Special Agent

That's an impressive attitude. Most would be angry with the world.

Because of the fast paced nature of racing when someone dies it seems there's some quick recognition and then back into it. It's quite difficult for families of the deceased as it's like their loved one is quickly forgotten. I know that is not the case and everyone grieves in their own way. My wish is that people think about giving someone the time of day more when at the track, sales or races. One thing I admired about Mike, he treated everyone the same.

Who would want to run a busy racing club with all those KPI's, expectations and having to continually come up with new ideas each meeting to get different crowds on track so that you keep your job?

What a ride Danny Frye and team have had with Our Echo. Bill McNamara and Shankar Muniandy would be ecstatic with their pay day today.

They've had 4 months. I think it will be sparkling now.

Every horse is different. What works with one could have an adverse effect on another.

I don't think the slot race is designed to help NZ racing in the long term, if at all.

As long as you train like Gai.

The "aftermath" would be interesting.

From the conversations I've had, I think so.

Perception.

"The move to ban greyhound racing will be subject to a select committee process where public submissions on the plan will be considered." This is from the latest NZ Herald report. Who is submitting?

That being the case maybe he won't be in NZ long. As far as the interview goes I thought, what will he say that I don't already know so didn't bother watching it.

Anyone who wants to bring 20 people to the races should be embraced.

Wales are going to ban greyhound racing too. I can only see one greyhound track there. An interesting snippet is that in a survey conducted in 2016 in NSW 80% wanted greyhound racing banned. GRNSW said they have no intention banning the sport that came to Australia in the early 1900's.

Chief, methinks you are just picking to argue now. Many tracks and clubs have picked up extra meetings in Central to accommodate abandoned meetings and tracks closed for remedial work.

Well who wants to clock up $500+ on a float from Cambridge to Otaki for example. FFS, northern horses travel south for trials because they are eliminated from grass track trials.

Wouldn't know about every track but, have been early enough to some lower north island meetings to see Stipes on the track. I couldn't guarantee they walk right around because I haven't watched them for long enough.

I think admin people just like the sound of centralisation because they can't even make it work on a small scale.

That depends on the dates you get. Kumara, Cromwell and Tauherenikau have good days with good turnovers. A club could be financially viable with just 1, 2 or 3 days with the right circumstances. If your track is also accommodating training or you have full time all year round staff and mainly industry days with poor crowds likelihood is you go broke. The number of meetings is the same, dependent on what days you are allocated. Three meetings close together, or in the winter might not work but if your track is picking up the slack from the abandoned meetings it is definitely going to suffer.

Trainers shouldn't be forced out of their area to get a run, nor should they have to run on tracks they don't want to. It depends upon how many starts you give each horse in a campaign too. Like beating the old familiar drum, a lot of this could be solved by decent programming.

I think you are skirting around the point. With tracks closed or not available due to maintenance, there are definitely not enough tracks to provide decent racing surfaces on a regular basis.

I've listened to an interview on ZB, Leighton Smith talking to former Act MP Dr Muriel Newman. Her views on the China invasion into the South Pacific, the law changes on NZ seabed ownership and climate change were the most sense I've heard in this mad world lately. If there is anyone capable of adding a link to it I think it's well worth a listen.

Who would ever think these systems would be cheap? I guess the question is what is the value of keeping horse and rider safe so racing can be a competitive enjoyable sport for all?

I can't argue with statistics but, if I think about some areas where tracks are not being used it's hard for my brain to make sense of them. On the West Coast and in Marlborough there are four tracks less with the non-use of Westport, Hokitika, Nelson and Blenheim. In Canterbury there's no Rangiora, Motukarara or Orari and infrequent use of Washdyke and/or Ashburton (whichever one, sorry I've been out in the sun and a bit hot and giddy). Otago/Southland has lost Waimate, Waikouaiti, Oamakau, Winton I think is only trots, and there will be more. Central has had some tracks only open for some of the months in each year like Trentham, Hastings, Wanganui, Awapuni, New Plymouth and tracks not being raced on include Foxton, Levin, Feilding, Wairoa, Gisborne, Waipukurau, Bulls, Marton, Stratford (some of these may be more than 30 years ago). In the north I can think of Dargaville, Paeroa, Waipa, Avondale, Thames, Te Teko but, there may be others including Te Aroha that was out for ages. So, please excuse me but I still think that's less tracks taking the racing load.