curious

OK. I thought maybe you were.

Oncourse tote this year was 277k (stakes 1,560k) cf. Kumara say, 221k (stakes 176k).

Also known as kinesthesia to further your physiological learning. Badly affected by alcohol!

Don't see how they can go beyond their pain barrier otherwise it would not be a barrier. Good horses may have higher pain thresholds perhaps.

Just came across this again from TDN. A very good letter I thought and another issue that NZTR has not had the kahunas to deal with. Drop the Crop: Letter to the Editor, by Dr. David Ranson Sunday, September 3, 2023 at 4:57 pm | Back to: Shared News Updated: September 4, 2023 at 11:03 am Sarah Andrew photo We have all been affected by the recent tragedies that have occurred in the racing industry. Whether reading of, heartbreakingly witnessing these horrors on national television, or while sitting with our friends at an event, we have all begun with breathless engagement in the grand spectacle of poetry in motion. We watch in admiration and awe as living, breathing works of art slice through the wind in full flight only to often sadly witness events that cannot be unseen; events that may haunt the recesses of our minds, creating fodder for nightmares to come. How many of us bite our lips when the full flight of competitors turns the corner at the quarter pole hoping and praying that they cross the wire safely, not having to be destroyed for the sake of entertainment or for gamblers to experience another hit or miss? Upon witnessing these events, people walk away during watch parties, quickly change the channel, walk out of the racecourse on what purported to be a beautiful day at the races and eventually, walk away from the sport. With no substantial uniform national rules, creating and sustaining entertainment value for a whole new and different culture is one of the many challenges of thoroughbred racing. We have had way too many deaths, irregularities and misinterpretation of rules which contributed to the prolonged delay of naming a Kentucky Derby winner as well as the conviction and possible imprisonment of a celebrated trainer winning an international event for cheating that involved veterinarians as well. Sadly, this is becoming the face of our sport. With decreasing foal numbers and closing of racing venues over the years, it is no secret that we are not growing. In fact, we are dying as a celebrated sport and as a source of livelihood for thousands. The industry is in the trauma bay, and we need all hands on deck to survive and perhaps be able to again thrive. Allow me to introduce myself and also offer a possible lifeline to the sport and industry: a lifeline based on physiologic fact that will perhaps quell the rising tsunami that threatens our very existence by supplying a palpable, visual solution while also serving as a public relations tool. I am a human surgeon by training and a third-generation horseman by choice. My undergraduate degree is in animal and veterinary science which prepared me to enter vet school but I chose medical school and surgery as my primary profession. I have been competing in equine sport my entire life. I have a show horse background and have worked with and for trainers in different disciplines and have achieved world-championship status during my show career. I have been involved in the thoroughbred industry as an owner, principal of a racing LLC, creator of racing and sales syndicates, horse farmer and pinhooker for over 15 years. I have an intimate knowledge of these athletes, how they work and the physiologic machine that allows them to perform at peak levels. Catastrophic breakdowns and efforts to decrease them are nothing new to the sport . We have traditionally looked at multiple racing surfaces by trying to find the culprit in the infrastructure, and content of the surface on which we run. However, we have not discussed PROPRIOCEPTION…. what it is and how it works in both the human body and equine athlete. Proprioception permits horses to sense pressures, discomforts, tension and location of their bodies and limbs. It is an automatic feedback mechanism through sophisticated neurological pathways generated by bone and sinew all the while telling the animal where its body parts are in relation to the environment. Equine sport places unusually steep demands on both horse and rider. Proprioception allows the horse to sense joint angles, muscle length, tendon tension and postural balance. These proprioceptors are nerves that can pick up .002 percent of muscle length and send that information to the horse's brain allowing him or her to make adjustments for gait and ultimately, survival. Enter the crop. The crop is an age-old tool that has many purposes in equine sport and has been modified on several occasions. But let's face it, it is primarily used as an accelerator. Granted, it causes very little harm to the horse and on most occasions just strikes the saddlecloth. But it is an accelerator for all to see coming down the stretch. Now consider the physiologic framework of proprioception and the horse's natural competitiveness combined with the concomitant use of the accelerator. Could the accelerator (crop) be a participant in the horse surpassing and overriding his natural proprioceptors, thus causing him/her to extend themselves past the point of bone and sinew? If so, wouldn't it be prudent to omit this piece of equipment to protect the horse from over extending and instead winning the race with his own heart, determination, conditioning, and riders urging, all the while demonstrating to the public that thoroughbred racing takes action, thus easing the ever present threatening public relations issue. Now may be the time to” Drop the Crop.” David W Ranson, MD, Principal of Equivest Racing LLC

