All talk and no do as has been for decades now on track infrastructure?

[Murray Fish]

  On 28/03/2025 at 11:14 AM, TAB For Ever said:

Say no more ....parents can't feed their kids.

Overall , it doesn't look pretty

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In the real world, fifty years of neoliberalism has be great for a few! but for over 50% it's been a slow steady decline, gee, just like racing!   Of course, the boom years were the two decades (50's/60's) when  NZ Working Class had spare money in back pocket! Where's that cool aide!!! 

 

[TAB For Ever]

  On 28/03/2025 at 11:09 PM, Murray Fish said:

In the real world, fifty years of neoliberalism has be great for a few! but for over 50% it's been a slow steady decline, gee, just like racing!   Of course, the boom years were the two decades (50's/60's) when  NZ Working Class had spare money in back pocket! Where's that cool aide!!! 

 

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Can't turn back time , but can do the next best thing , move to Dunedin.

Bring back Carisbrook , the steam engines and watch the games as they crawl past from the Scotsman's Grandstand .

And Forbury Park too....and the Best Cafe and Tip Top dairy.

And mayors that like racing !

[Special Agent]

  On 27/03/2025 at 4:14 AM, Special Agent said:

Interesting to see Chris Waller has some reservations about how the money from the sale of Rosehill will be used.

Proceed with caution.

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Have we seen this somewhere else?

Feelings and actions against the sale of Rosehill Gardens are pretty amped actually.  There are some heavy hitters in that group.

Voting for the 11,500 members to decide on the racecourse sale has been delayed and there are anomalies galore.  The sale price is being questioned, along with the eventual buyer's identity, what portion of the $100million loan will have to be paid back to the state racing body and whether it will be a housing estate or merely rail infrastructure.  All is not as it seems.

Back in Waller territory a reporter at the Horowhenua Chronicle must be reading these posts regarding Foxton as he/she has the racecourse nearing a return to racing.  I haven't seen anything on loveracing yet.

Edited March 29 by Special Agent

[Freda]

  On 29/03/2025 at 8:15 AM, Special Agent said:

Have we seen this somewhere else?

Feelings and actions against the sale of Rosehill Gardens are pretty amped actually.  There are some heavy hitters in that group.

Voting for the 11,500 members to decide on the racecourse sale has been delayed and there are anomalies galore.  The sale price is being questioned, along with the eventual buyer's identity, what portion of the $100million loan will have to be paid back to the state racing body and whether it will be a housing estate or merely rail infrastructure.  All is not as it seems.

Back in Waller territory a reporter at the Horowhenua Chronicle must be reading these posts regarding Foxton as he/she has the racecourse nearing a return to racing.  I haven't seen anything on loveracing yet.

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I read somewhere that the article in the Chronicle hadn't been been run by the committee.  Comment made by Carol Kupa I think?   Obviously they - we - would all like racing to return to Foxton but Carol was at pains to point out that everything would be done by the book.

[Freda]

  On 27/03/2025 at 4:14 AM, Special Agent said:

Interesting to see Chris Waller has some reservations about how the money from the sale of Rosehill will be used.

Proceed with caution.

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He's not the only one, Gai has spoken out vehemently against the idea.

I know SFA about property development/investment portfolios...but the quoted figure of 5 billion, while seemingly vast, may not go far over the period involved wrt land purchase, new race/training tracks/stabling facilities, as well as the upgrades envisioned for Randwick, Warwick Farm and I think Canterbury.  Given the escalation of building costs that always seem to dog new developments it may be that 5 billion is nowhere near enough.

[Freda]

  On 29/03/2025 at 7:07 PM, Freda said:

He's not the only one, Gai has spoken out vehemently against the idea.

I know SFA about property development/investment portfolios...but the quoted figure of 5 billion, while seemingly vast, may not go far over the period involved wrt land purchase, new race/training tracks/stabling facilities, as well as the upgrades envisioned for Randwick, Warwick Farm and I think Canterbury.  Given the escalation of building costs that always seem to dog new developments it may be that 5 billion is nowhere near enough.

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As well, I forgot to mention the idea that  'the rest of the money will be prudently invested'..

Is there likely to be enough ?  or even any?

[Chief Stipe]

  On 29/03/2025 at 8:15 AM, Special Agent said:

Back in Waller territory a reporter at the Horowhenua Chronicle must be reading these posts regarding Foxton as he/she has the racecourse nearing a return to racing.  I haven't seen anything on loveracing yet.

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  On 29/03/2025 at 6:41 PM, Freda said:

read somewhere that the article in the Chronicle hadn't been been run by the committee.  Comment made by Carol Kupa I think?   Obviously they - we - would all like racing to return to Foxton but Carol was at pains to point out that everything would be done by the book.

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If racing does return to Foxton then the Club needs to ensure it gets sufficient subsidies and support from NZTR to maintain the track infrastructure.  Otherwise it will revert to the state that every other track is currently in.

