Huey Posted Sunday at 09:45 PM Share Posted Sunday at 09:45 PM 1 hour ago, TAB For Ever said: Come on champ........many tracks should have been closed over 50 years ago when it was first talked about ! Money wasted on tracks with NO future and relevance has slowed down considerably the move into the modern world, with higher expectations , greater and intense competition , strict health and safety rules etc OK ,bemoan the past but look to the future , that more important ! Do yourself a favour ,book a ticket north to Champions Day at Ellerslie in March. Take you grand daughter too they having a Kids area . Something for everyone ....at acceptable modern standards. Never been a better time to be involved ! Absolute load of rubbish, this very attitude is the reason the sport is in the position it is now. Nepotism in NZ racing is rife, there are certain courses around the country that could be on fire or under water and they would still be attempting to keep them going. The issue is there has never been a fair assessment and the metrics they have attempted to use ie. location/stands etc are now absolutely irrelevant. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted yesterday at 12:10 AM Share Posted yesterday at 12:10 AM 2 hours ago, Huey said: Absolute load of rubbish, this very attitude is the reason the sport is in the position it is now. Nepotism in NZ racing is rife, there are certain courses around the country that could be on fire or under water and they would still be attempting to keep them going. The issue is there has never been a fair assessment and the metrics they have attempted to use ie. location/stands etc are now absolutely irrelevant. Nepotism ? Don't think this word has reached the South Island. For decades 'everyone in NZ Racing ' agreed there were too many tracks but no-one could decide what best for future and certainly didnt want to lose their own. Eventually some 'centralisation ' took place to save many of the wasteful duplication of expense etc. Many clubs just rusted away and the racing DNA of areas rotted with them. From the 80's everyone called for two things.....better track surfaces and higher stakes. Even tho you don't seem to get out much and/or too actual tracks/meetings you must know all this . So we are where we are today. NZ racing has long punched above its weight and has provided an amazing springboard for our best horsemen and horses ...we have never had the betting power to match Australia or even maintain our infrastructure. But Ellerslie doing their best to keep up...kudos to them . The exemplar....and Pukekohe as a back up and within 2hrs of biggest NZ horse population. Just look at last Saurday......Ellerslie tick ,a good competitive card.... Mr Brightside , Jimmystar , MMoroney ,Waller ,Busuttin /Young ,I Wish I win , Per Incanto ,Mickey Dee , James Mac in Dubai. NZ racing , so much to be positive about ! A great time to be involved . Pessimism is for liteweights ! PS....read the Boy who cried Wolf ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted yesterday at 12:27 AM Author Share Posted yesterday at 12:27 AM 15 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said: But Ellerslie doing their best to keep up...kudos to them . The exemplar....and Pukekohe as a back up and within 2hrs of biggest NZ horse population. Sadly Ellerslie isn't an exemplar. They botched their chance and like the AWT white elephants the Industry is now pinned to their mast. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted yesterday at 01:24 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:24 AM 56 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Sadly Ellerslie isn't an exemplar. They botched their chance and like the AWT white elephants the Industry is now pinned to their mast. Whoever is second is a long way behind ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted yesterday at 01:28 AM Author Share Posted yesterday at 01:28 AM 3 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said: Whoever is second is a long way behind ! At least you are starting to see the light now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted 15 hours ago Share Posted 15 hours ago On 24/02/2025 at 9:41 AM, TAB For Ever said: Do yourself a favour ,book a ticket north to Champions Day at Ellerslie in March. Take you grand daughter too they having a Kids area . The family friendly ATR eh? Looks like my grand-daughter, wife and I will be at the pub supporting the owner of one of the SI runners and his family. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 15 hours ago Author Share Posted 15 hours ago On 23/02/2025 at 11:56 AM, curious said: Would they know? To me, if I ride a gallop on the rail, the curve to straight angle is greater, whereas if the markers are on the outside, the turn is tighter. Or is that my imagination? If true though, then moving the rail out will always make the corner more difficult to negotiate, so why would you do that if the turn and rail position was correctly designed in the first place? On 23/02/2025 at 11:59 AM, curious said: And fwiw, Google agrees with me. A larger radius results in a smaller curve to straight radius angle, and vice versa On 23/02/2025 at 12:46 PM, Chief Stipe said: If you move the rail out evenly all round the track then then bend is easier to negotiate as long as you shorten the