Karaka Millions Night 2025 - a wander!

[Huey]

3 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

I'm asking what YOU support.  From what I can see you are in the same camp as the likes of @Joe Bloggs and @nomates - underachievers in racing who just knock everything.

From what I've seen those affected the most don't seem motivated to stand up and seek change in the areas where they have the most influence.

Underachievers well that certainly sums you up more than those you're calling out @Chief Stipe , all those you've mentioned are log standing industry participants that care or used to care a lot about the industry.

Don't forget to buy a couple of shares in some Karaka yearlings so that you're not deemed an underachiever!

[Chief Stipe]

13 minutes ago, Huey said:

Underachievers well that certainly sums you up more than those you're calling out @Chief Stipe , all those you've mentioned are log standing industry participants that care or used to care a lot about the industry.

@Huey you belong in the same club as @Joe Bloggs and @nomates - The Gumpy Old Men Club.  You sit in your armchairs now - rarely go to race meetings and moan about everything as well as try and slay the tall poppies.  The irony of which doesn't escape me when at least one of you have shares in a horse with one of those you label as "whales".   Probably the source of the $12k monthly bill that is doing the social media rounds and which Wightman aka @Transparency is banging on about.

Old men who wallow in the dying light of their past acheivements which occurred during the so called Golden Era of New Zealand racing.  The sad part is they contributed to the current problem as much as anyone.  Did the committees they were on put aside capital to invest in tracks?  Now they all say "I know a good farmer who could fix the tracks.  These problems didn't happen my day"!

So @Huey you have all the answers - what are doing about the issues?  

[Freda]

30 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

I'm asking what YOU support.  From what I can see you are in the same camp as the likes of @Joe Bloggs and @nomates - underachievers in racing who just knock everything.

From what I've seen those affected the most don't seem motivated to stand up and seek change in the areas where they have the most influence.

Whoa, hold on there.  The above-mentioned pair have, and have had, more skin in the game than you might care to realise.

Their criticisms come from years in the game, years of experience that most have no idea about,  and because they care, they see fit to voice their concerns from the perspective that they KNOW how it works when well managed.

I can see why they stopped bothering.

[Chief Stipe]

4 minutes ago, Freda said:

Whoa, hold on there.  The above-mentioned pair have, and have had, more skin in the game than you might care to realise.

Their criticisms come from years in the game, years of experience that most have no idea about,  and because they care, they see fit to voice their concerns from the perspective that they KNOW how it works when well managed.

I can see why they stopped bothering.

They may have HAD "more skin in the game" than we realise.

They are entitled to VOICE their concerns but what have they DONE about their concerns except voice them?  Except slay those who are successful?

YOU can see WHY they stopped bothering.  WHY did they stop bothering?  Did they actually try even in a small way to get their concerns addressed?  In many ways they have been part of the problem.  They took their share of the wealth when they had skin in the game but what did they give back?

From what I've seen is the industry is full of people who moan about what they see happening but don't do anything to change things.

Take the mess that is South Island programming.  I'm sure @Huey, @Joe Bloggs, @nomates, @Transparency and yourself could get organised and challenge those that make the decisions to get it sorted.  

[Huey]

25 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

They may have HAD "more skin in the game" than we realise.

They are entitled to VOICE their concerns but what have they DONE about their concerns except voice them?  Except slay those who are successful?

YOU can see WHY they stopped bothering.  WHY did they stop bothering?  Did they actually try even in a small way to get their concerns addressed?  In many ways they have been part of the problem.  They took their share of the wealth when they had skin in the game but what did they give back?

From what I've seen is the industry is full of people who moan about what they see happening but don't do anything to change things.

Take the mess that is South Island programming.  I'm sure @Huey, @Joe Bloggs, @nomates, @Transparency and yourself could get organised and challenge those that make the decisions to get it sorted.  

Have you bought a couple yet @Chief Stipe ? what Lot numbers?

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Huey said:

Have you bought a couple yet @Chief Stipe ? what Lot numbers?

I've just about had enough of this bullshit.

Why don't you go join @nomates and @Joe Bloggs they are more your type.

[Chief Stipe]

@nomates it isn't fake news.  What have you done recently to change the things you constantly criticise?

[TAB For Ever]

On 1/25/2025 at 11:09 AM, Wandering Eyes said:

Will try and get some pictures of interest during the day.  Made a request to walk the track but this is the closest I got. 

Very warm and sunny from early morning.  The track should start the night a Good 4 subject to how "soft" the mechanical tyning of the track has made it.

I'm told people will start queuing at 1pm to get in the gates first when they open at 3pm.  The only time you will see ATR members running to find a table in their area in the stand at Ellerslie.

