Special Agent

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.

"Each New Zealand Racing Club was assessed against a performance framework across four categories: Financial, Racing, Marketing and Compliance and Innovation." That looks untrue going by the finalists. The southern clubs must be in with a show in the Provincial and Country categories. Auckland looks the predetermined winner with it's own font. It would be nice if all clubs got a ribbon for competing.

Haha. I wonder how many jumpouts you have been to across the country and seen the differing people "helping out". Good luck on that one Chief. It's a bit like riding a gallop and knowing what times you have run from each furlong peg (and pretty much anyone can learn to count using a Hyland track timer) but the person who clocks them might add or take off a second depending on which ones they are backing next start. As jumpouts are not official trials sometimes the results are incorrect and the wrong riders listed. The horses are learning, probationary riders are feeling their way. Some of the heats are better left in the dark.

I don't think we should lose sight of the fact that jumpouts are a training tool and it's not always about results. The quality of jumpouts across the country differs.

Would you run a R65 horse in a R80 Benchmark staying race? That way you could also cater for the horses not quite up to a strong open cup field (at the stage of it's prep even). Jo Rathbone won the extreme race at New Plymouth with a maiden which went on to finish second in the Jericho.

Lower grade staying races is also a CD problem according to trainers I've talked to. An easy fix, I think, if addressed properly. You just need the right people to listen.

The Aussies don't do things by half. What happens if the members vote "no"?

You must have missed the back up plan.

That's a very good point about the Incorporated Societies requirements. All racing clubs will be in the same boat. Like you say "interesting". it beats me how racing clubs say that no training centres can make money. Cambridge and Matamata must prove differently. I also wonder why the facilities are not more fully utilised. What about their catering and venue hire parts of the business between race meetings? is it true horses can't be worked at Hastings for a week because of a camper van convention? If so, that's taking things to the other extreme.

Bad jockey judgement aside, you may have hit the nail on the head Shad. The quality of horse flesh may be poor.

If you are going to make a mistake, that wasn't the race to do it in.

There definitely are horses that have changed stables. Te Akau sell some on Gavelhouse which go on and trial up or race well. It happens with other stables too where a transfer to another environment works.

"this track could develop into a classic 'horses for courses' track" Some horses definitely do not like the tracks with sand in them. It is disappointing lessons are not learned from other track developments including mistakes and pitfalls.

By whom?

Next time it will be easier to borrow her eftpos card and withdraw from her bank account.