Jim Green Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 With the recent review into jumping races Is there going to be similar into Synthetic track racing? I am a fan of both but I must say the synthetic track fields appear smaller than the jumping races. Trials are regularly cancelled due to lack of interest and the racing seems to be a benefit for the local trainers. Cambridge trainers win just about everything. Is there benefit to the greater community of trainers outside of cambridge? I enjoy the races no matter where they are run but it does seem a bit on the nose that jumping racing is under scrutiny while Synthetic track racing isnt. Turn over must be through the roof on the synthetic is all I can assume 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 9 hours ago, Jim Green said: With the recent review into jumping races Is there going to be similar into Synthetic track racing? I am a fan of both but I must say the synthetic track fields appear smaller than the jumping races. Trials are regularly cancelled due to lack of interest and the racing seems to be a benefit for the local trainers. Cambridge trainers win just about everything. Is there benefit to the greater community of trainers outside of cambridge? I enjoy the races no matter where they are run but it does seem a bit on the nose that jumping racing is under scrutiny while Synthetic track racing isnt. Turn over must be through the roof on the synthetic is all I can assume Make sure you send your submission in Jim , give em your views on Jumps racing because it surely on life support at moment. Personally I think it it can be saved but they will need to get good feedback about participants intentions as there seems to be dwindling owners ,dwindling horses and a serious shortage of riders. Hopefully all participants reply .....Last year 1 x trainer had 126 starts , 3 x trainers between 38 to 51 starters and 6 x trainers between 11 and 20. The previous season the top was 83 ,4 between 23 and 44 and 6 between 12 and 19. The number of NZ jockeys has been about 12 to 14 . And many of us love the jumping races , especially on TV in recent years ....but we don't go and watch live and we don't bet on them. The latter not good especially as the TAB could run 2 x other races or 5 x doggies in the duration of race. Back in the day many of NZ's biggest owners loved jumping races and many top trainers had many......Hazlett ,Hillis, Cochrane , Rogerson, Sanders, Anderton [2] , Temperton etc . As the flat opportunities increased during winter the jumpers became too hard ,required too much extra time and patience [and cost !] Two group one trainers told me that independently and they had trained winners in the main jumps races. When NZTR releasing the grim numbers ALL the excuses come out....races on too early in day etc and generally don't believe them and blame NZTR for the collapse in interest and lack of jockeys etc. I saw it happen in the south ....participants gave up and when older trainers/owners retired there was a she'll be right attitude.They even hired jumps enthusiast Andre Klein to revive it but no...only place he failed ,he doing very well in UK. I used to attend point-to-points in South ,most areas had very enthusiastic Hunt Clubs and Pony clubs etc. The South even continued on with jumps when most of the horses were coming from North ,even to Riverton and Washdyke and riders coming in from North and/or Aussie...the attitude is she'll be right ! NO wake up call ! Those races at weekend with mostly or all North horses were exciting and crowd seemed good for mid winter...the Steeples was the 149th , and Hurdles 134th running. That tells you something ! I see Australia [ Victoria ] supports NZ jumping continuing cos they have some good jumping carnivals with big crowds and some races have a significant number of recent NZ steeds.Plus some of the European Melbourne Cup rejects jumping too. They want their jumping to continue, and have many races over $60 - $100k and a couple $300 -$400k.We are their nursery ! Of course Australian jumping has shrunk in recent years ,now just in two states and none at major tracks Flemington and Valley as previous. So this big decision to be made..150 Grand Nationals ,where as Synthetics still very recent and certainly the Cambridge one has huge training base there. Some trainers still reluctant to race there much but the training and jumpouts very popular and it gives horses who don't like it wet many more opportunities...I in a couple who earn more than otherwise would. Top trainer Mark walker said recently all winter flat racing for two months should be on Synthetics with the jumps days seperate. He not a bad trainer ,and if he can run a few jumpers from his stable why can't others ? The Synthetic discussion gets done to death on here ,but those new to punting and younger ones looking for consistent surface and form must surely appreciate. i've certainly enjoyed watching a few meets of late and Riccarton and Cambridge....and a few bets ! But I'd like jumping to survive and even be reborn in South....IMO it could be done if 30 x jumpers could be developed in South and also Washdyke back ok on stream to host them with Riccarton. 