Freda

I thought it was brilliant!

Can't answer that. But I was told Kozzi Asano was one of the riders.

Horses were galloped Saturday morning. That doesn't seem to have been a great success.

I also feel the need to add, that for all the vitriol and disgust hurled at the management of the CJC, it should be pointed out that no-one, be it staff, management, stewards - would WANT to see the meeting called off, or participants hurt, or livelihoods threatened. The loss that will be incurred as a result of this debacle will be punishment enough for the club and its employees. What we want to see is a radical change of process that actually works, not more BS from Sharrock.

Hmmm. Clearly the stipendiary stewards saw no reason for racing not to take place after their Thursday morning inspection. That shouldn't give anyone much confidence in their judgment would it? I think ( jmo ) that after Sundays efforts, the track should be safe enough although, as Billy has referenced, hard.

He'll welcome you. Hard, you say? Rain forecast for tomorrow morning.

A senior jockey said earlier this morning that they were lucky to get away with the first two days.

A bit ?

Raining now.

To all of the above, damn right. However, another issue, which most don't consider; what about the staff? Some are away from home, and may have commitments elsewhere after 'today's races'. What about those lads/lasses who had factored in a party or social event, or had been promised a few days off to mark the end of what should have been a fantastic week? Sorry, guys, you'll have to come in at 5 tomorrow, to work these horses for Monday. [ which if it rains, as it is forecast to do, might be at risk again ]. Yes, I feel for owners, sure as hell I do, and also riders, and trainers.. many of these folk have families and commitments too which may not be able to be shifted around at a whim. And if Monday doesn't go ahead, what then? Do the test crash dummies get sent out again, for practice? As for staff incentives..some trainers may be able to afford remuneration for staff when horses win, I know some owners give appreciation to stable workers, and good on them all. But as a matter of course, there isn't a specific mandated percentage for staff. Without them, the whole shitfest falls apart. But, wait, there is plenty of spare money to boost these Grp races it seems.

yes, and you and I had a minor difference of difference of opinion about horses slipping at Riccartpn. I did say that they got away with indifferent preparation because of the wide, sweeping turns, and horses didn't slip. But the incompetence we have seen today defied even that. They got slipping on a relatively straight line. Well done team.

H & S rules make it mandatory to call races off if there is a KNOWN problem. Don't blame the jockeys. Do you think they want to miss out on prestige races and great money? They know, better than most, how much work goes in, ffs many work these same horses daily. How many hopes and dreams just got scuttled? What are you thinking? The buck stops with who served this tripe up on a Grp One day. Unbelievable.

lol...they didn't...most jumped them. Lucky Lee Callaway was in front at the time, he kicked up and most of the rest followed.

Spot on.

Yes, oh dear, and FFS...to all of the above. But to pick on one sector - and I have to be fair and acknowledge that no one, not even the heirarchy, wants to see horses and riders hurt through unsafe tracks - as far as I am aware, track managers undergo a course in, well, track management. So, we therefore assume that all managers have learnt much the same stuff. I don't think it's very long either, a diploma course of six weeks I believe although someone may correct me. Clearly, then, the material that is taught to these fellas is flawed [or else they are as thick as planks and can't learn], or else the course is just not long enough to hammer stuff home. Chief will come in and point out that soil structures are stuffed, through years of under-investment, and he's not wrong IMO. So, how long are these blokes going to carry on, doing the same, before someone either from their ranks, or from the Taj Mahal, says, shit, guys, we're getting this wrong..? How long can ineptitude and utter stupidity not be challenged, and fixed?

Don't recall Reefton having ANY issues, my memory may not serve me well but the glass house is pretty safe I think.

Happened on more than one occasion and with different starters.

Apparently the biggest problem was at the 1400m mark, I haven't walked around there, the track shut early so too much of my own stuff to do. But Ali's comments would make you think so. And he is a very experienced horseman, not just an idle observer.

No idea what they use. I'm only passing on Ali's comments. Well, some of them.

And the 'ex' mentioned earlier in the discussion, was a rider of the colt Clansman earlier in his career. But Dave ( Kerr ) wanted him to come and work him one Sunday before, I think, the John Grigg. But he couldn't be bothered. So Ali rode him from then on.

Yeah, the 2000 Guineas on Clansman I think, for Kerrs, among many other features. Some for the Dennis Brothers too.

Wasn't there. But one gentleman who was, was former trainer/jockey Ali Robinson. Ali and his wife have a new home in the Ryman retirement village, at the top end of the six furlong chute. He often wanders down to see the horses and watch trackwork. I was standing at the crossing watching one work as he hove to, muttering. All that slipping, he said, bloody grass too long. It's so long it lies flat and the mower can't cut it.

Ha...I think ( jmo ) that it is an attempt to look reasonable and considered, rather than an arrogant knowall twat.

Not sure if Don is still with us, the other great Coast supporter and all-round good guy, Frankie Stammers, sadly, isn't. From acting crossing-keeper, farrier, trackwork rider, there was nothing Frankie wouldn't do to help someone. One year, a group of us was at Woodstock [ a little settlement a wee way out of Hokitika ] to listen to the regular Sunday night jam session. Any musician who wanted to have a go could get up and entertain the listeners. Om this occasion, a local dashed into the pub to announce that a car had run off the road and was stuck in a ditch. Off went Frankie in his elderly Escort and duly towed the hapless driver out of the ditch and back on the road. The guy turned out to be an American concert pianist. He had been tikki-touring around back-country NZ, on his own, having some time out. Once suitably refreshed, he sat down at the piano in the bar and enthralled us all. He was awesome.

There was a deputation of officials inspecting the track yesterday morning.