scooby3051

I also thought doing a new track was great for everyone, but it seems some of the advice they got they went a different way like the grass for instance and things like the counters of the turns and other things...at the end of the day they spent $55 million and its not right, so is it not fair to ask some questions as to why that is??? Or am I to be just a sheep and follow along and hope everything works out??? I always was told discussing problems is a good way to solve them... I for one will not accept that 55 million gets us what we now have...somebody has cocked up somewhere big time...JMO.

The BS has started as I said another investigation undertaken...

Investigation underway after Ellerslie abandonment By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk An investigation is set to commence tomorrow morning (Thursday) into the abandonment of Ellerslie’s Wednesday meeting as a result of safety concerns following a slip on the venues newly installed StrathAyr track. A decision was made to abandon the mid-week meeting following senior jockey Opie Bosson’s report of his horse, The Storyteller, slipping near the crossing following race three, which the Stephen Marsh-trained gelding won. “Following race two we had concerns raised by a few of the jockeys in regards to the surface around the home turn,” Stipendiary Steward Lauren Selvakumaran said. “We convened a meeting with those jockeys and on the films it wasn’t apparent that there was any concern. At that time, they (jockeys) also agreed with that and were happy to keep riding. “Post race three, concerns were raised again. We convened a meeting with jockeys, club officials, Stewards and NZTR (New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing) representatives in which Mr Bosson outlined he slipped near the crossing, so we went and had a look at the track and identified a slip mark where Mr Bosson had stated it had happened. We also drove around to the 450m mark and observed a few marks around that area. “We weren’t satisfied with the surface being safe to continue.” Selvakumaran said the idea of moving the rail was floated, but it was decided that wasn’t feasible given the time it would take. “The rail was out 10m today which was the first time the rail has been at that position, so that may have played a part,” she said. “It was suggested a possible rail move, but we just don’t have the time for that as it would take five- plus hours, so we would run out of daylight.” Auckland Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Paul Wilcox was disappointed in the outcome and said the Club is working hard with relevant parties to rectify the issue. “Naturally we are disappointed in relation to having an abandonment. We pride ourselves on doing things right, so we let ourselves down when this happens,” Wilcox said. There were initial reports of horses slipping on Karaka Millions night in January, just the second meeting on the new surface, however, there have been no reports of such issues in subsequent meetings at the venue until Wednesday. “From what we can ascertain, it is the same issue where the grass is matted and joins the sand profile, which is causing the slipperiness. We thought we had that under control and we obviously didn’t,” Wilcox said. “All of those races subsequent to Karaka Millions night have been run without issue and all the jockeys have been happy with the surface. Today with the rail out 10m, which is ground that hasn’t been raced on, it has caused the same issue we experienced on Karaka Millions night.” The track is set to undergo further renovation over winter, however, Wilcox said the club will meet with NZTR and StrathAyr representatives on Thursday morning to discuss the issue and work out a plan to try and rectify the issue ahead of their next meeting in 10 days’ time. “After the last race meeting here (this season), which is the 25 th of May, it (StrathAyr track) will get a heavy renovation and that will be focussing on removing that matting to ensure going forward that that can’t cause any issues. This time next year, it will be settled and hopefully racing perfectly,” Wilcox said. “We have had a discussion with NZTR and we have got another meeting with them in the morning to work out a plan of attack so that we can have the confidence of our jockeys, owners, trainers and punters in our surface.” NZTR chief operating officer Darin Balcombe feels for the participants affected by Wednesday’s abandonment and said the three parties will be working hard on Thursday to identify a remedy. “We had a quick catch-up late this afternoon on the abandonment. We are going to meet again tomorrow morning and we have got StrathAyr coming over from Australia,” Balcombe said. “We are going to have a look at what we can do going forward into next week and whether it is still viable to run that meeting next Saturday. “We have got to do better. We can’t have these issues coming up and we have got to make sure that we get these fixes and make sure the tracks are improving. “I am pretty gutted for the owners that would have gone to the course today and had to go home again without a race. I really feel for them. “We will work through the issues and come up with a plan going forward and we will get that out to the industry at some stage tomorrow.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

I think Paul might have been a tad busy today with his tracks" bedding in" issues...

