Reefton

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Surely you're not suggesting it is a three pin plug on the end of a $9 lead bought from The Warehouse that wriggled loose?  Well that's an easy fix - get a screw-in connection.  

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Of course Reefton is the only place that has this type of expertise!

Hard on batteries?  What they need to work 10 days in one day?  Another simple problem to fix.  Monitor the charge and have a spare battery available.

At the end of the day it is an inexpensive solvable problem.  But no let's go buy some more gates.  Oh and two races this weekend at Trentham don't have full capacity fields and some owners miss out again (assuming there were surplus nominations).

Listen halfwit

Those connections obviously come with the equipment not from the warehouse.  As for smart arse comments about Reefton being the only place with the expertise well Reefton has had some(not a lot) experience with these things where it is clear you have had zero

The fact is there was a false start caused by the connection being either faulty or loose(or as I suggested perhaps the battery(s) being somewhat depleted).  You have created some mass cover up conspiracy by NZTR/the WRC and continued to wank on about a theory with zero substance

An idiot like you who can see something in nothing would be an ideal person to take up a role with the RIB alongside Oatham and Clement.  They too are too thick to see reality.

Anyway since I have essentially now finished with the game, save for retaining half legs of a couple of nags, I need to finish wasting time with chat sites so it is goodbye from me.

2 hours ago, curious said:

I think had it been batteries, they wouldn't still have worked once plugged back in, or for the rest of the day.

Yes but with a marginal connection between the sets it adds up to me

If the connection was completely broken maybe not but if there was still a connection then inadequate power between the two .....

The bloke who looks after ours(who runs a trucking firm so knows about mechanics) always talks about how hard those gates are on batteries

27 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

So you are contradicting yourself.  You agree then that solution that NZTR have come up is expensive and probably won't fix the issue.

Cannot see where I said it was expensive or that it probably won't fix the issue.  What I said was when you have to raise the funds yourself(as we did) it gives you quite an incentive to look after and value what you have.

As far as saying it won't fix the issue well you have to have starting gates.  Are you wanting them to go back to flag starts?

While you have them there will always be a risk of failure but there is a risk of failure with every electronic or mechanical item in life.

I have no doubt it will be expensive but do you think they should blindly go on with the status quo and risk it happening again?

I did suggest that, it line with what Curious has said,  it is possibly a combination of batteries getting down on charge and a loose connection that may have been responsible.

I remember arriving at Reefton the day before the races one year and the gates were right beside the Secretaries office with a power wire running to them.  When I asked why I got the grumpy response that the previous club had not put the batteries straight on charge after their last race.

12 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Used once a year?  Geez wouldn't have to do an oil change.

See that is an example of your ignorance.  If you don't maintain these things things go wrong.  That's how we had the old manual set for forty years with not one false start(and they used to do twelve meetings a year not three like now).  Because we ensured they were housed and looked after.  And that is why these current set will last forever as well - because they are looked after.  Unlike all these other mobs we had to find the cold hard cash so we are very careful to look after what we have.  

When we(the RJC Committee) assembled the new gates the Sim Track guy commented on how he had never had a set go together so quickly and smoothly.  The difference is we were doing it for love not for a pay packet at the end of the week.  That's why we produce top quality track surfaces every time(despite what that imbecile Oatham and his mate Clement might believe).  Because we care.

And I can tell you once those batteries have had a days use they need recharged because it drains them.  This strikes me as a classic case of a combination of a battery draining and perhaps(as Curious said) a connection between sets that had worked slightly loose

And that covers your 'these aren't old and overused' comment as well

3 hours ago, Freda said:

Absolutely.  I've felt - and have commented [ more than once ] - that it is not just stake levels that send owners/trainers across the Tasman.  It is the encompassing structure. The dates, the programming within those dates, the lack of flow, the inability to place one's horse to its advantage, and instead running where you can get a start, frequently well out of one's district and at considerable cost.

More than once I have offered to sort their dates(in the South at least) Every time ignored

5 hours ago, curious said:

Might be all that's required.

I know ours are very sensitive about battery power(don't let it get low!) and they are only a small set so that might also be contributing if the connection is at all compromised

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Right so when you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a machine and it doesn't work.  You don't get the supplier to make it fit for purpose instead you go and buy a bigger machine and more of them.  As an accountant I thought you'd see red at that!

