Chief Stipe Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Canterbury Jockey Club Riccarton Park Events Centre 165 Racecourse Road | PO Box 11137, Sockburn Christchurch 8443 | 03 336 0000 www.riccartonpark.co.nz Wednesday 22 April 2020MEDIA RELEASE Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas® and Barneswood Farm New Zealand One Thousand Guineas® STATEMENT BY THE CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB (‘CJC’) The CJC acknowledges the release yesterday by NZTR regarding racing dates and the Group and Listed race programme for July to November 2020 including this extract concerning the Club: “We would like to acknowledge those Clubs which could be adversely impacted, including the Canterbury JC. While retaining their three-day NZ Cup Meeting it is proposed in the indicative calendar that the Guineas races could be transferred North for the 20/21 season only, depending on the NZTR Board’s assessment of the position in early July.” The CJC wishes to make the following comments in relation to the proposal that the Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas® and Barneswood Farm New Zealand One Thousand Guineas® be run elsewhere than Riccarton Park Racecourse in November 2020 and the interpretation by some that this is a ‘done deal’. The NZTR release clearly states that it is a PROPOSAL only at this stage and states also: Final decisions will not be made until July. That there is an assumption that travel, and attendance will be limited due to COVID-19 alert level restriction. All New Zealanders are aware that this is a changing situation which will likely be quite different in July, let alone November, to what it is today. The Guineas Races COULD be transferred, not will be transferred. And if that situation were to arise that it will be for 2020 only. The CJC will be working closely with NZTR as we have to date. As the situation with the Alert levels unfolds the CJC will be making every endeavour to ensure that the Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas® and Barneswood Farm New Zealand One Thousand Guineas® can be run as they have since 1973 at their home, Riccarton Park Racecourse. The CJC acknowledges that racing, like all New Zealand activities, is experiencing exceptionally difficult circumstances under the COVID-19 crisis and appreciates and supports the work being undertaken by NZTR to ensure that racing resumes as quickly and in as strong a form as possible. Wednesday 22 April 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Well, there we were on 3 news, not much to do with travel restrictions, Pike wants the Guineas moved, is about all. He needs to realize he is representing all trainers, not just Waikato ones. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardigras Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 1 minute ago, Freda said: Well, there we were on 3 news, not much to do with travel restrictions, Pike wants the Guineas moved, is about all. He needs to realize he is representing all trainers, not just Waikato ones. People incapable of distancing their own needs from the needs of all, are very common. He is just another in a long line. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumbles Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 The taking over of NZ Racing by the elite has begun no doubt with the blessing of those in positions of influence. When i say begun i should say it started sometime ago while everybody slept. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumbles Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 50 minutes ago, Freda said: Well, there we were on 3 news, not much to do with travel restrictions, Pike wants the Guineas moved, is about all. He needs to realize he is representing all trainers, not just Waikato ones. I am presuming he was echoing the thoughts of his members or was he Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 The northern ones I presume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 1 hour ago, mumbles said: I am presuming he was echoing the thoughts of his members or was he I'm sure he consulted with them but how many are left? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 8 hours ago, curious said: I'm sure he consulted with them but how many are left? An email to all licensed trainers would have been the least he, or the executive, should have done. Didn't happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2020/04/racing-plans-to-move-cup-and-show-week-traditions-to-auckland-a-kick-in-the-teeth-for-south-island.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 13 minutes ago, Freda said: An email to all licensed trainers would have been the least he, or the executive, should have done. Didn't happen. Is there no SI representation on the executive or Canterbury and other South Island branch representation any more that would have had input to Pike's articulation of the position? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Yes, Andrew Carston and Pitty seem to have close connections. Pitty is always approachable and open, but as far as I am aware, the stance that it was, after all, just what northern trainers wanted disguised as a Covid-19 response seems to have eluded him. Certainly there was no open canvassing of stakeholders about this significant move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodlum Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 9 hours ago, curious said: I'm sure he consulted with them but how many are left? Two of the 54 trainers that were consulted by NZTR/RITA were not asked about shifting the Guineas. One North Island one South Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Noodlum said: Two of the 54 trainers that were consulted by NZTR/RITA were not asked about shifting the Guineas. One North Island one South Island. So, 54 trainers were consulted , by Nztr/Rita, but not by NZTA. Have I I understood that correctly? And, therefore, 52 trainers were asked about the Guineas, and two weren't? Edited April 25, 2020 by Freda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodlum Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 9 minutes ago, Freda said: So, 54 trainers were consulted , by Nztr/Rita, but not by NZTA. Have I I understood that correctly? And, therefore, 52 trainers were asked about the Guineas, and two weren't? The "consultation" numbers were referred to in the draft calendar release. If you ask around you'll probably find that the question about the Guineas wasn't asked to more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 2 minutes ago, Noodlum said: The "consultation" numbers were referred to in the draft calendar release. If you ask around you'll probably find that the question about the Guineas wasn't asked to more. Ah, gotcha. The query earlier was referring to Pike/Nzta canvassing trainers, not NZTR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 What's Mills Logic with this statement: "The last few years with that Karaka Million race in place, there have been some tough decisions around getting to Christchurch or staying in the north to target the Karaka Million mile," Mills said. I thought the Guineas were in November and the Karaka Millions (sweepstake races) were in January. Are they going to move the dates as well? