Chief Stipe Posted yesterday at 12:14 AM Share Posted yesterday at 12:14 AM The Trentham track yesterday was a disgrace. Did anyone see the lack of grass in the 1200m concrete chute? Seems they have reduced the width of the track to accommodate only 14 horses. But you wouldn't want to race more than 3 wide down the first 600m straight due to the condition of the turf which sort of defeats the purpose of having a chute. I'll post some photos soon - have asked a friend to download some shots off their race recordings. Keeping up with the trend - is the 1400m start no longer on the main course? The photo below is a picture of it. Seems they either have a porina problem or the sprinklers are toy ones or when irrigating during the summer it blew a gale every day! Notice the reduced width of the track? Will the field sizes be reduced if the rail is placed out from true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted yesterday at 01:27 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:27 AM A crying shame and an ugly look. Next season may well be its last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trojan Posted yesterday at 01:39 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:39 AM From what I could see on Trackside yesterday the only part of the track that didn't look like that was the home straight!!!! Smoke and mirrors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted yesterday at 03:02 AM Share Posted yesterday at 03:02 AM I was looking at a sweeping shot of the old public stand location yesterday with nobody about and thought its ok on a day like today, but where does everyone go on a big day. Then it suddenly occurred to me that was a big day with a $1m race. Didn't seem to be many there. Oaks Day used to be a really big day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted yesterday at 03:11 AM Author Share Posted yesterday at 03:11 AM 8 minutes ago, Doomed said: I was looking at a sweeping shot of the old public stand location yesterday with nobody about and thought its ok on a day like today, but where does everyone go on a big day. Then it suddenly occurred to me that was a big day with a $1m race. Didn't seem to be many there. Oaks Day used to be a really big day. Was this the sweeping shot? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted yesterday at 03:57 AM Share Posted yesterday at 03:57 AM Oh my dear CD Racing! the once mighty Trentham! 100% my favourite track in NZ to take Phots at! The Punters Graveyard! now, to a... ps. don't mention Awapuni or Hastings.. sigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trojan Posted yesterday at 04:00 AM Share Posted yesterday at 04:00 AM 3 minutes ago, Murray Fish said: Oh my dear CD Racing! the once mighty Trentham! 100% my favourite track in NZ to take Phots at! The Punters Graveyard! now, to a... ps. don't mention Awapuni or Hastings.. sigh Are you suggesting there are a lot of bodies buried under the grey area? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted yesterday at 05:20 AM Share Posted yesterday at 05:20 AM 1 hour ago, Trojan said: Are you suggesting there are a lot of bodies buried under the grey area? You have not herd of Trentham being called "The Punters Grave yard", I believe from the days, in history , when at certain meetings there were lots of races where there were horse from South Island, Central and Northern!! Where the form was played out! Big fields to make it even harder! I do know of multiple people who have had their ashes spread on track! I recall one by the winning post, which was challenging for some! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted yesterday at 05:55 AM Share Posted yesterday at 05:55 AM Trentham’s reputation for longshots cemented in 1987 Cup Mary Burgess - LOVERACING.NZ 24 January 2022 Trentham’s reputation as a Punters Graveyard goes back nearly 100 years - Trentham once again proved a graveyard for the Punter – screamed the headline from Truth on Thursday, 27 October 1927. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted yesterday at 12:25 PM Share Posted yesterday at 12:25 PM What do the photos of Trentham show us? 1. There is no way Wellington Racing Club should be amongst the finalists for Metropolitan Club of the Year. Which of the four categories does it stand out in? 2. As horses head to the start it is clear Trentham is still the graveyard as only the ghosts from the 1920's have ventured out to watch. There are 10 x the number of spectators at any set of jumpouts. I'd say the Trackside crew out numbered oncourse patrons. 3. How could any racing jurisdiction allow racing to proceed on the racing surface dished up on Saturday? If a WOF test was undertaken Trentham would be unlicensed right now. What are members of the RIB looking at when they go through the pre-racemeeting protocols? How was that track assessed? 4. What does pumping up the stakes achieve for the industry as a whole? A portion of the Oaks' winning stake, and the filly, head off shore. It did not boost oncourse attendance. Did it improve turnover? There seems to be a lot of ostriches about. The Greyhound industry had notice and couldn't alter their fate. Quite obviously, judging by those photos, the Thoroughbred industry think they are alright Jack. RACE have built a new bar to go with their new Awapuni course proper. Expert interviewed opinions suggest Awapuni would benefit from not racing through the winter. Is it true Trentham won't race past March 2025? Priorities look topsy turvy to me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted 22 hours ago Share Posted 22 hours ago I've only been to Trentham a couple of times, and sent horses with someone else once. It was always the place to aspire to, the racing fair and competitive, but, oh dear. Champagne turf indeed...no longer. What an embarrassment, an awful look, what must offshore watchers think looking at the horrible sight? No