Special Agent

The more you read the worse it gets. What makes the NZTR Board think this is a silver bullet?

It makes no sense whatsoever to hold Grand National steeplechases or hurdles at Riccarton when the south island has no jumpers and no lead up races. We could go on until blue in the face about how inept the people in charge are for letting this happen but, the fact of the matter is they have let it happen. Has anyone been privvy to the responses received to last year's survey on the matter? Did anyone get a return email following their submission? The decisions around jumping have been poor ones. For the south island at least there needs to be a whole new class of horse and programming structure created to stop wastage. With this "duty of care" rule now in place, rather than the group of horses that could normally go jumping now destined for a plate or can, NZTR had better devise regular races to cater for those requiring longer and slower events. They may have to be for amateur riders, probationers and apprentices with less than 20 race day rides under their belts. These races could serve as qualifying events for emerging jockeys where trials are scarce. Let them only use the whip with their hands on the reins and make the races penalty free for the horse and owner.

I am also surprised at Karen Blanchard too. For goodness sake let's find all their numbers and give them a ring. This cannot happen. Let's stop it.

I don't know this president but, judging his stints on the television news in the role he's a halfwit with no respect for harness history. His comments on the Hall of Fame were appalling. Excuse my ignorance but, is Robert Dunn on the ATC committee or administration?

Dean was a very respected talent and being and will be greatly missed. Enjoy the highs in racing, and life, and hold the memories close. Tragedies remind us how short and precious life is. Try to keep arguments and fights to a minimum; there are better things to do with your time.

When you think of the goings on at Riccarton it is quite ridiculous. Putting in a synthetic track, not maintaining the turf course to an acceptable racing standard during summer, and demolishing the whole jumping scene, are all the most stupid actions a racing club could make. Foresight would have told you to hold off on the shutting down of jumps racing, not only at their own track but killing jumps racing across the whole south island, in case the AWT fails.

Whoops, track was PUKEKOHE not Riccarton.

I note from the Stipes' Report that TCO2 testing applied to one race at Riccarton, and one horse at the meeting had hair samples taken. I know that cobalt testing is expensive and arbitrary so, was there a target with these testing examples at Riccarton or was it penny pinching? Why on earth is testing not carried out on everything or nothing? Consistency and transperancy is all we ask.

I haven't checked out statistics on that.

You would think not. Like Chief asked when is the CJC fixing the most important track at Riccarton? And spin was the right word for that rubbish about the inorganic track. What nonsense written to keep a job. The balance sheet on that track would be as shifty as the surface. As for Awapuni, what jockey in their right mind is going to go out in a field of TEN and properly compete riding a galloper around a greyhound circuit??!! Don't think much of your trainer either if he/she is sending your horse out on it.

Doesn't he still hold the all time record for the most wins by a jockey? I'd have thought that would be reason enough for inclusion.

Pretty sure they were a Riccarton Turf Club oncourse licence. When you think about it why would the CJC need an oncourse only meeting?

Some of that information is trickling rather than flooding back now you mention it. Good days and good memories. When you think about it times were much more simple then. You'd wonder why people of today have to over complicate everything. Also trickling back with the tote busting grey Legalize, I know his trainer Marlene Bennett was harness trainer Frank Bennett's first wife but, someone else might confirm if she was the daughter of Dick Jennings?

They definitely ran race meetings that had on course only betting when Viv Jack was the President. Winsome Shaw may have been Secretary but, my memory is fuzzy. The large dividend winner many recall was the grey Legalize trained by Marlene Bennett, maybe for her father. Not sure if Judy Hawes/Collett rode him that day or Sheralee Boyce (former partner of Chris Johnson).

My concern also. Run by hard working volunteers with a respected following. Don't know but surely an idiot.

Because it's south of Taupo.

I agree with a lot of what Doomed and Reefton are saying. Indeed we should learn from the Auckland Trotting Club. Even the story on the news about the museum there was embarrassing from the point of view of the ATC. Noel Taylor donated a lot of money for that venture. A bit like the RSA's around the country where land has been gifted for the sole use of the RSA, now knob heads want the money. No one in authority would want a detailed analysis put out on what happens to a club when they merge and give up their assets. A classic example would by Feilding. That track should never have been sold and their membership is just a few. I am strong on selling at least Ellerslie and Awapuni. If ever there was a case for a better use of land these two tracks are it.

You may question quality horse flesh and horsemanship some years with the number of overseas runners dying and breaking down. There are some awesome horse people in NZ with at times horses to test the best in the world.

The turnover at Kumara tells the story. You talk about it not being great racing. The Melbourne Cup is a glorified hack race but the public LOVE it and couldn't care less about the quality of the runners. I am just baffled by just about everything NZ racing administrators do. Certainly not for the good of the entire industry.

You see Mikey, you are probably a typical contemporary follower of racing. I've paid attention over time to the marketing from the TAB, Trackside and now NZTR, though for the life of me I don't know why they have waded into this boots and all, and none of that expensive ill informed marketing is aimed at you. They are all missing the basics which is annoying when you read through lists of marketing experts employed by each entity There is no reason for any of the mid week meetings to hold no interest. Jobs are not being done well enough. These people are not volunteers. In fact volunteers would put their heart and soul into promoting a great day at a race meeting they believe in at a track they love.

Yes, this not knowing has to be rubbish. Their transperancy is non-existent, more like shattered glass. Breaking the law doesn't seem to worry anyone in racing these days. If a Racing Board does not know what is happening to the industry they are supposed to be running, any one of us could sit there smiling and nodding. Is it my imagination, or are people in charge of anything these days just a pack of weak arses?

I'm not sure what dimension some of these officials are on. Everyone involved in the racing industry should want the same things. We mainly want to win but, we also want a fair contest, a safe surface, good fields, a big crowd and a top entertaining day out. Reading all the information available, and from my own observations on the day, officials were just plainly vindictive towards Reefton and should hang their heads in shame. Poor form, and poor human beings.

And it's pretty obvious isn't it. Times are extremely tough. There are only so many measly dollars to go around. More options are not going to make you bet more. Once the well is dry, it is dry.

Sounds like a witch hunt.

That is interesting Mikey. That proves to me that nothing NZTR or the TAB have done has kept your interest up; in fact they have probably aided your disinterest. I happened to see an intro to camera on Love Racing from Hawkes Bay Cup day. Talk about not moving with the times. It could have been 1990. I'm not sure the young people they have brought on are the right young people either. And all that "shopping" and moving in or out so many points ... if they stopped trying to be like other jurisdictions and just put the focus on the Kiwi way it would make more sense and be more entertaining. Stop trying to be clever is my advice. It would almost be better with pictures, a bit of background music and no talking.