Chris Wood

Foxton should be in play to, Central Districts struggling for surfaces as well, it’s going to be a long winter…..

TeRapa had problems because the Track Manager at the time had the wrong sand delivered, it had small pebbles in it and it was very harsh on horses and riders for quite awhile, Bart Cowan has done a great job getting the track back, rain on the day didn’t help proceedings there yesterday. The closing of to many racecourses is another issue, TeTeko, Waipa has not helped. TeTeko is gone forever, it beats me why they can have trials at Waipa but cannot race there. TeAroha out has not helped either… Avondale won’t listen and work in, their facilities past use by date to be honest, was once a great track….

I am that trainer, what I was saying is that you have made your point!

Funny that Aaron, have to agree, negativity runs through a lot of Kiwis veins sadly, they want to see things fail, the old” I told you so scenario”. Sad but true….anyway, let’s see how things pan out…. I for one think it was a good move to put the track in, yes the hill has gone, and coming from an ex jumps rider, it is sad, but change happens, like it or not!

Thanks Shane, never hidden on this site and like to try and see the positive side. Things aren’t 100% obviously, but don’t get carried away, see what the powers to be come up with. They might be just as frustrated as what you people are…. The Strathayr team are on their way, they won’t walk away from their responsibilities, sure things will work out and as you say Shane, it will be the best surface in the Country. Amazing how people hide behind a barrier, got something to say, put your name to it…..

My filly didn’t attend so nor did I. I will let the dust settle and make some inquiries tomorrow! Sad outcome….

I am not a track manager or don’t confess to be one, but have been around a wee while. i will find out on Wednesday providing my horse lines up…..

Horses risked, not sure that’s the right terminology….

I can’t deny or confirm this Leggy, heading up on Wednesday hopefully so I will speak with Paul Wilcox.

Not sure Leggy, it is very new obviously, and there was no real set racing pattern last time. i just don’t believe the track is the problem of these horses going amiss, and I am not tall enough to bury my head in the sand that’s for sure…. Opinions are like bottoms, we all have one and everyone will have a theory, be it right or wrong. I think it’s a great idea ( just my opinion) to have more racing on it, I think that will be the making of the track….

How do you not know if any had issues before the Raceday?

For gods Sake, horses break down on any track Scooby, you know that. Super Sid has gone around a few times, Pearl of Alsace might have felt the firm track, some do some don’t. Injuries happen, it’s called an attrition rate, if you read all stripes reports from all tracks things will be pretty similar. Give Ellerslie some time, I for one, along with a lot of others will race there when it is in use…. It’s Headquarters, and not the other Famous landmark at the Viaduct!

They get paid for scratchings!

I am sure no one is going to put there hand up and openly say that their horses have regularly been treated for joint problems, and the horse is scratchy again the day after racing…..ooops, let’s blame the track, there might just be a little more to it I think…..

Sorry Leggy, I was referring to horse issues, not the track….

Who said the horses didn’t have underlying issues Lee, all I said is the bulk of people I spoke to had no complaints… We have trainers that complain about the tracks here at Cambridge and take their horses elsewhere to work, things can go wrong on any track…. and we can’t always see underlying issues, sadly, it’s something that’s always on the cards when you have livestock.

It’s not a flop Hi Ho, I had a conversation with a few this morning here in Cambridge, no soundness issues from their perspective, I didn’t see Chad to ask about his horse. It seems one stable may have had some issues by the word on the street, but if your injecting youngsters joints at this age, you are asking for problems as I see it, the pressure on two and three year olds without letting them mature naturally is always going to give you quite a high casualty rate, so let’s not blame the track for that.

I didnt hear of any pulling up sore, but then again I don’t always converse with fellow trainers each morning, still riding me. But I will do some research tomorrow or Tuesday from my fellow trainers and let you know what they thought…. My first runner on the track will be Canheroc on Saturday in the Avondale Cup, bit of rain forecast as I see on the Weather report, hope it’s okay….

Give Ellerslie a chance for gods sake, it needs to be used, have racing on it, maybe trials, it needs to get bedded in….

Martin Collins hasn’t walked away at all Benbati, they are in regular contact here in Cambridge, not sure where your getting your info from.

I found it interesting, NZ Rail closed the Railway between town and Petone, bus out there and get on the train at Perone to the track. Big days racing at Trentham and they close it down, NZ Rail at its bloody best…..

Synthetic racing certainly has its part to play throughout the Winter, that’s what they were designed for, Our grass tracks cannot cope with a full winter hammering and be expected to be ready for Spring racing. No Waipa, Dargaville, TeTeko, Gisborne, they used to have their place in the Calendar.

Luke sits in the impartial lane, not too close to anyone and not afraid to put things out there. It’s great, what we need, ask the questions that need to be asked, not fence sitting….

Why was the old programming changed, Welly Cup into the Telegraph, imagine trying to find the horses nowadays to have the 3 days, and Manawatu on the Monday as well….

The meeting at Cambridge yesterday had an average crowd, the Clubhouse bar and restaurant had one tote operator, people queuing up to get there money on, many shut out. 30 to 40 people there were asked to leave 30 minutes after the last race, most tap beers were not available, obviously no kegs were ordered, On Thursday a band was set up to play there, no one seemed to relay the message to the corporate customers who had been enjoying their day up on the top floor, great music was played, to about 25 people at the max. Felt sorry for the band, great guys and music, but the word didn’t get around. And they wonder why trotting is going backwards? Wouldnt have happened when JT was running the Clubhouse!