Freda

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.

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.