Freda

Do you remember when Lisa Cropp was the premiership leader...but couldn't be awarded top jockey award..

Great watch. What is the surface in the Saudi Cup? looks like American dirt.

Yeah

I was fortunate to be able to hear Tom Tobin at one of the Bomac lectures series some years ago. A very interesting man. I recall a woman asking him about blood testing racehorses [as a pre-race check, not wrt illness] He looked at her, bemused, and said, why? doesn't your trainer know if the horse is fit and well? He went on to qualify that blood tests can indicate many things, but not whether a horse will win or not!

Which potentially makes a mockery of some of the penalties and findings with recent testings, a subject I know the Chief is quite vociferous about. Although trainers do have control over which loose box or yard a horse is placed in their own premises, there is no such control when going away and using visiting stable facitilties....most of which haven't been adequately mucked out, never mind completely cleaned.

Worthy of discussion ?

Not sure where you get that idea from?

Going back even further...there was a 2 year old parade, just up the straight, run at the National meeting, often two heats of a dozen or more babies. No shortage of youngsters then. Along with the ordinary handicap two year old races, the first major aim following that was the McLean Stakes at Otago, into the Welcome Stakes at Cup time, the Otago two year old race on Boxing day [ DJC Champagne I think ] then the Challenge at the Midsummer meet, then the Champagne at Easter. sigh...structure...

I don't think you are the only one scratching their head about the programme. It's almost as if there is a desire to destroy the carnival - as we knew it - altogether.

Those poor bloody owners.

Yes. It makes the whole process farcical. It would be appropriate for the next rider to be asked for their opinion to refuse point blank. I know its a VERY long bow...but an ok verdict re. a track's condition could then leave that rider liable in the event of an accident.

Join a club or committee, you say?...there will be many on here who have been part of those, and no doubt have tired of the same old rhetoric. Form another splinter group, you reckon? Fk me, there are more than enough partisan groups, most achieving absolutely nothing. More and more upper levels of administration; at a time when our Govt is doing its best to strip away much of the self-important and unaccountable layers of management.

Yes, I'm ok racing on the synthetic, with a horse that suits it. Not all do, and to be forced to race there or nowhere is simply not acceptable.

Did I imply it wasn't serious?

Not getting into this willy-waving contest, but....Synthetic tracks are not the same as 'dirt' tracks, and American dirt is not the same as Australian 'red dirt' surfaces as prevalent on country/bush tracks, or sand, and even Strathayr has a 'synthetic' component...just saying.

Hardly going to affect owners...the sub group that supplies and funds the product..ffs

There was, however, less enthusiasm from management. What if the gates were damaged by a difficult horse in a trial? was the comment...the races would have to be abandoned...

I can think of a couple off the top of my head - Pat Reardon at Riccarton, Gilbert Butterick at Ashburton, both farmers. Obviously, not all were. But many would have taken advice from farmers on the committees.

As pointed out by Curious when discussing this very topic....farmers - or good farmers - had access to, and practiced, the most up to date technology of the time. Obviously, then, what was done fifty years ago is not, necessarily, what is considered best practice today. But the same applies to track managers, sports field managers, golf course curators, etc., etc. as well. Equally obviously, the practices that are employed at the moment are not fit for purpose.

Trained by Terri Rae, ridden by Hooksy and at Invercargill.....but doesn't help at all!

At least Dunedin gets a crumb.

Why don't we change the administration of the place, bring in Worth's Circus or the Ringling Bros for a bit of sense. Even better, Chief, you'll love this idea, a few FARMERS.

I screenshot the blasted thing so it might not disappear.

Yeah. I managed with a lot of muttering....but never fear, for $30 you can get a plastic card like we used to. I don't want to put extra apps on my phone, and am pissed that they think that's ok.

Eulogy Show? I think there might be a few others, but nothing approaching her freakish ability.