Why would Riccarton be irrigating?

[Reefton]

According to last night's telly weather forecast it is supposed to rain in Christchurch Friday but the CJC are irrigating?????

Great for someone who's horses hate wet tracks and who has been waiting patiently for a dry one

[Freda]

'Cos if they don't it will be a F1 by Friday...and it was supposed to rain Monday and didn't....

[Reefton]

11 minutes ago, Freda said:

'Cos if they don't it will be a F1 by Friday...and it was supposed to rain Monday and didn't....

Yes and it is likely to be H10 by bloody Saturday if it rains on Friday

Does F1 stand for Formula one?

[Freda]

Well,  it would be a bloody speedway if they didn't water and it didn't rain...

[Poisoned Dwarf]

20 hours ago, Reefton said:

Yes and it is likely to be H10 by bloody Saturday if it rains on Friday

Does F1 stand for Formula one?

F- - - -d One

[gee]

because i dont think  the   water they put on   , and the rain they get will be a big problem 

[Reefton]

1 hour ago, Freda said:

Well,  it would be a bloody speedway if they didn't water and it didn't rain...

Well a speedway would suit me down to the ground.  Why set it up to(based on the weather forecast)eliminate the chances of several runners all so the mudders get an advantage?  If they want conditions to suit run them in the winter.

I don't pay training(or entry) fees for the tracks to be artificially adjusted to disadvantage my horse

I find it hard to believe that Riccarton would improve that quick anyway - it hasn't been that hot over there and it certainly has not been nor-wester weather(and I know that because it has been fine over here for several weeks)

No wonder owners are leaving in droves

[Freda]

It's dry all right,  and yes,  nor'westers too.

I pulled two out because they wouldn't have coped.

[Reefton]

49 minutes ago, Freda said:

It's dry all right,  and yes,  nor'westers too.

I pulled two out because they wouldn't have coped.

Norwester's(the type that really dry Riccarton and set up 1.07 1200m times) are when the Coast is wet Pam

But the Coast isn't wet and hasn't been for weeks.   My dairy farmer clients are calling out for rain.   And nor have the Canterbury temperatures indicated that there is a significant nor wester influence.

We've waited months for decent tracks and if that rain arrives on Friday we are potentially going to be stymied again.  Riccarton has a history of irrigation cockups - what about when they were plastering it on in the middle of winter. 

I hope to hell this is not another example.

[Pitman]

What a load of fertilizer F1 by Friday

Riccarton is the best firm track in NZ and so it should be, big circuit, irrigation, sand splitting, carpeting.

 

Way better when left to nature and not listening to a few moaners. This track has been great when not over irrigated.

 

The moaners and groaners come out every cup week and leading in to it but the surface is always better when firm as is the competitive racing. Turn your wet trackers out and wait for the Coast as you normally do, race for stakes of $10k to $15k if the meetings go ahead

[Justamugpunter]

14 minutes ago, Pitman said:

 This track has been great when not over irrigated.

Isn't this the track where they sometime water the outside of the track but not down by the rail?????

[Freda]

Yep.

[Freda]

2 hours ago, Reefton said:

Norwester's(the type that really dry Riccarton and set up 1.07 1200m times) are when the Coast is wet Pam

But the Coast isn't wet and hasn't been for weeks.   My dairy farmer clients are calling out for rain.   And nor have the Canterbury temperatures indicated that there is a significant nor wester influence.

We've waited months for decent tracks and if that rain arrives on Friday we are potentially going to be stymied again.  Riccarton has a history of irrigation cockups - what about when they were plastering it on in the middle of winter. 

I hope to hell this is not another example.

I'm not disagreeing with you in a general sense _  but I know how quickly it has dried and the two I planned to run would not have been happy,  rain or irrigation or not.

If you have firm trackers they should be fine.

[Reefton]

21 minutes ago, Justamugpunter said:

Isn't this the track where they sometime water the outside of the track but not down by the rail?????

That's an example of it.

If I was the owner of a northerner who had just paid $2500 to fly my nag down there for the Canterbury Belle looking for a dry track and it turns into a bog I would be pissed right off!  

I have a mate who is not really a racing man but is in the horse with me - he has heard the Trainer last two times saying the tracks were too wet.  If it rains Friday and that track is wet again I can imagine his reaction - something along the lines of the drivers setting up the harness races and the track managers setting up the thoroughbred ones.

