All the Best Awapuni!

[Huey]

33 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

I have had a short day out at Awapuni.  Do you think Levin should go to support that infrastructure and inept administration?  Not on your nelly!!

Disgraceful for New Zealand racing.  You can stick your new expensive fencing and drinking hole.  Country tracks perform just fine without the hooplah.

Word at the track suggests many did not agree with the rail being out.  Apparently not all track work riders were entirely happy with the surface but no one was willing to listen.

Heads at Awapuni must roll!!

Jockeys must speak their mind and not be influenced by what everyone wants to hear.

I don't believe trainers were properly consulted.

I still believe the track has not been given sufficient time to consolodate.

What a mess.  Many should hang their heads in shame.  Money has been squandered and stakeholders are out of pocket.

 

Agree , the same clown show producing this utter shambles want to be entrusted with the sales proceeds of country racing venues an absolute circus!

[Chief Stipe]

37 minutes ago, SLB2.0 said:

They believe Moonee Valley isn't ready on Saturday either. Let's see how that plays.

I bet you no horse "slips".

[Special Agent]

If the NZTR Board have to sort this Paul Humphries must stand down from any decisions due to his affiliation with RACE.

Was Matt Ballesty on course today?  Maybe he shot down to talk to the Levin people whilst in the area.

[Special Agent]

I can't help thinking what happens now?

There is now further confidence lost.

Because Awapuni was touted as the saviour, Hastings has been completely ignored.  Over the last week I've talked to a lot of trainers, owners and riders.  It seems to me the caretaker at Hastings whom has been pushed from Pakenham, then pushed from Pukekohe to Hastings, is holding the club to ransom in that he says the entire Hastings circuit needs further renovation.  This is not an opinion shared by better credentialed racing participants.  This industry knowledge is being ignored.  Just like at Awapuni the "experts" have come up short.  I believe Hastings can be fixed fairly quickly in a different manner to that being insisted by the caretaker.  I'd say Hastings needs to follow Moonee Valley's lead and find a new curator.  The Racing Manager at Awapuni might be better served reverting to ground staff in an Aussie racing stable.

NZTR need to listen to those who are deriving a living from racing, and who all want the best for racing.  Start there.  You've been paying "experts" for dud advice when the real experts are close at hand and free of charge.

[jess]

NZTR Statement: Awapuni Abandonment 

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) acknowledges the industry’s disappointment regarding today’s abandonment at Awapuni following a slip in the first race. The meeting was to be the first in 19 months following a full track reconstruction.  

While the outcome is extremely disappointing, the Club followed a robust process in presenting the track that included jump outs and trials. Positive feedback from senior jockeys was given throughout the return to racing process and Australian experts were engaged to ensure the surface was progressing properly. 

“This is undoubtedly a deeply disappointing situation for both the club and the wider industry," commented NZTR Chief Executive Matt Ballesty.

"However, the safety and well-being of both horses and jockeys must remain our top priority in making this decision."

"I trust that, while understandably frustrated, all participants will continue to show respect towards the track staff and club management. A significant amount of effort, resources, and consultation from track management, consultants, and officials has gone into preparing the track for racing, and the recent setback was entirely unforeseen."

RACE Awapuni General Manager Brad Taylor expressed his disappointment but was eager to review processes to prepare for future racedays.  

“We will examine the process leading into today and learn from it and hopefully resolve this issue to be back racing here in three weeks,” he said. 

Further investigation will also be made into the rail placement and irrigation of the surface. 

The Listed Anzac Mile programmed for today will be transferred to Wanganui as an additional race on Sunday 27 April.  

Corporate Communications
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

[Special Agent]

Just read that too.

More tripe.

The more that comes out, the more rubbish is spouted.  The two gentlemen quoted should both be let go.  That's almost unanimous when chatting to all those oncourse today clasping their clean colours.

That condescending drivvel after every cockup has to stop, and should not save either of their jobs.

[jess]

I think what that says is - it's disappointing, deeply disappointing and extremely disappointing (did I get all the disappointments in that bulletin or did I miss one 😜 ) 

Further translation: We've spent a ton of money, it's taken bloody ages, we've had more experts than you can shake a stick at - (even overseas experts - who every one knows are more expert than NZ experts) - &  it's no-one's fault - and it's a huge surprise.  And now we are going to spent more money, get more experts and see if we can get a different result.  

