Special Agent

All total proof that the quality of what people are betting on is irrelevant, very much like the Melbourne Cup being not much more than a glorified hack race. Much more emphasis is, and should be, put on the race day experience particularly as part of an ongoing plan to retain current and encourage potential participants. As our whole industry is reliant upon turnover let us not under estimate those not in the top 10 trainers, jockeys or owners, all of whom are providing important product to the industry. The current bods at the top do not have the right recipe. The Chair moving on may right the wrong. Rodney coming onto the Board may be a good thing, just as long as it's not all about the breeders from here on in. I think much can be learned from how one is treated by smaller clubs. I know some will say how great the big clubs are. I feel, unless you are winning, the major clubs only kiss the feet of those who are important this week. I have been involved in sponsorship at all levels and have found that "today's fish 'n' chip wrapping" mentality from the big clubs. On days you are not sponsoring the club officials just look straight through you. As opposed to the small clubs where, whether it be sponsorship, race horse owner, or betting patron on a particular day, your continued support is valued.

Exactly. And whatever he did that we were made aware of he seemed to be a male equivalent of Margaret Thatcher, ruling with an iron fist. He was arrogant and non-listening. It does appear some of this has rubbed off onto Bruce Sharrock. I sure hope some common sense comes into play at some stage before it is too late.

The Chief has beaten you to it. There are many applauding. Let's hope he doesn't pop up somewhere else in the racing industry.

Curious, you show the difference in respect of grassroots racing where you are pretty much in it for life.

Maybe the buck stopped with the Chairman.

Great news.

Sounds like his foot slipped out of the iron, probably a platform iron where only a small part of ball of his foot would be balancing on it.

NZ Trotting Cup day another to avoid. It's a very uncomfortable day out.

They do not and will not listen to common sense.

Why is it that "affordable housing" must be where the land is being used for something else, and in an already densely populated area? If most of the houses are going to be taken up/rented by families on a benefit why can't these new developments be out in less populated towns? If these people are not working, can't they live anywhere, as long as they are near amenities? Do people have to line up for their benefits, or does the money go directly into their bank accounts?

No official report yet on raceday fatalities either as we are only part way through the first 12 months.

Official, not sure. Anecdotal, easy enough to check with trainers, riders, owners, vets, back manipulators etc.

It would be good if those at NZTR were concerned about racing instead of themselves.

General admission charges seem excessive.

So, there are processes and protocols in place when a race meeting is abandoned. What a waste of time having these when they are ignored. There seems to be more abandoned meetings than ever. Those systems don't appear to be working. Therefore, with such failings how are jobs being kept?

Hardly fake news.

There's been a bit of talk on here regarding Gai Waterhouse and how we should all sit up and take notice of her. Remember when she had a runner in the Railway yonks ago. She said that she was never worried about what her horses drew.

Sounds like a plan.

I can't even remember when it was decided summer tracks should not be hard and fast. Trainers like the late Noel Eales loved nothing better than to race his summer horses on summer tracks. In the conversations I had with him over the years he was definitely an advocate for not watering in summer. Like you say Wingman Kane Smith has inherited a lemon. This reiterates my point that he is fairly new to the racecourse caretaking game and if he is one of the few who can produce a track on raceday where the jockeys don't vote with their feet imagine if what could be achieved if he could hone his skills. I'm trying to find some positives out of the racecourse surface shambles we are currently amidst.

Woodville is the obvious one. Bruce Sharrock loves Woodville, and the people there. He loves supporters of Woodville even more.

I also agree Ace is a nice polite young man. The Clotworthys are doing a top job with him.

I agree with a few of the contributers to this thread. A copied concept race holds no appeal.

Freda makes a brilliant point regarding Health & Safety and Work Place regulations up further. How is racing side stepping what other industries are put through the wringer for? Maybe the reason trainers have been left out of discussions is because, as they are representing the owner and himself/herself, they might put up a decent and reasonable argument to run the race meeting. As for jockeys not wanting to ride due to potential risk. Being a jockey is an occupation that is constantly in a state of potential risk. Dare I say it, if a jockey does not want to ride because of potential risk maybe it is time to think about finding another job. If after a shower of rain there may have been a potential saftey concern, would the subsequent heavy rain not have rectified that? Some moaned about the amount of water Kane Smith put on the Otaki track when rain was forecast. In hindsight wasn't he a little bit smart? The track surface might not have suited every runner but, under Kane's supervision Otaki was one of very few venues to have continued racing when the rain came. Well done Kane. Doomed has hit the nail on the head with Feilding's money long gone at Awapuni. You can only laugh about the funds of Waipukurau and Woodville going into the slush fund too. How much do they think those small town venues are worth, and how much debt would they clean up? Was La La Land a good movie?

"State of the track" could mean anything. This is really bad!! How long can these excuses keep rolling in before people at the top stand down?

From comments from both Chief and Newmarket inconsistency seems to apply. They are both pretty good riders.