Freda

I haven't seen ANY recognized programme for training track riders. Not one.

Spelling is too good to be Morty....unless Karen has done an 'edit'

That's very true...but he/Mrs Browne weren't about to hold anyone else culpable.

Thoughts now?

Good stuff, Curious, wonderful times. I remember Barbara judging my dressage in events, she was always very kind to me as I recall. I never got to the P.C champs, could have gone as an individual but Dad said I wasn't good enough and he wasn't wasting the money...! always called it as he saw it, my old man... Mavis' son Chris trained thoroughbreds until recently, has given up now, sick of battling ever-increasing costs with no light at the end of the tunnel.

That's unfair....if you had riding experience yourself you should know how hard it is for a non rider to ' stick with the ship' and ' steer till it got tired' ...ffs...fatigue and fear send logic out the window.

The above was not intended to denigrate the good people who have given their time to help, and have done the best they can under the requirements. The system is inadequate IMO.

A dreadful situation for all concerned . Two sets of lives irrevocably altered . Which brings me to one of my hobby-horses, viz. the lack of a properly-run jockey school as exists in many other racing jurisdictions. The UK and Ireland, South Africa ( the lads from Mauritius attend this ) Malaysia, Korea even, all have official jockey schools where potential riders are trained and assessed as to their suitability. I'm told that even wannabe track riders must attend the school in the UK, they can't just rock up to a yard and announce they can ride. A very very different system to ours. When I had apprentices, I resented strongly the time wasted ( IMO ) reading stuff about poisonous plants, running up and down the staircase of the ( now condemned) grandstand , and being instructed by some pony club chick how to put on a bandage or load a horse on a float. Poisonous plants are very unlikely to be present in a modern racing yard - and a kid from the country would likely know more than his instructors anyway...as for bandaging and loading on a float, I'll show my staff how I want it done....which is all irrelevant to the matter of riding racehorses anyway. Things may have changed since to a degree, but I have seen little to indicate that training is as good as it should be.

I'm happy with my modest investment on Endless Drama... .

IF we get the 4% returned - let's hope WE don't piss it up against the wall like we did with the last levy reduction.

I have a 3 year old full sister to Nathan Detroit due to arrive in the stable shortly, she is broken in and has had a small prep, currently spelling. Plans are to further her education with the view to autumn racing. Shares are available , no amount too small, any interested parties contact me please Ph 0274 502 878, email pamrobson2011@gmail.com or through BOAY Cheers Pam

Shame for the lad. ..unfortunately that's the way it often plays for the smaller operations.

Ha....well, Winston is running the show....as if anyone couldn't work out the game plan. .

Considering that there are no reserves left and the flash website is underperforming bigtime, it staggers me that stakes are holding steady . Must have been some enlightened ' borrowing ' undertaken.

Drainage..? Don't get me started on that. When I went to school water ran downhill.....but that's another story ..

The boy was told to be wide the first day.

I can remember certain riders taking amphetamines to control appetite/weight loss, and turning up to ride stoned....interesting conundrum one would think.

I believe the actual concern was the stick use ' when out of contention '....which is splitting hairs, I know.

Was gonna happen sooner or later, I guess....

Bruce and Lisa have two children together, I believe, he is still living locally although the couple is estranged.

Pretty well explained I should have thought.

Yes, agree re. punter information - although using races as part of fitness training is such a common practice here that it barely attracts comment.

It's no good highlighting stakes differences. NZ racing is broke, there's nothing in the bin. The sad thing to realise is that with one feature meeting in one part of the country, the industry has contracted to the extent that other meetings can become farcical. Good on Rogie for taking the course he did, however....cheaper and more productive for his owners to run for money ( even if not much ) rather than have to pay to trial.

No, what gives?

Yeah, very interesting indeed, thanks.