Couldn't even blame an act of God.  I've been watching the forecast there and it's been pretty darned favorable.

A small bird had chirped to me there had previously been slipping reported on the surface in recent weeks - I didn't want it to be so - and didn't want to contribute to gossip or nay-saying without first-hand proof.  But as the bird does frequent the environs on a very regular basis  - and today their chirping has become a squawk from the tree tops for all to hear - I might pay more heed next time they open their beak.

It's all a real shame.

[Huey]

So long as they are looking at the "Process" LMAO!

[Huey]

Time to race at the tracks the circus closed.

[Chief Stipe]

25 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

It seems to me the caretaker at Hastings whom has been pushed from Pakenham, then pushed from Pukekohe to Hastings, is holding the club to ransom in that he says the entire Hastings circuit needs further renovation. 

That's not correct.  Who is saying he has been pushed from anywhere?  My intel from people whose opinion I respect say he has a very good track management pedigree.  He was at Pakenham a long time and I believe did two stints there.  As for Pukekohe given the hammering it got covering for Ellerslie you wouldn't want to manage it anyway.

Hercock put the boot into him after HB Guineas Day again saying it needed to have irrigated it more prior.  I saw that track close up and she was wrong.

38 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

he says the entire Hastings circuit needs further renovation.  This is not an opinion shared by better credentialed racing participants.

It does need a complete renovation.  You only have to look at its track record over the last seven years.  At least 5 of those years there have been abandonments.

40 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

This industry knowledge is being ignored.  Just like at Awapuni the "experts" have come up short.  I believe Hastings can be fixed fairly quickly in a different manner to that being insisted by the caretaker. 

it was "industry knowledge" and lack of investment in maintenance that got the industry into the position it is in.

In my opinion you are very much wrong about Hastings.  It isn't a quick fix i.e. using a couple of farmers and a mole plough.

Tracks have a limited life.  The majority of ours are well past their use by date.  

[Chief Stipe]

I see the normal online mob are ranting and raving maniacally at the "experts" and blaming all and sundry.  I don't think it helps.

I'm sick and tired of the BS about "it didn't happen in our day when we had farmers on the committee running things".  It's pure hogwash.  The fact is past generations sucked the life out of the tracks and never put anything back.  We are now paying for it. 

You only have to look at what Flemington spends every year on track renovation to see that we haven't spent that much on more than a dozen tracks let alone ONE.

In my opinion there is one mistake that the experts are making and I believe it is driven by the direction they are getting.  The objective given to the experts is to provide a track that can handle all weather amd provide a very narrow range of firmness.

The only way to achieve that is to use pure sand.  It's a mistake in my opinion.  The top layer should be a sandy loam soil mix on top of sand.  A sandy loam retains moisture and nutrients so needs less irrigation and fertilisation but still provides good drainage.  However like Flemington you get a wider range of track ratings e.g. from heavy to firm but the downgrades and upgrades occur faster than a clay loam based soil.  Most of our tracks are clay loam and have been hammered.  

A sandy loam doesn't have as much kick back as pure sand either.

[Freda]

Yes.     Definitely past their use-by.    Even Riccarton is 27 years along its renovation road, well overdue for more treatment it would seem given time-frames considered suitable.

Messara [ I hesitate to use his name, he seems to be getting blamed for everything ]   maintained there wasn't one track up to standard, and that repairs must be done on the ones considered necessary.  He was well aware the bloody outfit was broke, and as Saundry had already put out his ' map' of tracks to be closed, he thought using monies from those discontinued venues might be a way of funding the work.

Of course - NZTR knew better, so carried on closing venues and spending little money on renovations.

[Freda]

2 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

I see the normal online mob are ranting and raving maniacally at the "experts" and blaming all and sundry.  I don't think it helps.

I'm sick and tired of the BS about "it didn't happen in our day when we had farmers on the committee running things".  It's pure hogwash.  The fact is past generations sucked the life out of the tracks and never put anything back.  We are now paying for it. 

You only have to look at what Flemington spends every year on track renovation to see that we haven't spent that much on more than a dozen tracks let alone ONE.

