Special Agent

Drone footage at Trentham is hardly going to emulate what comes out of Flemington. I wonder if footage was shown to officials first to ensure the best interests of the Wellington RC were being met. I agree "rehabilitation" is a word more akin to coming back from a broken leg or brain injury.

It must be exhausting for David and Karyn to come up with new marketing strategies to fill their syndicates. They base their whole operation around this busy week.

BGP gives patrons another option. If the price is considered too steep people won't buy the tickets. The poor attendance at Trentham with high prices played out how you would expect.

I thought it was leased so, safe from any potential sale to fund racing.

Like hell I wake up moaning and bitching. I do not begrudge the successful, I've said many times that it is hard work for everyone. And I'm not the only one to bag a jockey's ride. Has anyone mentioned Buick's ride in Hong Kong then? Just because I don't stand on a soap box telling the world what I have done, it does not mean I haven't helped a lot of people in the racing industry. Some of us work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the world a better place and don't need accolades for it. Chief, you are not always right but you are entitled to your opinion, as am I. Good luck with your horses. I'll just go out and cut mine some extra grass.

I don't think the news of Mark being full time in Australia is a surprise but, what does it mean for the training partnership? Do the stables become two entities now?

This reeks of the instant world. I know everyone wants results quickly but these mistakes are bad all round. A simple double check and triple check should be a prerequisite. It's hard to call the results and the position official on the back of these events.

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?