Ellerslie track issues

[Pete Lane 1,251]

Article in paper edition of Herald this morning by Mick Guerin.

Quote from Paul Wilcox:

"First thing first, we absolutely admit it was not ideal but we were unlucky with the rain, which can make any firm surface more slippery than you would like"

"But we're dealing with a new track that everybody loved at the first meeting and the new surface is still settling down, which it will continue to do for another year"

"That means the top had what was described to me as 'surface tension' and that caused the issue"

"The bottom line is it wasn't good enough but the Jockeys were comfortable still racing and obviously we didn't try and convince them either way, that was between them and the stewards".

Wilcox says he and his team will work with Stewards and, if needed, Jockeys to test the track if that is deemed necessary before the next meeting and they want to have things more settled for the Cup meeting.

[THE TORCH 773]

1. Well done MG for reporting this and making it public. He has been a huge fan of the new developments at Ellerslie but like any good journalist he's being objective.

2. What a crock of crap from Wilcox and the jockeys. That track was unsafe and again highlights the double standards in the industry in northern NZ.

[Insider 4,941]

16 minutes ago, THE TORCH said:

1. Well done MG for reporting this and making it public. He has been a huge fan of the new developments at Ellerslie but like any good journalist he's being objective.

2. What a crock of crap from Wilcox and the jockeys. That track was unsafe and again highlights the double standards in the industry in northern NZ.

One rule for Ellerslie and another for the rest of the country!

It’s been that way ever since “the industry” bailed them out of the 20 million debt on the public stand all those years ago.

One slip elsewhere and the meeting would have been gone (Trentham on Saturday) yet at least three slips were officially reported and the jockeys twice officially voiced concern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pete Lane 1,251]

Interestingly whilst the majority of winners came from horses handy to the pace not one front runner actually prevailed.

I think the bottom line here is that the track needs more time. They took a bit of a punt opening early for the Karaka meeting and it didn't quite come off because of the rain.

I honestly believe the naysayers will eat their words when it settles down.

[THE TORCH 773]

1 hour ago, PeteL said:

Interestingly whilst the majority of winners came from horses handy to the pace not one front runner actually prevailed.

I think the bottom line here is that the track needs more time. They took a bit of a punt opening early for the Karaka meeting and it didn't quite come off because of the rain.

I honestly believe the naysayers will eat their words when it settles down.

Thats not the point. Stick to the situation on Saturday and the inconsistency from certain players. The future has zero to do with this.

[Pete Lane 1,251]

13 minutes ago, THE TORCH said:

Thats not the point. Stick to the situation on Saturday and the inconsistency from certain players. The future has zero to do with this.

That's rubbish sorry. The future has everything to do with it.

You can keep raving on about Saturday but you're not going to change anything.

[THE TORCH 773]

1 minute ago, PeteL said:

That's rubbish sorry. The future has everything to do with it.

You can keep raving on about Saturday but you're not going to change anything.

Oh so racing on a dodgy surface is OK then? Why are you stating things will improve then?? With your logic the track doesnt need to be in top order ever because they will always run on it anyway! Ellerslie dodged a bullet on Saturday and youre praising the decision makers and a substandard track. Please.

[Pete Lane 1,251]

1 minute ago, THE TORCH said:

Oh so racing on a dodgy surface is OK then? Why are you stating things will improve then?? With your logic the track doesnt need to be in top order ever because they will always run on it anyway! Ellerslie dodged a bullet on Saturday and youre praising the decision makers and a substandard track. Please.

Learn to read. I haven't praised anyone. All I'm saying is that I expect things will improve going forward.

Keep on moaning about things you can't change.

[Nerula 1,510]

If you had been a country kid you would know that new grass can get skiddy when wet. It will settle down when the shine goes off it. It may need the height reduced before raceday.

A thing Ellerslie needs to wind back a bit is the Party Party. I'm no wowser but focusing on the "animals" stuffing themselves is not a great sight. Didnt see one with a racebook in hand.

 

[THE TORCH 773]

Id say your statement that we "eat our words" is an indirect "praise" (or at least support) of the tracks safety. We say it was unsafe but eating our words means we have got this wrong. Horses slipped mate! Two abandoned meetings the past week because of the same conditions. The future has zip to do with Saturday. Its like saying Legarto will win in the future....it didnt on Saturday. Two things totally lacking connection. Moaning? When someone gets injured or dies because of the major player decisions like Karaka Millions day then yeah I'll definitely have a moan. Meanwhile you'll console the victims with "give the track time and everything will turn out OK". Wake up.

[Pete Lane 1,251]

You've quoted something I supposedly said but didn't. Tell me where i said anyone would "eat their words". You have some anger management issues.