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodlum Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 3 minutes ago, Freda said: Ah, gotcha. The query earlier was referring to Pike/Nzta canvassing trainers, not NZTR. Presumably he spoke to the same two trainers that the other groups did. But duplicity reigns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 33 minutes ago, Noodlum said: Presumably he spoke to the same two trainers that the other groups did. But duplicity reigns. Sure does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 38 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: What's Mills Logie with this statement: "The last few years with that Karaka Million race in place, there have been some tough decisions around getting to Christchurch or staying in the north to target the Karaka Million mile," Mills said. I thought the Guineas were in November and the Karaka Millions (sweepstake races) were in January. Are they going to move the dates as well? Yeah, can't quite see the train of thought there. But, again, the impact of a sales-promotion race series is being allowed to override the pattern race system. Wrong, selfish, and extremely shortsighted. I can fully understand why these northern trainers have jumped on that particular bandwagon. But, from a wider industry viewpoint, no thought as to potential impact. I have mentioned earlier that I didn't see the loss of the Guineas as a big turn-off for the wider party-going Cup week attendees. They wouldn't know or care about the significance of such a race. But the knock on effect could be enormous. No Guineas means less representation from north for supporting races, with a gradual degradation of field size, interest, and ultimately participation all round. Riccarton, for all its faults, is still the leading Sth Island club. With the inevitable contraction caused by Covid-19, it is more important than ever that Riccarton can stand up for the South. If it staggers, then Sth Island racing is gone. Do these self-entitled, short-sighted N.I trainers give a thought for the state of the industry once it is centred around the Waikato? The International pattern race people will not be allocating black type races for a NZ industry in one province. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark D Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Taking only a passing interest in these goings on lately but OH MY GOD the stupidity is beyond belief. RIP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefton Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 (edited) My information earlier in the week was that the CJC was accepting and supportive of the switch on the basis that it was a strictly one off AND that they had a trademark on the New Zealand One Thousand and New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas names(to be fair I am dubious about whether you could trademark a ‘New Zealand’ name but the legal eagles on here will know). If there were trainers who’s opinions were listened too far more likely it was Te Akau surely? And the breeders of course. Rumour has it Te Akau runs Riccarton in the spring anyway(when it comes to irrigation and the like) so this is only an extension of that. It pains me to say these things but in my view (1) the sooner the international stakes race committee takes away NZ’s group races the better for the overall NZ industry. Take away the Breeder control and domination of the game and more particularly the administration and (2) the CJC stood by and was totally silent while the small southern Clubs were being threatened with losing their assets. No doubt they were secretly rubbing their hands together thinking of the all weather track they were going to blow that money on. Well now the boot is on the other foot and it is them being kicked in the guts so how does it feel? Taking a logical progression on from this given the two group ones are set for the two days of the Cup meeting where will Trackside’s focus for those days be? Certainly not on a G3 day in the South Island and following on from that how long will the $40k premier day stakes be available to the CJC for that carnival? It is a slippery slidey slope I’m afraid and utterly predictable. I don’t doubt Tim Mills is on the phone to Petone every day and probably thought all is good and secure with his and the CJC’s place in NZ racing. Well now he has learned that those pricks are not to be trusted. Those of us from small clubs have been aware of that for a long time. Anyway if they want to make those two events the true cross-country contests they should be run at Wellington in January. Run a three year old series in the spring in both the North and South(using the Great Northern and Waikato guineas as pinnacles and maybe the Dunedin Guineas(on Melbourne Cup day) and Grigg Stakes - on the last day of the Cup meeting - as southern equivalents) then have the best come together in January. That would give the Southerners a lot better chance of being competitive. In the last three years Pitty hasn’t even run his best Three year old prospects in those two Riccarton races(Savvy Coup and Saavy Lad) so the cream of the southern crop is hardly being lined up as it stands. That might mean putting the 2000 on the second Saturday in January to accomodate the Karaka Million but it will also give a path to the Derby, Aussie in the late summer/Autumn or time to spell for a Brisbane tilt. Then again logic is not a strong point in NZ racing administration so we won’t hold our breath. Edited April 25, 2020 by Reefton 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 7 minutes ago, Reefton said: If there were trainers who’s opinions were listened too far more likely it was Te Akau surely? And the breeders of course. Rumour has it Te Akau runs Riccarton in the spring anyway(when it comes to irrigation and the like) so this is only an extension of that. Why would Te Akau support the shift? Under the current model they have won 10 of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 9 minutes ago, Reefton said: Taking a logical progression on from this given the two group ones are set for the two days of the Cup meeting where will Trackside’s focus for those days be? Certainly not on a G3 day in the South Island and following on from that how long will the $40k premier day stakes be available to the CJC for that carnival? It is a slippery slidey slope I’m afraid and utterly predictable. The Wednesday meeting will be ditched. That would put a significant hole in Cup week and in CJC's income. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: What's Mills Logie with this statement: "The last few years with that Karaka Million race in place, there have been some tough decisions around getting to Christchurch or staying in the north to target the Karaka Million mile," Mills said. I thought the Guineas were in November and the Karaka Millions (sweepstake races) were in January. Are they going to move the dates as well? Well the writer got it wrong. It was Pike that said that if you watch the interview. I can see that it may be difficult with some young horses at least to be at peak for a mile in November and again in January, especially when some are still only 2 at Guineas time. That said, it wouldn't make any difference where the races are in that respect. However there is probably an argument that a big week long trip south in November would take a lot more out of some horses than a race on their door step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 1 minute ago, curious said: However there is probably an argument that a big week long trip south in November would take a lot more out of some horses than a race on their door step. You could equally argue that it is the making of some of those horses. Why not fly them out of Hamilton? Would be less stressful than floating them from Matamata to Auckland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.