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OPINION Some heat being generated over NZTR assessing future of jumps racing. There will be no intention to end it in near future as many flag wavers suggest. The October deadline is proof of that to me, a much longer one being likely if support to be withdrawn. Maybe an accelerated season and more moves away from Saturday feature tracks? There is no question that, Trackside cheerleaders apart, jumps racing has declined to where some action must be taken. It's the old racing story of knocking leadership for lack of action then knock them again when they take it .The outcry over the Northerns faded to a whisper in a very short time considering even tho the character of those races has gone with the hill forever for traditionalists. Let's face it three stables,all Central based, win most of the major events. They are top horsemen in any sphere but can pick and choose a little in that situation.The traditional wider stable interest (Browne's, Anderton's etc )have gone and not replaced now that time, money and resources are essential training measuring rods.They won't be back. We still produce top horses but it is easier to acclaim champions when maximum and minimum weights are spead over only 6kg and with maiden and 1 win jumpers competing.The other side is that true champions are then being short changed on their achievements being made to look easy. Media talk,mostly in Central,is about how spectacular it all is but its hardly backed up by public interest and especially attendance. The crowd at Riccarton for the Grand National was the smallest I can remember. Once it had a bigger crowd than Cup Day. And it is poor Riccarton who now may face unique challenges with any changes. The South Island has long abandoned jumps racing for reasons above but Riccarton has always relied on a rewarding August meeting to bolster the coffers. It was once dominated by jumps races over three days, now there's a handful over two.The Winter Cup is a great betting race and a great watch.It is the punting highlight of the meeting but additional attractions are not easy to find on the flat at that time of the southern season, and poly racing and betting is not cutting it. So what happens? My guess is that industry leaders may want to move jumps racing away from major Saturday city tracks like Riccarton as happened at Ellerslie -who had a better cover story . You can hardly blame them. A lot of Saturday turnover comes from Australia and odds-on shots in a 4-6000m jumps race have little appeal. In addition the public don't really want to see horses maimed, exhausted or dying on a city track in the PC age of animal protection. In older days of rural support those sort of accidents were more acceptable as what happens to animals on farms. No more An sound argument in favour of retaining jumps racing is that in large public flat stables where jumps riders or former ones are otherwise employed they are really appreciated.Fair enough. But those stables seem to have limited interest (read hardly any ) in actually sending out jumpers on raceday. Economics and resources 101. Once most of the the big flat stables had jumpers and plenty of them with jumps riders attached Many of our horsemen are "imports" temporary and permanent which is a boon to trainers but another reflection of reality rather than a growth in public appeal. The dedication is still strong just not the growth and the two codes are now essentially separate. Loads of people still like watching the jumps races and they will. What they need to do is bet more on the outcome. That's the bottom line and my pick is it is well in the red compared to the use of financial resources because of the lack of true wider competition. Jumps fans can't expect to get a free ride. A number of blogs talking about Ireland and England are irrelevant. The infrastructure history there is a long and strong tradition and standout races like the Grand National attract huge public interest-greater than most flat features. It also caters for the hunter type slower performer as opposed to former flat runners and on a variety of tracks, so its numbers hold up with opportunities especially as there is no flat racing on turf in winter as a rival. But even so the English industry is struggling,public support is down and its currently dominated by Irish -trained horses and stables as a result. Modern owners,even wealthy ones, chafe at waiting five or six years for a return. The issues to overcome seem to be 1) the end of farmer/fan supported horse paddocks in favour of economic return over a long period, so increased costs for professional racing reducing owner and rural appeal 2) the reduction in number and size of fences which has removed the traditional slower hunter type from contention in favour of former/present flat horses while also removing the "thrill" for those who accept animals being potentially injured. 3) the change in betting trends especially among younger punters chiefly through preference for sports betting,quicker easier and less pain 4) the always present loss of top horsemen and horses to Australia. We are not going to overcome all of those,maybe none,so can only adapt as best we can. A five month season with limited open grade performers seems one aspect worthy of review. The panickers needn't. It will survive.But the present form has not improved the situation and it has not earned the increased funding needed for further development. Hence the NZTR move. The fact it is necessary tells a good part of the story.

Colic is one of the worst for horses RIP you little star.

