curious

OK. So really more of a practice gate exercise. Not official jumpouts like say at Levin run over various set distances from 600-1200m on the rail with published results etc?

Wagering Performance Summary Consistent with the performance in August, TAB NZ’s key results for September were ahead of budget and ahead of last year. The Business reported strong performance for the month across all products, with sport, international racing, and domestic racing all well ahead of budget. Domestic starter and field size numbers continued to be particularly strong for both equine codes. Thoroughbred and Harness starters were up 27% and 34% (monthly code report) respectively on the same period last year, contributing to strong year-on-year domestic racing turnover growth of +21% year-on-year. Large field sizes, particularly for Thoroughbreds (12.3 v 9.8 last year), have also contributed to strong fixed odds margins that are higher than last year. International racing grew by 11%. The strength of NZ racing betting activity, continues to support growth in overseas racing turnover where we continue to see increased levels of overlap in customer betting behaviour between jurisdictions. Year-on-year comparisons for sports turnover (+7%) were impacted by Rugby World Cup last year (e.g. rugby turnover down 70%). However this was offset, as we continue to benefit from the currently condensed nature of the sports calendar with a number of competitions taking place outside their traditional cycle. In particular, the NBA playoffs and the NRL regular season stretching into September (when usually playoffs occur) resulted in significantly improved turnover. Customer numbers also remain positive with 99,100 active customers for the month, pleasingly above the average. September Operational Performance Highlights Net Profit for the month was $14.9m, which was $5.2m above budget. This is made up of; Betting Profit $13.4m (+$5.1m v Budget), Gaming Profit of $2m as budgeted and Racing Integrity RIU (RIU) of -$0.5m (against budget of -$0.6m). Operating Expenses were $9.5m for the month which was $0.3m below budget (2.8%) and $2.2m below last year (19.2%). Capital Expenditure spend for the month was $0.8m and included product development and the relocation of our Porirua TAB site. Year To Date Reported Profit is $27.7m, which is $7.0m above budget and $6.9m above last year. September Distributions Racing Codes were paid $10.3m in actual distributions for September versus $9.4m budgeted. This consisted of TAB NZ betting profit (listed as Fixed Distribution in the table below), offshore bookmaker commission fees, which are based on actual turnover (termed Betting Information User Charge (BIUC) in the table below), and Betting Duty repeal. September Wagering Performance Highlights Turnover of $210.7m was $34.4m above budget and $25.9m above last year. Strong performance against budget was driven by all products; sport +$19.0m, international racing +$11.4m and domestic racing was +$1.6m and VIP +$2.4m. Gross Betting Revenue (GBR) of $34.6m was $7.2m above budget and $5.4m above last year at a margin of 16.4%. Domestic racing accounted for $61m in turnover, with overseas racing making up $82m of the month’s total turnover and sport delivering $68m in turnover. Top 10 Sporting events by turnover Date Comp/Code Event Turnover 27-Sep UFC Israel Adesanya v Paulo Costa $682K 5-Sep NRL NZ Warriors v Parramatta Eels $601K 13-Sep Rugby Union North v South $550K 13-Sep NRL Cronulla Sharks v NZ Warriors $548K 3-Sep NRL Brisbane Broncos v Penrith Panthers $494K 17-Sep NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury Bulldogs $452K 26-Sep NBA Boston Celtics v Miami Heat $417K 23-Sep NBA Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers $416K 10-Sep NRL West Tigers v South Sydney Rabbitohs $408K 25-Sep NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters $395K Top 10 Racing events by turnover Date Venue Race No Race desc Turnover 19-Sep Hastings R10 Tarzino Trophy (G1) $695K 5-Sep Te Rapa R5 WRC Northland Breeders Stakes (G3) $521K 5-Sep Te Rapa R8 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate (G2) $503K 5-Sep Te Rapa R10 Zacinto Mile $451K 26-Sep New Plymouth R7 NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series $393K 19-Sep Hastings R8 Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (G3) $390K 26-Sep New Plymouth R10 Twilight Friday Races 23/10 & 20/11 1800 $354K 19-Sep Caulfield R8 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (G1) $351K 5-Sep Te Rapa R7 US Navy Flag 1400 $341K 26-Sep Caulfield R8 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (G1) $336K

Official jumpouts down the straight?

How long since there has been a trial meeting there?

Given that decimal currency was introduced in July 1967, you are right, that is a few years ago. I may have still been in nappies.

What? I never heard of horses being allowed to gallop on the course proper at Riccarton though I've been MIA for a while and may have missed something. They don't even run jumpouts or trials on it do they? And if they allow it why only on Tues/Thurs/Sat? That may not suit some horses' preps. Freda may be able to advise.

No sign of an orange cone inside or out today? Has the incident investigation been completed and reprted?

Wonder who finally noticed? The vet? What are the stipes and starting team doing?

They seriously need to sort this track condition reporting, though they have needed to do that for years to be fair.

No. I agree with Mark Fraser-Campin on that. They will be more relaxed and settled if they are more comfortable as a rule.

And/or going stick readings?

9 rides from 10 races

Not much point introducing more acceptable guidelines in line with the Vic ones above if they are just going to be ignored by everyone and NZTR and the RIU turn a blind eye. It's possibly high time that track condition reporting was taken out of club hands and done independently at least on race mornings if not in the days leading up?

Why do they have that irrigation restriction? You'd think it should be left to clubs and track manaagers to decide in accord with local geography, climatic and soil conditions? I'm a bit surprised that clubs, the NZTA and Owners' Federation haven't been on their case to remove that restriction.

Yes, but surely historic soil moisture monitoring would indicate how best to do this wouldn't it? They'd presumably be holding it in a D4-6 range leading up to the final Tuesday irrigation?

You mean looking out the window like Nostradamus suggested? Sometimes I think they don't even do that. Maybe just stick their finger out the window and assess the moisture content from there?

Why? Can't they just put a couple of inches on on Tuesday?

NZ.

Big difference between a Good 3 on race morning and a minimum Dead 4 at the first race as far as horse welfare is concerned and competitive racing.

Track Ratings Previous Rating New Rating Numerical Rating Description of Numerical Rating Fast Firm 1 Dry hard track Good Firm 2 Firm track with reasonable grass coverage Good Good 3 Track with good grass coverage and cushion Dead Good 4 Track with some give in it Dead Soft 5 Track with a reasonable amount of give in it Slow Soft 6 Moist but not badly affected track Slow Soft 7 More rain-affected track that will chop up Heavy Heavy 8 Rain affected track that horses will get into Heavy Heavy 9 Wet track getting into a squelchy area Heavy Heavy 10 Heaviest category track, very wet, towards saturation

With the Foxton trials canned today after the track was presented as a G3 with a forecast of overnight rain (2.7mms in the last 24 hours to date) could we not please adopt a track prep policy more in line with that of Racing Victoria's below? Especially, given the pressure on horse welfare issues. The Preparation of Race Track Surfaces Clubs are requested to prepare the following racing surface for flat races: • A track that is prepared with give in the interests of horse welfare; • A track with a rating of GOOD for all races; In seeking to prepare their racing surface in accordance with the guidelines, Clubs should: • Prepare a track that is a GOOD 4 for at least the first race of the meeting; • Prepare a track that is never FIRM; and • Not place compliance with this guidance in advance of an accurate track rating.

What about the annual report?

No just click the link or try this. Note the code of conduct says the list is not exhaustive so they can presumably add what they want randomly. LICENSING POLICY Revised March 15.pdf