curious

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

https://loveracing.nz/OnHorseFiles/Downloads/LICENSING POLICY Revised March 15.pdf

Nothing to do with the RIU. It was a licensing matter wasn't it?

Good question. Ask them?

Jockey wins battle New Zealand jockey Chris Johnson has won his battle to continue riding after an alcohol-related suspension that threatened his charge towards becoming the country's most successful rider. Johnson has had a suspension of his riding licence lifted by the integrity panel of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing but with some conditions, including regular raceday testing of his blood alcohol levels. Johnson sits just eight wins behind David Walsh's 2451 as New Zealand's most successful domestic jockey. However, the 56-year-old's road to the record was halted when he failed a breathalyser test after riding in the first race at Riccarton on September 12. He was suspended for a month and fined $1000 for that breach. But during that suspension he was also notified by NZTR his licence was suspended until he could show he was no longer alcohol-dependent. Johnson visited a medical specialist in Christchurch this week and the NZTR panel was satisfied with what they were told as he is now free to ride again, with his first day back likely to be Ashburton on Thursday.

Should hardly affect the Strathayr?

Any sign of that?

Great news.

Yes. It's a handicapping stuff up but I agree with Pike and the JCA as to the ruling. Interesting that the JCA could find no official programme for the race!

Awesome vision.

There is provision in the rules for the overweight situation, not for changing an incorrect carded weight I don't think.