Riccarton AWT

[Joe Bloggs]

Any news on this farce? Are the 'Friends Of Petone' still in sycophant mode? I'd love to run a book on how long this will be viable and revenue positive......odds?

[Freda]

Things seem to be moving at last.

Some holes have appeared, with accompanying piles of dirt.

[curious]

Are they there to bury the dead, or maybe test if they can get the drainage water to run below the water table level?

[Chief Stipe]

13 minutes ago, curious said:

Are they there to bury the dead, or maybe test if they can get the drainage water to run below the water table level?

According to the consent there needs to be sinks every 100m beside the grass swale.

Sorry I meant "soakage devices" not sinks.

[Huey]

Broken dirt today at Riccarton I see, NZ Racing on an unstoppable roll now!

[Joe Bloggs]

Lunatics running the asylum.

[Chief Stipe]

No doubt the project management team is working to ensure horse training continuity.

[billy connolly]

Walked Riccarton's all weather recently, don't know anything about the materials used, all I saw were deeply compacted stone chips coated in bitumen separated by concrete foundations inside and out.

Positives: - 
Bends and camber appear satisfactory.

Spectators will be closer to action.

Negatives: - 
Track doesn't appear to be wide enough, I paced it at approximately 10 metres in width which would be lucky to accommodate 12 horses.

Home straight is short (approx 250 metres) - will need to be in first 4 on the turn, back runners will need to sustain long sweeping runs well before turn and they'll need to be very good to win!

Not enough ground has been used, there's an approx 20 metre wide strip between the outside of Synthetic and inside of Course Proper in back straight that could have been utilized and which would've negated the need for the 1200 and 1400 start chutes. The 1200 and 1400 chutes have decimated much of the remainder of the track. 

For its (small) size this track has used up a large slice of real estate, it will require maintenance but will be a good training/trial facility and maybe an occasional winter race day but it's not a patch on the main turf track.

Edited May 24, 2021 by billy connolly

[Chief Stipe]

12 minutes ago, billy connolly said:

but it's not a patch on the main turf track.

Did you walk the main turf track as well?

[Freda]

1 hour ago, billy connolly said:

Walked Riccarton's all weather recently, don't know anything about the materials used, all I saw were deeply compacted stone chips coated in bitumen separated by concrete foundations inside and out.

Positives: - 
Bends and camber appear satisfactory.

Spectators will be closer to action.

Negatives: - 
Track doesn't appear to be wide enough, I paced it at approximately 10 metres in width which would be lucky to accommodate 12 horses.

Home straight is short (approx 250 metres) - will need to be in first 4 on the turn, back runners will need to sustain long sweeping runs well before turn and they'll need to be very good to win!

Not enough ground has been used, there's an approx 20 metre wide strip between the outside of Synthetic and inside of Course Proper in back straight that could have been utilized and which would've negated the need for the 1200 and 1400 start chutes. The 1200 and 1400 chutes have decimated much of the remainder of the track. 

For its (small) size this track has used up a large slice of real estate, it will require maintenance but will be a good training/trial facility and maybe an occasional winter race day but it's not a patch on the main turf track.

Agree wrt the strip down the back straight which appears ( at this stage ) to be just waste ground.

Don't get how the spectators will be closer to the action when it is a way inside the turf track?

[mikeynz]

1 hour ago, Freda said:

Agree wrt the strip down the back straight which appears ( at this stage ) to be just waste ground.

Don't get how the spectators will be closer to the action when it is a way inside the turf track?

Big screen tv,at home😄

[billy connolly]

7 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Did you walk the main turf track as well?

Only walked the last 600 metres. With the exception of a 3 metre strip on the very inside which hasn't had much recent use it looks patchy and feels rough and appears to have taken a hammering, it also seems relatively firm for this time of year. 

IMO the track requires at least a 3 month break over Spring and a thorough reseeding followed by a heavy rolling, the rye-grass is healthy but there's not enough of it (not dense enough.)

Before Laing's fiddled with this track 25 years ago it usually had a very good sole of carpet-like perennial rye-grass through Spring/Summer/Autumn that provided excellent footing with cushion. Not anymore.

