Michael

At least I know what my login name is Aye Noodlum?

Really? Did you?

That's what our Open Class races have become That's yet another problem isn't it?

There is a J/D race but this horse isn't in it Galah

So now you are agreeing with me? Or , more likely, you have no idea at all Of course there's only 8 noms for the Franklin Cup That's because what few Open Class horses we have were split from one end of NZ to the other

I can't see where my comment about the Invercargill Cup being a waste of a $100,000 can be construed in the way you have made out My point is it shouldn't have been a $100,000 race and I made that point before the field came out You are just making stuff up now

Where did I make that point?

OK Noodlum (And you think that the Invercargill Cup was an even field of a decent size?)

So you think that if the race was advertised as a R60 instead of an R70 that another 6 or 7 genuine Open Class horses would have miraculously appeared? What are you smoking down there? I do believe Invercargill should have its day in the sun, Is that to be translated as you think the Industry should subsidise the day like nearly every ATC meeting? It's a question, not a statement

Of course I comprehend So it is your belief that the GBR from the Invercargill Cup alone will cover the Cup stake? Or is it your belief that the GBR from the whole day will cover the 2 Open Class stakes? Or is it your belief that the GBR from the day will cover all the day's stakes? Why don't you put a stake in the ground and say something tangible instead of hyperbole and waffling, such as "'will likely" or "a better chance"

Yes it is, and the potential return from the betting on the race won't cover the stake In fact, the return from the whole day won't cover the 2 Open Class stakes You are posting just to be spurious (translation, a tosser) The stake and the participants are relative You might pay $49.99 to watch Tyson Fury and Usyk, you're unlikely to pay it to watch Butterbean and Shane Cameron.

It's pointless debating with you mikeynz If you think that Nelson's programme being called a FFA is aimed at Cup horses then it's a waste of time Invercargill may have a field of 9 but anyone with half a brain realises that it's not an Open Class race in anything but name only, and it's a wasted of the Industry's $100,000 I also note you can't rely to the question posed, or statement made, about GBR and the return to the Industry. You bag ATC by asking why they should be subsidised yet you are happy to subsidise Invercargill's raceday which will need sybsidising because of the Cup stake which is out of all proportion to the field participants . bit parochial?

1. Correct 2. I think her name is Catherine MacDonald 3. Some brainstorming meetings gave rise to the current issues

mikeynz, ask yourself Why does NZ have 1 NRL team? Why does NZ have 1 team in the A-League? NZ does not have sufficient open class horses to run Open races at the top of the North Island and the bottom of the South Island at roughly the same time As for your question then he can stay at home, where else can he go ? you've answered it yourself You can't be serious thinking that a horse having it's 5th start plus the 3 others that have been thrown in can justify wasting $100,000 of Industry money I'd just about wager that the GBR from the whole meeting doesn't cover the Open class stakes

Any system at all would struggle However the Rating system, as Galah states, is seriously flawed The changes all the time (sorry, the tweaks) are merely band aid after band aid to appease anyone who squeals , they are applied, then someone else squeals, and around we go

Are you joking or serious? You believe that Nelson has a FFA race that Self Assured will go to? The point is NZ does not have enough Open class horses to split them from 1 end of the country to the other The other fields at Invercargill are terrific, but do you think that the meeting will generate a "Profit" for the industry after funding a $100,000 benefit? Not on your nellie

The Franklin Cup where Akuta is heading mikeynz Keep up

When the Ratings system was brought in it was because "the Class system previously being used had been in far to long" Do I hear an echo Brodie? There was nothing wrong with the previous Class based system The problem was the lack of innovative Conditions by Clubs Under the Class system you could have written a Condition like "This race is for Class 2 horses. Also eligible horses up to Class 5 who have not won $1000 in their last 10 starts" This sort of condition could have even been written after Nominations had closed to allow horses, where warranted, to drop back Instead we got a Ratings system that was touted as the best thing since sliced bread If it was so great when it was introduced then how come it's had at least 10 changes, and that might be generous, since it was introduced Oh that's right, they aren't changes, they're tweaks

I can get my mindset around career wins Spatchcock, but 1 win versus 8 wins is beyond the pale The Ratings system is crap Conditions can be written into any system to allow horses to drop back

Last race at Cambridge this week A 1 win, and a 2 win horse .... up against a horse that's run 8... Ratings system is just wonderful, yeah right

I posted a year ago that a $100k Invercargill Cup clashing with Auckland's Cup races was a stupid idea It hasn't got any smarter

I can't see that being correct Newmarket I think Anthony Butt drove Happy Asset to win nearly every race he won, including his 1st win Mike

Kirstie is Brian's daughter Walt Pretty sure that George Hill never won a race on McShane, I think Brian trusted himself to drive the trotters!

Just when I was starting to think you weren't a lunatic you come out with this I shouldn't start thinking

In a previous thread started by The Galah about the Handicapping system I didn't read it properly and got the wrong end of the stick I also haven't had time to study the present Ratings system with it's many, many tweaks over the last 7 years but totally agree that the whole system is a major cockup How could anyone justify a 12 win horse starting on Thursday at Palmy on the same mark as a 2 win horse (Ya Knows) and getting 20 meters from another 2 win horse (Manchester In Time)? I don't need how it's happened explained to me, no explanation could justify it; it's just madness When the Rating system was brought in I predicted the winners of the system would be the old stagers with plenty of starts. That appears to be right It certainly isn't "like with like"