Freda Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 I am assuming that NZTR has gone 'overboard' with its rules and regulations to prove to all and sundry that racing can be conducted safely in this climate of uncertainty. Obviously, Australia, despite the recent infections in Vic racing, has conducted racing pretty safely all along, so I don't really have an issue with being careful. But, it would make more sense if the three codes were on the same page. Galloping owners cannot even go to the trials, whereas harness and the greys are much more lenient in that respect. It is annoying, insulting even, when Riccarton has to close its doors to owners and patrons, and those same patrons can go 500 yards across the road and stand shoulder to shoulder in the Racecourse Pub. Chris Johnson was allowed to drive the Parsons truck to Auckland, attend the horse as a strapper, but couldn't ride it. Insane. Now we have connections of high profile horses allowed at Hastings..? I had an owner ring me, bitterly disappointed that he wasn't allowed to go, but could see the privileged ones on TV. What a slap in the face for loyal people who have paid through the nose for years, breeding and racing their modest performers. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 1 hour ago, Freda said: I am assuming that NZTR has gone 'overboard' with its rules and regulations to prove to all and sundry that racing can be conducted safely in this climate of uncertainty. The whole country has been forced to go "overboard". But racing needs to be like Caesar's wife - beyond reproach. Afterall racing can't afford too much scrutiny can it when they have been the beneficiary of large sums of taxpayer money to keep it afloat during the last year! I wasn't going to comment on what I saw at Hastings on Saturday - too easy to be critical about everything at the moment and to be honest the general public wouldn't have noticed - how many of them actually have a TAB account that has money in it that allows them to watch the racing online or those with a SKY subscription even bother to switch channels on a Saturday afternoon? But what your post Freda highlighted to me is what is really wrong with the industry at the moment. The inconsistency and the treatment of the average stakeholders (owners, punters, support industries etc.) with arrogance and apparent disdain. The inconsistent application of Covid-19 protocols on Saturday was glaringly obvious and as your rightly point out Freda what does it say to those owners that were turned away from Riccarton recently? The classic for me was when the Bary Stable representative was shown in the stand with a bunch of hangers on (I thought Callsign Mav was Australian owned?) leaping up and down when Callsign Mav won. No masks! We then see that rep galloping down the stairs from the stand with no mask - next minute he is being interviewed on TV with a mask hanging around his neck. Obviously Big Sweney handed him one before he got in front of the camera. Inconsistency! This is the rule from NZTR when did it change for Hastings? No attendances at Race or Trial meetings (clause 2.1(a)(v)) Whilst there is provision in the Level 2 Directive for attendance of owners, sponsors or other ticketed guests, provided that this is done in line with government mandated requirements, NZTR has suspended this provision until further notice. This will be reviewed after the next Government announcement on Alert Levels. Aligned to this decision, there will be no provision for on-course wagering, except where self-service terminals are already on site. Applying a rule inconsistently is worse than having no rule at all. Look at the difference between NZ and OZ - if what we had seen at Hastings had happened at Rosehill then Monday Morning's RIU report would have been littered with substantial fines and suspensions! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted September 20, 2020 Author Share Posted September 20, 2020 The inconsistency was what really pissed me off. Just such a poor attitude to the connections of the more modest runners...you lot don't matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted September 21, 2020 Author Share Posted September 21, 2020 Ok, have to apologize here. Apparently there was a notice to advise that clubs could host groups of 100 if they could do so safely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasel Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 On the same day, Ruakaka hosted 2 groups of up to 100 in 'defined spaces' with tote facilities, but they were not allowed to leave those spaces to access the rest of the track. The Club did a great job for owners and sponsors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 34 minutes ago, Weasel said: On the same day, Ruakaka hosted 2 groups of up to 100 in 'defined spaces' with tote facilities, but they were not allowed to leave those spaces to access the rest of the track. The Club did a great job for owners and sponsors. A good well organised club that have been shat on. Shows you the difference between those that have a permanent head in the trough and those that are struggling for the scraps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 4 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: A good well organised club that have been shat on. Shows you the difference between those that have a permanent head in the trough and those that are struggling for the scraps. How have they been shat on? Certainly a lot less than alot of other clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 1 hour ago, Huey said: How have they been shat on? Certainly a lot less than alot of other clubs. There was no reason to cancel all the early season dates. Affected Ruakaka more than any other clubs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 6 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: There was no reason to cancel all the early season dates. Affected Ruakaka more than any other clubs. How so? Many race clubs lost their dates altogether for no other reason than progress. Ruakaka been getting used for years, once the AWT is up and running at Cambridge - best of luck to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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