curious

Can't say I've been in a TAB myself since the 70s but I wouldn't consider that to mean I don't have an interest or active involvement in racing.

@Special Agent may be able to shed more light on this as I haven't been there for some time. However, the drainage issues at Otaki were mainly on the bottom bend between the mile and 1400 area. It's unclear whether the gallops were conducted from the 1400 mark in the mile chute or the 1400 on the course proper, but it seems a bit odd that they may not have included full speed work round that bend before the course was passed as safe for racing? Following this morning’s inspection at Ōtaki Racecourse, the meeting scheduled for Friday 20 June will proceed. The track, rated a Heavy10, was galloped under wet conditions across the repaired sections. Representatives from the RIB, RTA, Ōtaki Racing Club and NZTR observed three pairs of horses gallop from the 1400m to the winning post. The surface was deemed suitable for racing. With a positive forecast, further drying is expected. Ōtaki Racing Club, NZTR and the RTAs will continue to monitor the track through to raceday on 20 June.

And they do on their race days there.

Wasn't that Morty's pub at some stage?

Viv and my Dad, both, along with a few others.

Something ironic about an outfit called the Riccarton Turf Club racing on the synthetic today isn't there? Also, looks like the CJC have lost their new Clegg hammer already. Not much point having venue guidelines if the clubs ignore them and NZTR don't penalise them for doing so.

Not by a number of owners, trainers and punters that I've talked to.

https://paulickreport.com/news/bloodstock/veteran-bloodstock-agent-michael-wallace-dies?fbclid=IwY2xjawK0nstleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBOTU56ek5wekc5NXlPMEEzAR4ekgs-MLyoJkKLY6eLRUPQ1e38S7i1jFzfeKEleNQhJACanxRTIORUghtLXQ_aem_oZXGg3d_eLW502XKw20kWQ Veteran Bloodstock Agent Michael Wallace Dies from BOAY New Zealand native Michael Wallace was part of the team that selected Triple Crown winner Justify at auction Michael Wallace, a bloodstock agent who was part of the group that secured Triple Crown winner Justify at auction, died on the evening of June 7. His death was confirmed Sunday on the social media accounts of Ardsley Stud in New Zealand, owned by his parents, Jim and Mary Wallace. A New Zealand native, Wallace grew up on Ardsley Stud, which was purchased by his grandfather in 1971. He was a graduate of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Sunline Scholarship, an immersive Thoroughbred industry training program, and he served his externship at Rich Hill Farm in his home country. Wallace is best known for his eight-year run as chief operating officer of China Horse Club, where he played a major part in the group's acquisitions during its early years. Dale Romans Applauds 'Turning Point' Thanks To StrideSafe SensorDale Romans Applauds 'Turning Point' Thanks To StrideSafe Sensor Read More Chief among those acquisitions was the purchase of a $500,000 Scat Daddy colt in partnership with Maverick Racing, the nom-de-sales ticket of WinStar Farm CEO Elliott Walden, at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Later named Justify, the colt would go on to sweep the 2018 Triple Crown and sell to the Coolmore partnership on a stud deal worth a reported $75 million. Justify highlighted the more than Grade or Group 1 victories and five Eclipse Awards earned by China Horse Club during his time with the company. After leaving China Horse Club in 2021, Wallace became an independent bloodstock agent for clients around the globe, including Vincent and Teresa Viola's St. Elias Stable, where he was on the team that landed Grade 1 winner Mindframe. He also worked for Kuldeep Singh Rajput’s Gandharvi Racing Stables, where his domestic successes Grade 3 winner Hall of Fame, owned in tandem with the Coolmore partnership. Wallace is survived by his wife Kristi and five children.

Is that why they were mostly coming wide on the turn staying off the rail and generally wanting to get to the centre of the track?

A maximum of two 1000m trials will be held prior to Race 1 at Oamaru on Sunday. Entries close with the NRB on Wednesday at 10am (same time as withdrawals).

Has it been updated? When I went over there I got this at the top of the news column. [RC News]Penalty for Verry Elleegant By Admin4 · Posted October 19, 2020 Six-time Group One-winning mare Verry Elleegant has been penalised 0.5kg for her win in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup on Saturday, taking her weight in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) to...

Great piece and super advice.

No rain out here to speak of and none in Timaru according to the met service.

That would make a lot more sense than the current arrangement.

Paulick Report psSrtodonec63c83h2a319ct3m05g364424l21lt6h6l0f0i0h20c75l01f9 · Heavy rain in the Saratoga Springs area has forced a surface switch for Saturday’s card at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The New York Racing Association has moved all scheduled turf races to the main track at Saratoga Race Course. That includes Race 3, Race 6 (the Grade 2, $300,000 Wonder Again), Race 10 (the Grade 3, $300,000 Pennine Ridge), and Race 14. The Grade 1 Jaipur and Manhattan have been moved to Sunday.

Yes the 2 allowances and 3yo turf race were transferred.

https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/despite-turf-washout-two-postponed-races-belmont-stakes-day-handle-tops-101-million Despite Turf Washout, Two Postponed Races, Belmont Stakes Day Handle Tops $101 Million Heavy rains caused New York Racing Association officials to move Grade 1 duo of Jaipur and Manhattan Stakes from Saturday to Sunday Edited Press Release 6 hours ago The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced that Saturday’s 12-race Belmont Stakes Day card, highlighted by Sovereignty’s victory in the 157th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, generated all-sources handle of $101,861,883. Heavy rain in the Saratoga Springs region on Saturday forced all races off the turf. In addition, NYRA canceled both the Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur [Race 9], a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; and the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan [Race 12]. The pair of Grade 1s, originally part of a 14-race card on Belmont Stakes Day, will be run Sunday, June 8 to close out the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. As a result, handle declined from $125,748,941 on Belmont Stakes Day in 2024. Paid attendance on Saturday was 46,243.

Yes, in my time there owners and guests could go in the saddling paddock and at the tracks that I loved, the public could get right to the rail there and watch horses saddled etc. Very different approach/focus.

One thing that really struck me about the ESPN coverage of the Belmont this morning was that all the promotion and advertising was entirely focused on the excitement, athleticism and courage of the horses, riders and races, not the side shows. If you want to captiveate a new and growing audience of participants, why wouldn't you do that?

They don't have jandals there. Those are flip-flops!

Due to the particularly heavy track at Timaru, the need to mitigate barrier movements and the early start time the two trials originally scheduled prior to Race 1 have been cancelled.

Great coverage all morning on ESPN. A slew of G1s and the Belmont itself at 11am.