What's more it is over investing in capital making more reasons to get a return which means more race meetings diverted.

 

The things aren't brand new.  If they didn't work straight off the shelf it would be different.  Maybe they are not as well looked after as, say, ours are(we have a shed at Reefton that they fit nicely into for 11.5 months of the year.  They will come out New Year's day or the day after, be checked for flat batteries or other issues and be back in there ten days later)

Curious is clearly in the know on what happened and his explanation seems totally plausible

9 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Instead of fixing the issue or finding out what the real problem was they are going to limit races to 14 starters and purchase brand new starting gates to be permanently based at each of the major courses.

Which they have only resolved by limiting field sizes until NEW gates can be built and delivered.  How many times have the extensions failed to open?  

Are you talking about WINX?

fixing the issue or finding out what the real problems is?????????????

Clearly the real problem is unreliable supplementary gate sets and to fix the issue they are obtaining bigger sets of gates.  Can't see a conspiracy or even a mystery there.  NZTR have taken immediate and  definitive action

How many times have the extensions failed to open?  

No idea but it is not unknown for a gate in the main sets not to open or to open slowly.  I think the supplementary sets might have stayed closed at Riverton a few years ago(could be wrong)

Are you talking about WINX?

Kawi.  They could have loaded Winx two hours before and she would still have thumped them

32 minutes ago, Bill said:

My apologies, I did, yes you in the coast have a SimTrack set. So there are quite a few sets in the country. Te Rapa with a bank of 14, will they sell them to another venue that can only run 14 horse only fields?

They would have a cheek expecting to sell them given NZTR probably paid for them.  Insofar as I know we are the only people in NZ who brought our own.

Given the way they appeared to go together it may be possible to just add an extra three or four in the middle(if they are like the Simtrack sets)

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Are you going soft?  A Grp 1 race debacle.  Then the decision is to reduce potential field sizes by 20% until the new gates arrive.  Let alone accounting for the capital cost for tracks that have a limited number of race meetings.  

Yep just throw some more dosh around to solve a problem that should be easily fixed

I smell rats all over the place.

Tell you what- wouldn't it have been better not to have built the Awapuni synthetic that no local trainer wanted and invested in gates that work and are easily transported?

I'm past caring about the industry but tell me what are the rats you smell?

From where I sit they have had an incident of starting gate malfunction where there was a supplementary set in use.  Unfortunately during a group one race.  NZTR have put in place temporary measures to try to prevent a recurrence until they can resolve the net for supplementary sets.  I don't think I can smell too many rats in that

Go back a few years when a multiple group one winner was always allowed to be last into the gates in Group one's or when a certain prominent stable used to use barrier blankets to ensure their horses entered the gates last.  Now there I smell something of a rat. 

1 hour ago, Bill said:

Starting gates in NZ

Whangarei - SimTrack - 14

Avondale - SimTrack - 16 (let’s hope they sell there’s to someone else)

Ellerslie - Steriline - 18

Te Rapa - Steriline - 14 + the clip on set of 4 (clip on may or may not belong to Northern Raceday Services)

Northern Raceday Services - Steriline - 14 + clip on set with 4 barriers (mobile set)

Hawkes Bay - SimTrack - 16

CD Consortium - SimTrack - 14 + the clip on set with 4 barriers. (Mobile set)

Riccarton - Steriline - one 18 set & one 14 set.

Ashburton - SimTrack - 14

Timaru/Otago/Southland - SimTrack - 14 (mobile set)

Wingatui - SimTrack - 14 + clip on set of 6 barriers

Invercargill - SimTrack - 14
 

SimTrack https://simtrack.com.au/starting-gates/

Steriline https://www.sterilineracing.com/our-products/starting-gates/

remember we got rid of all the old caddy gates individual clubs had because they were not getting the maintenance they required, so clubs used shared gates together that were transportable. Looks like we are somewhat going back to clubs having their own stalls. Obviously they will need sheds to be stored in as well, big sheds as they are long and high.

 

 

 

 

 

ya forgot the best racing province in NZ!

26 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

How "temporary"?  Do these things sit in stock on a shelf somewhere?

Well when we wanted a set they were available immediately.  Mind you that was a long time ago.  What took the longest was the freight and, in our case, organising the money.  We ordered them in February and(I think) got them in November but that was because they held them for us for many months.

