curious

It's hard to metricise but global data would tell that competitive racing, i.e. good handicapping and programming systems and well prepared fair tracks are key. Clubs can't do much more than sort the latter. Don't think the day of the week would have made any difference to the above. Let's not revert to Purcell's Monday/Tuesday racing solution for heaven's sake.

Might explain the unbelievable time though.

Both. No aircon. No dark beers. No zero alcohol ones either. Couldn't get a lemon lime and bitters for the missus. Queues at the tote windows even though I bet on my phone. Committee folk were lovely though.

Sorry but last time I was there the member's stand was total crap. Wouldn't go back.

Oh it's been pushed alright. And resisted. Sooner or later, you have to decide whether you are wasting time and energy.

Yep.

Agree. Not much point having them. Haven't done anything constructive round the country for decades. Tried to get the TA to organise programming a month in advance based on available horses. That was two decades ago. Not interested. Too hard.

Yes. ffs. They already have the likes of NGH and Walshie on the payroll. Why would you bring in people that you probably wouldn't put on a horse to ride track work to do this? Nuts. It's crazy.

Exactly.

Yes but I can ride work with a current trainers licence. However, if I give that up and apply for a trackwork licence I will be subject to the new regulations as far as I can see. Going forward, every new rider who wishes to ride racehorses at trackwork must have completed the trackwork rider assessment and must have either a Slow Trackwork Rider or a Fast Trackwork Rider Licence.

This has nothing to do with jockeys. It's what we have to do to be eligible to ride trackwork. Two completely different occupations.

Now elite trackwork riders? NZTR Trackwork Rider programme NZTR 14 January 2022 A new assessment programme for those applying for trackwork rider licences will become mandatory from Tuesday, 1 February 2022. The need for change and the raising of licensing standards was flagged in the Industry Reshaping document which outlined NZTR’s Strategic Priorities when released in April 2021, and has been referred to in the recently released Training & Licensing Consultation Paper. Significant work has been undertaken by NZTR to help address the safety of trackwork riders and this programme has been developed in consultation with the NZ Trainers’ Association. The new programme will assess individuals who are applying for a track work licence for the first time and will ensure their basic riding ability and industry knowledge has been assessed before a licence is issued. The programme will be run by the NZTR education and training team and will include regional assessors. The assessors are skilled and experienced licence holders who will sign-off riders once they display the minimum standard of competency to ride trackwork at half pace on an assessment day. After an open “expressions of interest” call, followed by the process of interviews and inspections assisted by the NZ Trainers’ Association, NZTR has contracted Donavan Mansour, (North) Barbara Verlinden (Lower South Island), Ross Beckett (Canterbury) and Kim Clapperton (Central District) to fulfil these positions. Anyone wishing to attain a NZTR track work riding licence from 1 February 2022, will be required to follow a three-step process: Lodge a C62 licence application form with the NZTR Licensing department. Sign up for the NZQA track rider programme AND complete the associated trainee papers along with the Massey University multi-choice online industry test; and Book and attend a practical riding assessment day at their preferred regional accreditation centre. NZTR will provide more detailed guidance on the process on application. As is noted above, the prospective trackwork rider will complete the associated Primary ITO paperwork and, an online industry based multi-choice test to demonstrate knowledge of equine welfare, trackwork rules and safety procedures. Like a drivers’ licence assessment, the online Massey test will consist of 20 randomly selected questions. A pass mark of 18 out of 20 is required and there is the option to re-sit. Where language or learning difficulties occur, the prospective trackwork rider can seek assistance from their employing trainer. There is an expectation that the trainer will take an active interest in helping their staff member achieve the licence. The trainer is expected to allow time for the applicant to complete the online industry test and the NZQA track rider programme. Following completion of the Primary ITO and Massey assessments, the prospective trackwork rider will take part in the practical assessment. The practical element will include a basic test of strength and fitness; groundwork; saddling; and riding at progressive levels from confined area and to a training track. A successful assessment will allow the rider to ride slow work up to half-pace (18 seconds per 200m). To ensure a robust system of accreditation the NZTR Riding Master will also be involved in the assessment. The rider will be eligible to upgrade to a Fast Work riding licence once they have demonstrated competency riding fast work. This assessment will be completed by the employer and an experienced jockey or trackwork rider. They must complete and sign the C63 licence application form and lodge it with the NZTR licensing department. Please note, the two people endorsing the applicant’s skills are declaring that the rider has the competency to ride fast work on a registered Thoroughbred horse. The fee of $110 includes both the assessment and the trackwork rider licence fee of $30. There is no additional fee to upgrade to a Fast Work licence. To get the employee to the stage where they are demonstrating the skills to ride half-pace in a safe manner, the employer is expected to have a suitable and officially retired Thoroughbred they can use to provide training. If they do not have a suitable Thoroughbred in the workplace the people listed below as Tuition Providers are available to teach trackwork skills privately. Because of these changes, NZTR will no longer issue a Stablehand (Riding) licence. Going forward, every new rider who wishes to ride racehorses at trackwork must have completed the trackwork rider assessment and must have either a Slow Trackwork Rider or a Fast Trackwork Rider Licence. NZTR APPOINTED TRACKWORK RIDER ASSESSORS AUCKLAND Donovan Mansour Byerley Park Karaka 021-0788355 donovan@bryleypark.co.nz CENTRAL DISTRICTS Kim Clapperton Awapuni manleylodge@xtra.co.nz 027-2219738 CANTERBURY Ross Beckett 445 Pound Road Yaldhurst 0274371940 lrbeckett@windowslive.com DUNEDIN Barbara Verlinden Mosgiel 0221085006 barbaraverlinden@hotmail.com TRACKWORK RIDING TUITION PROVIDERS AUCKLAND Donovan Mansour Byerley Park Karaka 021-0788355 donovan@bryleypark.co.nz WAIKATO Phillips Equine Hamilton Telephone (027) 271 9852 www.phillipsequine.co.nz MATAMATA Phil Stevens – Northwood Farm Matamata northwoodfarm@xtra.co.nz 021-521916 CANTERBURY Casey Lunn 35 McLeods Rd Sefton North Canterbury 0275199470 kc.lunn@hotmail.com DUNEDIN Barbara Verlinden Mosgiel 0221085006 barbaraverlinden@hotmail.com SOUTHLAND Jade Ward Reigning Downs Invercargill 021-588338 jade@reigningdowns.nz CENTRAL DISTRICTS Kim Clapperton Awapuni manleylodge@xtra.co.nz 027-2219738

