Central Districts Race Tracks

[Wingman]

Back and refreshed..Squaarrk

The Awapuni saga is a diabolical mistake created by two incompetent entities, RACE and NZTR. In announcing the decision to not use the track this year the latest import CEO from Australia prattles on about "Our team, The RIB and the Club, with the support of independent experts." The CEO then conveniently leaves the following critical statement to the Melbourne track specialist, Mr O'Keeffe who says "More aggressive renovation work is required. At the same time we are progressing a wider investigation into the tracks long term suitability." That statement must come from the top and to defer that to a specialist is weak leadership. I therefore agree 100% with JESS who stated in one of her posts under 'Awapuni officially out of action' that "Nothing will change until we operate with some accountability".

CS is 100% correct that a massive problem has been created by "Over reliance on sand, to fix tracks". He then unfortunately stumbles towards dopey land by stating "I have a great deal of sympathy for central management".

NZTR have by and large created the problematic tracks we have today. Previous CEO's procrastinated re remedial work, a convenient ploy perhaps to let the track 'fade away'. When that did not work the work agreed upon was a cheap fix, akin to replacing bald tyres on a car with better 2nd hand tyres. Worse, whilst they were being cheap skates they insisted that all tracks must be presented the same, good 4, on race day. A track managers nightmare! No longer a manager of turf, now a watering manager.

Should you still feel the need to rebut CS, which you will, look at Hastings as irrefutable proof as to NZTR culpability. Ten years ago - problems. Five years ago - problems. In that period the same person was responsible and the same words were uttered, "We have put in place protocols and processes to ensure this will not happen again". Happen again and again they did. Words changed, manager did not! Accountability; Zilch. When they next meet around a board table, NZTR executive will be fervently fixated on a fantasy greenfield build in Flaxmere whilst the problematic Hastings track gets a 'partial' reconstruction.

In closing, the Industry does have one not so small door open. Walk away from the door of large stake increases for a few select races and agree on going through the alternative door which is a golden ticket for a few tracks to have comprehensive remedial work. Specifically, one track in the North, one in CD and the other in the South Is. In the CD my vote would be for Otaki. Relay the track, no sand apart from what lies there naturally, bowl both stands and build one new stand. Angle the straight outwards effectively widening the bend out of the straight. Totally change the parade rind, birdcage and add stables. Central Districts will then have it's new Trentham.    

[Special Agent]

I wonder how far the straight can be angled outwards when all of the carparking outside the Otaki track has been sold.  Likewise with adding stabling, would they be going in between the 400-600 affordable homes that are going to take up just a tick under 150 acres space currently being used for stabling?

[Freda]

Not at all familiar with Otaki, or for that matter other CD tracks.  Have raced at Foxton once which I thought presented excellent going.

But, to add to Chief's observations that clubs are largely to blame for overlooking track maintenance in years past: Yes, that certainly is a valid point.   However,  with insidious changes in TAB funding distribution creeping in, country/ provincial clubs were progressively deprived of money, money that formerly was distributed in line with what had been earned on their respective meetings. The bigger clubs were considered more 'deserving ' of funds and the smaller ones,  squeezed to the point where there was not only no money for improvements, there was little incentive also.  Roll forward and we have older volunteers struggling to keep their clubs relevant.  Hardly a surprise to see how things have turned out.

[Huey]

8 minutes ago, Freda said:

Not at all familiar with Otaki, or for that matter other CD tracks.  Have raced at Foxton once which I thought presented excellent going.

But, to add to Chief's observations that clubs are largely to blame for overlooking track maintenance in years past: Yes, that certainly is a valid point.   However,  with insidious changes in TAB funding distribution creeping in, country/ provincial clubs were progressively deprived of money, money that formerly was distributed in line with what had been earned on their respective meetings. The bigger clubs were considered more 'deserving ' of funds and the smaller ones,  squeezed to the point where there was not only no money for improvements, there was little incentive also.  Roll forward and we have older volunteers struggling to keep their clubs relevant.  Hardly a surprise to see how things have turned out.

Not to mention clubs left in limbo over their place in the industry over race day licenses, training centre's etc.

Lack of certainty disrupts investment & that's happened everywhere the incompetents of NZTR have appeared.

