curious

What policy?

I agree. Ever since the shift to bulk funding, clubs have only been funded to conduct race meetings, so have not been funded reserves for infrastructure renovation and replacement. That has been NZTR's responsibility but they have chosen to put all available funds into stakes.

Nope.

Temperature is a much better predictor of race times than either the Clegg or penetrometer for synthetic tracks.

Higher readings mean the track is more compacted, so faster. You'd expect to see quicker times at Cambridge than Awapuni. It's not a very tight correlation though.

How on earth could a track that has barely been used develop a compaction problem? Did they make the same mistake as Ellerslie and use the wrong grass types? I think industry participants deserve a full and detailed explanation, not the fluff in the release above. That certainly doesn't amount to clear communication with participants imo.

WTR @ Cambridge Synthetic| Wednesday 21 May Tuesday Afternoon Weather: Fine Track: Synthetic Clegg Hammer: 72 Rail: True Rain: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 3mm Rain Last 7 Days Irrigation: N/A Weather and Track updated at 3.42pm Tuesday 20 May

It's being reported but Riccarton seem to have lost theirs already.

350k 2 years ago with substantial R&M. 100k last year. Is Trentham profitable then?

I'd think that the lower capital requirement for land would be the main one wouldn't it?

They have had about a .5m cash flow surplus on operations the last couple of years but a significant loss on training operations. This seems like a positive and proactive step to remedy that.

Matamata Racing Club Races into the Future with Exciting Expansion In an exciting step for the Club’s future, the Matamata Racing Club (MMRC) is proud to unveil plans for a significant expansion of its racehorse training facilities. May 19, 2025 In an exciting step for the Club’s future, the Matamata Racing Club (MMRC) is proud to unveil plans for a significant expansion of its racehorse training facilities - an investment that promises to boost not only the Club’s training capacity but also the strength and sustainability of New Zealand’s thoroughbred industry. The Club’s recent acquisition of the neighbouring Valachi Downs property has enabled it to explore expanding its current training facilities, addressing growing demand and supporting not only the Club’s financial position but also the broader growth of the New Zealand racing industry at this crucial time. This development will transform the landscape of local racing, with the proposed construction of up to 20 state-of-the-art barns designed to accommodate up to 250 more horses. These new facilities will complement the existing stabling infrastructure, which already caters to approximately 150 horses. Image “This is more than just an expansion. It’s a vote of confidence in our trainers, our horses, and the future of New Zealand racing,” says MMRC General Manager Regan Donnison. “We’re responding to real demand and positioning ourselves—and our region—as a key contributor to the national industry moving forward.” MMRC has long been a cornerstone of New Zealand racing, home to many legendary trainers and the launchpad for countless equine champions. In the 2023/24 season alone, horses trained at Matamata won 45 individual stakes races, including a remarkable 40% of all Group 1 races run in New Zealand. The current season is also shaping up to be a strong one for Matamata trained thoroughbreds, with a dominance of some key spring & summer majors including the inaugural running of the $3.5M NZB Kiwi. The Club’s on-course training facility is already one of the busiest in the country, servicing around 40 trainers and up to 850 horses monthly. Its amenities, including multiple training tracks, a swimming pool, schooling fences, weighing scales and other modern aids including customised jumpout gates, have made it a preferred destination for trainers at all levels. This next phase of development will ensure Matamata remains at the forefront of the industry for years to come, while strengthening the Club’s ability to continue investing in its facilities with the goal of achieving world-class standards in the near future. Image Andrew Scott, co-trainer of Wexford Stables, welcomed the move, saying: “It’s great to see a local club taking a progressive approach. If all goes to plan, their proposed facilities will be a real asset to the industry — creating more opportunities for people to train on track, in line with a growing trend across Australasia. There’s still a way to go before it’s fully realised, but it’s a strong step in the right direction.” And the Club’s ambitions extend beyond infrastructure. MMRC’s vision is firmly focused on supporting a vibrant and sustainable future for the entire racing community. By providing affordable, purpose-built stabling solutions and encouraging collaboration between racing clubs and trainers, MMRC is actively working to secure the long-term sustainability of racing in the Northern region and beyond. Expressions of interest for leasing barns in the new development are now open, with flexible sizing aimed at accommodating a wide range of trainers, from established operations to up-and-coming professionals. “This project is about growth, opportunity, and making sure we’re doing everything we can to support our trainers and the industry at large,” Donnison said. “We’re incredibly excited about this next chapter of Matamata’s racing story.” For more information or to express your interest, contact Regan Donnison at regan@matamataracingclub.co.nz.

