Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Rumours circulating that the meeting scheduled for 17 February at Ellerslie may be shifted elsewhere. I guess Avondale can see the irony! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Rumours circulating that the meeting scheduled for 17 February at Ellerslie may be shifted elsewhere. I guess Avondale can see the irony! Taupo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 21 minutes ago, Doomed said: Taupo? Surely not Pukekohe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Centaur Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Rumours circulating that the meeting scheduled for 17 February at Ellerslie may be shifted elsewhere. I guess Avondale can see the irony! Avondale still without power after the fire. Sunday markets however seem to manage. Telephone out of order also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Surely not Pukekohe. What your beef Chief ? Pukekohe is part of the ATR and ...wait for it ....was rated the second best track in NZ in season ending July 2023 ! The Board and officials at Auckland were not unaminous in starting back so early before the new track had bedded in sufficiently....light rain during the day was their worst nightmare. But I think I read where ALL betting records in NZ were smashed with only 6 races , the world class jockeys were OK to ride on it and most who attended thoroughly enjoyed the day. Seems like mainly the keyboard warriors suffered the most ,sad they cant find more to complain about. Ken Kelso's horse just got out-ridden on day by a Group 1 rival who has beat him previous. MGuerin summed it up in todays Herald very well indeed. Feb 17 is Avondale Cup and Avondale Guineas day ..no surprise if they transfer that day tho the main sponsor Eagle Technology won't enjoy the trek to Puke which they have done previous. Avondale a cot case...... Chief.....when last did you go to Pukekohe on race day.? When last at Ellerslie raceday , when last at Avondale ? And ditto question to Doomed ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, TAB For Ever said: What your beef Chief ? Pukekohe is part of the ATR and ...wait for it ....was rated the second best track in NZ in season ending July 2023 ! Obviously you haven't followed the racing on Pukekohe. The last meeting the surface was terrible. Been hammered to help out Ellerslie. My beef is providing safe and fair surfaces for horses to race on. The rest follows. But you focus on the parties. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, TAB For Ever said: The Board and officials at Auckland were not unaminous in starting back so early before the new track had bedded in sufficiently....light rain during the day was their worst nightmare. Light rain was their worst nightmare? Shouldn't have been. Now what do they do? Press on with the February 17 meeting or hope they get it right for the Group meeting early March? You seen to have the inside information - what's the call? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, TAB For Ever said: Seems like mainly the keyboard warriors suffered the most ,sad they cant find more to complain about. Ken Kelso's horse just got out-ridden on day by a Group 1 rival who has beat him previous. MGuerin summed it up in todays Herald very well indeed. So you didn't read the Stipes report either just like Guerin? The meeting was close to being abandoned. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, TAB For Ever said: Chief.....when last did you go to Pukekohe on race day.? What is your point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, TAB For Ever said: When last at Ellerslie raceday , when last at Avondale ? Again what's your point? When were you ever at Kumara? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Ellerslie looked great opening day when Merchant Queen won. The track must of been tested ? in wet and dry leading up to that with trials and that ? how do find out on race day a surface is slippery or not.?.... must of known in the lead up always a bit drizzly in Auckland and/so surely Top speed horses were tried on it while wet ? I think a race day with the very best around , going as fast as they can , are going to have the odd bit of knuckle and bump in these BIG events anyway. some are going to struggle with footing to keep up with them no matter what the conditions. there is Contact as well in high pressure races popping them off balance . quite a bit (contact) in nz racing that i see Saturdays too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 13 minutes ago, Gammalite said: how do find out on race day a surface is slippery or not.?.... must of known in the lead up It's a $25m StrathAyr track @Gammalite it shouldn't have played like it did. So something is wrong. Anyway you're a harness trainer doesn't matter what the surface is 2 wheels and 4 hooves and you can run on anything. