Freda

Just don't try to ring the helpline, Chief.

We're in the Mainland, NM...have faith.

They can go and fark themselves. Just opened bet365 acct and had a couple of bets. I'm hardly Pablo Escobar so they won't miss me...but I would rather be supporting NZ racing in my small way.

I have tried on another device, yes. Both my username and password I have had for years...and to Brodie, thanks for the wellmeaning advice, but I can spell my own name.

Well, I am still waiting to HAVE an opinion...because I'm still locked out. Followed the link to re-set password, finally got an email two days later telling me to ' click on password tab and put in your username' .....I digested that for a few moments, thought, ok, I won't try and be clever [ which I am most clearly NOT ] so I obediently did exactly as I was told. Unsurprisingly, I was refused. I won't bore you with all the mish mash of attempts- but how does anyone get the helpline personnel to answer the fekkn phone? I went to the pub yesterday to try and withdraw funds..nope, account locked. yeah, I knew that but you still hope....useless pricks.

Well, bully for all you smart pricks....I'm still locked out.. no reply still from helpline and no response from helpdesk other than to refer me to helpline..

Will have to wait until the helpdesk does something helpful....other than referring me to a helpline that doesn't go anywhere.

No. Getting highly pissed off.

so, after giving up on the helpline, I emailed the help desk. Got a comfirmation email with a reference number and the helpline number. Was told not to reply to email.

I'm hardly going to misspell my own name...repeatedly...! no, that doesn't work either, I'm still locked out.

Tell me how I log in? entered original details but had my old password refused. tried again and had username refused. Took a deep breath and thought I should re-register. Nope. ' We know each other' was the answer. Tried to log in again and got locked out. Rang helpdesk but got bored after 20 minutes.

Sorry, that was a reply to Newmarket.

Same.

...and I can't log in....

Carrier pigeon?

Wouldn't that be a novel idea.

What would be wrong with running Waikouaiti at Dunedin and making a two-day Christmas meeting?

yeah.....and close the excellent tracks at Timaru and Oamaru.....but hang on, there is a 'lovely view'.

46 runners.

I would have to agree.

Yes, good on them for sure, I bet it was appreciated. Southern hospitality in spades.....but - when trainers/staff are expected to sit in trucks on Christmas day, why didn't the club step up? [ apologies if they did, maybe Steve was reimbursed ? ]

...sigh...and remember when we had a Wellington Derby as well, and a St Leger that really was a classic to strive for....until the 'commercial' reality of a staying colt made that unattractive..

..and on the Waikouaiti topic...I gather Kurow yesterday was a great day - as usual - with heaps of racegoers enjoying a day at a good track at a very picturesque spot which the M report wants to see gone...and at which, by the way, were several Canterbury racing people also enjoying a lovely day. The same lot who advised that Waikouaiti was the track to keep.

Yes, it did. I bought into the notion being bandied around that 'we' needed slick, professional, up-to-date management and forward-thinking business types....naive of me, again....because it has been largely downhill all the way since. I'm not implying those pre-ninety officials were perfect, but certainly their replacements are much less so.

There is little doubt that Messara didn't make his recommendations on his own research - on this and other tracks - which fact disappoints me greatly. I did have great hopes [ naively, obviously ] for his report. Advice on this particular travesty came from very close at hand.....the local administration - who felt that ' sitting on the hill overlooking the races ' was a valid reason for retaining a shithole of a track that attracts little patronage generally apart from one stable.