Doomed

So the $100,000 increase in stake didn't really achieve a lot then.

I thought this was quite interesting. I'm not sure if we have a similar policy in NZ, but we will probably need one soon. It is the policy of the American Graded Stakes Committee that a race that is scheduled for the turf course but is moved to the dirt track after the closing of nominations because the turf course is unsuitable for racing, is automatically downgraded one level for that running only. The American Graded Stakes Committee will, however, promptly review the running of any race that is automatically downgraded as a result of this policy and may reinstate its former status. The Commonwealth Turf Stakes: Per American Graded Stakes Committee policy, the Nov. 27 renewal of the Commonwealth Turf Stakes, which had been designated as a grade 3 race on grass before it was switched to the main track due to rainy weather, was automatically downgraded to listed status and was conducted as a listed stakes race. The American Graded Stakes Committee has reviewed the off-the-turf renewal and has determined that the original grade 3 status will not be reinstated for this renewal.

It has certainly gone well so far. To give them some credit, they have mastered the closing down of courses bit, it's just the other side of the equation that hasn't quite worked out.

Part of the master plan is to deprive industry participants of any information that could be used to make, or justify, decisions. Surely they know how much it costs to run each type of race meeting and what level of turnover is needed to show a profit or break even? But none of this information is made available. It may well be that some of these small meetings are a drain on the industry and should be cut: we just don't know. I assume that a meeting like Cromwell last Friday would have been quite profitable, whereas some feature meetings at metropolitan tracks probably run at a loss. But we have no way of knowing this as industry participants are treated like children with no right to be kept informed.

I thought he was the biggest advocate for the AWT.

I'm shocked to hear corruption and Queensland mentioned in the same sentence.

It would be a brave man who would want to take over from him these days. Perhaps they realise no one would want the job now, so better stick to the devil you know.

I can't argue with any of that. Very well put. I don't know any of the people on the board so I have no idea whether they are incompetent or just out of their depth, or perhaps something else. Many years ago it used to be a prestigious thing to be on the CJC board and they didn't really have to do anything. These days they have a big job to do and perhaps they just aren't up to it. They aren't alone of course, many years ago Auckland and Wellington also used to have terrible boards.

Unfortunately, it is almost too late for any of that. NZTR's basic approach is divide and conquer, which to give them credit they are doing quite well. Eventually they will have picked off all the low hanging fruit and the likes of the CJC will say "well, that went well", only for NZTR to say "not so fast, you're next." All of the major racing jurisdictions have a strong, dominant and inspirational major club which the smaller clubs support and benefit from: look at any state in Australia. The problem in the SI is that the CJC could never be called inspirational. Their mantra has always been to shaft the smaller clubs rather than encourage them.

I see Aljay is targeting the Greymouth Cup. You have to love that cunning plan. All along, the NZ Cup was just the warm up for the major summer target.

I have just been wondering whether the race pattern and allocation of precious stake money in the CD, and NZ in general really, might be faulty. Can the CD sustain 3 feature meetings in 8 days, especially with an industry meeting the day before as well? Awapuni last weekend two $30,000 races with 6 starters, a $40,000 race with 5 starters, another $40,000 race with 8 starters that was supposed to be open class, but became a rating 74 because nothing higher rated was interested. Ironically an open class stayer raced for $14,000 the day before. Today at Otaki a $40,000 race with 6 starters, a $30,000 race with 6 as well. A $65,000 race with 8 going around and an $80,000 race with just 7. A bit early to assess Wanganui as there will be more scratchings, but already a $30,000 race with only 7 acceptors. Meanwhile in Canterbury horses have to travel over five hours just to get a start for any sort of money at all. And 3yos in the South have no opportunities at all, whereas in the NI they have a race at every meeting, even if only 6 of them turn up. I certainly don't have the skills and experience, let alone the pay-packet, of the experts at NZTR, but I do wonder whether either today's Otaki meeting or Saturday's meeting should have been just an industry meeting. The money saved could have been used to boost the stakes on Timaru Cup Day or perhaps to hold a meeting at Timaru next week in place of the AWT meeting at Riccarton, which will surely have to be abandoned if trainers aren't interested. Just on that subject, I wonder if NZTR has contingency plans in place if trainers don't want to race on the AWT? Surely they have sounded out Timaru or Ashburton to see if they are keen, just in case trainers say they won't race on the AWT but would race on a grass track in the district.

Very sad to hear. I never met him but always enjoyed his contributions on here.

Ironically, the PGF should probably have been used to fund an AWT at a provincial track if it was that essential and let Riccarton concentrate on its existing tracks. No Aussie major track has slotted in an AWT, they always go to the provincials.

Very true Chief. Perhaps much fairer to compare Riccarton to Flemington, Caulfield, Rosehill, Randwick, Morphettville etc.

Amazing stuff. Other than the fact it is quite poorly written, it is also quite aggressive. Sets a bit of a precedent though. Sounds like heads will roll at all levels, including NZTR, if there are any future cock-ups.

I went to Cup Week for about 20 years non stop and it was all about the racing in those days, and the same people used to return every year. Now they just want the one offs for a piss up, but there is nothing sustainable about that. I have been to NZ Cup day and Wgtn cup day about 3 times each in the last 7 or 8 years and it is so boring. I just happen to have been in Auck about 3 times on their cup day over recent years and it has never even occurred to me to head along. 30 years ago I would have been so excited to go to Auck cup day.

Sounds like a tea totaller function John. No sav?

I largely noted premium cheeses, brie etc, which really are about a third of the cost of NZ, bigger blocks were significantly cheaper than in NZ but I forget exactly what price. You don't see NZ cheese here so I have no idea where it goes. It does show what competition and a bigger market can do.

Largely working actually, but that does involve quite a bit of drinking.

I'm interested to hear whether all Riccarton trainers feel they need a three week break now before the next Canty meeting. There were almost 60 ballots scratched over cup week, admittedly some duel acceptors, and any trainer with a maiden they consider not really good enough for those $30,000 maidens during cup week has to wait five weeks for an opportunity to run for $14,000. Do trainers keep charging owners even though there is no realistic change of a start for over five weeks, and then over a distance they don't really like, on a track they don't prefer and possibly on suspect track conditions?

I wouldn't let labour/greens organise a piss up in a brewery, so I certainly wouldn't let them organise light rail.

Come on Chief, trains are fun, everyone likes trains.

I think the Timaru Cup, Reefton Cup double would be the way to go Pam. Don't think it has ever been done before. Just a suggestion.

I'm not wanting to get into an argument about private enterprise etc, but I do think NZ is the most backward country in the world when it comes to using trains, and public transport in general. I'm in the UK at the moment and I must have used at least 16 long distance trains in France and the UK over recent weeks, not to mention dozens of London trains. It is such an efficient means of travel and transport. NZ has some of the worst roads in the world and makes the worst use of trains. People really have no idea how backward NZ is. Not to mention cheese three times the price that it is in the UK. We do get ripped off.

No idea. It would be disappointing if they are because the programming doesn't seem to be great.