Chief Stipe Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 I just happened to be talking to a prominent NZ Thoroughbred Trainer from the Waikato about the removal of two race dates from Ruakaka. He couldn't understand the reasoning. In fact he wanted to go the other way and give more dates to Ruakaka. He reckoned the track was a good track during the winter and spring. He would be keen to set up a satellite stable as would other trainers if the powers that be had a regular two week meeting - same day every two weeks. Made sense - what do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 Not my area at all....but if others are keen for more dates there why don't they get their T.A. President to have some dialogue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 15 Author Share Posted August 15 14 minutes ago, Freda said: Not my area at all....but if others are keen for more dates there why don't they get their T.A. President to have some dialogue? Yes he said they are trying that. Some trainers willing to invest in stables at the course. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 15 Author Share Posted August 15 It makes sense though. Great beach to train on and the turf track is good. Enthusiastic locals as well. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 27 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: It makes sense though. Great beach to train on and the turf track is good. Enthusiastic locals as well. What a beautiful spot Chief. Loved going up to the Shifting sands of Ruakaka to drive in the 80's. Legend and champion of New Zealand Mark Purdon won his Very first race there in the summer of 82' driving Dark and Dusty. Just seems like last year lol 😆. Not sure when harness stopped but I'd gladly come out of retirement and train there , if they bought harness racing back. could even do track management for them ! shoeing ? no. get someone else lol 🤣 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 15 Author Share Posted August 15 25 minutes ago, Gammalite said: What a beautiful spot Chief. Loved going up to the Shifting sands of Ruakaka to drive in the 80's. Legend and champion of New Zealand Mark Purdon won his Very first race there in the summer of 82' driving Dark and Dusty. Just seems like last year lol 😆. Not sure when harness stopped but I'd gladly come out of retirement and train there , if they bought harness racing back. could even do track management for them ! shoeing ? no. get someone else lol 🤣 Nice track. Beach is awesome. I'd buy a harness horse and train there. Better than Woodend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Nice track. Beach is awesome. I'd buy a harness horse and train there. Better than Woodend. Warmer maybe but I wouldn't say better. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 Foxton beach up there too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 15 Author Share Posted August 15 10 hours ago, curious said: Warmer maybe but I wouldn't say better. What the sand is a different grade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 Have they got enough traffic cones to hold that many meetings there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 Why doesn't he just move up to the Equine Paradise and work his horses from there? Ruakaka is matched only by Tauranga for some of the most boring racing in the country. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 15 Author Share Posted August 15 1 hour ago, Huey said: Ruakaka is matched only by Tauranga for some of the most boring racing in the country. You keep banging on about racing being boring at Ruakaka but don't actually give a reason why other than the inference that you have repeatedly failed to win on the punt there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: What the sand is a different grade? No idea how that makes it warmer. Sand at Woodend and Foxton always looked fine to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 10 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: You keep banging on about racing being boring at Ruakaka but don't actually give a reason why other than the inference that you have repeatedly failed to win on the punt there. My favourite part is the traffic cone winning post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 15 Author Share Posted August 15 13 minutes ago, Huey said: My favourite part is the traffic cone winning post. You obviously haven't watched for a while or do you have a sight disability? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: You obviously haven't watched for a while or do you have a sight disability? Well that makes it even worse, hadn't noticed it the odd time I've tuned in, is the rail out in sea? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 16 Author Share Posted August 16 34 minutes ago, Huey said: Well that makes it even worse, hadn't noticed it the odd time I've tuned in, is the rail out in sea? WTF are you on about now? Then again what would you expect from someone who finds good competitive racing on a good track in winter "BORING"! Note they irrigated yesterday. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 20 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: good competitive racing on a good track in winter "BORING"! It looks like a great race-card tomorrow 🇳🇿 for NZ racing , with some nice horses, the Top jockeys and even some good odds to be had . In a beautiful setting. I'm sure the 'cones' can be moved for the day in case Huey gets worried by them . They'll Need them at the RBT's anyway , on the way home 😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 16 Author Share Posted August 16 Well look at that @Huey a Good 4 on raceday morning. Light rain so will be in the low soft range. Lots of good form. Take your shades off and get on!!! Free Buses leave from all the local pubs and will have you on course before the first and take you home after the last. