Freda

Yes, i think that would be the case.

As a matter of interest, I had a chat with one of the few trainers who attended the ' roadshow ' , he confirmed there was little information to share. No financial plan, and according to him, no means to cover the extra costs and/ or maintenance. One interesting point he made, as informed by an owner of his whom I think would know, apparently PGF funding has to be repaid in some cases....it is advanced as an interest-free loan, not a gift.

That option would seem a far better and fairer use of PGF funding than an effing white elephant in a city.

No idea.

He rides, pissed or stoned, better than most do straight. But that's not really the point, is it.

Don't forget Shreck and Compton's Mrs....or our own Head of ' Integrity' and his own motel acrobatics...as well as his henchman who helped him escape the scene....it goes on, Clinton, Profumo, your next door neighbour; and we do have 60 Minutes here too. But the millions pissed up a wall would never rate a mention, too commonplace, no-one cares, or notices, Govts change but the Civil Service run the show, to the man in the street nothing alters.

Don't forget this is the guy who had to ask ' do you gallop them every day ? ' ye gods... And, for me [ self-interest foremost here ] a huge concern is where we will work our horses, both during and after installation. To be fair, that is not Saundry's job to work out, nor is it the mandate of the engineers, but the CJC must provide some idea going forward. I gather the idea of an underpass to get access to the inside tracks without contaminating the AWT is considered too expensive, so the track layout will be, from outside in, course proper, allweather, another grass gallop,and the middle [which currently provides three smaller gallop grasses, a small sand, a reverse cinder track, a frost grass, as well as hurdle/steeple grasses ] . The middle tracks are reported to be going, to guard against contamination. Inside, will be created small lakes to hold the run-off from the water applied to the AWT, so, unless some innovative thinking comes about, there seems to be no provision for slow working horses other than on the allweather. The excellent plough, big and small trial gallops and the big sand will be swallowed up by the AWT.

No.

I'm afraid so. I'm staggered that road-shows up and down the country can be justified when there is nothing specific to say..? If that doesn't ring alarm bells for those who attended.....oh dear.

Petone.

I'm not negative either, nor against AWT's. But the cost, both initially and ongoing, the requirements of manpower, expertise and machinery and the reduction and/or elimination of pretty fair training facilities as they stand, is hard to justify against a background of dropping revenues and interest with absolutely no indication that returns will be increased significantly - as well a loading extra costs onto trainers/owners.

Not to mention the difficulty of getting permission to take as much water as is needed...and Chief mentioned 28 deg temperatures here in Canterbury...we have can week after week of more than 32 deg in the summer as well as howling nor'westers..ffs...how does the water permit look then?

My understanding is that RV is limiting the Aw's to just two.

Ngai Tahu are smart operators, they'd see that lot coming a mile away.

I also understand, that the then Housing Minister, Nick Smith, who was also the Minister of Conservation, was only able to swing the sale of the portion referred to by ensuring that Ngai Tahu were in the frame first...and that housing as opposed to commercial developments were specified. National needed housing. Of course, Ngai Tahu are under no such constraints, with the on-sale to Ryman Healthcare of a nice chunk of the property.

Racecourse Reserve Trustees administer it. I think [ but don't hang me if I'm wrong ] ownership is vested in that Trust, from the time that the Founding Fathers of Christchurch City donated the land for the recreational use by, and support of racing and breeding for, the people of Canterbury.

50k annually, with any top-up to be met by the club. That seems to me to be so far away from reality as to be mind-boggling.

Balanced comment, as we have come to expect, Reefton. A couple of trainers are very 'pro ' , a few others haven't considered ramifications of cost, provincial racetracks, availability of other surfaces both during and after construction, etc. going forward - but think that it will be great for trackwork. Most of the others don't want it, but for whatever reason, won't commit openly to being against it. So, if the money [ 10 mill ] appears, and doesn't get held up by being a political football as a result of Winston's lies and chicanery, it will go ahead. Where the additional funds will come from aren't clear, and there seems to be a huge disparity between the maintenance costs factored in by NZTR, and those published from other sources.

Timaru is destined for closure, Mikey, I don't know anyone who thinks that is either fair, or a good idea, but there it is. The only show of 'saving' Timaru is if the allweather doesn't go ahead.

Thomass- pull your head in. You have a valid presence wrt holding some to account. No problem with that,but give up the dog-and-bone stuff or you'll get squashed. And that would be a shame.

Oh dear.

Anyone see Q & A with Jack Tame?

Ye gods, you guys...Walker is guilty of stupidity, not much else - IMO - and he's got plenty of mates drawing big salaries. Weir, for all his supposed ability, abused horses- also IMO - so no comeback from that. Moods may have broken the rules, but as far as I am aware ( and I may be wrong ) he loves his charges...so apples with apples. There are times when rules must be obeyed and times when they are ridiculous.

The cynic in me says what drainage? H 11 for weeks ..... However, the engineers involved have also done the Cambridge track, under direction from the Australian company, one assumes the expertise is both up to date and up to the job.

Eff all losses from abandoned days, after all no stakes or tea ladies to pay. Inconvenience and costs to stakeholders, but until very recently they weren't compensated. I had to retire a horse when his owners pulled pin after two abandoned days at Oamaru, a few years ago now. Only a maiden, and the two float trips and associated disappointment finished them. That gelding later appeared on the local dressage/event circuit as M.G., and showed good style and potential. Sold on to Jock Paget he then competed as Angus Blue, won in Sth Aust, and then went to the Uk where he did well . Repatriated back home to train with Jock's Olympic hopes. So not always a bad ending!