curious

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.

Don't think he said.

Only that Matt Cameron, after consultation with other senior jockeys, decided to bring it to the attention of the RIB and that only after inspection, the jockeys agreed the meeting should not continue.

Guerin has also decided to trust senior jockeys opinions that it will come right in time, yet I personally can't think of a senior jockey that I would ring if I were having trouble with the root structure in my new lawn, let alone a racetrack In my experience growing pasture grasses (such as ryes and fescues) in sandy soils, from core sampling, the roots will be down 100-150mm 2 weeks after seeding in the right conditions. At that point, there is just a tinge of green across the field visible at the surface.

And Wilcox's 3000 tons of sand has now become 300?

Well, it sounds like Guerin doesn't understand what a matted root structure is and no-one he can think to ring knows either or can explain what's wrong with the track. Emily thinks it's a matter of trial and error. Why not get someone from Strathayr that does know, on the show to explain? So they will continue to race on it to see whether or not they have it sorted. And the stakeholders will be left hanging in the dark? Really? That's what's not good enough I think.

In the track inspection today (don't know if they flew a couple over from Oz to help), I certainly hope they bother to go round and have a look for slip marks elsewhere including the start points.

If you read the stipes' report, there were also a significant number of horses reported as beginning awkwardly or blundering the start. Can't say that's due to insecure footing for sure, but it points in that direction and at least a couple of them, that's what it looks like. As does the reported increase in kickback at Monday's trials. Neither of those have anything to do with camber.

A super horse. On the track and since. RIP.

Have a look at this. Sand peatmoss and mesh for the growing medium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15zC6zZ5jO0&t=49s

Think it was somewhere in their Keeping Track series but don't have time to look at the mo.

Not in the core sample I saw. If that's true I'd say they'll be redoing the whole track in 12 months time.

Said that on Weigh In though I wouldn't put it past him to have his numbers confused.

Certainly, in the US on dirt tracks, most horses wear bumper bandages.

Don't think Dan was suggesting that anyone should have given chase. Just that if the rest had run their race at genuine tempo, they would have ended up a good bit closer. Game. Now there's a horse that lived up to his name.

Not really a necessary skill anymore with wrist mounted GPS data available?

Very few can these days.