[Freda]

On 24/05/2021 at 9:24 PM, billy connolly said:

Only walked the last 600 metres. With the exception of a 3 metre strip on the very inside which hasn't had much recent use it looks patchy and feels rough and appears to have taken a hammering, it also seems relatively firm for this time of year. 

IMO the track requires at least a 3 month break over Spring and a thorough reseeding followed by a heavy rolling, the rye-grass is healthy but there's not enough of it (not dense enough.)

Before Laing's fiddled with this track 25 years ago it usually had a very good sole of carpet-like perennial rye-grass through Spring/Summer/Autumn that provided excellent footing with cushion. Not anymore.

Sadly, no, you're quite right.    I loved the old track, and the remodelling was unfortunately poorly directed.  I have pointed out before that Laing's, who copped a lot of flak for ballsing things up from some quarters, could only follow the scope of works that they were given.  It wasn't their job to question the contract.  The 'experts' who gave the instructions should be accountable.   That will never happen though, as there is no acceptance at administrative level that there is anything wrong.

We have been restricted severely on our work allocations while all the recent construction has been happening, with grass gallops allowed once weekly, down the outside of the course proper from the 1200m chute.

Wednesday was the day we were allowed, this week, and the portion of track used now resembles a ploughed paddock.

One senior trainer, formerly a jockey as well, said to me 'in forty years of riding/training, I have never galloped on a surface so bad.'

The track staff must be ripping their hair out, no wonder we got transferred to Ashburton for today's races.   God knows how they will put that section back to order....and god knows where we will be able to gallop now, if rain puts the plough out.  And there doesn't need to be much to do that.

On a brighter  note, the visible base of the AWT appears to be clear of any build up of water, so at least that is doing what it is supposed to.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Freda said:

Sadly, no, you're quite right.    I loved the old track, and the remodelling was unfortunately poorly directed.  I have pointed out before that Laing's, who copped a lot of flak for ballsing things up from some quarters, could only follow the scope of works that they were given.  It wasn't their job to question the contract.  The 'experts' who gave the instructions should be accountable.   That will never happen though, as there is no acceptance at administrative level that there is anything wrong.

It happened 25 YEARS AGO!  Not only is it time to move on it is well past time to renovate the track AGAIN.

I repeat once again look at the yearly renovation done on the Metrop tracks in OZ and how frequently they do major renovations.  Following their approach Riccarton would have had at least 2 renovations in the last 25 years.

[Freda]

1 minute ago, Chief Stipe said:

It happened 25 YEARS AGO!  Not only is it time to move on it is well past time to renovate the track AGAIN.

I repeat once again look at the yearly renovation done on the Metrop tracks in OZ and how frequently they do major renovations.  Following their approach Riccarton would have had at least 2 renovations in the last 25 years.

Am I disagreeing with that observation?

Not at all.  But, given that the first renovation was flawed,  I have faint hope that the next one - or two - would have been any better. 

[Chief Stipe]

29 minutes ago, Freda said:

Am I disagreeing with that observation?

Not at all.  But, given that the first renovation was flawed,  I have faint hope that the next one - or two - would have been any better. 

That's negative thinking Freda.  Lessons learnt?  Are the same administration in charge?  If they are lobby to get rid of them.

However you are up against it when the South Islands Premier Trainer thinks the track is the best hard track in NZ.

There were mistakes made in OZ track renovations but they learnt and improved and kept moving.

Meanwhile we fret over a renovation that was done 25 YEARS AGO!

[Freda]

On 4/06/2021 at 7:57 AM, Chief Stipe said:

That's negative thinking Freda.  Lessons learnt?  Are the same administration in charge?  If they are lobby to get rid of them.

Who's negative?   There is nothing I - we - would like more than to see the main track up to scratch so it can be as well thought of as it used to be....and yes, same administration.

However you are up against it when the South Islands Premier Trainer thinks the track is the best hard track in NZ.

We just have to agree to disagree on that.

There were mistakes made in OZ track renovations but they learnt and improved and kept moving.

I don't think that is a universal condition.   Mistakes are made all the time...but, at least they have the money to remedy them, and the will to do so.

Meanwhile we fret over a renovation that was done 25 YEARS AGO!