But having been actively involved in assembling them(bloody interesting) they came in two lots of six.  I imagine that they would just put another six section in the middle.  Who knows they may be able to put a four in the middle of the (14) sets they have now.  They connect with bloody big bolts.

Ours being twelve we can transport them on a truck(as do the Otago Southland ones) but an eighteen would be too much I would say.

Without knowing I would say Steriline(made the Ellerslie and Riccarton Gates) and Simtrack(from what I can see most of the rest of us) are probably constantly making up sets as once again I imagine the demand in Aussie is quite constant.

Its not NZTR's fault that this happened nor did anyone at the WRC intentionally do it.  Mistakes occur and you make moves to prevent them happening again.

There are far worse things happening in NZ racing than this(bad look as it may be)

Bit of over reaction there guys.  Clearly they are going to buy 18 horse sets for these tracks and the reduction to 14 is temporary.  Riccarton has an 18 horse set so they will be available.  Add Dunedin to that list of tracks needing new sets as well.

Of course I could regurgitate the fact that the Coast had to buy their own gates and it appears NZTR are going to stump up for these but perhaps I have done that to death?

Whatever happens and who's ever fault Saturday was(I didn't see it) it was a bad look for NZ Racing in a G1 race.

2 hours ago, Huey said:

Agree of course the argument now will be they have this amazing new track. 

I don't see the need for Auckland to even have a racecourse myself.

Yeah lack of foresight in spending that dosh on a track where people only go a couple of times a year(and 90% of them would have no idea there was an actual racemeeting on)

That's an NZTR release this morning

The STC clearly realises it has assets(Rosehill) that are not returning anything like a decent return on their value.

Here's our man Cameron congratulating them on the move.

Cameron Cameron Cameron can you not see how stupid this makes NZ racing look?  Why don't you cash up that Ellerslie dump (and Riccarton, Te Rapa and several more)  and use the massive amounts of cash resulting to sort NZ Racing out?

Don't say you can't enforce this seizure of clubs assets because the Racing Act gives you the exact power to do so.

I've been on and on and on about this for absolute years - NZ Racing is chocka with underperforming assets(ie the property assets of the major clubs)

Massive upheaval for Rosehill though.  I guess a Rosehill trainer who owns his property will be able to join in the windfall

1 hour ago, muzenza365 said:

As i do when i am having a bet, especially over a carnival, I go back and have a look for any horses that were in my opinion unlucky.

I found one in the open 1000m sprint on the first day at Riccarton called Imwonderfiltonight,I thought it did not have a lot of room to improve and considered it unlucky.

So i go to the Stewards report which Oatham was the Sheriff and you guess it, not even a mention of the horse,i cannot fathom how he failed to even not consider that horse was not unlucky. At the worst, go and ask the rider, he may even congratulate you for doing your job description and believe you are competent.

I have seen the lies written by J Oatham regarding the Reefton cancellation and I will put my hand up and say he is well and truly passed his use-by date.

Just going to mention the Reefton issue.  T Moseley does what he likes and nothing said.  And a year ago Oatham completely fails to see the issue in 20 or so horses slipping at the start on the first two days at Riccarton and the track issues/neglect prior to the last day.  Sends out the crash test dummies Jockeys no trouble at all for the first on Cup day.

Mind you he saw the evidence of the slip/skid at Reefton when multiple vastly experienced people(Walsh McCann Skelton Walker Pitman) could see nothing.  Only thing is he cannot prove he saw it, he never got any evidence of it and nobody else admits to seeing it. 

The only one who cannot see through him is his simpleton CEO Clement(and of course his simpleton mate Dickie who did the so called 'review')

2 hours ago, Newmarket said:

15mm in last 24hrs 😆😆🤫

Place called Cropp River way up behind Hoki got 600ml one day back in the 80's then the next day it got another 600ml and the day after than another 600ml.  That is an inch of rain an hour for three days!

Now that is precipitation.

Have NZTR charged someone?

Can NZTR charge someone themselves or is that(the charging) the domain of the RIB?

