Freda

Don't forget Kozzi was developed here....

To think all this developed from trading in goats, camels, and slaves.....

Overall - and I am strongly critical, generally, of this mob - there are some promising initiatives. From the perspective of a southerner, it is pleasing to see Riverton down to be retained, it's a great track and would have been a huge loss. The concept of series racing, such as AWT championships, country cups, Champions' day etc, while hardly new [ being old hat to many other jurisdictions ] would have to be a positive. But, for Country series racing, there has to be a sufficient number of country tracks/clubs left.! The fact that Timaru is retained [ for now ] is a plus, as is the plan to reconstruct the Riccarton turf track. halleluja ! But, once [ if ] that happens, Timaru will be gone, leaving just Ashburton [ and the AWT ] to provide racing for Canterbury. How Oamaru slides into Canterbury, I'm not sure. Jumping gone in the south, no surprise, the National remains? well and good for now, but it remains to be seen how things roll in a few years time. The funding of these initiatives, not so sure. High -stakes paid to certain series', or specific one-off days, begs the question that so many participants are chewing the paint off the walls, and increased betting revenue to fund all this still has to be in the speculative bucket. Looking at the comments on the jockeys down here in the south, I am hard pressed to see how there will be any increase on betting unless there is a huge improvement. Won't happen IMO. I's have been much happier to see the grass-roots participants recognised, and respected, for their contributions with a lift to bottom-end stakes. There will still be fewer and fewer horses left to attack these new initiatives unless there is some incentive along the way to keep them in training.

At the risk of playing devil's advocate - what, exactly, should any govt 'do' for racing? Our govt ( not just this one, previous ones too ) subsidise our industry to the tune of some 150 mill p.a. I respectfully submit that it is racing itself which has led to the situation it finds itself in now. Those who wail ' look what the govt does for racing in Aus ' would do well to remember the adage ' be careful what you wish for '. Yes, racing does receive millions from state and federal coffers...but not as much as is collected in taxation, duties, and betting licenses. They can afford to give some back. A bloated, lazy and incompetent monopoly has never had to be slick, efficient and accountable.

Ah.. no, you're not. Bloody hell stakes for jumpers were 20k 5 or 6 years ago...what did that do to stem the slide?

Good comments. However, if you know Chris at all, you should realise that he is the most unassuming, laid-back, easy going guy you could find. He very seldom criticises anyone, and being in the spotlight embarrasses him hugely. He is not the right person for teaching. One-on-one, you will get an opinion. Not in public though. My former partner [ R.J ' Mouse' Mccann ] was a competent rider in his time, lazy and unmotivated though, but well able to hold his own in any riding company. He gave up, not through weight issues, but because he got sick of trying to ride races against the plethora of female apprentices. He wasn't sexist, not at all, but there just seemed to be so many young riders not taught and not held accountable. He grumbled to me once, I'm wasting my time trying to ride a decent race, all I can do is keep out of their way. It's like dodgems. He used to enjoy getting the chance to ride at Trentham, in particular, when Jimmy Walker, Noel Harris, etc, were rivals, not a bunch of sheilas that couldn't steer. [ his words..! ] Now, we have the imports who can't steer. Chris, it may have been noticed, spent - and still does sometimes - a lot of time dragging his mounts out the back. Part of that had to do with his own personal issues...but much also, to do with the need to not get flattened. Poor racing control hasn't just started. It has been trending downwards for a good while, but - chickens do come home to roost.

Terri puts any rider on notice that Lisa is the stable elect whenever possible. I suspect there is some financial incentive for Lisa, but I'm only speculating. Krishna Mudhoo works for the stable, but knows the score.

Certainly not racist, CC...many of these young people are my friends, but a more inept bunch it would be hard to find. I think Kavish Chowdoory has improved - used to let his rides roll all over the place, but he seems to be better lately. He is at least strong, and I thought his ride on Royal Wings competent. Waited, and waited more, before asking her to stretch out and she responded well.

Just a silly question - the sum moved to be paid to the 'Board' - does that amount go to each and every member ? or is it divided amongst them all?

Greenies, Joe? or some other agenda?

I'd say more than one or two. I've got a delightful clip of a wee girl doing a cross-country course on her Dartmoor pony, just gorgeous to watch, hell, some kids like that to start with, and there might be some talent unearthed. Don't know how to put it up though, and it's not racing related anyway. As for the tutors, I can't comment about Harry, but there's nothing doing down here. And it was popular when first started. The C.D has Kim C., doesn't it? what does she do?

Idiot.

Think it kept going other regions but nothing here.

Fell over.

Just brilliant.! And the kids all looked the part too...!

One runner for a winner...

And, 40+ years ago trainers educated their own apprentices, ok not all were good teachers but at least most if not all had race ridden.

Now there is a minimum requirement of 25 trials. An improvement I guess.

Yeah. The Greenies. And we will have walked right into it.

We've all got opinions [ me probably more than most as this is a topic very much of interest to me ] but nothing will change; the administrators don't know enough to make change. The riding mentors don't do much that I can see, the apprentice schools seem [ overall ] to be a waste of time, I don't want some pony club chick telling any worker of mine how to bandage a horse or put it on a float, or recognise poisonous plants that are VERY unlikely to be in my stable yard. Judgment of pace and tactical appreciation would be a good start, but...if trainers who have apprentices haven't ridden and don't have much idea [ apart from when their bets don't come off ] and the schools and mentors don't teach HTF are the young riders going to improve? The new Academy funded by the Nakhles is a great initiative, but it is only one and won't help southerners very much. Recently a stipe cautioned a very promising rider [ not a claimer ] for not giving a horse every opportunity. The horse concerned was an 9 year old has-been, with not the slightest interest in improving his own position, and even less in being motivated to do the same. Never mind the carnage going on around the pair that never got a mention. Jeez..

I'd agree there, although who would be arrogant enough to second-guess Waller? Not me anyway. Hopefully she is AOK...even the 'mares in spring' situation might have a bearing, I'm not sure if Regumate can be used or not, there was some publicity a year or two back. And she is another year older, thinking of that.

Especially if they are young, blonde and pretty.

i watched Kozzi Asano on [ I think] Summer Monsoon, nearly fell off when the horse rolled in sharply, but at no time was there any attempt to pull his stick through to straighten his horse. And he is way better than most.

CWJ is just jogging along trying to keep out of their way. FFS, Walsh is their 'mentor'...clearly he isn't passing much on.

When I read that on the Loveracing site, I got the impression that the funds come from the combined Auckland clubs, not NZTR.