Riccarton last week vs Rotorua this week

[Trojan]

So Riccarton Turf gets transferred to Riccarton Poly due to heavy rain and a heavy 10.

Some Owners and Trainers moan.  Fair enough.

Rotorua heavy rain and a heavy 10 today.

Fields have good numbers and scratchings minimal yet some people are complaining that the track will be stuffed.

 

[supporter61]

Do you think it may have more to do with the amount of scheduled racing on each track over the winter months? And the ability to repair in time?

 

[Trojan]

27 minutes ago, supporter61 said:

Do you think it may have more to do with the amount of scheduled racing on each track over the winter months? And the ability to repair in time?

 

How much "repair time" does a track need?  At the end of the day as long as the track is safe who cares we race?!

[Dark Beau]

15 minutes ago, Trojan said:

How much "repair time" does a track need?  At the end of the day as long as the track is safe who cares we race?!

Seriously! 

Obviously you don't own thoroughbreds, or more correctly them in training.

[supporter61]

I feel that is a bit of a short sighted reply. There is a lot to consider. The track condition prior to racing and the expected damage and time to repair. The time until the next meeting and the quality of racing you have programed for a track in coming months. I can remember a few years ago the conversations around why do we race on these bogs , better to turn most of the horses out , trainers will go broke if winter racing stops . It seems we just find different things to complain about and its easier to do if you have a short memory.

[Dark Beau]

12 minutes ago, supporter61 said:

I feel that is a bit of a short sighted reply. There is a lot to consider. The track condition prior to racing and the expected damage and time to repair. The time until the next meeting and the quality of racing you have programed for a track in coming months. I can remember a few years ago the conversations around why do we race on these bogs , better to turn most of the horses out , trainers will go broke if winter racing stops . It seems we just find different things to complain about and its easier to do if you have a short memory.

Are you referring to my response or Trojan's?

If mine, please note that I am now off to watch the trots at Alexandra Park so won't be responding tonight.

[supporter61]

5 minutes ago, Dark Beau said:

Are you referring to my response or Trojan's?

If mine, please note that I am now off to watch the trots at Alexandra Park so won't be responding tonight.

More so Trojan , have a good night. I had 1 in the first so I am watching from the sofa tonite.

 

[Freda]

11 hours ago, supporter61 said:

Do you think it may have more to do with the amount of scheduled racing on each track over the winter months? And the ability to repair in time?

 

As far as Riccarton goes, there is one meeting 21st June before the National meeting.

Hardly over-use.  One wit remarked that they wouldn't want to do the work putting the track back if racing had gone ahead on the turf.

Fact is, that those who nominated for the Riccarton turf meeting did so knowing that there would be heavy going.  The track had no surface water and although very testing, would have been safe.

The discussion is academic to me,  I didn't have anything in, but the biggest insult was that the decision was made without any consultation with the stakeholders involved.

[Trojan]

13 hours ago, Dark Beau said:

Seriously! 

Obviously you don't own thoroughbreds, or more correctly them in training.

So Trentham will be "repaired" enough to race next weekend i.e. in a week?  Then again 3 weeks later?

[supporter61]

4 hours ago, Freda said:

As far as Riccarton goes, there is one meeting 21st June before the National meeting.

Hardly over-use.  One wit remarked that they wouldn't want to do the work putting the track back if racing had gone ahead on the turf.

Fact is, that those who nominated for the Riccarton turf meeting did so knowing that there would be heavy going.  The track had no surface water and although very testing, would have been safe.

The discussion is academic to me,  I didn't have anything in, but the biggest insult was that the decision was made without any consultation with the stakeholders involved.

Some off the horses nominated for Riccarton last week may well have been happy to go around on the bog. I dont think that was the issue. Its a bit selfish to not consider upcoming race meetings and the impact it may have on them and the horses hoping or expecting to run , and that is what I believe the decision of the club was based on.

[Trojan]

7 minutes ago, supporter61 said:

Some off the horses nominated for Riccarton last week may well have been happy to go around on the bog. I dont think that was the issue. Its a bit selfish to not consider upcoming race meetings and the impact it may have on them and the horses hoping or expecting to run , and that is what I believe the decision of the club was based on.

So they are happy to thrash and trash Ashburton to look after Riccarton but don't race at Riccarton to save the track for the meeting in 7 weeks?  Yeah the makes sense - not.

[supporter61]

21 minutes ago, Trojan said:

So they are happy to thrash and trash Ashburton to look after Riccarton but don't race at Riccarton to save the track for the meeting in 7 weeks?  Yeah the makes sense - not.

What is the time in between Ashburton meetings?

[Trojan]

6 minutes ago, supporter61 said:

What is the time in between Ashburton meetings?

They had 4 race meetings and a trial meeting in 8 weeks.  So 5 in 8 weeks.

[supporter61]

1 minute ago, Trojan said:

They had 4 race meetings and a trial meeting in 8 weeks.  So 5 in 8 weeks.

The last Ashburton meeting and the next

[mikeynz]

Early July next for Ashburton, they actually got 2 extra dates this season, one in February, a Sunday and another midweek in April when strangely Timaru lost their April day, that was moved to November.

[Trojan]

1 hour ago, supporter61 said:

The last Ashburton meeting and the next

Obviously you know the answer.  What is your point?

[Trojan]

1 hour ago, mikeynz said:

Early July next for Ashburton, they actually got 2 extra dates this season, one in February, a Sunday and another midweek in April when strangely Timaru lost their April day, that was moved to November.

They also have trials scheduled for the 20th May.

[Trojan]

Riccarton last raced on a Heavy 10 track on 26 April.

Their next meeting is scheduled for 21 June i.e. 9 weeks between races on the turf.

[mikeynz]

41 minutes ago, Trojan said:

Riccarton last raced on a Heavy 10 track on 26 April.

Their next meeting is scheduled for 21 June i.e. 9 weeks between races on the turf.

And only 1 grass meeting north of the Waitaki until then that's a long time, as I've stated before Blenhiem needs reinstating, next week is another ideal time along with a couple of other windows, not hard if you try.

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

And only 1 grass meeting north of the Waitaki until then that's a long time, as I've stated before Blenhiem needs reinstating, next week is another ideal time along with a couple of other windows, not hard if you try.

Why reinstate Blenheim when you have Rangiora or Motukarrara?

[mikeynz]

3 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Why reinstate Blenheim when you have Rangiora or Motukarrara?

Good point too,but surely the good folk of Marlborough would like a day out at the races and the trainers would enjoy a few days away from the same old same old.

[Muzza]

15 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

Good point too,but surely the good folk of Marlborough would like a day out at the races and the trainers would enjoy a few days away from the same old same old.

Yep and yep.

 

[mikeynz]

And you wonder if the top of the south will ever get their winter  harness dates back, the talk was that Nelson might get a Tuesday Thursday meet back in May, Friday night lights on trackside  2 meetings seems to be the in thing for harness racing but gee even one week wouldn't hurt and often Friday nights Rugby and League on the tell anyway, you got to look after the provinces.

[Chief Stipe]

2 hours ago, mikeynz said:

Good point too,but surely the good folk of Marlborough would like a day out at the races and the trainers would enjoy a few days away from the same old same old.

Well @mikeynz I'm sure you would like a day out at the race.  But Owners would have to subsidise your enjoyment by paying the extra transport fees.

[Freda]

Well, it beats hanging around going nowhere with no grass meetings locally.

And Blenheim used to put on a great breakfast for stable staff,  so costs wrt accom. were kept to a minimum