Doomed

Tito also used to ride a good filly called something like Glydavari. I recall her winning impressively at Timaru in the days when they used to race the Show Gate stakes at Xmas time. Think she was by Godavari the same sire as LBJ.

The Gore Guineas could be interesting on Saturday. This might be quite a nice crop of 3yos down South. The poor buggers certainly don't get many opportunities. Incredible to think that the Canty 3yo season for the males finishes in November. You couldn't make some of this stuff up really. I keep looking at Palmetto. He never seems to have much luck in his racing; always seems to be in tight quarters and races greenly. I would love to see him on a suitable track with a really good jockey giving him a proper ride. He is one horse who is badly disadvantaged by the lack of a proper pattern of races to build up to these Guineas races. He looks like a horse that needs some easy opportunities to gain some confidence and experience.

Another good article from Brain, but sadly a voice in the wilderness really. The current management doesn't give a f--k and are just totally arrogant. http://www.theoptimist.co.nz/

You did speak a little early, out for a couple of weeks for whip use in the first.

Yes, Chile for Tito.

I am certain I can recall some people who should know a lot better describing that karaka thing as one of NZ's best race-days last year. Bloody hell. A 6 race card, a third of them sweepstakes. And for some bizarre reason the rest of the country fires in about $670,000 to boost the sweepstakes. 7 accepters in one of them. I will listen in with interest to see if George calls it his favourite raceday. It has certainly destroyed the Cup meeting at Trentham. I can recall the days when two CD meetings used to race on Anniversary Day. They have really just given up these days. I suppose the Awapuni AWT will save CD racing. Something to look forward to with anticipation.

You are right, the Timaru All Weather has been in a long time, well before Ashburton. I can remember going to grass track meetings at Ashburton but never at Timaru.

I don't think the Nelson Marlborough winter meetings happen anymore. Although when Auckland goes under there may be additional licences to spread around.

I had to check the time that was posted. It sounded just slightly like one of my late night posts after a couple of bottles of Chardonnay. But even in that state I usually look at what I have written before I push send and think the better of it.

I just spotted exactly the same thing myself. Compares well with Waikato yesterday with 41 scratching, although some of those were double acceptors and ballots. It does show how desperate horses are for a start in Canty with so few opportunities. And with better programming they could have run 10 races.

I just looked at those Alex Park fields for this Friday night. That is pretty ugly racing. How long can they carry on like that?

That's about the time I was there. I think they have it much better these days, seem to be a bit more civilised.

It is an area which has been very badly neglected over the last 30 years or so. Just when some clubs had started to make a bit of an effort in that respect. Then the money ran out. If the old amenities fund that Reefton often refers to had remained in place facilities would have been much better. I can't recall the rationale behind dropping that fund at the time. I think it may have been about the time that Chittick was running the show.

You were obviously at my uni hostel. Lumpy mashed potatoes never went down well, but did fly well.

Could you clarify "everything". I would love to know what could be thrown at Auckland to rescue it. If it works there they could try it at Trentham.

It happens all over the place at this time of year; Rangiora, Timaru, Oamaru as well I think, but can't be totally certain as I don't watch many. The public like bigger fields and being closer to the action.

Racing is in the entertainment industry. Part of that experience is the wine, beer and food on offer. The average punter wouldn't really know a high quality field if they saw one, but they do enjoy a decent beer.

Exactly, quite extraordinary prices for Avantage and Melody Belle based largely on NZ group form, so it obviously has more credibility than most of us think.

They don't even try to pretend he once set foot in a TAB or even once went to Ellerslie for a piss up, which does show a certain arrogance. At least there is no mention of NZ Post or Foreign Affairs. I suppose we should be grateful there is no suggestion that he intends to live in Australia and run the industry remotely. To be honest of course, the TAB should just be a service industry as it once was. This idea that the TAB somehow should show some sort of industry leadership is a relatively new concept, and it hasn't been particularly successful so far.

I couldn't believe how short the NZ filly was, about $26 if I recall correctly. Given her form and the form of some of the others I was expecting at least 80s. She was the lowest qualifier.

The gallops gave up on Sundays in order to push their Monday, Tuesday theory. Then, when that didn't work, they gave up those meetings altogether. Sundays were originally introduced to allow people to attend the races, given that a lot of people worked or had other activities on Saturdays. Now of course the gallops have given up on on course attendances and are quite happy to see crowds the size of Trentham yesterday. Sadly the gallops in NZ have seen a lot of experimentation and a string of virtually incompetent managers who keep saying 'Hey, why don't we try this?". Followed by "Bugger, well that one didn't work, but I have another idea we could try." I suppose to give the CJC some credit, they don't really try anything new, so you can't really blame them for reckless adventurism.

Are we really missing them though?

I watched and listened to some of the races from Blenheim yesterday. That commentator is very accurate, very good at telling everyone where each horse is and what its doing. He also tends to tell you exactly what is happening. The horse he calls in front is actually in front rather than two lengths off the leader, but George is anticipating it being in front soon.

Interestingly, it is also evident that the quality of the fields is having little impact. These figures do tend to argue against the prevailing philosophy that the industry needs to pick a few key tracks and pour most of the stakes money into those tracks. It seems there is very little upside to these high staked races which are funded by stripping money and resources out of numerous smaller tracks.

The most interesting thing going on at the moment is the sale of Forbury Park, which will set a massive precedent for the industry. Just think, it is about to be sold for $20-$30m, something like that, and no one has the faintest idea what will happen to the money or who it belongs to. To silly for words really. Heaven help us if the money ends up at head office. They will be unstoppable then and the fire sale will start.