Freda

Sadly, yes, most 'staying' races have become very pedestrian affairs. Structure and programming have to be a part of this; not the sole reason, there are several factors, but it seems that, as you say, very few relish the time and money that must be spent to develop such horses.

Yes. They have the nous to understand how important community and even tourist involvement is in the country areas.

That's a very courteous way of pointing out that programming country-wide is a train wreck.

After dusting off all the peripheral stuff.....in plain English, it is not enough for a process to be impartial, it must be SEEN to be impartial. Above reproach.

Nice to see you back, Thommo

That's alarming. Thanks for bringing that up, I was mulling over the next tetanus shot, has been well over ten years since I had my last one. Bloody cheek.

If they mean ' full renovation' as in, FULL renovation, Hastings will be out of use for many months. So, what happens then? Thrash the tracks left...?

Apparently not. Checked up this morning. There is discussion after the event as to what might be a plan going forward, but not as far as making the actual decision. That is jockeys and officials.

It's not the fact that races were put off, per se, that pisses me - and others - off. Modern H & S laws require the safety of personnel to be an absolute priority in the workplace, so blaming jockeys, as some do, and/or stipes and RIB on the day, is unfair and shows no knowledge of appropriate practice. But the fact is that track maintenance procedures DON'T change, we keep getting the same regurgitated rubbish for the same result. I find it astounding. And Ellerslie, by choosing a method that is not the normal process by a world-renowned company, Strathayr, just buys into the same b/s. Why would anyone's - or any organisation's - ego be so huge that they thought they could bypass the experts? And on what basis? The excellence of our track management? Ffs.

Gee, the whip use would be frowned upon now.

Starting? Wonder what the fluffy announcement will say this time?

Damn right they did.

Nor me.

Won't talk to them!

She's a top trainer and has been for a good while

You couldn't make this up.

Don't forget, the Sth Island is now considered to be 'one region', so I am told. Therefore, feature meetings somewhere the other side of Cook Strait would fulfil any obligations that might be felt in H.Q. Maybe send them a map?

I stand to be corrected, but....Entain isn't the 'customer' as I understand things, the punter is, you, me, BGP, anyone who has a bet. So, while Entain throws money around, it is NZTR which has to deal with their crap tracks, silly programming, poor riding, and if they don't, Entains 50% take after 4 and a half years will have us in the poo again. We don't have to know how to make their business more profitable, we have to make ours less of a joke.

Shame, but understandable if committee interest/involvement and staff issues are as I understand them to be. Someone has to be paid to do the maintenance work if horses are to be worked - on any surface.

Nick Wigley was in this morning for a gallop, as there were trots at Rangiora. Said the track was superb. Could be used anytime, he reckoned.

That, to me, illustrates some of the issues creating misunderstanding, and - to many of us - silly decisions. The case for using grass tracks close by, for trials, former racetracks, was well put indeed. The CEO and COO both seems decent blokes and very approachable, but - as indicated - Balcombe wasn't aware of the history around those venues. One would think an incumbent office-holder would be well enough informed on this sort of thing. To his credit he apologised for his lack of knowledge about this, and also, for an apparent oversight in returning communication. I've always found both of these men very good in that respect, a huge improvement from previous incumbents. It would involve very little extra effort or cost to reinstate Rangiora for trials use over the summer months.

In one breath, you are rubbishing some of us for 'looking back' and enjoying tales of days past. Now you want to 'look back' to prove a point...or something, not sure what. But in those days, horses could be - and were - sent around AT the races to get educated. Bugger the public. One of my old bosses would pull them up until he decided that they were sufficiently educated, race-wise, and fit enough to have a punt. And he was very successful. But we cannot treat our customers like that any more.

See above

Yes. One trial - maybe two . Then four days later Ashburton hold trials - feast or famine.

Or dear old Frankie Stammers towing the Bomber to the Coast in a single float behind his Ford Escort.