Industry Leaders’ Replies Corner

The International Conference for the Health, Safety, and Welfare of Jockeys was hosted in Hong Kong Dec. 11-12. The conference featured presentations and panel discussions with leading experts in the field. A replay is now available.View the full article

HISA is seeking public comment on proposed modifications to the Rule Series 5000 (Equine Testing and Investigation Standards) and 7000 (Arbitration Procedures) of its Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.View the full article

One of the declared reasons for shifting it to Feb from late March was to create a 'better pathway' for racing in Australia in the autumn -eg their Oaks. Why that is important I fail to comprehend. Any trainer getting a 3yo filly fit enough to stay 2400m on summer footing would be thinking very hard about the merit of crossing the Tasman afterwards to try and peak again for their Oaks. Yes, some have done the 'double'; others have tried and failed; and others have opted to stay home with their valuable Oaks winner. THAT'S RACING. There is no such thing as a 'perfect calendar' that suits every breeder, owner, trainer and horse. You pick a preferred path and be flexible about the programme depending on many factors - including injury, illness, track location and conditions, distance, weight, quality of opposition, prizemoney... As noted on this thread, this constant stuffing around with the traditional pattern is very destructive. And a mid-Feb staying test over 2400m for fillies is stoopid (IMO) - the potential for injury is high.

You could hear the commentator panicking when he was calling out the list of owners after assuming it had won. He got about half way through them all and you could sense him thinking, "this better have bloody well won after all this effort."

And believe it or not, SI horses used to contest the Oaks, but that is increasingly unlikely. The last southern winner Savy Coup ridden by CWJ, before that Tartan Tights back in the 90s, also ridden by the great man during the decade when he used to win it most years. It is a real pity it doesn't bring NZ's best together anymore. That was the big advantage of holding it at Trentham. Although the lack of southern representation is as much down to the poor programming down there.

Again well done Pam , what you are saying shows me a window into how racing is devolving and how it's becoming tougher to get new owners .

Looking at both the KM 3yo and Slot race there are barely a handful of horses in those 2 races that are nom'd or any realistic chance of heading for either classic , yet there is probably IMO 8-10 horses racing on Saturday or looking to get into the slot that could have in years gone past been trained to have a crack at either classic but have not been nom'd for those races . So if anybody argues that these 2 "SALES" racing aren't affecting our classics is deluded .  Given this effect I would give it 3/4 years before the lack of quality of our classics will see both downgraded .  

You have to give NZTR and Auckland Racing credit for a sense of humour. They have created a "stolen" race-day. A day when the features are the Oaks, the Otaki WFA, the Avondale Cup and the Avondale Guineas. There is another minor feature, the Uncle Remus (appropriate given who started this thread). I have no idea where that came from. It was probably a maiden 3yo a few years ago and Auckland Racing said, "Hey can we have another black type race for our "Stolen race-day".

And barely moved the pulse of the race quality if at all . And the move to Auckland could actually see that pulse start to flatline .

I'm on your side trying to get more fillies heading there but when they have a 1 mil KM and a 3.5m Slot race I know which one I'm going for if I had a horse with the ability . I don't really know if they understand the massive damage they have done to our 3yo pattern with these races . If they do then they simply don't care and moving the Oaks was a futile decision . I keep banging on about this but I will repeat again , we need a complete reset of racing dates and programs , and set it up for what is best for NZ racing in it's present situation .