Freda

Back to the Grand National meeting; the programme is not yet out on the online calendar on the LoveRacing website. Yet I'm sure I saw it in print, somewhere. Anyone have any idea?

A response from one, when questioned about the rationale in spending supposedly scarce resources. Also mentioned in the query was the impassioned plea to ticket holders 'not to pursue the refund option' because of the financial hit facing the club following the Cup Day fiasco. Not sure where you’re looking but if re fashions, then I suspect it is simply a replacement for June Youngman who Co-ordinated Fashion in Field at Cup Day. A lot of folk contacted us to say they had a great day, even without the racing on Cup Day, and didn’t want a refund. Most of the refunds we made were for GA . If we don’t have income then we can’t run the show and supply facilities for trainers to use.

The above-quoted 15% figure is the proposed PoCt tax take in Victoria of which 7.5 % is to be returned to racing. Or that is my understanding, at least. We have a PoCt as well, what is that figure, can anyone tell me?

Can't comment about Awapuni, but when it is very wet, we at Riccarton have none apart from the AWT. Pacework or gallops.

I'll let you know what the Board members I have contacted have to say on the matter.

I fear so. I wonder how he goes fixing potholes?

I think the gap would be filled...but those horses, generally, would be lost to NZ. We get to see some lovely animals race here, that wouldn't be happening without T.A IMO.

I was astounded when I saw the announcement..and even more astounded when I saw the list of congratulatory comments.

It's a mind-boggling sum, no doubt. But as a percentage of overall income? Not so sure.

Probably, because he doesn't KNOW how it is going to operate. If Sharrock claims not to know any 'detail' htf will anyone else? It is, as far as I understand, a legal requirement to get buy-in from the codes before anything else happens.

The only surprise is that it hasn't already happened.

No, you're quite right, but selective notice is clearly being taken. Factional self-interest is definitely rife. An impartial fact-finding mission would be a good idea bur doesn't seem likely to happen.

Oh, you do spout some bollocks at times. When intelligent, passionate and involved stakeholders [ like Reefton ] get ignored or treated as fools there is zip that they can do in the greater scheme of things. And there is nothing imaginary about the 'northern cartel'. I can vividly recall a northern high-profile trainer announcing that 'they are costing us money, get rid of them' [ referring to small clubs]. And the number of other northern folk nodding in agreement.

Yes, Mikey, it was a very enjoyable day. I haven't been down there for a good while and it struck me that I had forgotten how pleasant it was, and the track was a credit to the management also. Ashburton has been as far as I've travelled [personally] and although that club is trying hard to upgrade its facilities [ which are awful for horses and basic for people] they are cash-strapped,and as the designated '2nd' option behind the CJC for both racing and training, there should have been some financial support from that direction. Clearly that hasn't happened. They have, however, acquired a bloody good track manager, so that's one plus for Ashburton.

I don't need to be convinced, I just look at the whole set-up and think, yeah, more b/s we will all live with because the likelihood of an insurrection from the ranks is zero. We'll just go along like sheep and live with the implosion.

Easier to attract and retain staff.

And now that the outfit is going to be based in Waikato, anywhere south of Wellington is going to be considered a foreign country.

Pitty was going to send Petone a map once.

It seems so, sadly.

I was lucky to get two out of maidens by heading south...but those with reasonable horses which need soft turf have been thrown to the wolves. And no. You're not the only one who sees the problems. But management doesn't seem to consider the situation to be a problem at all. Don't forget, though, that the S.I is now considered to be 'one region' . So the prospect of travelling all over the Mainland is the option we have.

I didn't take any notice of the jumps, but the track itself was in superb condition. Good racing on a beautiful autumn day.

I think his weight is proving too big a hurdle. We may have seen the last of him, for a while at least.

I spoke to Paul Nelson recently, he is as much in the dark as anyone. I asked him to keep me posted once the jumping assn. have had a meeting or two and someone actually knows what is happening. The programme came out recently but then disappeared just as quickly. As he pointed out, preparing a jumper is not a five minute undertaking, you need some certainty as to what events may or may not be held. Kevin Hughes was the last jumping supporter of note here [ at Riccarton] and once wife Pam became unable to school and educate, they had little option left. The last jumper they had, Speedy Jax, was sent to Australia and although he didn't achieve great success, still managed to triple his earnings in a very short time. The Parsons' team, also once jumping supporters, have chronic staffing issues and Tina C, who used to do a bit of schooling, is hardly likely to do any now, she's far too injury prone. Andertons, Tylers, the only others who have sufficient numbers to matter, have obviously seen the writing on the wall and don't worry any more, and Jo Gordon and a few others with lesser numbers have sent their charges north. My bloke was the last horse to be ticketed here, and go on to race, but he had to head north as well. One can blame trainers for not doing more, but beating one's head against a brick wall is just soul destroying. Lack of riders, a programme which is unhelpful, the cost of preparing a long-term product with no certainty whatsoever, makes the end result inevitable. Like many, I will be sad to see no Nationals - although I think the Club isn't considering that likelihood - but I cannot, for the life of me, see the point of having them here.

Age and injury dims even the brightest star. He may - or may not - return, time will tell, but even now he's as good as most and better than quite a few.

Sshhh....the roses will need watering soon, that'll fix it.....