includes the development of a 24m wide grass galloping track, which will also be beneficial long term. The $10.5million is for no other purpose than to build an AWT, it is not available for anything else. Figures being spoken about means the CJC will need to put in close to $4m, how this is done is the clubs business and NZTR. There will be ongoing costs and maintenance however some of this will be covered by getting rid of the plough, sand, cinders, grass pace work and galloping tracks. When it is all finished we will have an AWT, new grass track and sand pace work track plus obviously the course proper which should be improved by fewer meetings on there May to September By the way please confirm to people that it was not I who made the "don't give a sh## statement". Having seen and had horses work, gallop on Polytrack I am a strong supporter of same, I will go as far to say if this does not happen then SI racing will be in trouble, it needs this.

That's interesting, completely different to what the experts on here are saying!! The same experts that have not ever seen a polytrack

Overall Outlook On All Weather Racing All Weather racing continues to thrive in the UK. We can only see more all weather courses being added over the next few years. Yes, tracks like Southwell and Wolverhampton may have some low-quality racing but overall with the success of the All Weather Championships and some top quality racing at Lingfield and Newcastle you have to say that all weather racing will only continue to grow. It might not be to everyone’s tastes, but we will continue to see one or two all weather meetings daily and especially during the winter months. In terms of trading, sometimes you can get burnt out with so much racing – but isn’t it good to have a choice? You don’t have to trade every meeting; but having the option of all weather racing all year round is always nice to have.

Leased shares available 10% shares $100 up front then approx $300 per month Plenty of good racing in Canterbury including NZ CUP WEEK message 021701205

A very good summation of what is likely to happen. Why people are so uptight about this is surprising Down south they have been told 32 meetings per season is projected, that might be too many.

We were told the new Polytrack does not require irrigation by those doing Cambridge

Ok At the moment our training tracks are plough, sand, small sand, cinders, and numerous grass tracks which most days the number nine (pacework) and a galloping grass is used patched and maintained IF AND WHEN the AWT is built all these tracks go so does therefore the daily maintenance of them, which is quite substantial. Do you understand so far?! We will then have an AWT galloping grass and sand Do you understand this. FREDA can confirm So a huge reduction in tracks used and maintained daily We will also have the course proper that will not be used for winter industry days which should ensure a better course proper long term. That’s what I anticipate and am looking forward to Therefore there will be some savings on maintenance of all tracks that are going so, don’t just label the AWT to substantial increase in daily maintenance there may be even less. The big cost will be when replacement or upgrading of AWT is required that is the major question atm

Ask Tim Mills

One thing I can advise is I asked Tim Mills this morning re track fees and it is their intention that these will not rise just because of track alterations but of course inflation may cause an increase, that’s fair

The Air NZ. Airpoints will be put to good use if we can ever get out of NZ again Didn’t like Bali, loved Singapore spent a few days with Bridget and Stephen Gray very good people

My apologies I did say that but let’s put it in the context I should have said “ I’m sick of traveling when we can have more racing at Riccarton” and that’s what I’m looking forward to in the future