Doomed

Would CWJ be a good mentor for young jockeys? Serious question. I couldn't think of anyone better in the south.

One thing that does interest me about Ellerslie is whether the die hard regular attenders will immediately return to their old habits after a couple of years off. Once you get used to not going racing every weekend, either by discovering other interests or by getting used to sitting at home in front of the big screen with a computer and a beer, it might be hard to get back into the habit again. It isn't as if they are building a flash new stand for the members, its only a new track, which is still green, I assume, so you can appreciate that just as easily on TV.

I started going to the races as a uni student, but in those days you used to fit in with the racing crowd, rather than pushing them out and turning it into a piss up. I always used to attend for the racing not the piss up. I do think that was a more healthy approach.

Can anyone remember back to the days when the clubs and NZTR would have been the ones to encourage people to get involved in racing, and the TAB's job was to conduct betting. I'm not really sure whether it is the TAB who have decided they should take over running everything, or whether the clubs and NZTR just can't be bothered anymore. I suppose it is all progress. I suppose somewhere there is an analysis of the attendances and turnover for the grand tour events which shows that it has been a great success. Perhaps there is another way they measure success?

Well, you are high profile on here Pam, train at Riccarton and successful on the favoured AWT, and your communication skills appear to be excellent. They might surprise us all.

Doomed is probably slightly better looking. Someone actually voted for Tokyo to be overall horse of the year. A group 3 winner who never left the country over horses who won group 1s in Aussie. It does make you wonder what the qualifications are to be on the voting panel.

As far back as I can remember the 2yo of the year has always won at least one group 1 race and sometimes two. Usually one of the two NZ group ones, but occasionally an Aussie group 1. This is a major and extreme departure from the normal process. Some people don't seem to understand the significance of this. It means that Karaka restricted entry race now has more relevance than the group race pattern. If it is generally accepted that this is now reality then why not get rid of the group pattern altogether? What relevance does it have going forward? As it stands, the best 3yo male and filly probably won't contest either of the Riccarton Guineas races, preferring to go for the bigger Karaka money. This is perfectly understandable as they are owned by syndicates and group status means nothing to big syndicates. But again, why have a group pattern? I genuinely expected with all the money Entain was throwing around that the two Riccarton races would probably go to $1m and $750,000. Interestingly they didn't go up much at all and an extra $500,000 went into the Karaka race instead. You cannot tell me that they aren't trying to destroy the Riccarton races altogether, or at least get them moved north. Interesting times. Certainly not the NZ racing industry that I remember, and I quickly find myself losing interest. Obviously us traditionalists aren't really valued or needed anymore, which is all good. They are entitled to that approach. I hope it works out well for them.

The Cambridge fields on Wednesday are hardly flash either. Only 7 races, only one with more than 8 accepters and a couple with only 6.

You would be disappointed if a couple of trainers couldn't come up with a couple of horses to make up a 6 horse field and run for $22,000. I continue to be impressed by the Tylers who seem to have the attitude that the money is there so why not run for it.

I thought I had every right to participate. Shocked I didn't win.

At least they haven't moved them all to Waverly which used to be the go to track for transfers.

Just imagine if we had an organisation in NZ that came out and told the governing bodies when they had made a massive cock-up. We might have made a mistake asking Messara for advice rather than Munz. We got the wrong M.

So it's all about being able to have feature 2yo races in Nov Dec rather than April May? I never realised that was the major reason for the change.

So better for a horse born in January to race in Nov than a horse born in August to race in May? I am quite interested in this subject, but no one has ever responded before. Under the old timing a 2yo would have a few months to mature and gradually build up to racing through the spring and summer and peak for Autumn features and then have the winter off. Under the new dates they surely are too immature to race during the summer months, then have to have the winter off when there are no feature meetings so I presume the 2yo features are squeezed into Nov and Dec. I am interested in this subject from an academic perspective. I wouldn't bet on harness 2yo racing anyhow as there are usually red hot favs. But I would love to know how the change of season dates has worked.

2yos always used to be able to race in Nov, if I can remember correctly. And galloping 2yos can start racing from Sept, and are already having group races in Nov.

So do they announce a horse of the year for 2022 or for 2022/23?

My god! The National and the Louisson used to be the two big early season races in the South. I recall Our Mana winning one and all the open pacers used to resume in those races. $16,000 these days. How sad is that.

It's an appallingly written document. Obviously totally aimed at one predetermined outcome. Their priority seems to be to save a few travelling costs. Rather than having 4-5,000 people turning up at Orari on a Sunday they would rather have 40 or 50 people turn up at Addington. Saves some trainers a few dollars in petrol. Obviously the same trainers, drivers and owners are happier racing in front of 50 people at Addington rather than a full house at a country meeting. Atmosphere not really considered important. Sadly Michael, I doubt you will get more than 3 or 4 people commenting on this thread. Harness people never really get the big picture, they would rather debate whether the Whale has picked a $1.60 winner.

I have asked much the same question several times myself and no one either seems to know or care. They still seem to work on the season going 1 August to 31 July, but horses ages seems to go 1 January to 31 December. Seems weird to me. I have asked before how people think the change of season dates has worked, but never had a single response. People don't seem to care, or possibly don't understand the question.

I'm wondering if the ferry cancellations might affect numbers this weekend. Are the northern candidates already in place or are they waiting for a break in the weather?

My analyst has suggested that I really need to be more positive, so I just thought I should mention that things are obviously looking up for the national carnival this year. I recall last year the club was racing around trying to find out if any jumps trainers were planning to attend, this year there has been none of that so it sounds like we can expect some full fields and good racing.

I can certainly remember Flying View being placed at Riccarton in good company, he may even have won one. I recall he used to race in the Timaru Cup and then drop back in distance to the sprint on the second day. I even have a vague idea he may have placed in the big WFA sprint at Te Rapa. Sad that the likes of Westport, Nelson, Orari and Waimate are no longer with us, they used to suit a certain type of horse.

I would be fascinated to hear what those people who criticise Reefton think of Moonee Valley. Every race I saw from the Valley on Saturday the horse leading for home ran away and won easily. Give me Reefton any day. I think if Reefton was to put on a $2m slot race it could be a great success. The TAB might even sponsor it.

Are you suggesting these "prime holiday race dates" should be coducted on the Riccarton AWT? That is afterall the SI's flashest track, and in the largest population area: albeit a mere provincial area in terms of the PGF. The only worry being that this is a club that has given away all its prime holiday dates, such as Waitangi day and Easter Monday, over the years.

Well constructed letter I thought, I look forward to the response.