Green Light for Racing to Return to Awapuni!

[Chief Stipe]

Green Light for Awapuni Racing After Positive Trials Yesterday 

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and RACE Inc. are delighted to announce the successful completion of the final phase of the Club’s ‘Return to Racing’ plan for the RACE Awapuni track, marked by a full day of trials held on the newly completed track proper.

A total of 88 horses took to the track across 11 heats run over 1000m, 1200m, 1600m and 2000m distances. The trials were attended by senior Jockeys including Jonathan Riddell, Leah Hemi and Kate Hercock, who provided positive feedback on the track’s performance, especially in the face of challenging weather conditions.

Senior Jockey Jonathan Riddell shared his enthusiasm following the trials. “The track is great, it’s really quite exciting. With the rain we’ve had, it just went straight through it and the footing is great. In the future here, we could have one of the best tracks in the country.”

RACE Inc’s General Manager of Racing, Brad Taylor, echoed the optimism. “It is really pleasing to continue to get such positive feedback from the Jockeys today.”

“The track faced its toughest test to date with extreme weather conditions and the largest number of horses on it. With this positive response, it gives us great confidence as we head toward our first meeting on ANZAC Day.”

Jockey Leah Hemi, who participated in the Jump Outs last Monday, praised how the surface handled the heavy rain. “We are really excited with how the track held up with the rain. I was a little skeptical at first, but now I have no worries at all.”

First-time rider on the track, Kate Hercock, was equally impressed. “The track is lovely, it’s very consistent all over.”

Despite receiving 13mm of rain in the hour leading up to the first heat, the track was rated a Soft 5 at the start of the trials. As rain continued throughout the day, Jockeys noted it felt closer to a Soft 7 by the conclusion of proceedings.

Following the running of the successful trials, the track is now cleared for racing to resume. Awapuni Racecourse will host its first race day on Friday 25 April, with the Listed $80,000 Manawatu ITM ANZAC 1600 as the feature event.

NZTR Chief Operating Officer, Darin Balcombe, acknowledged the successful trials and the positive feedback from riders. "Completing the final phase of the ‘Return to Racing’ plan at RACE Awapuni is a great achievement.”

“The track performed well despite challenging weather and the feedback from riders has been very encouraging. We’re now looking forward to getting back to racing on ANZAC Day,” he said.

Corporate Communications
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
Contact: Catlyn Calder
+64 27 252 2803
nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

[Murray Fish]

3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Senior Jockey Jonathan Riddell shared his enthusiasm following the trials. “The track is great, it’s really quite exciting. With the rain we’ve had, it just went straight through it and the footing is great. In the future here, we could have one of the best tracks in the country.”

yes please.....

[Wingman]

Yes please indeed. We, well most of us, service our cars regularly, get the most out of our loyal servant than flick them on knowing the next owner will get the benefit of a well maintained vehicle for a few years.

What on earth is he going on about...?? I am referring to getting the most out of a newly refurbished track by doing what most do with their cars, regular servicing. The racing Industry got itself into a bind by being too mean to do more than band aid attention to those that were bleeding profusely. Now that key tracks are being properly upgraded, please, please, ensure regular maintenance is a GIVEN, along with occasional periods of abstinence from being galloped on. 

[Freda]

Ok, we have,  hopefully,  Awapuni renovated and looking good.

Ellerslie,  although now seemingly acceptable, had a very wobbly start and was an Ellerslie project wrt to funding and design - not an NZTR driven exercise although no doubt supported by that organization. 

So what other 'key ' tracks are in the pipeline?  Do we assume that Hastings will be as good when -and if- anything happens there?

Wellington?  Notwithstanding the good racing there recently the place is a shithole in the winter, often inconsistent and the whole area is a depressing travesty of what it once was.  Can't see industry money going there.

Riccarton?  Well overdue for treatment,  1998 was when it was reconstructed and it has faced criticism from that time on.   Others will know what the acceptable time frame is for renewal of grass surfaced racetracks, but 27 years seems a fairly long time without major work.

Dunedin has had work done, not sure the date but that Puddle Alley corner used to cause problems. Seems to race ok now and is a bloody good track.  Facilities dated but ok.

A regular cycle of renovation regionally, with the other tracks in that region picking up the slack...too sensible, but no....close as many as possible with no work done and here we are.

I await with interest to see the next track identified for improvement. 

[Freda]

I was talking to Davy Jones ( Ashburton) recently, he said he'd love to flick Timaru some more meetings instead of his track getting hammered, but of course dates aren't up to him.

And an industry-funded renovation of poor old Ashburton is highly unlikely. 

Edited Wednesday at 06:00 PM by Freda

[Doomed]

1 hour ago, Freda said:

I was talking to Davy Jones ( Ashburton) recently, he said he'd love to flick Timaru some more meetings instead of his track getting hammered, but of course dates aren't up to him.

And an industry-funded renovation of poor old Ashburton is highly unlikely. 

Ashburton did get that "new" public grandstand back in the 80s when the industry used to fund such things. Motukarara and Omoto got some new stands as well and then Riccarton, but it is hard to recall any major spending on viewing facilities since then.

Ashburton of course also got their new track probably early 80s. It used to be about the same size as Riccarton.

[Chief Stipe]

2 hours ago, Freda said:

Wellington?  Notwithstanding the good racing there recently the place is a shithole in the winter, often inconsistent and the whole area is a depressing travesty of what it once was.  Can't see industry money going there.

Trentham has been lucky this summer with the weather but there is a lot of smoke and mirrors going on with the track especially if you look beyond the home straight.  The track ratings are all over the place and variability in firmness is extreme. 

