All The Aces Posted Monday at 09:57 PM Share Posted Monday at 09:57 PM LIVAMOL TO TE RAPA Follow the partial abandonment of Saturday’s meeting at Hastings, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has made the decision to move the Saturday 12 October raceday and Group 1 Livamol Classic to Te Rapa. The move of the Group races is still subject to final Pattern Committee approval. The Saturday 28 September Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate meeting at Hastings was partially abandoned following a horse slipping in the first race. Post abandonment work was carried out to the area of concern past the winning post and a set of jumpouts were held on Monday at the track. The jumpouts went without incident with several senior riders in attendance. A risk assessment was undertaken by NZTR management into, not only the safety of the track, but whether the industry could risk further damage should the worst happen given the tracks recent history. “NZTR Board and management have carefully considered the remedial work that was completed on the track. After assessing all aspects of the situation, management believe it will pose considerable financial and reputational risk to the industry in the event of another abandonment at the same venue. Given the limited time to thoroughly test the track, the difficult decision was made to move the meeting to Te Rapa.” - Darin Balcombe, NZTR COO “NZTR understand the devastating impact this will have on the Hawke’s Bay Club and region, and we will work with the Club over the coming weeks to provide support and identify a pathway forward.” NZTR recognise the significance of this decision for Hawkes Bay Racing. However, the transfer will give industry participants certainty that a day of this importance to the industry can move forward without any apprehension. “NZTR is committed to the long-term sustainability and safety of our racing operations and intend to return racing to the Hawke’s Bay.” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assange Posted Tuesday at 03:23 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 03:23 AM 5 hours ago, All The Aces said: LIVAMOL TO TE RAPA Follow the partial abandonment of Saturday’s meeting at Hastings, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has made the decision to move the Saturday 12 October raceday and Group 1 Livamol Classic to Te Rapa. The move of the Group races is still subject to final Pattern Committee approval. The Saturday 28 September Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate meeting at Hastings was partially abandoned following a horse slipping in the first race. Post abandonment work was carried out to the area of concern past the winning post and a set of jumpouts were held on Monday at the track. The jumpouts went without incident with several senior riders in attendance. A risk assessment was undertaken by NZTR management into, not only the safety of the track, but whether the industry could risk further damage should the worst happen given the tracks recent history. “NZTR Board and management have carefully considered the remedial work that was completed on the track. After assessing all aspects of the situation, management believe it will pose considerable financial and reputational risk to the industry in the event of another abandonment at the same venue. Given the limited time to thoroughly test the track, the difficult decision was made to move the meeting to Te Rapa.” - Darin Balcombe, NZTR COO “NZTR understand the devastating impact this will have on the Hawke’s Bay Club and region, and we will work with the Club over the coming weeks to provide support and identify a pathway forward.” NZTR recognise the significance of this decision for Hawkes Bay Racing. However, the transfer will give industry participants certainty that a day of this importance to the industry can move forward without any apprehension. “NZTR is committed to the long-term sustainability and safety of our racing operations and intend to return racing to the Hawke’s Bay.” A few questions. How bad is the track that it cant be OK for 2 weeks time? If senior riders say its OK after holding jumpouts - why are NZTR still moving the meeting? What is the pathway forward that they will be identifying? Wasn't Darren Balcombe running Hastings Racetrack before getting his current role? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted Tuesday at 03:44 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 03:44 AM 19 minutes ago, Assange said: A few questions. How bad is the track that it cant be OK for 2 weeks time? If senior riders say its OK after holding jumpouts - why are NZTR still moving the meeting? What is the pathway forward that they will be identifying? Wasn't Darren Balcombe running Hastings Racetrack before getting his current role? I doubt it will be used again without major reconstruction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted Tuesday at 05:25 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 05:25 AM I wonder whether one of the problems is trying to accommodate a very awkward 1,600m start. I have often wondered why so many NZ racecourses have terrible 1,600m starts. It is almost as if 1,600m wasn't a popular distance when these tracks were designed many years ago. The only two tracks I know of that have made an effort to fix their 1,600m starts are Oamaru and Woodville. Both very successfully, but doesn't seem to have done either club much good. Perhaps HB simply needs to give up on 1,600m races so the track can be properly cambered. Gore seems to survive without 1,600m racing. HB could follow the lead of Rosehill and Rotorua and stick to 1,500m races. