Awapuni Track Announcement

[Chief Stipe]

22 minutes ago, Huey said:

No it needs to get away from business cases & worry about how it impacts the training & development of the horse.

What's the point if there is no chance of making a profit?

22 minutes ago, Huey said:

Too many BS business cases have led to this dead end direction we are heading in at the minute.

What business cases?  It was clearly evident that NO business case was done for the Awapuni or Riccarton AWT's.  If they had done one they'd know that at the current levels of income for the two locations there was no chance of earning enough to maintain them correctly unless there was a substantial increase in the number of resident horses using the facilities.

I would suggest that the total lack of business planning and financial modelling has got us into the shyte we see ourselves in now.

25 minutes ago, Huey said:

Time racing worried about it's core product - the animal. 

I agree 100% but if no part of the industry can make enough money from racing thoroughbreds to maintain the tracks that they race on and provide training facilities and stabling that is safe then it is a lost cause.

[Wingman]

9 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

If what you label a "cunning plan" is unacceptable then what is YOUR plan to address the fundamental issues?

My plan has always been an effective plan. 'Fire the NZTR executive'

NZTR press announcement 'There is still a target to return to RACE Awapuni in late August 2025, with a standardised  racing programme expected to follow across the upcoming 2025/26 season. However both organisations  (That is NZTR and RACE, if this is becoming too complicated for you CS) remain committed to proactive decision-making should the tracks progress warrant any adjustments to this plan'. Which I take to mean they are expecting to totally fuck this up as well.

OR/ WHAT FUCKING PLAN? They are incompetent  and if you cannot see that CS then you are part of the problem.

Then we move onto the announcement on behalf of Hawkes Bay Racing and NZTR where pending approval  by NZTR Board (Muppets, my description) partial recambering (Why only partial?, my question) of the bends will take place.

And now for final piece of incompetent  bullshit. "Not withstanding any unforseen circumstances this significant  EXPERT LED investment will allow for a safe and confident return to racing in Hawkes Bay for Spring 2026. YES you have read correctly, not this Spring. (NZTR have been putting this crap out re Hastings track for a decade. Why would any sensible person buy into this fairy tale.)

If anyone outside of those who compiled, wrote, or are associated with these announcements, be you breeders, owners or race track officials, believe a word of this nonsense, then you deserve what is coming your way.

 

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Wingman said:

My plan has always been an effective plan. 'Fire the NZTR executive'

Then what?

1 hour ago, Wingman said:

They are incompetent  and if you cannot see that CS then you are part of the problem.

The only incompetence I can see is a reluctance to once again commit enough funding to fix the fundamental track issues.  You WERE part of that problem.

1 hour ago, Wingman said:

Then we move onto the announcement on behalf of Hawkes Bay Racing and NZTR where pending approval  by NZTR Board (Muppets, my description) partial recambering (Why only partial?, my question) of the bends will take place.

Perhaps they have been hijacked by the rabble rouser Colin Wightman (aka @Transparency ) - he is on public record saying there is nothing wrong with the Hastings track that couldn't be fixed in a week!  Then you have Jockey's like Kate Hercock saying the problem last September was a lack of irrigation on the track.

Are you saying that more or less is needed to be done to the Hastings track?  Or are you just intent on scapegoating?

1 hour ago, Wingman said:

And now for final piece of incompetent  bullshit. "Not withstanding any unforseen circumstances this significant  EXPERT LED investment will allow for a safe and confident return to racing in Hawkes Bay for Spring 2026. YES you have read correctly, not this Spring. (NZTR have been putting this crap out re Hastings track for a decade. Why would any sensible person buy into this fairy tale.)

NZTR haven't been "putting this crap out for decade".  I gather from the tone of you post that you do honestly believe there is a problem with the track.  In your opinion what is that problem?  I find it hard to work out what camp you sit in other than the one that is angry and intent on blaming anyone they can find.

[Murray Fish]

On 20/05/2025 at 9:17 PM, Wingman said:

a total cleanout of the executive directed by the Minister

Winnie is just a lap dog to his financial backers... always has been, always will be!

[Murray Fish]

22 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

The fundament problem is that very few if ANY clubs have the revenue or the proft or the spare capital to maintain their tracks to a level that is acceptable under today's laws and regulations.

Add in the reality of the % of disposable income available in the community that race get$!  track that stat over the last 50 years!  

Don't mention the aging punter problem,  the other day, I sat down with a senior racing person from there, showing him some people photos I took at a meeting of his club 10 years ago, I think there were 35 people shots,  23 now dead...

[Wingman]

12 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

NZTR haven't been "putting this crap out for decade".

