Bernie's blog

[curious]

Bernard's Briefing - 17 April 2020

 

17 April 2020

We had hoped to be releasing the draft dates for the remainder of this season and the first part of the new season today.

Yesterday, RITA decided to defer the release of the remaining 2020 calendar until after the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday.  At that time we will have a clearer idea of whether NZ will move out of alert level 4 and what the next stage will look like.  NZTR’s release of the indicative calendar for August-November has been delayed to coincide with the RITA announcement.

In the interim we have finalised our protocols with the view that subject to government approval, we will be able to return to training, trialling and racing at alert level 3.  We are confident that these protocols, many of which were already in place during the final weekend of racing prior to lockdown, will keep our participants and the wider community safe.

We know that everyone is eager to return to racing and that most of you have been watching racing from across the Tasman and seen how quickly they have adapted to the social distancing rules which are now required.

Having had nearly four weeks to become used to maintaining a two-metre distance from others, regular cleaning of surfaces and non-stop handwashing, introducing these protocols into a race day should be automatic for most of us.  The protocols will have to be adhered to strictly if racing is to be allowed to continue under alert level 3 and we will be relying on all our participants to play their part.

 Stay safe, stay in your bubble and we await Monday’s announcement from the Prime Minister to provide more guidance regarding our planned return to racing.

Edited April 17, 2020 by curious

[curious]

I was very surprised to read the comment in bold in the above blog. Given that the MPI recommendation for Alert level 4 is no ridden work except where there is no alternative for horse welfare, I would have thought that at level 3, low risk, light exercise only and limited travel, certainly within regions would be the go. MPI have not yet released their guidelines for horse riding under level 3.

I presume for Bernard to have made that statement, they must have a clear indication from MPI that it will be ok to not only resume fast work but also trials and racing at level 3. This does not seem to fit with the broader guidelines for level 3 to me. Only 10 people can attend a tangi but 100 can rock up to the track for a morning training session? Boating, yachting and any team sports or training are not allowed but trials and racing are?

Anyone else find this a bit odd?

Edited April 17, 2020 by curious

[Pitman]

You are expressing your true ignorance how many earn a living out of a tangi, rowing boats or yachting. Racing is non contact and it is being proven across the Tasman that racing can still be held safely. Strict protocols by clubs will mean people will not be in close contact It has been suggested that horses are trained 50 metres apart. Thoroughbred racing will not commence before 1st July

Edited April 17, 2020 by Pitman

[curious]

Michael, as I'm sure you know, I am acutely aware of how many people make a living from racing and am particularly concerned about that group but this is not just about what is best for them but what is best for the health and economic well-being of all NZers. NZ has adopted a different strategy from our neighbours across the ditch. I am not saying that training and racing should not resume once we come out of lockdown but I remain surprised that MPI would have approved that training, trials and racing could do so at level 3 in comparison with other level 3 guidelines.

If you take another commercial example, the likes of the Warehouse Group with $3 billion of turnover can not open their doors and let say 10 or 20 people in to shop at a time with similar protocols to those that supermarkets have been using during lockdown. Yet, MPI have approved training and racing which is a much higher risk activity potentially involving gatherings of 1-200 people.

It doesn't add up to me. Presumably, they will also allow other ridden equine activities such as showing, eventing, endurance etc. to conduct training and events as well.

[Freda]

Me either,  although obviously I hope that we can start to get back to business. 

Yes, Aus has managed well, so far.  But they are very organized,  with several pools of jockeys isolated from the others.  The proximity of riders in the barriers is one weak link, but hasn't so far appeared to be a problem. 

Certainly,  trialling hardly complies with training 50 m apart.

And when MPI first put out those requirements,  even our own track staff were ignorant of such protocols. 

We know that there are some trainers who aren't playing  by the rules, they put us all at risk, not just wrt individual health but by risking MPI becoming aware and restricting us for longer .

Our own industry policing mechanisms have been shown to be very lax in this respect. 

Edited April 17, 2020 by Freda

[Chief Stipe]

I didn't realise MPI had a role in this.

Explains everything.

MPI wouldn't know what direction the sun rises.

Actually thinking about this a bit more.  I thought the protocols were about reducing the chance of injury and thus reducing pressure on our "over stretched' hospital system?

At the end of the day Curious if you are worried about your health you can always strengthen your bubble and stay there for another 18 months.  I'm sure we could find someone to drop groceries off to you.

