Freda

Yeah, very unlucky, I thought she could do well. Smart.

Yes, I think that cost could be acceptable.

For Riccarton, yeah, I reckon so. Probably better than that now though.

I don't disagree in principle...but how many of the smaller players can/could afford that? Many are just hanging on by the skin of their teeth as it is.

Yes, a concern of mine too. And there is no stopping the relentless trend.

Cheaper refreshments too! Enthusiasts such as yourself are keeping us all going, and are, I fear, likely to be adversely impacted by the 'new' face of the industry.

At least the Met. has taken notice of the consistent fk-ups at the start and has replaced the starter...their call, not the RIU though. What a conflict of interest - racecourse D, RIU employee, starter...bloody hell, I'm not implying corruption here, but systems must be seen to be beyond any taint.

Good to have your critical eye back, Thommo.

Notwithstanding the 'research' the UK version of whip rules seem to work well to me.

Well, we have had a fair bit of rain, and very unseasonable ..so, nature is certainly to 'blame'....or would you prefer the track management to cop more flak? Tracks have been excellent since the Oct. 3rd meeting.

My understanding is that the AWT funding is Winston's baby, probably payback for the NZFirst support from the Waikato. It wasn't 'applied ' for in the general sense, it was for the AWT or nothing. How funding from the PGF arrived in Christchurch City is another head scratcher.

A Strathayr would be fantastic, to replace the existing turf course. But, as far as I am aware, the resources AREN'T there to look at that. The AWT is mostly funded by the PGF, with the cost over-runs met by some capital from the housing development. That PGF funding is not available for anything else.

Yeah..on a second look, quite right..soon to be demolished, we believe..so will be a stockpile indeed!

What stream?

Think its a stockpile area....but deciphering plans is not a strong point of mine. I like the notion that run-off will 'percolate into groundwater ' or something like that. I wonder if the fact that CHCH was built on a swamp and, in places, groundwater will come up to meet you if you are digging a posthole, might be relevant?

What a day for the locals....four each from Pitty and Terri Rae - could have been five if Marine had had better luck - as well as one from Sophie Hargreaves and Naomi Murfitt. Only the Baker/Forsman machine stemmed the tide. Well done to all.

It has been made quite clear that some industry days will be transferred to the AWT - 12 is the figure I think - and those tracks affected may find themselves redundant. The reduction of venues has long been the preferred option of Alan Jackson, well before the Messara report. That report has been discussed at length as well as the desire of NZTR to cash up assets. The AWT is now, clearly, going ahead...so the next step will be interesting.

Possibly, not sure....but plenty of 'liquid - enhanced ' patrons at both venues I should think !

Then why no similar direction from Police for Addington? I find it a bit of a stretch to think that Riccarton is treated differently...?

Yeah...but I don't think Cup Day was party central in those times, or at least, not as now.

Presume so...it has been the case in recent years.

Will be interesting. For starters, I don't see the need for a Racing Minister at all...there isn't a M for rugby, netball, motor racing, etc. And, reportedly, a former Minister, Annette King, apparently said that there was nothing she could do, whatever she might have wished, as there was never a consensus, just a medley of factions all pushing their own barrows. What is likely to change? However able Grant may or may not be, he is loaded with enough work to have racing sitting right at the bottom of the pile - as it should be - and I don't see anyone who has industry clout, is respected by all, and is logical and far-seeing enough to engage with him and actually achieve anything.

Yes, indeed. My feet got wet this morning walking across, and the sole of grass is impressive.

Was listening to a very robust tirade recently from a dairy farming couple, they would reckon that MPI don't think much at all.

I haven't heard anything of that nature, although one course proper gallop wouldn't be unreasonable going into a meeting such as this. But, given the amount of watering that will be needed to produce the 'desired' going, I don't think having horses galloping all over the track three days in the week would be countenanced at all. Counter productive, wouldn't you think?