Some of the scheduling stuffups..

[mikeynz]

26 minutes ago, Murray Fish said:

No Anderton horses in at Kurow.

 

5 minutes ago, curious said:

For twilight level stakes not surprising. You'd need to think you had a 2/1 shot to make the travel a reasonable bet and there's 3 days coming up on the coast.

One poster keeps referring to the lack of meetings in Canterbury at this time of year, Ashburton on Dec 24 which probably should have been a few days earlier then Washdyke and Kurow which are basically Canterbury, Riccarton next Jan 14 after the 3 Coast days so really it's just the way it is, you need to protect the Coast circuit, recently we see in harness the effects on the Coast circuit with Motukarara running tomorrow, even though harness numbers are strong......even Addington has a month off for the summer holiday racing.

[mikeynz]

Before Riverton got Jan 1 Waikouiti and then Omakau raced but they struggled for numbers in the last few years so change was needed but if you look at the likes of the Andertons if they miss Kurow, probably/ possibly Riverton then they will be more than 3 weeks at home, the travelling all the time must get tedious, that has to be another factor, the guy Forde from Riverton seems to clock up some kms, went to the Coast last year but it's probably not always sustainable over a long period of time.

[curious]

11 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

 

One poster keeps referring to the lack of meetings in Canterbury at this time of year, Ashburton on Dec 24 which probably should have been a few days earlier then Washdyke and Kurow which are basically Canterbury, Riccarton next Jan 14 after the 3 Coast days so really it's just the way it is, you need to protect the Coast circuit, recently we see in harness the effects on the Coast circuit with Motukarara running tomorrow, even though harness numbers are strong......even Addington has a month off for the summer holiday racing.

What I am referring to as Canterbury is actually the northern SI programming region. Actually defined as 'north of the Waitaki'. Programming for that is supposed to be treated separately from the 'south of Waitaki' region. So, yes, it includes Timaru and the Coast. 

Let me know if I've missed a feature grass meeting there between cup week and late January.

[mikeynz]

6 minutes ago, curious said:

What I am referring to as Canterbury is actually the northern SI programming region. Actually defined as 'north of the Waitaki'. Programming for that is supposed to be treated separately from the 'south of Waitaki' region. So, yes, it includes Timaru and the Coast. 

Let me know if I've missed a feature grass meeting there between cup week and late January.

Regarding a feature grass meeting from Cup Week until January 25 in Canterbury what do you suggest?

[curious]

1 minute ago, mikeynz said:

Regarding a feature grass meeting from Cup Week until January 25 in Canterbury what do you suggest?

Today's Timaru Cup meeting might be a good start?

[mikeynz]

16 minutes ago, curious said:

Today's Timaru Cup meeting might be a good start?

And Wingatui 2 days earlier, only so much talent available.

[curious]

I'd also probably switch the December poly feature meeting to grass and elevate Kumara to feature.

[curious]

6 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

And Wingatui 2 days earlier, only so much talent available.

Enough for reasonable fields at Timaru today, despite industry stakes, and arguably a stronger Timaru Cup field than the Rich Hill Mile. As I said, it's in a different programming region to Wingatui and that region should be catered for.

Edited Saturday at 09:42 PM by curious

[Chief Stipe]

On 26/12/2025 at 10:26 PM, Special Agent said:

No, who benefits is anyone's guess.  If everything racing was as black and white as the Chief thinks dates and committees would be a piece of cake.

Then who is driving things and benefitting?  Some have argued that one South Island trainer has held the programme to ransom for a very long time.  Has that changed?

[Chief Stipe]

On 26/12/2025 at 10:26 PM, Special Agent said:

If dates are not working, like the Ashburton example, stronger submissions will be required with backing from every group.  Someone with time on their hands needs to co-ordinate a different approach with an improved turnover plan top of the agenda.

How much time do you need?  It isn't exactly rocket science as the variables are known and measureable.

On 26/12/2025 at 10:26 PM, Special Agent said:

I think online meetings take away the importance and provide dismissive attitudes.  You can't beat looking at the whites of your opponents eyes.

Why do you call them "opponents"?  Perhaps therein lies the answer to my question - who is benefitting!

[Special Agent]

6 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Then who is driving things and benefitting?  Some have argued that one South Island trainer has held the programme to ransom for a very long time.  Has that changed?

I don't know the dynamics of the southern programming committee.  Is there only one trainer on it?  That can be corrected at Trainers Assn level.  Several trainers have a voice in CD and are usually prepared with what hasn't worked, what might not work and new ideas to be discussed.

[Special Agent]

6 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

How much time do you need?  It isn't exactly rocket science as the variables are known and measureable.

Why do you call them "opponents"?  Perhaps therein lies the answer to my question - who is benefitting!

