curious

2010. A parting gift from Cameron George until he resurfaced on the NZTR board in 2019.

Yes. Brian seems to run with the hares one minute and hunt with the hounds the next. Generally, his writing tends to present his latest new idea which often comes from buying into someone else's ideas without expressing any critical thought. The other sides of his arguments are hardly ever considered. I did watch Weigh In this week for the first time in many months, if not years. A refreshing piece of quality racing journalism that I haven't seen the likes of in any New Zealand media in yonks.

There is a feature meeting at Te Rapa on Saturday too. Not sure how industry day stakes can compete with that in attracting horses regardless of the track surface.

A few trainers quite keen, a lot not?

Of course, some continued very successfully. Some gave it away later. Others battled on and some of those still are. A few moved to greener pastures at the time and later, a number very successfully. Chris Waller springs to mind as one who astutely made the move to Oz then.

Yes. I A bloke I know quite well gave up training commercially in 2001 when that Act was still a bill. Not a bad call I think.

Gosh. Has Brian lost the plot again? I realise that the NZ breeding industry and pattern racing are intertwined with the racing industry but neither is necessary for the other. There are plenty of sources of horses for a racing industry here without a breeding industry. Hong Kong for example has a vibrant racing industry without a breeding one. It seems to me that breeding industry industry interests have been a big part of the downfall of NZ racing. I agree with Doomed that the assets of the NZ racing industry are not the real estate but the racing events and the people involved with conducting them. The size of the foal crop or number of pattern races is largely irrelevant. That blog is just another side of what caused the demise of NZ racing in the first place. Shame.

Here is the actual rule. You'd think the RIB could at least transpose it correctly. 656 (1) A Rider who rides or presents himself to ride a horse, or any other Licenceholder who has carried out, is carrying out, or is likely to carry out, a Safety Sensitive Activity at a Racecourse, Training Facility or Trainer’s Premises shall thereby be deemed to have consented to a Sample being obtained from him by or under the supervision of a Registered Medical Practitioner or by an Authorised Person if and whenever the Rider is required by a Stipendiary Steward or Investigator to permit such a Sample to be so obtained. [Amended 1 December 2013] [Amended 1 August 2014]

The first and the last on opening day for Freda would be pleasing!

Yes. It's known as colonisation. Hasn't worked very well in the long term anywhere I can think of. Can't see it working in racing. Not a good look.

Seems like a good outcome both for racing and the community.

Yes. If I'm going to pay for my horse to be educated, I'd rather pay for it to be educated for a career it can actually pursue.

I'm not sure that training as a hurdler or steeple-chaser is a lot of use for post-racing activities. Those horses need to be re-educated for the likes of show-jumping and eventing in my experience, much the same as one which has never jumped at all. If you want to prepare them for those careers, would they not be better to be specifically educated for them? I still don't see the point.

I don't see what the point would be in qualifying jumpers and having races for them that aren't jumping races?

Fucking awesome. I've played it three times in a row. Louder each time. He's in the wrong game!

Exactly. Where in this is the assistance for Rochelle's welfare? In a criminal case, that would certainly be part of it and participation may be required as part of the penalty. Here, they seem to have gone nuts on horse welfare (not wrongly) but where is the human welfare concern in this industry?

Yes. That suggests it's not open and shut on the evidence and they need the lawyer to make the case fly.

Don't know but you'd assume it would have been ordered under the circumstances wouldn't you?

What is open and shut about it? The horse was vetted the day it arrived at Paul's stable and was in his care. There is a tentative diagnosis of colitis which is difficult to treat successfully and can often lead to euthanasia which is what promptly happened. It's not clear if he may have had some prior responsibility of care but that will no doubt become clear soon enough as justice takes its course.

Be a waste of time anyway. He well knows the rules about digital communications and the line between expressing a critical opinion and breaching the law. If you've seen any of his mayoral media he has said much worse about the capabilities and achievements of various politicians.

What is the matter with them? They are either badly confused, dementia comes to mind, or have absolutely no business nous. Why do they think that the tracks that they don't own - clubs and communities do - are their biggest asset? Isn't the racing product NZTR's biggest asset? Isn't that what generates their revenue? Isn't that what they are supposed to tend to through improving things like handicapping, programming, personnel development and care, integrity, retaining horses, ensuring race day surfaces are safe and consistent and that the race day product is competitive and builds revenue?

Yes well underway last I was there 2 weeks ago. Still not sure why that would mean closing the course proper unless they need to dig it up to run drainage or something?

Surely not interfering with the main track? And supposed to be finished by June isn't it?

Meeting News CD Changes to Venues and Licences May/June TABNZ has approved the following requests in respect to venues and licences: 21 May 2022: Now Rangitikei RC (formerly Manawatu RC) to race at Trentham (formerly Awapuni) 2 June 2022: Feilding JC to race at Woodville (no licence change but venue was formerly Awapuni)) 11 June 2022: Now Manawatu RC (formerly Rangitikei RC) to race at Trentham (formerly Awapuni)

What problem?