jess

I'm sure different jockeys will have slightly different things to say about the track - & wouldn't that be something you'd expect? It might be influenced by things like their experience (obviously in the case of JKB - VERY experienced and you'd have to regard his comments - if quoted accurately - as worth listening to) + with how many rides they had, at what stage of the day, how their mounts coped and where they positioned their horse on the track. Perhaps echoing the feedback of a couple of posters here - and not bagging the track, the manager or any jockeys - I have heard - variability across the track and around the track - particularly not riding as expected around the turn (into the straight) when off the fence It certainly appeared it rode quite differently to the meeting there on 11 May,

"Whales to get Active" Well they're certainly big - but are they whales? - or are they sharks ....

Precisely! Couldn't have put it better, Chief. To focus so heavily on that, is almost to admit defeat re the state of the tracks ....

"Advisory committee to the TAB" Interesting that with all the big noises in the various arms of the industry, who presumably get together and work stuff out - that it's believed we need a new entity to advise. "Vela, Waller, Lindsay, Chittick ... (et al)" Interesting members. Who chose them? Plenty of champagne but not a lot of grass roots there - or understanding, connection with or support for small owners/breeders. Sometimes in TB racing, the gene-pool feels like it's shrinking & sphere of influence feels like existing in a cartel & a money-go-round (with fewer & fewer "horses" circling on that carousel). But I acknowledge I'm seeing it through my lens - and the good & the great may have worked out that the whole industry would be better off without the minnows..

Yes! Rail movements features prominently doesn't it? Not sure why an image flashed into my head - of chaiirs being moved on the deck of a certain ship .... one that now rests on the bottom of the North Atlantic ocean ....

Gotta agree with that. I think in some rooms it's hard for the operators to hear through their little window - & the more complicated the bet - the more chance it gets messed up. Filling out slips for those makes a lot of sense - and easier for the operators - and yep - keeps the queue behind moving along happily ....

Ah ok. Hence the howls of " that bl#*#y thing was paying $4.00 when backed it a minute ago - now it's won `n' paid $2.80!! "🤪

Still haven't worked out what situations to go fixed & what horses are more likely to drift out on the tote & pay more - some days it seems whatever you do - the opposite happens! That's punting I guess .... One thing I have noticed is there must be a bit of a delay in calculating/displaying dividends - because sometimes the last dividends you see displayed before they jump are quite different. Perhaps inevitable with a few late last minute plunges ...

Me too! Have a TAB account - a credit card - but I have only country ponies at the moment! I'm with him! But I reckon I could do it too! There's no holding back technology ... embrace it

Agree - from what I could tell, anyhow. Not all scouting wide like they do sometimes on heavy tracks there. Heard that there was some variability in places but it was hard to pick where was the best. Think you're right SA - some relished it - some just coped with it - & some hated it & packed it in. But to the eye it looked safe - and fair. So well done Wanganui/Whanganui.

Oh for sure. But I am betting pretty "basic", tbf. Haven't seen seen the pods on course. Maybe I should get out more Chief? - get me a metro class of pony & check out the big city courses .... To be fair I was confused enough making a rare foray into a Maccas a while back & all the young ones were ordering at screens instead of talking to the humans behind the counters.. I did work it out & got me a big mac - but I rather more enjoyed my next takeaway meal at the local fish n chip shop - ordering from the 11 year old (whose maths was way sharper than mine) - then seeing mum prepare the feast (her English definitely not quite as good as mine) -and dad wrap & hand it over with a smile. With a bit of random people watching in the intervening time .... a little bit of kiwi magic 😍

Interesting! I assumed (for no particular reason other than fixed odd being a more recent addition to the betting menu) that tote was the default if not stipulated by the on-course customer. From now on I'll make sure I specify whichever way I'm betting. When on course I find most of the tote staff very pleasant but some of them seem super-slow & almost unfamiliar with the keyboards/menus/betting types. I guess some of them may not work the machines all that often so possibly a bit out of practice. It's definitely handy to have the phone bet option.

