hesi

I think there is no doubt about the need to move tracks in NZ to a a better track surface, as you have mentioned Curious, they should have been putting one in each year. But a move to anything but a turf surface is a bridge too far, and could potentially be a total failure which the industry cannot afford to have happen

Thanks You can see it is a disaster waiting to unfold, they will go with a synthetic track and it will be a disaster. I have a scientific background, and my thoughts were that Strathayr made the most sense, in fact all the sense, but then a few have put up arguments against it, so I'm a bit lost

Curious, you are probably the most read, about the technicalities of the different all weather/synthetic track types. How about doing a summary for the good people on BOAY What each type is, relative costs, pros and cons of each, who has each type of track I've been under the impression that Strathayr is the standard, but perhaps not. A point I thought relevant, if you are trying to sell it the people who have to pay for it, us. Then to all intents and purposes, Strathayr is a turf track, no different in look to what we already have, whereas the other synthetics, look quite different Thanks

Thought you might say that, the cacophony of wails from the industry could be deafening tho

I wouldn't say almost unlimited potential marketing budget 80.4 mil revenue, 74.4 from RB, 71.6 paid in stakemoney. Lets say 5 mil Marketing, 10 mil per year on infrastructure, total stakes paid will take a 21% drop

Some good ideas there Barry The expectation is though, that the national body(NZTR) handles mainstream marketing and promotion, but they have a limited marketing resource or budget, so it is left to the disjointed, incohesive approach of individual clubs. Xmas at the Races is a great promotion, but I think it is only promoted to the industry, nothing mainstream

Nats have topped off at 44%, and have no friends, so they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. All those that said Peters would devour Ardern got it wrong. He seems to have respect for her. I've voted Nats all my life, then the cheese slid off the cracker and I went for Ardern. Those 56% who didn't vote for the Nats, probably a lot of lower to middle class NZ'ers in there, that thought to themselves, what booming economy, we've got to work hard just to stand still. You know all those people, the ones that make NZ tick, you see them every day, driving trucks, clerical workers, the ones that keep your power on, your phone connected, the roads open etc etc When I was mid 20's, I had a reasonable job, I could buy a house in Balmoral on just my income. I have a son, mid 20's, works hard, reasonable income, fiancee the same, group of friends the same, all work, but no expectation they could actually own their own home, 160K deposit, $3,500 a month mortgage repayments for 30 years, no thanks. They had a good chance at 400-500K for a house, but not 800k- million, the bar has been raised too high for most. And we've rented too, and got moved on twice, 42 days and 80 days notice, because we were at the whim of the landlords plans, no thanks again, many don't have a choice. Good to see you have an opinion Gavin, and don't copy and paste off Whaleoil, ad nauseum

Interestingly not a single horse or performance by a horse. I looked through all the group and listed races, and couldn't see any standouts

Went to that big jackpot meeting at Te Awamutu many years ago, never forget, the course was packed. We put in as a students syndicate, but never got anything

Thoroughbred racing in NZ wrapped up for 2017/18 season. Highlights, lowlights??

Interesting that you picked up on the dead cat on the table technique.

Am I detecting some angst there John

They couldn't get enough of Jochen Rindt last week. Down in weight and good course stats, was surprised to see it at 11/3.50 FF

You are putting up some great posts Gavin. You seem to have a way of writing that encapsulates the issues perfectly, and I'm not just talking about this subject, but also your views on RC and BOAY

Like I've said before, some very good posters on RC, mainly now in the Thoroughbred section, but geez, it really is smoke in mirrors stuff. Have they not heard of the Privacy Act, with Hunterthepunter's name being changed to Hunterthenutter. If you check the profile, the only recent visitor(last 24 hrs) is Fartoomuch. So they have either been given admin rights, or FTM is Scooby. The comp over there has a good prize, no format yet, but who cares, I'd pick spiders crawling up a wall if it mean't winning a prize like that. Not that you really need to have this communicated, but go for it, unlike the reverse, there are no repercussions, BOAY does not own the people who post on here, they simply just put up what they think people want, and leave them to decide.

