curious

I take that back. There is now the new synthetic 100k 1200m race that day.

Oh yeahh, that which has no feature meetings for the poly horses from now until 7th August. Even then nothing for open sprinter/milers.

Is it a CJC thing? Their track conditions are almost always late or later and probably the most unreliable in the country. Now I see there are no sectionals up for yesterday. Think Cambridge had theirs up on Wednesday or the next morning. It's a new track so surely has automatic timing but not even the 600s are there.

Went and grabbed a book and a beer at Riccarton when I got there yesterday. Sat down and opened the book. Colours were printed in black and white which is about as much use as tits on a bull. I hadn't thought to bring my colouring in pencils to amuse me between races either. Looks cheap and why on earth not leave them out all together if you can't afford to print them in colour?

I was at uni at the time so not party to all the decision making but I think a genuine belief by members then that centralisation was the way to go for a one day a year club. I think either my Dad or Uncle was president at the time. Better track and facilities, a share in the track and the horse and buggy days were long over, so an extra 10 minutes drive to Rangiora wasn't a biggie for Amberley resident members. I bet that did cause some laughter, Maurice managing to miss the hurdle race! Some great stories were told about events there. One I remember from my grandfather. A grey horse in the opening hurdle event and a thick May fog jumped the first and pulled into the big pines at the top of the straight. Joined in the following round, jumped the last, emerging from the fog, and bolted in, much to the surprise of the rider of the second horse who thought he was well in front!

Actually, it started well before that. A club I was close to, the Amberley Racing Club, moved from its Broomfield venue to Rangiora in 1974 under what was then known as the Centralisation Scheme. That ended well didn't it? Assets confiscated, community control lost and the new venue closed for racing. For what gain to the industry?

At least you got a reply and they are looking at it. Seem to be more other positive improvements like one click for runner comments, short and full form etc.

Interesting numbers. Love to see the comparisons for here.

Well it's not a term I know. Sounds like some powers you expect to be in place in the future. Just wondered who or what that might be.

Who are "the powers to be"?

Don't think there's ever been any such analysis. Certainly never reported or published. Something a report like Messara's should have done if thorough, but no, just an uninformed opinion on which should go and which should stay. Wouldn't stack up in any other business or organisation.

They are trying. Canterbury Jockey Club Riccarton Park Events Centre 165 Racecourse Road | PO Box 11137, Sockburn Christchurch 8443 | 03 336 0000 www.riccartonpark.co.nz Monday 13 May 2024 MEDIA RELEASE RICCARTON PARK STAKES UPDATE The racemeeting to be held on the Riccarton Park Polytrack on Friday 12 July 2024 is an added stakes meeting. So, whilst it is an Industry Day the stake money for each race will be as follows: ✓ Benchmark Rating 75 Hcp 2200 metres $32,000 ✓ Benchmark Rating 75 Hcp 1400 metres $32,000 ✓ Benchmark Rating 65 Hcp 1600 metres $32,000 ✓ Benchmark Rating 65 Hcp 1200 metres $32,000 ✓ Maiden SW 2200 metres $22,000 ✓ Maiden SW 1600 metres $22,000 ✓ Maiden SW 1200 metres $22,000 ✓ Three-year-olds SWP 1400 metres $22,000 The meeting was incorrectly advertised at the Industry level stakes of $17,000 in the February edition of the Racing Programme Booklet. For further information please contact Canterbury Jockey Club Chief Executive Tim Mills 027 430 0208

After Secretariat's death in 1989, University of Kentucky professor of veterinary science Dr. Thomas Swerczek performed the necropsy. Secretariat's heart was estimated to be about 22 pounds and was not "pathologically enlarged," Swerczek said. The average horse's heart weighs about 8.5 pounds.

They have the weight to effect some change. The rest of us don't.

Don't get me wrong. I'd already let my trainer know it was the horse's last run, win, lose or draw. This just adds meat to the reasons for that decision.

Yep, I'll carry on in the US and UK and possibly OZ but it's over here.

Yep. They sure did. Had one in it too. We were keen. Ran the open 1600 at Timaru last month with 6 starters. Very random stuff. A months training, track fees etc. and they can the race. Anyway, not for me to worry anymore. After 50 years racing horses in NZ, I'm probably finished for ever this week. Too disillusioned with what is happening or not on so many fronts. Hopefully, we can go out on a good note.

Interesting, but perhaps a programming issue rather than an AWT one. The CJC get insufficent noms to run an open 1600 for 40k on Thursday and 8 noms for the 40k open 1200. Yet, they get 32 for the 65 1600, enough to divide it and 26 for the 65 1200, enough for a consolation race. Is the programming team not talking to trainers re demand or what the hell is going on? Another question is why do they can without leaving open, the 1600 open with 7 noms and not the 1200 with 8 noms?

Maybe. It's the live ones I am worried about though.

Cambridge Synthetic Trials Cancelled The trials scheduled for Tuesday 14th May has been cancelled due to insufficient nominations (23 Total Nominations)

Further to this, the Australian Veterinary Association came out a year ago saying: "The Australian Veterinary Association has spoken out about the use of whips in equestrian sports, saying the whip must not be used to “influence the result of a competitive event”. In an updated policy, released in December, the AVA said that horse racing codes should “work towards a framework where whip use for encouragement is not condoned”. Has there been a peep on the matter from the NZEVA?

I'm pretty sure that NZTR signed up to the IFHA Principles of Good Practice for the use of the Whip in Horse Racing some years back. Prohibited Use of the Whip 6. The following actions are prohibited under the provisions of Article 11 B of the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering and the enforcement of these prohibited actions should be regarded as the minimum acceptable standard of regulation.  Using the whip to the extent of causing injury;  Using the whip with the arm above shoulder height;  Using the whip with excessive force;  Using the whip on a horse which is showing no response;  The continued use of the whip on a horse after its chance of winning or being placed is clearly gone;  The unnecessary use of the whip on a horse that has clearly won its race or has obtained its maximum placing;  Using the whip on a horse which is past the winning post;  Using the whip on the flank of the horse;  Using the whip with excessive frequency;  Using the whip on any part of the horse’s head or in the vicinity of the head;  The use of the whip in front of the saddle while the whip is held in the forehand position, unless exceptional circumstances prevail Why is it then that the NZTR rules do not specifically prohibit "Using the whip on the flank of the horse;" when they preach to us about what they are doing for animal welfare? It is cruel and not a good look for the industry. NZTR rule: Without limiting the generality of subrule 638(3)(e), in a Flat Race or Jumping Race, a Trial (including jump-outs and/or tests for certification purposes) a Rider must not use his or her whip: (i) forward of the Rider’s horse’s shoulder or in the vicinity of its head; or (ii) using an action that raises the Rider’s arm above shoulder height; or (iii) when the Rider’s horse is out of contention; or (iv) when the Rider’s horse is showing no response; or (v) after passing the winning post; or (vi) in a manner that causes injury to the Rider’s horse; or (vii) when the Rider’s horse is clearly winning; or (viii) when the Rider’s horse has no reasonable prospect of improving or losing its position; or (ix) in a manner where the seam of the flap is the point of contact with the horse, unless the Rider satisfies the Stewards that that was neither deliberate nor reckless.

Where did you see that? However, Entain ended the year with a group loss after tax of £879m, compared to a profit of £32.9m in 2022.

The fact that trainers are even putting her on their "hotpots", however they run doesn't really align with the idea that her career is collapsing.