Wingman

Going early crow popeye. I will wait until tomorrow afternoon once have seen what the track is, not what at present it might be

I feel your frustration however logically it cannot be every one who is interested or passionate about thoroughbred racing to be responsible for the woeful lack of infrastructure maintenance. I was both a punter and owner in the nineties. I backed a horse(I think it was the month of June )at Awapuni on a heavy track. 200m out it wins for fun then inexplicitly falters, picks itself up but runs 2nd. Turns out it put its leg into a hole. I voted with my feet and whilst we cannot bet into an Awapuni meeting at the moment, for the last 25 years I have never bet on that track unless the condition is fast/firm or easy on a good weather day. Last decade at Awapuni on a summer track I had my biggest single win bet which won but there is no way I would be betting large into that track this decade. As a customer I am looking elsewhere. Many of us were complaining, even insisting that money must be set aside for maintenance. As you know those cries fell on uncaring ears. Ultimately the the responsibility and hence the blame lies with those that govern the industry.

I would still like to see this track getting some decent TLC. Would take it out of commission for a couple of seasons but you would then have a premier track with a decent stand in CD. In its better days it was described as well banked and drained. An interesting fact, the Otaki Maori Racing Club voted to join RACE in 2007 and very wisely withdrew from that partnership in 2018.

Back and refreshed..Squaarrk The Awapuni saga is a diabolical mistake created by two incompetent entities, RACE and NZTR. In announcing the decision to not use the track this year the latest import CEO from Australia prattles on about "Our team, The RIB and the Club, with the support of independent experts." The CEO then conveniently leaves the following critical statement to the Melbourne track specialist, Mr O'Keeffe who says "More aggressive renovation work is required. At the same time we are progressing a wider investigation into the tracks long term suitability." That statement must come from the top and to defer that to a specialist is weak leadership. I therefore agree 100% with JESS who stated in one of her posts under 'Awapuni officially out of action' that "Nothing will change until we operate with some accountability". CS is 100% correct that a massive problem has been created by "Over reliance on sand, to fix tracks". He then unfortunately stumbles towards dopey land by stating "I have a great deal of sympathy for central management". NZTR have by and large created the problematic tracks we have today. Previous CEO's procrastinated re remedial work, a convenient ploy perhaps to let the track 'fade away'. When that did not work the work agreed upon was a cheap fix, akin to replacing bald tyres on a car with better 2nd hand tyres. Worse, whilst they were being cheap skates they insisted that all tracks must be presented the same, good 4, on race day. A track managers nightmare! No longer a manager of turf, now a watering manager. Should you still feel the need to rebut CS, which you will, look at Hastings as irrefutable proof as to NZTR culpability. Ten years ago - problems. Five years ago - problems. In that period the same person was responsible and the same words were uttered, "We have put in place protocols and processes to ensure this will not happen again". Happen again and again they did. Words changed, manager did not! Accountability; Zilch. When they next meet around a board table, NZTR executive will be fervently fixated on a fantasy greenfield build in Flaxmere whilst the problematic Hastings track gets a 'partial' reconstruction. In closing, the Industry does have one not so small door open. Walk away from the door of large stake increases for a few select races and agree on going through the alternative door which is a golden ticket for a few tracks to have comprehensive remedial work. Specifically, one track in the North, one in CD and the other in the South Is. In the CD my vote would be for Otaki. Relay the track, no sand apart from what lies there naturally, bowl both stands and build one new stand. Angle the straight outwards effectively widening the bend out of the straight. Totally change the parade rind, birdcage and add stables. Central Districts will then have it's new Trentham.

If you believe that then you are also in fairyland. The problems with the Hastings track have been well documented over the last decade with NZTR continually releasing press releases that 'processes are in place to ensure this does not happen again'' OH look, a flying pig. Your comment that I was part of the problem re funding for track redevelopment is also made up fairy dust. That sounds like you are baiting to see what else you can argue about. I have nothing to do with racing other than as a punter and that is on thin ice. Why study form for tracks that are dodgy and then have to pre guess suspect track ratings. This is my final post. I have no interest in having any post that you disagree with, being continually dissected not once but over and over again. It becomes tedious. Bye all, WIngman signing off.

