Freda

Oh, yeah...! So they can...but an evolving situation makes more sense to me!

Some of my own family thinks racing is both corrupt and cruel.

Can't say I gave cattle much thought...but given the close proximity of both species on many properties it isn't too big a stretch to consider that transmission may occur, even if previously thought impossible. Evolution is ongoing, it hasn't stopped just because we think we're at the top if the heap . Certainly horse ticks have been here for ages.

I'm no expert on construction matters....but I would think resource consents and drainage issues, esp with a new housing development right over the fence, might require more than 6 mill.

Yes...and given that MPI don't seem to be overly pro-active in many cases, this may be quite an on-going saga.

I'm not a vet, or an epidemiologist, so I'm hoping someone can provide advice here. The mare in question, imported from France early last year, had ( as I understand from the release from Cambridge Stud ) provided three negative tests prior to importation. Now, a year later, shows two positive tests. The inference has to be, following on, that she became infected here. Is there any other possible scenario?

Many have expressed the opinion that NZTR are doing a good job given the circumstances. I don't share that. They may not waste as much money, but all failings, big or small, become cumulative. Handicapping, dates, programming, stakes distribution are all NZTR - driven, with some input from RB wrt dates. Much has been said, advised, pleaded, and pro-bono work done on behalf of, for no tangible change. The mass extinction of tracks is another, driven by Rita at present, but on the to-do list for years with no quantitative analysis that I have seen to support that. Inequitable and unsustainable stakes distribution is code business, not RB, same as subsiding some clubs at the expense of others. Expenses for trialling, name changes, complicated and messy paperwork when HRNZ can achieve the same both simply and at less cost. It is a no brainer what code to support for a group of newbie owners with no particular allegiance either way. I recently received four accounts for the same horse - the first , an emailed one, pertaining to trials fees, arrived on May 4th and was dated April 30th. As I am not the manager for this horse I forwarded it to the right person, who paid it, and notified them to please send future accounts to her as indicated on the ownership papers. Soon after I received two hardcopy invoices, in the same envelope and for the same account. A week or so later I got a very terse ' pay-or-else ' missive by email with Saundry's scrawl at the bottom. This arrived on the 18th of May. Efficient.

Great post.

Ok, we'll remove one part of a successful 2 - day meeting, that'll stuff the other day so it will close too and we haven't had to action that. Win - win.

Ok then, 33 mill should sort that.

Actually, Rangiora would be ideal for an allweather. Close to ChCh, a burgeoning population north of the city, light, free-draining land, so much easier drainage etc, and a smaller circuit [ cheaper?] also, very close to the horses, instant spectator appeal. The negative connotations associated with the track as a result of the serious accident, would be eliminated if the grass track with all its 'perceived' problems was removed. I say perceived, because any track can be dangerous if poorly managed, and if bad decisions are made alongside that. Not making light of Judy's plight at all. Should never have happened.

Cashing up was the plan in the early days of 'acquisition' ..but at the moment it is required for trials. Also, as part of the property is flood-plain, some is council-owned, and some is under requirements to Transit NZ for roading, the actual area subdividable is much smaller than previously thought. No pot of gold there.

both.

Hell, no...close enough for trials, but to truck teams of horses out of a morning, no way.

Took ten minutes....

Asked the course manager where the silica sand might come from. He will let me know when he has more information. Horses in training ? a guess - I'd reckon 400-odd. Some of course come from private stables. Trainers? again, off the top of my head...16 based here, and 5 or 6 not based here. But if I bothered to look it all up in the last NZTR monthly mag, I may be a tad more accurate. I have no knowledge of any trainers [ yet ] that may be attracted by a synthetic. Early days of course, not done yet. As for younger trainers generally, if under-50 counts as 'young' we have Nicky Lloyd, Andrew Carston, Champion/Murphy, Matt Pitman, Lee Callaway, Richard Didham, Aaron Taylor...struggle to think of any more. Carston, Callaway and Pitman would be the only ones under 40. Training ? one trainer was told that we would have to gallop on the sand. But I'm informed that the sand is being eliminated for contamination reasons, so....beats me. I've considered the Hughes' , and Champion/Murphy, as one entity each BTW.

I, for one, don't see him having anything to do with this idiocy...but if it came to a verbal stoush, he'd win in a hand canter.

Haha .....good one.

I understand there is a delegation from Ricc heading to Cambridge next week for a look.

I remember him telling me at the Racecourse Pub one evening how they had increased turnover as a result of some tactic so therefore we had more income.

or Dunedin -Blenheim....alternate days..not so bad..

or Omakau to Greymouth ....when the suits thought that was just part of how it rolled, no problem at all.

Riccarton to Riverton?

With clearly stunning results.

Peter Moody?