How so? They are the facts and there are similar figures for yonks even though the above is a one week example.

It's not the quality of the fields either. It's the competitiveness of them that makes them attractive to punters and on decent fair tracks.

Greymouth +4.61% per starter. Awapuni (on a Saturday) -2.13%. Te Aroha (weekday) -10.25%. Rotorua (weekday) -12.33%. What is going on here? There's a problem and they seem to continue to try to escalate it.

Kumara +5.52% per starter.

Reefton turnover +23% per starter. Ellerslie -2.45%. Says it all really. In any other business, where would you be deploying your assets?

Nope. Might make it more attractive to many who won't now participate.

Haven't seen trainers working together to prevent tarriffs on imported racing or exported betting for that matter.

Haven't been able to for decades. You have to realise they are in competition with each other for sales and business. Asking them to work together is like asking Noel Leeming and Harvey Norman to work together, or McDonalds and Burger King. Maybe on some things ...

Can't speak for him but I'm in favour of the latter option which would probably suit the likes of CWJ too.

Best to sort the rules. Those that are there have to be enforced of course, not have the penalties circumnavigated by power and persuasion let alone giving the penalised options as to when they take the penalty. IMO, no whips at all or not to be used with hands off reins. Use some leadership here.

I don't think you need to be an accountant to distinguish between space for 2000 and space for 6000 people. They hug the outside fence at Kumara because they want to be out there as close as possible to the action and the excitement, not occasionally peering down from some air-conditioned box in a white elephant of a stand.

She's got a better chance than I have though it looks like I'll have a full licence in due course, even though I'll only have one horse in work. The only CPD I've done in recent years is picking up shit, walking down to the back paddock to feed one and saddling the odd one up at the races. I'm looking forward to them explicating in some form what this CPD requirement is going to look like and who is going to teach it as Freda notes above.