curious

You have to wonder if 3000 tons of sand might have the same result at Ellerslie?

What were they? Never that I know of?

Agree. It's not the horses or owners that have offended.

Synthetic Innovation Races - August 2024 Synthetic Innovation Races – August 2024 The following races have been approved as Synthetic Innovation Races. Canterbury JC at Riccarton Park, Wednesday 7 August - 1200m (Nomination Friday 2 August) WTR at Cambridge, Thursday 8 August - 2000m (Nomination Monday 6 August) Rangitikei RC at Awapuni, Friday 9 August - 1400m (Nomination Monday 6 August) OPEN HCP – SPEC COND Stake: $100,000 - $57,500, $18,500, $9,000, $5,000, $2,500, 6th-10th $1,500 Maximum Weight: 62kg Minimum Weight: 54kg Apprentice Allowances Special Conditions: Open to ALL horses that have had at least three starts on a Synthetic Track in New Zealand since 1 May 2023. If at the time of final withdrawal the number of horses remaining in the field is more than the starting limit, the Club/NZTR reserves the to select the field based on the criteria detailed in Special Condition 3 below. The order of entry into the field will be determined in order of: (3.1) Winners of three or more races on a synthetic racing surface since 1 May 2023 (3.2) Winners of two races on a synthetic racing surface since 1 May 2023 (3.3) Winners of one race on a synthetic racing surface since 1 May 2023 (3.4) Horses placed second two or more times on a synthetic racing surface since 1 May 2023 (3.5) Horses placed second on a synthetic racing surface since 1 May 2023 (3.6) Horses placed third two or more times on a synthetic racing surface since 1 May 2023 (3.7) Horses placed third on a synthetic racing surface since 1 May 2023 (3.8) Horses on a similar level because of this policy will be selected based on their rating with the highest rated horse being selected first and so on. (3.9) Horses on the same rating will be selected by the Handicapper

Well I've heard of silt traps to stop silt getting into drains but never heard of silt drains or draining silt.

What are silt drains?

Yes, I think the failure to address the Crusader cachment summer programming is devastating. It surely makes it nonviable to keep many average horses in work in Canterbury over that period. Pitty used to address it by relocating a chunk of the team to Wakouaiti for the summer I think but for most trainers it's not going to be feasible to have a Canterbury and southern division for the summer.

I don't see how Strahayr could possibly remove their name from it when the whole installation was done under the auspices of their advice, including the seeding process. Whether or not that advice was followed exactly by ATR is a bit less clear, nevertheless, they were and still are monitoring and advising. It's definitely a Strathayr, fundamentally the same structure as all others.

"My thoughts are the issue is around the delays (caused mainly by the amount of solid rock under the track being more vast than anticipated) & the need to get back racing there. The racing may have started back earlier than it should have. " "Yes, my thought exactly, they raced on it 6 months too early after the delays caused by as I mentioned above"

I don't think that's what he said. He said it needed more time. I think that meant before trying to race on it.

I note in the new racing calendar they have a meeting scheduled for Ellerslie in September. That's surely inviting a disaster to turn into a catastrophe?

Whatever it is, they've been handing it out for decades at NZTR which will be lucky to still exist in 5 years time.

You can't go 30 years and spend nothing on tracks and expect much different. I can probably think of more tracks that are closed or destined for closure that aren't stuffed than I can of the others being used.

For what? cars? For that kind of money they could have made it a top class training and trial facility as well, like most of the prime Oz tracks.

There might also be a saleability issue for horses winning trials on the poly cf. grass?

Which partly explains the clamour from punters when jumpouts in lieu of trials became a thing and there were no results available. I'm thinking of the Levin operation in particular. Now of course detailed results are available.

