Special Agent

Just because visionary ideas have the word scientific attached doesn't mean it is right. Science changes and sometimes is wrong. I think you will find that the latter comment in the article could be more of the problem, incorrect application of bandages. Don't you worry Curious, there are plenty of numb nuts in our part of the world. I see another knee jerk reaction (backed with some scientific phrasing) to the idea of an individual or group. Look at the top trainers of the past who successfully used bandages as preventative aids. Davy Jones springs to mind as having raced a lot in bandages with good success. There are obviously many others too. To learn how to bandage properly is a valuable skill. Sorry Curious I don't agree with your horse health and safety visionary comments. I'll vote for bandaging over bute any day. Boots come with problems, though easier and quicker to put on which might be the true reason for recommendation, or the vet owns the company that makes them.

I can't agree that giving bute is training a horse to manage pain. I've taken voltaren for broken bones. They are still sore once the drug has worn off. Unless you have Mr Ed in your stable you'd be hard pressed to know exactly the individual level of pain. Some win races with fractures but, without bute. Some won't break into a trot with a minor abrasion. As far as injury prevention is concerned, bloody hell many of us have nursed injuries for which we wish there had been some simple resolve. A lot of what happens in racing is heart breaking already. Imagine something horrific resulting from racing on bute. How could you live with yourself? Back to prevention, wait for some numb nut in our part of the world thinking this is a good idea. The Dutch equestrian world will be banning the use of bandages for work and competition.

Rafael Nadal was permitted to play in the 2022 French Open even though injecting with painkillers because the painkillers he used are on an allowable list and are believed to have no long lasting effects. Like bute, of course there are long lasting effects. Any long lasting effects are irrelevant to a trainer.

I'm on the same page as Freda and would question why you would use bute if laminitis was not discovered till after the race. It is a painkiller, banned for racing at that, so it's not much different to the despised US practice of nerve blocking. RIU are so bent on racing's image to the masses with their ridiculous stable audits and licencing changes. However, it seems using prohibited drugs and running while masking soreness is quite okay. Animal rights activists would have a field day with what has been handed to them on a plate by our administrators.

Why would a new track surface that had the ticks of approval from high ranking industry players have undulation and humps?

That is for sure. Even though it's not exactly right for a slanging match to go on in the work place I can't get over how weak people have become, particularly males. I'm not sure where the men's men have all gone.

I sat at a meeting once where we were told that racing couldn't be broadcast out of some venues, Ruakaka was one, due to the cost of something to do with the satellite required. The cost was a few million dollars which NZTR and/or the TAB weren't prepared to pay. Just like the Outside Broadcast trucks, why would a multi billion dollar industry not invest into maintaining and improving the "product"? Somebody has this all wrong when you look at where money is spent.

We seem to be part of an industry that is not about "the industry" but, more focussed on a few venues and a select group of licence holders. Unless NZTR and it's head honchos take a wider vision "the industry" will narrow into oblivion.

Such progress.

I thought Awapuni and Palmerston North Raceway race on the same day sometimes.

To see that even farmers are abreast of modern techniques and skill sets.

Opie Bosson and Sam Weatherley can't have ridden over these areas in their prior staged ride around. Their opinions don't count for much now.

I remember Maurice being a really nice man. I think he was quite fussy with his horses and he may have had a pretty good strike rate. I couldn't remember any of his horses though. I thought maybe he trained Wadi Wahid but, that may have been Barry too.

Alcohol is also a distraction and there is plenty of that flowing at sales, in fact has been the reason for some questionable buys. Not everyone buys solely on conformation. Sometimes it's connection with the breeder, leader, owner or just a plain hunch. There would never be those cheapie near champions without a bit of luck in whatever method is used for selection. Shallow though the sex sells advertising method is, it is a known successful formula. We are all different and variety is the spice of life.

In this modern era there are some things you are not supposed to say out loud but, I don't always conform with today's thinking. I agree with Honestjohn that some ideals still resonate ... like "sex sells". In an advertising world the first step is to catch the potential buyer's attention. I had a chuckle about your comment on how hot Anthea is/was. I knew her way back when she was Anthea Dick. I'm sure she would love your comments on her appearance.

It wouldn't matter what the jockeys said because it clearly states the stipes made the decision.

If you go to the races and read the Stipes Report that night there are times when what is written and your recollection are quite different. Even though these reports should not be open to debate, you cannot believe everything you read. As for this new state of the art surface, some Australians remarked on them in a not too favourable manner. It seems state of the art is not what it is cracked up to be. The lazy method of just throwing money at something is not the answer. It seems there are big noters who have a following while they are here. When they move on to other occupations they become someone else's problem for a while. Unfortunately the bad pennies have a tendancy to turn up at a later date.

Yes, a lot of passing the buck in this industry. I agree with Freda. Previous Starters with obvious pride in their work and a sense of responsibility have managed to regularly check and maintain the starting gates. I would have thought that would be part of their contract. Surely the Starters of today don't just rock on up on race day.

Do we know if this positive is to cobalt, or something else? The ruling for cobalt was flawed for one thing. There is no evidence cobalt is performance enhancing. The Australian court cases proved the injustice. Same applies here even though all trainers bar one put their hands up, and were charged as guilty. Every licence holder should be treated equally.

All the hype leading in then an unsafe track offered. I think that is more than teething problems as mentioned earlier on here.

I don't see how they can race on the back of how the track played on Karaka Millions night. I doubt many jockeys would put their hands up. Avondale may be a cot case but, the track surface looked a lot safer than Ellerslie and in better condition than Pukekohe. Can we PLEASE forget about people getting drunk and focus on the horse and rider safety?

It will be an interesting one to hear by the sounds.

Who would want a horse in Central?

There are examples of farm training, the use of water treadmills and trips to the beach that have worked wonders for such horses.

And thus sold at market value.