Doomed

Very good point. They could easily build 4 or 5 thousand social housing units around the York racecourse. The Poms really have no idea. NZ could teach the rest of the world a lot.

I have just been to the York racecourse. Stupid bloody Poms. They obviously have no idea how much money they could make selling off excess land. They have a hill down the back that would fetch millions, and heaps of land at either end. They could reduce the home straight to about 350m and have nice houses built right up against the running rail most of the way around. For those who don't know York, the racecourse is within walking distance of the town centre and must be worth hundreds of millions. All it needs is for one or two of the numerous failed NZ racing administrators to make their way to the UK and they could revolutionise British racing. Interesting when you think about it that none of the many administrators we have churned through have ever made it to the UK, or to anywhere significant really. Incidentally, York is about half the size of Christchurch and the racecourse has numerous massive grandstands. Quite enlightening when ChCh is desperate to pull down their grandstand and not replace it because there is no need for it. You do wonder whether we have lost our way compared to elsewhere, and why. Perhaps the theory that on course attendance isn't important may not have been correct after all. It wouldn't be the only failed theory of course.

As I have said before, I doubt the NZ Cup will be the worst Group 3 we will see going around in NZ this season. As Pam said the whole pattern needs to be looked at. There seem to be endless feature meetings at Wingatui. Pouring money into their meetings seems to be no problem, but north of Dunedin, where most of the horses are, after Cup Week there is no feature meeting until 28 January. So any Canty horse that finds a bit of form this week then has almost a 3 month break before it can race for $30,000 again. Likewise, it is months until there is any more 2yo racing, so it is hardly surprising very few Southerners bother with the Welcome Stakes. I do think SI racing could tick away quite well, but the stakes and the dates are allocated poorly. Sadly, no one seems to have the ability or inclination to look at such things.

And good luck with your filly today Pam.

Yes, I imagine someone else might want them. I presume Auckland would be the logical location so they might be safe in Canterbury for another year while Auckland gets its track sorted. It is quite sad really. And to be honest this years fields can't be totally blamed on the CJC, we probably have the worst crop of 3yos racing in NZ at the moment that I can ever remember.

At least "The Cup" will get a full field. Not many other feature staying races in recent times have attracted full fields. The 2,500m race is a time honoured event, always used to be the last race of cup week. Used to be the Otaio Plate I think. As you say though, times are changing, although it has attracted a decent sized field, most of whom wouldn't have wanted to race in the Cup.. The CJC don't really like to change things. Swapping the Welcome stakes and Stewards must have given them sleepless nights. They are probably most proud about having four maidens during Cup Week and getting reasonably full fields for them. As mentioned above, the bigger worry is actually the 1,000 Guineas. It is going to be a shocker. I would say the worst ever. A Group 3 at best. And this after the biggest stake increase the race has ever had. Only two SI trainers interested, which is probably not totally surprising as there is only one 3yo fillies race as a lead up, and nothing in the deep South, and no real 2yo racing in the SI so you can hardly expect there to be early season 3yos. You could hardly say the 2,000 Guineas was flash either. It can't be long before those two classics are history. I have probably had my most successful Melbourne Cup Week and NZ Cup week ever. Been in France and not able to have a bet on the NZ TAB. In the UK now, where I can access the TAB, but it is very easy to get out of the habit when you have a few weeks off.

Good to see two racing items on 3 news last night, coverage of the Caulfield Cup and an interview with Waller, then a story about what a great day Andrew Forsman had. A day or two previous they had a big story about the Everest. Good for Racing to get mainstream coverage, and good for 3 to show some variety; not everyone is into women's rugby.

That's enough for a whole race. Perhaps there could be a race just for suspended jockeys. Bit like an amateur race, no riding fees or percentages. Perhaps all wear the same coloured prison like silks, with different coloured caps.

Justifying their wage probably.

It certainly looked bad, I did wonder what he would get. With all the suspended and injured jockeys after today the ranks are getting thin.

Yes they did. Good to see it come back to good. Such a pity Ashburton and Timaru aren't considered relevant anymore now that Riccarton has its AWT.

Isn't it good to see a firm track at Ashburton. If the SI could get their programming right leading into Cup Week it could become a viable option for NI trainers. As it is, it is only really Te Akau and a few Marsh horses that venture south in search of good tracks, which is a bit surprising. You would have to think those $60,000 stakes are a bit wasted at HB. If the track was good horses would probably have gone there for $40,000 and on a heavy track the $60,000 stakes have made no difference for lower grade horses. Only 2 races out of 8 with more than 10 starters. You do feel sorry for the odd wet tracker who may have missed out on the original fields and now only 8 starters in some races.

Look at the way those Aussie tracks come back after rain: heavy 8 Caulfield and soft 7 Randwick. And probably improve during the day if no more rain. Probably the only NZ track that could bounce back that quickly would be Te Rapa. I know Ruakaka might, but that is hardly metropolitan. Riccarton and Trentham would take weeks to dry out.

I imagine they drew straws. Poor old Rodders got the short straw and the lucky chap who drew Ashburton didn't want to rub it in by bragging about it.

The sad thing is they probably don't really think they are doing anything wrong. Racing is just something that happens, a diversion, the real work is done by the RIB, they are the important ones. I am quite out of touch these days, but does anyone know if the chairman and CEO of the RIB have an extensive racing background? I'm not even really sure why they need a chair.

Grey Way will be turning in his grave.

Nature Strip "Should find this a bit easier" Lost and Running "Down in class" Masked Crusader 'Class drop helps" Shades of Rose "Back in easier class" I know we all treat it as a joke, but wouldn't you think they could at least say to the tea boy before he starts his rounds on a Thursday morning "could you just quickly run your eyes over the form comments for this weekend, just in case any of them sound really silly." This is a multiple million dollar industry, but sometimes you do wonder.

I haven't seen the field, but I assume several if it is important enough to send someone over especially in these cash strapped times.

I don't actually mind Flash. He often holds slightly different views to many on here, but he sounds intelligent and knowledgeable about the industry, and doesn't attack others for their views, so I usually welcome his input. We should embrace alternative viewpoints and constructive comments. After all we are mostly operating with very little information so have to make assumptions based on what little information we can glean.

They will keep selling off tracks, and parts of tracks, and any other assets, until only one or two tracks remain, and then they will admit defeat.

I was amazed that they irrigated leading into the last Riccarton meeting when it was predicted to rain for several days that week. They are just so scared that a horse might slip on race-day so aim for a wet track. I thought the Timaru track looked great last week. No one cares though, a decent racing surface doesn't fit in with the grand scheme. Ironic when you think about it, with on course attendance no longer considered important, you would think they would focus racing on the best racing surfaces, wherever they may be, within reason.

I imagine he is going over because there are several NZ trained horses in the race? Surely that would be the only reason. And if they are going to that much trouble to cover a mud meeting in Sydney just imagine what they will unleash for Ashburton.

The one positive is because our group 1s are so weak we do at least get decent sized fields. Aussie has had several 6 horse fields going around in group 1s recently.

It was pretty smart, was going to win easily on straightening, was going to run 3rd 50m out and stuck its neck out very bravely in the end.

The main bit I disagree with is that "few in the industry seem aware or bothered about it". Most of us on here have been aware and bothered about the decline for quite some time.