Chief Stipe Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 PRESS RELEASE from Luuurrve Racing: The Great Northern Steeplechase and Great Northern Hurdles will be run at Te Aroha on Sunday, 3 October. The date and venue were confirmed today, following a meeting between representatives from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing and the NZ Jumping Association. The other option considered was to hold the two features at Ellerslie a week later. However, while all parties would have liked Ellerslie to have been the venue, for a final time, there was consensus that the Te Aroha date and venue was the most logical outcome. It provides certainty for the connections of the horses and their preparation and from a wagering perspective. A further delay in running the two Northerns – which were originally scheduled for 19 September – also raised horse welfare issues around the spacing of the races and potential track conditions, bearing in mind that most of the steeplechase course at Ellerslie cannot be irrigated. The uncertainty around Covid-19 Levels for Auckland on 10 October was another factor. The switch to Te Aroha will mean minor distance changes for the feature races, with the $125,000 Hurdle run over 4200m (originally 4190m) and the Steeplechase over 6200m (originally 6400m). The maiden hurdle will be run over 3100m and the 0-1-win steeplechase at 3500m, with stake increases applied to both races. In acknowledgement of the recent disruption to the jumping race pattern, NZTR has doubled the stake for the 0-1-win steeplechase, to $30,000, and increased the maiden hurdle stake from $15,000 to $25,000. ENDS. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 21, 2021 Author Share Posted September 21, 2021 That statement from NZTR encompasses EVERYTHING that is currently wrong with NZ Racing Administration. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 21, 2021 Author Share Posted September 21, 2021 2 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: It provides certainty for the connections of the horses and their preparation and from a wagering perspective. Really? Didn't realised the book was open on the Great Northern's! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 21, 2021 Author Share Posted September 21, 2021 4 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: A further delay in running the two Northerns – which were originally scheduled for 19 September – also raised horse welfare issues around the spacing of the races and potential track conditions, bearing in mind that most of the steeplechase course at Ellerslie cannot be irrigated. That wasn't a constraint for Riccarton! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 21, 2021 Author Share Posted September 21, 2021 4 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: The maiden hurdle will be run over 3100m and the 0-1-win steeplechase at 3500m, with stake increases applied to both races. In acknowledgement of the recent disruption to the jumping race pattern, NZTR has doubled the stake for the 0-1-win steeplechase, to $30,000, and increased the maiden hurdle stake from $15,000 to $25,000. Wow that makes logical sense! NOT! Yep just double the stakes bearing no thought to revenue nor field size. Ummm how is it going to help stakeholders? Unless they have changed the rules only one horse can win a race (except for a dead heat of course!). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 What a joke, by jokers. We can't stop progress, I acknowledge that, but what an opportunity for a massive race day to say goodbye to an icon, that famous hill......a salute to all those wonderful horses that won there and went on to conquer Oz and the world in some cases......Bernard and Cameron have a hand in this? The league of gentlemen at work here, or!......every village has one....in this case TWO! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 Terribly sad, the GN will not last in time, especially without the iconic hill, just another Steeplechase imo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KickintheKods Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 Given the connuction between the boss at HQ and Cameron (I'll fuck it up for you - no worries maaaate) George, the recent roomer of a complete sell off of Ellerslie racecourse for squillions, to build a new subdivision, and the planning application with the council and it's new mayor to hold night racing around the inner Viaduct with the finishing post at HQ........it all makes sense dunnit !!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 I must say, I watched some of the jumps races at Te Aroha last Sunday and I thought it looked like quite a good jumps course. And I agree with the stakes increases for the maiden and 0-1 win jumps. I thought it was an embarrassment last week when the maiden jumpers raced for $15,000 and the amateur riders raced for $30,000. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 21, 2021 Author Share Posted September 21, 2021 10 minutes ago, Doomed said: I thought it was an embarrassment last week when the maiden jumpers raced for $15,000 and the amateur riders raced for $30,000. But that is what flat horses are expected to race for - less actually! The question is why suddenly are they able to double it with no apparent logic? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 So that is it , no more Great Northerns , or Pakuranga Hunt cups . Oh so sad , not just an icon of NZ jumping/racing but an icon of international racing/sport . Fuck it why not move the Auckland Cup as well along with the Railway and Derby , WTF has history got to do with . They had not better try and keep calling it them the Great Northerns , there will be nothing great about them , the Pakuranga Hunt cup that ran on Sunday was just another steeplechase . These clueless classless bunch of fuckers are dragging this sport/industry into the sewer . There is only one thing we can wager on and that is that things are getting worse faster than we thought . The thing that saddens me the most is all the young people in the industry that never got to see our great sport at its best and in all it's glory , i feel privileged to have seen a large portion of it and partake in some small way . 