Doomed

This thread wasn't actually about jockeys, it was discussing dates and programming. The jockeys all have to learn somewhere and without proper tiered racing it makes it pretty tricky for them.

A bit of competition for that claim surely?

And there is no proof that closing tracks actually saves money. There has never been a single fact presented to show how much better off the industry is having abandoned Motukarara and Waikouaiti. Sure, stakes have increased by almost $200,000 for each of those two meetings, but has that been funded by increased turnover and the massive savings from racing at Riccarton and Wingatui? How hard would it be to present a cost saving breakdown for those two meetings? Surely it would help to convince a lot of people that the rationalisation is well justified and a no brainer.

I had been going to make mention of similar things myself. This weekend a long weekend for many people and no gallops Friday, Sunday or Monday. Bit of a contrast to Aussie who had Caulfield, Eagle Farm etc yesterday. They seem to have largely given up on Fridays and Sundays. I can almost understand Sundays, although don't agree with it, as they apparently have given up on oncourse attendance. Apparently oncourse is only important on the 6 race card day, which is bizarre in itself. Abandoning Fridays does seem very strange as that should be a good off course turnover day. It will be interesting to see the turnovers for the midweek "twilight" meeting which are getting extra funding of about $50,000 - $60,000 per meeting. Presumably they are supposed to attract oncourse attendance. I would have thought a Friday twilight would have been the ideal timeslot for such meetings. January has 2 Sundays and 2 Fridays with no gallops; February has 1 Sunday and 2 Fridays; March 1 Sunday and 3 Fridays. Seems really bizarre to me. There are people who think the industry is going great guns because stakes have increased, but none of the stakes increases are related to increased turnover or income. So I am still a bit dubious about the upturn myself. I have seen today's twilight go described as NZ's greatest race-day! A six race card with no group 1 race, and two rich, listed, age group races without the country's top 2 and 3yos. Talk about smoke and mirrors.

Pam! I'm shocked. How could you forget Orari? I think Methven was once a galloping track as well. I seem to recall mention Grey Way won there.

The Marlborough Cup at Riccarton tomorrow must be just about the best justification ever for leaving noms open. 6 noms originally, which was very disappointing for a $70,000 race, then suddenly a very decent looking field of 11 after leaving noms open. And the extras mostly very promising types retuning from Trentham. By contrast, 6 noms for an open class race at Trentham with no extras forthcoming after leaving noms open, and now down to only 5 starters. You do wonder how long they can continue with 5 horse $50,000 races in the CD. There is obviously a dates and programming problem in that region. Also a dates and programming problem in the SI of course with the 2yo race scrapped, but that is a story for another day.

Wash your mouth out.

I see others have already commented on this, and I do tend to agree with them. Every year there are a few 3yos that have a bit of a lash at the Derby despite suspect breeding and stamina credentials. If you look at last year's Derby field I suspect Waitak may not have gone down the Derby route if a rich 1,500m race was available. Probably 4 or 5 others in that field might be similar.

The four clubs have to pay the going rate for their slot. Of course any other club could bid for one as well. We may well see a Reefton RC slot.

I'm sure someone will tell us on here eventually what has been announced if I find myself just too overcome with excitement to sit down in front of my TV.

I'm an optimist before every race.

Track didn't look all that flash on TV.

Excuse my total ignorance. I haven't listened to racing on the radio for many, many years and I understand it was discontinued some years ago when times were tough for the TAB. I may well be driving later today when some of the decent racing is on. Is there any way of listening to races from NZ and Australia while you are driving along?

You do wonder whether there would be many better candidates about these days. It probably isn't a sought after job and there is the potential to get public ridicule if you get something wrong.

And if I recall correctly Supreme Glory refused to go into the barriers and was on her very last chance when she finally relented. So with a less patient starter we may not have had the biggest Oaks upset ever. Certainly patient of the starter when you consider she was the rank outsider.

It would be interesting to know if the change of conditions for the Telegraph and Railway have helped the quality and quantity of those races and the betting on them. I get the impression those fields are smaller these days than in years gone by, although that would apply to many races of course.

I was wondering what he meant by last Wgtn Cup over two miles in 74, but of course after that they changed to 3,200m. Interestingly I could name most of the Wgtn Cup winners from about 1974 to 2009, but since then I can only recall two of them, just doesn't stick in the mind as a highlight any more. I clearly remember Kiwi beating Maurita. My biggest and most confident bet on the race was Imaprince. I recall telling the people I was with that Rastes had no chance of winning. And the worst judicial decision was relegating Reykjavik who paid about $10 for a place and would have given me a very decent collect.

I had no idea Ellerslie wasn't going to race in the winter. Is that the intention? Is it going to be like the Perth situation with Ascot and Belmont? Presumably Pukekohe is the Belmont in this case. I thought Moonee Valley raced all year round.

Yes, Timaru used to hold two days between Xmas and NY. That would have been one of the last Timaru Cups as a stayers handicap. Soon after it became a WFA mile and one of the early winners in that guise was Show Gate, famous of course for winning the 2,400 Dunedin Cup one day and the 1,600m Timaru Cup the following day. And of course Grey Way went on to win his own Timaru Cup later on after a few years of trying. I might be totally wrong, but Mister Pompous may have been owned by Barney Ballin who went on to own Little Brown Jug. But that is just a vague recollection.

Sadly, you are almost certainly correct. It is a predetermined agenda, which they seem to get away with continually.

One would think so, but as Pam says unlikely. To some extent it reflects poorly on the submissions from the Timaru Racing Club in the first place. I think most of us on here could easily point out 10 or more races that would be more deserving of a downgrade.

Quite small fields today, a couple of 11s and the rest 7s and 8s. It will be interesting to see what happens with bigger fields.

Every now and again you get a race that generates brilliant form subsequently from many of the runners. We saw this yesterday and I'm surprised none of the trackside commentators picked up on it. The Trentham Stakes winner and both open winners from Wingatui, the Cup and the sprint, all came directly out of the Timaru Cup and won at their next start. Just wait until the two horses who actually won the Timaru Cup step out again.

How does 9,000-10,000 on Karaka night compare with NZ Trotting Cup or Galloping Cup days?

Fascinating reading. I suppose when most of the high priced youngsters are bought to be 2yos and sprinters there isn't much upside when they fail at those roles. The original famous "flop" was Paint The Stars in the early 80s. The most expensive yearling to that point from memory.