Peter Harrop

Hope all this makes sense.
Ive been keeping records of race times since 1995. I decided to have a look at the fastest 100 times run in NZ over 1200m, 1400m, 1600m and 2000m from those 22 years. Then I counted up the number of instances where a time from the last 3 years (2015-2017) appears on each of those Top 100's.
All things being equal, there should be, on average, 13.6 entries from the 2015-17 period on each Top 100 (ie 3 years divided by 22 years).
This is what I found :
1200 metres : 9 of the top 100 from 2015-17 (should be 13.6 of the top 100)
1400m : 7 out of 100
1600m : 12 out of 100
2000m : 6 out of 100
Counting up all 4 distances and the fastest 100 times of each, there are 34 fast times from the last 3 years when there should be 54.
There is evidence that recorded times over the last 3 years have got slower. So, is this down to increased irrigation, or some other factor?
Maybe the difference is due to changes in the way races are electronically timed? 

My amateur take on it is that tracks are having so much water put on them that come raceday they cut up, leaving them shifty for following meetings, especially if some natural aqua arrives. It's almost getting to the stage where if there is rain in the forecast, there's a pretty good chance the meeting will be abandoned at some point.

Well, my evidence is anecdotal. Up to a few years ago, tracks were set up for Firm/Good footing in summer. Recently, the directive has been to set up for Dead 4 on race mornings. From this point there appears to have been more cancellations compared to when the tracks were not watered as much. We've also been getting ridiculous situations where meetings are being abandoned, even though there has been no rain. On top of that, some meetings are affected by the track cutting up, with horses going wide to avoid the watered part of the track. I'd expect most punters would like an even surface, preferably a Good 2 or 3, if the weather allows it.
Yea, difficult situation for the track managers though.

Well, my evidence is anecdotal. Up to a few years ago, tracks were set up for Firm/Good footing in summer. Recently, the directive has been to set up for Dead 4 on race mornings. From this point there appears to have been more cancellations compared to when the tracks were not watered as much. We've also been getting ridiculous situations where meetings are being abandoned, even though there has been no rain. On top of that, some meetings are affected by the track cutting up, with horses going wide to avoid the watered part of the track. I'd expect most punters would like an even surface, preferably a Good 2 or 3, if the weather allows it.
Yea, difficult situation for the track managers though.

My amateur take on it is that tracks are having so much water put on them that come raceday they cut up, leaving them shifty for following meetings, especially if some natural aqua arrives. It's almost getting to the stage where if there is rain in the forecast, there's a pretty good chance the meeting will be abandoned at some point.

My amateur take on it is that tracks are having so much water put on them that come raceday they cut up, leaving them shifty for following meetings, especially if some natural aqua arrives. It's almost getting to the stage where if there is rain in the forecast, there's a pretty good chance the meeting will be abandoned at some point.

Of course, this thread appears after a bad week for their tipping, which every punter experiences. There have been other weeks with good profits, which is hard to maintain for them, because anything they tip is likely to end up under the odds. Whats more, if you feel they are deliberately steering you in the wrong direction, maybe the best idea is for you to keep it under your hat and make a killing on other horses at inflated odds.

Of course, this thread appears after a bad week for their tipping, which every punter experiences. There have been other weeks with good profits, which is hard to maintain for them, because anything they tip is likely to end up under the odds. Whats more, if you feel they are deliberately steering you in the wrong direction, maybe the best idea is for you to keep it under your hat and make a killing on other horses at inflated odds.

Good call.

Good to hear Peter. We changed the whole catering system to inhouse years ago to have more control over quality and quantity. Using outside caterers was fraught with danger...could be great one week, bloody awful the next. Sponsors tend to prefer the former....

This thread made me laugh. Must be a slow news night. Lol.

My question is why were they aiming for a Dead 4 in the first place (hence the saturation irrigation earlier in the week)? What's wrong with a Good 3? Much better racing and it probably would have only been dead on the day after the rain.

Fook the mandate/recommendation. It's stupid and prone to human malfunction!

My question is why were they aiming for a Dead 4 in the first place (hence the saturation irrigation earlier in the week)? What's wrong with a Good 3? Much better racing and it probably would have only been dead on the day after the rain.

How about this week?
Rodley Spent $120 Return $165
Tan Spent $200 Return $287
Some good picking there.

But then again, if I posted that info on here, it would end up being worth next to nothing. Lol.

But then again, if I posted that info on here, it would end up being worth next to nothing. Lol.

Was reading an article about the decline in Sky Subscriptions over the past 12 months (apparently they have lost 38,000 subscribers against a backdrop of a rapidly increasing population), with the view that it can only get worse as there are no World Cups or extremely high rating sports events in the pipeline after the completion of the Lions tour. Wonder if a return to Free to Air broadcasting is in consideration? Do you think this would be a good move? I tend to think so.

You cant call what they have offered up at Te Rapa lately chips. They cook them then store them in a pie warmer for the rest of the day. They end up lukewarm and limp. For chips, theyve gotta be fried on the spot. Just like the caravans by the parade rings at Ellerslie and Avondale. A decent scoop of chips all adds to the experience :)

Or maybe they can have different sized turnstiles and patrons walk in via the smallest they can fit through. Then on the way out, anyone who fits through a wider turnstile than the one they came in, is fined, and the money goes to the heart foundation

Or maybe they can have different sized turnstiles and patrons walk in via the smallest they can fit through. Then on the way out, anyone who fits through a wider turnstile than the one they came in, is fined, and the money goes to the heart foundation

I like this idea. I can record it and watch it when I get home and do my bets on fixed odds Friday night. (usually better) Can't watch when working Sat. They are following the Oz version of Formline, which is done on a Thurs?

R.I.P. John Clarke / Fred Dagg

R.I.P. John Clarke / Fred Dagg

R.I.P. John Clarke / Fred Dagg