KM night ...

[tonkatime 324]

23 hours ago, Pheroz said:

I am fortunate to have part of a runner tomorrow, looking forward with great excitement. I see the BGP punters club is struggling a bit with their pool, they had a million last year, they have had a number of average returns, once bitten twice shy.

The traditionalists cant see it but change we must, this is the future it has to succeed or we are really in trouble.

BGP having less in the pool could also be a bit to do with needing the tab app to enter rather just through the website or in store. 
 

Good luck with your runner. 

[Koriokaramea 174]

34 minutes ago, tonkatime said:

BGP having less in the pool could also be a bit to do with needing the tab app to enter rather just through the website or in store. 
 

Exactly, Tonka !
Lost me when they said I needed to have a Smartphone in order to enter.

[Maximus 818]

On 1/24/2025 at 2:49 PM, Pete Lane said:

Ridiculous opening post.

What if we get hit by an asteroid?

What if Rangitoto erupts?

What if the sun doesn't shine and the Earth is plunged into darkness?

 

Opening post way less ridiculous than yours, old son. (Rangitoto erupt? Asteroids? You left out Lake Taupo and Yellowstone , not to mention the SEcond Coming)

How do I figure? Cos all the 'orrible scenarios mentioned have occurred in recent years on racetracks here, and IMO (In Maxi's Opinion) organisers are asking for trouble leaving it til 4:38pm to begin.

For sake of clarity, Max wants the occasion to be a riproaring success, whatever the measures of success are. Fingers crossed for all involved.

[Maximus 818]

On 1/24/2025 at 2:49 PM, Pete Lane said:

Ridiculous opening post.

What if we get hit by an asteroid?

What if Rangitoto erupts?

What if the sun doesn't shine and the Earth is plunged into darkness?

 

Opening post way less ridiculous than yours, old son. (Rangitoto erupt? Asteroids? You left out Lake Taupo and Yellowstone , not to mention the SEcond Coming)

How do I figure? Cos all the 'orrible scenarios mentioned have occurred in recent years on racetracks here, and IMO (In Maxi's Opinion) organisers are asking for trouble leaving it til 4:38pm to begin.

For sake of clarity, Max wants the occasion to be a riproaring success, whatever the measures of success are. Fingers crossed for all involved.

[Maximus 818]

Ok, we're all glammed up for the big night ..we've had Sammy put the lippy on for a walk down the straight pre-race1 ...but where's Erin? Who's this imposter?

LOL 

[Pak Star 1,224]

9 minutes ago, Maximus said:

Ok, we're all glammed up for the big night ..we've had Sammy put the lippy on for a walk down the straight pre-race1 ...but where's Erin? Who's this imposter?

LOL 

No visuals lost by having Brittany there tonight...

Erin out of form with her picks of the yard anyhow

[Maximus 818]

Questions, questions...

Has it been rainin' down at HQ? We're racing on a Soft 5? If so, why?

Race Day

Weather: Fine

Track: Soft 5

Moisture Meter: 28.1%

Rail: True 

Rain: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 10mm Rain Last 7 Days 

Irrigation: 15mm Applied Today

Weather and Track updated at 8.50am Saturday 25 January

[scooby3051 13,196]

Great to see long time RC member and all round good guy Ted have a share in the KM winner...hope the night is a big one mate.

[Insider 5,254]

The track is playing fantastically well. 

They are winning from anywhere.

[gubellini 4,597]

Congratulations Ted!

[Insider 5,254]

Good on you Ted.

A great thrill and well deserved with what you have put into racing over the years.

[meomy 1,069]

1 hour ago, Maximus said:

Questions, questions...

Has it been rainin' down at HQ? We're racing on a Soft 5? If so, why?

Race Day

Weather: Fine

Track: Soft 5

Moisture Meter: 28.1%

Rail: True 

Rain: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 10mm Rain Last 7 Days 

Irrigation: 15mm Applied Today

Weather and Track updated at 8.50am Saturday 25 January

Raining now @Maximus

They watered the track between 6.30-8amish hours during the week.

Oh for the Golden Days for mudders running around and Steeplechase Races in January like brave ones used to do in January races at Ellerslie.

[Pheroz 157]

That little bird was on my shoulder today at the Karaka Millions, I had picked La Dorado in the two year old comp along with the other 4 and I have a share in the winner of the 3 year old race.It was a great day, big crowd and plenty of younger people which was great to see. Pity the rain came but it might slow the after party down, the drinks were certainly flowing.

On face value it was. well planned and supported, I hope it worked for Entain who are driving these initiatives.

The slot race and champions day should also be well supported , there appeared to be no issues with the track when the rain came.

Ultimately for Entain its about betting numbers, time will tell.

