Freda

Ha...now I know lockdown is REALLY getting to you.

As of right now, horses do not have permission from Govt. departments to resume race training.

Any information specific to training racehorses?

Before we were closed down, we[ my operation ] had already disinfected tie - up chains, washed all the bridles with virkon, etc. And, as I only have one staff/rider, he does all the tacking up and riding, and I wash/brush/rug the horses. Easy to keep a good distance apart. And plenty of handwashing around the stables, but, as there are only the two of us apart from a casual mucking-out person [ who is also a flatmate of mine ] there is really minimal risk. I can't comment upon the others, though. As many ride directly from their stables, the need for separate tie up areas is probably not a biggie here; can't comment about the other large centres, though, maybe they have the equipment to which you refer.

Nope.

Yeah. I've been told by two trainers that Riccarton track will be open for work on Tuesday. While it is possible, it is by no means certain. From the above , it is clear that those two trainers have been misinformed, and wherever they got their information, that source could diversify into writing childrens' fantasies. Because, if Pike et al don't know, nobody else will either.

Can't see much point. They don't yet have the information from MPI and other departments about training protocols, nor do they have figures from RITA to show funding levels. What else is there to discuss if those two points can't be covered first? Dates are irrelevant if there's no fekkn money.

Demand from whom?

Yes, a very sad situation, which, with modern H & S laws, would never have happened.

Ha, yeah...given the travel restrictions on people, the races just can't go ahead in either Southland, or Wingatui as tentatively programmed later. Three jockeys resident in the region? How many riders from outside the area will go into isolation for 14 days prior to, and 14 days after, to compete on a winter day at Invercargill?

Oh . I see. Thanks, Pitty.

Otago doesn't exist? Or is it an honourary part of Southland ? Either way, it isn't going to operate without Canterbury riders.

Didn't the RB used to set the dates? You know, those ones that didn't read maps very well.

That'll be why you couldn't find it on the NZTR website...

With travel of participants restricted to their regions....really? Who will ride the Southland lot?

A bit of sense from Mary at least. So far the announcements that have emerged from NZTR seem to have had zero input from McKenzie. Don't they talk to each other? Are they not aware that their plans have to be funded - which seems fraught with uncertainty at present. Headless chooks come to mind.

There were a few who were adamant that stakes were going up.

For what my uninformed opinion is worth - I don't think the blasted thing has been around for long enough to make an educated statement about what it's preferences are. I have no problem with the imposition of level 4 ( the dithering around initially, yes I do, unfortunately) but how we get out of it, with what collateral damage, remains to be seen. Don't forget, though, that predictions of recession/ depression are self fulfilling to a large extent. The two countries that were vanquished and ruined after the second world war, ended up economic superpowers....Germany and Japan.

Not a bad idea, but I reckon the apathy that has brought us to this point will still prevail. I remember when a local livewire started a petition to get Rangiora back racing or trialling after the serious racing accident in 2006. The number of sycophants who shook their heads and refused to sign was astounding...but nearly all have happily taken advantage of that hard work and associated fundraising efforts, and trial their horses there.

Yeah...our lot ( Tab ) cant even front with a news release.

I understand jockeys have their own ( or shared with one other) rooms at the races, so, along with racing staff putting riders on, they seem to be handling things very well - so far. But we have to run with the system that we have wrt govt requirements.

Oh, well, take that as a given then.

The way I see it - rationale is , that since Sir P. pushed for the shift north some years ago, vested N.I interests have wanted that to happen. Covid-19 gives them more chance to finally succeed. Logic doesn't come into things, only shortsightedness that has dogged this industry. Mardi and others are right, if there are to be restrictions on horse transport, then those races should not be run. As has been stated repeatedly ( do people have problems with reading/comprehension?) pattern racing exists to frank the quality of the racing crop, it is the arbiter of the excellence of the breed. If it cannot be carried out with full opportunity for all, then it cannot, by definition, hold black type status. My comment about S.I apprentices should be taken to reflect the stupidity of messing around with that status. If Australian riders can shift out of their area with proper isolation procedures, then NZ riders should be able to as well. Unless, of course, ours are sillier and/ or too selfish to make those choices.

If we can somehow emulate Aus protocols, it should be possible to transport horses out of their region, but not staff. That shouldn't be a major problem. The alternative - running 'pattern' races under a restrictive regime - defies all the purpose of a pattern race system. It cannot be an arbiter of breed quality if portions of the country are locked out of competition. Obvious, I would have thought.

Actually, I stuffed that quote up, I was messing around and then I couldn't edit it. I meant the Winston chip to refer to Churchill, not the other bloke...with the reference to 'never surrender'...