Freda

Spoke to Sam, she thinks she had been injured but she isn't sure to what extent. Also thought they weren't interested in breeding from her as she wasn't good enough!

Yeah, in most cases that's spot on. However, they don't have to dodge around unsuitable programming that can mean too long between races, or else races all on top of each other. There are reasons other than stakemoney that lead to horses being sent over the ditch, a factor you have alluded to on more than one occasion. In the case of P.T., I don't think that particular race was ever factored in, in the beginning. It would have taken a very strong-minded trainer indeed to have said, no, she's going to the paddock!

Very likely.

Yogesh Atchamah is out of his apprenticeship now.

The policing of riding is awful and that's why there is no improvement. Sit a few more on their butts for a decent amount of time, the reducing bank account will soon improve their outlook. But the ability of stipes to read races is poor and that may also mean some riders are penalized unfairly. A can of worms. Not a new situation though. A former apprentice of mine, a leading rider here, went to Sydney when his apprenticeship ended and started riding work for Gai. Got a ride, drew wide and ended up in behind the leader. He was very proud of his effort, until he got back and was told firmly ' you're not in the Sth Island of NZ now, boy' .....he got six weeks for taking another's line. Probably tightened a few as well.

Ffs....what a waste of time.

I wasn't aware it was the job of breeders' groups to delve into track management.

Even if only a few develop a real interest it has to be good value. Great idea IMO.

Definitely agree with rotation to allow track renovation. The right sort of guidance,leadership, call it what you will, could have facilitated a more desirable outcome than what we have now.

Technically, probably correct. But the threat of arbitrary closure has produced enormous ill feeling. As said by a former very astute poster, the only reason to close a track is an economic one. If people dont want to come and horses dont get nominated, then we'll put up the white flag. The much maligned Purcell said, in my hearing, I'm not in favour of forced closure of tracks, but we will offer support and work with any club which chooses to race at another venue. That was the way to go about the issue IMO.

WTF....? I've been on the wrong end of Leo's acerbic criticism, many a time. But this, if not a piss-take, is disgraceful.

That I can concede is a valid point.

" ...I gather you approved of what the Westland Racing Club did when if a fit of churlish pique they gave their assets back to the local community. Racing on the West Coast lost to parochialism and an inability for the four clubs to work together..." They worked together perfectly fine. Greymouth gladly held the Westland day for them, as well as their own, continuing the four-day circuit. Buses were put on to take the Hoki locals to 'their' day at Omoto. So NZTR refused the permit for the 4th day from then onwards. Churlish? absolutely.

That has been the case for the last two decades. And has been discussed ad infinitum on several forums. In the 90's - and earlier - most clubs did pay their way from racing/ betting revenue. That has gone west in a big way, the smaller clubs lose less, that's all. The fact that small clubs are then held up as unnecessary and a drain on the industry is astounding, and shows how out of touch the administration is.

Well, I think Reefton - for one - provides its own maintenance and has a positive balance sheet. I can't imagine Mr Molloy tolerating debt. Hokitika was another that had plenty in kitty, enough to undertake any works determined to be necessary. Not given the chance. Gone.