Freda

I'm not aware that it is the mandate of a government to prop up a failing business with taxpayers' money....other than charitable organisations. Successive govts have said ' racing, get your house in order. ...and it hasn't. There is a saying ' be careful what you wish for, you might get it ' .....and we might at that.

A former racing club exec., and a very experienced administrator, reckons the scope and intent of that Bill is frightening. He said exactly the same as Kopia - have you actually read what it says ? he asked me. It's a backward step in his opinion. As for the political landscape, what is more scary is that most of NZ , incl parliamentarians too, know fk all about racing - and care less. If the Nats do get in, their shadow minister doesn't seem to have a handle on things at all. He could possibly be educated - but by whom?

Spot on, K.

There was a stipe present at Hokitika last year, when the barriers were numbered arse about face. Didn't do much good there either. Are these blokes never acountable? It's more than a manual malfunction....common-sense seems to be what is seriously lacking, industry - wide.

Give up Tommy...you're on a hiding to nothing on this one.

The purist in me thinks that handicaps should NOT have black type. There are other jurisdictions where I think some handicaps have black-type status, but I've never agreed with that....similarly, sales-series races, promotional races i.e. the original 'Bayer Classic" .....fine, put up the money, make a great race of it, but don't pretend that it has any relevance to the improvement of the breed when there is a restricted entry.

...and I agree, handicaps should NOT be Grp 1, pattern races are for determining the best of the crop, handicaps are for betting.

What difference would it make to the majority of racegoers? The party would still go on, the fashions, the drunks, would still be a big part of the day. I don't really think ( stand to be corrected of course ) that the international runners come because it's a Grp 1, but because it's a shitload of money.

The Rip van Winkle progeny seem to have really started to show some quality, after a slowish start. Have followed Germanicus for a while.

I had an issue a couple of years ago with Saint Kitt at Dunedin, he'd been last in/man up for his entire career up north ( before I got him ) and such info was passed on by me to the Riccarton lot. I sent him to Dunedin, the horse was ridden by CWJ ( regular rider) and one local barrier staff member was down to help the southern crew. Horse went in in his turn, misbehaved badly and stripped a hindleg. Scratched. Training, transport and time costs all for nothing. Poor old Russell ( starter ) had nothing on his sheet .

As long as the black hole of Waikato keeps sucking the energy in, there will be swfa chance of anything changing. JMO.

?

Mine's an Android, but slow to load, and ads keep completely covering the page - and I can't delete them. Have to go out of the website and try again. Still getting Knobby underwear.... Laptop ok though.

Yup.

I mentioned this exact work to Mr Saundry at a meeting, he claimed to have no knowledge of it, so, with Curious' help, I forwarded the same to him. Haven't had an acknowledgement of receipt as yet.....two years later....probably not gonna happen...?

Looked a grand day...I so miss not being over there. Well done to everyone !

Not necessarily - although some of the more recalcitrant ones are given too much leeway [ IMO ] on a raceday, they should be sent back to the trials until they get the idea - or find a new job. But compared with overseas, the number of attendants is well below what is needed I think. The U.S model has horses 'ponied' to the start and handed to attendants, you hardly ever see a problem [ well I haven't ], it seems to be very workable and keeps horses calm and not charging down to the gates out of control as well. Elsewhere, most every horse has an attendant, and in many areas, are kept close up behind the gates with a tape, not buggering around 200 yards or more away. Wouldn't keep in a determined escapee, but, again, I've never noticed a problem - unlike here.

And that is another facet of this issue; when clubs are penny-pinching on payrates and numbers of staff, it's not that easy to recruit more experienced horsemen [ who have better things to do with their time ] especially when they are considered ' unskilled workers'...ffs..

There would have to be a perception of inadequate performance for that to happen. It's clear that there is no comprension of that fact.

Winston would have been thrilled. They are silly enough to think they DO know - but don't - and arrogant in that they give no credence to those who do.

Agree with Reefton's summation...but, notwithstanding the goodwill inherent with both Reefton JC and Greymouth in offering to hold the day, the handling by NZTR is - again - inept. IMO. How could the track have been ok a week ago and not now? Clearly, it was never ok, so porkies [ no pun intended] rule again. As for the 'retention' of Kumara as a 'preferred' venue, despite being unable to race on it's track for four of the last five years....really?

With rain forecast...oh dear.

That's terrible management. Trainers/owners need surety over racedays/dates, it isn't cheap travelling horses, staff and connections to various places, a decision should have been made one way or another and stakeholders notified in timely fashion. No matter if the problem was pigs, tractors, or weather, it seems that no-one is prepared to be accountable for ANYTHING because they might have to cop the flak. My old man used to tell me that the person who never made a mistake, never made anything.

Exactly.

Agree with you on this, Kenny, the day at Kurow was also super and well attended by families . Just consider how the absence of racing at Westport and Nelson has negatively impacted betting in that region, and you have to be concerned how continued closures will affect still more areas. The Coast will be the next to go if the plans are implemented. Michael is of the opinion that the all weather track at Riccarton will save S.I racing, with the redundant race permits transferred there ....on that we differ.