curious

Why not just reschedule ALL the coast meetings to the Riccarton AWT? That would suit me. I can fly down and back same day. It would also save a hell of a lot of petrol, beer and wear and tear on Parthur's Arse.

Yeahh the races were abandoned. The party was going strong when we headed home and reportedly rocked on well into the night. Might just as well have run the races in Canterbury. Don't think anyone would have noticed.

Yes. Do. Good discussion but nothing to do with Noverre anymore.

Reefton, if you are really going to write this paper you need to do so with blinkers off. Why would anyone with a horse in training in Canterbury want to race it on the West Coast? Nothing against West Coast racing. Loved going there and I think we previously discussed I once won a race at one of the final Westport meetings. Never raced one there when training in Canterbury though. Did relent and take one to Kumara once. However, a sprinkling of coal dust and some overnight rain and we spent the morning watching helicopters trying to dry out the track and were home for afternoon tea. A prominent SI trainer at the time had also relented but also said, never again.

I think we are way past that stage. They didn't and haven't. Tried to get the Canterbury TA on board to do so 20 years ago. Weren't interested.

So, what is an owner or trainer supposed to do? Keep moving horses round the country to where there are opportunities for it? We do have one in work down there and this has a big impact on us. It's fucking ridiculous. Moved the horse down there because there were virtually no races for it in the CD spring but half a dozen down there. A few delays and most of those were missed. Now nothing in Canterbury for 2+ months. Spell it? Retire it? Bring it back to the CD where there are a number of opportunities now - Trentham/ Awapuni etc.? Problem is with low rating points may not get starts. If we'd kept it here we would probably be deciding whether or not to go round on a heavy track at Foxton trials this week. At least there is the AWT down there now to get one ready. Go round on an industry day and try to get some rating points without winning? Find a jockey capable of executing that? I know it happens. Have first hand knowledge in fact of a still leading SI jockey in Melbourne for a Cup lead up race telling the trainer 'shit I've never been asked to pull one up in a 500k race before'. But hook it he did. Plans went a bit awry after that but still. This sort of stuff just gets punters thronging to bet on NZ racing.

I agree Freda that this is pretty much how it has been for decades with virtually no summer racing in Canterbury. Certainly worked well for some who enjoyed the travel to the coast and central Otago but others simply gave up after Cup week, turned horses out and prepared them for autumn, maybe keeping the odd one going for Dunedin or Timaru. The coast in January was often a necessity to give horses runs for Trentham as it was really the only option there. Hasn't really changed much.

Exactly. And they say that they want tiered racing then don't cater at all for the upper tiers for more than 10 weeks. Same here in the CD. 2 R65 sprints for the upper tiers programmed September through mid November.

Yes. Though I'm not overly keen about using that method to attend a funeral.

Couldn't get into a funeral today without one.

Probably a goner? Wellington RC, Wakefield Challenge Stakes (G2). The rating of 98 was well below the 102 tolerance threshold and 105 benchmark. The race lacked depth in this season’s edition, with the top 4 starters as opposed to finishers yielding no improvement. It was noted that the race had also failed the 102 threshold in the prior season with an 100.5 rating but that the impact of Covid had meant this had been disregarded. An Alert was imposed.

https://www.punters.com.au/news/star-galloper-incentivise-out-for-foreseeable-future-20211206/

I have a mole plough and 6" groundhog (multi-position) aerator here that I'm about to sell if you want one. Had a couple of very internationally experienced track work riders here for a few months earlier this year. Probably don't even know what a groundhog is but couldn't believe how well the little tracks in my back paddock stood up to daily work and recovered. And yes, had the roller treatment too. You can do that once you have the aeration and root structure.

Apparently not even though they'd been alerted by the rider concerned that he thought the track was unsafe and elected to do nothing about it except send them round on it.

You would think the stewards would have queried the ride on that basis wouldn't you and reported their findings?

Works fine. Breaks up the compaction layer.

Exactly what he did. Sensible.

Make up your mind then. I realise that Taupo is north of Foxton.

So, somewhere north of Foxton?

Where is that?

No one was up or there at 6.30, let alone at 4.30.

30 years too late ... but ... 5 December 2021 INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO TRENTHAM ABANDONMENT NZTR has implemented an investigation into the circumstances which resulted in the abandonment of the Wellington Racing Club’s Group One meeting on Saturday. “NZ Sports Turf Institute (NZSTI) will commence a track review tomorrow morning, inspecting both the track and the data and reports from the Racing and Track managers,’’ NZTR CEO Bernard Saundry said. “We have also requested a full report from the Racing Integrity Board (RIB) regarding the procedures leading up to and following the first race on Saturday,” he said. RACE and Wellington Racing Club are extremely disappointed in what transpired yesterday at Trentham with the meeting abandoned after the running of the first race. “We understand the consequences and outcomes due to the abandonment which affect not only RACE but the entire industry - through to sponsors, patrons, owners, trainers, jockeys, stablehands, officials and punters - and of course the programming of horses and their races at this important time of year,” RACE Chairman Paul Humphries said. “As an organisation we need to do better, work with our team, staff, NZTR and industry on process, infrastructure and investment to remove risk where possible to ensure this won’t happen in the future,” he said. NZTR is mindful of the fact that the abandonment has impacted the programme of a number of horses and that owners have been impacted financially. Those horses in the abandoned races will be eligible for compensation in line with NZTR’s policy. Once NZTR has reviewed feedback from NZSTI, a full report from RACE, and the Racing Integrity Board, a further statement will be made outlining the findings. [ENDS]

900,000 vaxed but haven't downloaded their vax cert. Is that some sort of measure of the anti-mandate group? Will they simply boycott businesses and events that require it? Or are they just tardy?

On 1/12/2021 at 5:54 AM, Freda said: The first race- or trials meet to be conducted under the 'traffic light' system. Already some fallout with the starter [ K. Leigh-Ogden ] walking away from his long term position as both starter, and crossing keeper. Several others also unavailable, including a farrier, and a swabbing-steward, not to mention other barrier staff. Danny Champion, .........., and up north, Daniel Miller are trainers who won't be at the races. Sam Wynne, at this stage, is considering a life without race riding. Interesting times indeed.

Didn't Freda just say that in this thread yesterday?