Special Agent

5 of the 6 are central districts tracks. Foxton should have been considered to be back racing before Waipukurau.

Do they go to clubs?

One thing that could really stuff Awapuni's return to racing is rain. I think April is supposed to be fairly settled though.

There were 3 heats I think at Awapuni on Monday, 120 horses at Levin jumpouts on Tuesday, about 80 horses at Waipukurau on Wednesday. There are races at Waverley on Friday and races at Wanganui on Saturday. It seems plenty of horses looking to run on grass, and for now, getting that opportunity. I don't think anyone should have to suck it up and run on synthetic. Trainers are said to be weak. Maybe not so weak in CD. Looks like they've voted with their feet to me.

All a bit pathetic. With all the problems of the world we have children name calling.

Does Denis not train there now?

When you look at how the major clubs have had handout after bailout it is disgraceful how the smaller, much needed facilities are left to their own devices.

That's a lovely story. There is a lot more to people than what you see. Life is harder for some than others, yet you'd never know. Joanne has done a great job with her horse, good on her. Wins are great, wins at Trentham are special. Let's hope we can race on the track for a bit longer yet.

Have we seen this somewhere else? Feelings and actions against the sale of Rosehill Gardens are pretty amped actually. There are some heavy hitters in that group. Voting for the 11,500 members to decide on the racecourse sale has been delayed and there are anomalies galore. The sale price is being questioned, along with the eventual buyer's identity, what portion of the $100million loan will have to be paid back to the state racing body and whether it will be a housing estate or merely rail infrastructure. All is not as it seems. Back in Waller territory a reporter at the Horowhenua Chronicle must be reading these posts regarding Foxton as he/she has the racecourse nearing a return to racing. I haven't seen anything on loveracing yet.

Without seeing it this makes no sense but, I'll take your word for it.

Interesting to see Chris Waller has some reservations about how the money from the sale of Rosehill will be used. Proceed with caution.

If the racing "industry" was your business and sole income for you and your family, how would you view it, and what would you do to make it generate money for your survival, ruling out any potential handouts?

That Riccarton woman must feel flattered as you give her so much attention. Your mention of her sleeping arrangements suggest you must be lacking something warm and non verbal to snuggle up to. I think you are on the wrong channel to find what you are looking for.

Some of the tracks the suits want to close are of little value. It doesn't take much intelligence to work out selling the small tracks to fund the bigger tracks is a recipe for disaster. The funds would go into a big hole and take out the current saviours of racing (i.e. actual courses to race on, and note how grateful all are to have somewhere to race even if substandard). The puppets on Sesame Street make more sense.

Next week's CD fixtures:- Monday- Awapuni jumpouts Tuesday - Levin jumpouts Wednesday - Waipukurau jumpouts Friday - Hawera races Saturday - Wanganui races Either the horse numbers are such that there is a real need, or this is overkill. The horse ambulance driver is going to be on overtime.

NZTR indicated at a Road Show that they were willing to invest in upgrading the irrigation system that is in place at Woodville.

If any track is going to be resurrected for racing Foxton is the obvious.

Stratford track surface looks amazing. All the facilities look as though a race meeting could be run at short notice.

Delusion. The stakeholders have been so screwed by administrators, politicians and a new wagering entity with this illusion of grandeur I don't know what can be done now to turn it around. Some of the "stars in their eyes" antics have to be seen to be believed. The basics have gone out the window and the money thrown at various projects have been a waste. Not having good racing sufaces and safe horse facilities at race meetings have been totally overlooked in favour of boosted stakes on selected races.

The situation in CD is absolutely dire. So many wages paid out and so many doing nothing constructive. Too many heirs and graces maybe. All the basics forgotten and ignored. Trentham is the saddest thing.

But hang on, there is some green which would suggest irrigating but, poor irrigating.

At least you aren't punting blind at the trials.

What do the photos of Trentham show us? 1. There is no way Wellington Racing Club should be amongst the finalists for Metropolitan Club of the Year. Which of the four categories does it stand out in? 2. As horses head to the start it is clear Trentham is still the graveyard as only the ghosts from the 1920's have ventured out to watch. There are 10 x the number of spectators at any set of jumpouts. I'd say the Trackside crew out numbered oncourse patrons. 3. How could any racing jurisdiction allow racing to proceed on the racing surface dished up on Saturday? If a WOF test was undertaken Trentham would be unlicensed right now. What are members of the RIB looking at when they go through the pre-racemeeting protocols? How was that track assessed? 4. What does pumping up the stakes achieve for the industry as a whole? A portion of the Oaks' winning stake, and the filly, head off shore. It did not boost oncourse attendance. Did it improve turnover? There seems to be a lot of ostriches about. The Greyhound industry had notice and couldn't alter their fate. Quite obviously, judging by those photos, the Thoroughbred industry think they are alright Jack. RACE have built a new bar to go with their new Awapuni course proper. Expert interviewed opinions suggest Awapuni would benefit from not racing through the winter. Is it true Trentham won't race past March 2025? Priorities look topsy turvy to me.

How does anyone fit these sort of games into their lives? What happened to going for a bike ride or reading a book?

The words and thoughts of two late great trainers spring to mind. Bart Cummings did not agree with installing synthetic tracks. I wonder what his take on the Strathayr would be. Noel Eales believed racing in summer should be on summer surfaces. If you wanted to run on watered tracks you'd train a winter galloper. Doesn't racing make a lot of excuses for ineptitude, and don't racing people these days just accept the bullshit.