Freda

I think it would be fair to say that often, a gifted sportsperson may not, necessarily, be a great tutor. Two very different skills. Imagine CWJ trying to teach anyone...there wouldn't be a lot said! And also, I'm pretty sure they aren't out riding work with the kids, and therefore can only go on what they see at trials and what they are told by trainers. Trainers have to have a lot of responsibility IMO....the two best apps in the south at the moment are Gosen Jagoo and Tina Comignaghi....both with the Parsons.....and the Andertons consistently produce good riders.

Surely, if anyone had been hurt - other than just a mere horse, ffs - Osh and/or Workplace Safety might have had a look? The ACC provisions have removed the right - or need - to litigate for personal injury, but H & S certainly can take action I think.

Yeah..and Jason is a very experienced rider who should know better. As a matter of interest, I see T Comignaghi was 'spoken to for easing the pace ' in that same race. I had a very good filly ruined when the leader 'stacked them up ' sharply, bringing two down. Nothing was said. But in this case, I don't think Tina 'stacked them up' ... she found herself in front by default, her instructions were to tuck in behind, so she did the best she could to settle the horse. But wtf is wrong with the other riders, could not ONE of them go on and make more pace? that was ugly to watch, with horses reefing and rolling all over the place.

Wet bus ticket Hesi.

While I am in the frame of mind to have a whinge..probably should be another thread but ...stipe control? A pet concern of mine. Just two incidents among probably many... Tanya Jonker on that Japanese thing, at it's previous start, settled back, sailed around the outer and bolted in. On Tuesday, it begins reasonably again [ was sent down because it was refusing to jump out ] , gets snagged back to last - and stays there. Was any question asked about the tactics? doubt it. The report merely states ' became unbalanced across the crossing' . Poor Director has tendons in his hind legs severed and is subsequently euthanased. The offending rider, a new apprentice, was out of her depth and struggling to control her horse; could be clearly seen down on the fence pulling its head around - finally, panicked, she hauls it sideways and straight over Director's hind legs. She'll survive, the horse didn't and its connections are filthy. Understandable. She gets a holiday. She could have been hurt herself, or hurt other riders. How about go back to the trials, lassie - or better still, give up? She has been thrown under a bus by her boss - who used to raceride [ and would have been the first to complain about a novice rider getting in his way ] and should have known the horse was too strong for her - and our system who allowed her to ride in the first place. She struggles to hold horses in track gallops ffs. No wonder punters have little faith in the offerings.

Absolutely.

What a stellar performance from the second filly...but Enable, a class act all the way.

That's been one of my points....that the wee clubs have been on the thin end of the wedge wrt preferential funding, and the big clubs have had more dosh...because of their 'strategic importance ' ...well, haven't they done a grand job with that extra funding. As for the CJC staff...yes, it was their cock-up, but no one will have any questions asked. And at the end of the day, the course manager who is the head honcho [ as Thommo said ] of track managers, is working from the same song sheet as the rest....he may not have any choice in the matter. Whoever writes the tunes, however, is certainly one who needs to be shown the door.

With events nationwide, that is, sadly, no endorsement.

There was a mention somewhere about stipes being sent for retraining.. I may be mistaken but i am not aware of any facility for training stipes about soil/turf management or how to ride safely at speed. Perhaps a bit of gardening might help.

Got some of those...!

Well....dont like to repeat myself but.....the bigger clubs have received preferential funding for years at the expense of the small ones....so why would any same person throw more money at them?

Groundbreaker, I believe. Track was open this morning for those affected horses, until 9.a.m. Machinery arrived in the middle of trackwork. That is typical, of course. And my comment about ' being spoken to ' was, I'm afraid, tongue -in -cheek. There were worried looks aplenty, much handwringing, but not much else.

The rebuild twenty years ago was done on flawed specifications. - IMO - although I am certainly no expert. It has been contentious ever since and, as Curious and others have stated, twenty years is about the lifespan of your turf track anyway. As for track men knowing about the hard pam....go figure

So..to harp on about this b/s...which gives me the shits...if Walshy could identify a problem, what about the stipe - sorry RIU member - who walked the track and approved it? Is he blind? Will he be reprimanded? Will the track manager who authorised the mowing/watering be spoken to firmly? Will the CJC fraternity who want other tracks to close and their clubs to race at Riccarton feel, ever so slightly, embarassed? The recommendation in the M report was that many of the 'keep' tracks be reconstructed. Has anyone from NZTR bothered to discuss with the 'close' tracks any likely time frames and perhaps reassure them that they will most definitely be needed while this reconstruction goes on? Oh - hang on, that's right, they all have to be cashed up to get the funds to do the reconstruction. FFS.

