Chief Stipe Posted Saturday at 11:55 PM Share Posted Saturday at 11:55 PM Valley track cops criticism Andrew Eddy@fastisheddy 22 March, 2025 Racing Victoria’s chief steward Rob Montgomery said he was disappointed with the state of the track on Saturday at The Valley with an “exploding” surface leading to a pronounced leader bias. The Valley track was rated a Soft 5 at final scratching time of 7.30am on Saturday but, despite there being only clear skies, the track was later downgraded to a Soft 6 at 3.17pm following the running of the fifth race. “As it drying out, it’s deteriorating,” Montgomery explained. “It’s like there is no root system to it. “It actually raced better when it was a bit softer, but as its drying out, it just seems to be exploding. It’s not holding together. “For a Group 1 meeting, you’d certainly be hoping for better. It’s disappointing. “There is a bit of kickback. The top if coming off – there is no moisture underneath but it’s (surface) shearing off.” The shifting surface meant that horses out wider on the track were finding it hard to get a grip and unleash their sprints, resulting in a domination across the meeting of horses racing near the fence and on the speed. A number of jockeys that rode in the G1 William Reid Stakes were critical of the surface, with Rey Magnerio’s rider Jye McNeil describing the track as “terrible”, while Lachie Neindorf explained his mount Stretan Angel “dipped and dived” through the conditions. Harry Coffey said his filly Arabian Summer wasn’t happy and was “confused on the loose ground”. The Valley’s acting track manager Tony Salisbury said the track had traditionally struggled later in the season. “It’s this time of year – this meeting,” he said. “It’s (track) always looking for the end of the line. “We’ve got one more meeting on April 26 for the season, so we’ll do a heap of work on it. We haven’t been able to aerate the track for a long time as, if we do, the track loses surface tension. “The root system is not good, but it’s an old track.” Salisbury said he had no fears the ageing track will be a problem for its final spring carnival before the track is replaced. “It’ll be fine in the spring as always,” he said. “After we get through August and get some sun on the track, it will perform well, but it’s such a shame it’s come up as it has today.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racing Victoria’s chief steward Rob Montgomery said he was disappointed with the state of the track on Saturday at The Valley with an “exploding” surface leading to a pronounced leader bias. The Valley track was rated a Soft 5 at final scratching time of 7.30am on Saturday but, despite there being only clear skies, the track was later downgraded to a Soft 6 at 3.17pm following the running of the fifth race. “As it drying out, it’s deteriorating,” Montgomery explained. “It’s like there is no root system to it. “It actually raced better when it was a bit softer, but as its drying out, it just seems to be exploding. It’s not holding together. “For a Group 1 meeting, you’d certainly be hoping for better. It’s disappointing. “There is a bit of kickback. The top if coming off – there is no moisture underneath but it’s (surface) shearing off.” The shifting surface meant that horses out wider on the track were finding it hard to get a grip and unleash their sprints, resulting in a domination across the meeting of horses racing near the fence and on the speed. A number of jockeys that rode in the G1 William Reid Stakes were critical of the surface, with Rey Magnerio’s rider Jye McNeil describing the track as “terrible”, while Lachie Neindorf explained his mount Stretan Angel “dipped and dived” through the conditions. Harry Coffey said his filly Arabian Summer wasn’t happy and was “confused on the loose ground”. The Valley’s acting track manager Tony Salisbury said the track had traditionally struggled later in the season. “It’s this time of year – this meeting,” he said. “It’s (track) always looking for the end of the line. “We’ve got one more meeting on April 26 for the season, so we’ll do a heap of work on it. We haven’t been able to aerate the track for a long time as, if we do, the track loses surface tension. “The root system is not good, but it’s an old track.” Salisbury said he had no fears the ageing track will be a problem for its final spring carnival before the track is replaced. “It’ll be fine in the spring as always,” he said. “After we get through August and get some sun on the track, it will perform well, but it’s such a shame it’s come up as it has today.”
