Special Agent

Why not?

Not sure where you get 4 or 5 Wexford reps from that article, unless you are privvy to more up-to-date information. I can count 3 so far. It's a big effort anyway.

Turnover is turnover wherever it comes from. The better the turnover, the more comes back to the industry. Whether it's Chief's cracks or TAB Man's faultlines, as long as it is allowed to evolve we should all be happy. I don't have the slightest interest in joining the BGP group but, I can definitely see they are betting which can't be said of all the talked up Ellerslie groups. We should be embracing the younger ones who want to bet and join ownership teams.

Yes Huey, I have also spoken to some who own horses racing in Australia, and it's not cheap to race out of an Aussie stable.

I don't even know who these people are but there seems to be not only grumpy old men but ANGRY old men on here as well. Chief, you seem to think a lot of problems are an easy fix and the people mentioned above should have corrected it all by now. I don't know why you don't understand how trying to change ideas in racing at the level you are talking is as good as banging your head against a wall. Only clubs with very strong people have survived the bullshit. As for sitting in armchairs and not going to the track, isn't that the aim and beauty of Trackside? As far as moaning goes, well I guess we should all thank you Chief for giving us this vehicle to vent. You talk about others taking meds but, methinks it's time for you to take a chill pill. The older I get the more appreciative of waking up each morning I am.

As long as we remember we are not Australia, and we learn from the good bits as well as the bad bits. I still think programming is one of the problems that needs an overhaul for everyone's benefit. When all said and done common sense is the lacking ingredient.

Timing can be a beautiful thing.

Karaka Millions isn't for everyone. Neither is a picnic on the grass at Tauherenikau or Kurow. It takes all types of people and all sorts of days to make up the racing industry. I think a win is a win to owners though, wherever that may be. I don't think it would take a great deal to improve the whole thing overall. Just think if everyone who attended a race meeting last year made an effort to go to those meetings again this year but, go to a further couple at a different venue. Some clubs need to pull their socks up however with better oncourse experiences for all.

As far as the 4 horse field goes, could that be the day when the fillies and mares race at Riccarton had a false start and the horses that didn't scratch ran in take #2 after the last scheduled race?

Used to be Brendan Hutton. He's Irish.

A little unusual but erring on the side of caution maybe. I'm surprised that Matamata is deemed unsafe. Please don't sell off any tracks. We really need them as important back stops. Jumpouts and trials are happening all over the place on tracks not used raceday. In the past few months for example Foxton, Levin, Stratford, Waipukurau, Rangiora, Waipa. There wouldn't be many barrier certificates without those venues.

How does that make you feel curious? Left out?

And what hasn't already been sold off at Trentham.

I'd say Ellerslie, Avondale, Awapuni and Riccarton (even the small amount left still owned by the club). Not sure about Pukekohe. All would be worth squillions more than the country courses preferred for selling.

Feilding racecourse should still be in operation. I think there are very few members left in the clubs that joined RACE but, someone might have more factual details on that. It proves how useless these amalgamating deals are to the clubs losing their land.

Have clubs had this in writing Huey? What sort of clubs would be interesting as some of the worst performing have the most valuable land.

Reading the Wanganui Stipes Report it seems there were quite a few horses shying, running off, and generally green or wayward. Hard to fathom with the number of practice events in Central.

I'm not sure how many movies you've worked on or how many horses you have ridden in work Gamma but, what you see at the races is the finished product no matter how it has got there, and do you think all those movies are completed in one take without any discipline?

Just another area of racing on the not so champagne turf that smacks of unprofessionalism

I notice there was a BYO area on offer. I wonder how patronised that was. Drink prices oncourse last week were eye watering.

No. Have you ever seen so few spectators at such an event? $50 entry for general admission is steep. They seem to be trying to be something they aren't. Perhaps the WRC should look at what Flemington do away from the carnival and for that price include a $30 food and beverage voucher, a book and punters club ticket.

Yes. Normally there are two paramedics with backpacks patrolling at Trentham. Not sure how equipped the ambulance bay is these days, or if Lisa Allpress was conscious and able to utilise that while the race ran. Unfortunate timing with two ambulances being required with the Upper Hutt incident with a vehicle hitting 4 pedestrians, that's how it sounded anyway.

Newmarket, wash your mouth out. We've not long got the Wellington Cup back to 3200m. I think you'd have to say the experiment in reducing the distance failed. The topweight is interesting to me in the fact that, in my opinion, stake money aside he's not much above the level of the rest of the runners. If he bolts in it may encourage other Aussie trainers to venture across the Tasman whilst stakes are high. Personally I don't know how we can have a topline 2 mile field without adequate programming and lead up races. Horses through the grades need to run over a distance before getting into the higher ratings. Be keen to hear what others think. It's a bit comical hearing the comments on course about the big crowd in attendance. There are more workers than spectators. There's no public stand, no patrons infield and very few in the stand. On the jockey injury, is it too expensive on Wellington Cup Day to have two ambulances at Trentham?

Nobody in authority cares.

For instance, the whip rules also apply to trials and jumpouts and I've never seen a Stipe take a rider aside there either.