wonder horses are heading to Aus in undiminishing numbers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 2 hours ago, Freda said: 've only been to Trentham a couple of times, and sent horses with someone else once. D Browne won on one one day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 19 hours ago Author Share Posted 19 hours ago 7 hours ago, Special Agent said: 3. How could any racing jurisdiction allow racing to proceed on the racing surface dished up on Saturday? If a WOF test was undertaken Trentham would be unlicensed right now. What are members of the RIB looking at when they go through the pre-racemeeting protocols? How was that track assessed? Apparently the track was fantastic. I bet they regret having to rely on a drone to film the 1200m races. The track aside how can the RIB allow racing when no electronic timing is available nor the only stipe vision available for a 1200m race is the overhead drone!! Speaking of which full credit to Justin Evans for being able to do a commentary looking at an overhead shot on a TV screen. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 33 minutes ago, Murray Fish said: D Browne won on one one day? Red Diamond? Pat Smith...memory thought CWJ .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 18 hours ago Author Share Posted 18 hours ago Does anyone know what the faint diagonal lines are which can be seen from the drone view of the 1200m shute? New drainage? Sand slitting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLB2.0 Posted 18 hours ago Share Posted 18 hours ago 4 hours ago, Freda said: I've only been to Trentham a couple of times, and sent horses with someone else once. It was always the place to aspire to, the racing fair and competitive, but, oh dear. Champagne turf indeed...no longer. What an embarrassment, an awful look, what must offshore watchers think looking at the horrible sight? No wonder horses are heading to Aus in undiminishing numbers. It looked like Thames in the late 90s in the middle of summer, except Thames had a good crowd. They do realise "champagne" isn't meant to be the colour of the grass, right? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westbrew Posted 17 hours ago Share Posted 17 hours ago Yes it looks awful, but the reality is that many clubs no longer have the financial resources to upkeep large assets such as tracks and the supporting public infrastructure, However the industry has been given a five year golden ticket and is determined to piss it away in funding stakes to an unsustainable level (in the medium to long term) I guess it will end where it always ends with this industry, heading off to the Government with its hand out, and expecting another free lunch. The most disappointing aspect of the industry is that it seems to have no financial constraints on the growing administrational structures, my god if you add up the cost of NZTR,HRNZ,GRNZ and RIB i reckon you are looking at 40 to 50 million plus. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted 16 hours ago Share Posted 16 hours ago 19 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Was this the sweeping shot? Can't have been the shot I saw, there are 30 or 40 patrons shown in that shot. Those umbrellas the club put out are a bit of an embarrassment. I suppose it makes it look like there might be people there from a distance. Seriously shocking really. The on course turnover would be fascinating. Did they charge people to get in? It would just about be Trentham's richest raceday of the year wouldn't it? One of only 2 or 3 million dollar races throughout the country that aren't restricted races. I wonder what the plans are for the old public stand area. You wouldn't really want to start building things based on the current layout as the track obviously won't be there in 2 or 3 years. All very sad. I'm sure no one wanted to see this happen, and I'm sure no one expected the demise to happen so quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted 16 hours ago Share Posted 16 hours ago In days gone by it was a no brainer to go to Oaks day but not so now. Why go to the tip that is the public area even if it was free entry on Saturday. You could have paid $30 and had access to the 1st floor members stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 15 hours ago Author Share Posted 15 hours ago From the Annual Accounts: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted 15 hours ago Share Posted 15 hours ago 3 hours ago, Freda said: Red Diamond? Pat Smith...memory thought CWJ .... 1-12 29 Jan 94 2000m Premier Meeting CARDINAL NETWORK $12,000 WELL Good C2 Trld 4th inr,3rd tn,chall 350,led 200, 2.02.45 Damian Browne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted 15 hours ago Share Posted 15 hours ago 24 minutes ago, Murray Fish said: 1-12 29 Jan 94 2000m Premier Meeting CARDINAL NETWORK $12,000 WELL Good C2 Trld 4th inr,3rd tn,chall 350,led 200, 2.02.45 Damian Browne Yep. Handy run the first day too from memory. Knew her a bit then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 15 hours ago Author Share Posted 15 hours ago Geez Cardinal Network brings back some memories - some good some bad. They had the best Christmas parties at Christchurch HQ I've ever ever been to. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted 13 hours ago Share Posted 13 hours ago 2 hours ago, curious said: Yep. Handy run the first day too from memory. Knew her a bit then. I have, somewhere, photos of W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted 12 hours ago Author Share Posted 12 hours ago LOL At a Cardinal Network Christmas Party I remember standing next to this gold statue of a semi-naked woman in the main marquee (which was huge). All was good until the "gold statue" moved and handed me a glass of champagne! I had a couple more. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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