[meomy 1,069]

1 hour ago, Pheroz said:

That little bird was on my shoulder today at the Karaka Millions, I had picked La Dorado in the two year old comp along with the other 4 and I have a share in the winner of the 3 year old race.It was a great day, big crowd and plenty of younger people which was great to see. Pity the rain came but it might slow the after party down, the drinks were certainly flowing.

On face value it was. well planned and supported, I hope it worked for Entain who are driving these initiatives.

The slot race and champions day should also be well supported , there appeared to be no issues with the track when the rain came.

Ultimately for Entain its about betting numbers, time will tell.

We stand to be corrected but KARAKA have sponsored the 2 year old race as far back as 2008 so this Race Meeting is not about an Entain initiative.

One of the great Vela sisters may recall a conversation we had together with the late great Norm Holland about attracting more people to the races and sales by having a combined promotion back in era of 2002/2003 at Ellerslie Races.

 

We are thankful to those who helped with this however it would be beneficial to also factor into account those who have an interest in the wider Racing sector industry and market to them as well as they are the future generations of racing, and most definitely not to overlook those over and above the 40 year old age bracket who seem to be forgotten who are not necessarily "betting types" but enjoy animals and social occasions.

 

Not everyone has pocket loads of cash to purchase expensive horses and there's always just as great horses come out of what was called the Festival Sale and that is who are the backbone of Racing in NZ.

 

It's most unfortunate that the Railway has shifted to this weekend as most people used to look forward to a day at the races via a Train, the trains as we know no longer operate in Auckland over the Christmas/ New Year period when people have time on their hands to go to the races and carparking at Ellerslie is not worth the effort.

We recall the days well when they had Railway trains to Ellerslie and the thrill leading up to meeting up with friends and others in amongst the crowds.

The NZ Government and selling off our Silver has sadly puckerooed this country's stability 

[Ohokaman 6,489]

On 1/24/2025 at 3:06 PM, Ohokaman said:

What if Brighton get beat by Everton ?…..

 

[Palliser 1,276]

23 minutes ago, Ohokaman said:

 

Told ya  

[Palliser 1,276]

15 hours ago, Maximus said:

Questions, questions...

Has it been rainin' down at HQ? We're racing on a Soft 5? If so, why?

Race Day

Weather: Fine

Track: Soft 5

Moisture Meter: 28.1%

Rail: True 

Rain: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 10mm Rain Last 7 Days 

Irrigation: 15mm Applied Today

Weather and Track updated at 8.50am Saturday 25 January

Imagine Grey Way trying to get a start under race conditions these days, probably never start.

[racingoutsider 392]

19 minutes ago, Palliser said:

Imagine Grey Way trying to get a start under race conditions these days, probably never start.

It's the only way they seem to have of keeping that track from becoming slippery. Aeration and water.

[Chris Wood 1,654]

It will settle down, but yes, water is the key to it..

Well run day, congrats to the team at Ellerslie….

[Canterbury Man 191]

1 hour ago, racingoutsider said:

It's the only way they seem to have of keeping that track from becoming slippery. Aeration and water.

I think there is a limit to how much aeration they can do before it becomes a shifty surface i.e. the turf is floating on the sand.  Some horses didn't like it last night and very hard to navigate the final bend out wide at speed.

[Maximus 818]

Curious to know when the rain came to the extent (if any) that it affected the track conditions.
It was a Soft 5 for r1, TAB Results page shows FINE weather through R4, then RAINING (for 3yo race and Railway).
Did they not want a Good 4 track to start proceedings?

[Canterbury Man 191]

1 hour ago, Maximus said:

Curious to know when the rain came to the extent (if any) that it affected the track conditions.
It was a Soft 5 for r1, TAB Results page shows FINE weather through R4, then RAINING (for 3yo race and Railway).
Did they not want a Good 4 track to start proceedings?

They can't get a surface that horses can get their hooves into for traction without using mechanical means.  Then they just say it is a Soft5.  They don't use a penetrometer so who knows how they work it out.

[Pete Lane 1,384]

1 hour ago, Maximus said:

Curious to know when the rain came to the extent (if any) that it affected the track conditions.
It was a Soft 5 for r1, TAB Results page shows FINE weather through R4, then RAINING (for 3yo race and Railway).
Did they not want a Good 4 track to start proceedings?

No. 

[scooby3051 13,196]

4 hours ago, Chris Wood said:

It will settle down, but yes, water is the key to it..

Well run day, congrats to the team at Ellerslie….

Chris I agree the track is better than before, but the corner does look to be a worry if you have to come wide, they dont seem to be able to get balanced and run on...your thoughts.

[racingoutsider 392]

5 minutes ago, scooby3051 said:

Chris I agree the track is better than before, but the corner does look to be a worry if you have to come wide, they dont seem to be able to get balanced and run on...your thoughts.

Isn't that because of the camber change where the chute meets the main track? Looks like it needs redoing somehow and wasn't that also the area where at least one of the earlier slips occurred?