curious

Isn't that what the recent amendment/s to the bill have done, limited the TAB ability to refuse bets? That's how I read it.

Was watching some track work of the Belmont contenders yesterday. Every exercise rider was carrying a whip. Here they claim they need them for control and guidance in a race, but rarely carry them for track work where you'd think it would be more important especially for the young and inexperienced ones. Seems more than a bit contradictory to me.

Meeting News Taranaki Races Tuesday/Trial Date Changes The postponed meeting from 5 June has been transferred to Tuesday 10 June. All scratchings have been reinstated. There is a new start time for Race 1 of 12 noon. Consequential changes include the moving of two trial meetings – ATR trials at Ellerslie will now be on Monday 9 June (nominations close at 21 noon Friday 6 June) and the Awapuni Synthetic trials will be Thursday 12 June (nominations close Wednesday 11 June).

The synthetic report in the head post.

I don't think we have any straight 1000/1200s on synthetics for comparison do we?

What policy is based on that?

Anecdotal data indicates that 2 -3 runs on the synthetic surface are sufficient for the horse to acclimatise (adapt their gait) to the surface. Because horses naturally run faster on the synthetic surface with longer strides (~20cm longer), it is anecdotally reported that acclimatisation runs should be conducted with the horses “on the bridle”. This would provide sufficient load cycles to train the limb without exposure to peak forces

Great story whatever eventuates.

35mms more in the forecast for Hawera today too.

That's what they usually have these days in my experience?

I use Hyland. Donna Beck 0211122534

Stephen Hunt's view of the Wanganui track: The track variant suggests to me the track was probably better than Heavy 8, especially when I look at the variant against past meetings that were classed as Heavy. It was probably more like a Soft 7 on time, but that's neither here nor there. How the track played… There were three leaders that won, with winners coming as far back as 7.1L (Platinum Diamond) off the leader at the 600m mark. Winners were in lanes 3,2,5,2,1,2,1,2,1.

I think that was @TAB For Ever not you.

Wasn't there, so can't really say but Mereana Hudson described it as "more like a 9" after the first. I was also told yesterday that "a lot of jockeys complained about it shifting on the bend".

Hardly need to do I, when it's the view of many jockeys and quite a few trainers, let alone a fair number of serious punters?

I agree with them and they are the ones riding the horses on these tracks with the rail out and then after it's been moved back so have to be the best (maybe only) judges of how horses are handling it. Part of the problem is that they seem to be trying to use moving the rail out 8-10 metres to essentially try to turn one track into two in terms of the amount of racing it can handle. The issue with that as many jockeys are pointing out, is it changes the angle of entry into the straight and on a number of tracks the camber is designed for racing on the rail in true. Cambers on turns for many tracks level out towards the centre. They are not designed for optimum safety with the rail out there. You then get a similar situation as what they have on the home turn at Ellerslie where there is no camber on the home turn and it is difficult to keep horses balanced. Combining those two is also more likely to make the track slippery more easily. The other part of that is when the rail is moved back in, the fresh ground is not consistent with that further out and may have its own challenges. As noted by Jonathon Riddell at Wanganui on Saturday saying the fresh ground they had been given wasn't too flash.

The weird thing about the above is that the Minister appoints the TABNZ board. Why would he then think they need an advisory group in order to do their jobs? Doesn't make any sense to me at all.

Where did you get that?

As above. Review feedback and develop a proposal for changes and improvements to the RTA (Regional Track Advisers) model to be consulted on with the RTA Group

https://nztr.co.nz/sites/nztrindustry/files/2025-05/June 2025 Racing Operations Report.pdf

TRACKS UPDATE Industry Meeting Update: Tackling Track Infrastructure & Performance As advised in our previous newsletter, a dedicated industry meeting was held on 6 May 2025, bringing together stakeholders including trainers, jockeys, breeders, racecourse management, RIB and NZTR. We were also fortunate to have Liam O'Keefe from Victoria Racing Club present who was a highly experienced and neutral participant. The purpose: to address growing concern around racetrack performance, infrastructure, and the impact of track-related issues on racing outcomes. There was open and honest views expressed and in-depth discussion. The stakeholders were very clear in their opinions that the status-quo could not continue and there needed to be clear lines of accountability. There is a need for improved processes to ensure tracks are prepared on a more reliable basis for racing. The meeting was not just a talkfest and as a result of all the productive discussions, the following list of Actions was agreed to. These actions will be continually monitored, refined and progress will be updated to stakeholders. Agreed NZTR Action Points Review feedback and develop a proposal for changes and improvements to the RTA (Regional Track Advisers) model to be consulted on with the RTA Group. Benchmark current track staff salaries across the industry to understand where they sit in the turf industry. Following this work consider more broadly that the industry support for track manager salaries is appropriate Develop guidance regarding rail movements and where possible the rail should move from true outwards, then back to true with regard to avoiding inside fast lanes where possible. Require Clubs to submit a rolling three-month schedule of probable rail movements as part of racecourse compliance. These can then be reviewed by the RTA Group or new structure. Review and strengthen the escalation process for non-compliance with rail movement procedures. Confirm timing for the next data portal update and report back to the group. Confirm rollout process and support plan for track managers using the portal and develop further to ensure that everyone utilises the technology. NZTR to investigate the feasibility of collecting benchmark data from all tracks to consolidate a national dataset including moisture meter. Confirm the ability to analyse and mine this data effectively from existing and future sources. Update the Track Preparation Policy language to align with current track rating terminology (amend Good 2) Include a standardised datasheet in the Track Preparation Policy and upload it to the portal. NZJA Encourage jockeys to provide track feedback via the text platform that was previously developed. Schedule another meeting to update on progress and consider future venue strategy in more detail. NZTA Commitment The NZTA remains committed to holding NZTR accountable to these outcomes and ensuring the voices of trainers and industry participants are heard and acted upon.

Yes. The correlation between penetrometer readings and speed is also established in the literature but obviously that is only useful if the penetrometer readings are taken and reported accurately.

Maybe, but it's the only data they have which is why one of the key recommendations in the report "is to standardise the measuring of track ratings (essentially firmness) across the country and to enforce Quality Control standards.", as you say.

The research I have seen doesn't use race times but last 600 times to assess the speed, thus largely taking race tempo out of the equation. It correlates with injury rates on both that measure and reported track conditions.

Understand that they roll it and possibly groom at a shallower tine depth?