curious

Saliva testing would be a much more effective option for racemeetings if NZTR and clubs want to achieve their stated objective of minimising risk to others. Double vax requirements won't do that more than slightly. In fact, it may increaase the risk to others. As the MoH says on the matter: What if I’m already vaccinated? You can still get COVID-19 if you’re vaccinated but the symptoms are likely to be very mild, or you may not have any symptoms at all. This means that if you are vaccinated and get COVID-19, you may not realise and spread it to others. Regular saliva testing can help with early detection of the virus and help keep you, your whānau and our communities safe.

It seems rather odd that I can't go to the races without proving I'm double vaxxed, yet I can rock up at training the next morning and mingle with the same trainers, staff and riders, no quetions asked.

Exactly. In fact, whether or not I am vaccinated, it makes little difference to me whether anyone else at the races is vaccinated or not.

Yes. I agree with you. Probably 90+% effective and maybe for longer. Still not a guarantee. Interesting the recent research suggesting that hybrid immunity may be the most effective so if you have recovered from Covid, a Novavax booster might be a consideration when/if it becomes available. Other interesting recent research suggesting that vax with a 12-14 week interval may be as effective as hybrid immunity.

Except that infection is no guarantee of immunity and it is uncertain for how long.

What's going to happen if 100 people rock up to the gate, say sorry that's my private health information and walk on through? How can they enforce it without calling in the army? This will end up back in the high court. They have no evidence that the vax is protective, let alone reduces transmission of new variants.

They've been testing for EPO for 2 decades. Where are the positives? The claims don't make much sense to me. The beach out there at Woodend is awesome to train on though. Don't suppose that has anything to do with it? Can they test for sea air?

Don't recall any posters here bagging anyone, letalone TA for using training and animal welfare best practice. If they did, I suspect most posters would have been bagging them. As Lance O'Sullivan said in an interview I saw a while back, if you've got the cattle, anyone can train them (that's a paraphrase from memory).

If you guys would stop jockeying for position and pause for a moment you'd definitely realise that the plural is jockeys not jockies.

And Ramage dropped his stick didn't he?

And one of those efforts at least was off a 14 day prep if memory serves.

Yes, and the politicians have redefined "cases". They are now reporting mostly symptomatic cases that test positive. That was only half the actual cases in 2020 according to the NZ serology study and if vaccination is reducing the number of symptomatic cases that is now probably much worse.

I really don't understand the programming at all. Just perusing the new November to March programme book. The pattern racing pattern has become a shambles as noted above. Beyond maidens, it is like you have to move horses all over the country to find suitable opportunities on suitable tracks.

BUT in the meantime: “Over the last month, 4,409 people over 50 were admitted to English hospitals after testing positive for Covid - despite having two doses of a vaccine. And 2,148 men and women in that age group lost their lives” https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59122646

I understand preliminary work underway this year. Major earthworks to commence January. ETA June next year. So allowing for any delays, probably not functional for next winter.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/300389518/synthetic-track-at-awapuni-racecourse-on-track-for-summer

Anyone know where this is at? Last I heard the contracting was supposed to be completed in September. Haven't seen or heard a thing since. Did they find the missing money?

What is the status of the AWT at Awapuni? Last I saw I thought contracts were to be let in September?

The primary object of NZTR is "a) Promoting and advancing thoroughbred racing in all its forms in New Zealand;" I don't see how starving and closing down the provincial and community form can be seen to align with that object. Let alone using those assets to advance another form. Surely further action by the board in that direction is likely to be subject to legal action as a breach of NZTR's constitutional object?

I thought that was exactly the function of NZTR? It is an association of clubs isn't it?

Good race I thought. Verry Ellegant probably using the race for a quiet run to top her off for the main mission I would have thought.

Yes, I think Kim is still the CD Riding Master but I'm not really engaged enough to know what she does. I think the Riding to Time programme was plaigiarised from Oz.

Hard to figure why. They were almost all marked 'closed (FULL)' on the website so no lack of demand and with 2 masters in NGH and Walshy doing the tutelage I can see why. There's more than one or two going round on raceday at the moment that would have benefited.

There were some earlier in the year but they seem to have stopped. https://loveracing.nz/Events/Featured-Events/Ride-to-Time.aspx

What happened to that initiative here where they were teaching ponyclub kids etc. to ride to time?