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted Tuesday at 05:26 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 05:26 AM 2 hours ago, Assange said: If senior riders say its OK after holding jumpouts - why are NZTR still moving the meeting? Btw, where did you hear that they said it was ok? If they did, they must not have been too convincing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Tuesday at 07:38 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 07:38 AM The word I heard was that when Balcombe was CEO of Hawke’s Bay racing he knew about the problem bit didn't do anything to fix it. Ironically he is now instrumental in determining the Livamol meeting be transferred to Te Rapa. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloke Posted Tuesday at 07:46 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 07:46 AM 2 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: The word I heard was that when Balcombe was CEO of Hawke’s Bay racing he knew about the problem bit didn't do anything to fix it. Ironically he is now instrumental in determining the Livamol meeting be transferred to Te Rapa. Yes, and the meeting has been transferred to Te Rapa run by a past CEO of Hawkes Bay, The Fat Butcher who also had meetings abandoned. I recall that a Livermol race day was postponed until Labour weekend due to the track. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assange Posted Wednesday at 12:35 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 12:35 AM 19 hours ago, curious said: Btw, where did you hear that they said it was ok? If they did, they must not have been too convincing. The jumpouts went without incident with several senior jockeys in attendance. If there was an issue it would have been raised. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted Wednesday at 12:49 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 12:49 AM 13 minutes ago, Assange said: The jumpouts went without incident with several senior jockeys in attendance. If there was an issue it would have been raised. So, you don't know that it wasn't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted Wednesday at 05:40 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 05:40 PM On 1/10/2024 at 8:38 PM, Chief Stipe said: The word I heard was that when Balcombe was CEO of Hawke’s Bay racing he knew about the problem bit didn't do anything to fix it. Ironically he is now instrumental in determining the Livamol meeting be transferred to Te Rapa. He wasn't worried about pulling the 30 years ago they didn't fix it card on Weigh In either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted Wednesday at 05:41 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 05:41 PM The non existent Northern Mafia get away with another one, they certainly seem to have a lot go their way for something that doesn't exist. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Wednesday at 07:04 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 07:04 PM 1 hour ago, Huey said: The non existent Northern Mafia get away with another one, they certainly seem to have a lot go their way for something that doesn't exist. Where else was the meeting going to go if it wasn't staying at Hastings? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assange Posted Thursday at 12:41 AM Share Posted Thursday at 12:41 AM 5 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Where else was the meeting going to go if it wasn't staying at Hastings? Foxton? 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted Thursday at 03:35 AM Share Posted Thursday at 03:35 AM 8 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Where else was the meeting going to go if it wasn't staying at Hastings? Ruakaka of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Thursday at 03:38 AM Share Posted Thursday at 03:38 AM 2 minutes ago, Huey said: Ruakaka of course! The irony of your fixation is that the best AWT track in the country is at Cambridge and the best turf track is at Matamata. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted Thursday at 05:27 AM Share Posted Thursday at 05:27 AM 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: The irony of your fixation is that the best AWT track in the country is at Cambridge and the best turf track is at Matamata. Now you're just trying to be clever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Beau Posted 7 hours ago Share Posted 7 hours ago On 1/10/2024 at 6:25 PM, Doomed said: I wonder whether one of the problems is trying to accommodate a very awkward 1,600m start. I have often wondered why so many NZ racecourses have terrible 1,600m starts. It is almost as if 1,600m wasn't a popular distance when these tracks were designed many years ago. The only two tracks I know of that have made an effort to fix their 1,600m starts are Oamaru and Woodville. Both very successfully, but doesn't seem to have done either club much good. Perhaps HB simply needs to give up on 1,600m races so the track can be properly cambered. Gore seems to survive without 1,600m racing. HB could follow the lead of Rosehill and Rotorua and stick to 1,500m races. Otaki created a new one. It is perfect, with a long run down the back straight. Then so f#ck whits took their Gr1 off them and gave it to the Avondale haters to race on their new [still questionable] round course with the faulty corner into the home straight. 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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