[Reefton]

43 minutes ago, Pitman said:

What a load of fertilizer F1 by Friday

Riccarton is the best firm track in NZ and so it should be, big circuit, irrigation, sand splitting, carpeting.

 

Way better when left to nature and not listening to a few moaners. This track has been great when not over irrigated.

 

The moaners and groaners come out every cup week and leading in to it but the surface is always better when firm as is the competitive racing. Turn your wet trackers out and wait for the Coast as you normally do, race for stakes of $10k to $15k if the meetings go ahead

 

17 minutes ago, Freda said:

I'm not disagreeing with you in a general sense _  but I know how quickly it has dried and the two I planned to run would not have been happy,  rain or irrigation or not.

If you have firm trackers they should be fine.

With all due respect Pam if you have wet trackers surely the winter is the time to be running them?

[Freda]

Sure.

One is heading for the paddock but we were hoping for maybe one more run beforehand.

The other not a Riccarton horse I dont think so not really bothered.

If I had a smart firm tracker I think I'd be quite happy.

[Turny]

No chance of rain before Saturday - forecast is for further drying weather - I doubt Winx would be running - as Pitty says this happens every year leading into Cup week - just leave the track to nature - old Grey Way won't start on Saturday if they continue to water and I can't remember GW racing at Trentham in July - his races were planned - it is all about planning your starts and racing on the track you expect

Edited September 19, 2018 by Turny

[Freda]

Pitty's mate has no doubt been on the blower to make sure the sprinklers are used

[Reefton]

47 minutes ago, Turny said:

No chance of rain before Saturday - forecast is for further drying weather - I doubt Winx would be running - as Pitty says this happens every year leading into Cup week - just leave the track to nature - old Grey Way won't start on Saturday if they continue to water and I can't remember GW racing at Trentham in July - his races were planned - it is all about planning your starts and racing on the track you expect

Three's weather says rain Friday for Christchurch.  Thats a big gamble in my view

[Freda]

7 minutes ago, Reefton said:

Three's weather says rain Friday for Christchurch.  Thats a big gamble in my view

One's weather did too...but it still has to materialize. 

[wally]

1 hour ago, Reefton said:

That's an example of it.

If I was the owner of a northerner who had just paid $2500 to fly my nag down there for the Canterbury Belle looking for a dry track and it turns into a bog I would be pissed right off!  

I have a mate who is not really a racing man but is in the horse with me - he has heard the Trainer last two times saying the tracks were too wet.  If it rains Friday and that track is wet again I can imagine his reaction - something along the lines of the drivers setting up the harness races and the track managers setting up the thoroughbred ones.

im sure you will set him straight

[Reefton]

10 minutes ago, wally said:

im sure you will set him straight

Funny thing is we were also shareholders in The Governator who of course raced all three days on that Cup meeting Trentham track about five years ago winning twice and running third(my best ownership experience in racing even though I wasn't there).  The point was they were whinging their guts out about that track being too hard(a G2 on the second day) but the racing was of course exceptional.  

Shagging around with renovating and irrigating tracks(ESPECIALLY close to raceday) will be the ruination of NZ racing.

[Turny]

41 minutes ago, Reefton said:

Three's weather says rain Friday for Christchurch.  Thats a big gamble in my view

Won't happen - no rain Friday

[Reefton]

1 minute ago, Turny said:

Won't happen - no rain Friday

effing well better not be

Its hard enough trying to win a race without the track man against you as well

Edited September 19, 2018 by Reefton

[Chief Stipe]

10 hours ago, Reefton said:

Funny thing is we were also shareholders in The Governator who of course raced all three days on that Cup meeting Trentham track about five years ago winning twice and running third(my best ownership experience in racing even though I wasn't there).  The point was they were whinging their guts out about that track being too hard(a G2 on the second day) but the racing was of course exceptional.  

Shagging around with renovating and irrigating tracks(ESPECIALLY close to raceday) will be the ruination of NZ racing.

Yep I hear you Reefton.  My biggest ownership win (a Grp 3) was on a F1!!!  I think it was the first time a track was rated an F1.  Hard and Fast used to cover it in the old days.  8 horses were lined up neck and neck with a 100m to go.  Darryn Tyquin called it "the charge of the light brigade".

They'd probably call the races off if a track was rated F1 today.