curious Posted June 25, 2024 Share Posted June 25, 2024 On 24/06/2024 at 2:42 AM, curious said: Anyone spotted the trial fields for Riccarton tomorrow? Seems to have mysteriously disappeared off the calendar but no notice from NZTR to date. Expand Well they've ended up with 17 noms for 2 heats before the races tomorrow. 2yo heat was deleted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted June 25, 2024 Share Posted June 25, 2024 Which makes me wonder, if, with a bit more flexibility in programming [ i.e. having some idea what grades/distances are wanted at any given time] most of those horses trialling might have chosen to go around at the races. Cheaper, for starters. The 2yo's on the other hand need encouragement, as their opportunities are very limited. But their trial gets deleted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted June 25, 2024 Author Share Posted June 25, 2024 On 25/06/2024 at 6:03 PM, Freda said: The 2yo's on the other hand need encouragement, as their opportunities are very limited. But their trial gets deleted. Expand Don't forget the 2yr olds are rising 3yr olds. Doesn't bode well for the Spring. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted June 25, 2024 Share Posted June 25, 2024 The other thing that it raises is the possibility of running 2 or 3 trial heats on race days like this before the meeting but do so on a regular basis. That might mitigate the dearth of grass trials and thereby reduce owner costs. Because full sets of gates are available larger heats can also be run where required. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted June 25, 2024 Author Share Posted June 25, 2024 On 25/06/2024 at 8:11 PM, curious said: The other thing that it raises is the possibility of running 2 or 3 trial heats on race days like this before the meeting but do so on a regular basis. That might mitigate the dearth of grass trials and thereby reduce owner costs. Because full sets of gates are available larger heats can also be run where required. Expand The trials tomorrow are on the AWT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted June 25, 2024 Share Posted June 25, 2024 On 25/06/2024 at 9:59 PM, Chief Stipe said: The trials tomorrow are on the AWT. Expand Yes but they could do the same thing before grass meetings routinely. From memory, the CJC recently did, although they won't run full trial meetings on the grass track. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted June 26, 2024 Share Posted June 26, 2024 On 25/06/2024 at 8:09 PM, Chief Stipe said: Don't forget the 2yr olds are rising 3yr olds. Doesn't bode well for the Spring. Expand I always think exactly the same myself. The lack of 2yo opportunities must reflect on the Spring 3yo racing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted June 26, 2024 Share Posted June 26, 2024 On 25/06/2024 at 8:11 PM, curious said: The other thing that it raises is the possibility of running 2 or 3 trial heats on race days like this before the meeting but do so on a regular basis. That might mitigate the dearth of grass trials and thereby reduce owner costs. Because full sets of gates are available larger heats can also be run where required. Expand Far, far, far too sensible. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted June 26, 2024 Share Posted June 26, 2024 On 25/06/2024 at 8:11 PM, curious said: The other thing that it raises is the possibility of running 2 or 3 trial heats on race days like this before the meeting but do so on a regular basis. That might mitigate the dearth of grass trials and thereby reduce owner costs. Because full sets of gates are available larger heats can also be run where required. Expand I'll see what sort of response that gets from the T.A. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted June 26, 2024 Share Posted June 26, 2024 On 26/06/2024 at 6:07 PM, Freda said: I'll see what sort of response that gets from the T.A. Expand Thanks. I'm a member if you need another vote I won't hold my breath though. It does seem a low cost solution given stipes, gates, cameras, commentator etc. are already there. Down here in Canterbury, assuming regular jumpouts get underway now at Rangiora, the combination would be a reasonable outcome. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted June 26, 2024 Share Posted June 26, 2024 Also means that tracks would get a good safety test at trial speeds before racing gets underway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted June 27, 2024 Share Posted June 27, 2024 On 26/06/2024 at 6:07 PM, Freda said: I'll see what sort of response that gets from the T.A. Expand The local branch President thinks it's a good idea. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted July 17, 2024 Share Posted July 17, 2024 On 27/06/2024 at 12:39 AM, Freda said: The local branch President thinks it's a good idea. Expand A few in CD must have thought the same, having run a 3 horse trial prior to their last AWT meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted July 20, 2024 Share Posted July 20, 2024 On 27/06/2024 at 12:39 AM, Freda said: The local branch President thinks it's a good idea. Expand There was, however, less enthusiasm from management. What if the gates were damaged by a difficult horse in a trial? was the comment...the races would have to be abandoned... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted July 20, 2024 Share Posted July 20, 2024 On 20/07/2024 at 6:58 PM, Freda said: There was, however, less enthusiasm from management. What if the gates were damaged by a difficult horse in a trial? was the comment...the races would have to be abandoned... Expand Oh for Pete's sake. