Grand National week

[Ludwig]

I was wondering what the predictions are, as regards north Island trainers sending jumps horses down for the week. I can understand horses coming down for the feature races, but what incentive is there for maiden horses to come ? With no southern jumps horses, will the numbers be light? What are the plans for  the future?

[Freda]

What indeed.

[Turny]

Sadly jumping in the SI is over.

Just a matter of time, probably not far away, when the GN jumping events will be in the NI. Simply cannot survive in the SI and Riccarton will become a Category 2 venue, alongside Trentham, with only Auckland and Hamilton being Category 1.

I only go to Riccarton once a year, for Winter Cup Day, along with my 10 invited guests, but feel that will end in a couple of years ..... and the band still plays .... SI racing is in deep water and not sure the AWT is the silver bullet

Edited July 15, 2022 by Turny

[Doomed]

1 hour ago, Turny said:

Sadly jumping in the SI is over.

Just a matter of time, probably not far away, when the GN jumping events will be in the NI. Simply cannot survive in the SI and Riccarton will become a Category 2 venue, alongside Trentham, with only Auckland and Hamilton being Category 1.

I only go to Riccarton once a year, for Winter Cup Day, along with my 10 invited guests, but feel that will end in a couple of years ..... and the band still plays .... SI racing is in deep water and not sure the AWT is the silver bullet

I really wanted to "like" that twice, but one can't do that.

I was there when Diamond Pal won the Winter Cup, and I'm sure those who were there that day remember it well.

If you were to ask me now, and offer me big money, I wouldn't be able to name a single Winter Cup winner over the last ten years.

It really has all gone so wrong. You do wonder where it went so wrong. You can't really say it was inevitable because racing in Australia is booming. Why are we so different?

[billy connolly]

1 hour ago, Turny said:

..... and the band still plays .... SI racing is in deep water

The band still plays but it's a long way from the dance floor.

In his 25/30 years as CJC/Riccarton Park CEO (and a few more under the previous CEO) how many victories has old Millsey actually had ?

Even allowing for the fact that the Riccarton Park Board/Committee have the final say, it is my opinion that Mills hasn't achieved a great deal whilst at the wheelhouse of the CJC and has used the place to feather his own nest. Even the recent housing development on Yaldhurst Road leaves much to be desired.

 

[Ludwig]

19 minutes ago, billy connolly said:

The band still plays but it's a long way from the dance floor.

In his 25/30 years as CJC/Riccarton Park CEO (and a few more under the previous CEO) how many victories has old Millsey actually had ?

Even allowing for the fact that the Riccarton Park Board/Committee have the final say, it is my opinion that Mills hasn't achieved a great deal whilst at the wheelhouse of the CJC and has used the place to feather his own nest. Even the recent housing development on Yaldhurst Road leaves much to be desired.

 

That gross housing development seems to summarize the outlook for South Island racing

[Doomed]

15 minutes ago, billy connolly said:

The band still plays but it's a long way from the dance floor.

In his 25/30 years as CJC/Riccarton Park CEO (and a few more under the previous CEO) how many victories has old Millsey actually had ?

Even allowing for the fact that the Riccarton Park Board/Committee have the final say, it is my opinion that Mills hasn't achieved a great deal whilst at the wheelhouse of the CJC and has used the place to feather his own nest. Even the recent housing development on Yaldhurst Road leaves much to be desired.

 

They haven't shown a single bit of initative or leadership over the years. I don't know whether it is the secretary or committee at fault, but they have been very disappointing. They show no enthusiasm or imagination, no aim to try anything innovative.

I'm not on the big money, but perhaps a bit of a list for the CJC might be something like a group race for 2yos in the SI,  a 3yo group race further than 1,600m, geez just a 3yo race further than 1,600m, a decent 3yo race over 1,200m, a public grandstand at Riccarton, or just pull down the eyesore. I could name a dozen more, but what's the point.

[Turny]

5 hours ago, Doomed said:

They haven't shown a single bit of initative or leadership over the years. I don't know whether it is the secretary or committee at fault, but they have been very disappointing. They show no enthusiasm or imagination, no aim to try anything innovative.

I'm not on the big money, but perhaps a bit of a list for the CJC might be something like a group race for 2yos in the SI,  a 3yo group race further than 1,600m, geez just a 3yo race further than 1,600m, a decent 3yo race over 1,200m, a public grandstand at Riccarton, or just pull down the eyesore. I could name a dozen more, but what's the point.

The Grandstand is the epitome of their failure in my opinion.

Ironic we have just had *The other grandstand issue* resolved this week yet CJC have this bloody eyesore still standing. The lack of an insurance settlement 12 years on is not adding up for mine and the bells ain't ringing for me.

But, the band plays on ...... and Riccarton wonders why on a standard Saturday they get 300 on course .... twilight industry continuing to give itself uppercuts ...... tho superb thesis material for any PhD student studying marketing 

All terribly sad

[Freda]

6 hours ago, Ludwig said:

That gross housing development seems to summarize the outlook for South Island 

  I agree, it's awful.

[Ludwig]

1 hour ago, Turny said:

The Grandstand is the epitome of their failure in my opinion.

Ironic we have just had *The other grandstand issue* resolved this week yet CJC have this bloody eyesore still standing. The lack of an insurance settlement 12 years on is not adding up for mine and the bells ain't ringing for me.

But, the band plays on ...... and Riccarton wonders why on a standard Saturday they get 300 on course .... twilight industry continuing to give itself uppercuts ...... tho superb thesis material for any PhD student studying marketing 

All terribly sad

I find it sad that a club like Waimate, where the grandstands were destroyed, managed to get the community together to replace them. And their reward, to be shut down.

Yet Riccarton the grandstand saga drags on, and their reward, a fancy new track.

