Freda

The underlying reason for all this b/s...as well as the allweather stuff....is that NZ Racing is technically insolvent and the only SUSTAINABLE way to get income is to increase turnover. All the begging and bludging in the world wont create a sustainable income stream. Neither will closing tracks as a knee-jerk reaction.

Doubt it..his spelling is miles better.

I hope they don't have to give homes to Age of Fire and Embellish......and Highly Recommended needs a few more goals sometime soon. At least there is Almanzour....

I have yet to see any quantitative data for each and every track. This should have been the first thing done. In the absence of any such figures, do we then assume that : a] there aren't any? b] there are, but we aren't allowed to see them because they don't support the spin.? A few years ago, a well-respected and experienced racing administrator did a venue inspection, giving each club/track a 'warrant of fitness'. In the course of this tour, clubs were notified of any work needed to be undertaken to bring the facilities up to compliance standards, if necessary. That administrator told me this morning that he hadn't been asked for comment at any part of this latest drama. He said ' I don't need the headache, or the work...but wouldn't you think I might have been asked? ..considering I probably know more about the venues than anyone..! '

I did notice that there were some lots from tidy-looking international families, with loads of black type. But in most cases, no-one was interested. It may have been that the horses had some physical issues not evident from the TV...but certainly, for someone just wanting quality in a pedigree, it was there. But the only form [ generally ] that was wanted was Aus black type.

My understanding is that the 'tax relief ' refers to gaming duty - currently at 4.5% [ I think ] from 20% some years ago, when Winston gave us parity with other forms of gambling. That windfall was quickly gone and now they expect to go cap in hand and get even more reduction?

On the face of things, Karaka appeared to have a disappointing result. Predicatable, I should have thought ; love him or hate him [ and not getting into a discussion about how/why he operates ] , without D.E there would have been blood on the floor. So, he trumpets that stakes will double next season, I guess that justifies - to some - why buying a large number of lots is viable. Got me buggered, even double the money is just a drop in the bucket to what an owner needs to make the business of racing a horse financially viable. David ia not the only one from whom I have heard that diatribe, but - wheres the money coming from? Closing venues won't realise any dosh, adding allweather tracks won't either, short term at least. J.A has burnt $50 mill on the dog of a platform, borrowed $25 mill to sustain stakes this season, and will have to borrow again to sustain next season's levels. Taxation relief [ I am told] will realise about $13 mill - that we think we deserve even more of a handout from the taxpayer I can't get my head around - but, anyway, the Paddy Power/ Open bet costs are in the region of $17 mill per annum. That makes us, by my calculations, $100 mill in the poo, with turnover plummeting and costs rising. Anyone for a cheap colt?

I'm told that turnover has plummeted 27 % since the racefixing biso became public knowledge...which of course hurts all of us, not just harness racing.

Absolutely.

.I've probably said this before....but to earmark the well appointed [ if somewhat dated] facilities at Timaru for closure and opt to keep a shithole of a track like Ashburton...I have no axe to grind with Ashburton but the facilities are shite - and from whence comes the funding to upgrade the place? If these other tracks are to be un-utilised, how does the 'upgrade' happen, and when? as for the trainers incumbent at Timaru, no way will they shift to Ashburton or Christchurch...so a good number of participants lost. There are some who have said that Ashburton will be the 'second tier' centre for those who 'can't afford' or 'don't wish' to be based at Riccarton. Their arrogance is astounding, I don't see any of them shifting any time soon.

and while I am not against some rationalisation of courses this continued crap about 'how much they cost' to keep going is a crock. The larger courses - mentioned above - are the ones that suck funding, and have done so for years. How much did the industry have to cough up for Karaka Millions night? while the rest of us are chewing the paint off the walls...

The asset grab seems , to my unprofessional eye - not possible, so no money likely to result from that. Not granting permits to race is another matter altogether. I would hope, that if the proposed action does take place, that Reefton [ the club ] and Hokitika do NOT supply stabling for any horses that do decide to make the trip over, as Kumara has none and Greymouth doesn't have enough for all...I shouldn't think many would bother however for two venues only. The lack of racing in the whole of the South Island north of Christchurch has long concerned me though...and with the earmarking of Riverton and Timaru [ in particular ] for closure, that eliminates two viable jumping courses from the South Island. Riccarton now only bothers to host one meeting, the Grand National, which must be under threat if there is only Dunedin left to host jumps races.

I've got a foot in both camps. I think punters must be kept informed - within reason. Obviously every little change to feed/work/tactics is both unnecessary and impractical to notify; yet, punters are what keeps the whole operation going, so some attention to what they want as a group is important. The lot I have going around at the moment are of such modest achievement that I doubt if a punter in the land would give a toss how they are ridden. But the fact that a known good performer is having a tactic change possibly is of interest.

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..?