The lesson was learned, or should have been, in the late 90s when the Nelson Jockey Club stopped racing and TAB turnover from that region plummeted. A super course much favoured and supported by Canterbury trainers and owners as well as a number of NI ones. It's pretty simple, take racing out of a community and you take the community out of racing. TAB For Ever's negative view of this just does not stack up. Step aside and let those of us with a more positive outlook and constructive approach move forward so we can have racing the way it was meant to be and make it self-sustainable again rather than living on the dole. My one year old granddaughter is already riding finishes on her rocking horse. Don't tell me kids can't become interested in or excited by racing because of other distractions.

We did the beach, waterskiing ,music festivals, concerts, other sport etc. too, as age appropriate but this started well before most of that. And there was no long drive. The racecourse was next door! We were there for pony club on Sundays as well.

Those are the sort of race days that I remember as a kid, maybe not with Tauherenikau numbers, but that's what got me hooked both as a punter and for a career path.

REVOLT (M Hashizume) - Began awkwardly. Rider became unbalanced and was dislodged near the 50 metres after losing the use of his outside iron. Stewards, after examining M Hashizume’s saddle, were satisfied the irons were in a satisfactory condition. After being examined by St John paramedics M Hashizume was cleared to ride.

Certainly one of the meetings I avoid these days, though I have free entry, even if I have a horse running.

Winger, it's because the weights were declared by the handicapper on the 15th February. They are not based on current ratings, so unless the horse is subject to re-handicapping, those weights stand.

Looked like a leather broke or his foot slipped out of the iron. Was going to win too!

It's a handicap. BALLOTING CONDITIONS The following horses, if entered for the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, will be exempt from the ballot. a) Horses placed first, second and third in the 2024 QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP. b) The winner of the 2023 Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final, at Pukekohe on 26 December . c) The winner of the Avondale Cup, if entered, is not subject to a re-handicap for the Auckland Cup. d) The winner of the Nathan’s Memorial, The winner of this race if entered will not be re handicapped for the Auckland Cup . Once entered for the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, horses remain in the race till they are withdrawn. NB: Owners will be liable for fees which become due if horses are not withdrawn.

Fake or not, what is the news about injuries? Do we have any data on that yet?

It's bizarre isn't it? They don't get near enough entries to run them there this week so they programme them again in a fortnight.

Decent money but there won't be a full field there. 8 noms in the open.

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ http://i1.cmail20.com/ei/y/3E/323/652/060127/csfinal/CorporateEmail-banner-9900000000079e3c.png RACE Trentham Track Update Following the 27 January partial abandonment at RACE Trentham when horses slipped on an area of unirrigated ground wide on the track, the venue's irrigation system was reviewed and additional steps were taken to produce wider coverage on the outside of the home turn. Following the solution being implemented, it has been extensively utilised to irrigate the area of concern wide on the course proper. The irrigation, combined with recent verti-drain use has resulted in more consistency between the inside and outside areas of the track. Representatives from the Racing Integrity Board, RACE Inc. and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing inspected the racing surface on Monday 4 March, with core samples, drone photo comparisons and a track gallop used to test the surface ahead of the 9 March race meeting. Post-inspection, all parties were confident with the consistency and safety at RACE Trentham. As such, Wellington Racing Club's meeting at Trentham will take place this Saturday, as scheduled.

Are you saying that it's not being handled correctly?

Agree about their value in winter but I don't see the point scheduling trials on them while there is no racing on them.

https://loveracing.nz/News/44430/GoRacinghelpingkidsStandTallwithAnnarehab.aspx

Possibly because of a lack of confidence in the safety of the track?

I'd say 18 months for that if they don't take any shortcuts like Ellerslie did. But what tracks are left in the bay to accommodate the racing in the interim?

I thought Cameron George said they didn't have the money nor available tracks to fully renovate any more at the moment? Does the board not talk to senior management?

I don't know really. They used to be. Certainly in the track inspections. Freda will know what is usual.

Following a shower of rain which occurred after the running of Race 4, a delegation of Riders approached Stewards regarding a potential safety concern with moisture on what they considered to be a firm racing surface. A track inspection was undertaken involving Jockeys, Stewards and the Track Manager. Following this inspection a meeting was convened involving Stewards, Jockeys and Club representatives. Whilst this meeting was in progress further heavy rain commenced to fall, with the remainder of the meeting being abandoned due to safety concerns.