If you believe that then you are also in fairyland. The problems with the Hastings track have been well documented over the last decade with NZTR continually releasing press releases that 'processes are in place to ensure this does not happen again'' OH look, a flying pig. Your comment that I was part of the problem re funding for track redevelopment is also made up fairy dust. That sounds like you are baiting to see what else you can argue about. I have nothing to do with racing other than as a punter and that is on thin ice. Why study form for tracks that are dodgy and then have to pre guess suspect track ratings.

This is my final post. I have no interest in having any post that you disagree with, being continually dissected not once but over and over again. It becomes tedious.

Bye all, WIngman signing off.

[Chief Stipe]

37 minutes ago, Wingman said:

If you believe that then you are also in fairyland. The problems with the Hastings track have been well documented over the last decade with NZTR continually releasing press releases that 'processes are in place to ensure this does not happen again'' OH look, a flying pig.

Perhaps however nothing was done primarily because there was no money.  Whose fault is that?  Past participants including Club management?  Easy to blame NZTR.

38 minutes ago, Wingman said:

Your comment that I was part of the problem re funding for track redevelopment is also made up fairy dust. That sounds like you are baiting to see what else you can argue about. I have nothing to do with racing other than as a punter and that is on thin ice. Why study form for tracks that are dodgy and then have to pre guess suspect track ratings.

Track ratings are a different subject altogether.  As you know I've been arguing about those for a long time.  The track ratings from Riccarton, Trentham and CD locations have been a farce for a long time.  Trentham the worst followed a close second by Riccarton.

BUT that as I said is a different subject to the lack of maintenance of the track.  The BS ratings are in my opinion quality control issues with regard to their measurement and what borders on a cover up.  Although the reason for that is the fundamental issue that the tracks concerned are in desperate need of substantial maintenance.

41 minutes ago, Wingman said:

This is my final post. I have no interest in having any post that you disagree with, being continually dissected not once but over and over again. It becomes tedious.

Bye all, WIngman signing off.

Cool.  Happy punting.  I'm sure you can find a FB page or another site or even an NZTR Lynch Mob where there is an echo chamber supporting your views.  

[Freda]

Well done, Chief, you've done it again.

[jess]

My response to this terrible piece of spin-doctoring.  If anyone can answer any of the questions - I'd love to hear it - sure as hell won't be holding my breath for answers from Corporate Communications, NZTR. RACE Awapuni Remediation Progressing Under Specialist Oversight New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and RACE Inc. are continuing the maintenance and remediation work on the RACE Awapuni course proper, with weekly management meetings underway between RACE, NZTR and international racecourse specialists, Callum Brown and Liam O’Keefe.  Were these specialists "experts" involved in the development of the track (including the decision it was ready to race on @Anzac) - or have they just been brought in subsequently?  As part of this process, alternative machinery is being trialled to address compaction issues identified within the track profile. Why is a brand new track - barely galloped on - experiencing compaction problems? This is particularly important given the presence of stones beneath the surface, which limits the use of certain tines on the verti-drain machine. Are they stones or rocks? Where did they come from? - was the new track laid  on top of them - or were they imported with the material used to make the new track?  I assume it is the longer tines that now can't be used? - if so - will verti-draining with other tines still be effective?  What's being done about the rest of the rocks still lurking under the surface? The course proper at RACE Awapuni requires decompaction through intensive remediation work to ensure it is safe for racing in the long term. As organic material begins to build beneath the surface, the track will become easier to manage, with less frequent and intensive maintenance required. Excuse my ignorance - Chief maybe you can help here - what's the process by which organic matter builds below the surface of this type of track? - a track that apparently we are going to dump more sand onto?  This approach is similar to the work at Ellerslie Racecourse, where an extensive verti-drain process is routinely carried out prior to raceday to support surface performance. Similar to Ellerslie" - only Ellerslie presumably doesn't have rogue rocks like Awapuni?  NZTR CEO Matt Ballesty commented, “We are treating the RACE Awapuni situation with the seriousness it warrants and working closely with the right people to get the best outcome for our participants, punters and for the future of racing in the Central Districts,” he said.  (Corporate  Communications wahwah) - and how many of these experts and "right people" are the same ones who helped get us in this mess in the first place? NZTR and RACE Inc. are completing the scheduled work programme and continuing to test different decompaction techniques and machinery, in accordance with advice from Liam O’Keefe and Callum Brown.  At this stage, there is still a target to return to RACE Awapuni in late August 2025, with a standardised racing programme expected to follow across the upcoming 2025/26 season. However, both organisations remain committed to proactive decision-making should the track’s progress warrant any adjustments to this plan. “A safe return to racing is our number one priority,” added Ballesty. “We’re closely monitoring how the track responds to the remediation work and will make an early call on the RACE Awapuni programme if any material issues arise before the beginning of the new season.” “Clear communication with participants and Clubs is a priority as we work through this,” Ballesty said.  Liam O’Keefe will return to RACE Awapuni on Monday 9 June to carry out further testing and surface assessments. A revised work programme will be agreed upon following this visit and we will inform the next phase of remediation activity. As above - Corporate Comms  doing their thing.  It leaves me with little confidence - provides few answers - & certainly not the slightest whiff of accountability.  And before you jump down my throat Chief - without accountability & an honest analysis of the facts - a genuine understanding  of our predicament & how we got here - how on earth can we have faith in the people & plans engaged to get us out of it.  Jess   Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Emma Thompson +64 21 071 2929 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