 Because it was sub-standard!  why else?  And to be fair to the current track staff, they didn't create this situation.  They have inherited it, and have to do their best to manage it.

 

[Chief Stipe]

2 hours ago, Freda said:

Because it was sub-standard!  why else?  And to be fair to the current track staff, they didn't create this situation.  They have inherited it, and have to do their best to manage it.

Freda it happened 25 YEARS AGO!  How many horses have galloped on the track since then?  How many times has a tractor gone round it?  How many times have the barriers been carted around?  How many times has the substandard irrigation system unevenly watered the track?  How many drought and flood cycles has there been in 25 years?

To think the track hasn't needed ANOTHER renovation in that time is lunacy.

It is a RACETRACK not a bloody PADDOCK!  It is a surface that is pounded constantly by 500kg elite athletes (the elite bit only during Cup week).

Freda go jump on the same spot on your lawn twice a week for a month and see what it does!

[Freda]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

Freda it happened 25 YEARS AGO!  How many horses have galloped on the track since then?  How many times has a tractor gone round it?  How many times have the barriers been carted around?  How many times has the substandard irrigation system unevenly watered the track?  How many drought and flood cycles has there been in 25 years?

To think the track hasn't needed ANOTHER renovation in that time is lunacy.

It is a RACETRACK not a bloody PADDOCK!  It is a surface that is pounded constantly by 500kg elite athletes (the elite bit only during Cup week).

Freda go jump on the same spot on your lawn twice a week for a month and see what it does!

You're preaching to the converted,  Chief,  don't waste your time harangueing me.

 

[Chief Stipe]

11 minutes ago, Freda said:

You're preaching to the converted,  Chief,  don't waste your time harangueing me.

Then the "we tried that 25 years ago, got it wrong and look what happened" should be excluded from the narrative.  It is irrelevant until those in charge decide to plan and DO something about renovating the main track.  Hopefully BEFORE they close down all the good ones!

[Ludwig]

3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Then the "we tried that 25 years ago, got it wrong and look what happened" should be excluded from the narrative.  It is irrelevant until those in charge decide to plan and DO something about renovating the main track.  Hopefully BEFORE they close down all the good ones!

Agreed. And look at the perfectly good winter tracks like Waimate and Oamaru being closed down or largely ignored.

[mikeynz]

5 minutes ago, Ludwig said:

Agreed. And look at the perfectly good winter tracks like Waimate and Oamaru being closed down or largely ignored.

I don't really believe Timaru will close,Oamaru don't seem to race much,I have a look at past results and even then some of the winter or August meetings had small fields and in some cases only 6 or 7 races,even if they do have a AWT at Riccarton it won't make a scrap of difference to the grass track,one extreme weather event like last week and then racing on it does damage that lingers a long time, a better spread of meetings at venues  and a better quality productmakes  more sense.

[Gospel of Judas]

On 4/06/2021 at 7:57 AM, Chief Stipe said:

That's negative thinking Freda.  Lessons learnt?  Are the same administration in charge?  If they are lobby to get rid of them.

However you are up against it when the South Islands Premier Trainer thinks the track is the best hard track in NZ.

There were mistakes made in OZ track renovations but they learnt and improved and kept moving.

Meanwhile we fret over a renovation that was done 25 YEARS AGO!

Rate going they will all be closed down. Then be some great excuse  and got move forward with what we have got left...

[Huey]

59 minutes ago, Gospel of Judas said:

Rate going they will all be closed down. Then be some great excuse  and got move forward with what we have got left...

More than likely they'll plough it all in to the few tracks that are left ,for the few trainers and owners that are left and pump up stakes then tell everyone what a wonderful job they did. A bit like those CEOs that get hold of companies and sack thousands and make the bottom line look good over a short period of time, only for the chickens to eventually come home to roost.

[Gospel of Judas]

1 hour ago, Huey said:

More than likely they'll plough it all in to the few tracks that are left ,for the few trainers and owners that are left and pump up stakes then tell everyone what a wonderful job they did. A bit like those CEOs that get hold of companies and sack thousands and make the bottom line look good over a short period of time, only for the chickens to eventually come home to roost.

Of course, only option they have got. Because wasted all reserves and money. Going be no more money left, to invest. Why going do this path.