All the Best Awapuni!

[Wingman]

39 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

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.

The best close/summing up on this subject I have seen. Well said/explained Special Agent

[Extra Dollars]

29 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?  

????

[SLB2.0]

20 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Struggle to get race meetings scheduled in the South Island.

It's also tough to 'slip' on a bog Riverton track

[Special Agent]

22 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

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.

 

So, just back to these Kate Hercock comments.  Viewers of Trackside are always wanting more insight from the trainers and jockeys of the day as a form of entertainment.  I don't know how many times you've been interviewed on Trackside Chief or how many times you may have been caught on the hop, or been asked that one question too many, especially on the back of an unlucky run or hair raising ride.

I think Kate has been in the industry long enough to have valid opinions on all matters of racing.  And that is what they are ... opinions.  Just like your's or others on here.  If Kate has said something totally wrong or offensive she will be dealt with under the NZ Rules of Racing.  Until then Kate can voice her opinion as she is entitled.  If anyone doesn't like what she says you can always "mute" her.

[Extra Dollars]

58 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?  

More "Kates" in the industry need to be listened to,rather than those clipboard holder/University scholars,....,the idea of Universal Turf/Track management ideas that apply to EVERY soil structure in every Racing Club in NZ......

[Chief Stipe]

26 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

think Kate has been in the industry long enough to have valid opinions on all matters of racing.  And that is what they are ... opinions.

No Hercock has now done at least 3 interviews on Trackside in recent weeks where she has given more than opinion.  She has stated specifically what the Track Managers should have done.  That is an area of knowledge beyond her specific realm.  It isn't helpful at all nor what she is saying accurate.  She repeats largely three things - water more, don't move the rail and the track managers are doing what we tell them to do.  Really?  Is it that simple?

It then becomes a rallying call for all the armchair experts to slay Track Managers and those employed to fix the issues with limited resources.  Hastings is stuffed as is Trentham.  Adding more water or not shifting the rail ain't going to fix them.

@Special Agent would you be happy for a Jockey to tell you how to train your horses?  Or would you prefer knowledgeable feedback on how your horse performed in a race?  Theres a difference.

[Chief Stipe]

2 hours ago, Special Agent said:

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.

 

1 hour ago, Wingman said:

The best close/summing up on this subject I have seen. Well said/explained Special Agent

The number of tracks is largely irrelevant.  It is about having sustainable tracks that are financially able to maintain their business.

In an earlier post reference was made to the amount of money spent at Flemington each year to renovate and maintain the track(s).  They can afford to do it.  They have 25 race meetings a year, 30 jumpout meetings (3 a month) and 800 horses are trained on the course.  

Meanwhile in NZ we seem to be contemplating the sale of Levin to fund a course (Trentham) that has 12 meetings a year, no training tracks/facilities, next to zero horses trained on the track, no jumpouts or trials and a stabling/saddling area that was built just after WW2

[Murray Fish]

2 hours ago, Special Agent said:

What jockey and trainer knowledge got the industry into the state it is in?

There has always been this sort of strange  internal force at play with 'Trainers needing to play favor$ with the rich owners who have paid the big dollar$, the Jockeys are becoming to Owners for 'the ride' and also to the Trainers for a ride. There is always a needed positive narrative  by the Trainers to the O's!  and the Jockeys have to be nodding their Hats to the T's and O's! Still shown in some jockey vernacular! Collectively,  there is a needed hegemony over T's and J's not to be Too critical... now where is that Cool Aid!

ps. Have we today see just another minor tragedy as nz racing marches into the sunset?? very minor in that no human or horse was actually damaged.. or is as Marx once said history repeating a as a Farce

 

[Murray Fish]

2 hours ago, SLB2.0 said:

It's also tough to 'slip' on a bog Riverton track

by chance we hope to be on track for their next meeting, will file a track report if the net is running on course...  gee, i think it was 51 years ago that i was on course there!

 

[curious]

5 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

 would you be happy for a Jockey to tell you how to train your horses?  Or would you prefer knowledgeable feedback on how your horse performed in a race?  Theres a difference.

Personally, I'd prefer both, though I can see and measure the latter myself. But if the rider thinks they need another run, more work, some gate practice, a gear change, to learn to relax more, better footing, an extra furlong, whatever, I'd like to hear that opinion.

Edited 3 hours ago by curious

[Freda]

1 hour ago, curious said:

Personally, I'd prefer both, though I can see and measure the latter myself. But if the rider thinks they need another run, more work, some gate practice, a gear change, to learn to relax more, better footing, an extra furlong, whatever, I'd like to hear that opinion.

Yes. 

I take each and every opinion on board, be it over track surfaces,  horse performance,  what the weather might do....but I'm quite capable of analyzing what has been said and filing it for future use.

I don't have to rush off and slavishly follow said opinion. 

Years ago I sat at a meeting where a Turftech representative ( Jim Murphy) was in attendance,  along with CJC personnel. The work being undertaken at Rangiora following the accident there was being discussed. Much was made of the grass type being promoted which, according to the meeting Chair, was in use internationally and from Ruakaka to Invercargill.

I got a kick under the table. Wouldn't you think grass types would be different depending on climate,  etc? hissed the person sitting next to me. 

I thought so too, but these were experts, so I listened.

Messrs Foskett and Murphy had overseen the Rangiora work and given the track a double thumbs up for racing.

But NZTR didn't want to know and racing has never returned to that track.

Clearly those experts weren't worth listening to. 

So who are the current experts who are advising our governing body? 

They must be good.