[Special Agent]

  On 29/03/2025 at 9:44 PM, Chief Stipe said:

 

If racing does return to Foxton then the Club needs to ensure it gets sufficient subsidies and support from NZTR to maintain the track infrastructure.  Otherwise it will revert to the state that every other track is currently in.

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When you look at how the major clubs have had handout after bailout it is disgraceful how the smaller, much needed facilities are left to their own devices.

[Dark Beau]

  On 29/03/2025 at 6:41 PM, Freda said:

I read somewhere that the article in the Chronicle hadn't been been run by the committee.  Comment made by Carol Kupa I think?   Obviously they - we - would all like racing to return to Foxton but Carol was at pains to point out that everything would be done by the book.

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Freda, I certainly don’t want racing to return to Foxton. It is a real asset as a trial track. My horses have trialed there probably 20 times this year (I have 6 in training at Awapuni)   
Were else would they trial in the CD. 
I would be another stupid decision to stuff racing. 
See, sometimes one should follow the loudest people like the owner of this site and his main cohort. 
Just saying 😉

[Freda]

  On 30/03/2025 at 11:43 AM, Dark Beau said:

Freda, I certainly don’t want racing to return to Foxton. It is a real asset as a trial track. My horses have trialed there probably 20 times this year (I have 6 in training at Awapuni)   
Were else would they trial in the CD. 
I would be another stupid decision to stuff racing. 
See, sometimes one should follow the loudest people like the owner of this site and his main cohort. 
Just saying 😉

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Or....you could just suck it up and trial on the Awapuni polytrack, like we here in Canterbury are supposed to do the majority of the time...just saying..seriously,  I fully understand the desire to have a decent grass track for trials.  But would one or two racedays impact the trials programme much?

[curious]

  On 30/03/2025 at 11:43 AM, Dark Beau said:

Were else would they trial in the CD. 
 

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Maybe the new super track at Awapuni?

[Chief Stipe]

  On 30/03/2025 at 11:43 AM, Dark Beau said:

Were else would they trial in the CD. 
I would be another stupid decision to stuff racing.

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Well it wouldn't be on your precious Champagne Turf would it?  Afterall it has taken a "hammering".  😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 

[Dark Beau]

  On 30/03/2025 at 5:00 PM, Freda said:

Or....you could just suck it up and trial on the Awapuni polytrack, like we here in Canterbury are supposed to do the majority of the time...just saying..seriously,  I fully understand the desire to have a decent grass track for trials.  But would one or two racedays impact the trials programme much?

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Yes, plus when the idiots at NZTR wake up and admit that it was a man made mistake in HB (and elsewhere) caused by their stupid race day prep criteria and HB is bought back on steam and Awapuni is up and running we won’t need for racedays anyway. 

[Chief Stipe]

  On 31/03/2025 at 5:37 AM, Dark Beau said:

Yes, plus when the idiots at NZTR wake up and admit that it was a man made mistake in HB (and elsewhere) caused by their stupid race day prep criteria and HB is bought back on steam and Awapuni is up and running we won’t need for racedays anyway. 

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Nope wrong again.  It wasn't a one off episode as you full well know.  Easy to blame the track manager and nothing to do with the race day prep criteria.  Although you are close to the oracle - how did Trentham get away with their race day prep and track rating smoke and mirrors?

Name the horses that galloped on raceday morning?

How did the track suddenly go from a Soft 5 to a Good 4 or apparently even harder than that given they broke the world 1200m record in Race 2?

[westbrew]

The first win i ever had as an owner was at Foxton. CD racing is not in a good place at the moment, the RACE financials are very very poor and if RACE cannot make a profit from Racing in the CD, the powers that be at NZTR will need to step in, but does a guy who got the DCM from Sky City really know how to fix the problems in the CD????      

[Huey]

  On 31/03/2025 at 9:38 AM, westbrew said:

The first win i ever had as an owner was at Foxton. CD racing is not in a good place at the moment, the RACE financials are very very poor and if RACE cannot make a profit from Racing in the CD, the powers that be at NZTR will need to step in, but does a guy who got the DCM from Sky City really know how to fix the problems in the CD????      

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Very doubtful he does, I see in his latest update he is out meeting stakeholders (kissing babies, shaking hands) he won't be listening to any of the grass roots stakeholders concerns nor will he be allowed to. 

Unfortunately it will be the same crowd who have us in the state of demise he will be following.

[Freda]

  On 31/03/2025 at 9:38 AM, westbrew said:

The first win i ever had as an owner was at Foxton. CD racing is not in a good place at the moment, the RACE financials are very very poor and if RACE cannot make a profit from Racing in the CD, the powers that be at NZTR will need to step in, but does a guy who got the DCM from Sky City really know how to fix the problems in the CD????      

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Probably not, and neither do his Board either.  That's clear.

[Chief Stipe]

  On 31/03/2025 at 9:38 AM, westbrew said:

The first win i ever had as an owner was at Foxton. CD racing is not in a good place at the moment, the RACE financials are very very poor and if RACE cannot make a profit from Racing in the CD, the powers that be at NZTR will need to step in, but does a guy who got the DCM from Sky City really know how to fix the problems in the CD????      

