Special Agent

Trentham track proved safe with a lot of rain and a reasonable length of grass.

You'd have to check with whoever is sponsoring it.

The thing that gets me though is they will still pat each other on the back for the jobs poorly done.

Surely it matters not if the comments on here are positive or negative. With the amount of money and supposed expertise thrown at Ellerslie you'd expect a safe track surface near to perfection. I don't find any excuses cut the mustard.

Does anyone know anything any more?

A top example of how professional and presentation standards are going to improve. Who the hell cannot proof read 10 words??!!

- Relentlessly improve ??? - Presentation and preparation of all facets of our industry ??? - Enhancing the welfare of our people and horses ??? - Enhance track surface, public relations, club accountability and sustain revenue growth ??? HOW, WHICH AND WHEN? Without the current Entain and projected Avondale funding, I can't see what "robust strategies" are in place to produce this mythical golden answer. If you are going to relentlessly improve something you should have at least started the improvements. Does presentation and preparation only apply to what can be shown on Trackside? Horse facilities at Trentham are still poor. People and horse welfare must depend on who's looking. Last week's tragedy had given out plenty of warning bells. As far as horse welfare goes the wrong aspects are being concentrated on at who knows what cost. The war on safe track surfaces is ongoing. Some clubs will never be held accountable. It just goes on and on.

NZTR put out that recent report on them. I think that will be all we get.

That doesn't address the maintenance costs not being able to be met.

What dirty tactics. This is not a game. There are horse and human lives at stake. Professionalism and transparency, my arse!! Admit mistakes were made, write the synthetics off, and move on.

Absolute FACT. RACE have local trainers who rent facilities over a barrel. These trainers are reluctant to speak out or even ask questions in case they do a "Gary Vile" on them.

Yes granted but NZTR are providing relevant machinery these days. I don't know staffing levels across the country, at some tracks there seems to be ample. There are courses track managers are sent on as well. Now it sounds like I am sticking up for NZTR and clubs, which I am not. The Awapuni and Riccarton synthetic tracks at the very least should be disposed of. Feedback from the latest Awapuni meeting is at least two bowed tendons. As they are not deaths they won't figure on many reports. More trainers vowing never again. Shame they didn't make that declaration earlier. Many trainers still send their horses out without checking the surfaces they will be racing on in advance. Owners are paying for and relying on their trainer's expertise and advice.

I guess it's alright if you are left to do your job without anyone poking their nose in.

In this age of health & safety, and animal welfare, I do not think it is unreasonable to expect properly prepared track surfaces that have consistent penetrometer readings track to track.

In the twilight of his career? 6 years old with 16 runs under his belt, and 6 wins. What?

Hard news to take. Johnathan was in the 1000 club with so many memorable wins to his credit. One of the nice guys to boot. Happy on the outside. Rest in peace Parkesy.

I can liken the money given to set the all weather tracks up to the cheapest part of a racehorse being it's purchase price. Due diligence was lacking in this exercise in the quest to gain these "state of the art" facilities. Without the subsidising from NZTR I can only assume the NZ AWT demise. In hindsight is NZTR shooting the industry in the foot by propping these tracks up? Field size already shows trainer and/or owner reluctance. I feel left to club maintenance only at least the southern most two would fold very quickly.

Can't help but notice the ironies. 1. The boys in charge of two iconic now failing and flailing clubs/tracks are both Tim's. 2. The northern Tim is wearing a LoveRacing jacket, when clearly his love is other horse power racing and real estate.

Agreed.

A very important point, in my opinion.

He's hit his straps now.

Kane Smith

Looking at the track surfaces at Otaki and Ellerslie the current curator at Otaki is doing a much superior job than whoever dares put their hand up at Ellerslie. Moving the Otaki WFA to Auckland really is a DUMB idea!! Probably won't be the last dumb idea coming out of headquarters I would suspect.

There is still no proof Cobalt is a performance enhancing drug. Interesting Brendon was given warning of an elevated Cobalt reading in 2022. Neither Peter McKenzie nor Graham Richardson were afforded this courtesy. The reading was definitely high and this is not the first time the expert veterinarian has suggested administration must have been very close to start time, which is ridiculous. To me there is a common denominator with Hemoplex being one of the administered drugs in more than this case. Assuming Hempoplex is sourced from a vet, there is some poor information handed onto the trainers.

I suppose they don't even have to be accountable with the donation from Auckland. I'm picking the jumps have sat gathering dust for the past 12 months.