curious

Ellerslie doesn't really have anything to sacrifice does it?

Might be a good idea for gallopers too. That sort of self-handicapping would certainly be an improvement on the current system so far as creating competitive and attractive wagering races is concerned.

Yes. Seems to have gone quiet on producing any evidence to support his claim that any ex-racehorse ever ran in a pony scurry here.

Yes. The award is for rising stars, not established ones.

They can work turf miracles down there in 3 days, so don't be surprised.

I thought it was an innovator. Apparently it's one of these but why you would use that on a perfect track 2 days out from a race meeting is beyond me.

If the track is already perfect with no concerns, why would you then put the ground breaker through it? And as an aside, what exactly is a ground breaker anyway? Meeting News Wingatui Track Update On Tuesday 28 May, four pairs of horses were galloped over the Wingatui track in front of NZTR and Club representatives, and an external Regional Track Advisor. Horses covered the full width of the racing surface, galloping from the True position, out to the centre of the track. Comments from senior riders Corey Campbell and Shankar Muniandy were all positive. Corey commented that “the track is perfect, and there are no concerns heading towards racing on Sunday”. To provide extra assurance for riders, Otago RC track manager Wayne Stevens will put the ground breaker machine through the surface.

The good old Racecourse Hotel is still there!

I've gone on about this before, but just went to look at that for a couple of runners at Riccarton tomorrow which ran at the meeting there on the 16th, that I was thinking of backing. All I get is "We have not received "Stewards' Vision" for this race as yet Under normal circumstances this will be available within 5-7 days of the race" Obviously, normal circumstances have not prevailed. It beggars belief that with today's technology, they can not get this up the same or perhaps the next day. No idea whether the problem is on the RIB end or the NZTR one, or has the move to Cambridge meant that the pigeons carrying the video need extra rest stops? 2 weeks and still not there. Something's wrong when they claim to be supporting Entain's efforts to improve punter information and build turnover and revenue. That's a couple of bets they won't be getting.

68 left in for Awapuni tomorrow I see.

Maybe there is no-one there who can read aside from knowing how to use a spell checker?

The RIB?

Be interesting to know how they fixed the track in 3 days.

Good morning, A R65 1600m race ($35,000) has been added to the Otago meeting on Sunday 2 June. Kind regards,

Interestingly, the upcoming HBPA conference in Idaho has a whole session programmed on this very topic. There it is considered critical to success. Here, any attempt to even discuss it seems to be dismissed. The art of classifying and filling races will include a group of industry experts addressing the possibility of horse racing establishing a new classification system for race conditions. The panel debating this complex issue include racing consultant Rick Hammerle (Santa Anita, Kentucky Downs); Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell, the current Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) chair; and Andy Schweigardt, TOBA's director of industry relations and development; with racing talk-show host Steve Byk moderating.

Not sure that trainers are necessarily necessary in a track safety review? Conduct of a Track Safety Review The steward conducting the review must: • Inspect the track and in particular any areas which gave rise to the notification to the steward; and • Make any other inquiries the steward considers necessary to understand any issues with the track and whether they can be remedied; • Meet with representatives of the Club and consider their views on whether the track is safe. • Meet with the jockeys engaged to ride at the meeting about the state of the track and take into account their views on whether the track is safe. The steward may, but is not required to, meet with any other party and consider their views on whether the track is safe. Subject to these requirements, the steward may determine the process to be followed in conducting the review.

No idea what the Cox plate has to do with it. That's in October isn't it?

As I said, I don't know but I presume because of the 2kg weight difference when they met in the Lightening.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS (R Jaun) - Lost its footing when racing free of interference going into the turn near the 850 metres. Given the incident of HIGH EXPECTATIONS slipping near the 850 metres, a track inspection was undertaken involving Stipendiary Stewards, Rider and Club representatives, with the remainder of the meeting being subsequently abandoned due to safety concerns.

How could a track that was an S7 this morning be or become slippery?

I thought there might be someone already at NZTR with less and less to do at the moment who could be appointed to the task and help justify their salary. Certainly not a new appointment. They do have one quite efficient and effective unit there in the NRB which is in regular liaison with trainers anyway. Perhaps they could do it?

I don't know. I suppose it depends how you do your ratings in each distance category. I'm not good on international ratings but they look about right for the time-frame to me.

At least the polys haven't yet had a meeting abandoned have they? Meeting News Otago Races Abandoned Due to a horse slipping in Race 5 the remainder of the card at Wingatui has been abandoned. Further information will follow in coming days.