Worse still this CEO barely appears to understand the sport , let alone be in a position to fix it.

I'm a cup half full guy & believe the Grand Tour will save us!

[Chief Stipe]

3 hours ago, Freda said:

However,  with insidious changes in TAB funding distribution creeping in, country/ provincial clubs were progressively deprived of money, money that formerly was distributed in line with what had been earned on their respective meetings. The bigger clubs were considered more 'deserving ' of funds and the smaller ones,  squeezed to the point where there was not only no money for improvements, there was little incentive also.

The point is @Freda even when they did have the money none of the Clubs spent it on their tracks or core horse focussed racing assets.

[Chief Stipe]

Do the sums.

The operating cost of every track is the same.

Assuming ZERO volunteer labour - most Clubs of any sport struggle to have anyone turn up regularly for a working bee.  Hell we even had the President of one club washing the bird shit on the seats of their granstand every year on his own!  Eh @Reefton ?

So what is the cost of the following just to maintain the track and horse related facilities:

1. Employees x 2 (minimum - no roses to prune) - track work monitoring (honesty boxes don't work);
2. Machinery - tractors x 2, mowers, corer, sprayers etc;
3. Irrigation - equipment maintenance, water use charges etc.;
4. Fertiliser;
5. Running rails;
6. Stables and tie up areas;
7. Training track maintenance;
8. Photo finish and electronic timing equipment;
9. Stewards viewing and TV stand maintenance;
10. and so on.
11. Oh and don't forget putting spare capital away for when the renovations are required.

Multiply that by 52 and there isn't much left for stakes is there?

Now go back and have a look at the annual accounts for the Clubs and see where any spare cash was spent.  Yeah na it wasn't on track maintenance nor the rainy day renovation because the track pasture and soil would go on forever.

[Wingman]

8 hours ago, Special Agent said:

I wonder how far the straight can be angled outwards when all of the carparking outside the Otaki track has been sold.  Likewise with adding stabling, would they be going in between the 400-600 affordable homes that are going to take up just a tick under 150 acres space currently being used for stabling?

I would still like to see this track getting some decent TLC. Would take it out of commission for a couple of seasons but you would then have a premier track with a decent stand in CD. In its better days it was described as well banked and drained. An interesting fact, the Otaki Maori Racing Club voted to join RACE in 2007 and very wisely withdrew from that partnership in 2018.

[mikeynz]

A rather significant day on Sunday, horse racing returning to Hawkes Bay😎

[mikeynz]

I'm going to sound like a stuck record but I reckon Blenhiem should be back on the calandar but not running your average run of the mill meeting but a feature meeting, which is a Wednesday Saturday, in summer, perfect place for a Canterbury v Central Districts meeting, if the likes of Michael House travels regurley across the straight for the Palmy trots whats wrong with the gallops guys doing it, eases the load of one or two tracks too, if Harness can do it with Kaikoura with big crowds why can't racing?

[mikeynz]

So long since racing last held in Hawkes  Bay many must have died off meaning lots of new race goers  at Waipuk must be first timers lol, good crowd it seems.😁

[Mardy]

On 13/11/2025 at 12:26 PM, mikeynz said:

I'm going to sound like a stuck record but I reckon Blenhiem should be back on the calandar but not running your average run of the mill meeting but a feature meeting, which is a Wednesday Saturday, in summer, perfect place for a Canterbury v Central Districts meeting, if the likes of Michael House travels regurley across the straight for the Palmy trots whats wrong with the gallops guys doing it, eases the load of one or two tracks too, if Harness can do it with Kaikoura with big crowds why can't racing?

Would love it if they brought the gallops back here to Blenheim.Am  no expert but when they had the 2 day meetings here they always seemed to be well supported,by not only the Canterbury trainers,but the trainers in the CD as well..tho to be fair it used to always be a Kevin Myers benefit whenever the gallops were here.As i said,i'd love to see it come back,but i don't think it will happen.

[Freda]

On 30/10/2025 at 9:37 AM, Chief Stipe said:

The point is @Freda even when they did have the money none of the Clubs spent it on their tracks or core horse focussed racing assets.

This goes back several decades,  Chief.  Its not recent.

Look back at renovation of Greymouth.  Canterbury grass sown under advice from the CJC track manager, Max Skelton ( for one) sustained severe injuries when his horse slipped over. 

