Freda

Slightly off topic....but still pertaining to 'management ' ....I was told this morning by someone who had been speaking to Dean McC...that the TAB had 'made' 20 million last month. Sound likely?

From Curious' experience, OIA requests aren't very satisfactory either.

Yeah. Amateur hour. I'm not against amateur races in principle either, but there isn't a sufficient number of those races - IMO - to get a group of reasonably proficient riders the experience to look halfway decent. The good ones are certainly very competent..but there just aren't enough of them.

Classic! Just brilliant.

Was a lovely day down there yesterday, superb weather, families picnicking on blankets, sitting on a grassy slope, great atmosphere. How stopping days like this aids racing overall beggars belief. I've harped on this ad nauseum....but - Messara has gotten the blame for wanting tracks shut. His idea was NOT to shut tracks pointlessly, but to use the assets from unwanted facilities to upgrade a few selected venues. He was quite aware there was/is no spare money, and this was the only source he could readily identify. But Timaru, I understand, is not saleable, so.....?

Looking at the new season's calendar, we have 7 races on the AWT May-July, two on the turf, at Riccarton. One each in that period for Timaru and Ashburton. Hmmm.

Sea Change. Don't think she was lame, but her conformation was awful apparently.

I am not going to comment on the case(s) themselves, far better brains than mine have dealt with them. Agree or not, what is done is done. However, I have seen comment to the effect that one should not break the law with impunity. If you feel a law is unfair or inappropriate, lobby to change it. Don't break it. If you do, you may find yourself wearing the penalty for so doing.

You don't get any better

Used to love the mutton pies at the Oamaru winter meetings.

I was pretty sure I knew what your opinion would be in respect of these moves....but, I have to say I don't agree with you. To ignore the prevailing - and increasing - anti racing sentiment is just sticking head in sand stuff. We have the technology to assess these animals, so better that it be used than not.

I see R.V have collated results from their in-depth investigation into the injuries of N.H horses at the Melbourne spring carnival, prompted by the unfortunate death of Anthony van Dyke in particular. Not sure if the 'one run only' restriction before the Cup is absolutely necessary [ if all tests indicate no issues, what is the problem ? ] but, certainly, something needed to be done - and seen to be done. Good on them for front-footing the issue, not burying heads in the sand. There will be plenty who would rather thumb their noses at the anti-racing mob; like it or not, however, we live in the world TODAY, not yesterday. To ignore the concerns of an increasingly urbanised society is very silly indeed. Animal welfare perceptions are far better met and addressed, rather than ignored.

Sadly, i agree. I don't think the prospect of losing the Nationals has occurred to the hosts, all the same.

No. Stuart Higgins looked like he has been on the outside of quite a few pies the last time I saw him....he was the only one I can recall from a few seasons ago.

Yeah....those genuine wet trackers/distance horses now have few options. For a country that used to pride itself - and with some good reason - on producing good middle to staying distance horses, we have long given those real staying sorts few options on the flat. I could never understand the logic of that. How many 3200 races ? Even the Wgtn Cup got bastardised for some stupid reason, thankfully now back at the right distance, but unless a horse [ in earlier days ] had some pretensions to class, there were few chances for them to try the extreme flat trip. But, they could go jumping, or wait for the winter and testing ground. The doggers trucks will be busier than ever. There are only so many potential eventers which can be rehomed...and that is another very murky situation right there.

You've got a gremlin, Chief...!

Mine moved too.

yeah, NZ grooms not allowed off plane, Chinese grooms not allowed on...and no vet allowed to travel to destination as would normally happen.. but also, apparently, Rider Horse [ NZ ] has to generate its own profit, as opposed to being propped up by Mr Wolf, so...

Yeah, same. Sad to see many of the broodmares unwanted, not much hope for them.

The pet's meat operators will be well supplied.

Danny Frye and Nicki Browne are two that come immediately to mind...I'd have to dig out a list to have a better idea. But some on the list have either not renewed licenses, are heavy, or are doing other things.

At least the fans have spoken loud and clear about the ' Super League ' which will now not go ahead, by all accounts. But your observation about the homogenised structure that appears to be our future is getting closer by the week. I have a mate who spent the last eleven years in Perth. Used to race a horse with me, we had fun, and a modicum of success. Her modestly-bred little gelding won four in his first prep - despite a few 'top' jockeys wrinkling their nose at his nondescript appearance and pedigree. But he tried like hell. She recently returned to NZ for family reasons, and was horrified at what the racing industry, remembered so fondly, has become. No fun, she said. All the Hitlers on the gates trying to stop people getting in, over there you are welcomed. The racing is great, the social aspect is great, the provincial meetings are friendly and inviting, the bush meetings - even the red dirt ones - are still worth turning up to, with family stuff to do, races for the local kids, everyone joins in. She used to come to the Coast races with us, had a blast; a particular fond memory was of hiking along a partly-flooded railway line at Omoto to the stable area to get the horses out before the Grey River did. Jamie Bates standing in his underwear, in a horse truck, holding on to several horses dragged out of flooded yards, Bevan Laming [ at the trotting park ] swimming horses from the stabling there up to the top of the grandstand, one by one, using his sprinter Crescent who was a very proficient swimmer. Nothing like that now...just a bunch of pen pushers steadily shagging the game. BTW she is off back to Perth as soon as possible. Won't return.

Will there be enough amateur riders? Talking to a couple of southerners yesterday, they have several middle distance horses that probably now won't get a run.

From reading the article, it appears the reference is to a dirt track - as in American dirt - not a polytrack. Towards the end of the article, thoughts are voiced about the wisdom of trying to repair this dirt track, with the option of installing a synthetic surface. So, not apples with apples.

Sadly, yes. I notice that the jumps races formerly programmed for Riverton have been deleted, along with those for Wingatui. Timaru still has them on offer - so far - but, with Riverton and Timaru on the 'to close' list, there goes jumping. Most of us have been aware for a while that the days of jumpers in the S.I were numbered...so, why pay lip service? it is only prolonging the slide to oblivion by pretending to host them at clubs that have no future [ according to the plan]. So, yes, the provincial competition option wouldn't fly either.