curious

Yes.....but what were they thinking is the question for me. Hopefully one of our esteemed racing journalists can get to the bottom of it.

Last I knew there was a 30 day pre-export quarantine for the US and 2 weeks post-arrival quarantine which if that's right would make it unfeasible aside from being highly unlikely in the first place. I don't see the point, let alone the rationale for the commitment to costs. Hopefully someone from NZTR will explain soon.

I suppose the question is now whether the patch is consistent enough with the rest of the track to be safe to race on.

GC track works completed Ryan Reynolds @Reynolds_R 8:34am The affected section of the track at Gold Coast (Image: Gold Coast Turf Club) With Ben Sporle Key works on the Gold Coast Turf Club track have been completed as the clock ticks down to Saturday's feature Magic Millions Raceday. The club announced on Tuesday night that the new grass had been laid and key works completed after a significant portion of the track was damaged last week. That damage forced last Saturday's key lead-up meeting to be moved to the Sunshine Coast, allowing the club time to fix the track ahead of this weekend's $14.5m meeting. Evergreen Turf and VRC track manager Liam O'Keeffe were called in to assist to project, while Eagle Farm is on standby to host the meeting if required. Horses are set to gallop over the impacted section of track on Thursday morning with a call made shortly after on whether the meeting will proceed. Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon the Gold Coast Turf Club released a statement in relation to the investigation surrounding the damaged course proper. Spray nozzles, mixing equipment and footprints were found in the area were the damage occurred. Police are continuing their investigation in relation to the incident. “We’re awaiting an independent report from leading agronomist company Easton Turf, who has been up to take samples of the damaged turf, but it’s looking more and more a case of vandalism,” said GCTC Chairman Brett Cook. “We know the spray nozzles aren’t ours because they’re plastic and we use brass. “Easton Turf has seen a number of similar cases in the past and has spoken with the investigating police. “If it does turn out to be a deliberate act, which is looking increasingly likely, we’re very disappointed with a narrative that has come out suggesting it was some sort of mistake on our part.”

For me, most of the time, I'm not there to see that and the bet has long been on so I don't generally account for any visual observations like that.

I don't really see why you wouldn't back test when you have years of data to do that with. Forward or prospective testing takes years to get reliable results.

I meant what is the tradeoff?

No. I bet with about 10.

Have to assume these are still held up in the post Christmas post?

What's that?

Well, I'll just say that I've looked after 100s of horses with viruses around the world, and never known a vet anywhere recommend an injectable treatment for a virus. As a trainer, I guess that means I shouldn't be in business.

Why would that be? trade secrets? Surely effective treatment of sick horses is something that should be shared? Especially if there's an effective injectable treatment for viruses. Simple question. You brought it up and I have no idea why it would take an encyclopedia to answer the question.

Read again. The figures are for 5 years.

I think using 110,000 starters as a sample rather than 15000 is hardly cherry picking.

Because it's been deemed unacceptable by the public and the government.

I think you'll find the public perception wrt dogs used as pets and dogs used for entertainment and commercial purposes is not the same. So it's apples and oranges.

And they've altered it significantly in Victoria. “Last financial year’s 43 fatalities represented 0.039 per cent of the 110,422 starters in Victorian greyhound racing, down from 69 (0.068 per cent) in 2019-20. “With over 110,000 starters in about 15,000 races in Victoria annually, fatalities and serious injuries in racing are rare.”

If that's the case, then it's a lost cause. Maybe, but if that perception is wrong, the industry has done nothing to change it. Horse racing is headed down the same track imo.

Fatality rates and public perception particularly.

Really? Isn't it a decade of warnings and inaction from the industry that has done that?

You mean a low WBC count? It can also be high with viral infections. That hasn't really answered my question though with respect to an injectable treatment for a virus. What treatment?

Yes. If I'm there to track that but I'm not routinely. Maybe when someone convinces me that horses that shorten are more likely to win than those that drift. More likely than the chance the market gives them that is.

I'd trust my own assessment ahead of the market. That's how I find value in the first place. One successful punter I know bets more if a horse drifts because the value becomes better.

And I'm curious to know what injectable treatments there are for a virus?

Yes, the Levin Classic has been down graded to G2. The 1000 Guineas is on a warning but only an alert for the 2000 at this stage. The Manawatu Sires had its warning removed last season.