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 43 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Take your shades off and get on!!! I be having a serious look at the 3 year old race... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 10 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Well look at that @Huey a Good 4 on raceday morning. Light rain so will be in the low soft range. Lots of good form. Take your shades off and get on!!! Free Buses leave from all the local pubs and will have you on course before the first and take you home after the last. Good for them, hopefully they all had a few and caught the bus home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumbles Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 (edited) how does the tab turnover hold up at Ruakaka.I personally don't bet at Ruakaka as i find the track hard to read but 5then thats just me. Edited August 18 by mumbles 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 On 8/15/2024 at 5:44 PM, Chief Stipe said: I just happened to be talking to a prominent NZ Thoroughbred Trainer from the Waikato about the removal of two race dates from Ruakaka. He couldn't understand the reasoning. In fact he wanted to go the other way and give more dates to Ruakaka. He reckoned the track was a good track during the winter and spring. He would be keen to set up a satellite stable as would other trainers if the powers that be had a regular two week meeting - same day every two weeks. Made sense - what do you think? You've told us about your trainer 'contact' before Chief...and his views on Ruakaka. Plus you usually add the bus that comes from Whangarei and the Annual punters comp held where entries come from the various bars/pubs which sponsor the Club and the comp. Clearly you like Ruakaka. Probably a bad time to regurgitate this yarn cos the the last two meetings have been adversely affected by rain which belies the claim that it provides a good consistent surface when other tracks are often 'bogs'. Saturday conditions worsened as the day went on and jockeys noted a lot of kick back with many horses adversely affected. And last week top trainer Mark Walker was quoted in media saying the previous meeting presented a track up there that was the worst he had seen it after rain ! IMO since Cambridge synthetic opened considerably less Waikato trainers and horses travel north looking for good footing. Up to 4 x hours float each way and getting home at 10pm not as attractive as it was ,hence field size has taken a hit. Aligned with that the overall betting seems consistently less than other similar tracks in Northern area eg Matamata.Plus some friends of my mother-in-laws neighbours told her they don't like betting there ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 18 Author Share Posted August 18 8 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said: You've told us about your trainer 'contact' before Chief...and his views on Ruakaka. I've spoken to more than one trainer about the Ruakaka track and they aren't all locals. 8 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said: Plus you usually add the bus that comes from Whangarei and the Annual punters comp held where entries come from the various bars/pubs which sponsor the Club and the comp. Clearly you like Ruakaka. Isn't that the type of service that could be of benefit if other clubs around the country did the same? 10 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said: Probably a bad time to regurgitate this yarn cos the the last two meetings have been adversely affected by rain which belies the claim that it provides a good consistent surface when other tracks are often 'bogs'. Saturday conditions worsened as the day went on and jockeys noted a lot of kick back with many horses adversely affected. They still had a meeting that wasn't abandoned before or part way through the day. The Open Handicap 1600m was run in 1:26 compared to New Plymouth which was 5 seconds slower. New Plymouth was a bog as was Rotorua yesterday. Obviously you didn't see the rain that fell heavily through the day. Considering they started at a Good 4 full credit to the track that they didn't find any slip marks and cancelled the meeting. 14 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said: And last week top trainer Mark Walker was quoted in media saying the previous meeting presented a track up there that was the worst he had seen it after rain ! Again they ran a full meeting. It has been difficult for the club as they have had to irrigate since it has been so dry at times. 16 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said: IMO since Cambridge synthetic opened considerably less Waikato trainers and horses travel north looking for good footing. Up to 4 x hours float each way and getting home at 10pm not as attractive as it was ,hence field size has taken a hit. But those Waikato trainers would rather trial at Te Rapa and Taupo than Cambridge. A number of the top trainers won't go near the AWT with their best horses. 17 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said: Aligned with that the overall betting seems consistently less than other similar tracks in Northern area eg Matamata.Plus some friends of my mother-in-laws neighbours told her they don't like betting there ! Port isn't medicinal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 18 Author Share Posted August 18 9 hours ago, mumbles said: how does the tab turnover hold up at Ruakaka.I personally don't bet at Ruakaka as i find the track hard to read but 5then thats just me. I'd say it would have held up better than New Plymouth on the same day - regardless it holds up better than any meeting that is abandoned. Like most "perceptions" the facts don't often match. Looking at the results it would seem the majority of punters were on the money on Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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