Freda

I actually don't have a problem with open entry....but, once entries are in and collated, there needs to be a rational dividing-up of runners so that ratings are more on a par. Throwing all in together isn't helpful going forward, but neither is the situation that existed before, with 6 or 8 higher rated horses running for 30k and a glut of 65 and similar raters all squashed into one pile and many not getting a go at all.

I reckon out McLeans Island way would be a good option...poorer soil ( from an agricultural point of view, so less pricey) light, free draining land, a stone's throw from central ChCh, the Equestrian facility handy as well, also Orana Park .....yeah, good idea Reefton.

Was thinking that....admirable aim, though, Chief.

What about the amateur 'chase down there? Busloads used to go down, some stayed overnight at the local hostelry. Great entertainment.

Which is why a dedicated jumping 'season' or circuit for jumping days would be grand...but will never happen now. In fact I'd be very surprised if the National is ever run down here again. The principal club has sat on its hands and happily hosted the Nationals, year on year, but done nothing to foster or support the sport.

Don't seem to be, do they. Yet the jumpers have a huge following in the Uk

Don't knock the jumpers, Chief....

. And to hear some talk, it seems that anything Waikato is automatically superior to elsewhere...🙁

To be fair, I haven't looked at the fields at Awapuni ( apart from the jumps) but is it the only R65 on the card? If it is an additional race, that might be why.

Don't blame ya. Anyone who has the options to do so, I think would be. Obviously, though, for many that isn't viable, with family, finance, and other considerations. But this notion of ' Saturday' and 'midweek' classes is all wrong for NZ, yet keeps getting traction. The only way I can see it working is to have maidens, and [ say ] R 62, 68 midweek and at modest stakes. Let the higher rated horses have the weekends and better money. That way there are opportunities to race, as well as work towards a better sort of option. Years ago - and you would recall this - clubs 'tiered' themselves, to what they could afford. The provincial clubs had their day, but happily catered for the lesser lights, and the handicapper reflected this when/if a country Cup winner went to the city. But handicapping and systems have changed, and not necessarily all for the good. Horses like Over the River, winner of multiple handicaps, is one standout under todays model - but few have his durability. Yesteryear, many good but not top-class horses could win open races around the smalls, but would never be competitive in a city class handicap. One such horse I recall [ County Antrim, raced by Richard Taggart, brother of trainer Barrie ] won races like the Westport Cup, Wyndham Cup, etc....then the tinkering started. Too many open races, they said. So those 'cup' races became Cl 3 handicaps with the open races pushed towards the city clubs. Richard, knowing full well how slim the chances were of him racing a Grp winner, said, when Bob is finished, I won't race another one. They're stuffing racing. How right he was. Then things got changed again. Races like the Kumara Nuggets became ' iconic' handicaps, with significant injections of prizemoney. Now all the big guns attacked, and again, the country handicapper got left in the cold. More changes and rearrangements since, but the steady dismantlement of systems that worked had done the damage. The Aus model of city [ midweek and Saturday ] provincial, country and bush/non-tote works really well, but we just don't have the numbers, the geography, or the organisational skills to make it viable. You would think that the Aussie imports we have employed might have an idea, but seemingly not.

Yes, you're right, Chris did drop his whip. And another pretty fair effort was in winning the Dunedin Gold Cup ( 2400 ) and the very next day the Timaru Cup ( 1600 ). She broke all the rules.

A bike....jeez, I have just finished reading about Nancy Wake, I bet she never wanted to ride a bike, ever again, after the war.

Yes. And off nine days work.

Yep. And ' draft ' calendars are out for October onwards with no races depicted apart from black type ones, and no stakes shown either. Surely I'm not the only one with misgivings here.

You're right about the bloody easterly. Would cut you in half most days.

China White?

The Alcimedes horse was Eurypides. Cloudy View was, I think, by Grey William. Shane Laming won the Telegraph on Flying View, also trained by Lionel.

Clarrie McCarthy won both legs of the double at [ I think ] Waikouaiti one year with an Alcimedes stallion whose name escapes me...and Lionel Pratt regularly sent horses around very frequently - and with great success. See if you can find any info on Cloudy View...

Looked again...this time managed to get to the right section. Not good reading at all. All the same, I'm surprised the writer hasn't been threatened - or has he?

You won't get one.

I did have a look early this morning but got bogged down on matters trotting for some reason.

I was standing with Kelvin Tyler during the running of the middle distance race, he was frowning at his runner parked 4 wide no cover under the 4-claimer Yong Chew....he needn't have worried, it just kicked arse! Some good performances on the day. The Redwood filly of the Wilsons' looks talented....and Kenny had a good day too, lucky he got his S I passport updated.

I felt she might be suspect - at that level - on better going. She's run 1.10 and change, but at no stage was she ever going to threaten those proven good sprinters. She won her maiden on firm ground...but that lot weren't maidens. She's a genuine little performer on suitable going, we will just have to be careful where she runs, that's all.

Pity I hadn't checked in earlier, I could have given you my thoughts about the firm track and how she might cope. She didn't. After a good enough effort first up on heavy going, she couldn't muster the pace today. She's dropped a heap of weight too, is still furnishing and can go to the paddock.

I'd agree....but they will have their systems sorted for next time.