Freda

Won't happen.

What a waste.

Some clubs may do. Don't forget stakes are bulk-funded, clubs don't have to find the money themselves. However the income 'earned' per medium of race turnover doesn't cover the stake money. Any surplus comes from non-NZ racing sources, and now - Entain.

For what it's worth - my two cents of opinion. Firstly, no NZ race day ' pays for itself ' or 'covers its costs', however one wishes to phrase it. To that end, the AWT's will be in the same boat - except that it wasn't industry money, for the most past, that set them up. Yes, they provide somewhere consistent for work, that has to be a positive. However, not all horses like - or can cope - with the surface. Some cannot even manage being worked on the surface, and, here, locally, a magnificent training facility has been very harshly modified with the construction of the AWT. Now, training options are very severely reduced. The policy seems to be to close down quite functional grass tracks to 'justify' the things, those horses are badly served indeed. The closing down of tracks, in itself, increases the pressure on the remaining ones so of course you are going to see those reluctant to run trials, they don't want their grass hammered. Cambridge has excellent facilities quite apart from the AWT, and there are still plenty of grass tracks left in the Waikato. The CD seems to have been poorly served in that respect, with closures, and years of under-investment in upkeep coming back to bite many - and those clubs, in the main, can't be held totally responsible for that under-investment. Policies designed to deprive them of their turnover share [ and I'm going back decades here ] in favour of the bigger clubs has left many struggling - and then the finger is pointed at them. Here, in Canterbury, the closure of one excellent facility in particular has deprived locals of a very good trials track. The AWT does take up some slack in that area but, as the Chief alluded, the large entries at the remaining grass trial facility shows clearly what the preferred option is for most. As for Cambridge - with the huge number of horses in training in the Waikato, to have to abandon a trials day through insufficient entries shows very strongly the opinion of most trainers there too.

17...!! Seems like yesterday.

Glad to help!

I may not be completely normal....but I was there each day and didn't see any fashion competition. Didn't notice many people either but it was cold (Reefton's favourite wind in evidence) and a lot may have been tucked away inside the corporate boxes.

Have a chat to Reefton about said Stipe.

Explain to me how that would save money? I'm not disagreeing with you, but I can't see how moving offices to Ellerslie from the Waikato is a great cost saver? Esp. given that there has just been - or will be very soon - a move from Petone to Hamilton or Cambridge or wherever.

Agendas.

I read that learned ecclesiastical folk in the middle ages used to argue how many angels could fit on the head of a pin. H.R would be in his element.

Very interesting, M.M. Although not up with the economic situation in Vic, the stakemoney drop has been made public. I did wonder myself why Vic and not NSW for the stable.

Ah, C, to use 'other options' would require an admission that the agendas have been awry. Could that happen?

Thanks, haven't received it yet, but a decent prize nevertheless and much appreciated. Ten bags of a Dunstan feed ration of choice, I believe.

Yes, exactly. The great staff mentioned above aren't going to radically change their routine regardless of who comes and goes at the top. The system works, and well, from Karen and D.E at the top, through the various foremen/women, through the trackriders, strappers, and the muckers-out. Every stable - without exception - has its up and downs, the promise of the newly-purchased young stock may or may not come to fruition, irrespective of who is in the drivers' seat, and that's life.

Quite a few trucks arrived today

There are few better trainspotters than Curious.

Odd indeed. The cynic might think that not one of these folk have the faintest idea about anything pertaining to rules or integrity, and also have comprehension difficulties.

I thought we were...a bit of levity now and again doesn't hurt...but yes, it is important.

Haha....bit early to tell yet?

Another point which I feel illustrates the prevailing culture within the RIB, is the matter of the missing shoe on the horse in question. The rules are quite clear. A horse must be presented at the races or trials correctly shod. If that is not the case the horse must be scratched. To make sure I was correct in my interpretation, I spoke to several farriers, including one who has officiated at both points on a raceday; i.e the inspection plate where correct plates are checked off, and around at the starting gates, and was left in no doubt what the requirements are. Madison Rose was presented with a plate missing. The farrier alerted officials but Oatham overruled the protocols and allowed the horse to start. Given the matter of a horse falling at Greymouth - free of interference - because it had hooked a plate off in running and become unbalanced, that in itself is astounding What is equally astounding is the claim the leg which the mare 'slipped' on could be clearly seen..really? as was the subsequent failure to stand Moseley on the mat for careless riding. And for those who recall horses being re-plated at the barriers at various times, and wonder why I'm bringing this up; the rules, which the RIB are charged with implementing, are quite clear and unequivocal. A horse MUST be presented correctly shod AT INSPECTION. The farrier at the gates is there to repair problems that may have occurred on the way to, or the gates. They have the discretion at that point, and may either straighten or re-nail a plate, or, in some cases, remove the other one to give the horse more stability than racing with one plate missing. It is NOT the job of the gate farrier to do at no cost, the shoeing that should have been attended to earlier.

Sad to recollect....I've got one in work now that I reckon would be deadly around some of those mentioned.

I think 'negligent ' is a very diplomatic term with which to describe the decision made.

Based on ticket sales the AWT middle day is now free entry.

There seems to be a fair bit of dissatisfaction about their functions in other areas too.