Freda

They're trying very hard to cash up Dargaville.

Thanks, yes, that was helpful. A vet friend [ years ago, to be fair ] offered the opinion that N.S were ' useless' as the point of most resistance was in the throat structures, not the nostril area. No doubt he didn't have access to the research you just showed. I found material from W. Robert Cooke very informative too, although that work was also carried out years ago.

Do you have any stats re. nasal strips, C ?

Would have to be better than what we have now, surely?

Thanks, we'll be trying hard!

I note that amateur riders in the gallops code are no longer allowed to use the whip. Would that work ok for the harness folk?

Yes, nature will do what she will, everything underwater again here, farmers spared this time thank goodness. No gallop track again yesterday, the temporary plough unusable, the once-a-week outside strip down the chute not available ( resembles a cow paddock anyway) so I took my potential runners for next week to Rangiora to gallop. One or two comments from a few, did the day at Oamaru affect you badly ? I was asked...we'll see if I'm still deemed crazy if the rain keeps up ( bucketing down at the moment) and there is nothing to work on this week.

No pies, nothing on course for sale to eat, jocks had a platter of fruit in the rooms. Looked like a very long chilly wait for the truck to leave - hours later - but, upon inspection, the bar above the grandstand was free ( president's shout, I was told ) and plates of sandwiches and cold meats were available, also free. A great gesture, and upon reflection, with such a small turnout of patrons, the best option all round. The club was on a hiding to nothing anyway I should think, without paying for anything more substantial. The normally reliable ' firm' winter going was very testing indeed, one jockey describing it as the heaviest he had ridden on. He obviously hasn't plugged around at Trentham in the winter.

He tried hard, all credit to him, but I was a little disappointed that he lost second....but very hard preparing middle distance horses from headquarters at present, tracks underwater and closed this morning, no grass gallops apart from a 1000m strip outside down the 1200m chute, and only once a week. Makes things very trying.

And it's warmer than back in Chch.

At least the bar is free....

I'm also a huge jumping fan, but I have to agree. While Andre Klein was here with Gallop South, there was at least an enthusiastic supporter in management. I realise there were issues in and around his tenure, but he definitely had ideas to mitigate the demise of the sport, rightly or wrongly. But things have gone from bad to worse. Jo Gordon and Alan Browne have given up their time to run jumping schools, with Paul Claridge's input - but the main S.I club has sat on it's hands for a decade or more doing zip to promote jumping, but reaping any benefits coming with the National meeting. It would not be a surprise [ to me ] if the National went elsewhere, sad to say...and as for funding? definitely not a good use of resources and betting on these events is also poor . Myers, Nelson. Wheeler, Anderton...all getting on, with no sign [ that I can see ] of any enthusiastic young supporters coming through in the numbers needed to make the option viable.

Was wondering if those mutton pies were still available, I suppose too high in cholesterol/fat for the modern consumer. Not that there will be many, modern or otherwise, today, I wouldn't think. I thought Oamaru had already had a long spell...or have I missed something?

Full agreement there.

I thought you might be beyond being 'astounded', by now.

A fundamentally honest man hung out to dry. Shitty treatment.

For sure....but I don't think there is any notion or desire to do that. And the prestige races won't be held on the AWT.

That was what I was trying to point out earlier, with the reference to Hunt Club / Grand National meetings ( four days in all ) on the same track over a fortnight, years ago. The course coped ok mostly- but then it wasn't used until Cup time. Lead up races to that carnival took place at Oamaru, Ashburton, Geraldine, Rangiora, Motukarara, even Blenheim if my memory serves me correctly. Those fixtures worked well, stood the test of time, and the date structure, while not perfect, did seem to work ok. At least we did know what happened when, and could plan a preparation around that. Not only are the turf tracks stuffed ( as discussed ad infinitum ) but dates have been altered over the years without thought to the knock on effect. I remember locally, dates uptaken by Riccarton when smaller clubs lost them, so they weren't lost to the region. Admirable in sentiment, but adding to the pressure on a grass track without realising the effects going forward. Now we have the AWT to potentially ease the pressure- but again, the structure and dates are all over the place without any seeming purpose, and no plan that anyone is aware of, to renovate the said turf surface.

A bit off topic I guess, but personally, I like the idea of straight tracks for dog racing. The potential for interference and injuries when dogs are scrambling round corners would, one would think, be much reduced, and could be a way of front-footing the push to end greyhound racing.

Just think, there used to be Hunt Club and then following, three days of the National meeting!

I think Oamaru was on the 'close' list, however there must have been a re-think as it does have a permit or two still. The 'chase course was good, why jumping stopped there, I don't know - especially as Dunedin doesn't seem to want [ or be allowed ] to hold jumping any more. Timaru has been reduced to three permits only for next season - a forerunner for things to come?

You're preaching to the converted, Chief, don't waste your time harangueing me.

Waterhouse was also keen to share some other of his observances on New Zealand racing, including his lack of support for the installation of synthetic tracks. “I certainly think that racing more on your better tracks like Ellerslie will have a positive effect on your racing and the attractiveness to wagering,” he said. “The quality of horses won’t change, but certainly if you are selling then being able to say you have won at Ellerslie instead of a minor course is a bonus. “By the same token I’m not impressed by the new Cambridge track and for the life of me, I can’t see why you need it. “If you are looking at selling horses, where are you going to sell artificial track horses to, as I doubt whether it will to be anyone in Australia.”

Thanks, hope you're right, it's been a dry argument for too bloody long!