Surely first, he has to show the Nats he can win the next election, before he gets a shot at showing the unwashed masses of NZ what he has Collins will be sharpening her knife

Well I started a thread last year on RC, before I got cyber cleansed, let's try on here. The Princess is back in a week and a half. Please, if you could indulge me, don't copy and paste other people's opinions, would like to know what you think

The data speaks for itself These guys are in the business of thoroughbred bloodstock, training horses, to a lot of them, must surely be a sideline, all those pain in the arse owners

No disrespect, but Simon Bridges does come across as a bit basic. How long before the Nats axe him? Whereas the Princess blossomed as soon as she took the reigns of the Labour mob, Simon has shown nothing, charisma, leadership etc etc

Good to see a couple more RC regulars joining in here Did you turn off the lights

Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman would be over the moon. How many other trainers would relocate to Te Rapa or other areas in the vicinity

Another benefit of a Strathayr track at Te Rapa Racing: Game of Thrones in Taupō 25 Jul, 2018 5:00am 4 minutes to read Jon Snow captured the group three JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and will return to Melbourne in the spring. Photo / Getty Images NZ Herald By: Michael Guerin It is harder to imagine a scene much further from the glamour of the Melbourne spring carnival than an empty Taupō racetrack on a cold Tuesday morning. But for two of New Zealand's best gallopers, one thing could lead to the other. Reigning Horse of the Year Bonneval and her ATC Derby winning stablemate Jon Snow ventured to Taupō yesterday as their next steps on campaigns aimed at races such as the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. There was nothing particularly special about Taupō yesterday, no official trials and nobody there to watch the pair, barring the staff of trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. But the attraction was a firmer track surface than anywhere the trainers could find closer to home and the chance to change things up for the millionaire pair. "It served a couple of purposes," said Forsman of the unusual private trial. "The track was about a dead5, which is hard to get at this time of the season so they had a good stride out. "And it is also a break from their usual routine, to freshen them up mentally." Both horses were successful in Melbourne last spring, Bonneval winning the Underwood at group one level, after which she temporarily held favouritism for a Caulfield Cup that ultimately never went her way. Jon Snow captured the group three JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and ran third to Gallo Chop in the Caulfield Stakes but on tracks firmer than we would have liked battled bravely in the Caulfield Cup and eventually missed the Melbourne Cup. A strained suspensory ligament saw Bonneval miss the Sydney autumn as well but scans on that area are positive and the pair could be joined by NZ Derby winner Vin De Dance and Sydney Cup runner-up Zacada in giving Baker and Forsman some serious potential Cup numbers for the spring. Although Bonneval will almost certainly race exclusively in Australia, Jon Snow could be a surprise runner in the first group one of the season, the Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on September 1. "He is very well and being a colt was a bit sharper than Bonneval today," said Forsman. "He got away on her at the 200m and while we were happy with the way they both worked, he is obviously closer to a race." The pair and a truckload of their stablemates are likely to head to the Te Teko trials in two weeks after which their spring plans will come more sharply into focus. "But Jon could definitely go to Hastings for that first race, which would give him a run under his belt on what shouldn't be a hard track before we go to Melbourne," said Forsman. The record-breaking stable could have Francaletta, who also galloped strongly at Taupō yesterday, in the Tarzino as well as the most in-form mare in the country in New York Minute. Both could use the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa (August 18) as their lead-ups. Francaletta could eventually join the Melbourne assault in the spring while rising three-year-olds Botti (VRC Derby) and fillies Peaceful and Rubira are others who could be on the plane to Melbourne. Forsman is not stunned the stable has broken their previous New Zealand record of 114 wins in a season but pleasantly surprised they have managed to stretch it out to 141 wins, with the potential of one or two more this final week of the season. "I thought we might be able to break our own record but the 141 is a big number that took a lot of work and support from a lot of people "But we are just as proud of the fact we have trained 20 stakes winners here for the season, which is a personal best for us, and to have our strike rate in the 5s (5.74) with so many starters is also pretty pleasing."

So you are saying that because of the way things are set up, it is an impotent situation, even when the unusual situation of a senior minister in the Govt, commissions the widely acknowledged best racing administrator in Australasia to review the situation I wonder how much, of those opposed, it is anti-Peters, and if the Nats where in power still and English and the Racing Minister had appointed Messara, how different the rhetoric might be. I know certain people would have a totally different viewpoint. Bearing in mind, that in 9 years the Nats ignored Racing My prediction, is that Messara will recommend fundamental change to the current model, he will detail what a modified model should be, and Peters will act on it. If the people that lead, can't change the system, then there is no hope, isn't that the criticism that there has been over the years, lack of leadership

Yep it is all reclaimed land If you look at the video on Strathayr, that I posted, you will see they quote the example of 10 inches of rain the day before, yet they raced on a dead track