eljay

History - the dual assessments

The commentators used to say "I'll leave that one to the judge" These days they say "I'll leave that one to the judge but you will find XXX will be the winner" And how often have people had to go and rummage in rubbish bins to find the ticket they just discarded because of a bum opinion.

They would have done better with people confined to their living rooms to have opened up their TV for free. A lot of people over the last weeks probably have shelved gambling on horses due to nil coverage in press and no local races.

But the decision will be made by those who only interested in money - ok? Thursdays, Sundays, or any other day wont come into it to start with. But only my suspicion. And of course no one will be on course unless licenced and have a runner.

Which track does the best turnover - that is ultimately what will decide.

It only looks bad if it's done in NZ!

and the problem will be that "they" will take yet a higher percentage out of the betting pools

I would hope the ATC (and Cambridge for that matter) do what the trainers want - what we have to keep in mind is that when racing restarts the pool of available horses will be very small. No one was supposed to be fast working over this period, remember!

They probably rang the front door bell and no one answered so they "took a look around" ?

I can't help feeling this present climate will be the death rattle for a lot of clubs all codes. Will be very difficult position they will find themselves when (if) normality resumes. I hope it not going to happen but Auckland in particular very shaky especially if pending legal action goes against them. From day one of their venture (wow that was eons ago) it seems every decision made was the wrong one emphasising racing clubs should not dabble in matters other than what their primary business is - racing. And spare a thought for the small country clubs like Hawera who should have been running their annual meeting this weekend - can they survive? Surely they deserve better than just a "tough" from the industy barons.

They say it started in China then South Korea but "MIRACULOUSLY" it appears North Korea escaped it.

Here are regs from NZTR CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY REGULATIONS NZTR has made the following regulations under Rule 106 of the Rules of Racing. Regulations under Rule 106 form part of the Rules of Racing and are binding on all clubs, licensed persons, owners, and all other persons to whom the Rules apply. The Regulations are necessary to protect the health and wellbeing of participants in the thoroughbred racing industry during the coronavirus pandemic. These Regulations come into force at 4 pm, 17 March 2020 and remain in force until 13 April 2020, at which point it will be reviewed. Admission to race meetings (1) Nobody shall be admitted to a racecourse when a race meeting is in progress, except for: (a) Licensed jockeys engaged to compete at the meeting; (b) Licensed trainers with horses entered at the meeting; (c) Licensed stable staff employed by trainers with horses entered at the meeting, if that employee’s presence at the course is: (i) Essential; and (ii) Has been notified to the club ahead of the meeting; (d) Club and racing officials (including barrier attendants, veterinary and medical staff and the Racing Integrity Unit) whose presence at the course is essential for the meeting to proceed; (e) Broadcasting and other essential staff employed by the Racing Industry Transition Agency; or (f) Accredited media as approved by NZTR in writing. (2) A person (including a person to whom clause (1) applies) must not attend, and must be refused access to, a race meeting if they have cold or flu symptoms, including coughing or sneezing, runny nose, headache, aches or fever. Page 2 of 2 (3) For the purposes of these Regulations, a race meeting is in progress for the time between 7:30 am on the morning of the race meeting and 30 minutes after the finish of the last race conducted at that meeting. Trials, trackwork and jumpouts (4) No person shall be admitted to trials, trackwork or jumpouts conducted at any racecourse or training centre, except for: (a) Licensed trainers with a horse or horses participating in the trial, trackwork or jumpout, and their essential licensed staff; (b) Riders riding horses in the trial, trackwork or jumpout; (c) Essential racing officials, club staff and other personnel. (5) A person (including a person to whom clause (1) applies) must not attend, and must be refused access to, a trial, trackwork or jumpout, if they have cold or flu symptoms, including coughing or sneezing, runny nose, headache, aches or fever. Jockey welfare (6) Any jockey who has concerns regarding their health status must contact NZTR Medical Adviser Dr Margaret Parle immediately. (7) No licensed jockey may travel between the North Island and the South Island or vice versa without the prior written permission of NZTR, and a jockey who does so without NZTR’s permission shall be ineligible to ride in any race, trial, trackwork or jumpout while these Regulations remain in force. Club and RIU powers and responsibilities (8) Clubs and Racing Integrity Unit staff who believe, on reasonable grounds, that a person seeking entry to a racecourse or who is present on a racecourse is a person whose presence on a racecourse is not authorised by these Regulations shall immediately expel that person from the racecourse. Weight allocations (9) For all race meetings commencing after 12:01 am on 20 March 2020, and while these Regulations remain in force, the weight allocated to all horses in all races will be increased by two kilograms additional to the standard allocation, to support the health of thoroughbred jockeys. Dispensation (10) NZTR may, on the request of a club, vary any of the requirements in these Regulations in relation to a specified race meeting.

Didn't know it was a funny horse ?

Since 1991

Yes indeed - incidentally there was a Kiwi driver here a couple or so weeks ago. Has driven more winners than Herlihy & McKendry combined. Ross Wolfenden.

Sorry - we haven't got any horses left to sell ?

Are they grass tracks - if so, then they should have grass on them. No use shaving them down like a bowling green. I think we have all seen with all weather grit tracks there is often quite a difference with the amount of "top" on them. Some clubs deliberately seem to present the tracks with next to no top in endeavour set records. But you will find that for every record they achieve, there are a lot more horses breaking down. I think there is too much emphasis put on records.

De-railed??

I don't like when JCA say so and so "admitted" a charge. Most of them only plead guilty to reduce either the fine or the suspension period. Has been noticable lately how the authorities have sky rocketed the costs imposed. Costs seem to be in many cases more than the initial fine.

A lot of Palmy visitors from south are "on the market". Chmeil sends horses to Arna so maybe he uses Palmy as a stepping stone. From my observations Palmy seem to be doing pretty well under the present climate - make posts in Facebook for instance and generally let the public know what's going on. More than can be said for others. Will be interesting to see what support Stratford gets from participants in a couple of weeks. I hope they do well but whether the club wanted it or they were again shafted by the HRNZ/TAB etc Thursday not an ideal day - in the past they have run on a Saturday or Sunday. Good luck to a very friendly club who appear to be the victims of the codes/governments plan to shaft the sport.

But the "clowns" believed him

Mark's spark is now dark!

Yep

Just one irrefutable fact - there is no law to say he can't enter them all. Afterall it still not quite on the same level as the Coles in Dogland

Simple - you need 2 days on the grass.