In my opinion there is one mistake that the experts are making and I believe it is driven by the direction they are getting.  The objective given to the experts is to provide a track that can handle all weather amd provide a very narrow range of firmness.

The only way to achieve that is to use pure sand.  It's a mistake in my opinion.  The top layer should be a sandy loam soil mix on top of sand.  A sandy loam retains moisture and nutrients so needs less irrigation and fertilisation but still provides good drainage.  However like Flemington you get a wider range of track ratings e.g. from heavy to firm but the downgrades and upgrades occur faster than a clay loam based soil.  Most of our tracks are clay loam and have been hammered.  

A sandy loam doesn't have as much kick back as pure sand either.

I had a chat with Matt from Aus, over to groom our polytrack.  We talked about Flemington, and - to bear out what you say - the amount spent on that track alone, on an annual basis, is staggering.

[curious]

I think there were several things wrong at Awapuni. You could see it cutting out and clods flying back going down the back straight. That shouldn't be happening on a G4. It seemed an impossible task last spring to have it ready for autumn racing and it should have had and still should, another 6 months of root development before it is raced on. They've used a part of the track that has had no traffic and been untested at racing speeds. It probably does need more water as Kate said. It took Ellerslie a year to figure that out to stop a very similar sand based track from becoming slippery.

That they then put out a patronising news release, taking no responsibility but blaming the "expert advisors", and then say their solution is to do more of the same i.e., follow their further advice,  beggars belief.

[Wingman]

16 minutes ago, Freda said:

'm sick and tired of the BS about "it didn't happen in our day when we had farmers on the committee running things".  It's pure hogwash.  The fact is past generations sucked the life out of the tracks and never put anything back.  We are now paying for it. 

Agreed. No lover of the thoroughbred code is getting an ounce of enjoyment out of this latest debacle. We cannot blame the track managers, they have done their best and we are not privy to conversations about whether or not racing should or should not have taken place at this time. 

I am at a loss to understand the obsession with sand based tracks where naturally there is no sand. Had Awapuni been upgraded with soil and grass, cambers worked on, drains thoroughly replaced and then given enough time to bed down the chances of todays event happening are nil. Yes the track would not be a track one would use in the winter. That problem disappears with a proper and diligent overhaul of the racing calendar.

The reality is the people in charge (RACE/ NZTR) did agree to develop a track with sand slits so we have another total fuckup to deal with. Why are these people in charge still here today?

[jess]

Yep Curious - seeing all those clods flying on a Good 4 was a surprise to me - and not a pleasant one .... that in itself suggested all was not well.

 

[Chief Stipe]

11 minutes ago, curious said:

It probably does need more water as Kate said. It took Ellerslie a year to figure that out to stop a very similar sand based track from becoming slippery.

Different problem in my opinion.  They were cutting into the ground at Awapuni.  Ellerslie initially the horses couldn't get into the ground because of the root matter.  They've got round that largely with mechanical means not watering.

The moisture meter reading was already very high at Awapuni I don't know how you could get much more water into it!!! 

Hercock should stick to riding and the track condition NOT how to fix it 

[Special Agent]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

That's not correct.  Who is saying he has been pushed from anywhere?  My intel from people whose opinion I respect say he has a very good track management pedigree.  He was at Pakenham a long time and I believe did two stints there.  As for Pukekohe given the hammering it got covering for Ellerslie you wouldn't want to manage it anyway.

Hercock put the boot into him after HB Guineas Day again saying it needed to have irrigated it more prior.  I saw that track close up and she was wrong.

It does need a complete renovation.  You only have to look at its track record over the last seven years.  At least 5 of those years there have been abandonments.

it was "industry knowledge" and lack of investment in maintenance that got the industry into the position it is in.

In my opinion you are very much wrong about Hastings.  It isn't a quick fix i.e. using a couple of farmers and a mole plough.

Tracks have a limited life.  The majority of ours are well past their use by date.  

You have your sources and I have mine, who are also well respected not only in racing but in business circles internationally.  As far as a good track management pedigree goes, plenty of blue bloods can't run and rock star's siblings can't sing.

Any jockey who rides a track has more idea than us watching from the stand how it feels under foot.  I suppose Kate has been elected or selected to speak on behalf of others.  If I had been Kate today I would have been highly pissed off at my horse slipping.  A horse should be able to get a bump in a race and not slip.  If you go back to the glowing jockey reports from the trials, I couldn't be sure Kate's comments were complimentary.  There seemed to be two schools of thought on the track.  The kick back comments were ignored.

