We're Doomed

I did notice that none of the presenters at Hawkesbury yesterday knew how to pronounce Montrachet, so its not just our lot that are bad.

Tradition has never really been respected or appreciated in NZ racing, especially not in recent years. Every week we see races in Australia with time honoured names, and races named after famous horses. In NZ most of our races tend to have locality names, Auckland Cup etc. Very few names like The Stradbroke, in NZ. Some races had prestige through their name rather than the stake, but most have now been let to disappear; Haldon Plate at Riccarton, McLean Stakes at Wingatui, even the Chalmers at Trentham - I know it still exists in name only. I am always appalled that there are no races in the SI named after Grey Way, Show Gate, Phar Lap etc. That would never ever happen in Australia. Canterbury Belle is probably the only SI horse to be recognised in "recent" years.

Geez, don't make me feel so old Blue. I think the New Year's hurdle idea was tried early 90's, or thereabouts.

You are suggesting there is a "pattern" Chris?

At least they are starting at the heart of NZ racing.

I am pretty sure the Easter meeting always used to fall at Easter, but since the introduction of Auckland "Cup Week" it has tended to get pushed right back. With Riccarton no longer racing at Easter either the Great Easter is about a month after Easter this year I think.

I have seen a few comments from Brodie on here being critical of one stable dominating big races; obviously it isn't ideal if winners are paying very small divs and stifling betting, but what does Brodie think the solution is? Would he bar that stable altogether or bar their horses from the betting if they are assessed as being too much of a certainty? In Australia clubs are more than happy to see Winx in a race even though it ruins betting. From my casual observations, there isn't much depth in some of the fields these days if you take out the Star horses.

Bit harsh on those who backed the eventual winner though to have their odds slashed when they probably would have won anyhow.

Some people are a bit critical of one stable having dominating favs, but my god how ugly and horrible would those fields have been without that stable.

You all talk as if this meeting is something special; five of the races were worth $10,000 and two others were $14,000. The biggest field was 12 horses and only one race was that size. Overall it was lower profile, and I imagine would do less turnover on and off course, than the Riverton gallops.

Whilst I don't necessarily disagree with many of P4P's comments, I don't actually think money is wasted on stakes. I think the total stakes pool is badly allocated. I was not a fan of Winston's multi million dollar races, which I seem to recall P4P supported. And I do believe we do need some aspirational races, but within reason. The problem we have is that virtually the same pool of horses race for $10,000 and $22,500 races so that does nothing to create an obvious structure of racing. And why on earth rating 65's needed to be $22,500 rather than $20,000 is beyond me. Basically, the money is just not spent wisely and there are examples of that every day. The biggest problem with the gallops code is that there appears to be no one with any feel for racing or common-sense running things. The non racing types need to be cleaned out while the industry returns to getting the basics right. I would be interested to hear where P4P thinks stakes money is being wasted. I presume he would prefer to see money taken out of stakes and spent building some super tracks. A bit chicken and egg really.

Several of Winston's objectives are totally unrealistic.

I suppose just as Australia has been deporting their crims to NZ, they are now deporting their unemployed.

Interesting. You certainly couldn't say he didn't put it in the race. Seemed more interested in the inside horse than the eventual winner. Pretty good run really.

Not very big fields, five with 8 or fewer runners, and four trot races, that must be getting up there with 40% of the card being trotters.

I find Matamata a very hard track to bet at and I seldom bother. If it does have a 400m straight, it is certainly not a course that gives every runner a fair chance. It seems to favour front runners from my experience. I can't really see why you would bother putting all that study into Matamata when you could be betting at Sydney or Melbourne, or even Riccarton. Punting at Riccarton will be much easier.

No I haven't, and I have never been into the public stand. I have driven past that is all. Where did they go wrong? A lot of NZ tracks have some embarrassing facilities, largely because they used to have so many old wooden buildings that they now can't afford to maintain, and have no need to maintain. Hawera is a classic example. In most cases they should just bulldoze must of the buildings and maintain one really nice building for the small crowds we now get. In Australia the likes of Mornington have virtually no public facilities at all and it seems to work. Do it smaller but better would be my approach.

Yes Waimate, Kurow and Omakau are all good value.

Surely it wouldn't cost much to get Avondale back to being a fully functioning track. Contrary to what many people think, it was actually the expenditure on facilities, not night racing, that sent Avondale broke, so they must have some reasonable basic facilities. I know we are talking about the 80s, but they should still be ok.

Good man, I was overseas. Good to see us getting another subject going anyhow. Less acrimonious than the other two person conversation on here at the moment. I have a lot of sympathy for Waimate, great to see them battle back.

Thanks Shad, I haven't been concentrating.

I am somewhat surprised that no one has mentioned the return of racing to Waimate this weekend after a five year break. I know it's the other code, but the gallops will be back there in June as well. Useful course for others to transfer to during a wet winter.

Wouldn't have been if The Jewel hadn't had one taken off her.

Might have been looking for anyone carrying more than $50, wondering what on earth they intended doing with it at Trentham.

You missed one good one, Just a Rebel. Owned by commentator Dave Clarkson if I recall correctly. I got him when he won his very first race at long odds at Rangiora, again if I recall correctly, it was a while ago