[Chief Stipe]

5 hours ago, curious said:

Boating, yachting and any team sports or training are not allowed but trials and racing are?

Boating and yachting are not allowed because supposedly anyone who does either is more likely to require emergency services which is a crock of...  I know an elderly couple who are theoretically breaking the law at the moment not that the law is very clear and I imagine challengeable in a court of law.  They have a nice yacht - nothing big or overly flash.  They are in the vulnerable category in terms of age and some normally relatively minor age related conditions.  They decided early in the piece to stock up the yacht and head out and cruise around local bays (not Auckland) - they were motivated by their own safety.  They come back to their mooring once every 10 to 14 days and a member of their family drops the groceries off and leave some fresh fish for their family.  Never within 2 metres of anyone.  They catch a few fish, read books, skype the grandkids, even have a little TV on board.  They have sail and motor power and a little dinghy.  Never too far from shore.  The keep in touch with mates by radio.  If I had the same setup I'd be doing that too - not because I'm vulnerable but because I wouldn't be relying on anyone, I wouldn't be stuck in this ruddy cabin and I could change my view everyday.

As for Team Sports - that would be easy to fix if you ran a competition like the NRL.  Find an empty hotel (lots of them around) within walking distance of a stadium that has training grounds.  Lock down the perimeter.  Test everyone the first time they enter the "bubble".  Ask for volunteers to live in house at the hotel to cook and clean - pay them for their services.  Easy peasy.

 

[Shad]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

I didn't realise MPI had a role in this.

Explains everything.

MPI wouldn't know what direction the sun rises.

Actually thinking about this a bit more.  I thought the protocols were about reducing the chance of injury and thus reducing pressure on our "over stretched' hospital system?

At the end of the day Curious if you are worried about your health you can always strengthen your bubble and stay there for another 18 months.  I'm sure we could find someone to drop groceries off to you.

Hit the nail on the head with that statement, add the crowd to the list.

[Chief Stipe]

3 hours ago, curious said:

Michael, as I'm sure you know, I am acutely aware of how many people make a living from racing and am particularly concerned about that group but this is not just about what is best for them but what is best for the health and economic well-being of all NZers.

Health AND economic well-being ISN'T a dichotomy.  They are inherently linked.  That's where much of what we are seeing is being driven by ideology.  One policy for ALL yet they turn a blind eye to illegal actions such as what are happening in the Far North and East Cape.

3 hours ago, curious said:

If you take another commercial example, the likes of the Warehouse Group with $3 billion of turnover can not open their doors and let say 10 or 20 people in to shop at a time with similar protocols to those that supermarkets have been using during lockdown. Yet, MPI have approved training and racing which is a much higher risk activity potentially involving gatherings of 1-200 people.

 

Again political ideology and no thinking through unintentional consequences.  You mention the Warehouse what about the few local butchers that are left?  Most you wouldn't ever get more than 6 people in at once.  You know the butcher the one that for decades been wrapping meat in environmentally friendly brown paper.  Nup stuff you says the Government.  Stuff you New Zealanders - you have to queue outside your Australian owned supermarkets and buy overpriced poorer quality meat in plastic trays wrapped in plastic.  It cost me $9 for 6 sausages yesterday - $1.50 each!  I don't know what is in them but the good thing is their use-by date is 11 days away!  

The bright side of the visit to the supermarket was meeting a very attractive woman in the booze aisle.  Which was straight after the fruit and vegetable section.  We both looked at each other's trolley's and laughed.  She had 8 bottles of red wine and I had a 12 pack of pilsner.  (Before you a kaftan, sandal wearing tree hugger has a go at me - it has been 4 weeks since I have had a beer.  I normally only drink socially at the local - never been one to drink alone at home.  Covid-19 is pushing me closer to the "vulnerable" category!).

I said "you have a more refined alcohol consumption than I"....she laughed and said "thank god the kids are going back to school."  I bet the kids are happy too!  No we didn't get within 2 metres of each other - I would have liked to.....

Ideology and the law of unintended consequences.  I still can't work out why I can buy overpriced beer in an Australian owned supermarket yet the New Zealand owned liquor store across the road with cheaper product can't open.  I guess it isn't essential and it stops the poor from spending their benefit bonus in the wrong places.  

There is a point here somewhere.....

