Freda

Little pubs at both places, they might have been delighted at an increase in clientele !

Go back and read properly - said ' my runner ' .....! yes, he was by Quito, very quick little bloke. Colin Coe had nowt to do with him, but John Rehu shared in the ownership. Trained by my then partner R.J ' Mouse' McCann.

Just re read this, I was referring to Australia, in case there was any ambiguity. Not here, enterprise such as mentioned seems not to happen. The Wild Foods festival in Hokitika was held the same weekend ( March) as the races for a few years, I used to think there was potential for both to benefit but the club felt they - and the circuit - were better off all in January and went back to that date. I know former president Gray Eatwell had ideas to incorporate a sort of 'wild west ' experience with the races but nothing flew there. The Gisborne/Wairoa meetings were an experience too, now gone and marked by a nothing day at Hastings. If built into the tourist trail with additional support from the district, things may have been different. Geez, we have become- in the main- an apathetic bunch of sheep. It's been said often, we get what we deserve, and we certainly are.

Can't answer that, with quantitative analysis. But, certainly, anecdotally, many people. Hell, I read a piece [ not sure where now ] which indicated just how much support provincial racing received from local councils/state govt, to 'marry up' the racing experience with the whole tourist industry, with wine trails, vineyards/restaurants, stud tours, orchards, fishing, boating, flower farms, the whole deal wrapped up to showcase the region.

'Dissing Omoto'...? I shared a comment from a local which I thought was humorous. I am well aware that Australia supports provincial/country racing. I have made reference to it, and the difference in attitude, many times. I've also indicated that I think market forces should be the arbiter of who stays and who closes up. As Reefton has stated, also many times, the day trainers/owners/the public don't want to go to Reefton, he'll put up the white flag. Not because some pen-pusher makes an ill-thought out decision.

Are you on drugs? where did I ever imply that I don't support small clubs or provincial racing? For the record, I went down to Omoto with the Kennedy's, helped remove driftwood from the track and dead frogs from the tearooms, and my runner [ Strange Magic ] went very close to the track record in a 1400m race the next day.

I remember Bobby Allen driving in the first at Kumara, back in the day. By the time the last - another trot - came around, Bobby was barely able to walk,, and had to be assisted into the cart. Think he went pretty fair too!

Sounds great. I recall Bill Kennedy telling me about it too, on the Ahaura flat, he said, heaps of available land, enough for a large track with a moveable rail to cope with several days racing, ample space for accommodation facilities for horses/staff as well. Instead, Greymouth ended up with the best underwater yacht club facilities - as noted by one local wag as the Grey River rose steadily up into the tearooms, the grandstand, and the jockey's room.

Sadly, Reefton, I think you are right. Shutting the lot would be the option if they were honest, this way it is death by a thousand cuts. As you say, your club has the potential to be upgraded, if the will was there, it isn't. Hokitika also had the funds for upgrades, if that had been an option. It wasn't. 'Clubs don't need to disband, the option will be to race at another course'... sure it is. Hokitika have been denied a date [ apart from the first year ] since giving NZTR the middle finger and giving their asset back to the community. Three days squashed into six days is not attractive to trainers visiting from elsewhere, and if reduced to two? Kumara survived the banana skin referred to with a loan [ since repaid ] from Westland. That won't be available any more. And, apart from the pleasure of seeing old friends/families over the hill - and some pretty nice scenery - the costs that are ever increasing in this industry are reducing the appeal for many Cantabrians, with the possibility of more racing over this side. Dargaville is now on the radar. While I have every sympathy with the club, breast-beating and hiring legal counsel is pointless. The writing has been on the wall since the passing of the Racing Act 2000 with that action [ nicking club assets ] now enshrined in law. How, beats me. It just highlights the ineptitude of pollies [ or more likely their utter disinterest in things racing ] to pass such legislation more redolent of a banana republic. The attitude of the NZTA Pres. is telling...' close them down, they're costing us money '. Thus speaketh the Waikato glitterati.

The M report - whether or not one subscribes to it wholeheartedly, pays it a passing glance, or detests it - has NOT been implemented in the manner advised. The fundamental point, the game-changer, was the outsourcing/partnering of the TAB. JM said, if that doesn't happen, the rest is just irrelevant tinkering.