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 38 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: doesn't matter what the surface is 2 wheels and 4 hooves and you can run on anything. hahaha must say though Chief it's pretty darn bumpy with the wheels. Had a crack at Hawera on the grass in the shadows of Mt egmont and it was softish , so the wheels didn't hit the hoof holes in the surface under the grass with too much bang , but was rough as guts. You got No Idea mate.......and the track at Arawa Park Rotorua was that firm , you nearly bounced right out of the gig. Had to hook the foot right through the footrest so it grabbed my ankles just to stay in the cart. was awful race. never forget it. Prayed for rain but none came. would of loved a slippery wet surface with some give in it lol 😆 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 59 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: It's a $25m StrathAyr track @Gammalite it shouldn't have played like it did. So something is wrong. Anyway you're a harness trainer doesn't matter what the surface is 2 wheels and 4 hooves and you can run on anything. Come on Chief...more like $55 million for the new track ! FYI I have merely shown a close interest in the entire build , and was amazed in the progress of it in view of the hurdles faced especially atrocious weather . The grass has not been completely covering the track for terribly long and comments from Club officials ,both official and casual it was going to be a very tight timeframe to have it rigourously tested before January. All the testing went well with the main worry possibly being too hard.... there was nerves about it having to be watered shortly prior to races commencing on raceday as they do some football fields etc. The jockeys in trial gallops were very impressed and complimentary. Rain during the day was the one 'unknown' ...it happened and the jockeys who are the main decision makers thought it OK to continue. So don't make things up ,don't guess ,and gather your facts ! And like MG I read all reports ,so please don't fib ! $55mill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 9 hours ago, TAB For Ever said: All the testing went well with the main worry possibly being too hard.... Shouldn't happen on a StrathAyr. Every other StrathAyr in the world struggles to get firmer than a G4 hence race times are never super fast. 9 hours ago, TAB For Ever said: there was nerves about it having to be watered shortly prior to races commencing on raceday as they do some football fields etc. It isn't a football field. I would say that the irrigation has been inconsistent and mismanaged. Of course we'd never consider irrigating on raceday like they do in OZ. Anyway if your comments and those that you have heard from those close to the action are anything to go by then part of the problem is they haven't changed their track management processes to match the new track system. 9 hours ago, TAB For Ever said: Rain during the day was the one 'unknown' ...it happened and the jockeys who are the main decision makers thought it OK to continue. Rain during the day wasn't an unknown - it was forecast. My understanding is the Jockeys were divided in their opinions. Should they have relied on their opinions anyway when there was sufficient evidence on video of the slipping problem. More than was apparent at Trentham which WAS abandoned. 9 hours ago, TAB For Ever said: So don't make things up ,don't guess ,and gather your facts ! And like MG I read all reports ,so please don't fib ! I'm not making things up or lying. However I doubt you have as much inside information as you infer. So Pot Kettle Black. Perhaps you might want to listen/watch this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Wow if this is true, this is a debacle of epic proportions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 6 minutes ago, Huey said: Wow if this is true, this is a debacle of epic proportions. If what is true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 1 minute ago, curious said: If what is true? that they won't race their next meeting there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 4 minutes ago, Huey said: that they won't race their next meeting there Isn't the question can they remedy the issues identified in 17 days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 I don't see how they can race on the back of how the track played on Karaka Millions night. I doubt many jockeys would put their hands up. Avondale may be a cot case but, the track surface looked a lot safer than Ellerslie and in better condition than Pukekohe. Can we PLEASE forget about people getting drunk and focus on the horse and rider safety? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 1 minute ago, Special Agent said: Can we PLEASE forget about people getting drunk and focus on the horse and rider safety? Exactly , it's partially the reason we are in the position we are. Clubs/tracks have been allowed to get away over focusing on the booze up at expense of the horse , its gone on for too long. Some of the scenes after the races with the bottles of champers were cringeworthy imo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 6 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Isn't the question can they remedy the issues identified in 17 days? I'd say they certainly should be able to, though it may be that more time is necessary for more extensive root development and if it's going to be a couple of weeks before Stratayr can get there to assist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 2025 KM at Ruakaka ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 12 minutes ago, curious said: I'd say they certainly should be able to, though it may be that more time is necessary for more extensive root development and if it's going to be a couple of weeks before Stratayr can get there to assist. Well maybe they should be sensible and work towards the big meeting first week of March. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 30 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Well maybe they should be sensible and work towards the big meeting first week of March. That would certainly be a long way from a debacle of epic proportions and as you say might be the sensible thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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