Special Agent

It is a good time to be talking with everyone you pay regularly. I nearly fainted when a letter came from the power company this week. My weekly payments are going down $16 per week. The family laughed when I said to turn the lights off if you aren't in the room. Every effort is important.

It's like Groundhog Day.

Are you being serious, or is the comment tongue in cheek? Exciting if your horse likes the synthetic. They may take time to flourish but, some of the other innovation races have fallen short in a few areas.

Just on staff, all of the troubles associated with stable employees on a Sunday, must also apply to tote staff, float drivers and any oncourse staff.

I agree wholeheartedly with these comments which represent the crux of the problem. A fair and safe track should be provided at each and every race meeting, NO EXCEPTIONS. Why was Karaka Millions night not called off, and why was the track not inspected after each race at the last meeting? Because the Stipendiary Stewards WERE NOT doing their job due to too many outside influences. Likewise with jockeys telling the Stipes their mounts slipped in the running. If the Stipes did what they are paid to do they should be questioning the jockeys before they've weighed in as they would have ALREADY SEEN THE SLIPPING. The only reason trainers are being left out of any discussions on race day is because the Stipes do not want to hear the truth!!!!

I'm not bagging what Te Akau do. Their results speak volumes. I'm just saying a change in scene and different training methods work too, as the likes of Kingston Flyer and Richard Stomper show.

If your track/club is not losing money and/or is not relying on industry funding why should you throw your hands in the air and give it all away to those who are already well in the red?

Weneedashock

Sounds like the Titanic of race tracks.

Marital?

This brings to light New Zealand cases where Stewards' and expert witness accounts were also off the mark. The Aussies know how to set a precedent i.e. Covid and Cobalt.

I'm not so sure that everyone agreed there were too many tracks, TAB man. As far as trainers not being consulted or listened to, that does seem to be par for the course these days as they are even left out of race day talks re calling meetings off. This is a very bad look and I can't help think there may be repercussions for such an ignorant action.

I'm finding the comments in this thread interesting. It's amazing what people will invest in to be involved in perceived success. What is success? Levels of success are different for everyone. As for syndicators we've seen a few come and go. Te Akau win their share, maybe more than their share. Some horses from Te Akau race better from other stables too. I'm not a fan of racing horses in the syndicate set up, sooner race them alone or with family members. But then I don't live in a mansion, or drive a flash car.

Every which way you turn in these stupid times there's another load of rubbish thrown up in your face. All three codes have some weirdo's involved. I will not abide by any rules to tippy toe around LGBTQ ..... nonsense. Roll your sleeves up you sicko's and get your hands dirty. I couldn't care less what you do in your own time but, leave that shit at home. I also don't care if you are black, yellow or pink. Get on with work, and life.

How absolutely ridiculous is that rubbish!!

Dress it up as much as you can. Trainers do not like the AWT'S

Not Te Akau but, a small shareholder of Jennifer Eccles once told me that he had not had to top up his contribution a long way out from retirement. I think the syndicate were paid out because she was sold too. Most people join syndicates to race, not breed.

With no jumping at Ellerslie couldn't the bends have any amount of camber? As far as the track surface goes, irrespective of what the make up of that surface is, I still believe the consolodation time was not nearly enough. In an early race a horse lost all four plates. The Stipes have become ridiculous on plate inspections so they must have been on tightly and properly prior to the race. As curious says there were indicators early in the programme that all was not well with the surface with slipping. All we all want is for the truth to be told and common sense to be applied. After a horse lost all four plates, horses were blundering at the start, and horses slipping in the running, why were stringent investigations not undertaken? Why are the Stipes' Reports not a true run down on what has happened? I agree with The Centaur that the major race of the day at the end of the programme is counter productive. Trying to keep punters on board longer is at the detriment of the state of the track. If you are going to lose the tail end of the programme it makes more sense that those races are of lessor grade.

I just wonder how much weaker some think South Island racing is. It is bloody hard to win a race anywhere at times.

A win is a win, isn't it?

Stipes' Report was up earlier. Have they taken it down for editing? The whole lot at ARC and whoever rubber stamped the project at NZTR need to go. I have no idea what Paul Wilcox's credentials are but, he talks with a high opinion of himself, unfounded it seems. A track not cambered correctly is a recipe for disaster. If anyone thinks a bit more tinkering and a whole lot more money is going to rectify this embarrassing problem they should hold their head/s in shame. Forget Ellerslie. Without the hill it is just another ordinary course. Sell it lock, stock and barrel and start afresh in the countryside before all the "investment fund" is gone. And a message to all those clubs which have been told to sell their assets to bolster this imaginary fund ... DON'T DO IT!! We've all had a lesson on what happens to industry funds.

It wouldn't be unexpected for Karyn to be the spokesperson for Imperatriz as manager of the syndicate. She says the right things and is looking after the brand. I wonder what a normal owner looks like.

As NZTR are trying to push the after racing life of thoroughbreds in equestrian disciplines, maybe GRNZ or their adoption agencies could do a "showing" drive, if they don't already. Not every home owner wants a dog on their couch but, if there is another active avenue for them it may prolong their life a little longer.

No I hadn't. You'd think by withholding the contents of the Stewards' vision there is something to hide.