curious

Synthetic track to be built at Riccarton Canterbury Jockey Club 6 November 2020 Preparations for construction of New Zealand’s second synthetic track will begin at Riccarton Park Racecourse on Monday 30 November 2020. The Board of the Canterbury Jockey Club (CJC), the Trustees of the Christchurch Racecourse and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) announced today that work on the track would commence following the New Zealand Cup Meeting. In May the Government approved $20 million from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) to construct two new synthetic tracks, one at Awapuni and the other at Riccarton Park. Following discussions between NZTR and the CJC, arrangements have now been finalised to allow construction to begin, with the new track expected to be operational by 1 August 2021. CJC Chairman Gordon Fulton welcomed the announcement, saying the establishment of a synthetic racetrack inside the turf Course Proper at Riccarton Park is a significant advancement for training, trialling, and racing in the South. “It enhances this historic venue and cements its future as one of New Zealand’s critical racecourses. The decision reflects the Canterbury Jockey Clubs commitment to the intent of the Messara report as the blueprint to revitalise racing in our country,” Fulton said. Mr Fulton also placed on record the appreciation of the industry to the Trustees of the Christchurch Racecourse without whose support the project could not proceed. Peter Cordner, Chairman of the Trustees, said the project met the requirements of the Trust. “The synthetic track will be a great asset for the Canterbury Jockey Club and thoroughbred racing in the South Island,” he said. NZTR CEO Bernard Saundry also welcomed the project saying it was a positive move for South Island racing and the industry overall. New Zealand’s first synthetic track at Cambridge, which received $6.5m in PGF funding, is now operational, with trials scheduled to be held on 24 November. “Feedback from trainers, jockeys and trackwork riders, in fact anyone who has had the opportunity to view or work on the track, has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic,” Saundry said. “We are looking forward to hearing similar feedback from stakeholders based at Riccarton once the new track there is operational next season.”

Trained by my BIL. And won the Wellington Cup on him after that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-YMWrw-AOU

Cripes. I was just going to send you a horse. I might have to come too. At my age and stage 10 a morning would do and back in the togs by 7.30?

Hope he gets to enjoy a couple of bourbons tonight once he drives the truck home.

As far as I know it never was a dead 4 here. It is a G4 at the time of the first race in Vic and I think it should be the same here.

He definitely goes a lot btter whan you shut up Chief.

.Final week before the Race MeetingIf venue has an irrigation system club need to manage the irrigation programme to aim to provide a track rated as GooD 3 on the morning of the races or some other suitable rating as determined between the club and NZTR.

MiniMuM venue guideline standards – fifth edition septeMber 20137(d) NZTR recognises the preparation of the racing surface is not always capable of precise control, particularly having regard to weather conditions leading up to and on the race day itself, taking into account the particular characteristics of the track e.g. soil type, soil moisture, grass cover and quality of the irrigation system. Track management will not be criticised by NZTR if they have prepared the racing surface in line with the objectives of producing a GooD 3 rating and that due to circumstances outside of their control, the racing surface falls outside the GooD 3 rating band on race morning;

No it is for G3 and not at the start of the meeting but first thing on race morning.

Not much different than if you do a refurb of existing tracks.

I think you just have to shut down for 12-18 months and install it don't you?

I didn't see that either. Can someone post a link to it please.

Where would you take it from?

Not if you start.

Goes to the winner.

Beaten less than 6l in his last start at Randwick. That's surely solid Sydney form isn't it? Brings some solid Sydney form to Melb & must respect stable runners in spring.

Meeting News Riccarton Park Track Update Eight days out from the first day of the Christchurch Casino NZ Cup Meeting a penetrometer reading has the Course Proper at 4.5 (Just inside the Heavy10 range with Slow9 starting at 4.5). This follows a week of irrigation since racing on Saturday 24 October and 12mm of rainfall. This situation is almost identical to that preceding the previous meeting when the going ended up being Dead4 on racemorning. The situation will be assessed daily with some high temperatures forecast in the lead up to the NZ Cup Meeting. The Course Proper (Weather permitting) will be available for galloping for horses running in the Group 1 and 2 races as follows: Al Basti Equiworld Dubai NZ 2000 Guineas – Tuesday 3 November. Coupland’s Bakeries Mile – Saturday 7 November. Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas – Tuesday 10 November. Trainers wishing to use this opportunity please contact the Club’s Racing Manager, Jim Langan. 027 434 1582.

Yes. We are thinking of spray painting our avocados with a stencil instead.

Cripes! What the hell do they all do aside from not think as Freda suggests?

Yes. A G3 early morning on race day is the target here cf. a D4 at the first race time in Vic. Why would you do that if you are also promoting policies for horse welfare? Be interesting to know what MPI and the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee think about that in relation to the Animal Welfare (Equines) Code of Welfare

Hard to say without more detail but the reported results do seem to be on the positive side.

TAB NZ will provide a trading report covering wagering performance and key highlights for Quarter One in November and expects to also release the organisation's audited full year results for 2019/20 following their presentation to the Minister for Racing and once a copy of the annual report and financial statements are presented to the House of Representatives, as required under the Racing Act 2020.

Still happens here. Not sure about the wives though.

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