Managing Covid-19 isn't all about lockdown's - the lockdown cure will have unintended consequences that make the cure worse than the disease.  There are some upsides - the road toll has plummeted.  Did you know in normal times on average 1 person dies on the road every day?  I gather the Greens are about to rush through policy to close the roads permanently - we can't have more deaths on the road than Covid-19.

Back to the point....  Managing Covid-19 is about protocols, reducing infection rates and protecting the vulnerable.  It ISN'T about eradication.  If you think it is and that we can eradicate it.  It is time to smell the roses (don't go for a walk to do that - they have to be in your own garden and it is recommended you sanitise the rose before smelling it).  Covid-19 and similar viruses are here forever.  I see it as a product of our over-population (the rest of the world that is).  We haven't eradicated polio (that ain't going to happen now that Trump has thrown his toys at WHO), measles, tuberculosis, HIV (more people have been infected and died from that virus than most pandemics) or influenza.  

I believe as has been shown in Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and Japan that racing can continue with protocols that support the goal of keeping infection rates suppressed.  It probably won't happen here - the RIU will probably refuse to work.

 

[curious]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

I didn't realise MPI had a role in this.

Explains everything.

MPI wouldn't know what direction the sun rises.

Actually thinking about this a bit more.  I thought the protocols were about reducing the chance of injury and thus reducing pressure on our "over stretched' hospital system?

At the end of the day Curious if you are worried about your health you can always strengthen your bubble and stay there for another 18 months.  I'm sure we could find someone to drop groceries off to you.

MPI issued the level 4 protocols for NZTR. They will issue the level 3 ones, obviously in consultation.

Currently the level 3 general guidelines say,

Riding locally

Everyone is being encouraged not to ride in order to reduce the pressure on emergency services in case of an accident.

with more detail to come.

[Chief Stipe]

3 hours ago, Freda said:

The proximity of riders in the barriers is one weak link, but hasn't so far appeared to be a problem. 

 

Get them to wear masks.  They already wear gloves.  Sanitise the gloves before each race.

 

3 hours ago, Freda said:

And when MPI first put out those requirements,  even our own track staff were ignorant of such protocols. 

 

Not everyone is "connected."  Did a NZTR/RIU representative turn up and educate?

On the other side of the coin those in the industry who have more rural connections will have a near total disdain for MPI.  

3 hours ago, Freda said:

We know that there are some trainers who aren't playing  by the rules, they put us all at risk, not just wrt individual health but by risking MPI becoming aware and restricting us for longer .

 

They only put others at risk if they have Covid-19 at an infectious stage and they have a huge uncontrolled bubble.  FFS what does your average trainer and staff do each day?  Gets up before a sparrow farts - feeds up, dungs out, takes the horse covers off, put a bridle and saddle on, work the horse, wash the horse, wait for it to dry, put the cover back on, maybe put it in a small paddock for a pick of grass and some space, bring it back in for the night, feed up.  Go to the pub for a beer and yarn.  Repeat next 6 days ad-infinitum.  How many trainers gallop more than two or three horses at a time side by side?

As for MPI.....

3 hours ago, Freda said:

Our own industry policing mechanisms have been shown to be very lax in this respect. 

If you can't enforce the rules (no matter how bullshit they are) then there is no point in them.  Compare with Australia - Waterhouse staff member hugs someone in birdcage celebrating the winning of the Golden Slipper gets a month holiday,  jockey stood down for going through wrong door, jockey fined $2,000 for breaking protocol.  Yeah na - how guys would rather hide in bushes.

[Chief Stipe]

17 minutes ago, curious said:

Riding locally

Everyone is being encouraged not to ride in order to reduce the pressure on emergency services in case of an accident.

 

That's bollocks Curious.  The national average for accidents involving horses that require medical intervention is 3% of total.  Half of that is in the Waikato region.  Now the percentage of that percentage involving racing stables is very very small.  As the figures include ALL injuries involved with ALL horse activities.  It also includes those who got kicked standing by a horse i.e. accidents not involving riding.

That protocol isn't an infection reducing protocol.  It's a statistical nonsense.  How many farm kids have been looking after their ponies and bringing the cows in on horse back?  Na they are probably using the 4 wheeler!

[Chief Stipe]

7 hours ago, curious said:

In the interim we have finalised our protocols with the view that subject to government approval, we will be able to return to training, trialling and racing at alert level 3.  We are confident that these protocols, many of which were already in place during the final weekend of racing prior to lockdown, will keep our participants and the wider community safe.

