curious

Hmmm..Coolmore and Dave seem to be very cosy and the former have a long history of "supporting" buyers/agents to pay big money to spruik their their stock. Who was the underbidder?

Jamie Kah has been booked to partner Packing Treadmill in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) later this month by Sam Agars on Thursday, January 11, 2024 9:24 AM Francis Lui Kin-wai has booked star Australian jockey Jamie Kah to partner improving speedster Packing Treadmill in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) later this month. Kah will return to Sha Tin almost a year to the day since she snared the Classic Mile aboard Voyage Bubble for Ricky Yiu Poon-fai. “The owner [Edmond Lee Man-bun] suggested Jamie and she will ride him on January 28,” Lui said. After a strong showing in the Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m) on the weekend, Packing Treadmill is set to lock horns with the brilliant Lucky Sweynesse.

It's supposed to have an aggregate layer below the asphalt. That's what contains the drainage system. Pretty sure that's what they did at Riccarton. 200mms of the sand/fibre/rubber mix on top.

Isn't that exactly part of the problem with their potential acceptance? Turf track breeders and stallions don't want them, so knock them or don't support them? That's what happened in the US but the trend is turning there due to the safety factors among other things with Belmont installing one this year and Churchill Downs considering it. Woodbine renewing theirs. recently with great success etc.

That is the average from a combination of all synthetic surfaces in the US. It is based only on fatal injuries that occur during or within 72 hours of a race. It does not include, for example, non-fatal shear injuries which are mooted to be greater on synthetics, though after many years I'm unaware of any solid evidence of that. Nevertheless, the fatal injury data remains compelling.

And the recent data from the US makes safety and injury hard to argue on average, though clearly specific individual tracks may have issues. In the Jockey Club Equine Injury Database (EID) for the year 2022, injuries on dirt were 1.44 per 1,000 horse starts. Turf injuries were 0.99 per 1,000. Injuries on synthetic were vastly diminished with 0.41 per 1000. This data shows that synthetic surfaces are 3.5 times safer than dirt and 2.2 times safer than turf.28 Aug 2023

Your source may have an argument Jim despite the manufacturer claims. It was reported a few years back that Pakenham had to add irrigation to the management mix for theirs a few years back to reduce the kickback to an acceptable level. Hodge confident Pakenham issues sorted 28 June 2017 by By Brent Zerafa - racing.com Pakenham Racing Club chief executive Michael Hodge is confident the issues that led to the poor performance of the PolyTrack surface at Racing.com Park last Sunday have been rectified following a set of jumpouts at the venue on Wednesday. Hodge was quick to put his hand up and accept that the track didn't race to required standard, with several leading trainers and jockeys voicing their concerns at the significant amount of kick-back that was being thrown up. "There has been a lot of work done to rectify the performance from Sunday and what has been really pleasing from this morning is the industry feedback that I've been getting from jockeys and trainers, in particular jockeys who rode on this surface on Sunday, they've been particularly complimentary, suggesting that there has been a significant turnaround from Sunday," he said. "Today there is less kick-back and the track is performing in the manner which they are accustomed to. "There has been a reduction in the kick-back and the height of the kick-back too." Hodge said the Pakenham Racing Club maintenance team watered the track, which can be affected by dry weather. "There has been some change to maintenance techniques, there has been some irrigation added, it will be a combination of things," he said. "It is very subject to climatic conditions, as a consequence of that, it does only require some minor modifications and we can get things back on track and we now hope all goes well for our next meeting on Sunday week." David Brideoake raced horses at Racing.com Park on Sunday and was complimentary of the surface at the jumpouts on Wednesday morning.

I think that's partly a structural issue because you have regional programming committees programming only for their region. There should be a national pprogramming coordinator on those committees or similar.

Not according to the manufacturer Martin Collins: Its unique capability of providing consistent going, in even the most extreme temperature variations, makes it a winning choice for racetracks and training tracks all over the world. In fact, Polytrack is used at over 20 racetracks and on 300km of training tracks across the globe. Dust free No irrigation system needed Ready to use straight after installation Wax coated for cushioning Good energy return Adaptable going for different kinds of work Each Polytrack surface is bespoke and designed for the climate and level of use it’s to withstand. But every single mix is manufactured to the same specification, ensuring the material is consistent throughout, for a world-leading racing and training surface that supports optimum performance.

Stunning looking boy that one.

I thought you were claiming that it was a pre-requisite for some.

There have been a number of West Coast based trainers over the years.

I disagree. If they have already acquired a stable-hand licence, or at least hold a probationary one, and are working in a stable, then as far as I'm concerned they are already in the industry. I doubt the majority of owners and punters have done that. What I am asking is what you think might have inspired those young people to do that?

Thoroughbred clubs are bulk funded too.

If they are getting stable experience, they are already in the game. I'm asking what experiences you think they had that encouraged them to do that?

Not sure how that would help the programming deficiencies?

What young people's experiences do you think are stronger influences to get them in the game then?

It's 10% of their gross revenue from the meeting ... and would often make the difference between profit and loss for the year.

I thought the gate was $15? Haven't seen or heard what the did oncourse (Reefton might know, also maybe the gate), but say it was 250-300k I'm pretty sure they'd be worried about that at 10-12.5%

I don't know how harness meeting funding works. Is it the same?

Sorry again. The above is out of date. It's 10% oncourse through tellers. !2.5% through digital devices. 17. On-course commission, including TAB NZ digital turnover and minimums A commission of 10% will be paid on total On-course turnover (all totalisator racing and FOB racing turnover) generated through on-course terminals at all meetings. A commission of 12.5% will be paid on all racing turnover placed with TAB NZ on digital devices that are located on-course during a raceday.

Yes. I think it has for some time. And sorry, it's 9.5% and is done by geolocation, not necessarily the app. Draft Funding Policy for the 2022/2023 Season 25 17. On-course commission, including TAB NZ digital turnover and minimums A commission of 9.5% will be paid on total on-course turnover (all totalisator racing and FOB racing turnover) generated at all meetings. In addition, this commission payment will include all racing turnover placed with TAB NZ on digital devices that are located on-course during a raceday. TAB NZ are able to geolocate the majority of this turnover and will provide a report to NZTR detailing the relevant turnover on which commission will be paid.

I agree that is the case with respect NZTAB's operation and the NZTR funding from it. However, for clubs it's very important, especially a club like Kumara. The gate and their 8% of oncourse turnover keep them afloat.

I think all tracks favour horses on the pace regardless of the length of straight, which is why the likes of Gai prefer horses placed there. Back runners have to either find a path through the field or cover extra ground to improve. The latter especially true on tracks with short straights. However, watching a Kiwi Melbourne Cup say, gives me just as big a thrill as the likes of CWJ's win on Domino.

Why do you hate short straights?