straight. I've been incubating this subject for a few days. Even started drawing diagrams. The bend isn't tighter if the rail is put out evenly both on the bend and the straight. As the circumference of the bend increases it becomes easier. The extreme analogy is the planet we reside on - we think we are walking straight but in fact we are walking a curve. If the circumference decreases the bend is harder to negotiate. Compare Omoto to Ellerslie. However there is one difference - if a race involves two straights and the rail is put out then the first straight is shortened in length i.e. you get to the bend sooner because the distance travelled on a bigger curve(s) is greater. The finishing straight stays the same length. Arguably the wider the circumference the less camber you need and the less disadvantaged a horse is out wide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 15 hours ago Author Share Posted 15 hours ago 44 minutes ago, curious said: The family friendly ATR eh? Looks like my grand-daughter, wife and I will be at the pub supporting the owner of one of the SI runners and his family. Parochalism ahead of rational thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted 14 hours ago Share Posted 14 hours ago 19 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Parochalism ahead of rational thinking. Indeed. Wouldn't be going at all if it were not to support the SI interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 14 hours ago Author Share Posted 14 hours ago 26 minutes ago, curious said: Indeed. Wouldn't be going at all if it were not to support the SI interest. How do you know that there isn't a South Island interest in some of the others? Are you not supporting the CJC interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 12 hours ago Author Share Posted 12 hours ago 3 hours ago, curious said: The family friendly ATR eh? Looks like my grand-daughter, wife and I will be at the pub supporting the owner of one of the SI runners and his family. I see Wightman is complaining on Facebook that he couldn't get you and 20 other friends and family free tickets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted 11 hours ago Share Posted 11 hours ago 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: I see Wightman is complaining on Facebook that he couldn't get you and 20 other friends and family free tickets! he should say Feck em! scr! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 10 hours ago Author Share Posted 10 hours ago 1 hour ago, Murray Fish said: he should say Feck em! scr! Yeah right. He's probably sold shares in it to the Slot Holder. Like the rest of the registered owners on any day at any meeting you only get 1 ticket plus one for your plus 1. Doesn't matter if you are in the maiden or the Group 1 or the Raffle Ticket race. Of course the entrepreneur Wightman could have bought a Slot and got all the privileges that went with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted 9 hours ago Share Posted 9 hours ago 44 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Yeah right. I think I got caught up in the hype!!! talking the race, the actual race, I be looking forward! Hopefully the give the Au horses the visitors draw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted 8 hours ago Share Posted 8 hours ago 7 hours ago, curious said: The family friendly ATR eh? Looks like my grand-daughter, wife and I will be at the pub supporting the owner of one of the SI runners and his family. As a regular attendee ,this often a good option. Afterall Racing now mainly a televised sport , and you see more and hear more watching on TV. The marketers are convinced that attracting new and younger people to Racing at least starts with the on-course experience which is enhanced with hospitality options , gimmicks and music/bands ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloke Posted 4 hours ago Share Posted 4 hours ago 3 hours ago, TAB For Ever said: As a regular attendee ,this often a good option. Afterall Racing now mainly a televised sport , and you see more and hear more watching on TV. The marketers are convinced that attracting new and younger people to Racing at least starts with the on-course experience which is enhanced with hospitality options , gimmicks and music/bands ! The Marketers should just look at the clubs that attract the large crowds, and the turnover they generate on course. I do not include Auckland in those because without TBGP they would have tiny attendances such as last Saturday. My experience with marketing people is that they usually only last in a job for 18 months or so as they run out of ideas which have hardly ever worked. The Grand Tour is one of many with the current lot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted 4 hours ago Share Posted 4 hours ago 8 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: I see Wightman is complaining on Facebook that he couldn't get you and 20 other friends and family free tickets! More of a move to not have to go face to face with those you've tormented than a ticket allocation issue IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted 3 hours ago Share Posted 3 hours ago Anyone who wants to bring 20 people to the races should be embraced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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