Freda

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.

Too much tradition and status to see it disappear in the UK/Ireland, surely? Or were you referring more to here and Aus....I am thinking, too well managed over the ditch to see it fold there, even with the push from the animal rights groups.

At this point in time, the way I see things, big trainers will get bigger, the smaller ones will get smaller or disappear. As well as the well documented challenges facing all trainers, recent changes to immigration criteria make it very difficult to get experienced staff.

Perhaps everyone is tuned to the Olympics?

The TAB got a bail-out, which [ in theory ] helped all codes. As far as the AWT funding goes however, yes, you are right. But Winston's supporters were, as far as the racing industry was concerned, the high-end thoroughbred breeders/trainers from the Waikato. Harness and dogs don't figure on their radar.

And as well, immigration is notoriously slow and difficult to deal with, months ago would still be too late IMO. As for stallions, I don't mind racing colts, but serving stallions a whole different ball game and one I wouldn't even consider.

Probably not much to gain in rehashing old wrongs. I don't think anyone charged with making decisions does so with the express aim of injuring or killing people. Yet that is the end result of stupid or ill-thought policies. We see it all around us, every day, it's just lucky, I guess, that is most cases the consequences aren't tragic as those discussed above. Planes, racetracks, mines, aren't in themselves malicious entities. But the decisions made in and around them can have catastrophic results. If stupidity was a hanging offense, there wouldn't be many of us who would escape, because I doubt if anyone can say, hand on heart, that they haven't done something very stupid indeed. It's the lack of accountability that gets up my nose, because without that there is little ability to change processes and ensure the bad choices aren't made again. Butt- covering is an art form.

Definitely too little too late. Track riding another role not now on the skill shortage list, many stables are struggling for experienced riding staff, as well as the stud sector with their requirements.

Didn't Messara favour NZTAB outsourcing/partnering with Tabcorp or similar.? Economies of scale, huge exposure, all that stuff?