Freda

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.

Well, I missed it too

Mentioned in his address was ' reducing costs to owners.....' and attracting young trainers. What a refreshing attitude. Very different from reducing training options on already dated and poorly-maintained facilities and hitting the poor owner in the pocket all the way.

Lovely to see. Super mare.

Yeah. Back to the bottom for the peasants.

Well, my understanding of wagering processes is limited. However with the potential for challenges to the current situation - the online gaming markets, cessation of dog racing and its contribution, shenanigans wrt Entains financial dealings ( which the Chief considers small change in the bigger picture, he may well be right ) and the ending of the 5 year lolly scramble we are enjoying atm - how can we not be very alarmed? Where are the changes in the pipeline to address our future? Is Ballesty (sp) likely to leap into racing structures and programmes, dates, etc? Or will he be ( as Huey thinks) as clueless as his predecessors? Tracks are not improving, riders are bad, its hard to find a kiwi-born apprentice. The new protocols for track riders are awful and so far have produced nothing but the potential for youngsters to get hurt...I can go on but I'll get depressed.

I suppose the answer is the horse above...at a trial or something...I'll ask him shortly!

A cost accountant would argue you get rid of the training facilities and only have 0.8 FTE Track Manager Well of course, that makes sense, however the Board considers that subsidising training is part of their func I should add that since the 'takeover' of Rangiora, the CJC has managed financial matters wrt to the galloping side of things, however costs for maintenance and equipment such as mowers, tractors etc are shared by the harness mob.

I have quoted figures....25k lost by the Rangiora facility, and nearly 2m by Riccarton. However Riccarton couldn't provide a split between training/stabling costs and racing costs Around 650k brought in annually from trackfees/rentals at Riccarton and 80k from the same at Rangiora [ galloping only].

Riccarton also has the operational millstone of providing training/stabling facilities.

Actually, they're worse than ever.

Oddly enough Andre wasn't popular with some, I thought he had some smart initiatives although didn't really know him personally. No doubt Gallop South was an excellent concept.

12 -,18 months? Is that a piss-take or does the April return mean next year?

But a shade sobering all the same?

Te Rapa most likely i'm thinking. Trentham, yes, central, plenty of history but the National and the figure8 don't really work for mine. Maybe. But there seems to be such a cloud over Trentham and its management and future that it doesnt seem logical to place it there.

Pretty clear people want grass trials.

Waverley for a Grand National...surely not. Awapuni ? Maybe, if its not stuffed up by its 'renovation '. IMO the only course that offers remotely similar challenges would be Hawkes Bay but that is about as likely as me having a runner in it.

I think there have been some tracks that have had their use discontinued but there doesn't seem to be the unholy glee to strip everything away. They understand tradition. A very experienced former racing executive said to me once, mess with tradition at your peril. And across the ditch, which given our social, political and ethnic similarities is the logical place to look, they seem to cherish and support their provincial and country meetings.

Maybe, but where?

I think I read somewhere a broken leg?

Looks like Belinda and Skippy were there...and Bristles !

Can you think of one who has actually LOST their job?

Yep. All explained.

Ah. Honest mistake. Sorted now.

Just had a look at Channel X - as I do, often, to see what is going on....and discovered a post from me that I didn't make. Nothing offensive but still not from me.