Freda

Conditions are SW & P .for the 2 yr olds.

Delightful young man...they sure can make riders in Argentina.

We try.

You don't feel it's a Cunning Plan to make Oamaru look irrelevant so as to justify it's closure?

The eloquence and reasoning put forward in support was a joy to behold.

Just watch Ascot and dream, JB. Yes, good old blighty has provincial tracks, poor stakes, and battling trainers too, and the odd fk-up as well, like the blindfold left on....but when they present the best, it is just - well, the best.

i was actually going to point that out...the sub-forums, that is. Never mind, some interesting dialogue.

Not as I am aware.

It is a great surface for training. Absolutely. No one is saying that they are not valuable for training, or for giving horses which prefer firmer going somewhere to run during the winter months. But, the point that you and many miss, is that in these straitened times, does the investment of [public] funds and the closure of provincial tracks look likely to grow interest in racing? increase revenue? I won't say turnover, so many waffle on about turnover being the metric, but even a mathematical idiot like me can realise that turnover and profit are not synonymous.

Not sure. Shares in at least two, but may be more.

No point complaining. Won't alter anything.

Seems pretty self-explanatory to me. Or 'where there's muck there's brass '

You're quite right. However, the incidents that have been highlighted in the Melbourne Cup specifically are generally, sadly, horses going amiss. I enquired of trainer Lance Robinson yesterday as to the wellbeing of his fallen runner, she seems ok so far, he said, just ran out of room. That, IMO, indicates a jockey issue. Someone clearly failed to steer. And that happens far too much.

I'm no punter...but perception is everything. West Coast tracks are commonly believed to be 'front runners tracks' and everyone goes hell for leather as a result. Horses can and do come from behind and win for that reason. No walk-and-sprint over there.

Not as far as I am aware, so far anyway. But we were told ( at the beginning) that overall costs would be reduced as there were fewer tracks to maintain 🤔

I imagine it's what THEY mean.

I heard [ anecdotally ] that the consulting company, Sapere, had recommended that Riccarton numbers be increased to at least 600 to put the training operation back in the black. I know that HRNZ did commission a report by said company, with advice forthcoming as to which tracks to close; but I can't find any reference to the galloping side. Anyone have any information further to this?

Thanks for confirming, E.

It was brought to my attention that the stakes for the above-mentioned races [ four ] to be held on the synthetic, were to be $40,000. The first Cambridge ones were run on 28th July, 2021, and the inference was that that would apply for the opening of each synthetic track, and for the years subsequent. The stakes for the Riccarton version have apparently been posted at only $17,000. It wasn't something that I had been particularly aware of, but I have been asked to see if anyone has any information - or opinions - on this?

This is similar to what I have heard; and I'm not taking sides or expressing an opinion either way. But the process I find confusing. If the charges are thrown out - as has been implied - why, then, the court dates? And, if the RIB are continuing with their actions, the court stuff wouldn't have any bearing, would it ?

I think the Erebus disaster was subject to something I thought was a Royal Commission..but not sure if my memory serves me correctly. I do remember Justice Mahon's 'orchestrated litany of lies' summation.

The bit about ' the big events' concerned me too. Doesn't look like the bottom feeders are going to get many scraps. I would have thought that with his sporting background, he would be well aware how important it is to have a strong base from where the elite performers can be developed.

🤥 the pension? Lol...

I can honestly say that I don't think any southern-based trainer would be anywhere near those rates - with the exception of the Marsh barn. I don't mean to infer that I know what they charge..but simply that I have no information to that effect.

An update x trainers association . WHAT THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE MEANS . With the introduction of the additional Public Holiday, Matariki, now ten days sick pay per year and an increase of the minimum wage effective 1st April 2022 Trainers need to increase their daily charge to recover this cost by $2.92 per day. This of course does not allow for any overhead and margin on the additional cost and is exclusive of gst. Other concerns Trainers should have is the increase in their supply costs because of rising fuel prices and supply constraints which in addition to their labour cost increases is fuelling the current inflationary and interest rate hikes, all will effect Trainers costs and bottom line. any Trainer charging under $95.00 per day would be losing money. Trainers should be charging no less than $125.00 per day. I Make that $875 a week , not sure if that includes gst .