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Reminds me of my first thoroughbred winner at Otaki 23 years ago.  Paid $36 to win first up.

The trainer wasn't confident so I just put 10 each way on for my girlfriend - foolishly gave her the ticket before the race.  Guess who paid for dinner?!

[Wingman]

  On 31/03/2025 at 8:32 PM, Chief Stipe said:

I just put 10 each way on for my girlfriend - foolishly gave her the ticket before the race.  Guess who paid for dinner?!

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What a Madam

[curious]

TRACKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Awapuni
·The Awapuni track has progressed significantly since the last update. Australian track experts Liam O’Keeffe (Flemington) and On Track’s Callum Brown
(Sydney) visited the track the week of 10 March to inspect progress and watch horses gallop on the surface.
·The first group of horses worked on the surface on the Monday afternoon, followed by another session on the Tuesday morning. Feedback from trainers and
riders has been positive, and with just over seven weeks until the first scheduled race meeting on Friday, April 25, further improvements are expected as the
track continues to settle.
·In preparation for racing, gallops will be held in the coming weeks, followed by a set of jump outs on April 1 and official trials on April 8.
Trentham
·The sand at Trentham underwent remedial maintenance and has been cleared by a structural engineer. The next scheduled race day after March is Saturday
10 May. NZTR is working with RACE on the utilisation of Trentham going forward after this period.
Otaki
·Otaki underwent the full, scheduled renovation post the abandoned raceday on 22 February.
·The timeframe to complete the grown-in was very tight and was reliant on favourable weather conditions. A decision has been made to transfer the Hawke’s
Bay Cup Day on 12 April to Trentham to give the venue a longer period to recover post-renovation, before its next scheduled raceday on April 21.
Whanganui
We have worked closely with the Jockeys Association and RIB to realign the problem bend at Whanganui, a meeting was held on course with senior riders to
work through the issue. The rail in the area will now stay in the true position to avoid further concern.
Hastings
The Hawke’s Bay Facility Project Control Group (PCG) led by independent chairperson Steve Bramley is continuing to work on the priority of returning to racing
as quickly as possible at Hawke’s Bay. Further detail on the plan will be communicated once the plan is in place and has been provided to the full HBRI Board
and Members.
Avondale·
·Tim Lambert and RTA Jason Fulford and Adrian Dooley RIBare visiting Avondale to inspect the track on Friday 28 March. They will make a call on whether the
track is fit to race on 9 April post this inspection. Further updates will be provided verbally in the meeting including alternate venue if required.

[Special Agent]

  On 30/03/2025 at 5:00 PM, Freda said:

Or....you could just suck it up and trial on the Awapuni polytrack, like we here in Canterbury are supposed to do the majority of the time...just saying..seriously,  I fully understand the desire to have a decent grass track for trials.  But would one or two racedays impact the trials programme much?

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There were 3 heats I think at Awapuni on Monday, 120 horses at Levin jumpouts on Tuesday, about 80 horses at Waipukurau on Wednesday.

There are races at Waverley on Friday and races at Wanganui on Saturday.

It seems plenty of horses looking to run on grass, and for now, getting that opportunity.

I don't think anyone should have to suck it up and run on synthetic.  Trainers are said to be weak.  Maybe not so weak in CD.  Looks like they've voted with their feet to me.

[Special Agent]

One thing that could really stuff Awapuni's return to racing is rain.  I think April is supposed to be fairly settled though.

[Chief Stipe]

  On 3/04/2025 at 6:05 AM, Special Agent said:

One thing that could really stuff Awapuni's return to racing is rain.  I think April is supposed to be fairly settled though.

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Then you'll be back to training on the AWT.

[Freda]

  On 3/04/2025 at 5:57 AM, Special Agent said:

There were 3 heats I think at Awapuni on Monday, 120 horses at Levin jumpouts on Tuesday, about 80 horses at Waipukurau on Wednesday.

There are races at Waverley on Friday and races at Wanganui on Saturday.

It seems plenty of horses looking to run on grass, and for now, getting that opportunity.

I don't think anyone should have to suck it up and run on synthetic.  Trainers are said to be weak.  Maybe not so weak in CD.  Looks like they've voted with their feet to me.

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Voted with their feet here too...the last 3 sets of trials on the AWT were abandoned through lack of entries. 

But that will level itself out as Ashburton, which has been absolutely slaughtered with races/trials, is only down for one more of each until a winter break, so there won't be anywhere else to go.

[westbrew]

The old saying in the financial world is, Follow the money. So really there is a basic problem before we all look at the track managers and local committees, do clubs have enough money to maintain their tracks and facilities. I know each club gets a payment  from NZTR for running a meeting which is on top of the funded stakes, the annual cost to maintain the track and the refurbishment cost each 5 years or whatever the time frame is should be met via this payment. If that is not the case as i suspect then NZTR is taking the racing product from the clubs who put it on at a discount, and the track issues are simply being magnified by NZTR who makes out it is working on a solution. Simple answer give a decent quant about 2 to 3 weeks and he will provide the true number that is required to be paid to the clubs.