Freda

I'm guessing overnight rain on a firm track... but will know more later.

I would have thought so too. He has undergone counselling/rehab before, with the help of racecourse chaplain Andrew McKerrow. I have no doubt Andrew would be the first to stand up and offer help again - but, in the end, the effort has to come from the individual. I also know he is very keen to get the record, he's only nine away, be a real shame if he lets it slip away.

Shame, but yes. However, although these guys and gals are professional athletes and ( should be) accustomed to being in the public arena, most of we ordinary mortals have little idea what it is like, and the pressures involved, with such a public lifestyle.

Superb track at Timaru yesterday.

That'd be a perfect fit..😡

It shouldn't, always used to be under the umbrella of the DIA I think. But, if we must have one, putting partisan politics aside, Jan Logie did some excellent work on getting the new Bill fit for purpose.

Some horses were loaded in the wrong gates last Sat at Riccarton. I have my own thoughts about the whole set-up...but, wouldn't you like to think the jocks knew what they had drawn? Ye gods....

Maybe they were able to spot the slip marks?

I was grumbled at by a very aggrieved course manager yesterday who appears to have been reading BOAY. He, like many others, can't separate a critical assessment /opinion from a personal insult. For the record, if I wanted to insult anyone [ which I don't ] I wouldn't put it in the public arena. The Chief, I think, is on the mark when he comments that track managers are between a rock and hard place. With stuffed soil structures and limited funds, there is little they can do to ameliorate a situation that has been slowly creeping up over many years of under-investment.

Showers predicted and a gd 2....?

yes, but I can't give you any help wrt processes. Pitty is a member, he would tell you.

I don't see this as needing to be a 'you're wrong and I'm right' sort of discussion, unfortunately that happens a lot nowadays, in politics as well as racing, and, indeed, life. Riccarton is the premier track in the South Island, hosting prestige races and basking in the Cup Week success that showcases the best week's racing in the country. So what is wrong with pointing out where [ in our opinions ] things could be improved? Wouldn't it be great if we could all be proud of the place, instead of thinking ' if only...' That is the very mindset that nullifies progress and typifies why we are where we are in the racing scheme of things. It is documented fact that turf tracks are generally looking for remodelling after twenty years use. That some provincial tracks are in quite good condition turf-wise only reflects the reality that they don't get the use that the city ones do [as well as being looked after by farmers, but we won't go there ]. Stating that fact is neither being negative nor mischievous. Rubbishing the opinions of those who subscribe to that same fact is childish and achieves nothing. Installing an allweather will be great for training, but as to whether the [ necessary ] increased revenue happens as a result is moot. Certainly, no figures have yet come to light to show us all where these improvements are coming from. And the Riccarton turf, which will be used on those above-mentioned premier days will still have a questionable structure.

Thats the one point that you, Pitty and I DO agree on. When irrigated ( I dont recall seeing any evidence of that last week but assume that some was applied ) or rained upon the consistency is variable and the top chips out badly...not conducive to either soundness, or confidence to gallop freely. I asked a few jockeys what they thought, hard, they all said, and Racha Cuneen also added that the top inch or so was shifty. There were 12 winners and of course those connections will be non-critical. But there will be plenty in behind much less happy. Many trainers / owners cop criticism for flocking to provincial meetings on industry days and passing up the better stakes at S.I headquarters. Isn't the reason obvious?

All kudos to Pitty for his excellent record. However, the track has been the source of much concern since it was re-laid in 1998; and I understand that twenty years is the general time frame for turf tracks to be renewed. That hasn't happened, and isn't likely to with the AWT in sight. [ I don't think some extra lateral drains that don't seem to work, or some occasional sand-slitting constitutes 'renewal' ]

I know the trainers in the other side of the stable block i lease came home and administered bute to their runners to ease their discomfort.

Can only speculate, but in the case of falls, apparently the landing isn't as forgiving as on a wet turf track...for horse or rider. Also ( quoting my English lad ) the take off is much more risky as there is less grip/traction than on grass. Schooling is done still, at a steadier pace of course.

As an aside, I note that Belmont, in Perth, is considering installing a Strathayr inside their main turf course.

Yes, I read about AWT jumps racing in France somewhere, but can't find any reference to it at all at the moment. The fatalities [ 13 ] and other injuries incurred in the first seven weeks of starting jump racing on AWT's in the UK caused the cancellation of the concept, and although it could be argued that technology and therefore the surfaces have improved since, there is no desire to revisit that.

It was tried, the big names brought their horses, Henderson, Pipe, but it was a failure and wasn't persevered with. Some will run bumpers on the Aw but no racing jumping. Schooling may take place however.

I was asked a question earlier. What about the jumpers? My own opinion is that jumping in the south is kaput [ sadly ]. But, given poor betting on those events, and the reality that - under the venue plan - Oamaru, Timaru and Riverton are to be 'dispensed with ' once the AWT is operational, there will be precious few opportunities for not just jumpers but for the genuine, winter galloper. It is hard to make a case for jumping events at Dunedin only, when Riccarton will be [ presumably ] running the majority of winter meetings on the AW. Or will there be a turf/AW day where jumpers go round on the turf and the rest on the AW ? possible, but I can't really see that happening, numbers wouldn't justify that at all.

That would be attributed to training/ stabling operations.

'It is only an asset if it returns enough profit to keep up the operational costs, maintenance and return on capital. Surely someone has done those numbers?' Seems not.

Well said

I said, I always stand to be corrected. So, that means you think we'll see less action? I can hardly wait...

Maybe. Always stand to be corrected. But the 'detail' didn't translate into positive action, though, did it?