Bit Of A Yarn Create curious Browse Competitions Clubs Forums Events Blogs Gallery Guidelines Staff Political Yarns NEW! Thoroughbreds Trots Dogs Racing News Subscriptions More This Topic Unread Content Mark site read Home Gallops Galloping Chat Riccarton-Synthetic? NOTICE TO BOAY'ers: Major Update Coming Riccarton-Synthetic? By Newmarket May 3 in Galloping Chat Newmarket Members 4k Posted May 3 How disappointing with the small fields today? Why did so many owners/ trainers scratch? Always complaining when trials or meetings don’t go ahead, yet on our back doorstep is a local meeting? Yes I know it’s not grass, but surely let’s get behind it more, who knows how the winter ahead will turn out. Just for the record, from a punters view, I don’t mind betting on it, form holds up well, and the $6 on Spartan today was great 😁 Quote Chief Stipe Administrators 482k Posted May 3 I see Tony Pike just posted this online: Tony Pike Colin Wightman ok people I don’t want nor like getting involved in these discussions. Each to their own. Synthetic tracks are now a world wide phenomenon. We came to Riccarton on Sunday with a purpose of gaining some black type at the end of her preparation. She flew down Sunday. The weather bomb arrived and she would have run on either surface. You talk about the poor horse. If the race had been run on the CP it would have been extremely testing we may have won or we may not have handled the ground? Looking at the result based on form coming in the best two horses have more than likely run one two in the race. My filly has pulled up perfectly. We use the Poly in Cambridge extensively when the weather is poor and it is a great asset. I have been in Sydney recently and they use the synthetic tracks more than the grass tracks. It is a consistent surface. Anyway you can choose whatever tracks you wish to use but please do not come in any public site and say poor horse if associated with my stable. We look after and care for our horses to the ninth degree! Murray Fish, Newmarket and Freda 3 Quote Chief Stipe Administrators 482k Posted May 3 Which was in response to this comment by Colin Wightman about Lucy In The Sky's win on the Poly. I guess Lindsay and Wightman won't be sitting together when Pivotal Ten lines up in OZ! Poor horse. Obviously the mercenary owners don’t care too much for its future. To think that some poor bugger at a horse sale in the future will be conned into buying a near relative not knowing that the black print attributed to Lucy In The Sky is Clayton’s, against a desperate field of 8 only shit track tried horses. Dark Beau, SLB2.0 and Newmarket 3 Quote Freda Members 4k Posted May 3 Yes, they do use the synthetic tracks in Sydney, but not for racing. Not to be pedantic, but just for some balance here. Special Agent 1 Quote curious Members 6k Posted May 3 And certainly not for programmed grass racing when there are perfectly safe grass tracks available. Quote billy connolly Members 363 Posted May 3 More nonsense from you, the correct decision was made to race on the Poly. As T. Pike alluded, the two best horses ran first and second in the listed race yet on a bottomless bog grass/turf track they might not have fared as well. Heavy grass/turf brings the quality horses back to the opposition, nothing (not even weight) will take the speed out of a horses legs more than heavy ground will and the race times would've been 5/10 seconds slower on heavy grass/turf. IMO Poly track form is more credible than heavy 10+ grass/turf form. Newmarket 1 Quote curious Members 6k Posted May 3 I don't disagree with any of that. Doomed 1 Quote curious Members 6k Posted May 3 Except that it was programmed as a grass meeting likely to suit horses that can only run 5-10secs slower, then changed at the last minute to no longer suit the horses prepared for it. Murray Fish, Doomed and Freda 3 Quote Newmarket Members 4k Author Posted May 4 People need to move on…. get behind the poly…. Quote Chief Stipe Administrators 482k Posted May 4 You miss the point. There is a proportion of horses that have stamina but not top line speed. Horses that don't mind slogging in the wet. Is the NZ Thoroughbred racing industry in a position to effectively write them off? As well as the tracks that support them? Quote curious Members 6k Posted May 4 I happen to race one of those which has won 3 of its last 5 starts. Saturday was the last grass staying race in the country for it until late October but it was shifted to the poly and shortened to a middle distance. Am I pissed? Yes, especially when there seemed to be no good reason from my inspection of the Riccarton grass on Friday other than it was very heavy and waterlogged. Murray Fish and Doomed 2 Quote Special Agent Members 1.3k Posted May 4 Maybe some are reserving that action until the AWT report comes out. Or is it already out? Quote Newmarket Members 4k Author Posted May 4 I get what you’re saying, but you have to be realistic. So many variants, too wet, too dry, wide draw, too short distance, too long distance, straight too short, straight to short…. and so on. One thing I will say…. if every race at the poly track at Riccarton one Saturday was worth $40k…. all of a sudden trainers would be jumping out of trees to line up. Just to add, of course I would rather watch and bet on the grass at Riccarton, that’s a given. But at the same time, I can see the benefits of racing on the poly, some horses love it, some don’t. Quote Chief Stipe Administrators 482k Posted May 4 You have my sympathy. I can't fathom the rationale of the decision on the grounds of safety. What was the point of thrashing Ashburton to save Riccarton Turf if you are not going to use it? The only reason you would transfer is if: The weather forecast was for more foul weather and the likelihood of surface water was high - which it wasn't; The track was unsafe - which no one said it was probably because it wasn't. I do find it amusing that the institutional propaganda was working over time to say how beneficial it all was on the day. Doomed 1 Quote Chief Stipe Administrators 482k Posted May 4 Why wait for the report? You realise how the problem arose in the first place don't you? The AWT customers didn't inspect the track they were using nor join together and demand maintenance occur when it should of. A bit like those moaning about the "dangerous AWT at Riccarton" on Saturday who obviously didn't bother to inspect it and see that it was in good condition. As I've said many times before Trainers are part of the problem. As an Owner representative I've tried to walk nearly every track prior to their horses racing (except those in OZ). As I did 20 years ago it still amazes me how many Trainers or Jockeys don't bother. Quote Chief Stipe Administrators 482k Posted May 4 Nope as has been proven time and time again increased Stakes doesn't correlate to increased participation. On Saturday on one race at Riccarton was less than $35k that being the Maiden race which was $20k Even @curious's horse battled her way round for $2k for running fourth. Quote Reply to this topic... Go to topic listing Unread Content Mark site read Home Gallops Galloping Chat Riccarton-Synthetic? Language Theme Privacy Policy Contact Us Cookies Copyright - Bit of a Yarn Powered by Invision Community