Freda Posted yesterday at 01:03 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:03 AM Interesting. Bodes well for the future of our Strathayr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trojan Posted yesterday at 01:23 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:23 AM 19 minutes ago, Freda said: Interesting. Bodes well for the future of our Strathayr. Some would say the same thing is already happening. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted yesterday at 11:41 AM Share Posted yesterday at 11:41 AM The words and thoughts of two late great trainers spring to mind. Bart Cummings did not agree with installing synthetic tracks. I wonder what his take on the Strathayr would be. Noel Eales believed racing in summer should be on summer surfaces. If you wanted to run on watered tracks you'd train a winter galloper. Doesn't racing make a lot of excuses for ineptitude, and don't racing people these days just accept the bullshit. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 19 hours ago Author Share Posted 19 hours ago 8 hours ago, Special Agent said: Noel Eales believed racing in summer should be on summer surfaces. If you wanted to run on watered tracks you'd train a winter galloper. If you don't irrigate you end up with this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted 12 hours ago Share Posted 12 hours ago But hang on, there is some green which would suggest irrigating but, poor irrigating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westbrew Posted 11 hours ago Share Posted 11 hours ago Are the RIB equipped to effectively censure clubs around the presentation of tracks??? In the old days pre RIU 2010, the chief steward of TB racing would have been a senior member of the NZTR management team, in all likely hood someone that the NZTR board would have deferred to in all matters racing, and thus the chief steward would have been able to police such things with a firm hand. Now the chief steward is a much less important position, he does not work for NZTR anymore and in all likely hood has very little ability to even influence anything outside of jockey behavior on race day. Maybe NZTR should look at getting their stewards back in house and thus bringing much needed expertise back within the tent. With Greyhound racing coming to an end it would make total sense as well as saving millions in administration costs to devolve the stewards back to the two remaining codes. 1 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, Special Agent said: But hang on, there is some green which would suggest irrigating but, poor irrigating. Wabbit wees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 10 hours ago Author Share Posted 10 hours ago 24 minutes ago, westbrew said: Are the RIB equipped to effectively censure clubs around the presentation of tracks??? In the old days pre RIU 2010, the chief steward of TB racing would have been a senior member of the NZTR management team, in all likely hood someone that the NZTR board would have deferred to in all matters racing, and thus the chief steward would have been able to police such things with a firm hand. Now the chief steward is a much less important position, he does not work for NZTR anymore and in all likely hood has very little ability to even influence anything outside of jockey behavior on race day. Maybe NZTR should look at getting their stewards back in house and thus bringing much needed expertise back within the tent. With Greyhound racing coming to an end it would make total sense as well as saving millions in administration costs to devolve the stewards back to the two remaining codes. Watching the body language at the weekend I suspect there is a general resignation. We need some leadership to step up and have a plan. In the first instance a plan and then drive it through. I don't have a problem with the new CEO appointment because I can see that he has been employed to secure revenue from other sources. HOWEVER we need a couple of leaders to get down and dirty and fix the fundamental issue - a safe and competitive track with competitve fields of horses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted 10 hours ago Share Posted 10 hours ago 30 minutes ago, westbrew said: Are the RIB equipped to effectively censure clubs around the presentation of tracks??? In the old days pre RIU 2010, the chief steward of TB racing would have been a senior member of the NZTR management team, in all likely hood someone that the NZTR board would have deferred to in all matters racing, and thus the chief steward would have been able to police such things with a firm hand. Now the chief steward is a much less important position, he does not work for NZTR anymore and in all likely hood has very little ability to even influence anything outside of jockey behavior on race day. Maybe NZTR should look at getting their stewards back in house and thus bringing much needed expertise back within the tent. With Greyhound racing coming to an end it would make total sense as well as saving millions in administration costs to devolve the stewards back to the two remaining codes. Agree wholeheartedly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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