Freda

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.

A real matter of concern for me. As an older person, I can remember the times when many kids had some - if not lots - of experience on Granddad's farm, or Uncle Jack's ponies...feeding orphan lambs with a bottle was a highlight for me as a young child, same as for many of my schoolmates..but now we are in a predominantly city culture. Most people now are city -bred, many, even those who do have show or sport horses, have absolutely no idea how to manage and/or look after them properly, and bloody hell, all the bling - expensive gear, makeup [ ffs] for show classes..tearing around bareback on scruffy ponies is something they have never done and would never deign to do. I feel for both Steve and the poor lass...but she would never have got on a horse of mine. Good level eventing skills would be the least I would expect.

I can't comprehend balance sheets...if an amount spent ( on a pipe dream) is in the books as an ' intangible asset' ....how does that work? I'd have thought it was a tangible liability.

NZ racing is technically insolvent. All the railing in the world cannot conjure up 'more money' because there is no more left. Without a model change it is anybody's guess how stakes of ANY level can be provided. Even the total implementation of the Messara recommendations will take time to realise what is envisaged...and there is no guarantee - IMO only of course - that those recommendations will work.

Wash your mouth out ....

I think the Matriarch is her aim

Pure poetry.

And from me.....$60.00.

Hell, no....RM....never give up....and there's no chance for complacency with you to keep us thinking....! But seriously, that little story that I had heard, but forgotten about with more recent news to keep me entertained, brings me to another gripe which i had thought was just a NZ matter, but seemingly not. Sales of horses : correct and open procedures and suitable paperwork with reputable people and this b/ s shouldn't happen.

Don't think there is such a scheme...to our shame. Riccarton has an 'owners' day' where free entry is given and a discounted luncheon....better than nothing but a long way from what you describe.