Doomed

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.

This may be of interest to some. http://www.theoptimist.co.nz/

It was probably the Captain Cook that was called the Marlboro and Brutus may have won it. I think the SI won it several times in the early 80s.

The Dennis Bros got the March one with either The Twinkle or The Dimple and Pitman got the January one with Just Tommy from memory.

The Thorndon mile has had a lot of names over the years, as has their other mile the Captain Cook, which used to be the big race at the March meeting. I think the Thorndon was previously the George Adams. The southerners have won both miles a few times.

Brutus and Scotch Mist went to Avondale, which used to be early Dec if I recall correctly, so they would have been using Auckland as a lead up to Reefton.

Dead set quinella of the year in the minor 3yo race I think, that didn't turn out too well. You are on a thrashing to nothing when you hand out $1.80 shots as certainties. The Aussies are no better of course. I thought that $2 shot in the Toorak was incredibly short.

That would be the decent thing to do.