Riccarton. Blundered at start.

[Joe Bloggs]

1 hour ago, Freda said:

Wasn't there.  But one gentleman who was, was former trainer/jockey Ali Robinson.

Ali and his wife have a new home in the Ryman retirement village, at the top end of the six furlong chute.

He often wanders down to see the horses and watch trackwork.  I was standing at the crossing watching one work as he hove to, muttering.  All that slipping, he said, bloody grass too long.  It's so long it lies flat and the mower can't cut it.

Boom Boom!

[Doomed]

2 hours ago, Freda said:

Wasn't there.  But one gentleman who was, was former trainer/jockey Ali Robinson.

Ali and his wife have a new home in the Ryman retirement village, at the top end of the six furlong chute.

He often wanders down to see the horses and watch trackwork.  I was standing at the crossing watching one work as he hove to, muttering.  All that slipping, he said, bloody grass too long.  It's so long it lies flat and the mower can't cut it.

I remember Ali well, a man of indeterminable age. Used to ride the Dennis Brothers horses didn't he. Must have won some big races in his time.

[Freda]

Just now, Doomed said:

I remember Ali well, a man of indeterminable age. Used to ride the Dennis Brothers horses didn't he. Must have won some big races in his time.

Yeah, the 2000 Guineas on Clansman I think, for Kerrs,  among many other features.  Some for the Dennis Brothers too. 

 

[nomates]

Just watched the first at Awapuni , i backed Trav , D Turner up , just before they jumped there was some movement wider out and he looked across then he looked down , then he looked across again and then down again , they jumped , the horse missed it by 4/5L , did the horse blunder ?, no bloody way , that was all on the jock .

See this shit all the time , as Clarry Connors said , " I spend 6 months getting a horse ready , and they can't give me 60 seconds of concentration ". 

Don't get me started on the rest of his ride , by the time he got the horse going he promptly ran up the back of the only horse close to him , amateur hour , these guys would get slaughtered in Aus , bush at best .

[Doomed]

2 minutes ago, Freda said:

Yeah, the 2000 Guineas on Clansman I think, for Kerrs,  among many other features.  Some for the Dennis Brothers too. 

 

Probably a very under rated rider when you think back on it.

[Freda]

Just now, Freda said:

Yeah, the 2000 Guineas on Clansman I think, for Kerrs,  among many other features.  Some for the Dennis Brothers too. 

 

 

And the 'ex' mentioned earlier in the discussion,  was a rider of the colt Clansman earlier in his career. 

But Dave ( Kerr ) wanted him to come and work him one Sunday before, I think, the John Grigg. 

But he couldn't be bothered.  So Ali rode him from then on.

[billy connolly]

15 hours ago, Reefton said:

Just read the judicial report for yesterday at Riccarton and this 'blundering' problem seems to have been predominantly at the 1400m mark.  One race there was about five of them who supposedly blundered.

Wouldn't you think the stipes would hop in a car and go round to inspect the starting point given it happened to so many?  Hardly instills punting confidence to see the same thing happening so many times at the same place(not that I am much of a punter any more)

If the head poster is correct and approx 50 horses have (through no fault of their own) lost their footing at the start of the 20 races thus far at the Cup meeting then this is a very serious matter which requires further explanation from the likes of Mills and the former harness racing stable-hand (now chief steward) McIntyre.

If my memory is correct there was another incident at Riccarton approx five years ago whereby road cones were inadvertently left on the track for horses to hurdle in the first race which was also swept under the shag-pile carpet by blundering half-baked officials !

Preposterous.

[Shad]

8 hours ago, Freda said:

Not sure if Don is still with us, the other great Coast supporter and all-round good guy, Frankie Stammers, sadly, isn't.

From acting crossing-keeper, farrier, trackwork rider, there was nothing Frankie wouldn't do to help someone.   One year, a group of us was at Woodstock  [ a little settlement a wee way out of Hokitika ] to listen to the regular Sunday night jam session.   Any musician who wanted to have a go could get up and entertain the listeners.

Om this occasion, a local dashed into the pub to announce that a car had run off the road and was stuck in a ditch.  Off went Frankie in his elderly Escort and duly towed the hapless driver out of the ditch and back on the road.  The guy turned out to be an American concert pianist.  He had been tikki-touring around back-country NZ, on his own, having some time out.  Once suitably refreshed, he sat down at the piano in the bar and enthralled us all.  He was awesome.