Same applies to Owners who have horses starting.  They are further handicapped by having to queue twice the second time at the raceday office.  Many are hoping their horses will run faster than they do!

Some good photos posted from Karaka day but NOT this one.....did the drone get caught up a big tree.

Looks as if it was taken from outside the course in the Hospital carpark.

And I can't spot the 5 x differences .......too hard !

[Special Agent]

I don't even know who these people are but there seems to be not only grumpy old men but ANGRY old men on here as well.  Chief, you seem to think a lot of problems are an easy fix and the people mentioned above should have corrected it all by now.  I don't know why you don't understand how trying to change ideas in racing at the level you are talking is as good as banging your head against a wall.  Only clubs with very strong people have survived the bullshit.

As for sitting in armchairs and not going to the track, isn't that the aim and beauty of Trackside?

As far as moaning goes, well I guess we should all thank you Chief for giving us this vehicle to vent.  You talk about others taking meds but, methinks it's time for you to take a chill pill.

The older I get the more appreciative of waking up each morning I am.

[Chief Stipe]

8 hours ago, Special Agent said:

I don't even know who these people are but there seems to be not only grumpy old men but ANGRY old men on here as well.  Chief, you seem to think a lot of problems are an easy fix and the people mentioned above should have corrected it all by now.  I don't know why you don't understand how trying to change ideas in racing at the level you are talking is as good as banging your head against a wall.  Only clubs with very strong people have survived the bullshit.

As for sitting in armchairs and not going to the track, isn't that the aim and beauty of Trackside?

As far as moaning goes, well I guess we should all thank you Chief for giving us this vehicle to vent.  You talk about others taking meds but, methinks it's time for you to take a chill pill.

The older I get the more appreciative of waking up each morning I am.

Yes and the moment you wake up you start moaning and bitching about what is wrong with racing and take aim at those who are successful.  Hell you even bag the best Jockeys!!

Why don't the moaners bang their collective heads together instead of individualy on the cell walls and attempt to change things?

They won't of course as like many in the industry they'd rather moan about it and fire envy driven pot-shots at others.

[Huey]

51 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Yes and the moment you wake up you start moaning and bitching about what is wrong with racing and take aim at those who are successful.  Hell you even bag the best Jockeys!!

Why don't the moaners bang their collective heads together instead of individualy on the cell walls and attempt to change things?

They won't of course as like many in the industry they'd rather moan about it and fire envy driven pot-shots at others.

Moaning doesn't work @Chief Stipe , they do not care.

Incompetence reigns supreme!

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, Huey said:

Moaning doesn't work @Chief Stipe , they do not care.

Incompetence reigns supreme!

Yep and Trainers and Onwers only see each other as competitors and don't work together to address the issues that affect them all.

Their respective associations are just token nodding sideshows.

[curious]

57 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Yes and the moment you wake up you start moaning and bitching about what is wrong with racing and take aim at those who are successful.  Hell you even bag the best Jockeys!!

Why don't the moaners bang their collective heads together instead of individualy on the cell walls and attempt to change things?

They won't of course as like many in the industry they'd rather moan about it and fire envy driven pot-shots at others.

I think the bigger outfits like Marsh and TA are the ones who might have or have had a chance to wreak some change there, but they seem to just moan quietly and speak with their feet.

Edited 6 hours ago by curious

[Chief Stipe]

1 minute ago, curious said:

I think the bigger outfits like Marsh and TA are the ones who might have or have had a chance to qwreak some change there, but they seem to just moan quietly and speak with their feet.

I'd tend to agree with that comment.  I also think there is an element of  "that part isn't our job" and they assume (wrongly) that those whose job it is will get it right.

For example did Ellerslie consult Jockeys and Trainers about keeping the "iconic shape" of the track BEFORE they built the new hybrid StrathAyr?

The track plays at the moment as a stack them up, sit and sprint and hope you have the gas and wheels to last up the straight.  

The Railway was a classic example where they ran the first half nearly 5 seconds slower than the last half.  Horses couldn't get traction or stability to improve until they straightened.

All well and good saying that when the rain came the surface stayed firm when you still can't get going on it.

Then we get the puff piece article in the Herald from Guerin saying how great the track was and quoting what a fantastic job Ellerslie has done.  I gather he didn't talk to any Jockeys or Trainers!!

[curious]

17 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

 I gather he didn't talk to any Jockeys or Trainers!!

I don't think he'd bother. Just dashes something off spruiking the hype, so he can go enjoy the party.

[Chief Stipe]

6 minutes ago, curious said:

I don't think he'd bother. Just dashes something off spruiking the hype, so he can go enjoy the party.

I see he bought a horse at the sales.