curious

It was a Soft 7 yesterday. I imagine they will be irrigating again in the next day or 2, or it will be concrete. Last summer they typically took it back to a H8 at the beginning of the week. Right way to do it imo.

You had to be there to understand @Wingman You can keep whinging on here about what did or didn't happen in the past but that's not fixing anything. Good luck with whatever you decide to do about that aside from blaming everyone else past and present.

I don't agree. Another generation from those mentioned, but I think the successful farmers today are way ahead of our racetrack practices in terms of soil management, renovation, grass types for climate and soil types, irrigation etc., allowing for the fact that they are producing grass for a different purpose. To date, the sports field experts engaged don't seem to have done a great job on any of that and the leadership teams generally have no clue.

They do hurt and are cruel and their use for encouragement must be phased out. I'm quite certain that I have never suggested that jockeys should not carry a whip. I've always ridden with one myself for 60 years including for all trackwork and from the day I first get on a baby. In an ideal world I'd like the Swedish rules but realise that is probably not feasible, so I'd lke to see us with similar rules and penalties to those of the US, UK, Ireland, France, Germany etc. Sweden. Whip use for encouragement is banned. Jockeys may carry a whip, but it can only be used to prevent accidents or in dangerous situations.

I don't think anyone is calling for whips to be banned, just not used for encouragement or if so, with the use limited in line with other racing jurisdictions.

So if 40 strikes with a padded whip causes moderate to severe pain and suffering, how many strikes does not? 10, 20, 30?

I don't spend hours searching the internet either. I watch very little racing live but review all races within 24 hours. Takes probably 15 mins per meeting and if I spot an obvious flank use breach I post it so that adds maybe 20secs to my viewing time. Your stance certainly seems anti-racing, encouraging abuse and the actions of those who would close racing down if given half a chance.

I think you'll find that @Special Agent has done more service to club committees than most.

Using whips abusively and in breach of the rules. You are shoveling sh&t uphill with your argument. Aside from HISA which regards it as abusive, just this year the Tasmanian magistrates' court has deemed excessive use of a padded whip amounted to animal cruelty because it caused unreasonable and unjustifiable pain or suffering. The Tasracing Integrity Unit concurred, concluding that it amounted to an act of cruelty to a horse. The Australian Veterinary Association also reached a similar conclusion recommending that the use of whips for encouragement should be phased out altogether in all equine sports. Continuing to allow it without significant or any penalty, is turning a blind eye in my eyes and will result in further negative outcomes for the racing industry. I'm surprised that you continue to support such an anti-racing stance.

Yep and there's a lot more to come. Might be extreme but it's what we are up against. Blind eyes won't work anymore.

It does seem a bit odd alright. You'd think they'd have moved the Breeders to Cup day when they moved the 1000 Guineas to the first day.

You should ask NZTR since it seems to be their plan. Beats me.

It is isn't it? Expensive way of doing it though.

NZTR is after all the clubs' association and all those with race days have a vote or votes. That still begs the question though @Chief Stipe, how do you suggest it be fixed?

How do you suggest that we do that?

I certainly was and saw it as the probably the greatest concern for the industry, I think even longer ago than that -been saying it for 20 years. You can't blame the clubs since bulk funding came in. NZTR, possibly strongly influenced by some elements continued to waste the money on stakes and continue to do so. Most of what has been spent has been done poorly and unsuccessfully.

Its status is due for review in 2029.

Messara did. Phase 3 – No Licences from 2021/22 for 1 Venue Woodville – Venue with 5 race meetings in 2017/18. Fair location. Poor infrastructure. Training. Not required after proposed Awapuni synthetic track is built. Freehold. Woodville – Pahiatua RC should race at Awapuni.

I certainly heard that as well but also that it slipped when it shied, which wouldn't have happened on secure footing. Hard to know what to believe.

Yours on whip use and abuse for starters and I haven't accepted that for over 30 years if that's what you mean by recently.

I understand that Liam O'Keefe recommended they plough it up and start over some time ago but they chose to keep trying to get it into a satisfactory state for racing.

Fortunately @billy connolly, everyone's entitled to an opinion on here, however ill-informed and archaic that may be, so you're entitled to yours.

The big plus is the liquidity and punters have the choice to decide if the marginally lower price is satisfactory or not and therefore whether they choose to bet. I doubt NZTAB would do it if they didn't think it increased revenue overall. They commingle with TABCORP where the reverse is the case.

Fair enough, though you do have the fixed odds alternative.

It's not nonsense. It's a fact. Read for yourself. That's how they define it. If all those horses are going forward and improving their position, why on earth do they need to be struck illegally with the whip?