 

Where are they published?  Can we see them?  Bernie - why aren't you using the tools available to you to engage the industry and get input?

[Freda]

25 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Get them to wear masks.  They already wear gloves.  Sanitise the gloves before each race.

 

Not everyone is "connected."  Did a NZTR/RIU representative turn up and educate?

On the other side of the coin those in the industry who have more rural connections will have a near total disdain for MPI.  

They only put others at risk if they have Covid-19 at an infectious stage and they have a huge uncontrolled bubble.  FFS what does your average trainer and staff do each day?  Gets up before a sparrow farts - feeds up, dungs out, takes the horse covers off, put a bridle and saddle on, work the horse, wash the horse, wait for it to dry, put the cover back on, maybe put it in a small paddock for a pick of grass and some space, bring it back in for the night, feed up.  Go to the pub for a beer and yarn.  Repeat next 6 days ad-infinitum.  How many trainers gallop more than two or three horses at a time side by side?

As for MPI.....

If you can't enforce the rules (no matter how bullshit they are) then there is no point in them.  Compare with Australia - Waterhouse staff member hugs someone in birdcage celebrating the winning of the Golden Slipper gets a month holiday,  jockey stood down for going through wrong door, jockey fined $2,000 for breaking protocol.  Yeah na - how guys would rather hide in bushes.

Kinda one of my points .

Every trainer got the email from MPI/NZTR about horse distancing, there's no doubt that the office would have received it too, but track manager and staff appeared to be not aware?

Clearly a real disconnect. 

Compare with, as you point out, the efficiency in the Aus system. 

That also presupposes that cases of possible infections are not well hidden, or else the whole thing collapses like a pack of cards.

[Freda]

The last meeting held at Riccarton before lockdown was extremely well run, and given that the raceday tie ups are completely separate from trackwork areas,  the consensus was that racing could have continued  under those conditions,  and limited to Canterbury riders.

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, Freda said:

That also presupposes that cases of possible infections are not well hidden, or else the whole thing collapses like a pack of cards.

I would say that the odds are that the number of infected and recovered people is much much larger.  Hence the scramble now by NZ bureaucracy to get a handle on it.  We are now in a double bind for the Government - if the virus is more widespread than being reported then it follows that it isn't as bad as they are promoting.

My prediction is there will be a bounce.  What will the Government do then?  Shove us back into Level 4?  The populous will be better educated by then and I doubt it will support going back as everyone will see we can't eradicate it.  I for one don't want to live in a Police State.  Freedom comes with a cost.  I may or may not directly pay that cost but I'm sure as hell willing to take the risk.  I for one will be refusing to sign up to the $100m Covid-19 tracking card!

This Government does not understand small/medium sized business or rural businesses.

[Chief Stipe]

11 minutes ago, Freda said:

The last meeting held at Riccarton before lockdown was extremely well run, and given that the raceday tie ups are completely separate from trackwork areas,  the consensus was that racing could have continued  under those conditions,  and limited to Canterbury riders.

Then why shift the Guineas races?

[Freda]

11 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Then why shift the Guineas races?

Northern trainers have wanted the shift for years,  not just recently. 

And, if there is still restrictions on riders moving out of their district,  they sure as hell aren't going to put Canterbury apprentices up.

Edited April 17, 2020 by Freda

[All The Aces]

 

Under the current circumstances it is a no brainer to transfer both Guineas to the North. Jockeys can't ride in both islands.

Quickly looking at the last two years bugger all South Island horses line up in either race anyway.

2000 Guineas    2019  4 of 11   2018  1 of 13

1000 Guineas    2019  3 of 16    2018  3 of 13

 

    

Edited April 17, 2020 by All The Aces

[The Diceman's Been]

By the time these bastards have finished rooting the Country, the South Island will be lucky to have any carnival of any sort let alone a reason to travel down there. You lot should all sell up and relocate to the Waikato, where the hoi polloi live and breed. The south is stuffed and you know it. I can see the cable being cut in the very near future.