Two of real stalwarts of the coast racing, pity Frank wasn't around to see his horse matinee win its maiden,Don stood Hula dan as a sire at some stage.

[nod]

4 hours ago, Freda said:

Wasn't there.  But one gentleman who was, was former trainer/jockey Ali Robinson.

Ali and his wife have a new home in the Ryman retirement village, at the top end of the six furlong chute.

He often wanders down to see the horses and watch trackwork.  I was standing at the crossing watching one work as he hove to, muttering.  All that slipping, he said, bloody grass too long.  It's so long it lies flat and the mower can't cut it.

Some will remember when clubs kept a flock of sheep  -there was no long grass then and the only cancellations I can recall were for flooding.Strangely NZTR guidelines call for long green grass to look good and provide a cushion

Of course in those old days horses were not kept like caged chooks and ran around in paddocks and did not need cushions

[curious]

5 hours ago, Freda said:

He often wanders down to see the horses and watch trackwork.  I was standing at the crossing watching one work as he hove to, muttering.  All that slipping, he said, bloody grass too long.  It's so long it lies flat and the mower can't cut it.

If that's the case, surely they would cut it with a flail mower. Don't they?

[Freda]

22 minutes ago, curious said:

If that's the case, surely they would cut it with a flail mower. Don't they?

No idea what they use.  I'm only passing on Ali's comments.  Well, some of them.

[Reefton]

1 hour ago, billy connolly said:

If the head poster is correct and approx 50 horses have (through no fault of their own) lost their footing at the start of the 20 races thus far at the Cup meeting then this is a very serious matter which requires further explanation from the likes of Mills and the former harness racing stable-hand (now chief steward) McIntyre.

If my memory is correct there was another incident at Riccarton approx five years ago whereby road cones were inadvertently left on the track for horses to hurdle in the first race which was also swept under the shag-pile carpet by blundering half-baked officials !

Preposterous.

Been a couple of starters assistants in front of the gates when they were let go as well. 

Ellerslie hasn't been immune.  Golfers strolling across in front of the Great Northern field, a bloody great hole suddenly appearing in the back straight and interference not being able to be investigated because they didn't have a camera angle

I'm a Club President though so don't want to be too critical - those who live in glass houses have to be very careful about throwing stones.

[curious]

13 minutes ago, Freda said:

No idea what they use.  I'm only passing on Ali's comments.  Well, some of them.

Supposed to be mowed regularly to 90-100mm leading up to racedays according to the NZTR Minimum Venue Guidelines . Is it longer?

[Freda]

14 minutes ago, curious said:

Supposed to be mowed regularly to 90-100mm leading up to racedays according to the NZTR Minimum Venue Guidelines . Is it longer?

Apparently the biggest problem was at the 1400m mark, I haven't walked around there, the track shut early so too much of my own stuff to do.  But Ali's comments would make you think so.  And he is a very experienced horseman, not just an idle observer.

[Bid]

11 hours ago, Freda said:

Not sure if Don is still with us, the other great Coast supporter and all-round good guy, Frankie Stammers, sadly, isn't.

From acting crossing-keeper, farrier, trackwork rider, there was nothing Frankie wouldn't do to help someone.   One year, a group of us was at Woodstock  [ a little settlement a wee way out of Hokitika ] to listen to the regular Sunday night jam session.   Any musician who wanted to have a go could get up and entertain the listeners.

Om this occasion, a local dashed into the pub to announce that a car had run off the road and was stuck in a ditch.  Off went Frankie in his elderly Escort and duly towed the hapless driver out of the ditch and back on the road.  The guy turned out to be an American concert pianist.  He had been tikki-touring around back-country NZ, on his own, having some time out.  Once suitably refreshed, he sat down at the piano in the bar and enthralled us all.  He was awesome.

Yep Don still with us, I’ve had a couple in work for him lately, the last Hula Dann but unfortunately he wasn’t go to make it, lovely big horse but didn’t have the brain for it. His other one just out having a bit of spring grass and she will be back in soon, nice filly who is a chance. 