My plan has always been an effective plan. 'Fire the NZTR executive' NZTR press announcement 'There is still a target to return to RACE Awapuni in late August 2025, with a standardised racing programme expected to follow across the upcoming 2025/26 season. However both organisations (That is NZTR and RACE, if this is becoming too complicated for you CS) remain committed to proactive decision-making should the tracks progress warrant any adjustments to this plan'. Which I take to mean they are expecting to totally fuck this up as well. OR/ WHAT FUCKING PLAN? They are incompetent and if you cannot see that CS then you are part of the problem. Then we move onto the announcement on behalf of Hawkes Bay Racing and NZTR where pending approval by NZTR Board (Muppets, my description) partial recambering (Why only partial?, my question) of the bends will take place. And now for final piece of incompetent bullshit. "Not withstanding any unforseen circumstances this significant EXPERT LED investment will allow for a safe and confident return to racing in Hawkes Bay for Spring 2026. YES you have read correctly, not this Spring. (NZTR have been putting this crap out re Hastings track for a decade. Why would any sensible person buy into this fairy tale.) If anyone outside of those who compiled, wrote, or are associated with these announcements, be you breeders, owners or race track officials, believe a word of this nonsense, then you deserve what is coming your way.

Now you are spouting nonsense. Look no further than the opening sentence of their press release "NZTR and RACE are continuing the maintenance and remediation work". NZTR were not responsible for tracks last century but have been all over what tracks get what, for over twenty years. As some of their not so cunning plans have evaporated they have now looked desperately to what needs to be done at tracks they previously wanted closed.

I have said this time and time again, if NZTR operated as a genuine corporate model with shareholders, the people that continue to fuck this once great industry, the people that continue to employ the types that put out todays latest waffle, trying to justify yet another failure, would not be there. The reality however is that they are there, have been there far too long, meaning only a total cleanout of the executive directed by the Minister and ALSO with a significant directional change, will arrest the slide towards the sunset.

The so called experts have managed to create yet another problematic 'NEW' track. The obsession with sand is starting to wear thin and so are my betting strategies as yet another track, if and when it gets back into play, goes into the 'watch' column.

Top left hand arrow on screen/laptop, takes you from the post you are reading back to the sites home page showing all the other posts. Except now it takes you completely out of the site.

This has not happened until this weekend when on this site. I look at a post but when I backspace to look at another post the message 'GATEWAY TIMEOUT' comes up with the following sentence The gateway did not receive a timely response from the upstream server or application. This happens regardless if backspacing within tens of seconds or a few minutes. i

Never easy not to bite when you are being snapped at.. move on. Storm in a teacup. Same applies to the missing threads, C.S. admit someone has got under the sites guard, strengthen the sites defenses, that will annoy whoever they may be and move on. P.S. At present if I try to go back to where I was previously on the site I get a "Time Out" message so someone, somehow, is distorting the bitofayarn site.

Where are the posts/threads that pertain to Awapuni, poly tracks, release of reports etc? They at present appear to have been deleted. If so, WHY?

All of the above. The ongoing serious problems with tracks and a flat property market will mean plan A, B and C have gone out the window with plan D which was always a dud. They are now consulting Earnestly with Ernie from Muppet inc

Correct and he fact they cannot/will not fix this, speaks volumes

This should be compulsory reading for NZTR. When you factor in the above, then add the year on year falling foal crop, why oh why, have we not had real discussion and change with the racing calendar. On that note the trainers Assn had a meeting 48 hours ago re their extreme displeasure as to the state of our tracks but the silence is deafening.

Agree. Certainly the winning jockey is a big part of the drama immediately after the race but long after the race it is the horses name and class/courage we tend to remember

I do not know who Dark Beau is. I have made my thoughts known re the state of Trentham and will not comment further as this post is starting to get more like a you said, I said, squabble, the type that as Jess pointed out on another post does not do anyone favours once the calling out starts..."Get ready to rumble"🤕

So recycling is getting a bad name?😁

It was a full on chief stipe 'lets go down memory lane' rant. That is just him. Nothing wrong with putting your thoughts down Dark Beau however C.S. is correct re Trentham. Your comments about how great a track it is unfortunately no longer the case. Trentham was once the best Summer racing surface in the Southern Hemisphere but this century it has been neglected in an abysmal way. The view is now also a pathetic sliver of what it once was. Using a drone to enable a view down the first 600m down the shute; disgraceful!

Most of the people involved as they lurch from one 'oopsie' to the next have been in a senior position for many years. As long as that remains the same then the hope of a more strategic response is futile.

You in particular C.S. 😅. The other site from my observation is run by a control freak which isn't the case on BOAY. Hence I do not get involved with the other site, but I do keep an eye open for some occasional very good thoroughbred breeding posts

No chance. Track staff would have, then there would have been a zoom meeting. Did he then quote the people who inspected the track word for word, or embellish. The big thing from my perspective is why not race a day later. There is a bit of contrariness' coming through here from Entain who put emphasis on Saturdays being the money days yet wanting to get much more racing on Sundays in the wetter months.

Read Wandering eyes article on the side bar of this site to get an understanding why it matters. Not talking older horses, referring to 2yo. When you read through the article the other thing that comes through loud and clear just how woeful the NZTR executive really are.

You 'ad bedroom..such luxury