You are talking about an ideal world.  Are you telling me you have never sat through meetings where no one gets it?  Three or four meetings in and the rest of "the team" finally twig.

Opposing view = opponents in my book.  Some cannot look at the situation from everyone's perspective, the bigger picture.  Trainers are pretty good at talking through lead up race options and any pitfalls with points allocation with the ratings system, the logistics of travelling and campaigning, which group of horses struggle to get consistent starts etc.  Clubs are looking at it from a more selfish angle, what's best for their day and turnover.

[mikeynz]

I know it's a bit off topic, maybe maybe nor but but around scheduling, the betting figures someone produced showed a significant turnover  drop last December for both Kurow and Taupo who raced Monday last year as opposed  to the Sunday the year before, noting that Taupo has moved forward a couple of days this year, to get a non week day, tomorrow many will be back to work for a couple of days, guess it's the luck of the draw and the way the days fall, not much you can do sometimes but it suggest to me on course turnover is significant at holiday time, so losing the non working day does make a big difference.

Edited 21 hours ago by mikeynz

[mikeynz]

Riverton hasn't ended up too bad, a couple more trainers came on board, I was just pointing out that nothing for 2 and a half weeks after this would be a long gap if you bypassed Riverton too, they ain't flush for dates in the South, gotta use them or lose them.

Nearly 40 trained out of Riverton, busy day but dollars to be made.

Edited 7 hours ago by mikeynz

[mikeynz]

Gee I'm busy on here at present lol......another thought, with 3 gallops meeting on Boxing day raises the issue as to whether 3 gallops meeting on some saturdays or maybe a 3rd meeting being a harness meeting would make sense bearing in mind once Melbourne Cup meeting is over aussie racing is a bit low key for a while, worth a thought, you can't compete with the spring racing in Oz, but after that it's a bit flat until autumn so maybe focus more on our lot.

[Chief Stipe]

35 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

once Melbourne Cup meeting is over aussie racing is a bit low key for a while

Maybe "low key" from a recognised elite/star horse perspective but very good betting races with good sized fields and lots of up and comers.  Even and competitive fields on good tracks.

[Special Agent]

38 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

Gee I'm busy on here at present lol......another thought, with 3 gallops meeting on Boxing day raises the issue as to whether 3 gallops meeting on some saturdays or maybe a 3rd meeting being a harness meeting would make sense bearing in mind once Melbourne Cup meeting is over aussie racing is a bit low key for a while, worth a thought, you can't compete with the spring racing in Oz, but after that it's a bit flat until autumn so maybe focus more on our lot.

With 3 gallops meetings on a day the apprentices would get some much needed practice instead of being shoved aside for the out of area jockeys.  

[Chief Stipe]

17 hours ago, Special Agent said:

You are talking about an ideal world.  Are you telling me you have never sat through meetings where no one gets it?  Three or four meetings in and the rest of "the team" finally twig.

Yes but I've never attended a meeting where I wanted to achieve something and not have my ducks lined up well beforehand.

17 hours ago, Special Agent said:

Trainers are pretty good at talking through lead up race options and any pitfalls with points allocation with the ratings system, the logistics of travelling and campaigning, which group of horses struggle to get consistent starts etc.  Clubs are looking at it from a more selfish angle, what's best for their day and turnover.

 But Clubs can't have turnover it there are poor quality low number fields or they can't fill a full race programme for the day.

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

With 3 gallops meetings on a day the apprentices would get some much needed practice instead of being shoved aside for the out of area jockeys.  

Yet at Taupo yesterday there was a late scratching because there was no rider available.  Not as if the weight was too light at 58.5kg.

[Special Agent]

1 minute ago, Chief Stipe said:

Yes but I've never attended a meeting where I wanted to achieve something and not have my ducks lined up well beforehand.

 But Clubs can't have turnover it there are poor quality low number fields or they can't fill a full race programme for the day.

That's why it is important all groups are represented.

Poor quality isn't such as issue as low numbers for turnover.  TAB and now Entain tell us regularly this is the case.

[Special Agent]

Just now, Chief Stipe said:

Yet at Taupo yesterday there was a late scratching because there was no rider available.  Not as if the weight was too light at 58.5kg.

Was it no rider, or no suitable rider?

[Chief Stipe]

13 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

Was it no rider, or no suitable rider?

The Stipes report says - "no rider available".

[Murray Fish]

3 hours ago, Special Agent said:

issue as low numbers for turnover.  TAB and now Entain tell us regularly this is the case.

Hence,  my approach of seriously looking at these races with 'low' #'s..    $mall Fi$h are $weat! 🥷

[Special Agent]

4 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

The Stipes report says - "no rider available".

I see, Race 1.  There were riders who rode later in the day but, can't have been in a hurry to be on track for the first.  That sort of thing is more usual on a jumping day.