Gore redone, horses fell over, Terry Moseley slipped twice at the same place on the same day!

Rangiora renovated.  That disaster has been discussed at great length, hasn't raced since.

Riccarton itself,  remodelled, although it is still operational the surface has been criticized ever since.   It gets away with less than perfect because it is a large circuit with sweeping turns. 

You'll sneer and say I'm dredging up ancient history.  But the facts are there, NZ racing has a history of botching renovation.

The only saviour has been the variety of tracks still left to take up dates.  Now that the brains trust has seen fit to mothball so many, the flaws inherent in the 'preferred ' tracks are there for all to see.

Liam O'Keefe seems to be a very valuable adviser.   We are lucky to be able to call on his expertise.   But whether he has the time - or inclination - to continue in that capacity may be dubious. 

[Shad]

Was it Greymouth that was renovated, or were you meaning Kumara, who've had many an issues with cancellations over the years, never any problems before the upgrade. 

[Freda]

23 minutes ago, Shad said:

Was it Greymouth that was renovated, or were you meaning Kumara, who've had many an issues with cancellations over the years, never any problems before the upgrade. 

Yes, that's right, I recall a helicopter brought in to try and dry the track!   No problems, as you say, before being 'upgraded'. 

But, I was referring to Greymouth, which, with the sowing of grass from out of the area, ended up with clover all through it, with predictable results.

[Special Agent]

Do you think most of the renovation problems stem from getting back onto the tracks too soon, not giving them time to consolidate?

[Freda]

1 hour ago, Special Agent said:

Do you think most of the renovation problems stem from getting back onto the tracks too soon, not giving them time to consolidate?

Im no expert so I can't comment about that.  But the Coast examples were simply bad practice.  There was nothing wrong with either track from a safety perspective.   They just looked rough with the rushes and native weed through the surface.   But always safe.

[Freda]

Just now, Freda said:

Im no expert so I can't comment about that.  But the Coast examples were simply bad practice.  There was nothing wrong with either track from a safety perspective.   They just looked rough with the rushes and native weed through the surface.   But always safe.

Clover in the sward is not ideal!

[Chief Stipe]

6 hours ago, Freda said:

This goes back several decades,  Chief.  Its not recent.

Look back at renovation of Greymouth.  Canterbury grass sown under advice from the CJC track manager, Max Skelton ( for one) sustained severe injuries when his horse slipped over. 

Gore redone, horses fell over, Terry Moseley slipped twice at the same place on the same day!

Rangiora renovated.  That disaster has been discussed at great length, hasn't raced since.

Riccarton itself,  remodelled, although it is still operational the surface has been criticized ever since.   It gets away with less than perfect because it is a large circuit with sweeping turns. 

You'll sneer and say I'm dredging up ancient history.  But the facts are there, NZ racing has a history of botching renovation.

The only saviour has been the variety of tracks still left to take up dates.  Now that the brains trust has seen fit to mothball so many, the flaws inherent in the 'preferred ' tracks are there for all to see.

Liam O'Keefe seems to be a very valuable adviser.   We are lucky to be able to call on his expertise.   But whether he has the time - or inclination - to continue in that capacity may be dubious. 

I'm not sneering.  But what I call renovation and what you call renovation are completely different.  The tracks that were "renovated" weren't done properly.

Riccarton was "renovated" in the 1990's.  Correct?  To think that it doesn't need to be done again inside 30 years even if it was done properly is incorrect.

As I've said before if Clubs worked together then you could treat the tracks like crop fields/paddocks and have a renewal rotation in place.  While one was renovated and rested the others took up the slack.  Moonee Valley and Racing Victoria is taking this approach when they reshape and renovate completely The Valley track.

As for the "Canterbury grass seed" being sown in the wrong place is probably a narrative of blame that has reach mythical proportions!

[Chief Stipe]

9 minutes ago, Freda said:

Clover in the sward is not ideal!

Perhaps they didn't want the horses eating the track?  The clover would have been put in because the soil on the Coast would have been starved of nutrient.  Hence rushes growing instead of grass.  Perhaps there were one too many farmers involved in the Omoto renovation who were used to growing pasture to feed cattle.