Chief Stipe Posted March 11, 2022 Share Posted March 11, 2022 I've heard reports from multiple sources that training horses safely at Riccarton is becoming more and more problematic. The course proper is not recovering nor has the necessary maintenance work been done; The "new" turf training track has become a very hard surface and less than a year in is requiring renovation work; A new computerised irrigation system for the new turf track is rarely used; Disagreements between Trainers and Maintenance staff on grooming the new AWT. Some want it hard and firm while others want a cushioned training surface; Cambridge is watering their AWT to get it in optimal training condition whereas Riccarton refuses to do so (they may not even have the capability). The manufacturer says you don't need to yet every other AWT requires it; A major stable now prefers to gallop their horses on a track to the north of the city; One and possibly two major stables are close to moving away from Riccarton further limiting the revenue stream and ultimately adding to each of the aforementioned woes. Plus, although not confirmed, there are reports of an increase in horse breakdowns well above normal averages. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 11, 2022 Share Posted March 11, 2022 I noticed the Riccarton trials in a week or so have been moved to Ashburton. I wondered if there was anything in it. Not sure if they were originally intended for the AWT. I think the first race meeting on the AWT is the one on 5 May, they will be desperate to have it working properly for that. I wonder if they will have Ashburton on standby just in case. I don't imagine they would have the gall to ask Timaru to be in readiness just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tesio Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 5 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: I've heard reports from multiple sources that training horses safely at Riccarton is becoming more and more problematic. The course proper is not recovering nor has the necessary maintenance work been done; The "new" turf training track has become a very hard surface and less than a year in is requiring renovation work; A new computerised irrigation system for the new turf track is rarely used; Disagreements between Trainers and Maintenance staff on grooming the new AWT. Some want it hard and firm while others want a cushioned training surface; Cambridge is watering their AWT to get it in optimal training condition whereas Riccarton refuses to do so (they may not even have the capability). The manufacturer says you don't need to yet every other AWT requires it; A major stable now prefers to gallop their horses on a track to the north of the city; One and possibly two major stables are close to moving away from Riccarton further limiting the revenue stream and ultimately adding to each of the aforementioned woes. Plus, although not confirmed, there are reports of an increase in horse breakdowns well above normal averages. Sounds like a shambles already, why put in new turf training track and irrigation system if they are not going to use it properly. I would have thought that new turf training track would have been a rather important track for trainers given the issues that do come with AWT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 3 hours ago, Doomed said: I noticed the Riccarton trials in a week or so have been moved to Ashburton. I wondered if there was anything in it. Not sure if they were originally intended for the AWT. I think the first race meeting on the AWT is the one on 5 May, they will be desperate to have it working properly for that. I wonder if they will have Ashburton on standby just in case. I don't imagine they would have the gall to ask Timaru to be in readiness just in case. That gore track looked good yesty, yet nothing again until september at the earliest, but there proves the point, you simply cant keep beating the shit out of some of these tracks, seems Riccarton just gets overdone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 12, 2022 Author Share Posted March 12, 2022 14 minutes ago, mikeynz said: That gore track looked good yesty, yet nothing again until september at the earliest, but there proves the point, you simply cant keep beating the shit out of some of these tracks, seems Riccarton just gets overdone. Been like that for decades. The biggest mistake in the Messara Report was the focus on amenities over quality of the track that the horses race on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzza Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 8 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Been like that for decades. The biggest mistake in the Messara Report was the focus on amenities over quality of the track that the horses race on. Lets face it the main input for the Messara Report on tracks came from NZTR and a few chosen ones. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMO Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Cambridge doesn't water the AWT. It's fluffy trackwork,then gets tightened trial/raceday . Personally, Great surface for the older horses,Jumpouts, Education .. But the young horses tend to pull injuries on it. Bone structure isn't quite as strong 🤷♂️ Definitely has its place in the Wet months! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 6 hours ago, mikeynz said: That gore track looked good yesty, yet nothing again until september at the earliest, but there proves the point, you simply cant keep beating the shit out of some of these tracks, seems Riccarton just gets overdone. I'm amazed Gore doesn't race again until next season, certainly looked a miles better track than Puke today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 15 hours ago, JMO said: Cambridge doesn't water the AWT. That's the manufacturer’s instructions. I'm surprised that they don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 15 hours ago, JMO said: Definitely has its place in the Wet months! But that can't be a factor of the water on the AWT but a negative factor of the alternative wet turf tracks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 As far as I can tell, they have a sophisticated irrigation system for the new grass training track but it has been largely unused. Despite the overseas experience on the polytracks and the Canterbury climate, no irrigation was even installed for that. What the hell is going on down there and the course proper is a disaster area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 (edited) On 12/03/2022 at 10:11 AM, Chief Stipe said: A major stable now prefers to gallop their horses on a track to the north of the city; One and possibly two major stables are close to moving away from Riccarton further limiting the revenue stream and ultimately adding to each of the aforementioned woes. Who are they? Not consistent with what I am hearing. Happy to give them a ring to confirm if you let me know. Edited March 13, 2022 by curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tesio Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 4 hours ago, curious said: Who are they? Not consistent with what I am hearing. Happy to give them a ring to confirm if you let me know. Maybe Chief has that wrong also…..he was obviously wrong on the Cambridge AWT being regularly watered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 2 minutes ago, Tesio said: .he was obviously wrong on the Cambridge AWT being regularly watered How are they doing that? It doesn't have an irrigation system does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMO Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 54 minutes ago, curious said: How are they doing that? It doesn't have an irrigation system does it? Water trucks, But they only do the ploughs and stall areas to keep the dust down. The poly holds some sort of moisture in it, and While the plough is open, Not many use the AWT 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 22 hours ago, curious said: What the hell is going on down there and the course proper is a disaster area. Are you saying this comment is incorrect? 6 hours ago, curious said: Who are they? Not consistent with what I am hearing. Happy to give them a ring to confirm if you let me know. Refer your comment above. You know as well as I do that what is said in public is often different to what people are experiencing. "The best crop of yearlings I've ever seen" and "This horse is a champion and the best I've had". Or "There's nothing wrong with the Riccarton track it just doesn't get irrigated properly". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 2 hours ago, Tesio said: Maybe Chief has that wrong also…..he was obviously wrong on the Cambridge AWT being regularly watered No. I only wrote what I was told from some sources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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