Freda

I think he used to be employed [ apprenticed? ] by Ralph Manning, maybe it's not so easy out on your own.

Yes, well, can't answer that, it's a long time since I had apprentices. The recent shocking case of horse abuse on the West Coast by a 'licensed ' trainer - licenced how or by whom anybody's guess. The horses are alive and being cared for now, but professional standards...nah. I'm sure the Nakhle Jockey School will be good - if it's modelled on the Sth African one it should be excellent. The likes of J Mac, Dan Stackhouse, the Colletts, the Lammas family, and heaps of others, have had an equestrian base to kick off their race riding training, but others? Some are lucky to be naturally gifted, others are athletic and sporty, but it all seems very hit-and-miss otherwise to me. Australian standards for apprentices are tough and not just anybody can make the grade. A young lass, from a local family, recently rode her first winner over there. But had been on record as saying, gee, its hard, but if I don't pass I'll just go home its easy there. Good on her for hanging in and achieving her goal - but, really?

Points 3.5 and 3.8. Length quoted as 300ml against an advised length of between 80 - 100 ml.

Damn right it was.

The thing is, Chief, that he wouldn't need to be TOLD to renovate/rest the track. Neither would he have needed to be TOLD that the irrigators were not working consistently. Anyone who walks around the track regularly can see that. Oh - and he wouldn't have needed to be told to CUT THE EFFING GRASS.

Nothing can, or will, compensate for the loss of a life, ever. But, with all respect to those most directly affected, Denby has to bear that cross too, and she will, for the rest of her life. The issue - for mine - is the awful standard of so many of our riders, and the seemingly inept - or non-existent - training they get, as well as equally inept judicial decisions. We have a tendency we have to judge a riding transgression on the result and not the action. If nothing had resulted from the wayward path of Denby's horse, apart from some general tightening and a few mutterings in the jockeys' rooms, would the penalty even be discussed? We see some horrendous steering decisions, major interference in so many races, that barely get a mention. Warnings with an exhortation to 'exercise more care' time after time. Well, the worst result of all did happen. If a review of rules and implementation of same, was to happen, then that would be a small ray of light.

Don't overlook the Sunbride connection.

I've been insulted by experts, so no worries, NM, not offended by you at all. But I think you have missed Doomed's little funny. I doubt if too many go the $500 route.

I had to go and have a look at the race names at Te Rapa after all that....! and it seems that all had sponsorship to some degree. The individual arrangements we wouldn't be privy to of course...but even the Derby was prefixed with ATR..so it would be safe to assume that Auckland Thoroughbred Racing carried some responsibility for that.

My ears pricked up when I saw Wandjina...didn't realise he had performed at such an elite level.

I thought she looked outstanding, and gee she was brave. She's come on, physically and mentally since Riccarton Guineas time. Our industry is crap but we can still produce nice horses. Imperatriz not disgraced either.

Yes, I thought his perspective must be different from where he is positioned, he has done this for a good while not just recently.

I think those funds are supposed to 'future proof' themselves...Wellington RC I mean.

Thank goodness for that. I feel for those who will lose jobs, the profligacy and mismanagement is not their fault - in most cases - but they would have been up shit creek anyway once the outfit capsized.

12 heats at Ashburton tomorrow.

What's up with Faye?

Shame indeed. He and fellow Saffie Warren Kennedy have shown just how good are the graduates from the Sth African Jockey School.

You're absolutely right. I spoke at length with a farrier who has been, at various times, the plating inspector and also the behind-the-barrier bloke. The rules were quite specific; if a horse is presented at the plate inadequately shod, it MUST be scratched. Quite clear. If a plate is lost on the way to the barrier, however, the matter is at the discretion of the farrier behind the barriers. In most cases of that nature, either the lost plate is replaced, or the other plate removed. So Oatham abrogated his own organisation's rules. And as well, the approval given to the Reefton track prior to the meeting, only to have him abandon the day on the flimsiest of pretexts, indicates a personal issue of his own which is quite unacceptable for someone in his position. If Clement has any credibility at all he will shift the bloke sideways somewhere - making the tea perhaps.

There is now a 'new' rule that a horse is NOT allowed to start without all four plates on.

Yeah, agree, I don't like the tentacles of overseas ownership either but this outfit is a dying duck. Best get rid of it before no-one at all wants it. Goodwill and Intellectual property mean naught in the face of mounting debt. Went to the Roadshow yesterday, didn't really want to but as I make a habit of tossing bricks, I thought I'd better show up. I have to concede that I'm not quite as despondent as I have been for a while - maybe that's just me and wishful thinking - but I am actually pleased I went. Sharrock is better in person than he appears on screen, and he had to deal with one particularly irritating contributor from the floor - which he did adroitly and with courtesy. It seems that TAB is in some discussion with a couple of offshore entities - which were not disclosed - and we may have some information about those discussions by the end of March. He also indicated there is still ongoing communication with Clement about the Coast debacle, he is not impressed at all by events but as the RIB is an autonomous body he has no jurisdiction there.

Apathy and stupidity mostly. We all have to own that, and those who COULD see the wood for the trees, are now ( mostly ) too disillusioned and tired to be bothered fighting an unwinnable battle.

Cheeky....

Just a thought about the 'ownership' of the TAB.....at the time of the first Racing Act [ 2003 ] and, more recently at the latest Act [ 2020] the industry had the opportunities to make their case against the about-to-happen legislative changes. In the first instance, they did nothing. Rolled over without a whimper. Preceding the recent Act, there were many submissions put in but there was nothing from a united front. Many who might have been expected to have protested vehemently about incipient changes were actually - staggeringly - in favour. So I humbly submit that we [ read 'the industry' ] deserve what we've got. Secondly, if we look at the current state of said TAB, would we bloody well want it? would anyone?

I think the enlightened posters on here, and some elsewhere, have been aware of these trends for a fair while. Not just weeks or months, but years.