30 x horses ,get around the Hunt Clubs etc ...Imo its up to the participants to train and attract jockeys. 30 x horses in South with Northern raiders would be a start , plus if the North serious ,they need another 30 x extra as well committed.Some of recent jumps trainers seemed to have given up. It easy to blame the admin..I don't buy this. And yes I in a couple of jumpers so hope to see it continue..Te A, Te R , Hastings , and the ones in CD should be enough to cope ! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Green Posted August 14 Author Share Posted August 14 (edited) Where can we participate in the survey? I love synthetic racing too. I want to see both forms of racing thrive. Trackside had a presenter on course at Cambridge yesterday which was great. A few interviews to peak your interest is always good. I wonder if Rotorua on sunday will do the same? The jumps jockeys,apart from Fannin and Matthews, are somewhat of a mystery to punters. We never hear from them and only see them when they are out on the track. Bit of background with a few interviews pre and post race would make it even more interesting. The races are already packed with excitement but knowing the story behind these fearless/mad warriors on horseback would be beneficial. Maybe I'm just old fashion and racing is sadly seen as a poker machine (remember pokies have a bad name in society why do we want to go down that road? entain?) but I like to know the stories behind the participants. Aus spring carnival had some wonderful stories about horses,trainers,jockeys etc and it made you want to see them do well and Chuck $5 on them. We seem to want it to be a pokie that sucks every last dollar out of the desperate punter instead of appeal to a racing fan! That's very sad in my opinion and would be the death knell for my punting/viewership of racing. Edited August 14 by Jim Green spelling mistake 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 55 minutes ago, Jim Green said: Where can we participate in the survey? I love synthetic racing too. I want to see both forms of racing thrive. Trackside had a presenter on course at Cambridge yesterday which was great. A few interviews to peak your interest is always good. I wonder if Rotorua on sunday will do the same? The jumps jockeys,apart from Fannin and Matthews, are somewhat of a mystery to punters. We never hear from them and only see them when they are out on the track. Bit of background with a few interviews pre and post race would make it even more interesting. The races are already packed with excitement but knowing the story behind these fearless/mad warriors on horseback would be beneficial. Maybe I'm just old fashion and racing is sadly seen as a poker machine (remember pokies have a bad name in society why do we want to go down that road? entain?) but I like to know the stories behind the participants. Aus spring carnival had some wonderful stories about horses,trainers,jockeys etc and it made you want to see them do well and Chuck $5 on them. We seem to want it to be a pokie that sucks every last dollar out of the desperate punter instead of appeal to a racing fan! That's very sad in my opinion and would be the death knell for my punting/viewership of racing. Do it Jim, Send them your feedback . Must be in before 6 September . Email to........jumpsreview@nztr.co.nz OR Form available on line at NZTR......part of the original announcement in early August. Under NZTR News section. IMHO the feedback from the regular and bigger participants as in Trainers and Owners will be crucial...it on a slippery slope ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 1 hour ago, Jim Green said: Where can we participate in the survey? https://nztr.co.nz/sites/nztrindustry/files/2024-08/Jumps Consultation 1 Aug FINAL 2.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLB2.0 Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 We see this type of thing across NZ sport Take away jumps racing, you take away the grassroots and heart of the industry. In rugby, since the NPC and Super Rugby became somewhat irrelevant, the All Blacks' quality has diminished. Ridding NZ racing of its heart with have a negative flow-on effect, and although jumps racing doesn't bring in the drunks who spend money on alcohol, it's beside the point. It can't all be corporate spending. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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