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newmarket Posted July 20, 2024 Share Posted July 20, 2024 As per normal…. So many experts that only moan. Do something about it, get all trainers together and pull horses in protest. Hardly going to affect the owners, as they are used to meetings getting cancelled🤭. Do something…. Hardly worth moaning on here, only about 20 of your mates comment… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted July 20, 2024 Share Posted July 20, 2024 On 20/07/2024 at 10:54 PM, Newmarket said: As per normal…. So many experts that only moan. Do something about it, get all trainers together and pull horses in protest. Hardly going to affect the owners, as they are used to meetings getting cancelled🤭. Do something…. Hardly worth moaning on here, only about 20 of your mates comment… Expand Hardly going to affect owners...the sub group that supplies and funds the product..ffs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 20, 2024 Author Share Posted July 20, 2024 On 20/07/2024 at 10:54 PM, Newmarket said: As per normal…. So many experts that only moan. Do something about it, get all trainers together and pull horses in protest. Hardly going to affect the owners, as they are used to meetings getting cancelled🤭. Do something…. Hardly worth moaning on here, only about 20 of your mates comment… Expand You obviously are just a punter and have alternatives. Being a trainer in NZ is bit like the Prisoners Dilemma. At Riccarton it would only take one trainer to speak out to get changes but self-interest always prevails. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newmarket Posted July 20, 2024 Share Posted July 20, 2024 On 20/07/2024 at 11:45 PM, Chief Stipe said: You obviously are just a punter and have alternatives. Being a trainer in NZ is bit like the Prisoners Dilemma. At Riccarton it would only take one trainer to speak out to get changes but self-interest always prevails. Expand For once I agree, we have a couple of Riccarton trainers on here, why not stand up and make a name for themselves. Weak…. Weak… And yes, I am just a punter…. But looking to race a galloper in Aus, 50/50 this stage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 21, 2024 Author Share Posted July 21, 2024 On 20/07/2024 at 11:56 PM, Newmarket said: For once I agree, we have a couple of Riccarton trainers on here, why not stand up and make a name for themselves. Weak…. Weak… Expand I believe they have tried and the reaction hasn't been pleasant. There are probably only 2 or 3 trainers at Riccarton that could make a difference. One believes everything is going swimmingly! Pun intended. On 20/07/2024 at 11:56 PM, Newmarket said: And yes, I am just a punter…. But looking to race a galloper in Aus, 50/50 this stage Expand You'll need deep pockets. There will be some easy pickings in NZ over the next couple of seasons. Depending on the key tracks being OK of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted July 21, 2024 Share Posted July 21, 2024 On 20/07/2024 at 11:39 PM, Freda said: Hardly going to affect owners...the sub group that supplies and funds the product..ffs Expand It's the owners that should be speaking up and taking action. They don't have the risks of doing so that trainers might. However, the statutory collective for them is totally useless and probably has about 10% of current owners in their membership. Not that they seem to be doing anything about that, so they actually have a voice. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted July 23, 2024 Share Posted July 23, 2024 Another curious thing about the AWT strategy here is that they shut them down for half the year when they could provide a forgiving summer surface for the pool of horses that are suited to them. I note in the UK, they are about to start their mid-summer racing league series with half those events to be staged on synthetic tracks under lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 23, 2024 Author Share Posted July 23, 2024 On 23/07/2024 at 7:07 PM, curious said: Another curious thing about the AWT strategy here is that they shut them down for half the year when they could provide a forgiving summer surface for the pool of horses that are suited to them. I note in the UK, they are about to start their mid-summer racing league series with half those events to be staged on synthetic tracks under lights. Expand I had that exact same thought last night. The whole AWT strategy is arse about face. The strategy was to provide a racing surface that could be used during the winter to avoid abandonments. Yet the horses that pitch up in the winter want soft to heavy tracks. I'd be thinking twice about breeding a mudder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted July 23, 2024 Share Posted July 23, 2024 On 23/07/2024 at 7:40 PM, Chief Stipe said: I had that exact same thought last night. The whole AWT strategy is arse about face. The strategy was to provide a racing surface that could be used during the winter to avoid abandonments. Yet the horses that pitch up in the winter want soft to heavy tracks. I'd be thinking twice about breeding a mudder! Expand Not sure its anyone's real intention to breed a mudder. What's worse about the racing in winter in NZ we are seeing is the significant bias (towards outside fence) in every track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 23, 2024 Author Share Posted July 23, 2024 On 23/07/2024 at 8:05 PM, Huey said: Not sure its anyone's real intention to breed a mudder. What's worse about the racing in winter in NZ we are seeing is the significant bias (towards outside fence) in every track. Expand Weren't you arguing for cambered tracks a while back? Heading to the outside fence is a consequence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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