 

[Shad]

21 hours ago, Doomed said:

I really wanted to "like" that twice, but one can't do that.

I was there when Diamond Pal won the Winter Cup, and I'm sure those who were there that day remember it well.

If you were to ask me now, and offer me big money, I wouldn't be able to name a single Winter Cup winner over the last ten years.

It really has all gone so wrong. You do wonder where it went so wrong. You can't really say it was inevitable because racing in Australia is booming. Why are we so different?

What year did diamond pal win it, it can't remember that win, but can recall ronganui win three from memory, red baron, Magellan maybe not sure, all counted another that springs to mind but may have only been placed.was there the day empire rose won the cup, what a mighty mare she was in all forms.

[Doomed]

6 hours ago, Shad said:

What year did diamond pal win it, it can't remember that win, but can recall ronganui win three from memory, red baron, Magellan maybe not sure, all counted another that springs to mind but may have only been placed.was there the day empire rose won the cup, what a mighty mare she was in all forms.

Late 70s Diamond Pal won, paid about $98 dollars, longest priced winner ever I think. May have been ridden by Jim Collett. I did see all of Ronganui's wins, all very wet tracks, Magellan in contrast a very firm track, may have been a track record.This is all from memory so may not be totally correct.

[Freda]

Digressing from topic - Magellan was ridden by Tito Poblete in many of his wins...I was at trainer Helen Preston's home watching the Kentucky Derby, and her husband unearthed a video of Magellan.  Watch this, he said..so I did.  Watch again, when I didn't make any comment. Watch Tito, he said.  Tito was swapping the stick over every stride, and it was almost unnoticeable.

[curious]

Just looking at the programme there. Not a single highweight any of the 3 days? How do they expect the jumps riders to survive for the week, let alone get there and back?

[Freda]

1 hour ago, curious said:

Just looking at the programme there. Not a single highweight any of the 3 days? How do they expect the jumps riders to survive for the week, let alone get there and back?

No idea, don't care, no glamour in a humble highweight.

IMO - although there are/were many other factors - the removal of highweights/welters from the southern scene was one very potent reason for the falling off [ sorry about the pun ] of jump rider numbers and the resultant lack of jumpers in training.

Edited July 17, 2022 by Freda

[Honestjohn]

I don't like watching jumps races as I've got older.  The danger of riders and horses falling bothers me more as I get older. I used to take my grandkids to Cutts brush every year to watch the gn. I guess it's like the dogs racing,  that will end within 5years I predict. 

 

Hj

[curious]

Yeahh but watching those horses streaming over fences at Trentham yesterday was gold.

[Joe Bloggs]

22 hours ago, Freda said:

No idea, don't care, no glamour in a humble highweight.

IMO - although there are/were many other factors - the removal of highweights/welters from the southern scene was one very potent reason for the falling off [ sorry about the pun ] of jump rider numbers and the resultant lack of jumpers in training.

Remember the jumpers flat? why couldn't they schedule those, too late now of course, but they run so many maiden highweights in VIC, anythings possible with passion and foresight, they could have saved jumps racing if they had a jumps panel as an advisory board, the AWT, well in France they run jumps racing on their synthetic tracks, anything, anything could have been done with consultation, unfortunately you have no-one with any common sense in charge at Petone, its a rabble and has been for some time, not one of them could catch and kill their own, career salary people, Dare to be Different, it pays off in spades, the sad lunacy of racing admin has caused it's own downfall, it's slow and excruciating painful, and it could have been so easily avoided..........

[Joe Bloggs]

On 7/17/2022 at 5:44 AM, Freda said:

Digressing from topic - Magellan was ridden by Tito Poblete in many of his wins...I was at trainer Helen Preston's home watching the Kentucky Derby, and her husband unearthed a video of Magellan.  Watch this, he said..so I did.  Watch again, when I didn't make any comment. Watch Tito, he said.  Tito was swapping the stick over every stride, and it was almost unnoticeable.

Whatever happened to him [Tito] Freda? Tina may know, although Chileans and Argies aren't the best of friends......

[aquaman]

My memories of Tito were always being tailed off out the back, sometimes so far back he was in a race of his own, but he sure could come home under a wet sail. I know he had a following amongst the girls, problem was he had a wife back home.

[Freda]

1 hour ago, aquaman said:

My memories of Tito were always being tailed off out the back, sometimes so far back he was in a race of his own, but he sure could come home under a wet sail. I know he had a following amongst the girls, problem was he had a wife back home.

Since when has that bothered a jockey?  

I saw him a few years back, at the track.

A familiar face, but very stocky now...you remember me Pam? he said.   I hate to admit I can't put a name to you, I  said,  but you sure look familiar. 

So he introduced himself,  he was visiting his son in ChCh who had just become a father.

I have been watching races, he announced,  those riders, they're awful, would I be able to go to apprentice school ?  He wondered ..would be great if you could, I said  but they have their heads up their arse and wouldn't let you in the door probably. 

[aquaman]

Short in the irons, and great balance.

[Doomed]

1 hour ago, aquaman said:

Short in the irons, and great balance.

Yes, a great talent. My three fav SI jockeys over the years were Tito and Kevin Morton from all those years ago and CWJ for about the last 40 years.

[Reefton]

4 hours ago, Doomed said:

Yes, a great talent. My three fav SI jockeys over the years were Tito and Kevin Morton from all those years ago and CWJ for about the last 40 years.

Well I am sure Meuenza(or whatever he calls himself) will be delighted to hear it and commend you on your splendid judgement Doomed.

[aquaman]

Was Tito the jock for Little Brown Jug?, and also Godarvari, excuse spelling. Agree with Doomed about Kevin Morton, also a favourite of mine as is Chris.