https://www.racecafe.co.nz/forums/index.php?/discover/RaceCafe NZ's Premier Racing Community - All ActivityenWhat's been overlooked in NZ Post's decline has been the influence of key executives who have worked for FedEx, DHL and TNT and have encouraged the NZ Post board to be like their rivals in the courier sector rather be heirs to 150 years plus of history and tradition bequeathed to them by the former NZPO.Thu, 21 May 2026 17:01:28 +0000Flaxmere should be stopped NOW. It looks like a big trip into a blind alley.Thu, 21 May 2026 16:53:16 +0000In this month's At the Track with Sean Collins, we look back on a unique edition of the Preakness Stakes (G1) held May 16 at Laurel Park.View the full articleThu, 21 May 2026 14:54:47 +0000Trainer Phil D'Amato, who previously has won the Shoemaker five times, has entered 2025 Shoemaker winner King of Gosford and Almendares in the Santa Anita grade 1 race.View the full articleThu, 21 May 2026 14:54:47 +0000Winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), British Isles will try to win a second major California race for older dirt runners, the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), for trainer Richard Baltas and owners Slam Dunk Racing, Deborah Baltas, and Cynthia McClanahan.View the full articleThu, 21 May 2026 14:54:47 +0000Some really alarming content about the 'greenfields' project in Tricky Micks article, but the usual pom pom waving ever present The area is far too remote with a small population base to even consider this as half viable, just complete madness in my opinion. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/racing/racing-returns-to-hastings-but-locals-already-focusing-on-spring/ZAPXGKTSVFD7PGY5ZMK7774YJQ/Thu, 21 May 2026 11:46:21 +0000https://thestraight.com.au/hawkes-bay-back-as-hastings-passes-first-test/ Hawke’s Bay back as Hastings passes first test By Bren O'Brien ● From The Newsdesk ● May 21, 2026 Racing returned to Hawke’s Bay on Thursday with the successful staging of a six-race meeting at Hastings, marking the official completion of the track’s recambering project and final return-to-racing protocols. The meeting, hosted by Hawke’s Bay Racing Inc., proceeded without issue, signalling a significant milestone for the club, which had not raced on the course since September 2024. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Chief Executive Matt Ballesty and Board Chair Russell Warwick were on course, describing the day as a positive step forward after a challenging period. The reopening comes at a crucial time for the Central Districts, which has faced sustained pressure with Hastings and Awapuni both out of action. Ballesty said bringing Hastings back online restores much-needed capacity and flexibility to the regional racing calendar. “The Central Districts has faced significant challenges over recent times with the loss of two key venues, so having Hastings back racing again is a major positive for owners, trainers, jockeys and Clubs across the region,” he said. “It provides important additional capacity and flexibility for the racing calendar and is a positive outcome for the long-term strength of racing in the Central Districts.”Thu, 21 May 2026 11:36:40 +0000Nobody that causes the mess, that's for sure - this circus just keeps getting worse, with only hot air and bullshit coming from the top. My opinion is that unless there is a complete rebuild of the structures in place (one body to control all things racing and wagering - see JRA example), the future is very bleak. I think this can only be done at Government level, but with a somewhat disinterested Minister for Racing, fat chance anything will happen and the same issues will do the rounds again and again. If enough owners could be convinced to do a synchronized 'mass scratching' on a particular raceday, they could drive their own abandonement of a meeting and giving the Noddies a taste of the shit they serve up again and again. Maybe this could be worthy of mainstream news and get the absent Minister for Racings attention.Thu, 21 May 2026 11:33:59 +0000For 55 mill they'd want to!Thu, 21 May 2026 10:06:02 +0000I note Paul Moroney commented on the chute from the birdcage to the course having no gate....so the horses could, if the situation had presented itself, ducked out the very obvious gap. Another potential cluster fk...Thu, 21 May 2026 10:05:18 +0000Yeah , but the bar isn't that high .Thu, 21 May 2026 10:01:06 +0000Or maybe like the local TA reps, unaware.. I thought the Assn would be all over this...Thu, 21 May 2026 09:57:48 +0000Certainly a big field, luck will play a part. Huge run by Its Tough last start running home strongly against Marketplace, who had easy run in front. Clear pick for me, odds a little slim at $2.60, stablemate Brentwood Brigade my 2nd pick.Thu, 21 May 2026 09:25:23 +0000I attended arriving about 25 minutes before the first race. Racebooks had already sold out by that time, so I went to place a bet only to find that there were only 6 windows open on the course with massive queues which moved very slowly because some of the operators clearly were not properly trained. I queued and was shut out for the first race so stayed and placed my bets for the following two races but that was a mission given the inexperience of the operator. Apart from that it was a good day.Thu, 21 May 2026 08:58:06 +0000My gut tells me they were told to ensure no "surprises" so they watered the shit out of it, and the result was todays bog, or the track is absolutely rooted and that is even more scary.Thu, 21 May 2026 08:43:18 +0000Ironically, as it has turned out, he probably isn't the worst leader we have seen in the racing industry, might not even be mentioned in the worst three.Thu, 21 May 2026 08:40:23 +0000But not his lack of conscience......Thu, 21 May 2026 08:35:41 +0000Hahaha , ah the truth ! , that can be a very scary word to some .Thu, 21 May 2026 08:11:04 +0000Just checked the track conditions for the week , up until Sunday they had 6mls of rain , Monday they put 10mls on the track via irrigation , they got 2.5mls over Monday night and another 7.5 over Tuesday night , which added up to 16mls of rain , so why did they feel they had to add 10mls on Monday ?? Very odd decision , or a massive safety precaution ??? As you say going by the time in the first race of 1.32 for 1400mtr it suggest that the track should have been downgraded to H10 , but that wouldn't have been a great look . Unfortunately none of it is a great look .Thu, 21 May 2026 08:09:40 +0000Trainers association as weak as the Proverbial…. Nothing too see here…., And these days, we are hoodwinked into having to be a member on a compulsory basis, Leo Molloy did say this would be the end of the association, once again, the great man was right!Thu, 21 May 2026 08:09:33 +0000it seems they are all sitting back congratulating themselves the messages on my phone during the day says otherwise...absolutely gobsmacked is the consensus apparently it was vertidrained to hell in recent times and the inevitable irrigation would tell you it's a bog well below the surface a quick peep on Metservice says 60 mm over 2 days a month ago......22 - 24 degree days a fortnight ago and 10 mm this week a typical HB autumn track would have easily absorbed that and presented firm How does that track dry out over the next three monthsThu, 21 May 2026 08:07:02 +0000You cant be serious that they have put out a press release to say that! I am not even going to look for it, as it's [sadly] a damn disgrace. [I wont republish what my trainer emailed my partners, in case it rebounds on him, but it's very similar to Chris's view]Thu, 21 May 2026 08:06:24 +0000The Balcombe has to front up….. This day was a nightmare! They fly John Oatham up to oversee the meeting, was he there last night to inspect the track,or this morning before the penetrometer reading was posted? Absolute joke, surely I can’t be censored for speaking the truth! 11mm of rain doesn’t bring on a track in this state!Thu, 21 May 2026 08:05:33 +0000Well Chris at least you have the character to speak out , unfortunately it requires many , many more to find the same character and start holding those at the top accountable . I wouldn't be waiting for the TA to say anything , trainers hold a lot of power , just need to be braver .Thu, 21 May 2026 08:02:13 +0000Thanks Chris they need to hear this from people who know in the industry...they put out a press release about how great it all went...not sure what planet they are on.Thu, 21 May 2026 07:59:22 +0000