Jump to content
Bit Of A Yarn

Freda

Members
  • Posts

    4,077
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    108

Everything posted by Freda

  1. The slip was obvious and significant. Appalling stuff.
  2. I'd be keen to sign too, if there was a link to do so. It's in the interests of Canterbury folk to get behind Levin, any that don't, well, the writing is on the wall anyway.
  3. Curious will be the one who has access to such information..but I have heard exactly that. I dug up a slow-mo video of a galloping horse and that seemed to be pretty much what happened. Interestingly - in a chat only yesterday with the very helpful and informative man from Aus, over to groom/harrow our polytrack - he also made reference to the need for the hoof to slide, and scoop for safe movement.
  4. Yes, Kate is toughness personified. To be back riding again - especially at the level she is - speaks volumes for her commitment after horrendous injuries, and recently, a devastating personal tragedy. All credit to her. I don't think she would be backing off if she felt there was something she needed to say, so maybe just take it at face value? [ I didn't see her interviewed ]. As for Ellerslie...it has had a very patchy start, but - allowing for that and the dubious decisions causing that - the design is specifically focused on excellent drainage. Look at the jurisdictions Strathayr has performed well in. We would expect it to race fairly notwithstanding heavy rain. And it did, so well done there.
  5. And now a second place in a Pearl Series race...so immediate success and a financial reward for those new owners! Well done to all and especially to the little filly.
  6. Yeah, Blenheim filled a spot that is missed. Hierarchy just has no idea how things used to roll and why they were successful in the overall scheme of things. What a loss is the Gisborne/Wairoa circuit.
  7. You've just answered your own question.
  8. I think that is very likely.
  9. I heard Lance O'Sullivan say in an interview, that if he was starting a riding career now, he wouldn't be staying here. That is sad, and a very telling comment for our resident Pollyanns to think about.
  10. Only thing, Huey, the favored clubs have been helped by NZTR for years, at the expense of many provincial/country clubs. Even Greymouth ( deemed the 'principal' club in the region) got a new stand - dubbed ' the most expensive yacht club on the Coast' by a local wit. Referring to the regular inundation by the Grey river experienced in the region.
  11. Yes. There are likely many now having 'quiet' runs at the races. Same situation as when 'free' starts were introduced and trials fees were hiked to encourage ( force ) horses to the races to increase betting turnover. The likelihood of horses having training or educational runs and therefore being unsuitable betting propositions clearly escaped management. As an aside, it hasn't escaped notice how well North Canterbury and Timaru trainers are performing, given relative numbers in training.
  12. It's such a shame that our world class athletes, both human and equine, have to head overseas to realise their goals.
  13. Is the technology for accurate - and quickly available - timing very expensive?
  14. Would they care? Or even realise? Doesn't NZ Racing end somewhere around Taupo? And they will be doing their damndest to get the Guineas north. That part I find hard to argue with however.
  15. .......'continue to be managed with the expertise....' ffs
  16. The NZ Cup will remain. The best highweight or R75 hcp in NZ.
  17. Awapuni isnt a Strathayr as such, though, is it?
  18. Quite so. I do think its a good concept but the implementation...? How does it get communicated to the wider, largely uninterested public? Loveracing ads? Fb pieces? Trackside? All preaching to the converted. I will be watching with interest.
  19. I was talking to Davy Jones ( Ashburton) recently, he said he'd love to flick Timaru some more meetings instead of his track getting hammered, but of course dates aren't up to him. And an industry-funded renovation of poor old Ashburton is highly unlikely.
  20. Ok, we have, hopefully, Awapuni renovated and looking good. Ellerslie, although now seemingly acceptable, had a very wobbly start and was an Ellerslie project wrt to funding and design - not an NZTR driven exercise although no doubt supported by that organization. So what other 'key ' tracks are in the pipeline? Do we assume that Hastings will be as good when -and if- anything happens there? Wellington? Notwithstanding the good racing there recently the place is a shithole in the winter, often inconsistent and the whole area is a depressing travesty of what it once was. Can't see industry money going there. Riccarton? Well overdue for treatment, 1998 was when it was reconstructed and it has faced criticism from that time on. Others will know what the acceptable time frame is for renewal of grass surfaced racetracks, but 27 years seems a fairly long time without major work. Dunedin has had work done, not sure the date but that Puddle Alley corner used to cause problems. Seems to race ok now and is a bloody good track. Facilities dated but ok. A regular cycle of renovation regionally, with the other tracks in that region picking up the slack...too sensible, but no....close as many as possible with no work done and here we are. I await with interest to see the next track identified for improvement.
  21. Yes. I mentioned to more than a few, post-earthquake, that with the movement and building development north of Christchurch, it made sense to support and develop the Rangiora facility and promote racing in that area. All those new residents, what would be nicer on a summer evening than a BBQ at the races, in pleasant surroundings? Games, comps for the kids, pony races, you get the picture...
  22. All taken up, thanks to those new owners and the best of luck to the team. And thanks to the Chief for providing the platform.
×
×
  • Create New...