 

 

Edited yesterday at 01:29 AM by jess

[Chief Stipe]

20 hours ago, jess said:

Why is a brand new track - barely galloped on - experiencing compaction problems?

There is a significant layer of sand as the top layer - been described by some as sand carpeting.  Galloping isn't causing the compaction.  It is the same problem as experienced at Ellerslie - a sand layer that has no organic matter or other soil particles like silt and clay to provide structure.  So the sand settles especially when intensively watered - just like it does at the beach. 

Sand has a very low water and nutrient retention rate (rye grass doesn't grow very well on the beach) therefore to grow grass you need to water large amounts and fertilise frequently (bit like a hydroponic system).  Like most species grass takes the easy option to survive - the roots will have grown in a carpet mat on the top layer and limited progression downwards.  So Ellerslie described the issue as a "water tension" problem in the top layer.  The result is a dense mat of roots in a shallow depth lying on top of a layer of sand.  That's the compaction - nothing to do with horses racing although horses and machinery traversing the turf layer would exert doward pressure on the carpet compressing the sand. 

The top layer that I saw at Ellerslie was like kevlar and the horses couldn't get their hooves into it.

20 hours ago, jess said:

Are they stones or rocks? Where did they come from? - was the new track laid  on top of them - or were they imported with the material used to make the new track?  I assume it is the longer tines that now can't be used? - if so - will verti-draining with other tines still be effective?  What's being done about the rest of the rocks still lurking under the surface?

That is a very good question that we can only speculate on.  My guess is that the sand was poor quality i.e. not screened and when the trucks were pouring it in no one was keeping an eye on the quality.  OR the sand layer is shallow and there are either drainage rocks or naturally occuring rocks below that layer.  However rocks don't rise upwards in sand - Einstein will tell that heavy particles settle downward as a force called gravity is exerted on them.

However the rock question is a very good one.  Especially when it seems to limit what Ellerslie do and that is slice and dice the turf on a regular basis especially before a race meeting to break that top matted layer up.

20 hours ago, jess said:

Excuse my ignorance - Chief maybe you can help here - what's the process by which organic matter builds below the surface of this type of track? - a track that apparently we are going to dump more sand onto? 

The same process that happens when you mow your lawn with the catcher off - the worms will pull the clippings into the soil.  The organic material on the track will come from mowing i.e. the clippings will settle on the surface and the coring or verti-draining process will force that organic material into the sand.  They may expedite the process by doing what the do to rejuvenate bowling greens on a periodic basis and that is core the ground, remove the cores (bit tricky on long grass) and then spread new soil with organic material in it filling the cores up.  That was one of my first jobs in horticulture - rejuvenating bowling greens!

The organic matter adds structure and improves the ability of the soil to retain water and nutrients.  From a horse racing perspective it also creates a surface that horses can get their hooves into.  A horse needs to get its hooves into the soil particularly during the sheer phase of the stride as it disperses significant amounts of energy and thus is safer for a horse.

One of the other problems with sand is not only the compaction issue but when you cut and dice the turf to alleviate that and it rains the top layer gets shifty and that isn't good for horses either!  That happens at Ellerslie especially on the final bend.

20 hours ago, jess said:

(Corporate  Communications wahwah) - and how many of these experts and "right people" are the same ones who helped get us in this mess in the first place?

Well I'd like to know who was the expert that recommended the customised Strathayr that was installed at Ellerslie with the near 100% pure sand?  

There has been a fixation with putting sand into our tracks for a long time now.   I've been anti it for just as long.  They have been verti-draining constantly e.g. Te Rapa and Ellerslie (old track) and applying sand.  Two things happen - the drains get clogged with sand (try putting handfulls of sand down your sink) and the tracks get shifty.

