Freda

Mark is a gifted horseman, he will do a fine job. All the best to him - and Nat.

Of course they were.

That doesn't fill me with much confidence. Dave Lloyd did a 'warrant of fitness' tour of racetracks, some time ago. Took him about nine months, he told me. But his opinions weren't heeded then, and I don't see any reason to be overly positive about Dean's involvement. Hope I'm wrong. BTW, S.A..don't you sleep?

Yes, Reefton, the buck always stops at the top. If some wally comes into my stable yard and a gate is found unlatched, and a horse has repaired to the hayshed to feast overnight, it is still MY FAULT. The systems were clearly not robust or foolproof enough. So, to airily say, oh, nothing to do with me, just doesn't cut it. That happens a lot in this neck of the woods, but I won't go into that any further for now.

Ok, good point. Just omit ' apparent insidious' from the post if you like.

God only knows...but [ to bang a drum that is already well used ] the closedown of Hokitika is another travesty. If there WERE specific track issues that needed remediation, the Westland club had both the finances, and the will, to do the work itself. It didn't need to call on 'industry' funding, like some bigger clubs have over the years. The decision was made and that was that. I have had some communication recently with Bruce Sharrock - and to give him due credit, he has replied to each and every one. A different animal in that respect to his predecessors. I mentioned the apparent insidious plan to close down country clubs and scuttle country racing, and he was adamant that was not on his agenda. We shall see just how truthful he is - although mention was made of 'the model that is currently followed by NZTR ' which MAY indicate that his own thoughts and official ones are not the same. Or perhaps I'm just being charitable. Time will tell. One thing is certain; the actions taken by the Chief Stipendiary Steward recently need to be addressed. And, as the RIB is supposed to be serving the wider racing industry - all three codes of it - there has to be accountability within its own structure. That seems to be NOT happening. Incompetence has been mentioned. I take a stronger view. If incompetence is being disguised by 'creative reporting' i.e. lies, that is no longer incompetence but corruption. You judge.

Is Beaudesert the closest? or is it the only track that is prepared to allow outside gallops?

Thanks, D. He certainly left his 'A' game at home last time, but yesterday showed more of what we have come to expect of him, and the track was very good. But there were few attendees; Granny Clampett's double barrelled shotgun could have been discharged, quite safely. As for 'every two weeks' for the next few months, bloody hell, they needed three months to get the blasted thing right after November.

That's a bit of a cultural sidestep..🙄

It performed with credibility too.

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.