curious

Tim was about everywhere both days I was there. Talking to people. Couldn't help bumping into him 2 or 3 times during the day. In the Balmerino room, birdcage etc. The NZTR CEO was also about on Saturday.

Top bloke and looked after us but no longer on the committee. Life member though and contributor to the Gold Club sponsorship group there.

We had the Balmerino Room buffet both Wednesday and Saturday last week. Now $45 I think. Excellent Wednesday. Good Saturday.

Was it my imagination, or did he have the irons pulled back up a few holes? Don't recall seeing him riding that short in quite some time.

Yes Jo McGartland died at Rangiora in 2002. Ray Hewinson at Ashburton later that year and sadly but ironically that was at almost the same spot on the Ashburton track that his nephew Hunter Thomas had perished at almost 2 decades prior. I find it hard to believe that Ellis could say something so ignorant and so dismissive.

I'll be there Wednesday Doomed and likely have a guest pass or 2. Be good to catch up. PM me.

7 noms. One tragically euthanised on Saturday, so no more than 6.

Ironically, 2 weeks away from the resource consent hearing to demolish an historic building.

I'm personally feeling very sad that I will be there on Saturday for the first time in many years and not able to climb to the roof of the Grand National stand with the binocs to watch the great race.

I need to learn how to embed whole articles like that chief. How do I do that?

Unbelievable. Chris Rowe, commercial manager at Riccarton Racecourse, said market research revealed the Cup and Show Week branding had "not really resonated" and wasn't well recognised. "Cup week has been an iconic week in New Zealand for many, many years. Maybe that's why it was so difficult to get the (Cup and Show) brand across."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/115885921/spring-bloom-campaign-replaces-nz-cup-and-show-branding

Can u post the article. It sounds incredible!

I think you are missing the point chief. I've seen plenty of 10yos running cross country events on tracks far worse than Riccarton is likely to provide today over much more than 1600m. I think you'll find that most August 2 year olds have begun their preparations at least 6 months before, say March, perhaps with a break in between, The 2yo year is an important period for musculoskeletal and mental development and having a race or 2 is a significant milestone in that process.

It's a 1 day AWT meeting if you look.

Why? You'd prevent your 10yo child from playing sport against their own age group?

No. I didn't see any 'southerners' in at Cambridge the other day either.

Yes there is. Stewards opened and adjourned an enquiry after taking initial evidence from the available riders into an incident near the 250 metres in which TE ATATU PASH fell dislodging T Yanagida. As a result, NANTUCKET who was following was badly hampered, dislodging rider R Elliot.

Still at lunch? Doesn't seem like it should be that complicated.

That's what he was answering wasn't it? There are still bookies and wagering revenue to fund them as there were before there was a TAB.

Anyone seen or heard what that 9 am decision is?

Paul Nelson on things. https://loveracing.nz/News/37337/AustralianfocusforNelsonthisweekend.aspx

I noticed this in a news item on here: Healeville’s race meeting on Sunday 31 July was abandoned due to an inconsistent track surface, with prizemoney to be divided equally between runners engaged This seems a good way to ensure that available prizemoney finds its way to participants and defrays their costs. I wonder is it common in Oz or used in other codes?

My greater fear is that if they scrap races that he has prepared runners for all season, he will turn the truck around or leave it parked at home.

Apparently, one wag of a jockey suggested that you just about needed to have given one a run to have it fit enough to even get from the birdcage to the crossing.