Special Agent

Exactly. No point to not have follow through.

The debrief will be awaited with interest by many.

We should all be embarrassed for being a part of this industry. Is it rocket science? I don't think so. We can't just keep saying it will be better next time, because it never is. These stringent protocols are not stringent enough.

Fate is a funny thing. Lucky he put the reserve on her. What faith.

As stupid as that sounds, you may have nailed it. Poor owners paying training fees for nought. Poor trainers with disrupted plans. Poor jockeys getting to the races and not getting to ride. Everyone is out of pocket.

Maybe they could if despised tracks (the safe ones) were reinstated as raceday venues. The Waipukurau trials will be watched with interest, a track that spent many years off limits as deemed unsafe. It seems that it is now acceptable if the track is a certain degree of unsafeness.

Why is it acceptable to provide an unsafe surface? It is not once in a while. It's now common place.

In any other industry a groundsman who failed to present a perfect pitch would be dismissed.

Maybe to conceal an underlying problem. Why are horses slipping on all sorts of tracks around the country? Is it because the standard protocols are flawed?

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.