Jumps racing = rooted

Cup week = rooted

New stadium = you're joking will never happen now so the crusaders and highlanders are rooted

Tourism = rooted Coffee Goughie won't even open the Terrace for takeaways next week, the bludger

RIU = well, most have been rooting in the next paddock for yonks so nothing changes there. Their Motto has always been ROOTING IS US

 

 

 

[Chief Stipe]

4 minutes ago, Freda said:

Northern trainers have wanted the shift for years,  not just recently. 

 

Tell them to get stuffed.

4 minutes ago, Freda said:

And, if there is still restrictions on riders moving out of their district,  they sure as hell aren't going to put Canterbury apprentices up.

We need to think outside the square.  The danger full all of society is that Covid-19 will be used as an excuse to bring about change for the wrong reasons.

The problem is the same for every region - but only if you have district restrictions.  So will the districts be "Waikato", "CD" and "Canterbury"?  I didn't know we had Federal and State Governments in NZ!  

How big will the "Waikato" district be?  End at the Bombay hills? Or Te Aroha?

The key is implementing protocols that reduce infection rates and ensuring business to continue. 

So for the Guineas to remain at Riccarton we need 15 volunteer senior jockey's who will be flown down in the same plane (Air Nelson and Air Chathams would love the business), housed either on track or at nearest empty hotel.  Pre-tested for Covid-19 along with drug testing.  Then flown back to the Waikato afterwards and pre-tested for Covid-19 (and drugs) before they ride in the Waikato.  Easy peasy.

 

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, All The Aces said:

Under the current circumstances it is a no brainer to transfer both Guineas to the North. Jockeys can't ride in both islands.

 

Why not?  They don't have to swim across the channel.  FFS - we have the same population as Melbourne!

 

3 minutes ago, All The Aces said:

Quickly looking at the last two years bugger all South Island horses line up in either race anyway.

2000 Guineas    2019  4 of 11   2018  1 of 13

1000 Guineas    2019  3 of 16    2018  3 of 13

 

It's not about where the horse's come from - it is about tradition.  The Guineas have raced at Riccarton for 47 years!  They were compensation for shifting the Oaks to Wellington and the Derby to Auckland (look what's happened to the latter!).  We kill tradition in racing at our peril.  Another nail in the coffin.

While you are at it shift the NZ Cup to Auckland or the NZ Trotting Cup.

While you are at it kill off the entire Cup week in Christchurch.  They'll handle it - earthquakes, mosque shootings.

You mention how many of the respective fields are from the North Island - look at it from a glass half full perspective - they still traveled!!!!

[Chief Stipe]

Oh and didn't one of the biggest clusters of Covid-19 in New Zealand originate from a Stag Party in Matamata?  Probably from them all sharing the same joint or P pipe.

[The Diceman's Been]

11 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Oh and didn't one of the biggest clusters of Covid-19 in New Zealand originate from a Stag Party in Matamata?  Probably from them all sharing the same joint or P pipe.

Wrong - it was sharing the same stablehand

Almost as bad as all the blokes kissing the bride at Bluff.

[Chief Stipe]

Warriors set for remote north coast NSW base as NRL push ahead with May 28 start

 

GETTY IMAGES

The Warriors could be in their bubble close to the Queensland border.

The NRL is pushing ahead with plans to start the competition on May 28 despite high-level broadcast discussions on Friday, with the Warriors set to apply for a federal government exemption from the mandatory 14-day quarantine policy for international arrivals.

Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head, a recreational facility on NSW's far north coast, will be put forward as part of a proposal to the Australian government for exemption from the strict hotel lockdown rules in place for offshore arrivals.

ARLC chairman Peter V'landys, who remained tight-lipped about the details of Friday's video link conference with Nine chief executive Hugh Marks and Foxtel boss Patrick Delany, will resume negotiations with the game's broadcast partners early next week about an end-of-May comeback.

Momentum is gathering around a potential 20-round competition that will see State of Origin played as late as November, however all three parties involved in Friday's meeting have been sworn to secrecy.

 

It's understood the NRL executive team hasn't even been told about the events that transpired, although the Warriors are forging ahead with plans to arrive in Australia on May 3.

The Kiwis, who are about to finish a month-long isolation period in New Zealand, are hoping their recent lockdown stint will see the Australian government relax its restrictions to allow them to train during the 14-day quarantine.

The Warriors want to lock themselves inside a cabin facility on NSW's north-coast away from the community at the sport and recreational base at Lake Ainsworth.

The facility includes a training field, gym, indoor centre, tennis courts, basketball court and swimming pool.