Exactly the same issues keep happening over and over and nobody or nothing changes...just another useless report and another load of waffle to make them feel like they have done something...until tough decisions are made and bought out into the open nothing will change as its a boys club...just like the penalties for different participants in the industry depending on who you are...Entain can only do so much the people who are in charge are the problem.

I even had a run in with a trainer on here when I dared to say Ellerslie has issues...IT BLOODY WELL HAS...and the sooner we all as an industry face up to it the sooner it can be fixed...JMO.

Nah mate no help needed they have the experts doing it, just ask them, they know everything, no need for outside input.

So still no issues with the track...give me a break...it needs to be out in the open not swept under the rug...the sooner we face up to the issues openly and honestly the sooner they can get fixed....or am I missing something.

And you know what we will accept it and say it needs to bed in...what a joke...heads should roll but you bet nothing happens a bullshit report will be commissioned and another load of waffle will be put out to placate everyone...but they can throw as much as they want at stakes but it fixes nothing our tracks not even the new whizzbang ones are not up to scratch ...and sorry but thats a fact....!!!!!!!!

They just never learn and its the same thing over and over again, we are just a laughing stock.

No he dislocated his shoulder so nothing to do with the abandonment.

And how many million was spent on it???LOL ...ABANDONED 55 million $$$$$ white elephant.

Trials at Puke over 200 entries not one Te Akau horse???

From another poster so no need for you to stick your beak in...LOL

So what they bid up to what they wanted to buy out the partnership...the American knew the score and tried to buy her...but in the end the heart ruled the head and she bought the partners out but how was it not good for racing and the whole industry...some good publicity so just dont see why the negativity...JMO

He is retiring after today too...good bloke Johnathan Darcy well done him on all his years of service.

Why the need to mention TA...geez you must hate them...this thread was nothing even slightly to do with them or MG???

Why be so negative...good on her it was her horse she decided to put HER money up to buy it..so what.

Not an opinion, just read and listen how many have pulled up with issues since the new track has been raced on...horses have either gone amiss on Raceday or had issues and even in one case I know of needed to be euthanised...it has issues and for the good of the industry I hope they are being addressed...not just close one eye and keep on going and hope for the best...even you know thats not a solution.

Mate what you say is partially true...when was the last time multiple horses broke down in a meeting at any track...no good trying to bury the issues...it has issues and they need addressing keep burying your head in the sand but that wont fix the problems....JMO.

Seems Ellerslie is still not up to the required standard...to many issues after racing there and they keep continuing...obviously needs some remedial work..... PEARL OF ALSACE (M McNab) – Trainer S Ritchie advised Stewards the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of the mare, however, in his opinion PEARL OF ALSACE may have been feeling the effects of the firmer track. S Ritchie further advised the mare has now been sent for a spell. Race 7 ELSDON PARK 2200 SUPER SID (D Danis) – Trainer D Hollinshead advised Stewards SUPER SID pulled up lame in the fetlocks and has now been retired from racing. Race 8 SKYCITY HORIZON 1600 SUN AND HEIR (C Grylls) – Trainer M Van Lierde advised Stewards upon return to the stable the entire underwent a veterinary examination which included x-rays, with results showing a fracture to the lower lateral aspect cannon bone of the off foreleg with the entire undergoing surgery with pins being put in place. M Van Lierde further advised SUN AND HEIR has now been sent for spell and connections will also be reassessing its racing future.

The sale is quite tough only around 65% clearance rate...maybe some tough times ahead for sellers. Winx baby will be the exception.

So you think bashing a horse is OK...many people must have seen what he did as so many commented on what they saw...if you think this type of treatment to a horse is ok then sorry I can not agree.

it may be a good lesson for him to...he seemed to be a bit big for his boots...but agree not the type of thing we need to be having come out into the press with so much anti racing feeling already...this type of thing just adds fuel to the fire. Everyone makes mistakes lets just hope he gets himself sorted and does not take his own issues out on the poor horses.