I agree lack of investment has been a major contribution towards these disasters but, I couldn't attest to industry knowledge being used in the past.  What jockey and trainer knowledge got the industry into the state it is in?

All tracks should get the Flemington treatment.  It brings tears to my eyes each time I think about the money wasted on the synthetics.

I'm not talking farmers and sheep with regards Hastings, thank you very much.  My conversations are not restricted to a small section of the population.  I'm talking civil engineering work from good people with an interest in racing and not at rip off prices.

NZTR want less tracks, Entain want more racing.  There's a fault line in this marriage.  One thing today has proved is that selling off venues to prop up others managed like today's example is a sure fire plan for failure.

[curious]

5 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Did it look that bad?  They couldn't find any slip marks.

[Special Agent]

Well I don't call that normal.  How keen do you think that horse will be to lengthen stride next time it's asked?  It doesn't take much to dent the confidence of some horses.

[Extra Dollars]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

Different problem in my opinion.  They were cutting into the ground at Awapuni.  Ellerslie initially the horses couldn't get into the ground because of the root matter.  They've got round that largely with mechanical means not watering.

The moisture meter reading was already very high at Awapuni I don't know how you could get much more water into it!!! 

Hercock should stick to riding and the track condition NOT how to fix it 

I used to have abit of hope/belief in your comments CHIEF STIPE,until your last comment about Kate,she is the only one who has ridden amongst us&against us,in my view Kate does a better job of unpaid training the apprentices as well, plus she is the only one willing to speak on camera......why do you not respect her knowledge&experience?  

[Newmarket]

Ha Ha Ha…. Funniest thread ever. Only a few hours ago Awapuni getting congratulations 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Strange that majority of race cancellations… are Nth Island tracks?

[Chief Stipe]

12 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

You have your sources and I have mine, who are also well respected not only in racing but in business circles internationally.  As far as a good track management pedigree goes, plenty of blue bloods can't run and rock star's siblings can't sing.

Well they must have an agenda then.  Equally your blue blood analogy could apply to them.

Bryce Mildon started his track management career at Matamata.  He was there for 10 years working for arguably one of the best track managers in NZ.

Qualified in Sports Turf Management.

12 months at Stawell in Victoria.

3 years at Sale.

Then track manager at Pakenham.

Came back to NZ and then 12 months at Pukekohe.

Back to Pakenham for nearly 6 years.  Managing turf and AWT tracks and was General Manager.

So if Pakenham didn't like him why did they employ him for a second stint?

He was only at Hastings for about 3 months before the HB Guineas Day abandonment.  He wasn't there for the previous abandonments that have occurred quite a few times in recent years.

25 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

NZTR want less tracks, Entain want more racing.  There's a fault line in this marriage. 

Is there?

How can a track like Trentham be financially viable with only 10 or 12 meetings a year and no other revenue source?

BTW Mildon managed to successfully run 14 race meetings on the turf track in less than 3 months.

31 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

Any jockey who rides a track has more idea than us watching from the stand how it feels under foot.  I suppose Kate has been elected or selected to speak on behalf of others. 

I have no problem with Hercock commenting on how her horse feels underneath her when galloping on the track.  But shouldn't the line be drawn at her commenting on how to manage the tracks?  Especially when her solution is essentially to pour more water on the tracks.

 

[Chief Stipe]

13 minutes ago, Extra Dollars said:

I used to have abit of hope/belief in your comments CHIEF STIPE,until your last comment about Kate,she is the only one who has ridden amongst us&against us,in my view Kate does a better job of unpaid training the apprentices as well, plus she is the only one willing to speak on camera......why do you not respect her knowledge&experience?  

I don't disrespect her riding experience nor her right to comment on how the track is performing for the horses she rides in it.

However I don't believe she is qualified to proffer strong opinions on what needs to be done to the tracks.  She had a go at two track managers now and her solution is to water the track more.

[Chief Stipe]

13 minutes ago, Newmarket said:

Strange that majority of race cancellations… are Nth Island tracks?

Struggle to get race meetings scheduled in the South Island.