Dissident

Exactly. More about the dire state our health system is in, despite all that time to prepare. 

Exactly. More about the dire state our health system is in, despite all that time to prepare. 

Only time will tell who was right and who was wrong on the vaccine debate but what gets lost in the debate is the main reason we have lock downs and vaccines is our hospitals won't cope with a sudden surge in the number of people needing hospital care ,people dying at home  or in waiting rooms would be POLITICALLY DISARSTEROUS . I was speaking to an ambulance staffer a couple of days ago who works behind the scenes she told me the hospital closest to me operates at CODE RED  about 5 days a week now  (I waited 6 hours in A&E a while ago) and that she is being over worked at the moment because the ambulance service is struggling to keep up, that's without a major covid outbreak . What we do know is vacced people are less effected than none vacced that's proven .
Imagine the effects on racing without a reliable ambulance service , no racing, trials, jump outs but today as things are racing is now over reacting to covid , we can enter a mall with thousands walking around vax status unknown but racing is closed or controlled , it's time to move on .

Unfortunately I think that is already how many view it. Most trainers in NZ have to accept anything half decent won't be staying here, for obvious reasons. 

Unfortunately I think that is already how many view it. Most trainers in NZ have to accept anything half decent won't be staying here, for obvious reasons. 

This info. came through a bit later.
If I'm an owner paying the bills for a horse based in Waikato/BOP then the 275-350km journey to Ruakaka isn't all that appealing instead of a meeting that was close to my doorstep. Sure, you can't control the weather, but you can control track management (and for that matter, the use of Cambridge syn. as an alternative racing option when Mother Nature doesn't play ball)

Tauranga abandoned too😮

It did seem much better when we had farmers and horsemen maintaining the tracks - not a uni degree in sight

Interesting comment having purpose built tracks that have done job,  well the roads that were used 100 years ago have been upgraded as they weren't fit for purpose like race tracks have needed to be. Just watched Horlicks win TVNZ Stakes and even the commentator commented on the dust coming off the track during the races they wouldn't be racing on that today. Of note take note of how much irrigation was put on at NP and then they stopped watering two days before Why? Take note of how much irrigation is needed to affect the soil moisture into a track 7-8mm only enough to grow grass as any farmer would tell you

Unfortunately I think that is already how many view it. Most trainers in NZ have to accept anything half decent won't be staying here, for obvious reasons. 

my first job was with miramar tab. my dad started it. one of first 3 to open in around 1950 and they had no phone. 
you had to wait months for a new phone connection no matter who you were andat 4 years old i used to ride my 3 wheal bike up and down part of hobart st some saturdays with info to be rung into tab head office by my mum. went on for about 6 months till finally a phone was connected

The Racing side of the Tab gets in the way of the real profit,clubs need to find some method of self sufficiency because these people running the show aren’t Racing enthusiasts,the racing experience is more than just getting your money on,only my opinion , something these overpayed underperforming bean counters won’t get.Another nail in the coffin 

Its a weekly joke almost now...Taranaki is a goat track more problems again...not enough water put on again...early in the week then the rains come so it becomes a ice rink....Yes they are taking away all the alternatives...and Wanganui I believe is under Reno too...industry run by morons....I was outspoken over New Plymouth and got shut down but it is a shyte track and cannot handle what it is being asked to do.

Given the frailties of human nature TM self isolating is farcical unless they have ankle bracelets and can be monitored. I thought the industry was already at its lowest ebb but now, not so sure.

Wish him well in his retirement..one of the best we had...good luck to Andrew moving forward...big boots to fill but he has had a good grounding and will be a good trainer in his own right.

Oh dear. Can't be bothered catering for the owners that provide the product that funds their existence. Dreadful stuff. Paid my training bill today. That sum alone would have paid enough staff for a day to cater for owners at that meeting under the covid regulations.

This is my holiday reading (2nd time around) because it’s such a great read, but sadly I learned of Rick’s passing today. 
If you can get your hands on it, do read it as you won’t want to put it down. 

Scares me as well. 
As a small player who does do things on a low cost model because I do everything but ride them myself I guess I'd be gone. I keep costs down a bit because I crush own oats and cut my own chaff, all to make it affordable to some owners who would have no chance of affording a horse in a bigger stable. 
I'd say 95 percent of the people I have got involved in ownership through syndicates would not be involved at all if I hadn't have chased them,cricket and rugby mates  etc,   yeah some are only small percent owners but from these guys who knows who might win lotto or have a wealthy uncle leave them money and want to get involved in a bigger way in the future. 
Our industry is losing people by the day,closing racing in regions like East Coast ect those areas will be lost forever and no one will be following racing in five years in those regions the last thing we need is to be  doing is killing off trainers who  are still getting new people involved.  
 

That's an incredibly good point.
Over here, membership at one track in one of the racecourse owning groups as ARC or Jockey Club Racecourses, gets you entry to any meeting at the others in the group.
The initial outlay might be pricey - say $800 - 1000 but it soon pays for itself if you're not forking out $40 for each meeting - the whole thing pays for itself after 20-25 meetings.
 ARC for example includes Brighton, Lingfield, Fontwell, Southwell, Wolverhampton, Doncaster and Newcastle so that's three all-weather venues so the total number of meetings covered would be in the hundreds.
For NZ, you could have a "National" membership as well as cheaper "North" and "South" memberships perhaps. The membership could include harness races and perhaps even greyhounds.
You might want to exclude the really big days with the Group 1 events or discount the admission by 50-75% for membership holders.
You could link membership of the New Zealand Racing Club to other promotions and products including on-track food and drink and perhaps other merchandise.

She and her cohorts screwed up again let Omnicron come in with a DJ from the UK...how the fuck can that happen..heads should roll but they won't, and how is it a DJ can come in but anyones parents cant ...lets see what BS she spins this time about who's fault it is 100% for sure it won't be hers!!!! The sooner she goes the better for everyone.

The story gets worse if it is true...a trainer told me he was there from Friday afternoon and he is 100% sure there was no water put on the track as they suggested...so someone is telling porkies here and that someone IF it is true needs to go...why would they not have just put 30 to 40 mm on the track on Tuesday and let things be done naturally...or is that too simple of a thing to work out???
 

The equipment is there at Trentham to have done work on the track early in the week say Monday then put a decent amount of water on say Tuesday 35 to 40MM then let nature take its course ..so why was this not done why was it not prepared correctly...is the course manager up to the mark....??? If not then why has he not been held accountable???
It also must be asked as all the talk is the stewards knew before the first race from many sources now I am told that the track was like ice so why were they not called off BEFORE risking anyones life by forcing them to ride in the first race....surely this is a huge issue to be fully investigated.....peoples safety should be paramount from those in charge.

This El Roca filly picked up by Stephen Marsh for $75k seemed very good buying. 
Out of a full sister to G1/G2 winner Inaflury by Zabeel.

Great ride on a fantastic mare. If you are going to win a Melbourne Cup, you do it with style, in a demolition job like that. 
Well done to all involved !!!