Freda Posted January 31 Posted January 31 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: How long does "the gear" last? I assume apprentices start out with new gear rather than second hand gear which you would think would be provided by the trainer that the apprentice is indentured to. Depends on the amount of use it gets. Mine, and most of those I knew back in the day had brand new gear. Some that had had very little use, such as a particular weight of saddle, might be 'second-hand' in the early stages of a young riders career, but certainly not in poor condition. And they would always upgrade once they became busier. One trainer used to give the boys her credit card to go to Garrards and get what they needed. It was the rule then that trainers provided both gear and accommodation, and all costs when travelling. One of my lads used to take his girlfriend along too, it took me a wee while to click on to just why his accom. costs and/or plane fares were rather excessive! 3 Quote
Chief Stipe Posted February 1 Posted February 1 4 hours ago, Freda said: Depends on the amount of use it gets. Mine, and most of those I knew back in the day had brand new gear. Some that had had very little use, such as a particular weight of saddle, might be 'second-hand' in the early stages of a young riders career, but certainly not in poor condition. And they would always upgrade once they became busier. One trainer used to give the boys her credit card to go to Garrards and get what they needed. It was the rule then that trainers provided both gear and accommodation, and all costs when travelling. One of my lads used to take his girlfriend along too, it took me a wee while to click on to just why his accom. costs and/or plane fares were rather excessive! Sounds like a Kevin Morton or Leo Molloy trick! Was the Jockey any good? 1 Quote
Freda Posted February 1 Posted February 1 15 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Sounds like a Kevin Morton or Leo Molloy trick! Was the Jockey any good? Yes. Quote
Newmarket Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 No excuses for dodgy gear….should be fined bigtime if found to be in bad repair. They stop racing if the track looks like being a problem, yet look at this, far more dangerous. Quote
Newmarket Posted February 2 Author Posted February 2 1 hour ago, Special Agent said: Gear can also break when new or faulty. Aware of that…. But in this case it was worn gear…. So no excuses. Quote
Chief Stipe Posted February 2 Posted February 2 19 minutes ago, Newmarket said: Aware of that…. But in this case it was worn gear…. So no excuses. It said sub-standard - how do you know it was worn? Could have been made in China. Quote
curious Posted February 2 Posted February 2 14 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: It said sub-standard - how do you know it was worn? Could have been made in China. Yes. Who said it was worn? I didn't see or hear that. Quote
Newmarket Posted February 8 Author Posted February 8 Another on fell off today down south…. happens at least once a week. 1 Quote
muzenza365 Posted February 10 Posted February 10 On 1/02/2025 at 3:05 PM, Chief Stipe said: Sounds like a Kevin Morton or Leo Molloy trick! Was the Jockey any good? I will stop you right there.I was apprenticed to a hardman, we used to get apprentices that were wayward. If I was riding down South, the plan was to walk down the drive a 1km drive with my gear, wait until the Midland bus came along, this was at 6 pm arrive in Dunedin at midnight, Get a taxi to Wingatui arrive around 12.45, then get asked to ride work at 5 30,no breakfast,I normally had to run a sweat, then go to wherever and repeat the process to get home. The boss would give me $20 and ask for the change, It was a waste of time to tell him the bus was $30 each way. I will guess the jockey you refer to,J Bates 2 1 Quote
curious Posted February 10 Posted February 10 8 minutes ago, muzenza365 said: I will stop you right there.I was apprenticed to a hardman, we used to get apprentices that were wayward. Haha. Were you one of them? Quote