Isn't closer to the rail where the problems arose? Given recent rainfall It would surprise me a bit, at least for this meeting, though I shouldn't be surprised at anything coming from HQ of late.

Very sad , had the look of a 3yo that would go on and be a contender .

We all embellish our moisture content , especially to the Mrs .

Gruff you are apply in logic to an illogical thinker , this bastard will prove to be crackers but you never know he may have helped Super Don , my thoughts are he is still going to win .

Terrible news out of the Waller camp. Lovely horse gone way too soon…RIP Champ….. Three-time Group 1-winner Riff Rocket has died following complications relating to colic surgery. The Chris Waller-trained VRC Derby winner underwent surgery to address a complication with his bowel last week and while his initial recovery appeared promising sadly he was unable to overcome the persistent issues. In a statement, Chris Waller paid tribute to his star galloper. “Riff Rocket's career as a three-year-old was nothing short of remarkable,” Waller said. “He captured the Victorian Derby in 2023, followed by victories in the Rosehill Guineas and the Australian Derby in 2024, along with other prestigious wins. He was also honoured as the New South Wales Three-Year-Old of the Year for the 2023-24 racing season. “This is a heartbreaking loss not only for the Kepitis family, but also for the entire team at Chris Waller Racing. Riff Rocket will forever hold a special place in our hearts, remembered for the fighting spirit he displayed both on the racetrack and in his final days. “Our thoughts go out to all those who had the privilege of working with and supporting Riff Rocket throughout his career. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all.” From his 12 career starts, Riff Rocket won seven times and was only out of the placings in two races during his short career.

Should get bigger fields at Oamaru. It opens it up to all the Timaru and Canterbury horses, while still being reasonably handy for Wingatui and Southland. Gee, aren't they lucky to still have Oamaru?

Read your messages Miss J.....

One word of advice for trackside from the more practical side of things. I usually have my head down looking at the form guide or the odds, with the TV and sound going in the background. My pet hate is when they switch something like Morphettville to channel 2 at the last minute and don't mention it on air. They might flash it up on screen but I don't see that. So before you know it the race you are waiting for has closed or jumped and you have missed it. A similar annoyance is the way they show recorded birdcage stuff from Brisbane then suddenly switch to the field about to jump. Some more audible clues for the distracted, busy or slightly dimwitted punter would help.

It seems based on their moisture content they put up it may actually be a Good 3 not a soft 5...a track with that level of moisture is NOT a soft 5...or am I missing something???

mate, Kermee is DA MAN ...I mean DA FROG. Got the gift of the gab and the ability to laugh at himself.

Quick, quick, you can still get him at 101-1 and 26 the place in the Cup.. Scaredy-cats at TAB are bound to knock that price in half if he wins another race.

It will be interesting to see what sort of crowd they get. The Ellerslie regulars haven't been so regular lately. Quite easy to get out of the attendance habit when you haven't been for a while.

The colt was consigned and bred by Gainesway. McKinzie topped the sire list for the seventh session of the Keeneland September Sale, which showed there is still a strong market for the top horses.View the full article

Interesting Super Rugby moving to 6 for the playoffs with the highest ranked loser getting a second life, it's not as silly as some say if they do it right, as playing 3 v 4 first, then the other 2 teams at same time so they don't throw a game, but their needs to be penaltys for top teams losing as in losing home advantage. On a slightly different note, how good has Tasman been injecting some life and I say some life into domestic rugby in the last two weeks, good crowd in Blenhiem and proves that if the products good people will come and watch, and the Rugby itself is pretty good too, Rugby needs to revamp things, Super Rugby is a necessary evil but does it need to start in mid February , and run nineteen weeks ?

No need to guess. Rail True.

There will be people who won't be happy , what is his racing knowledge like ?

There is a lot of information there though Blue, if you watch and listen. There is the odd golden titbit that steers you into a winner.. Digest all that and make up your own mind…easy peasy…..

Anyone opening a book on how far out the false rail will be? Or maybe how far in from the outside rail !

A real vote of confidence, not. Looks more curious when you consider they sent a dozen all the way to raid the south last weekend.

Excusez-moi, ladies and gentlemen, but I'll have you know that Kermit The Frog is a very experienced and professional racing presenter/interviewer.

You may have a very good point there