curious

You can't seem to get through your head that the thoroughbreds and standardbreds ARE kids actual ponies, and in most cases, a lot cheaper ones for parents and kids than a top show pony, eventer, or show-jumper.

Well if you enter a mini Cooper in a Ferrari race, more fool you. I suppose you'd also complain if you entered a 10 start maiden in a Group 1 and it got beaten?

It was definitely a pony under the rules for these races. The same but stricter criteria than for pony showing and other equestrian events. Of course it's a race. I'm sure the ponies and riders as well as the spectators think so. You are talking a lot of nonsense. Pony • Mount can be up to 148cms or 14.2h – any full height pony requires an RAS height certificate. • All mounts are to be aged 4 years and over. • All Thoroughbred and Standardbred Pony entries must be entered with their racing name included and/or breeding if unnamed for racing – or brands provided if unknown. • Any Thoroughbred or Standardbred Pony entry must not have raced or been in race training within the past 6 months. • Any Thoroughbred Pony entry must be showing as retired on LOVERACING.NZ. • Any Standardbred Pony entry must be showing as retired on hrnz.co.nz. • Every Thoroughbred and Standardbred Pony entry must provide a current RAS height card as proof of 148cm or under.

What do you mean? They are all ponies up to 14.2hh with RAS height certificates.

It's impossible to understand. Why would you add meetings when a KPI like starters per race is in decline? No attempt to do anything but tweak the abysmal programming issues. And yes, instead of the above spiel, what about giving participants a bit of detail has to how this decision was arrived and the analysis supporting claims like "maximising wagering, increasing returns to the code and building long-term sustainability", so we can try and grasp the logic? This sort of thing completely belies their claims to be improving transparency to participants.

2025–26 Thoroughbred Racing Calendar Announced New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has welcomed the release of the final racing calendar for the 2025–26 season, which features an increase in overall racemeetings, a strengthened Sunday schedule and strategic adjustments to enhance wagering opportunities in both New Zealand and Australia. A total of 308 Thoroughbred racemeetings are scheduled for the 2025–26 season, eight more than the current season, reflecting NZTR’s commitment to growing engagement opportunities while balancing statutory obligations and wagering goals. Among the most significant shifts is a continued expansion of Sunday racing, with Thoroughbred meetings increasing from 64 this season to 68 next season and 18 Sundays featuring dual Thoroughbred meetings (up from 14). The calendar also signals a sharp lift in Friday meetings, increasing from 33 to 49 Thoroughbred racedays, with a modest reduction in Thursday fixtures to accommodate the shift. “We are expecting these adjustments to drive improved wagering performance and greater returns for our code,” said NZTR CEO Matt Ballesty. “The increase in meetings shows our commitment to trying new approaches that we believe will deliver real benefits for the wider industry.” In line with efforts to increase visibility in the Australian wagering market, NZTR, Entain and TAB NZ have worked collaboratively to identify race timings that will deliver higher exposure and returns across both countries. “The five-year minimum funding guarantee from Entain gives us a unique opportunity to test what delivers the best results, and this season’s calendar has been shaped with that in mind,” said Ballesty. “It’s designed to support both local participants and international opportunities, with a clear focus on maximising wagering, increasing returns to the code and building long-term sustainability.” The Christmas/New Year racing schedule will follow a similar pattern to recent seasons, incorporating enhancements on the previous year, and reflecting alignment to the Strategic Summer Calendar - a cornerstone of New Zealand’s major summer raceday period. “We’re grateful to our Clubs and industry stakeholders for their constructive engagement throughout the consultation process,” said Ballesty. “We look forward to the period ahead and extend our best wishes to all Clubs, participants and stakeholders for a successful and progressive 2025–26 racing season,” he said. The calendar, developed in consultation with Clubs, Recognised Industry Organisations, TAB NZ and Entain, has been approved by the TAB NZ Dates Committee in accordance with the Racing Industry Act 2020. Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Emma Thompson +64 21 071 2929 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

This is the track that Awapuni reckoned they were going to replicate. Foxton yesterday.

Ellerslie Saturday. 2mm rain and no irrigation during the week and the rail is off? 25% moisture? Something is definitely not right with it?

Nic Yuen?

BELLO MIO (H Hassman) - When questioned regarding performance, rider advised that the gelding never travelled well and was disappointing.

Did you consider the horse might not have been good enough? What did you have it priced at? I had it at $12 and unbackable by a long shot.

I take it you backed it?

Geez give her a break. Te Akau are mentoring her. She's had 44 raceday rides and a <10% strike rate this season. Tidy and promising rider for mine and a lovely and respectful young woman to boot.

I mean, wouldn't you just plough it back up, sift out the rocks, add an appropriate amount of organic matter and reseed it?

I get that, but why, if you are laying a new track, would you not include what you think would be a good mix of organic matter in the initial soil mix instead of mixing in rocks with it, then saying it will take years for the organic matter from the decaying grass clippings to filter into the mix? Nothing they have done makes any sense to me.

That would be interesting to know. Do you MF?

Well it will surely be spring before any seeding is required anyway won't it, by the time they get all the re-cambering work done?

Yes, though if it were me and it is partially reseeded after the re-cambering, I's be waiting until the end of spring for the additional root development before using it.

No I agree. That was obviously to do with the "compaction" or lack of proper root development.

The latter is likely true but it was on the Wednesday which is right-handed day at Rangiora, so they would have probably had to get special permission to gallop left-handed.

Jmo but I think it's only the bends into and out of the turn that need re-modelling which is what they are doing. The latter bend is virtually a right angle with no camber probably as bad or worse than the Ellerslie turn into the straight that @Chief Stipe has mentioned on more than one occasion.

Actually, a Riccarton trainer taking horses to Trentham last week wasn't allowed to use the grass there for a final gallop at all. Had to bring them out to Rangiora for that.

Agree. Foxton certainly used to and Rangiora does weekly, though the CJC don't seem to have any reverse work days at any speed.