Freda

Interesting. The Ashburton administration has evolved somewhat since those days but I believe trials are still seen as a valuable source of income - given that as far as I am aware, they receive little or no remuneration from any outside sources. But there has be a balancing act between that and the preservation of their course proper for racedays. I've learnt to exist with the status quo, looking back only makes me - and others - frustrated and angry. Not good as a lifestyle choice, and clearly no one at head office is going to take a blind bit of notice. I recall when there was a meeting at Riccarton involving representatives of Canterbury clubs [ before Winston rode in on his white horse waving buckets of public money ] to discuss the merits of installing a polytrack at Riccarton. As can be imagined, there was a robust and lengthy discussion. Eventually Kevin Hughes, then a committee member, turned around to the rows behind him in the middle of a passionate promotion by the CEO. For God's sake, he said, in a stage whisper, there isn't the money, it'll never happen, just put your hands up and agree then he'll shut up and we can all go home. But one point was strongly made by Tim Mills, that to justify the cost of putting one in, race dates would have to be transferred from other clubs to promote the poly. It shouldn't, then, be any surprise that that is exactly what has happened. Also, Interestingly, some of the most passionate proponents of that same facility are now the most vocal about the lack of grass opportunities. We have all heard that saying 'be careful what you wish for, you might get it'.

The Doncaster Turf Club. They ran trials at Ashburton as well. Then Ashburton decided to run theirs themselves- badly needing the extra income- and with the decommission of Orari and Waimate there wasn't much point carrying on.

We MAY have grass jumpouts at Rangiora, that was the plan and to the best of my knowledge repairs to the set of gates the locals were able to source is still in progress. At least jumpouts on the course proper is better than nothing, even if trials out there are not forthcoming.

...not AR?

Hell, yeah. And the characters involved, of whom we won't see the like again. Some might say for the better! but it gave the game colour which despite some great achievements from today's participants, is so badly lacking.

Atmosphere, crowd, at Wingatui in June? Optimistic to say the least! The poor guy will no doubt struggle to see any point in the exercise!

Can't comment about all the northern jocks, but Ashvin G does get his travel covered when T.A has runners south. And he does his share of stable work too, when here, so fair play to him IMO. The Parsons' would contribute to costs, as does Terri Rae and probably Marsh too.

Yes. Easter [ Riverton ] used to be the last meeting in Southland, and Queen's [ King's ] birthday the last Dunedin meeting. Oamaru kicked in for Otago after that with a couple more esp with their excellent steeplechase course. Even allowing for changing weather patterns there wasn't much wrong with those arrangements. Even the locals were muttering about the very heavy ground at the last two meetings down south.

The local branch President thinks it's a good idea.

I'll see what sort of response that gets from the T.A.

Which makes me wonder, if, with a bit more flexibility in programming [ i.e. having some idea what grades/distances are wanted at any given time] most of those horses trialling might have chosen to go around at the races. Cheaper, for starters. The 2yo's on the other hand need encouragement, as their opportunities are very limited. But their trial gets deleted.

But we don't really have tiered racing, only tiered stakes

Hell yeah, those questions are cringeworthy.

Fair points W, but still unacceptable for mine. Professional standards my arse. Language is one defining difference of our species. It's sobering when the immigrant folk I converse with on a daily basis speak better English than we do.

Much appreciated, thanks Chief.

Mine too.

It's not like you to be cynical, C...🤣

Agree, the jumping was fantastic and it is so sad that it has disappeared from the south altogether. As well, it gives those horses who may lack the necessary speed/class on the flat to have a viable career there, but with abundant courage, agility and stamina, can go on to be stars in a slightly different milieu.

I don't think being realistic is negative at all. If more folk faced reality instead of dancing around like every day from here on is Christmas, there might be some will to achieve real change. But at the moment the rose-tinted specs are firmly in place.

I have to relate a wee story in this context. When we campaigned horses on the Coast, we used to stay - horses too - at the farm of Ikamatua farmer and trainer Bill Kennedy. I was privileged to have made the acquaintance of Bill and his wife and children, he was one of the wisest men I have ever met and still I think, in some situations, what would Bill say about this? As a young and rather green horseperson, with an eventing background initially, I was a bit taken aback, to say the least, to find that Bill would routinely put down his retired racehorses - unless they were mares he wished to breed from. After good-naturedly putting up with my objections, he related the following. Cynthia and I were going to Greymouth for our weekly shop, he said, and for some reason we went via Blackball. No idea why, we just did. On the way, we passed an emaciated horse tethered in the scrub on the side of the road with a chain around its neck. Cynthia recognised the horse immediately. I didn't agree with her, but she wouldn't keep quiet about it so we went back the same way. Stopped and had a closer look, found to our horror that it had brands, which showed clearly that it was the Gatekeeper gelding I had given away to a 'good home'. I got the float, took a pair of boltcutters and went back and picked him up. Put a rug on him, fed him up and when he looked and felt better, took him down to the cattle yards and shot him. He looked at me and said, from then on, when the good life is finished, they're finished. My horses will never know a hungry day or an unkind word.

For training surface consistency, yes..and by allowing horses to be trained and raced over months when wet tracks are a problem to some, there is certainly a benefit for those horses being maintained in training. So, definitely worth the investment from the perspective of owners/trainers. But I'm not sure whether Winston's ideas went as far as training conditions, rather he was focused on race day abandonments. And, as we know that race days cost more than they generate in betting revenue, 'saving' a lost day merely costs more, rather than helping the overall malaise. And what will happen when these tracks need re-surfacing? Does Entain ride to our aid again? How long will there be a bucket of dosh without any accountability?

..and then we have The Cossack.....

Clearly, yes.

The posted report implies McNab and Nishizuka underwent veterinary examinations and were cleared of aabnormalities. One assumes the horses were the subject of the vet checks. Dunno who provides this gobbledygook.

And me, partially...family farms, work experience....I travelled to Oamaru races on one occasion with a transport company, on the way back we stopped off at a 'facility' out the back of Timaru to drop off a hapless animal. Open 44 gallon drums of blood sat outside, several horses, a goat with a broken leg and a few scraggy sheep were picking their way around rolls of wire netting in a fenced area [ couldn't call it a paddock] and this thoroughbred was offloaded and shoved in with them. I used to go possum shooting with mates on the Coast in behind Inchbonnie, and deer shooting with another friend around Mt Thomas. I can assure you, Chief, I'm not sentimental or unrealistic but the horror I saw at Timaru that day made me sick. A dedicated facility for horses is long overdue. Recently, a young re-homer came under the radar of some woke wankers because she had a number of horses on her property that were deemed ' too light in condition'. Feeding them was costing her a fortune but she wasn't getting any assistance to do that. They were not suitable for rehoming but was apparently having real trouble getting permission to put them down. Not all horses - or dogs - are suitable to be sport horses or pets.