I suspect they are focussed on the wrong objective - the objective they are focussed on is providing a well drained track so we now end up with a track like Ellerslie that is always a soft 5.  Notice the turf tracks in Australia have a wide range of ratings and they change slowly?

The objective should be to provide a well draining turf that is optimal for a horse to gallop on regardless of its firmness.  In my opinion they only way to do that is to customise the soil by applying the right sand:clay:silt and organic material with the optimal ratios.  That's why some tracks naturally perform well e.g. Foxton (caveat though - you still need to put back in what you take out).

[Chief Stipe]

21 hours ago, jess said:

Excuse my ignorance - Chief maybe you can help here - what's the process by which organic matter builds below the surface of this type of track? - a track that apparently we are going to dump more sand onto? 

A good explanation of the role of organic matter in soil.  Note there is a tradeoff though - too much organic matter could make a race track useless.

https://www.cropnutrition.com/resource-library/five-benefits-of-soil-organic-matter/#:~:text=Organic matter causes soil particles,surface crusting of the soil.

[curious]

8 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

A good explanation of the role of organic matter in soil.  Note there is a tradeoff though - too much organic matter could make a race track useless.

https://www.cropnutrition.com/resource-library/five-benefits-of-soil-organic-matter/#:~:text=Organic matter causes soil particles,surface crusting of the soil.

I get that, but why, if you are laying a new track, would you not include what you think would be a good mix of organic matter in the initial soil mix instead of mixing in rocks with it, then saying it will take years for the organic matter from the decaying grass clippings to filter into the mix? Nothing they have done makes any sense to me.

[curious]

9 minutes ago, curious said:

I get that, but why, if you are laying a new track, would you not include what you think would be a good mix of organic matter in the initial soil mix instead of mixing in rocks with it, then saying it will take years for the organic matter from the decaying grass clippings to filter into the mix? Nothing they have done makes any sense to me.

I mean, wouldn't you just plough it back up, sift out the rocks, add an appropriate amount of organic matter and reseed it?

[Chief Stipe]

4 minutes ago, curious said:

I get that, but why, if you are laying a new track, would you not include what you think would be a good mix of organic matter in the initial soil mix instead of mixing in rocks with it, then saying it will take years for the organic matter from the decaying grass clippings to filter into the mix? Nothing they have done makes any sense to me.

I agree with that.  They are getting the wrong advice from someone in my opinion.  That's why I'm not bagging NZTR or the Clubs in a scatter gun way.  The uninformed are not adding much to the debate either.  LOL the first I write off are those that say there is nothing wrong with our tracks and they just need a farmer or three or no irrigation or a mole plough blah blah.

Our track turf systems are failing - simply from a lack of investment and maintenance.

Getting back to the advice as I eluded to above I think there is this misguided view that sand offers the best solution for drainage and therefore we should make the tracks out of sand and put grass on them.  

Creating and maintaining your lawn is different to providing an optimal turf system for a horse to race on.  As is creating and maintaining a sports ground.  Even creating and maintaing a pasture is NOT the same as a turf racetrack.

I just don't get how a track like Flemington seems to get it right and why we aren't following that model.

 

[Chief Stipe]

1 minute ago, curious said:

I mean, wouldn't you just plough it back up, sift out the rocks, add an appropriate amount of organic matter and reseed it?

Yeah well there is $2m+!!  The rocks have got me really puzzled.  Quality control issues I suspect.  I have this gut feel that they didn't have an independent project manager on site and perhaps just drew up a plan and hired a contractor.  Did anyone see a tender document for the work anywhere?

I know I'll get derided for the next comment but what the hell...  If it was my project that I was managing I would be sampling and monitoring every truck that turned up.

[Chief Stipe]

Year-long reconstruction project starts at Awapuni Racecourse

George Heagney

October 20, 2023 • 5:00am

 

A year-long restoration project on the Awapuni Racecourse has started.WARWICK SMITH / Stuff

A year-long restoration project on the track at Awapuni Racecourse is under way to bring the venue into the 21st century.

Work on the $5 million project started last week to improve the drainage and camber of the main grass track and it will be closed for a year.

Tim Savell, the chief executive of Race group, which runs racing at Awapuni and Trentham in Wellington, said a few things were happening all at once, including 236 metres of pipe being laid under the track last week.

“Things like the drainage wasn't very good for the course proper. Every drain was cracked and broken. They stuck a camera in there to find what’s been causing problems over a period of time. It’s got all new drainage.”

 

A new irrigation system, which can be controlled remotely, will also be put in. New grass will be laid by autumn.

“Some of the more obvious things people will see are the track’s going to be a uniform width. At the moment in some parts it’s 15 or 16 metres wide before it cambers off. It will be 25 metres all the way around nicely cambered.’

