Track Declarations & Retrospective Upgrades

[jess]

Just wondering if someone can explain a situation I've seen a bit of lately - where a track is upgraded early in the card & said to be "retrospective to Race 1".  Is this because the track is tested early in the day & then by start of racing time it's dried out?  I get it that in the course of the day during the races, a track can dry out to a better rating, but it seems strange that an accurate track rating for Race 1 couldn't be declared BEFORE the start of Race 1?  But maybe I'm missing something ... 

Maybe this will be what happens at Otaki tomorrow.  Now have I got this right - irrigation was planned last night (Friday) but in the end - was not carried out?  But despite bugger all irrigation & no rain for a week + hot sunny weather - we still somehow have a Soft 5?  Do you guys feel satisfied we get the full & the correct facts on these tracks?   

 

[SLB2.0]

It's very stupid. Te Rapa is Soft 5 atm, and it's dry as a bone in the Waikato.

Why can't we race on a good 4? And yes, the track will get upgraded to a Good 4 after the first, which again, applies stupidity.

[Freda]

40 minutes ago, jess said:

 

 

 Do you guys feel satisfied we get the full & the correct facts on these tracks?  

 

No.

[jess]

3 minutes ago, SLB2.0 said:

It's very stupid. Te Rapa is Soft 5 atm, and it's dry as a bone in the Waikato.

Why can't we race on a good 4? And yes, the track will get upgraded to a Good 4 after the first, which again, applies stupidity.

Yep thanks SLB.  So there are 2 sides to it - what track we should have/want to have/need to have (for "insurance" purposes if showers are forecast arrive on race-day etc) - I guess everyone will have different takes on all of that.  So maybe they planned to irrigate Otaki yesterday - then at some point - the track manager (or his bosses?) pulled the pin on it (if so - arguably that should have been announced when it was decided that their actions would be different to what they'd declared?).

The other side to it - which is more what my post was aimed at - is transparency & accurate/current facts about those tracks.  I'm not a conspiracy theorist but I'm starting to think the racing/betting public - for whatever reason - are not getting that.  I am happy to be wrong if someone can explain it ....    

[jess]

2 minutes ago, Freda said:

No.

Heya Freda - thanks.  And ok - I'm arriving at the same conclusion - next question is - why not?

The info/decision making is all known & readily available - the means of disseminating that info in a (very) timely fashion is also available (at a few strokes of the keyboard) - so why doesn't it happen?

The more cynical version of myself has a saying - "everyone has an agenda"  - what's the agenda here - and whose is it?!

[Chief Stipe]

There have been a number of threads and posts on this Topic over the last few months.

It is clearly evident that:

1. On many (All?) tracks that the pre-raceday gallops as per the NZTR protocol is not done;
2. That a penetrometer or any other device other than a moisture meter is used on the tracks leading up to and including raceday.  Ellerslie have openly said they only test for moisture and DON'T use a penetrometer.  Other StrathAyr tracks use a Going Stick.  Ellerslie seem to have special dispensation to treat their track as an AWT;
3. The moisture meters used are probably not calibrated regularly hence readings that don't correlate with the official track ratings;
4. The track rating an hour before race 1 is often not the actual rating for the track - how can it be when no horses have galloped nor has any testing occurred.   A morning of sunshine can quickly turn a doubtful S5 into a G3!;
5. It would appear that the S5 readings are often G4.  This is probably to get around the NZTR mandate that on race morning the track should be no better than a G4;
6. Some trainers have been misled by the official ratings leading to scratchings that may not have occurred if the rating had been accurate e.g. Crocetti being scratched at Trentham when the track was reported as Soft yet raced as a Good 4 and better;
7. Jockeys have openly said after race that the official rating is wrong.  In at least one instance the Jockeys told the Stewards who refused to upgrade;
8. There are rumours that one track alters the readings taken by track staff before presenting to NZTR;
9. It is apparent that there is no QUALITY CONTROL checking by the RIB Stewards that all the protocols and measurements have been undertaken as prescribed;
10. The worst offenders are Ellerslie, Trentham and Riccarton.
11. This list could go on....

With regard to there being a conspiracy - well the choice is either between a conspiracy and a cockup.  I would go with the latter i.e. a cockup laced with some collusion.  

 

 

[curious]

8 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

There have been a number of threads and posts on this Topic over the last few months.

It is clearly evident that:

1.   This is probably to get around the NZTR mandate that on race morning the track should be no better than a G4;

Where is that mandate? Is it new? I thought it was that the track be prepared to provide a good rating for the majority of the meeting.

[Chief Stipe]

9 minutes ago, curious said:

Where is that mandate? Is it new? I thought it was that the track be prepared to provide a good rating for the majority of the meeting.

What any Good rating?  A G4 or a G3 or a G2?  OK you're probably right there isn't a mandate but I thought there was some policy.  Feel free to add to the list or correct it.  You won't get moderated for disagreeing.

[curious]

Race Day Track Preparation Process – Mandatory Requirements
Clubs should aim to produce a track with a GOOD rating (i.e. a track with good grass coverage and
cushion) for the majority of the race meeting. They should however, [do their best to] avoid a track
with a GOOD 2 rating at any time during the race meeting).
Track Managers will not be criticised if they have prepared a track in line with this Policy, and, due to
elements outside of their control (including the weather), the track is rated softer than GOOD at the
time of the first race, especially in the warmer months.
It is also recognised that the preparation of turf racetracks with more give may lead to an increased
level of wear and tear over the course of a racing season.

[Chief Stipe]

4 minutes ago, curious said:

Race Day Track Preparation Process – Mandatory Requirements
Clubs should aim to produce a track with a GOOD rating (i.e. a track with good grass coverage and
cushion) for the majority of the race meeting. They should however, [do their best to] avoid a track
with a GOOD 2 rating at any time during the race meeting).
Track Managers will not be criticised if they have prepared a track in line with this Policy, and, due to
elements outside of their control (including the weather), the track is rated softer than GOOD at the
time of the first race, especially in the warmer months.
It is also recognised that the preparation of turf racetracks with more give may lead to an increased
level of wear and tear over the course of a racing season.

That is full of holes especially if the primary metric the rating can't be measured or isn't measured with a quantitative metric using a tool that produces consistent results.  A Betcha Hunch just doesn't cut it.

[Special Agent]

Nobody said the process wouldn't have holes but, that is what NZTR have given us and work with.  Maybe it's time for punters to band together and voice their opinion, rather than the trainers.

It is stinking hot in Kapiti so rain affecting the track surface is unlikely.  Otaki might actually get to the preferred "good" range as stated in the NZTR protocols.

Tauherenikau, where no horses are trained, managed gallops on the track leading up to race day there.  Foxton and Levin have the facility to use locally trained horses to gallop the morning of trials and jumpouts.  Likewise Otaki has horses trained on the course so there are horses available to test the track out early tomorrow morning before scratching time.

Of all the race tracks in the country I'd expect an accurate race morning read from Otaki.  I agree it is not good enough to have upgrades after the first race.

[curious]

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

That is full of holes especially if the primary metric the rating can't be measured or isn't measured with a quantitative metric using a tool that produces consistent results.  A Betcha Hunch just doesn't cut it.

Maybe re-write it for them and send it as a suggestion then?