Freda Posted February 10 Posted February 10 2 hours ago, muzenza365 said: I will stop you right there.I was apprenticed to a hardman, we used to get apprentices that were wayward. If I was riding down South, the plan was to walk down the drive a 1km drive with my gear, wait until the Midland bus came along, this was at 6 pm arrive in Dunedin at midnight, Get a taxi to Wingatui arrive around 12.45, then get asked to ride work at 5 30,no breakfast,I normally had to run a sweat, then go to wherever and repeat the process to get home. The boss would give me $20 and ask for the change, It was a waste of time to tell him the bus was $30 each way. I will guess the jockey you refer to,J Bates Actually, no, it was Andre Gillett! A wee story about Batesy...he was staying up the road with one D.Browne, and was late this particular morning. Not that that was unusual. I read him the whole nine yards...unreliable, letting people down, unfair to the others who CAN get here on time, life lessons..etc..etc.. He listened patiently to my tirade, and when I stopped for breath, pulled his hand from behind his back and presented me with a bunch of flowers. Sorry, mate, he said. What can one say to that? 2 3 Quote
Chief Stipe Posted February 10 Posted February 10 8 minutes ago, Freda said: He listened patiently to my tirade, and when I stopped for breath, pulled his hand from behind his back and presented me with a bunch of flowers. Sorry, mate, he said. What can one say to that? "Where's the vase?" Quote
Chief Stipe Posted February 10 Posted February 10 19 minutes ago, Special Agent said: I wonder where they came from. Good point. @Freda are the Botannical Gardens between his flat and the racecourse? Quote
Freda Posted February 11 Posted February 11 No, we reckon they came out of someone's garden along the road. Quote
muzenza365 Posted February 11 Posted February 11 23 hours ago, curious said: Haha. Were you one of them? Hell no, after 6 months working there, I would always bow to the boss but had to run beside him to do that. I thought that if there was a place on Earth called Hell, it was Riccarton Stud and I spent 6 years in Hell. 3 Quote
Freda Posted February 11 Posted February 11 2 hours ago, muzenza365 said: Hell no, after 6 months working there, I would always bow to the boss but had to run beside him to do that. I thought that if there was a place on Earth called Hell, it was Riccarton Stud and I spent 6 years in Hell. Look at the character it built..🤣🤣 2 Quote
Newmarket Posted February 12 Author Posted February 12 And another one parted company in the last today at Te Aroha…. more regular now, maybe 2 a week. This thread will be interesting looking back… Quote
Freda Posted February 12 Posted February 12 Just an observation...I do feel that the races aren't policed adequately, and officials- in the main - have little idea about what good or bad tactics might be or what practices are potentially dangerous until an accident happens. If you watch overseas jurisdictions, in ( for example) Japan, and the Americas particularly, there isn't this habit of 'stacking' fields which leads to all sorts of schemozzle behind the leaders. Add some who think it's ok to dive under the necks of other horses or close a gap suddenly and it's not hard to see how riders can clip heels, especially the younger ones. If races were run at a solid clip and deviations from a line strictly dealt with, the whole thing would be much safer. In the UK/ Ireland it is common to put in a pacemaker to ensure this, which i think is a good practice. 2 1 Quote
curious Posted February 12 Posted February 12 11 hours ago, Newmarket said: And another one parted company in the last today at Te Aroha…. more regular now, maybe 2 a week. This thread will be interesting looking back… Blinkers on? Quote
Chief Stipe Posted February 12 Posted February 12 2 hours ago, Freda said: If races were run at a solid clip and deviations from a line strictly dealt with, the whole thing would be much safer. Shouldn't the Stewards be more focussed on those issues than counting whip strikes? Quote
curious Posted February 12 Posted February 12 2 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Shouldn't the Stewards be more focussed on those issues than counting whip strikes? It shouldn't be an either or question imo. Their job is to police ALL the rules. 2 1 Quote
Chief Stipe Posted February 12 Posted February 12 16 minutes ago, curious said: It shouldn't be an either or question imo. Their job is to police ALL the rules. Perhaps but why aren't the in-sport activists banging on about the lack of rules around pace in a race? Arguably more horses are hurt worse by poor pace exacerbating the poor riding. The welts on the backside are gone in a couple of hours but the galloped on injuries take a lot longer. 1 Quote
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