 

The track has silty soil, so over a period of about eight years it will be turned into a sand-based track. A sand carpet will be installed during this reconstruction, then a sand spreader will keep adding sand to the track.

“Essentially, we’re going to turn the track into a 21st century venue, rather than something we played with over time.”

 

The thoroughbred racing industry will pay for 75% of the reconstruction, while Race will cover the rest.

The work had long been planned and was delayed by 12 months because of difficulty finding contractors.

New drainage has been put in and a sand carpet will be put down.Warwick Smith / Stuff

With the grass track out of action for 12 months, Awapuni’s summer meetings have been shifted to nearby venues, including Whanganui, Waverley and Hastings.

Trentham usually hosts 10 meetings a year, but it has been allowed to run 16 so it could host Awapuni’s big meetings, such as the Manawatū Cup before Christmas and the Sires Produce Stakes in April.

The popular Boxing Day meeting in Palmerston North will be at Ōtaki.

There will be a virtual meeting on December 16 hosting Christmas parties.

The synthetic track, which runs inside the main grass track, opened in October last year and was used for seven winter meetings this year. It was scheduled to hold 12 winter meetings next year.

But Savell said at this point they weren’t looking at using it as a replacement course while the grass track was closed.

The work will turn the racecourse into a 21st century venue.ADELE RYCROFT / Stuff

“We definitely know we’re going to take a financial hit, but it’s short-term pain for long-term gain.”

Savell said it was likely this was the first time the entire track had been overhauled. The home straight was done in 1996 and the outside bend in 2017, but no-one knew when the back part of the track had been done.

Having the track closed for such a long time allowed Race to get a large amount of work done, including upgrading the birdcage and some stables.

“All the facilities can have some TLC because track staff aren't doing race day duties.”

Work was scheduled for Trentham, after the restoration work was finished at Awapuni, and Awapuni would then host big Wellington meetings such as the Wellington Cup.

- Stuff

[jess]

4 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Yeah well there is $2m+!!  The rocks have got me really puzzled.  Quality control issues I suspect.  I have this gut feel that they didn't have an independent project manager on site and perhaps just drew up a plan and hired a contractor.  Did anyone see a tender document for the work anywhere?

I know I'll get derided for the next comment but what the hell...  If it was my project that I was managing I would be sampling and monitoring every truck that turned up.

Hmmm.  Yes I suspect the rocks were "imported" - & if so, certainly an issue of quality control there.

But what did the contract stipulate?  Did the sand (or whatever) have to come from a particular source & meet stipulated specs - or were things a little more "loose" (leaving little or no "come-back" on any contractors/suppliers). Is the devil in the detail - maybe the contractors are not the only ones to be found wanting when it comes to rocks in the track (& rocks in some heads too) 

Chief - I'm no expert but I've seen lots of different types of sand (crushed shell sand, golden beach sand, iron sand, fine river sand etc) - I'm assuming all sand is not created equal & it's a particular kind that's needed for a racetrack?  If so - even regardless of the rocks - was this the correct one - from a designated source? 

I never expected the track to be perfect for the first meeting - and I think we all agree someone yielded to pressure & went too soon on it.  But I find it utterly frustrating after all this money - all this time - all this hope! - to be in this parlous situation.  And it's even worse to be fed this b.s from Corporate Comms - treated like fools - and to see not an ounce of responsibility (let alone accountability or contrition) from anyone.  If no-one's prepared to acknowledge what/how/why it went wrong - we can't expect it now to go right (for the remediation).

And while we're on CD tracks - still the promised report on the synthetic is missing in action (I know your views there Chief) - and we continue to be treated like mushrooms over the goings on at Otaki. I try to remain fairly moderate in the way I express my views here but my frustration, despair and yes, anger is starting to rise to the top.    

I'd like to head to the bar about now but I've got to get back to work - cos it's bloody expensive having horses in work - even when there's nowhere much to race them ... let alone the extra $ it costs to go further afield ... let alone less opportunities to race handy & get some stakes ...  

I'll settle for putting some tonic in the fridge & check in later on  ...

J. 

 

[Chief Stipe]

18 minutes ago, jess said:

Chief - I'm no expert but I've seen lots of different types of sand (crushed shell sand, golden beach sand, iron sand, fine river sand etc) - I'm assuming all sand is not created equal & it's a particular kind that's needed for a racetrack?  If so - even regardless of the rocks - was this the correct one - from a designated source?

A very good point @jess .  My understanding is that it is so important that the sand for the AWT's was imported.  I might be wrong on that but can you imagine rocks in a Poly track fill?