Freda

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.

Yes, I agree, spanks of 'keeping out the peasants' . Anyway, with today's modern systems of communication, etc, one doesn't need to be on course to do, or organise, something nefarious.

OK, I get it now.

I've had both abusive phonecalls and emails from Leo [ quite a few years ago ] one of the threats being that ' he will rub me out, I have friends in high places'. So, with that threat in mind, I showed some evidence to the Racecourse D at the time. A friend of mine, also on the end of some colourful vernacular, had the presence of mind to record the abuse on his phone and also played it to the same Racecourse D....who laughed. So, for that reason, I am pleased he has been 'muzzled' for now. But, from the other side of the fence, I can't see how the RIU have any jurisdiction at all over an unlicensed person. I don't get it.

Another hypothetical question - given that the subject of the discussion is an 'unlicensed person ' what right does the RIU have to take any action at all? And how can he be obliged to pay a fine and costs ? surely, he can just give them the middle finger and walk away?

Stop wriggling. You've apologized and asked for the post to be removed ( beats me why but there it is) so I should think that would protect you against whatever action you think might happen. What a storm in a thimble.

Effing hope so.

I'll try and find out...how, I don't know, because there won't be an honest answer if it is not a good look. As far as pre-race goes, they only test Grp and listed race runners as far as I know, and I can't think of one here this year in the pre-lockdown period. None after, obviously. Hard for the officials at Riccarton, though, as there is no allocation of stalls. They wander around aimlessly asking ' have you seen xxx ' Definitely swabbing post -race, though I can't answer as to what happens to those swabs. I would like to think all is above board. I remember, a few years ago, having the constabulary at the stables one race morning to test a runner in a listed sprint. We wandered out to the yards, caught the subject, took bloods, and off they went. I could have done anything to him once they'd left the premises! I told the vet at the races later that we brought out the drugs once they'd gone...but he knew me well and just rolled his eyes.

Possibly...not sure, I'm often 'touting' for interested parties.

She won her maiden on a good track, but with a quarter-crack that has dogged her from day one, very firm ground would not be a great idea.

Yes, she is good to follow...and developing all the time. She was an underwhelming youngster.

Glad the faithful had some luck! She deserved the change in fortune, is developing into a very genuine little racehorse....and doesn't Tina handle her well?

Likewise, all the best, Fasthorse.

I fear you are right. The nom/acc fees removal is a huge benefit to owners for all that, far too long coming and hopefully maintained. But a few hundred k off the top would make things a lot more sustainable.

Back to stakes....they look pretty good considering the free starts are still in place ( so far...,) But is this model likely to be sustainable?

Conghua looks an amazing complex....but the dragon is flexing its muscles like never before. Trust it at your peril.

Reported the comments to justify the phonecall made. That is not the crux of my post, suggest you read it again.

I saw a discussion elsewhere about the 'outsourcing ' apparently mentioned in the b/s from McKenzie in his valedictory press release. The only reference to 'overseas content' that I can see in that release is to BIUC money yet to come, as well as the PoC tax which will, I assume, hit everyone. The amounts to be realised from those sources would appear to be insignificant, given that the majority of overseas providers are already paying on a voluntary basis. I don't get 'outsourcing' or 'partnering' from that. I emailed Saundry yesterday with some of my concerns, but have yet to receive a reply. A fellow trainer told me yesterday that she spoke to him about the proposed race distances for the resumption, she had issues with the intended 800m and 1000m events . She said she found Bernard to be pleasant to speak to, and in the context of the conversation, he asked what a normal time frame might be for readying a horse to race. She indicated that a period of about six weeks of conditioning work would be undertaken before speeding up to galloping. And then, he wanted to know, do you gallop every day? At this point she was lost for words. As she pointed out to me, that is akin to the CEO of Fonterra thinking that milk was blue.