Freda

Seems to me that it is open to allcomers. Certainly, most could not afford to purchase a slot. But every slot-holder will want the best horse in their corner. So it is open to all, based on merit.

Aren't the Regional Managers supposed to deal with this sort of situation?

Races 14th, 22nd Oct, 5th Nov ; trials 24thOct, 9th, 28th Nov. Talk about Ashburton getting hammered. Common sense would reinstate Rangiora for obviously needed grass trials.

Earlier

On a humorous note, as a child, I went to Randwick races with my father. Was entranced by the sight of policemen on course wearing guns in holsters, exclaimed loudly, pointing, to father that it was just like the movies...to be hurriedly shushed by an embarrassed Dad.

The sport of kings.....and gentlemen.....

A friend who has a dog in work with a local trainer tells me that 3 months is the word. Her trainer has turned her team out for now.

I'm not au fait with Oz rules, but clearly there is no compliance issue with T.A and Walker. Ben Gleeson is an extremely able horseman in his own right, and the staff, as mentioned earlier, are also top class. There should be no problem whatsoever with the horse you want to back, I guess it depends on how well it adapts to conditions. But I'm sure he wouldn't line up if there was any doubt.

No, it isn't a big issue. But it is sloppy, and in a public statement of this nature, one would think attention to detail would be right up to scratch.

I would accept 2" from 2yo. In some cases anyway. I have found all sorts of scenarios, but some very poorly-done babies can struggle to attain the height their genes allow. They can take literally years to catch up.

The proof reader must have been having lunch. " ....more people of that elk..."

The Everest isn't industry subsidised like Karaka Millions day is.

Yes, I've seen it. I thought the same, at last, getting racing out in the mainstream viewing audience.

That's what it has been for 15 years or so...since the accident that nearly claimed the life of Judy Lawson. The topic has been done to death..but racing ceased from that time. Some intrepid locals decided to run trials off their own bat and did very well [ financially] out of them. Their aim was always to prove that the track was safe under appropriate management conditions and trialling went ahead. However, once NZTR decided it was surplus to requirements, the desire to sell up the asset was revisited and that's where things are at the present.

Quite a few of us thought that was the best option. However, don't forget about the harness club who also held an ownership interest in Rangiora. They might not have been so chuffed about a Polytrack taking over their grass racetrack.

No. One of the selling points of the AWT was the ability to 'rest' the turf track, switching some races to the AWT and therefore lessening the wear-and-tear. e.g the middle day of the National meeting. So trialling is not an option given that circumstance. Formerly, the Hunt Club meeting, run just a couple of weeks before the Grand National meeting, meant four days of racing in a very close time frame - exactly how that was managed, is hard to imagine now.

Trots still run there don't they?

They can't run trials on grass at Riccarton.

Ashburton is being hammered from 16th Oct - 28th Nov with 3 race days and two sets of trials. Quite plainly, there is nowhere else to put them. I wonder if the rationale for getting shot of Rangiora has ever been questioned in the Halls of Management?

and has it stayed there?

The track looked great too, a good sole of grass and no 'incidents' that I could ascertain. As always, my beef about 'awful riding' or the perception of the same, is the policing of it. If standards were strictly adhered to and sloppy or dangerous riding penalised, the riding would improve smartly. It would have to. I recall, a few years ago, the whole field of riders [ apart from the winner ] was called into the room at Riccarton to justify their stupidity. I'm not sure whether any suspensions were handed out, I suspect a dressing-down was given and the lot of them put on notice. But I don't think those 'policing' the industry now would have the faintest idea. ' ..your own length and another clear length before changing ground ' was the rule, and to my knowledge that hasn't changed. But we see many riders 'shaving' the horse on the inner as they roll across, or diving under the necks of rivals to get a gap, without penalty and probably not noticed unless there is an obvious check. No wonder accidents happen. I'm not implying that riders of yesteryear were squeaky clean, of course they weren't, but if caught, they knew they'd be dealt to. I've always felt that if the local product is not given a chance, there eventually won't be one. Same goes for trainers [ and to any who think I'm referring to anyone specific, I'm not, this is just a general observation ]. When local owners jump on the bandwagon and support a northern trainer with a local base, it doesn't help the resident trainers build, or keep, their client base. When the perception is that neither local trainers nor riders are 'good enough ' the demise mentioned above wrt jumping, has to become self-fulfilling.

Would the Racing Manager not represent the owners, ffs? I'm picking that if he had sat quietly ( and he would still have been beaten) he would have still got a serve. And no, I have never displayed such poor sportsmanship and I hope I never do. Not that I've ever had such a high profile horse. I've certainly had a chat with riders afterwards ( wtf did you think you were doing? ) but in private, and can, in most cases, accept their reasoning. Having a jockey as a partner for twenty years, I am only too aware of what can go wrong, or at least not according to plan....and people, even rich arrogant ones, must realise that horses are not bicycles.

More likely ( IMO ) that the muscle injury occurred as the horse left the barriers, which MAY have been the reason why he wasn't quite quick enough into stride. He'll have a holiday, which is good, Williams behaved like the professional he is with a beautifully judged ride on Mr Brightside, the owners of Giga Kick can STFU and life goes on.

I would suggest that many of N.Z's rich became so by a] being smarter than the opposition b] working their asses off to achieve note I said many, not all. Inherited wealth doesn't imply any great intellect or work ethic - but retaining it may do!