Here's the full article. Jockeys clearly didn't agree with your hyperbole.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ellerslie-bosses-to-work-out-teething-problems-before-next-race/SQ6T47MFJJFA3ONR6ABN4RIF6I/

[Pete Lane 1,251]

8 minutes ago, THE TORCH said:

Id say your statement that we "eat our words" is an indirect "praise" (or at least support) of the tracks safety. We say it was unsafe but eating our words means we have got this wrong. Horses slipped mate! Two abandoned meetings the past week because of the same conditions. The future has zip to do with Saturday. Its like saying Legarto will win in the future....it didnt on Saturday. Two things totally lacking connection. Moaning? When someone gets injured or dies because of the major player decisions like Karaka Millions day then yeah I'll definitely have a moan. Meanwhile you'll console the victims with "give the track time and everything will turn out OK". Wake up.

What victims? No horses or jockeys injured so you're talking hypothetically (or just pathetically actually).

[Pete Lane 1,251]

What I did write was this. I'm not sure how you've managed to twist that into praise for the Club.

"I think the bottom line here is that the track needs more time. They took a bit of a punt opening early for the Karaka meeting."

 

[THE TORCH 773]

56 minutes ago, PeteL said:

You've quoted something I supposedly said but didn't. Tell me where i said anyone would "eat their words". You have some anger management issues.

Here's the full article. Jockeys clearly didn't agree with your hyperbole.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ellerslie-bosses-to-work-out-teething-problems-before-next-race/SQ6T47MFJJFA3ONR6ABN4RIF6I/

Interestingly whilst the majority of winners came from horses handy to the pace not one front runner actually prevailed.

I think the bottom line here is that the track needs more time. They took a bit of a punt opening early for the Karaka meeting and it didn't quite come off because of the rain.

I honestly believe the naysayers will eat their words when it settles down.

 

But thats Ok. Sorry for being pathetically correct.

[Gruff 2,939]

1 hour ago, Nerula said:

If you had been a country kid you would know that new grass can get skiddy when wet. It will settle down when the shine goes off it. It may need the height reduced before raceday.

A thing Ellerslie needs to wind back a bit is the Party Party. I'm no wowser but focusing on the "animals" stuffing themselves is not a great sight. Didnt see one with a racebook in hand.

 

It's all about the Party now, the event even dragged in Monty Beecham.and Israel Dagg who tipped out Legarto pre race. He punted the All Blacks to beat South Africa and somehow those dead certs lost as well. The New stopper 

[Pete Lane 1,251]

38 minutes ago, THE TORCH said:

Interestingly whilst the majority of winners came from horses handy to the pace not one front runner actually prevailed.

I think the bottom line here is that the track needs more time. They took a bit of a punt opening early for the Karaka meeting and it didn't quite come off because of the rain.

I honestly believe the naysayers will eat their words when it settles down.

 

But thats Ok. Sorry for being pathetically correct.

Ok so I made a mistake. Big deal. You haven't replied to any other points I made about your ridiculous ideas so I assume you are agreeing with me.

[THE TORCH 773]

3 minutes ago, PeteL said:

Ok so I made a mistake. Big deal. You haven't replied to any other points I made about your ridiculous ideas so I assume you are agreeing with me.

How the hell can I discuss an issue with someone who denies what they say!??!! Thats not a mistake - thats blatant stupidity. For Gods sake next you'll be saying the track was unsafe and that I think that a poor track is OK to run on but "she'll be right" in the future!!!! Go back to your ARC board meeting.

[THE TORCH 773]

6 minutes ago, PeteL said:

Ok so I made a mistake. Big deal. You haven't replied to any other points I made about your ridiculous ideas so I assume you are agreeing with me.

Injury and death are "ridiculous ideas" are they? Try telling that to some of our jockeys who have been victims in the past because of slippery tracks. Ring Judy Lawson and ask her how life has been the last 17 years. 

[Pete Lane 1,251]

Just now, THE TORCH said:

Injury and death are "ridiculous ideas" are they? Try telling that to some of our jockeys who have been victims in the past because of slippery tracks. Ring Judy Lawson and ask her how life has been the last 17 years. 

Facts.

No injuries

No victims

Jockeys elect to keep riding.

Case closed.

[THE TORCH 773]

Oh my God. That'll do me. Piss off.

[Pete Lane 1,251]

1 minute ago, THE TORCH said:

Oh my God. That'll do me. Piss off.

Thank Christ for that. Go and take some Valium and chill out.

[THE TORCH 773]

3 minutes ago, PeteL said:

Thank Christ for that. Go and take some Valium and chill out.

Go acquire a brain.

[Pete Lane 1,251]

1 minute ago, THE TORCH said:

Go acquire a brain.

That is a top class comeback. I bow to your superior debating skills.

[Ohokaman 6,392]

“Surface tension”  the cause of the problem according to Wilcox, meaning the track does not accept water.

They did the coring of the track on the Monday, should have been done on Friday and there would have been no problems.

Strathayr coming back to oversee the required work in the next couple of weeks.

Ken Kelso wasn’t too impressed as Legarto was one that lost her footing, but no injuries to anyone was the positive.

[Contentious 693]

What about Tretham and Hastings - any further questions asked about their abandonments?