Can't comment about urea...but definitely appalling judgement to mow in the manner they did. Yesterday when walking out to the crossing I got very wet shoes and socks...but the ground was hard underneath.

..and yes, Brian, you were quite right re. clippings...I didn't walk far enough around this morning. None where I was.. but apparently plenty around the top. I am told Walshy walked the track yesterday and told Lisa Allpress not to get too wide out or she'd be sitting on her arse.

sure was.

Didn't read your post before pressing button.. but yes, agree. Was going hitch a ride to meeting with Neill Ridley but he didn't have the time in the end, so I didn't attend. Interested to hear your observations about the meeting. I think Timaru [ for one ] has just been handed a bit of ammunition.

Don't be bloody silly...that means 'accountability'. As far as Riccarton goes, Chief has been commenting for ages about stuffed soil structures, and here is no different. Not grass clippings, just a packed, compacted soil and a bit of rain/irrigation to make the top slippery. We usually get away with it because Riccarton is a big, sweeping circuit with soft corners - not because of superior management - but the rail was out today which does alter the contours. Strathayr, yep, no brainer I should think..but could this track team do the appropriate caretaking of the thing? I notice the M report indicated Riccarton needed complete reconstruction....but the advice to close Timaru/Oamaru came from pretty close to home I think. Now watch Ricc get transferred to Mon/Tues or Wed and completely stuff Timaru's Friday meeting.

Great, thanks.

Curious, sorry to high-jack this thread...but can you tell me what percentage of turnover the supposed ' million per month ' that we were supposedly getting, represented?

My concern is, that if clubs resist the land-grab - and why wouldn't they? that portion of the M.Report will not be implementable [ hope that's a word ] ....and Peters may then stalk off, not having gotten his own way, with the Racing Board not disbanded and other good parts of the report not implemented.

So....what is the consensus on here, then? Reduce races/racedays - makes sense to me, years ago I don't recall anywhere near the plethora of races up and down the country. Repair/renovate tracks on a rotational basis to restore product integrity [ horrible term]...also makes sense. So what else? I'm asking for opinions, not just being a smartass. I'm not against allweather tracks in theory, but fail to see how the installation will create the extra turnover required. Is the land-grab a good idea? or not ? assuming that the whole process isn't locked away in a shit fight for years...I don't like the concept at all, it's just not right IMO...but I'm only one opinion.

Yes, I agree. I don't want to be thought 'negative and backward looking' or 'parochial and selfish' as Winston termed resistant thinking [ which in itself is odd considering his politics are ALL about the regions - supposedly ] but I don't see how the whole operation is supposed to work. Yes definitely to NZRB shake-up, no brainer for most I think...but implemenation of the venue thingy is far less straightforward. Just in Canterbury, for example, Timaru and Waimate are on the close list, as well as Motukarara and the CjC's portion of Rangiora, with Ashburton being the second designated track in the region. But Ashburton track and facilities are woeful, and will cost megabucks to bring up to a reasonable standard. So where do all the trials regularly held by Rangiora go? Where will the races held at the not-required tracks go while Ashburton is brought into the 21st century? On the allweather at Riccarton, we are told. But that hasn't been built yet, and - if it ever happens - may be years away. Will the trainers dispossessed by track closures at Timaru and Rangiora meekly sell up, move house/farm/kids' schools and go to Ashburton? That's even presupposing there are suitable facilities for them - as there certainly isn't room in the Riccarton training area. Don't think so somehow. The CJC management are right behind Ashburton being ' the second-tier training facility in Canterbury ' which tells me whose fingerprints could be on some of the paperwork. Those folk dispossessed ' won't be able to afford to live in CHCh and train at Riccarton Park ' has been stated..the arrogance is astounding. As for abandoned racemeetings - I think it has been stated here already that they are the only racemeetings that don't lose money!