Freda

Bloody pen pushers.

Whoever is to blame, it is a disgraceful situation and could have serious consequences in the event of human injury - or worse.

Yeah, agree there. If saving ground was the idea, why not have the rail out a bit for the first day, in to allow fresh ground the second day, then right in to allow more fresh ground against the rail. Seems to me to be going the wrong way...but there may be a good reason that I can't think of.

Cameron certainly didn't.

Yes, I realise it is a tropical or subtropical species. But Tokyo would have periods of cold, so, maybe a specific cultivar that can cope?

Plushenko strode home impressively along the fence.....just saying...

It was impressive in its maiden win, so, yeah, I guess it has.

To be absolutely fair, the kikuyu-type grass with its spreading root system [ a bit like twitch, I was told ] used in Qld is very different from the rye grass cultivars in use here. Just try and get rid of twitch from your garden, origin under the neighbour's fence, and you will get the point. I believe a similar type is also used in Tokyo, certainly in the Horlicks time, the grass looked discoloured and unattractive, but apparently still offered resilient cushion.

'....new synthetic training track, overhaul of grass training track...reconstruction of course proper ...' If only...and no mention of wiping out provincial clubs and tracks to facilitate this? heavens above..

Have to agree with both Pitty and Reefton about the watering producing uneven and biased track surfaces. But, without having any pretensions to expertise in this matter - apart from years of observation - there are vast differences in the surfaces we are offered for racing. A fast track at Reefton is very different from the same at Riccarton, a fact that seems to escape many. The soil structure at many tracks (as alluded to by the Chief who does have knowledge in these matters) is stuffed, and therefore there is little that beleaguered track managers can do in these situations. Riccarton has such an unforgiving substructure that it is unacceptable to offer in unwatered state when firm - yet that watering creates a raft of problems. As Curious has pointed out, years of underinvestment has produced this situation that is going to be hugely costly to sort out. As an aside - love your filly, Reefton, she looks to have a bright future.

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?