Grey Way

[Special Agent]

2 hours ago, billy connolly said:

Don't know how turnover figures correlate to those of yesteryear but you're dreaming comparing crowds of today to those of the past.

 

Any record turnover says the club is doing something right.

We all know the racing crowds of the distant past were something to behold.  It's unlikely crowds at a race meeting are going to be like that again.  As many on here have said, even Ellerslie is a sad and sorry sight these days.

In this different world some innovative concepts are required to encourage a walk up crowd.  It sounds like South Canterbury are giving it a good go.

I look forward to your marketing ideas Billy.

[Special Agent]

On 7/19/2025 at 6:13 PM, sth cantab said:

Entry is free, good idea re the colours though 😀 👍

Would a free drink for anyone with grey hair be too much?

[Newmarket]

Good old Grey Way….Sth island had some great horses running around in the 70s & 80s….

Sadly, horses racing now are well below that standard. 
 

It was great to see horses winning from everywhere yesterday at Oamaru, seemed most had their chance on the heavy track. 
Would rather see more racing there than Timaru and Ashburton, which has a leaders bias…

[sth cantab]

12 hours ago, billy connolly said:

No thanks, apart from having to pay to get out of the place, what are the main attractions other than second-rate horses, third-rate jockeys and fourth-rate facilities? Is it too big a job for you or your fellow members to water blast and seal that great bronze replica of Phar Lap at the front entrance? Note you've now even closed the front (Highway 1) entrance to all bar horse floats FFS.

You are more than welcome to use the Highway 1 gate anytime except race day. The State Highway 8 gate comes into play on race day, where the public car park has been for the last 150 plus years. 

Phar Lap gets hot washed sealed and waxed every year, however being near a road and in the elements he looks great for about a week. If you know of a better way to do things or have some product suggestions fire away.

No need to insult the jockeys and horses.

Yes, the facility is dated but has a great restaurant, on course caterer and  receives great support form owners and trainers nomination wise so must be getting something right. 

Regularly attended Timaru meetings in halcyon days, in fact made the Crown Hotel (which never closed) a base over Christmas New Year and when not attending race meetings frequented the side shows of Caroline Bay in the company of Sir Basil Arthur and scantly clad women... winning chocolates galore !

You are showing your age there!

Don't know how turnover figures correlate to those of yesteryear but you're dreaming comparing crowds of today to those of the past.

You are the one doing the comparing, not me, I was stating what actually happened on the day. 
 

 

[sth cantab]

9 hours ago, Special Agent said:

Any record turnover says the club is doing something right.

We all know the racing crowds of the distant past were something to behold.  It's unlikely crowds at a race meeting are going to be like that again.  As many on here have said, even Ellerslie is a sad and sorry sight these days.

In this different world some innovative concepts are required to encourage a walk up crowd.  It sounds like South Canterbury are giving it a good go.

I look forward to your marketing ideas Billy.

Very hard to get a crowd when the club gets mid week race dates, this season there are a couple of Sundays so the club may stand a chance of getting people on course. 
 

I too am looking forward to Billy’s ideas! 😀

[Doomed]

5 hours ago, Newmarket said:

Good old Grey Way….Sth island had some great horses running around in the 70s & 80s….

Sadly, horses racing now are well below that standard. 
 

It was great to see horses winning from everywhere yesterday at Oamaru, seemed most had their chance on the heavy track. 
Would rather see more racing there than Timaru and Ashburton, which has a leaders bias…

That was quite an extraordinary heavy track meeting at Oamaru. Appeared to be no bias at all. Winners came from all over.

Good to see the $6,000 Timaru trifecta in the fourth. Not very often the same trainer and owner combine for a $200 quinella either.

[Doomed]

13 hours ago, billy connolly said:

No thanks, apart from having to pay to get out of the place, what are the main attractions other than second-rate horses, third-rate jockeys and fourth-rate facilities? Is it too big a job for you or your fellow members to water blast and seal that great bronze replica of Phar Lap at the front entrance? Note you've now even closed the front (Highway 1) entrance to all bar horse floats FFS.

 

Regularly attended Timaru meetings in halcyon days, in fact made the Crown Hotel (which never closed) a base over Christmas New Year and when not attending race meetings frequented the side shows of Caroline Bay in the company of Sir Basil Arthur and scantly clad women... winning chocolates galore !

 

Don't know how turnover figures correlate to those of yesteryear but you're dreaming comparing crowds of today to those of the past.
 

It must be very hard for clubs like Timaru to remain enthused with NZTR trying to get rid of them and giving them no support at all.

With your memory of the 70s and 80s you will realise that Timaru probably provided better racing than Ashburton and Dunedin back then. The Timaru Cup was one of the great races every year with a string of high class winners. I remember the 3yo Greek Magic and all the Dennis Brothers winners, and Grey Way himself.

Now, because of the ideological bent of NZTR, Timaru gets no feature days and they see all of the money being poured into Wingatui and Ashburton. If I was on the committee I would probably give up, so good on them for hanging in there in the face of incredible adversity.

And the training ranks in Timaru have possibly never been stronger. There must be almost as many winners coming out of there as Wingatui.

[TAB For Ever]

On 9/24/2024 at 11:11 PM, TAB For Ever said:

Over 40 years since Grey Way retired from racing so great to see the Club give hem a mention and make an effort to attract a bit of interest tho there has been a lounge on course with his name attached. Great for the retirees of Geraldine ,Oamaru and Dunedin to remember from their rocking chairs !He was a tourist attraction in Geraldine !

But a while back I had a quick look at the Clubs activities and looked at possible reasonswhy such a versatile track had seemingly fallen out of favour compared with neighbour Ashburton . To me it seemed as Timaru had almost given up , lost their enthusiasm as jumping collapsed and general interest died. Some years the AGM was attended by fewer than the committee and raceday stewards ,barely reaching the quorum.

And contrary to Doomed regular reminders the track/weather has helped them much in recent times with wet summer days and wet and/or frosty winter racedays.

Not the Washdyke I enjoyed when younger with Corboys , MJones, BTJones , Cowans , Daly ,Hampton  et with well known Orari families as well.

Grey Way certainly had a great career from a 2 year old ,racing 12 x at 2 , including several occasions when he backed up witin a couple of days

My post from September 2024 with some of my memories of Timaru /Washdyke and racing in the area !

The ra ra crowd are doing their best to talk up another racing area which many years ago let itself slowly deteriorate .

Some good memories from the area........then there was Phar Lap ,the Ranfurly Shield , South Canterbury Finance ( Ouch ).

I think the Course Manager was recognised with an Award recently and today Timaru representing NZ in a Drinking water Test against Australia.

But blaming NZTR for the current situation is drawing a long bow ....sorry DOOMED !

Maybe the new Airport there will improve things !

[billy connolly]

13 hours ago, sth cantab said:

Phar Lap gets hot washed sealed and waxed every year, however being near a road and in the elements he looks great for about a week. If you know of a better way to do things or have some product suggestions fire away.

Go to - https://beeswax.co.nz/product/oxalic-acid-25kg/ (they're the cheapest) and order 25kg of Oxalic Acid, mix the acid liberally with (preferably) boiling water and apply by stiff bristled brush, leave for 12 to 24 hours then water blast with a pressure washer, seal if you wish.

Note, Oxalic Acid is an incredibly versatile aqueous solution that is safe to use.