Freda

Morally, that has to be a good thing. After all the negative publicity the feeling among many is that the remaining two would not go ahead anyway.

I don't know what is worse - those participants ' hanging in' while fully aware of the downhill slide we are on...or those in blind denial of what is actually happening. There are few at Riccarton [ that I have heard ] that seem to have any idea how bad things are, or how the 'bailout' was not the game-changer that they think it was. Even our administrators think that we [ racing ] pay so much tax to the govt that we are entitled to yet more assistance.

They will need an additional 6 mill plus for the Riccarton one.

And, yeah, a Strathayr would be brilliant and much less disruptive to normal work.

A couple of years ago, there was a meeting to discuss the allweather ....in principle. The idea was that closures of provincial tracks - except Ashburton - would take place to make the new track financially viable. Most agreed not to dismiss out if hand, the consensus was that it would never happen and therefore a bit of research would do no harm. The only one that I am aware who has been positive all along is Pitty...most don't care. Now, however, the reality of the disaster for trackwork that will ensue, is hitting home. One trainer thought he would relocate to Greymouth, another to Waikouaiti for the duration. Most dont have that option.

Well, it won't be benefitting trainers while it is in the process of construction.

There are three commercial studs close to Christchurch, and another two in the greater Canterbury region. I don't see much in the way of 'economic benefits' to those five operations. Those trainers not at Riccarton are based at Rangiora, Ashburton and Timaru. Many will be disadvantaged severely, not aided, when their local tracks are closed because of the allweather. Farmers in Canterbury mostly breed cows and sheep.

Absolutely - who is responsible for that b/s?

The evergreen CWJ. Wonder how long he'll keep going? Word is that once he reaches the all-time record, he'll hang up his boots...but who knows?

yeah, didn't see many races but did watch Hazel Schofer win one by about a dozen lengths. Any moderately competent rider would have scored on that horse. But, good on the girls, we'd be in a parlous state without them...and the imports.

And, to add....i don't have faith in the maintenance being able to maintain consistency. Would love to be proven wrong.

Sounds idyllic. That's tiered racing done properly. Was talking to Gunner Nyhan not so long ago, he left years ago with Jan Cameron ( jockey) to ply their trades in and around Alice Springs, I was gobsmacked when he told me the stakes in the regions. I have never been able to understand why successive administrations have not been able to look at the best system in the world and learn. The UK has fantastic history and prestige, but stakes for the lesser lights are poor by comparison, and the various Asian regimes have little in common with our geography and history. Australia most closely mirrors NZ in terms of development as a nation as well as the mix of ethnicities...but boy, have we made a mess of our racing structures.

Can't disagree with any of that. What is so gutting is the fact that, over the years, there have been so many good ideas floated - yes, and a fair bit of crap too - but nothing has been taken from those ideas that has made a difference.

Should....but the outfit it so close to broke that it's not possible. I get what you and Joe are saying...it's just that you have have to tailor your suit to the cloth...or however that goes. Better half a chance than none. ' Tiered ' stakes are a nonsense anyway in NZ...there isn't the population or system to do it properly, hence stupid anomalies such as highlighted.

Yeah, well, despite the glowing reports from Rita/Tab about stakes allocations being at least at pre-covid levels, I think it would be fairly obvious that there isn't a surfeit of money. Add the extra cost of the very welcome free starts and starting incentives, and think the option is a modest stake or none....but at least you have the chance to earn a few more points and miss the cut next time. Scratching without penalty is probably a bridge too far! I'm normally very critical but , as an owner, it is just such a relief to get a payment ( albeit small ) instead of a bloody bill.

I always wondered why Bart relocated to Sydney. Guess you just enlightened me as to that.

consistent footing is the big issue...if it is the same all round, it matters not if it is hard, soft, or anywhere in between. It is the fluctuations that do the most damage.

True.

Have a heart, team....he still has a family. They must be mortified with all the publicity and chit-chat. Surely we don't need to dine out on this for much longer?

From a completely subjective viewpoint, training while this ' game changer ' is built is going to be a nightmare. We have just had a patch of very settled weather. Grass gallop tracks have dried up drastically, to the point where any horse slightly vulnerable will take the skin off their fetlocks during work, even bandaging is not totally successful. The plough ( our saviour) has been brought back into use. This, our godsend in dry weather, is going to be lost to us. Fine, you may say, but you'll have the allweather to work on. Not for the six or more months it's going to take to install. How 200 - odd horses can be adequately fast worked on rock hard and rough inside grasses horrifies me, even if we are allowed the course proper, it will still be pretty hard for the period involved.

I am told ( not sure how accurate is the information) that Riccarton will be attempting to borrow against the capital realised from the housing development. Of course, borrowings have to be paid back.....

I imagine, that the RHC would be quite OK with the venture, esp as it should help the financial viability of the venue.

I've posted content that, at times, I wish I had thought through better, or perhaps re-phrased. Surely, the poster can apologise, or re-post in a less provocative manner? that should be sufficient to negate any threat of litigation to that poster. As for the website owner - he is fully prepared for any fallout.

As for Covid-19 being responsible for downturn, Curious and others have pointed out that Rita has been able to keep operating on Australian racing without being required to pay out any stakes or fund significant broadcasting costs. If anything, things should be looking marginally better, not worse.