Assange

The jumpouts went without incident with several senior jockeys in attendance. If there was an issue it would have been raised.

A few questions. How bad is the track that it cant be OK for 2 weeks time? If senior riders say its OK after holding jumpouts - why are NZTR still moving the meeting? What is the pathway forward that they will be identifying? Wasn't Darren Balcombe running Hastings Racetrack before getting his current role?

So the Central Districts losing yet another race to the north.

Especially when Wilcox just shrugs off the cost factor. Not even a sorry we stuffed up. The money spent there would pay a lot of stakesmoney. Lets hope they got it right this time.

Exactly what I thought too. Plus apart from Tim Mills - how many are from South of Waikato?

Better hope that NZTR don't move the 1000 Guineas to Ellerslie to protect its Group 1 status.

So the CD loses one of their star races to a substandard track. What an apalling decision. So whats the point of racing a horse in the CD then? Or racing one at all?

So does anyone actually know where this money went? How do we find out?

Perhaps the decline in participation and jumps races could be in part due to some of the programming and non availability of tracks. For two years Riccarton GN Carnival has been the only venue for jumps racing in the South Island. With the Ellerslie hill gone and the debacle that is Te Aroha - maybe NZTR could look a little closer at themselves before putting it back on trainers and jumps jockeys. People still need to make a living there Bruce.

What concerned me about this is the fact that the RIB overrode Lisa Allpress after she did a gallop on the track to check that it is safe. I would say Lisa would be the most qualified jockey to make this decision. Certainly not the stipes.

Balcombe said "we can't beat the weather". True, however its winter. It rains. How much does he get paid to write this? And a reminder that NZTR staff (and stipes) still get paid. How many staff don't get paid when the races get cancelled? One or two meetings over winter is one thing - one or two a week is another. If a meeting is abandoned - reschedule it.

Exactly. Have they not learnt to have a back-up plan after the plethora of abandonments we have had recently. Its winter - it rains. This is hurting owners and all the others who don't earn if there is no meeting. Any response from anyone at the aptly named Dick Street?

Shall I suggest too many (overpaid) chiefs and not enough indians?

The word nepotism is coming to mind.

Agree here. Feel the whole thing reeks of elitism. How do the horses bought on Gavelhouse fare. Are they eligible? Not exactly supporting a few mates wanting to race a horse unless you go through some of the bigger syndicators who buy expensive yearlings and take their cut.

The Old Boys Network - still going strong.

I would have thought that investing in tracks would be more important than investing in more management. Probably cheaper too. All we seem to get is a more flowery report on why our tracks are stuffed.

Did the same thing in the Grand Annual. Could have been a real disaster.

Sometimes its not whats in the Stipes Report, its whats not in the Stipes Report. Only 1x horse noted to have slipped but a number of slip marks.

No report up yet?

I asked the question regarding the cost as relocation costs can be very expensive, and staff not moving have redundancy payouts.

Good question. What actual benefit will it be to trainers, owners for them to be based in Cambridge? How much did the move cost?

Just seen on Loveracing. Talk about confusing. Seriously NZTR - how are trainers supposed to plan programmes for their horses with all the changes? How about the owners? "Hey guys lets get a carload together and head to Hastings races to see our horse? - oh hang on - its now Wanganui" Why don't you just admit most of the tracks are stuffed and reopen Foxton.

Another report/investigation? They might as well use the same template and just change the track/date.

So long Mr Double Dipper. With job at the Wahs makes you wonder how much he actually did on the board.