Freda

Magnier's colours to the fore is not at all a bad thing...but you make a very valid point. We are all just getting tipped up to pay for the party.

I must stand corrected...the caution was given at Reefton not Hoki. Same principle.....but an even sillier stance as the race was won by Attimo in track record time...?

er...thought that was obvious?

And another matter I've just remembered...a senior was reprimanded at Hokitika for ' easing the pace'. He was outside the leader and steadied going into the tight bend....as he should after years of riding around there. He just threw his hands up and left. What show of improving the riding do we really have ?

Basic indeed. So many of these young riders come from overseas jurisdictions at the moment. It is next to impossible to attract young kiwis to apprenticeships, we need these young riders here and they are, generally, delightful kids and nice enough riders. But they have ( mostly) learned on flat uniform circuits and have not been taught the skills needed to adapt to the many and varied tracks here. The language difficulties are also a very significant handicap for them...they are so polite usually that they dont like to acknowledge that they haven't understood.

I reiterate your request....but his choice surely?

Figures to show just how much our govt. actually does support our industry have been put up here, and elsewhere, many times. It beggars belief that so many STILL trot out the mantra of a greedy government. Would it be too tiresome for Mardi or Curious to list the financial support we have been given for so long? Then it might be possible to point out quantitatively, yet again, just how needy and disorganized we really are.

Yes, you're right..but that particular horse had been served up such a horrid ride that it was entitled to stop like it was shot. I realise the younger riders can't read a race like the older riders can [ or should ] but one senior rider did comment that it was a given that the horse would come back sharply....and there seems to be no one helping these novice riders to learn. I bet Kavish is awake to that scenario in future..! but he's lucky he wasn't hurt badly. It's not just about sitting nicely and riding a balanced finish.

You are so right. Action is needed before the worst scenario is presented. The granting of licences, the competence of the young in trackwork/ trials, the apprentice school system itself is so far behind what is required internationally. We have bumbled along because of the ability of trainers - some who have been riders themselves, to adequately teach - but when that skillset is missing there is nothing filling the gap.

Dont think NZRB have anything to do with riding standards...and if they did their new website will be occupying all their time....NZTR are the ones who are ( supposedly) running gallops. I go back a fair way and I have never cringed as often as I do now...and it's not confined to the South either although in recent weeks it would seem so. I recall Danielle taking nearly taking out a horse and rider for no good reason other than that she could - only to get a hand- slap... and Leith brought down the McKay lad at Wellington, think he knows better too. But they get away with it. If the best riders consistently push boundaries the learners have no show of improving.

Clearly I'm a bit thick....but what relevance all that has to attending Trentham is lost on me.

Any Pitman horses in..?

Very spur of the moment, D.

I do know that....I backed the winner...but that display defies belief

?

Unfortunately more seem to believe what DE wrote than not...including many administrators.

That's not a bad idea at all.

Me neither.

Ah. Amazing piece of athleticism for sure..!

Eh.?

...the Australian- trained one got a hiding though....

Yeah, yeah, I'm well aware of that material..but I've yet to see any concrete evidence of any specific programmes or directives. I make every effort to suitably re-home the retired ones, and there are several girls locally who do a great job re-educating and on-selling; all power to them. But there is absolutely no involvement whatsoever from NZTR with or for these girls.

Precisely.

Didn't seem to have much traction from what I could see. This would have been a good time for Marty Burns to pop down from Petone and give them a heads up on the work done on rehoming and tracking retired racehorses...[ I'd like to hear about the options too...to date the information is stunningly non-evident ]

gI've made my opinion known, in an earlier post. To add, I like Thomas's attention to the ability - or lack of - the Feds, those who are charged with keeping us on the straight and narrow, and not, at times, doing a very good job of it. But given that he is such a polarizing character, I could wish that he showed the sense I suspect he has [ well hidden] and desist from being a dickhead when thrown an olive twig.