I reckon it's 50/50 the mechanical intervention works and we have an ok track by the end of the year. Just hope they don't do what Randwick did with their Kensington Strathayr and spend two years and $3mil trying to fix it only to end up with: Another set of trials are scheduled to be held on the Kensington track on January 12 but Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy says it has no future in its current state. “It happens every time we use the track, they just get into it and rip it out," Murrihy said. “It hasn't improved. I can't see it being able to hold a race meeting as it is now.” More than $3 million has been spent renovating the Kensington track in the last two years in a bid to get it up to standard. Similar symptoms. The reasoning they went Strathayr in the first place is obscure. It's unproven in the Auckland climate. The grass species were untried on a Strathayr before and the seeding process had never been done before. Seems like a huge punt to me.

Ha. Looks like others see it differently, or can't see!

Well, it's 6 months old and Jason says then, it had got a bit tight in the root zone but seemed satisfied that the roots had since penetrated well below that. Appears to me that where the root zone wasn't matted, the sand fell straight off. Say, below about 120mms down, but above that you can see the sideways roots cut off by the core and holding the sand there. So they've known about it for at least that long. Just hope that further mechanical intervention can break it up sufficiently and that the new root growth will penetrate directly through the spring so we have a safe and secure track by summer.

You've likely seen this by now but thought I'd post it here anyway.

To be fair, the track was nice on Saturday and raced fairly. It's the only major track left in the country despite its problems.

May 25th ATR Race Meeting Transferred to Pukekohe Park Following Ellerslie’s Abandonment on Saturday Sent on behalf of Auckland Thoroughbred Racing and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Following the partial abandonments of race meetings at Ellerslie on 10 and 20 April, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), in conjunction with Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR), advises that the planned winter renovation of the track will commence immediately with the race meeting scheduled to be held at Ellerslie on May 25th moving to Pukekohe Park. This decision comes as a proactive response to recent track issues and concerns raised by stakeholders with officials confident the planned renovation will greatly assist in removing the root mat which has compromised traction. Saturday’s abandonment follows a mid-week meeting abandonment on 10 April that required the Club to undergo immediate remedial works and conduct a trial meeting, per NZTR’s Return To Racing protocols, following which after thorough assessment and constructive dialogue with stakeholders saw collective agreement that racing activities could proceed at Ellerslie on Saturday. Despite these concerted efforts to ensure optimal track conditions, unfortunate circumstances arose during the course of Saturday’s meeting after a horse slipped during race 6, resulting in the cancellation of the remaining two races for the safety and well-being of all participants. In commenting on the events of Saturday, ATR Chief Executive Paul Wilcox says, “We find ourselves at a loss for words. Our team shares a sense of disappointment and frustration, not only for ourselves but also for the broader industry. With unwavering faith in our new direction, we regret any disappointment experienced by those affected in recent weeks. “We have had every confidence in the new surface and, while we still strongly believe this is the right track for us, are sorry to those for whom have been let down over the past couple of weeks. “Despite setbacks, we recognise the importance of embracing this experience as a lesson and, as we embark on our scheduled renovation, remain committed to positive progress. “We express our sincere appreciation to our stakeholders and the racing community for their understanding and continued support during this time.” NZTR COO Darin Balcombe echoed ATR's sentiment and was supportive of Ellerslie's pre-emptive move to Pukekohe. "After all efforts were made to improve the surface following the 10 April abandonment, NZTR was disappointed in the outcome of the partial abandonment Saturday at Ellerslie." "We fully support ATR's proactive approach to move the meeting on May 25th to Pukekohe and will work alongside Ellerslie over the winter as we work toward ensuring the surface is at its best for the 2024/25 season."

Not unless they get some informed person on there to ask him the hard questions and follow up the evasion and shite. Anyone happen to know where he might have been during this saga?

Guerin can get nothing right. Cited Wilcox this morning as saying it would definitely be at Ellerslie. At least that stops the crash test dummy approach for now.

What I don't understand is why they would do that let alone a Strathayr expert from Tasmania who presided over one of worst early failure Strathayr installs. There is an abundance of experts in NZ on growing grass including large university departments. FFS we are renowned for it and our economy is founded on it. Why doesn't the likes of Guerin buy some gumboots, get the likes of one of them and a core sampler and go out there and get them to explain the problem and show us all and then get their opinion on the best way to fix it.