Freda

How much of off course? or does the bulk funding scenario remove any percentage-based payout?

Yes..and, although better brains than mine have worked out that attendance isn't necessary for overall betting, I can't for the life of me see how interest in racing - and the horse itself - can be served by not having people on course. Labour Day down here used to have not just Rangiora, but Gore too, with the Gore Guineas. All gone, the results of decisions made for 'the greater good' ...or not. Going back more than a few years, I can remember Timaru [ for one ] opting for a Friday - I think - rather than the more traditional Saturday, because the funding policy at the time meant that off course turnovers were of more benefit to a club than on course. But the knock-on effect of that, and other decisions, have, over time, not done the industry any favours.

I don't think they bother too much with the country WAY further south either... and clearly, they don't care.

Why just the CD ?

Word is that more than one or two are not happy to shift.

A bit off topic, but - why the move to Cambridge for NZTR ? How is that supposed to help the industry?

It was announced at the races yesterday , there were hollers, fist pumps, even people dancing ! [ a few glum faces too ]

Plenty of critical thinkers predicted exactly that. I'm pretty sure they are not super happy about being right, though.

Evidence, C. Evidence. They have been advising NZTR/track managers for some time I believe, so, either the advice is flawed, or it is not being followed.

State of the art...hmmm...just have a look at some other jurisdictions and the facilities on offer there, both public and private. We have fallen off the ladder so far it's embarrassing. And we 'pin' our notions of modern technology by ruining a portion of what we have [ well tended grass surfaces ] that do actually work, and rushing to install second-rate systems. The most successful jurisdiction around, NSW in Aus, won't hear of synthetic racing. Ok for an additional training aid, but nowhere [ that I am aware ] removes the grass option as a result.

Well, I stand to be corrected, as always, but it seems to me that the advice given by the NZSTI isn't worth the paper it is written on...or the digital comparative.

Recently there was a twilight meeting held, either Timaru or Ashburton, not at Riccarton [which isn't the worst idea considering population proximity] and a couple of trainers contacted NZTR to ask why the timing of the raceday was such given that nearly every participant had to travel some distance. They were told that the TAB could only give them this time slot because of dog races. We were a bit stunned at that answer. There could have been several other much more believable answers than that one, surely.

The old 'herding cats' notion comes to mind...getting folk to agree is next to impossible.

Clearly they took notice of you.

Agree wrt Wellington. They have made some awful decisions, or been coerced into them, either way they have stuffed what was a fantastic carnival. But I disagree with NM about carnivals, I think they work - provided that due attention is given to timing etc. And programming/dates are a huge issue in that respect. For starters, having three or more days at one venue, or close by, justifies the expense for both horses and connections to actually make the trip. Add that to a decent club [a few left ? ] making efforts to provide packages/discounts to visitors for accommodation, meals, and transport costs, and the whole thing becomes viable. I'm referring to both sorts of 'carnivals' too, the top-end ones such as the Cup meetings at Wellington, Riccarton, Auckland as they USED to be, as well as the country holiday circuits. I recall a particular comment from a former regular poster about Gisborne/ Wairoa being 'too costly' 'a waste of time' 'get rid of them'. I presume he was referring to floating costs, I hope he is pleased to now transport his horse to a borefest of a nothing meeting at Hastings.

That a lot of people are easily pleased.

Er..yes..but my Indian is piss poor, Thai fair.

There are many issues unfolding from these events, IMO. The biggest [ apart from safety of horse and rider which has to be always paramount ] is that the product must be attractive to punters to ensure the prosperity - survival, in fact - of the industry. Clearly, it isn't. So, those in charge of protecting the integrity of the racing have been shown to be incompetent, and, given the agendas outlined in many posts above, possibly corrupt, by making decisions based, not on safety, but on some other notion. The matter of upholding safe riding tactics - i.e their job - has been ignored, which, in the Reefton incident, could have caused a catastrophic chain reaction, if the field had gone over the top of Moseley if his horse had actually fallen, rather than being bounced off the outside horse. And the bigger issue for mine, is that riding infractions are not, now, policed adequately, anywhere, which leads to more disinterest in betting locally. The likelihood of a meeting not proceeding is creating an even bigger drop off in interest among those few, intrepid remaining punters. No wonder they bet elsewhere. The point made by Reefton, that he wouldn't want to see anyone disabled as a result of an accident, I know is shared by everyone. But the tragic fatalities incurred in the industry have not, in my memory , been caused by track conditions. Interference or clipping heels seem to be the common denominator here, which in many cases, is a direct result of NOT policing riding infringements, as well as the prevailing practice of not allowing horses to run along at a decent gallop. The rule about 'changing ground' in a race is, or was, ' your own length and another clear length ' before shifting ground. How often does that get ignored now with no consequences whatsoever..?

Ostensibly.

Nope.

Yep, he did. Still good to see on a horse.

Yes, I can recall tales of horrendous methods of weight loss, others not so horrible but still involving a helluva lot of effort. Now, most go to the sauna. The constant starving must be soul-destroying.

It is interesting what the lack of a comma can produce.

The day was great, good atmosphere, very hot [ again ] hospitable committee members, and a very emotional Kelsey when winning the Nuggets for her biggest fan, Kenny Rae for whom she used to work. All round good vibe and the track was fine too. As was the whitebait.!

Yes. He has. But it is not his call.