Now that Awapuni is back on line I'm just waiting to see what all the WRC blind propagandists are going to say when the club announces they are going to do a major rennovation to the track.  

[Special Agent]

Rumours are abound regarding Trentham.  The halt to the major developing there possibly gave the track a reprieve.  I haven't seen a "save our track" campaign yet but, it wouldn't be a surprise.  How can the state of the place (track and facilities) be attributed to anything other than bad management?  The first mistake was joining RACE.  Awapuni have a beautiful new race surface and a new bar.  Trentham has little land left to sell, earthquake prone buildings, not enough tie up stalls, box doors that don't safely shut and a patched up course proper.  Ask yourself.

[Chief Stipe]

17 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

Trentham has little land left to sell, earthquake prone buildings, not enough tie up stalls, box doors that don't safely shut and a patched up course proper.

The stalls and boxes have been like that for the last 25 years which was the first time I had a horse racing there.  How they have got away with it from a Health and Safety perspective I have no idea.

[Huey]

Now fix Trentham

[Chief Stipe]

24 minutes ago, Huey said:

Now fix Trentham

According to some it doesn't need fixing.  "It's the best track in New Zealand"...."New Zealand's Flemington"...  Even though in official information circulated there has been comment about a future renovation.  

[Wingman]

59 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

It's the best track in New Zealand"

The words 'Used to be' are missing

[Murray Fish]

7 minutes ago, Wingman said:

The words 'Used to be' are missing

Its still the best for taking action photos, what with the sun coming over the photographers shoulder

As a Punter, there and Riccarton where tracks I use to loved trying to find a winner at! sadly not so any more for both tracks! Almost 'waterboarded' from betting via over watering of the tracks, as mandated by Head Office!

...

[Wingman]

 

34 minutes ago, Murray Fish said:

over watering of the tracks, as mandated by Head Office!

I have agreed on that numerous times re summer tracks. We shall have to wait and see how Awapuni is presented Dec 25 thru to March 2026

[Chief Stipe]

24 minutes ago, Wingman said:

 

I have agreed on that numerous times re summer tracks. We shall have to wait and see how Awapuni is presented Dec 25 thru to March 2026

How do you define over watering?  Tracks have to be irrigated otherwise you end up with the variance that you have at Trentham.  The issue is you have no buffer given the state of the turf and soil.  

Looking at Awapuni and Ellerslie if this is the path they are going to go down with sand hydroponic type tracks then Trainers will need to adjust quickly.  As will breeders.

[curious]

1 hour ago, Murray Fish said:

via over watering of the tracks, as mandated by Head Office!

Don't think tracks are over-watered generally. Erratically or inappropriately maybe but that is largely due to antiquated irrigation systems and stuffed soil structures. I think tracks have sometimes been under-watered in recent years. Also, not sure what you mean by mandated by HO? The NZTR mandate is to produce a GOOD track for the majority of the meeting but avoid a GOOD2. That seems essential for horse and rider welfare doesn't it? The actual watering to achieve that is up to the clubs and track managers as far as I know.

Edited Thursday at 05:17 AM by curious

[Freda]

12 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

How do you define over watering?  Tracks have to be irrigated otherwise you end up with the variance that you have at Trentham.  The issue is you have no buffer given the state of the turf and soil.  

Looking at Awapuni and Ellerslie if this is the path they are going to go down with sand hydroponic type tracks then Trainers will need to adjust quickly.  As will breeders.

Awapuni isnt a Strathayr as such, though, is it?

[curious]

14 minutes ago, Freda said:

Awapuni isnt a Strathayr as such, though, is it?

Similar base, drainage and sand growing profile I think. Just without the fibre elements in it. Haven't seen any detail of that. At one stage they said they were trying to replicate the natural surface at Foxton.

[Chief Stipe]

26 minutes ago, curious said:

Similar base, drainage and sand growing profile I think. Just without the fibre elements in it. Haven't seen any detail of that. At one stage they said they were trying to replicate the natural surface at Foxton.

What is a worry is if it is exactly like Ellerslie which quite frankly is a bastardised StrathAyr.  

But seems a good deal if it cost less than $10m vs $50m!  Hopefully they have a annual maintenance budget and are planning for a cycle of renovation.

[curious]

Assuming they've got the grass sorted, I wonder if they will now fix/re-surface the synthetic?

[Chief Stipe]

59 minutes ago, curious said:

Assuming they've got the grass sorted, I wonder if they will now fix/re-surface the synthetic?

In the first instance they need to maintain it properly - contrary to popular belief they are NOT low maintenance tracks.  They need grooming everyday and water management.

Unless the maintenance is being done correctly the surface will under perform and probably degrade quicker than it should.  There may be a need to vary to the mix i.e. the ratios and types of fibres and waxes to match local conditions.  I would imagine the Riccarton AWT has a different composition to the Cambridge one.

[Special Agent]

On 4/12/2025 at 9:30 AM, curious said:

Assuming they've got the grass sorted, I wonder if they will now fix/re-surface the synthetic?

And the report on all AWT's is ...?

[curious]

Just now, Special Agent said:

And the report on all AWT's is ...?

With NZTR awaiting release shortly as I understand it.

[Special Agent]

No doubt Curious you have checked out the Foxton trial fields.  Now isn't it so normal to put a Waikato horse on a float to run in a Central trial on grass.

[curious]

9 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

No doubt Curious you have checked out the Foxton trial fields.  Now isn't it so normal to put a Waikato horse on a float to run in a Central trial on grass.

Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Matamata, Te Aroha. I think there's more from the Waikato than there are from Foxton. Insane state of affairs but its either that or a quiet run in an unsuitable race if there even is one of those.