Freda

yeah....but it has become more startlingly apparent now that more tracks have been closed. Many had been in support of reducing tracks with overseas data showing how other jurisdictions had fewer. However those who had been in favour of reductions didn't take into account the appalling state of the remainder. And although Messara keeps getting the blame, the axe had been out before he came along.

Yes. Saundry indeed. I was at an NZTR roadshow when predecessor Purcell was at the helm...and I can definitely recall him saying that he was NOT in favour of forcing tracks to close, but that NZTR would work in support with any that chose to race elsewhere. He had a lot of baggage, that fellow, but on this matter I thought he seemed very reasonable.

A bit of a crisis? has he been asleep for the last five years?

Tell Winston.

Yeah, well Winston may love horses and racing but he's still ill-informed. Small tracks have been underfunded for years-decades- with 'preferred' clubs getting disproportionate amounts. Every so often there would be another change in distribution but the overall result has been that many small clubs have been relying almost entirely on volunteers to upkeep their facilities. The bulk funding of stakes did remove that burden at least but the die was well and truly cast for many by then. One recent abandonment for Kumara hardly counts compared to the spate of abandonments over the last few years at all categories of tracks, the whole outfit is a bloody disaster and Winston with presumably good intentions hasn't really helped so far. He just has no bloody idea. The million dollar races he brought in did what, exactly? Entains involvement has been terrific for those who have been lucky enough to get some stake money. But long term sustainability looks as far away ever. Nothing whatsoever has been done to address that....and administration costs keep ballooning. The TAB will have to relinquish 50% profit in another 2.5 years, the Oaks was won by a 79 rated horse - how can that race keep its rating? Things are looking grand.

Agree wholeheartedly.

Red Diamond? Pat Smith...memory thought CWJ ....

...and she couldn't follow simple instructions

Actually, I was in the process of formulating a comment but words fail me, for once.

Sad, isn't it. I had a Uni student helping me for a while ( B.Ag) and I was astounded at the way she conducted her learning processes.

I've only been to Trentham a couple of times, and sent horses with someone else once. It was always the place to aspire to, the racing fair and competitive, but, oh dear. Champagne turf indeed...no longer. What an embarrassment, an awful look, what must offshore watchers think looking at the horrible sight? No wonder horses are heading to Aus in undiminishing numbers.

Interesting. Bodes well for the future of our Strathayr.

Erin's all right. Does a good job IMO and doesn't need her confidence bashed. She's a former jockey employed by Wexford. Gives good input i think and can only improve with more exposure.

I'm not waiting. Happily settled in to watch the Slipper.

Easy peasy!

I would have thought any contribution to turnover from anywhere would help the bottom line.

Technology....

Sure was.

Judgement of pace is everything. Seemingly not taught much if at all, now. One or two trainers place importance on times for their riders but not many IMO. Haven't seen a stopwatch for years. A half in 52? bloody hell, they'd go better on a H10 at some tracks. Back in the day [ a long time ago ] George Humphries told me that if they couldn't run a half in 48 they wouldn't make top horses. Nowadays that wouldn't win a trial. My apprentices were sent home with a stopwatch and tested later. One apprentice left for Australia when he came out of his time, rode work for Gai. The younger apprentice would ring him from time to time, complaining about me. The bitch is at me about times, jeez, she pisses me off. Used to piss me off too, he said. Now I realise how important it is. Listen to her. My partner had a clock in his head. He could tell you how fast he had worked to within a fraction of a second. And was particularly effective off the front as you might expect.*

More like ' ffs, they're going slow'....

Yes. Generally though, whether horses are coming from the back or not is tempo-related. Either because the horses up in the van are considered suspect at the distance, or because the riders haven't a clue how fast they are going. Or both.

I would, but the compressed handicap system we have means the low rated horse can't really get a suitable pull in the weights. Also, your rider options are limited too. I had a one-winner that I had toyed with putting in the 75 2600 at Riccarton. But, she had to win at Ashburton to justify [in my mind] the start, and my preferred rider would have had to cut his legs off.

Brilliant.

Lol....I might be missing something or need new specs...but I find Ashburton 3rd and 16th April Riccarton 12th and 26th same, so not a major surely? We've had Riccarton, Ashburton in March and 3 at Dunedin. I understand your point re. Canterbury but most have their own floats and Dunedin is not considered a big deal wrt traveling. And Riverton in the middle as well. Not Canterbury I know but the southern trainers are awesome and only too happy to help by looking after horses. Saves a shitload of money with no extra vehicle and accommodation costs. There are plenty of issues that grind my gears but this particular one, not really. Finding opportunities for staying low grade models once the polytrack gets under way is a much bigger problem.

I am well aware what stakes were 3 years ago..and ten..and twenty...but it pisses me off that the time of the year determines the level of allocation for the bottom feeders.