Because if NZTR are able to lay charges I want them to charge Oatham and Clement under rule 801(1) for lying to a Steward or Official of a Racing Club.  They did it and did not(and could not) deny it but because they are the cops in this scenario they just gave us the one fingered salute

 Bit ironic this but the stakes increases for feature/premier meetings actually encourage the likes of Te Akau/Marsh to set up Southern operations.  'Easy' money for the likes of an On the Bubbles who has, for one reason or another(I have no idea and no interest) drifted down the grades.  Would it be better to spread that good money out a little more so that the likes of Timaru Kurow Kumara can have better stakes days so South Island stakeholders have a better chance(maybe not at Kumara)?

Re the $350K race they would be better to say 'For horses trained by licence holders having their principal training operation in the South Island. Further not open to horses previously trained by ineligible trainers but transferred to eligible trainers within the last 12 months'.  The way it is worded I would be surprised if there is a true South Island horse finishes in the first five. 

Body cams????????

What a deadset tragedy John Oatham didn't have one on on January 5th.  He could have shown conclusive evidence of the slip marks that Madison Rose made to prove the track was unsafe and also played us the footage of the Jockeys in the room 'agreeing unanimously' to abandon the meeting.

'On no sorry that footage was deleted by mistake'

22 minutes ago, Reefton said:

Impeccable integrity?

You're f*#'.*g joking aren't you?

Makes up and/or propagates absolute bullshit stories to justify the actions of his officials then refuses to admit it when they are exposed.

They really think the participants are thick don't they?

 

 

 

 

and not only did he do it but the Minister and his Board Chair both know he did it and never raised a finger to bring him into line

What a bloody joke

On 11/06/2021 at 11:00 AM, Chief Stipe said:

Former Police Deputy Commissioner To Lead New Racing Integrity Board

Friday, 11 June 2021, 9:03 am
Press Release: Racing Integrity Board

 

Mike Clement has been appointed Chief Executive of the new independent Racing Integrity Board which will oversee the racing industry from 1 July 2021.
 

“The Board is delighted to have been able to secure a leader of Mike’s standing, experience and impeccable integrity,” says Sir Bruce Robertson, Chair of the Racing Integrity Board.

© Scoop Media

 

Impeccable integrity?

You're f*#'.*g joking aren't you?

Makes up and/or propagates absolute bullshit stories to justify the actions of his officials then refuses to admit it when they are exposed.

They really think the participants are thick don't they?

On 22/09/2023 at 1:33 PM, Chief Stipe said:

I never use that - basically it is entirely computer generated based on historical data and European based computer models. 

The NZ Metservice and the VUW Weather model are the best sources.  They are more nuanced and aligned to local conditions.

NZ Met Service

The useless pricks issue heavy rain('Orange' or 'Red') warnings for the Coast every second bloody day.  And guess what? - it invariably never arrives(well not heavy for here anyway).  They are frigging hopeless.

Like most green climate change nutters they know exactly what the weather will be in a hundred years but have no idea what it will be tomorrow.

I think my fishermen clients use that Norwegian Service and believe it far superior.  When you are out in the Tasman Sea in a tin boat you need accurate info so I would listen to them as to it's reliability before anyone else.

However ........

Maybe it was John Oatham doing the head Stipe's job at Rotorua?  - he is good at making up 'facts' to justify cancellation decisions

3 hours ago, Doomed said:

I'm sure everyone is sick of me going on about the terrible pattern of racing in the SI, the lack of 2yo races, the lack of 3yo races past 1,600. The lack of any leadership from the CJC.

There is a comment in the report about the John Grigg. That has been killed by being placed a week before the old Nth Canty 3yo mile at Riccarton. No horse ever races in both races. How hard would it be to have those two races two weeks apart? Both races would improve out of sight if that was done. 

I don't mind the Welcome being in the Autumn, but it needs to be part of a well thought out pattern. They will just plonk it in somewhere. There used to be a 2yo fillies race mid summer, but that has long gone along with the SI Champion Stks for 3yos.

Canterbury needs to think a bit like SA where they have developed a significant Autumn carnival. There should be three major Autumn 2yo races; the Welcome Stakes, leading into the Champagne Stakes, which needs to go to Group 3, followed by a 1,400m 2yo which the club needs to get to listed status. And reintroduce the 2yo fillies race before all that.

Wouldn't it just be nice to see them trying something. It took them many years to pull down the old grandstand, that will probably tire them out for a while.

 

I wanted to have a crack at redoing the entire SI calendar a year of so back but why bother?  They will only ignore it and if the CJC didn't like anything(not that there would be anything for them to dislike) then it would be altered to suit them.