curious

It appears to me that they can only be declared re-elected at the AGM. (d) At each Annual General Meeting:(i) One(1) Regional Member from each Region shall retire from the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting, but will be eligible for re-election at that Annual General Meeting in accordance with,and subject to, clause [10.4(b)]

21 August 2020 NZTR CIRCULAR 2019/20 – No.10 TO EACH TOTALISATOR CLUB AND SECTOR ORGANISATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND CALL FOR NOMINATIONS NZTR gives notice that the 2020 Annual General Meeting of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is intended to be held on 17 November 2020 in Wellington. NZTR will consider, closer to November, how the AGM will be conducted, depending on COVID-19 alert levels and Government guidance at that time. Appointment of NZTR Members Council New and reappointed members of the Members Council will commence their terms at the AGM. The powers and duties of the Members’ Council are to: 1. select and appoint the Directors of NZTR; 2. recommend to clubs at the NZTR AGM the level of remuneration for NZTR Directors; 3. appraise the performance of the NZTR Board annually; and 4. remove any NZTR Director for specific reasons set out under clause 11 (c) in the NZTR Constitution In accordance with the NZTR Constitution, the following three Regional Members retire by rotation at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting to be held on 17 November 2020 in Wellington. 1. Karyn Fenton-Ellis (Northern Region) 2. Paul Humphries (Central Region) 3. Howard Clarke (Southern Region) All are eligible for re-election. The Sector Member retiring by rotation is Mr John Thompson (NZTBA), who is eligible for reappointment. Mr Thompson was appointed to fill the casual vacancy arising from the resignation of Mr Fokerd. NZTR has received the following nominations: 1. Karyn Fenton-Ellis (Northern Region) 2. Paul Humphries (Central Region) 3. Howard Clarke (Southern Region) As there is only one nomination for each region an election is not required. Ms Karyn Fenton-Ellis, Mr Humphries and Mr Clarke are therefore declared elected. The NZTBA has advised NZTR that it has reappointed Mr John Thompson to the Members Council. Issued by the Office of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing 106-110 Jackson Street, Petone, Wellington 5012 Tel: +64 4 576 6240, Fax: +64 4 568 8866 office@nzracing.co.nz How can they be declared re-elected when they don't retire till the 17th November and why is the notice backdated a month to August 21?

I wonder what the joint issues are. It's seems odd that they took him back over if the earlier joint bruising was not fully resolved.

More than a rumour. https://www.punters.com.au/news/no-golden-eagle-for-catalyst-_193178/

How much of a kickback do you have to pay for one of these consultancy contracts? I'm interested.

I'm keen if they drop one in 20 minutes away at Awapuni. Just need answers to serious questions about practicality and financial viability.

The whole thing is just not that simple and very variable by climate. While the safety record of synthetic surfaces was strong, not all of its other claims proved true. Horsemen have complained that they saw an increase in other non-fatal injuries. Maintenance of the tracks — billed as one of its greatest cost saving features — proved to be more complicated than thought and varied greatly by climate.

Yes it is dirt now.

It’s key to keep the cushion moist with regular rounds from a watering truck (Santa Anita uses up to 100,000 gallons a day) and, on the flip side, to ease off watering if the skies open up. If it’s too dry, the cushion comes up in a cloud of dust and delivers an unfavorable shock to the leg. Too wet and it’s sticky, slow, straining.

Yep. I'm picking if they put one in at Riccarton and don't irrigate, you'll have to scrape the bits of carpet off the doors of the Racecourse pub to get in for your friday night beer after a decent norwester.

You may have been told that but by whom? Those promoting the AWT idea? All I'm saying is that someone needs to do some serious homework here. I'm just reporting what I've learned from the likes of the Del Mar experience. I've already posted a report on the Pakenham situation. "The prominent issue is the lack of moisture in the Polytrack, which is a consequence of a lack of rain and we will be addressing that as soon as possible with a likely strategy being irrigation. Brian de Lore's article above also points out that annual rainfall is close to 50" at Cambridge and closer to 20" at Riccarton. Very different beasts. As JB points out it would be good to talk to the folk at Geelong and Toowoomba as well. Hopefully the likes of the CJC, TA, OF and others will talk to some of these people with polytrack experience and get back to current stakeholders and prospective stakeholders in Canterbury racing with some accurate data and analysis sooner rather than later.

Irrigation and water quality is also complex. This from when Del Mar had theirs, even though they gave up on it in the end: The track has installed a reverse osmosis system on site that will provide purified water for use on the surface, meaning tap or other unpurified water that could contain contaminants that harm the Polytrack materials will be avoided. Martin Collins, the founder of Polytrack, offered this guarantee during the special CHRB meeting in February – the track at Del Mar this summer will produce faster times than last year.

Let alone watched the required maintenance processes.

Hard to jump on a plane these days but they could have a talk to Keeneland and Del Mar as well. I wonder if Pitty and Mills have ever ridden on one of these things?

Can you give us some numbers for that? The numbers I've seen for daily maintenance of AWTs being used daily for training are many times that for ploughs and sands etc. Tim mentioned 1.5m a year for Singapore but he doesn't seem to know any actual numbers for sure (nor does anyone else seem to), so I'm not clear where your claims come from? Can you point us to that data and analysis please?

That's the one that was rjeected isn't it? I can't seem to open it.

He reportedly doesn't know.

Fair enough again but if they have to find say an extra $1/2m a year to maintain an AWT, where does he think it will come from?

Fair enough but I have been told by CJC board members that the track is at full stretch there catering for 26 or 27 meetings a year. To run more will require a second track or a replacement of the existing one, say with a Strathayr. The available data suggests that an AWT installation is nowhere near feasible or affordable and where would the money come from for a major reinstallation of the existing one and where would they race in the meantime? 20 years ago I know, but you were always the first behind the wheel in the truck with a load of runners almost anywhere in the SI when I was down there. Also, not afraid to chuck a couple of decent ones on board for Trentham, HB, the Waikato or Auckland. Travel goes with the territory when you own or train horses. A number of us I know have an interest in having one or two in work in Canterbury but would like a clear indication of the state of play re tracks, costs etc. over the next year or two. Aidan O'Brien has just put 3 in quarantine as potential runners for the Melbourne Cup, half way round the world. He can't win it on his doorstep in Tipperary.

OK. Were you misquoted? “Personally, and I’m looking at this through rose coloured glass. I am based at Riccarton and have my own property at Yaldhurst, and I want to see more racing at Riccarton, and I don’t want to travel anymore because I’m sick of it.

No he wasn't allowed to ride. He was immediately stood down. When tested following the running of Race 1 rider C Johnson returned a breath alcohol reading in excess of that allowed under the provisions of Rule 656(4) and was stood down for the remainder of day. An inquiry was opened and adjourned until a date to be set. Rider Changes:Race2THE LAST WORD -B Murray replaced C Johnson (Excessive alcohol reading)3QUINTUPLE TWINS -C Barnesreplaced C Johnson 4BOYSLIGHTUP -T Comignaghireplaced C Johnson5TOP GHIA -B Murray replaced C Johnson6CAMINO ROCOSO -J Lowryreplaced C Johnson 7TURNCOAT -L Callawayreplaced C Johnson8HOT TAP-G Jogooreplaced C Johnson

They are maybe getting their act together to pre-empt the implementation of the Burgess report when Murrihy gets here to do that?

Seems like it. Even did pre-race horse blood testing at Riccarton last week. Thommo will be pleased. Maybe the pokies are going well and they can afford it?