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 1 minute ago, Chief Stipe said: But that is what flat horses are expected to race for - less actually! The question is why suddenly are they able to double it with no apparent logic? Why are they trying to appease the lower grade jumpers , maybe trying to make sure they hang around for next years renewal of the mighty GN Steeplechase . I would suggest they lose more on a jumping race than they do on any flat race . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 56 minutes ago, nomates said: Why are they trying to appease the lower grade jumpers , maybe trying to make sure they hang around for next years renewal of the mighty GN Steeplechase . I would suggest they lose more on a jumping race than they do on any flat race . Yeah. Much as I love jumpers, the stakes can't be justified. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 1 hour ago, nomates said: Fuck it why not move the Auckland Cup as well along with the Railway and Derby , WTF has history got to do with . The Auckland Racing Club probably wouldn't mind that, as long as they get to keep the Karaka millions. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 9 minutes ago, Freda said: Yeah. Much as I love jumpers, the stakes can't be justified. When has good old fashioned logic and common sense come into they're thinking . There is no rationale to justify it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 1 hour ago, nomates said: So that is it , no more Great Northerns , or Pakuranga Hunt cups . Oh so sad , not just an icon of NZ jumping/racing but an icon of international racing/sport . Fuck it why not move the Auckland Cup as well along with the Railway and Derby , WTF has history got to do with . They had not better try and keep calling it them the Great Northerns , there will be nothing great about them , the Pakuranga Hunt cup that ran on Sunday was just another steeplechase . These clueless classless bunch of fuckers are dragging this sport/industry into the sewer . There is only one thing we can wager on and that is that things are getting worse faster than we thought . The thing that saddens me the most is all the young people in the industry that never got to see our great sport at its best and in all it's glory , i feel privileged to have seen a large portion of it and partake in some small way . If I could have given the post a double champion post I would have! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 Hey boys and girls, we are a very angry bunch aren't we? getting angrier too......BUT, we should be a little wary as Bernie might send the stormtroopers after us like he did to poor Kate Goodrich the much maligned VIC trainer who was almost destroyed by the hopeless buggers that were at RVL then.........useless begets useless, this mob are worse than RVL ever were, why did God create Petone? He needed somewhere to keep the hopeless and useless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 On a more positive note , the first of the 2yo's step out at Flemington today R2 , love this time of the season . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 22, 2021 Author Share Posted September 22, 2021 Can anyone explain what the impact the decision will have on wagering? Does anyone have any comment on one of the reasons for shifting was that Ellerslie can't irrigate the Steeplechase track? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 15 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Can anyone explain what the impact the decision will have on wagering? Does anyone have any comment on one of the reasons for shifting was that Ellerslie can't irrigate the Steeplechase track? It's all smoke and mirrors , lot's of reasons so no one can nail them on any one thing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 11 minutes ago, nomates said: It's all smoke and mirrors , lot's of reasons so no one can nail them on any one thing . Not to mention it was the plan all along and then they can just leave it somewhere and negate any opposition to their agenda. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 48 minutes ago, nomates said: On a more positive note , the first of the 2yo's step out at Flemington today R2 , love this time of the season . Only 1 new sire represented (Pariah) a bit dissapointing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 10 minutes ago, Huey said: Only 1 new sire represented (Pariah) a bit dissapointing. I have to be honest i got a bit of a surprise when i seen it , they don't normally get going quite this early in Victoria , some of the ones they rate will be waiting for the black type races to start with . Plus 120k . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Can anyone explain what the impact the decision will have on wagering? Does anyone have any comment on one of the reasons for shifting was that Ellerslie can't irrigate the Steeplechase track? Would it need irrigating? don't shoot me down, I'm not at all familiar with the Auckland climate but I do know it rains a helluva lot more than here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 22, 2021 Author Share Posted September 22, 2021 2 hours ago, Freda said: Would it need irrigating? don't shoot me down, I'm not at all familiar with the Auckland climate but I do know it rains a helluva lot more than here. I wouldn't think it needed irrigating this year. It hasn't been a dry early spring. They are on target to have an above average rainfall for September. Currently have a heavy rain warning for the next 24 hours with over 35mm forecast. They've had 45mm so far this month so if they get what is forecast for the next 24 hours that's 90mm with the historical average being 64mm for September! The only constraint to not irrigating would be Covid Level 3 restrictions but I don't see how that would be a problem either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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