Freda

I think Bicarb and alcohol would most definitely be picked up. How else would the milkshaking be detected?

I was thinking of Jonesy, Captain Mannering and Fraser in charge. At least it would be entertaining.

Jason Bridgeman and Steve Autridge were both in the same 'system'. Steven is a successful and respected trainer in his own right, both before and after Te Akau, of course..but Jason, thrown in the deep end, struggled to obtain the results wanted. And, anyone who follows racing knows that most stables have patches of both success, and more moderate results, that's just life and not anyone's fault. So the 'system' doesn't automatically guarantee results.

A bloody sight more expensive for the OWNERS of the winner, who will now lose stakemoney, and the kudos for the Grp 1 also denied to them [ although not so significant for a gelding ] but also the breeders. Ramifications all round. But yes, T.A run a tremendously well-organised stable with top trainers /staff and their communications are excellent. Mistakes do happen.

Yes, it does rather. Sure, there will be savings from cutting wasteful practices, but hard to see THAT much coming from economies only. And retaining 200 poorly-performing staff for two years isn't very economic either.

I'm afraid doing nothing is not a viable option.

I don't know enough to argue with you. But it seems to my simple mind that if they just kept to tote business and kept out of fixed odds it might work a lot better.

Australian racing has bookmakers and it has worked VERY well indeed. I've seen an idea mooted that NZ TAB could revert to tote-only operations, which would need only a skeleton staff, cost only a fraction of what it does now, and act as virtually a clearing -house. Much as it used to. License outside operators to run fixed odds and take a fee, thus eliminating risk and also the huge and seemingly ever-increasing cost of running the behemoth the TAB has become. The idea has much merit to me, although I don't claim to be an expert.

Seems unusual to me. However, practically speaking, Friday back to Wednesday probably simplifies things as Oamaru is on the following Sunday.

Got Lucky Sweynesse up too, that'll ease the pain a bit.

This unassuming man showed yesterday why he is widely considered the best on the planet. Equally at home in the States, Dubai, France, Royal Ascot or a selling plate back home on a modest day, he just gets on with the job.

Maybe he didn't want to move to Hamilton. Or maybe it was a convenient excuse...

One no longer there, Marty Burns, was always my 'go to' irrespective of the query, as getting the phone answered is an art in itself. Marty would , quickly and efficiently, either deal with the problem himself or expedite the contact. And I have to concede that Sharrock is courteous and professional enough to at least acknowledge and respond to any communication. A big improvement on his predecessors. That, of course, does not imply that the organization he manages is any better than it was.

My simple mind boggles at the categories listed - most of which I would have no idea what they involve. I would respectfully suggest that 60 per cent of the personnel could be dispensed with.

Absolutely. And, as I've commented elsewhere, when adjudication standards are so inexplicably poor, riding standards inevitably follow. We see the carnage daily, it's just fortunate that in most cases the results don't lead to injury - or worse - to horses and riders.

As S.A has pointed out, there are people only too willing to step up and advise and assist. And I'm not overly thrilled with the NZSTI help. It wouldn't be cheap to have their input and I'm not convinced, on the results we have seen so far, that it is fit for purpose wrt race tracks. At least Riccarton has produced two very good surfaces since the November situation.

While one of our riders can wipe out the chances of 3 runners in a Grp 1 - and nearly bring one down in the process - and receive 6 days. And the horse keeps the race. By comparison Mitchell and Bayliss both get 11 days for whip infringements...

I agree...but what pisses many off is the money wasted on fluff when they are steering racing into an iceberg.

Apparently [ I was just told ] it was International Women's Day on Wednesday. I didn't know that..or if I did, it didn't touch base. So that will be why there promotional stuff. Wait until we are asked to 'take the knee' ....

I must confess I haven't seen the 'offending' material either. However, in a field where women not only compete on equal terms, but excel on their own merits, it is not necessary whatsoever. Insulting in fact, NOT to men, but to the girls who just crack on with the job and beat the guys regularly.

Was a lot of fun though.

No accountability. Same old chestnut. Just wait until Riccarton - or Awapuni - have another wee drama. We'll get another report, more advice, etc, etc, but NO ONE will step up and say, I fucked up again, here's my notice.

Digressing - I'm sure it was Gullery and another reprobate Keith Nuttall who got hold of some firearms and took pot-shots at a small, low flying plane.

Clarrie McCarthy seems to nudge my brain wrt Gullery....but you may be right for all that. Mouse McCann's boss, Ned Thistoll, maintained the whip was for saluting the judge, and he wasn't allowed to use it for anything else until given permission. Track regulations were so different then , I recall the 3rd ride out involving novice horses, used to take place late in the morning or early afternoon, depending on the time of the year, and without the 'boss' in attendance. Races up the straight for milkshakes or packets of cigarettes were frequent - and involved a bit of stick practice ! It also produced educated horses which didn't faint when jammed in the middle of a field ( which was often very large indeed ). I also seem to recall that the track- and also the multitude of training tracks- were presented in pretty good order, despite horses working until midday or a bit later.