Ellerslie track issues

[Insider 4,236]

Someone mentioned “crash test dummies” the other day somewhere and they were cried down. 
I guess that he deserves an apology?

[Pak Star 801]

I dont think the rail has ever been out 10m on the new surface has it?  Throw it out 14-16m next meeting and they should finally have every blade of grass "bedded in" eh? 

[Leggy 4,185]

On 4/8/2024 at 1:08 PM, Chris Wood said:

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

Curious to know what Paul had to say when you had a chat Chris?

[Friend Family 356]

Tremendous investment.

Put a Strathayr track in and we will never have a problem again ......yeah right .....all they've done is create an on-speed highway that can't cop the rain.

55 million well spent .....take your hats off to Ellerslie the best track in the country .....well it used to be..

FF.

[gubellini 4,210]

They hocked off the family silver ( the legendary hill) to help pay for this track "upgrade". Where is the accountabilty? Will they bring in a PR Firm to assuage the industry participants?

[Pete Lane 747]

Report 2024-04-10 Ellerslie (1).pdf

[Pete Lane 747]

29 minutes ago, Insider said:

Someone mentioned “crash test dummies” the other day somewhere and they were cried down. 
I guess that he deserves an apology?

A slight embellishment there. It was implied that they moved the meeting there to test the track out when it was only moved because, ironically, another track was closed.

[Leggy 4,185]

Race 2
AUCKLAND CO-OP TAXIS MAIDEN 3YO 1200

Following this race comment was made by some riders that their mounts were shifting in the ground. Films from Race 2 were also further reviewed with there being no apparent movement. Stewards convened a meeting with riders along with club officials and after viewing available film footage it was agreed that the meeting should continue.

 

 So, they sent them round again before convening a Track Safety Review Panel? Seriously?

[THE TORCH 712]

You know the worst thing about all of this? We have lost the hill. Gone forever for this crap track.

[Contentious 660]

2 minutes ago, Leggy said:

Race 2
AUCKLAND CO-OP TAXIS MAIDEN 3YO 1200

Following this race comment was made by some riders that their mounts were shifting in the ground. Films from Race 2 were also further reviewed with there being no apparent movement. Stewards convened a meeting with riders along with club officials and after viewing available film footage it was agreed that the meeting should continue.

 

 So, they sent them round again before convening a Track Safety Review Panel? Seriously?

sounds just like Karaka Million night!

 

[gubellini 4,210]

I feel especially sorry for Jim Pender who travelled the furtherest to this meeting from Tauranga. Wondering if he or the Waikato trainers will get some compensation for float expenses?

[Aaron The Anchor 250]

Rail out 10m........ has the surface ever seen horses this wide? G4 and bits of turf flying like it was Soft......

[Contentious 660]

3 minutes ago, gubellini said:

I feel especially sorry for Jim Pender who travelled the furtherest to this meeting from Tauranga. Wondering if he or the Waikato trainers will get some compensation for float expenses?

I am more worried about all the food that was unable to be consumed due to this - maybe the 'butcher' will get it down to Te Rapa  

[tripple alliance 1,071]

There you go problem solved .

 

[Memphis3 1,318]

What was wrong with the old track ? 

[Contentious 660]

6 minutes ago, Memphis3 said:

What was wrong with the old track ? 

They couldn't find a way to spend $55 million on it

[chiknsmack 512]

4 minutes ago, Memphis3 said:

What was wrong with the old track ? 

When it rained it got muddy and took time to recover. Not good enough when we want 40 meetings per year at "Headquarters" from September to April.

This new track though can take a foot of rain in ten minutes and be a good 4 half an hour later. Water just runs clean through it. It definitely doesn't get muddy (or slippery).

[Blue 1,127]

1 hour ago, Al Feilding said:

Come in Winston

Winston won't be doing any track renovations that's for sure. Ellerslie, Avondale, Te Aroha all on the 'injured list' for one reason or another.

What odds the next Auckland Cup runs on the poly at Cambridge? Don't seem to have any slipping problems at least.

 

[Memphis3 1,318]

1 hour ago, gubellini said:

They hocked off the family silver ( the legendary hill) to help pay for this track "upgrade". Where is the accountabilty? Will they bring in a PR Firm to assuage the industry participants?

Selling the Hill was sacrilege. They sold their soul. 

[Pam Robson 1,642]

2 hours ago, Snapper said:

If it is correct what Leggy has said that they chose to use their own grass instead of the Strathayr  product MegAyr its hard to understand why.

But don't worry sugar lips will spin a good story and everyone will believe him.

It's correct.

[Leggy 4,185]

 

[Idolmite 2,675]

3 hours ago, Snapper said:

If it is correct what Leggy has said that they chose to use their own grass instead of the Strathayr  product MegAyr its hard to understand why.

But don't worry sugar lips will spin a good story and everyone will believe him.

 

You can't order a brand new Rolls Royce but expect them to let you supply and fit your own engine and seats. Did the suppliers of the surface really let Ellerslie use their own grass? 

[Pam Robson 1,642]

1 minute ago, Idolmite said:

 

You can't order a brand new Rolls Royce but expect them to let you supply and fit your own engine and seats. Did the suppliers of the surface really let Ellerslie use their own grass? 

Seems so. Hard to fathom. 

[Leggy 4,185]

My prediction is that like most tracks in NZ they'll continue to try patching it up for a year or two, and like the Kensington Strathayr at Randwick, end up having to rip it up and spend 18 months re-laying it before it is usable. Meanwhile, they will continue to close usable tracks.

Kensington track at Randwick to be replaced

• 31 December 2015
• by By Chris Scholtz - racingandsports.com.au

Tuesday’s barrier trials on the Kensington track have confirmed what most at Randwick knew was a fait accompli – the much-maligned track is not up to racing standard and will be replaced.

Racing NSW has acted with chief executive Peter V’Landys confirming that the costly “all weather” turf track – out of commission since November of 2014 - will be replaced.

V'landys issued the death knell for the Kensington track in its current form after receiving reports that the problems that have plagued the course still exist after it hosted five trials for the first time in more than 14 months on Tuesday.

"There is no doubt it is not suitable as a racing surface. We have given it every chance to perform and it doesn't," V'landys told Fairfax media.

"There is only one option left available to us. We have to work through the detail but we'll be looking to resurface it.

“Everything will be done in conjunction with the ATC.”

Another set of trials are scheduled to be held on the Kensington track on January 12 but Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy says it has no future in its current state.

“It happens every time we use the track, they just get into it and rip it out," Murrihy said.

“It hasn't improved. I can't see it being able to hold a race meeting as it is now.”
More than $3 million has been spent renovating the Kensington track in the last two years in a bid to get it up to standard.

The Australian Turf Club was prepared to rip up the track six months ago but Racing NSW stepped in and deferred any action as it will finance much of the cost for the installation of a new turf surface – probably kikuyu similar the Newcastle Jockey Club’s successful inner track now being used for racing at Broadmeadow.

The current Kensington grass is similar to Moonee Valley’s successful Strathayr track but has been beset by problems from the start. The grass - known as ‘Village Green’ - is lush on top but fails to take root and knit with the underlying mesh.

In its current state it could only be used for trackwork and occasional barrier trials.
"The grass hasn't knitted. It just rips out and the damage takes a long time to repair because of the lack of a root system,” said Randwick track manager Nevesh Ramdhani.

 

 

[Leggy 4,185]

6 minutes ago, Idolmite said:

 

You can't order a brand new Rolls Royce but expect them to let you supply and fit your own engine and seats. Did the suppliers of the surface really let Ellerslie use their own grass? 

Yes.