I wonder who would've wanted to try and remove them?

Not enough room in the sauna for many of them and quite a few already get a pension and wouldn't need the extra money.

Doesn't count for anything in my mind. Easy to up turnover if you reduce margins. Your last hope is the question. Is GBR up and if so how much? That seems to have become a big secret, at least as far as gallops go.

Pardon? Isn't it May now?

They are all mentioned in the above article??

Wow! I wonder what would happen if that became the case here?

STRATEGIES Relationship Management & Partnering Owners’ Race-day Experience. Monitoring expenses associated with racehorse ownership Relationship Management Maintain an ongoing level of engagement with all thoroughbred owners; Then, as above, they resort to labelling and name-calling owners who offer criticism they don't like, then in Neil's case anyway, choose to do the opposite of the above declared strategy.

Yes. There primary object is "(a) To promote membership of the Federation to thoroughbred racehorse owners within New Zealand.", yet less than 5% of owners are members. Did you see the president's comments on track abandonments a month or so ago? First he says "let's address the root of the problem: Track Preparation and Funding." He got that bit right. Then he says "So please, less criticism and attacking of people, which is bordering on bullying and contempt, and let's work on more collaboration within our great industry. Isn't the first bit criticism? It seems there is criticism they like and criticism that they don't, however well founded, and they wonder why they have no members. Not to say that there are not a number of people doing a lot of good work there.

I'm just letting you all know that in conversation with Leigh today, we have agreed to settle our differences and "bury the hatchet" to use his terms. Onwards and upwards.