Doomed Posted August 22 Author Share Posted August 22 I see TAB as the Damien McKenzie darting around behind the tight 5. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 9 hours ago, Doomed said: I see TAB as the Damien McKenzie darting around behind the tight 5. Spinning and running laterally rather than straight? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 12 hours ago, Doomed said: Despite what he might think, I enjoy TAB's contributions tick... though, the ever use of straw dogs get tedious... more historical stuff needed.. more insights into upcoming group races... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 53 minutes ago, Murray Fish said: more historical stuff needed.. Less in my opinion. No point reminiscing unless it helps to turn things around by providing real solutions to the crisis that is creeping upon us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 3 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Less in my opinion. No point reminiscing unless it helps to turn things around by providing real solutions to the crisis that is creeping upon us. creeping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 12 minutes ago, curious said: creeping? Galloping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 11 minutes ago, curious said: creeping? Well many would argue it's here. I did like the description by stealth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Spinning and running laterally rather than straight? Another good Christ College lad who shows glimpses of brilliance. And very accurate at goal ,and scores a lot of points ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 1 minute ago, TAB For Ever said: Another good Christ College lad who shows glimpses of brilliance. And very accurate at goal ,and scores a lot of points ! Not in the same league as his predecessors. Runs laterally too much better suited to Fullback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted August 22 Author Share Posted August 22 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Less in my opinion. No point reminiscing unless it helps to turn things around by providing real solutions to the crisis that is creeping upon us. We can learn a lot from the past. Quite a lot of racing things used to work better back then. And not just because of different times, more about use of resources and better management at all levels. Sure there was always some tension between various clubs and central management, but that was a sign that everyone was competitive and trying to do their best. Now, virtually all clubs have given up bothering and just concentrate on survival. And that is the thing I find the saddest of the lot currently. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 38 minutes ago, Doomed said: Now, virtually all clubs have given up bothering and just concentrate on survival. And that is the thing I find the saddest of the lot currently. yip... baton down the hatches! ride the chaos! and see where ya end up! ☹️ then, cognitzing all that sort of stuff! how can "one" detach from it and Find some Fun via the up coming Spring races Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 1 hour ago, TAB For Ever said: Another good Christ College lad who shows glimpses of brilliance. (from left field) By chance: I note the passing of Prof Bill Harris earlier this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 4 hours ago, Doomed said: We can learn a lot from the past. Quite a lot of racing things used to work better back then. And not just because of different times, more about use of resources and better management at all levels. When exactly? One thing they didn't do is invest in infrastructure for the future. I remember well the times I travelled all over NZ following my horse (52 starts in all and on course for every one of them). The stable facilities at the majority of tracks hadn't been updated or even properly maintained for what looked like 40 years. That was 18 years ago. I doubt many of them have been improved since. The same goes for the tracks - we are now reaping the lack of investment in renovating tracks on a regular basis. So I take the line "we can learn a lot from the past" with a grain of salt. Arguably the past over indulged and didn't invest in the right infrastructure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 4 hours ago, Doomed said: Sure there was always some tension between various clubs and central management, but that was a sign that everyone was competitive and trying to do their best. Now, virtually all clubs have given up bothering and just concentrate on survival. And that is the thing I find the saddest of the lot currently. The reason is that because of a lack of regular maintenance and renovation programmes we now face big capital infrastructure bills. The only solution ENterTAINed is to sell off assets and spend whatever cash is liberated on centralising racetracks. The irony is that many of those tracks that are in good condition are that way because they didn't have a lot of racing on them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted August 23 Author Share Posted August 23 56 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: When exactly? One thing they didn't do is invest in infrastructure for the future. I remember well the times I travelled all over NZ following my horse (52 starts in all and on course for every one of them). The stable facilities at the majority of tracks hadn't been updated or even properly maintained for what looked like 40 years. That was 18 years ago. I doubt many of them have been improved since. The same goes for the tracks - we are now reaping the lack of investment in renovating tracks on a regular basis. So I take the line "we can learn a lot from the past" with a grain of salt. Arguably the past over indulged and didn't invest in the right infrastructure. Just off the top of my head Iooking at the 80s for instance I can recall a brand new racecourse at Ruakaka, new grandstands at Ellerslie, Riccarton, New Plymouth, Motukarara, Ashburton, Omoto. New 1,600m chutes at Oamaru and Woodville, a new stables complex at Alexandra Park, lights and revamped grandstands at Avondale, new lights at Cambridge. I don't recall any significant track failures. There was the odd abandonment, Banks Pen part way through one meeting, but nothing dramatic. If we were to compare that with the last 10 years, it does look like someone was doing something right 40 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 4 hours ago, Doomed said: If we were to compare that with the last 10 years, it does look like someone was doing something right 40 years ago. But what did they do to renovate tracks in the 30 years between the 40 years and the 10 years? Track failures didn't happen over night. As for new grandstands well that was a waste of money wasn't it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 Correct. Lack of investment and a dumb direction from NZTR re watering to 'achieve' consistent safe tracks "yeah right" have stuffed most racetrack surfaces. I was unimpressed (under statement) that what has now become the last running of the G1 last Feb was butchered by over watering. To refresh memories the jockeys were looking for the outside of the track in the straight. Here is a description of the Otaki track from a publication approximately 20 years ago. Otaki; Well banked and drained resulting in horses performing pleasingly when racing on inside. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted August 23 Author Share Posted August 23 3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: But what did they do to renovate tracks in the 30 years between the 40 years and the 10 years? Track failures didn't happen over night. As for new grandstands well that was a waste of money wasn't it. Well, the new grandstand at Riccarton is the only one still standing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 5 hours ago, Doomed said: Well, the new grandstand at Riccarton is the only one still standing. new? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted August 23 Author Share Posted August 23 3 hours ago, curious said: new? It was new when it was built. As most things are. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 28 minutes ago, Doomed said: It was new when it was built. As most things are. And pretty old and tired now. What 40 years later? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 2 hours ago, Doomed said: It was new when it was built. As most things are. Yes and compared to a conference centre what was its occupancy rate? 2 hours ago, curious said: And pretty old and tired now. What 40 years later? My point exactly. What happened in the three decades after it was built? You can't blame the last decade!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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