Trainers as a group must be an ageing demographic, too, surely? Which doesn't augur well for the future quite apart from the economic side of things.

Hmm. Speaking purely subjectively, I hope I can get some feed today, which I had planned to do. Not enough notice to do anything about it at 6 0'clock last night. Inevitable though, given the mish-mash of confusion surrounding port and border workers, vaccination, etc.

And for the record, I backed two of those mentioned, watching from the comfort of home.

Do you want a discussion about that?

God knows. I do recall a late August Oamaru with jumping, but the John Grigg Stakes meeting in early September was the start of the spring programme for most. Certainly, in those times, Riccarton was not raced upon again until Cup meeting. Geraldine, Gore ( Guineas ) , Blenheim, Rangiora and Motukarara all had their place in the leadup to November.

Tough indeed. While not wishing to cast aspersions upon the decisions of others, I struggle to understand why, when a horse clearly hasn't handled the going, you would then ask it to try and do so again? It is a fact that every wet track is different, fair enough - and some will handle one day what they can't the next. But in this context, the ground was so deep, rough [ full of holes ] and holding, that it wasn't going to markedly improve within two days, whatever the weather. Rain on the last day certainly 'loosened' things up a bit, but only to the point where it resembled the Wednesday more than it otherwise would have done without the rain. I can recall about fifty Nationals, I don't think I have ever seen the ground so bad. On another note, the AWT is now in use, and the reports are all very positive.

Sadly, Huey, country areas are vital for so much. Good people, growing up on farms, knowing stock, and not frightened of getting up in the dark or working in the rain. Many years ago - very many - I offered, to the stipe/racecourse D/apprentice board of the time, to go around some of the pony clubs and vocational officers of schools, for an informal chat about career possibilities for young riders. Was told, no, we don't do things like that. At that time, I still had many contacts in the pony club/eventing world. Been out of the loop for far too long now, and as a very small and unimportant trainer, have little 'clout' within the industry. The system has also changed markedly, but not for the better overall I don't think. Speaking subjectively, it is now very difficult to try a new rider at a public training facility, where there is little scope for allowing a newbie to ride a horse safely and under supervision. The 'Ride to time' initiative looked to have potential, but - after some good work with some keen children - nothing? Specialised riding academies are, I believe, in the pipeline; but, IMO, too little, too late...and call me negative if you like, but I haven't seen evidence of efficient management to get me very hopeful. A pool of competent riders [ at least to a basic level ] would be terrific but I don't think many now see racing as an attractive option for any young person who is career orientated. The H&S cases recently involving McKee, and locally Blackadder, make it very dangerous indeed for any trainer to take their obligations lightly which is [ partly ] why immigrant riders are so necessary.

As in, over the ditch?

Yes, chatting to Emma yesterday, she is working for Latta ( loves it ) a few of her former team have gone to Lisa with her, and David is puttering along with one or two others for now. Just had a gutsful of working her arse off, getting nowhere financially and having no life. Wrt Sticko - I think he had a significant health issue a wee while ago, and that, as well as the court case ( which must have been horrendous for him and his family) may have had a bit to do with his decision. Not that I am defending the administration.

Love your enthusiasm, G.

Fraid you're right. It's been going downhill really since the departure of the Hillis/Hazlett combo, there have been supporters, yes, but Big Bill bred his horses to jump, not just turn the slow/uninterested sorts to jumping as a last resort. And while there have been some lovely jumpers plucked from the ranks of failed flat horses, from a numbers point of view, there haven't been enough . IMO. And, with the drop off in numbers, riders are not about . There used to be highweights all year round, gave the jumps lads a reason to be, but once they stopped being run, no point being a jumps rider in the South.

What might you expect ? Only two in the hurdles Wednesday too, and with the first day's efforts to consider, both would be outclassed. The old grey bloke is only a shadow of his former self, it seems.

I get it. Thanks.

Can someone from the harness persuasion explain to me what the reason/benefit might be from changing the date for birthdays for horses?

No, you're not wrong wrt here. Apart from the BGP group [ which is a breath of fresh air ] most participants seem to be in, or close to, the pensioner bracket. I just wasn't sure whether 'here' was to where you were referring, or racing internationally.