.. ha ha ... and these gamblers - should they participate - go into a draw (a bit like a wee lottery?) to win some prizes! ... 😝

Hmmm. Yes I suspect the rocks were "imported" - & if so, certainly an issue of quality control there. But what did the contract stipulate? Did the sand (or whatever) have to come from a particular source & meet stipulated specs - or were things a little more "loose" (leaving little or no "come-back" on any contractors/suppliers). Is the devil in the detail - maybe the contractors are not the only ones to be found wanting when it comes to rocks in the track (& rocks in some heads too) Chief - I'm no expert but I've seen lots of different types of sand (crushed shell sand, golden beach sand, iron sand, fine river sand etc) - I'm assuming all sand is not created equal & it's a particular kind that's needed for a racetrack? If so - even regardless of the rocks - was this the correct one - from a designated source? I never expected the track to be perfect for the first meeting - and I think we all agree someone yielded to pressure & went too soon on it. But I find it utterly frustrating after all this money - all this time - all this hope! - to be in this parlous situation. And it's even worse to be fed this b.s from Corporate Comms - treated like fools - and to see not an ounce of responsibility (let alone accountability or contrition) from anyone. If no-one's prepared to acknowledge what/how/why it went wrong - we can't expect it now to go right (for the remediation). And while we're on CD tracks - still the promised report on the synthetic is missing in action (I know your views there Chief) - and we continue to be treated like mushrooms over the goings on at Otaki. I try to remain fairly moderate in the way I express my views here but my frustration, despair and yes, anger is starting to rise to the top. I'd like to head to the bar about now but I've got to get back to work - cos it's bloody expensive having horses in work - even when there's nowhere much to race them ... let alone the extra $ it costs to go further afield ... let alone less opportunities to race handy & get some stakes ... I'll settle for putting some tonic in the fridge & check in later on ... J.

My response to this terrible piece of spin-doctoring. If anyone can answer any of the questions - I'd love to hear it - sure as hell won't be holding my breath for answers from Corporate Communications, NZTR. RACE Awapuni Remediation Progressing Under Specialist Oversight New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and RACE Inc. are continuing the maintenance and remediation work on the RACE Awapuni course proper, with weekly management meetings underway between RACE, NZTR and international racecourse specialists, Callum Brown and Liam O’Keefe. Were these specialists "experts" involved in the development of the track (including the decision it was ready to race on @Anzac) - or have they just been brought in subsequently? As part of this process, alternative machinery is being trialled to address compaction issues identified within the track profile. Why is a brand new track - barely galloped on - experiencing compaction problems? This is particularly important given the presence of stones beneath the surface, which limits the use of certain tines on the verti-drain machine. Are they stones or rocks? Where did they come from? - was the new track laid on top of them - or were they imported with the material used to make the new track? I assume it is the longer tines that now can't be used? - if so - will verti-draining with other tines still be effective? What's being done about the rest of the rocks still lurking under the surface? The course proper at RACE Awapuni requires decompaction through intensive remediation work to ensure it is safe for racing in the long term. As organic material begins to build beneath the surface, the track will become easier to manage, with less frequent and intensive maintenance required. Excuse my ignorance - Chief maybe you can help here - what's the process by which organic matter builds below the surface of this type of track? - a track that apparently we are going to dump more sand onto? This approach is similar to the work at Ellerslie Racecourse, where an extensive verti-drain process is routinely carried out prior to raceday to support surface performance. Similar to Ellerslie" - only Ellerslie presumably doesn't have rogue rocks like Awapuni? NZTR CEO Matt Ballesty commented, “We are treating the RACE Awapuni situation with the seriousness it warrants and working closely with the right people to get the best outcome for our participants, punters and for the future of racing in the Central Districts,” he said. (Corporate Communications wahwah) - and how many of these experts and "right people" are the same ones who helped get us in this mess in the first place? NZTR and RACE Inc. are completing the scheduled work programme and continuing to test different decompaction techniques and machinery, in accordance with advice from Liam O’Keefe and Callum Brown. At this stage, 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 remain committed to proactive decision-making should the track’s progress warrant any adjustments to this plan. “A safe return to racing is our number one priority,” added Ballesty. “We’re closely monitoring how the track responds to the remediation work and will make an early call on the RACE Awapuni programme if any material issues arise before the beginning of the new season.” “Clear communication with participants and Clubs is a priority as we work through this,” Ballesty said. Liam O’Keefe will return to RACE Awapuni on Monday 9 June to carry out further testing and surface assessments. A revised work programme will be agreed upon following this visit and we will inform the next phase of remediation activity. As above - Corporate Comms doing their thing. It leaves me with little confidence - provides few answers - & certainly not the slightest whiff of accountability. And before you jump down my throat Chief - without accountability & an honest analysis of the facts - a genuine understanding of our predicament & how we got here - how on earth can we have faith in the people & plans engaged to get us out of it. Jess Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Emma Thompson +64 21 071 2929 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz