Freda

OK Winston.

My comments earlier shouldn't be taken to indicate support for moving the Guineas. Not at all. But the northetn push for moving has been going on for years. Industry apathy has given us two bodies that have led us to this point - NZRB and NZTR. All the dissension and debate over several years has achieved squat. Nothing. Even the Messara report, touted as being our saviour, has achieved - nothing. So, what can we, as locals, to do change this? Unless we can change the governing structure that manages us, we are powerless. We have given them that power. When the old Racing Conference became what we have today, local interests became subsumed into the whole. Most thought that was needed....but evidence since hasn't been supportive of that. Probably the quality of personnel have a fair bit to do with this...don't forget, Pitty, you told me recently that we ' have to have faith that they know what they are doing ' ....well, I don't, and they don't either. While stakemoney is likely to be curtailed - the extent of this yet to be revealed - it makes no sense at all to blither on about moving this or that, or speculating on the shape of things until we know what the Govt intends, and what MPI and the DIA are planning. Just shows, yet again, the inadequacy of our heads, if they can make blanket pronouncements without sufficient facts. Equally, for us to discuss options in the face of a possible body blow doesn't indicate assent. The Cup Carnival must be protected, but how to do that will involve a good bit of brainstorming if the heirarchy is determined to destroy it.

Lol....I already know that.

Fair thinking, Reefton. However, those City Council staffers wouldn't include the rubbish bin services , they'd be contractors, wouldn't they?

Well, with the utmost respect, I disagree too. I'm not buying into anything. But if I took a group of newbies to Cup week the significance of Guineas - or any classic - would be lost on them. But I betya they would want a bet in the Cup, whether they knew which end of a horse kicked or not.

And....if I was fortunate enough to have a super anything...it would be off to Aus. And that's not a recent thought, I've had enough of these patronising, greedy bastards ripping off our owners every time they look around.

Exactly. There will still be plenty who want the Cup week experience. It will matter little to them if the Guineas are here or not. That's my point. It will be a body blow indeed for all of us who love to see a good horse, and who remember when Riccarton hosted Derby and Oaks...but times do change and so do demographics.

Yeah..all that. But, whom do we 'fight' ? because NZTR will bend over for the big breeders and high profile stables like they always have.

Getting away from the woeful Warriors....if we assume that the Guineas, once gone, won't return, will it stuff the Cup Carnival? Ive had this rattling round my head all morning, and, to be fair, the support from the south has been underwhelming for years. Will the crowds that attend on Cup day give a toss ? I don't think so. Yes, it will affect fields; less likely to have lower level horses coming down to support their better stablemates, but that may well lead to better opportunities for other lesser lights. I dunno...I guess I'm trying to find a positive in all this. Wailing about things sure ain't gonna work. The opportunity exists to look outside the square, create series racing with a final to be held..? Come in Aaron Bidlake, you can expand on this.

Gravy trainers.

Northern trainers have wanted the shift for years, not just recently. And, if there is still restrictions on riders moving out of their district, they sure as hell aren't going to put Canterbury apprentices up.

The last meeting held at Riccarton before lockdown was extremely well run, and given that the raceday tie ups are completely separate from trackwork areas, the consensus was that racing could have continued under those conditions, and limited to Canterbury riders.

Kinda one of my points . Every trainer got the email from MPI/NZTR about horse distancing, there's no doubt that the office would have received it too, but track manager and staff appeared to be not aware? Clearly a real disconnect. Compare with, as you point out, the efficiency in the Aus system. That also presupposes that cases of possible infections are not well hidden, or else the whole thing collapses like a pack of cards.

Me either, although obviously I hope that we can start to get back to business. Yes, Aus has managed well, so far. But they are very organized, with several pools of jockeys isolated from the others. The proximity of riders in the barriers is one weak link, but hasn't so far appeared to be a problem. Certainly, trialling hardly complies with training 50 m apart. And when MPI first put out those requirements, even our own track staff were ignorant of such protocols. We know that there are some trainers who aren't playing by the rules, they put us all at risk, not just wrt individual health but by risking MPI becoming aware and restricting us for longer . Our own industry policing mechanisms have been shown to be very lax in this respect.

Jeez, I've learnt not to do that. I wondered from the start what was the point of putting out draft dates for July, and then for the first four months when there was no surety when/if levels would change, and also, without confirmation of adequate funding. Just meaningless stuff.

I see R.V staff are now to leg on the jockeys, trainers not allowed im birdcages to reduce contacts. I can just see Millsy and Jim legging on the riders....

I see. You'd think there might have been some communication? It's the possible absence of funds to do the ' funding' that is making me nervous. And yes, I take Curious' point about safe level training under level 3. Do-able, but the operating practices of many that I watched in the last few days made me cringe. Yes, too, to Mustang Kenny.

Wasn't that going to be ' out ' today? Am I a little premature being nervous?

Yeah. I think Mardi's model makes the best sense of any. Certainly, those in charge have no effing idea

What with?

Do you mean, the govt should throw the Nztab on the open market, pull all its funding and require the Tab to operate as a fully commercial entity, paying levies, licensing, and all associated taxes? What a good idea. I'm not sure, however, that any savvy business would take on the basket case that is NZTAB.

But we have no idea what the terms of her contract were.

Seamus and Pat were choirboys. Seamus decides he needs to go to confession, but Pat, not on your nellie, he waits outside for his buddy. Father, begins Seamus , I have sinned. I have been having impure thoughts about one of the girls, and it's becoming a problem for me. Who's the girl? asks the priest. Is it Mary O'Connor? I cannot say, Father. Bridget Murphy? No, Father, I'm not saying. Naimh Browne? My lips are sealed, Father. Well, Seamus, our choirboys must be above reproach. Ten Hail Mary's and you're suspended from choir for six weeks. Outside, Pat waits impatiently. What did you get, Seamus? Six weeks holiday and three good leads for the weekend.....!

Of course not. But if this crisis doesn't jolt a few synapses into gear and help their owners realise that the whole structure has to change, then more of the same wil produce more of the same.

Your jokes? I suppose they're better than nothing ....! Seriously, yes, you are lucky to be in a rural environment, I'd love to be in a remote slice of our paradise, but practicality decrees otherwise. I am very fortunate though, to live right across the road from the stables/ racetrack, so there is an illusion of open space, and as it is definitely ' in my area' I can get plenty of exercise/fresh air quite legitimately. I have to go over the road to feed the cats and tend the chooks, clean out the henhouse, etc; and the dogs require their exercise too...so no cabin fever at all. In fact, I have to confess that I am finding the reduction in traffic, clowns on the road, student parties, etc, very peaceful. It's alarming though to see all the expressions of boredom from some of the local young - and some not so young - who do absolutely nothing apart from sleep, drink and smoke weed, and complain.