[nomates]

10 minutes ago, Bid said:

Yep Don still with us, I’ve had a couple in work for him lately, the last Hula Dann but unfortunately he wasn’t go to make it, lovely big horse but didn’t have the brain for it. His other one just out having a bit of spring grass and she will be back in soon, nice filly who is a chance. 

I remember Hula Dann , sure he was trained by Evan Rayner , a fair racehorse , won a few .

[billy connolly]

1 hour ago, Reefton said:

Been a couple of starters assistants in front of the gates when they were let go as well.

They were split second errors/mistakes which can always occur, leaving road cones on the track from day(s) previous and not noticing until the field had hurdled them in the first race together with approx 50 horses losing their footing at the start of multiple races is unforgivable.

What makes me reach for the bucket is that these same half-baked pricks responsible for this behaviour are the same individuals who think nothing of throwing the book at jockeys/trainers for frivolous rule breaches.

Why couldn't they have mowed or harrowed a 50/100m strip as soon as the first reports of a problem arose regarding horses losing their footing at the start FFS ???

Edited November 11, 2022 by billy connolly

[Joe Bloggs]

No starter should let the field go with blokes/gals in front, no go!!!........in 50 years here in Oz I have never seen or heard of that happening .......was the starter who did that let go?

[Freda]

7 hours ago, Joe Bloggs said:

No starter should let the field go with blokes/gals in front, no go!!!........in 50 years here in Oz I have never seen or heard of that happening .......was the starter who did that let go?

Happened on more than one occasion and with different starters. 

[Freda]

13 hours ago, Reefton said:

Been a couple of starters assistants in front of the gates when they were let go as well. 

Ellerslie hasn't been immune.  Golfers strolling across in front of the Great Northern field, a bloody great hole suddenly appearing in the back straight and interference not being able to be investigated because they didn't have a camera angle

I'm a Club President though so don't want to be too critical - those who live in glass houses have to be very careful about throwing stones.

Don't recall Reefton having ANY issues, my memory may not serve me well but the glass house is pretty safe I think.

[Reefton]

38 minutes ago, Freda said:

Don't recall Reefton having ANY issues, my memory may not serve me well but the glass house is pretty safe I think.

True although they tried to make one when that girl let that horse run straight instead of steering it around the corner.  Your ex partner was very handy that day pointing to pilot error.  But the bottom line is mistakes like the cones are easy to make and so in the heat of the moment are scenarios like starter's assistants not being noticed in front of the gates.  Not acceptable because someone could get killed but easy to make.

I make mistakes all the time and it is but for the grace of God there have been no tragic consequences for me or others. 

Remember Cromwell last year when eagle eyed Stipes picked up those halfwits on the track on the bend out of the back straight.  Nobody gives them credit for averting a tragedy there.  These guys, I am sure, are doing their best.

[curious]

40 minutes ago, Reefton said:

 But the bottom line is mistakes like the cones are easy to make

If you are referring to the cones incident at Riccarton I don't agree. That is a mistake in that they were left there in the first place. Pure negligence and incompetence that the first race started with them still there.

[Reefton]

1 hour ago, curious said:

If you are referring to the cones incident at Riccarton I don't agree. That is a mistake in that they were left there in the first place. Pure negligence and incompetence that the first race started with them still there.

Agree it shouldn't have happened but equally nobody did it on purpose. When you rely on staff you get cockups

[Reefton]

11 hours ago, Joe Bloggs said:

No starter should let the field go with blokes/gals in front, no go!!!........in 50 years here in Oz I have never seen or heard of that happening .......was the starter who did that let go?

I remember once the starter's assistants went on strike and sat down in front of the gates.  Think it was in Melbourne.  I thought to myself if that happened on the coast we would be a laughing stock.

Mistakes happen in all areas of life it is just that when the happen in televised events we all know about them.  I have a relation,  an extremely experienced coal miner now retired, who worked at Spring Creek at the time of Pike River.  He reckoned there was an incident at Spring Creek the week before that was the most frightening he had seen in his career.  While it was Pike that went bang it could easily have been somewhere else.  It's a fact of life

[curious]

1 hour ago, Reefton said:

Agree it shouldn't have happened but equally nobody did it on purpose. When you rely on staff you get cockups

It's not that it happened that worries me. That's a mistake. It's that those who are supposed to inspect the track on race mornings including the course manager and stipes didn't, that's inexcusable. They obviously didn't even bother to drive around it.