Freda

Who cares? Isn't the rationale for a chat site, well, chat? A mine's-bigger-than-yours slanging match doesn't cut it IMO

He's not really a 'chewing the fat ' kinda guy....to be fair many of the track problems he has inherited, not created.. but the pervading culture doesn't fill one with confidence.

Without a significant change in ideas, the same processes will be followed - and the same result will ensue. It is immaterial who directs the orchestra, the tune will be the same - albeit with minor differences.

We are told that 'things are underway ' wrt all weather at Cambridge. Cambridge locals don't know wtf is going on and refer to " issues ". Matamata wants it they say. A Matamata identity says no one tells him what is happening. Great progress I reckon.

Doesn't seem to be a problem in the scheme of things.

Of course. Wonderful idea. I presume the Cambridge allweather will take up the slack until then? ?

I'm going back earlier to when I was quite small, and the United Service was pretty upmarket for its time. Many visiting dignitaries stayed there and my mother used to do floral arrangements for them, in particular the King and Queen of Thailand . Wrt the Calendar..? Personally I think it is bollocks, appears to cut out most of the South island, and as NZTR will be defunct if RITA is put in place, why bother even giving it a passing thought? NZTR have already and repeatedly shown themselves to be lacking in vision and integrity, why should a shiny 'new ' plan mean anything other than self-justification?

I thought it was Cooksley who shut the gap. Whoever, the feds have been allowing poor riding for ages, no surprise that carnage eventually results.

Don't shoot the messenger...I'm bloody sure I have been fed bullshit....but no point in my position making a scene.....

Te Akau galloped a couple in the morning and Paul Richards told me that it was 'certainly not heavy '. I must admit to being surprised, but Paul would know far better than most.

I asked the 2 I.C this morning what had been done to inform would-be patrons about the facilities, he was adamant that plenty of info. was ' out there'....FB and Twitter? I asked, yep, and there have been mentions in racebooks [ helpful if one hasn't attended recently ]...what about free or reduced charges? haha, nope, was the response, have those who pre-purchased been given a discount or some other sweetener? ...shrug.. most of the public will be outside anyway, always have been, won't be worried.....so I left that topic and started another one.

Like I said earlier, readings would be anyone's guess until racing is conducted and times/riders comments are made known. Science? bollocks...

Ffs.. the pen. reading would have been anyone's guess until races were run. As it turned out, the track coped remarkably well and came back quickly. Didn't hear of any horses disadvantaged apart from some on the inner.

I haven't looked on Facebook or Twitter..is anything on there? If not, the PR man wants a rocket up his arse.

Great idea Baz.

That's a sad indictment.

I see now it is a slow 9. It's still raining.

Unfortunately he is not good at answering his phone.....and as it rained most of last night and has pissed down ever since, I imagine the ' dead 5 ' posted on the NZTR site must be the ambulance track.

No doubt about them.

Would have been hard to find a more pleasant venue, beautiful day yesterday and lovely track conditions.

A very deserved result. He is the first to acknowledge that superstar he is not, but a very honest toiler.

Afraid that is becoming the case more often than not. The terrible situation with Stick McKee and the poor girl just highlights how hard and how risky it is becoming to get local young people to start an apprenticeship, so many of these kids announce confidently that they 'can ride' but they can't, and it is just not worth the risk to take on a novice and try to teach him/her to ride. I have had occasion recently to advertise for a trackrider/stablehand - and have received 12 replies/CV's from India, several from Mauritius, Malaysia, and one very polite lad who rang at 2.30 in the morning from Japan. Not ONE Kiwi.

Nope. Sorry, disagree...keep public displays but ban over-the-counter sales for the use of fkwits.

I wonder how many trainers carry Public Liability cover?

Good points...and just illustrates the difficult situation faced by many, not just Steve McKee. How to teach the necessary skills without actually, getting out and doing it? I recall when my father purchased a smart pony for me, I was about 13. We got her home and I had done a wee bit of quiet paddock riding when the former owner rang Dad in a hell of a flap..he had just found out, that, unbeknown to him, a local lad had taken her out for a road ride and she had bolted with him..the poor man was distraught thinking that I might be hurt. Dad thanked him, and told him we we very happy with the pony and were keeping her. I wasn't allowed out of a trot for months...she ended up one of the best dressage/eventing ponies in Canterbury and just missed an Area Trials place [ a better rider and she may have qualified ]. Patience, time and common sense.