RaceCafe..#1...Tipsters Thread.... Share Your Fancies For Fun...Lets See Who The Best Tipsters Here Are.
chelseacol

Riccarton

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After a period of recovery following a big week I felt I needed to post something positive about the CJC and Cup Week.

Pretty much all I have read on here is an aggrieved owner who didn't get enough pampering for turning up with a horse (newsflash that happens at just about every racetrack), and complaints about facilities etc.

So some balance - Saturday was an enormous day. Great crowd, music, fashion, car boot parties, great corporate boxes, good racing .....

Yes the facilities are stretched - that is what happens when you lose your main stand due to EQ damage and are fighting an ongoing insurance claim. Very difficult for the club - but as thousands of householders and building owners here in ChCh will tell you - not that unusual.

I say well done to the CJC - you do annoy me on some things (just so no-one accuses me of being a fanboy) - but I had a great week. So did many out of my friends I got along and out of towners I know.

 

 

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1 hour ago, chelseacol said:

After a period of recovery following a big week I felt I needed to post something positive about the CJC and Cup Week.

Pretty much all I have read on here is an aggrieved owner who didn't get enough pampering for turning up with a horse (newsflash that happens at just about every racetrack), and complaints about facilities etc.

So some balance - Saturday was an enormous day. Great crowd, music, fashion, car boot parties, great corporate boxes, good racing .....

Yes the facilities are stretched - that is what happens when you lose your main stand due to EQ damage and are fighting an ongoing insurance claim. Very difficult for the club - but as thousands of householders and building owners here in ChCh will tell you - not that unusual.

I say well done to the CJC - you do annoy me on some things (just so no-one accuses me of being a fanboy) - but I had a great week. So did many out of my friends I got along and out of towners I know.

 

 

It was a good weeks racing there, imho the track produces good fair competitive racing . They got very lucky weather wise , meetings were wedged between a bit of rain but it's good it fell that way . Without decent facilities a rainy day will destroy cup day for years .Who's going to go back after getting drenched with little shelter  

Iam lucky enough to have been to many tracks all over the show  , to be honest CC I'd rate facilities at best 3/10 and I've been to some gaffs  . Iam a diehard though , as long a horses race along a track I will turn up .Here's hoping the club sort the insurance issues out and move onwards and upwards , the old stand was Ok and the interior was not the worse by a long stretch , decent big TV, and view out the windows  to paddock .The way that stand is elevated gives them real good lower cost options . A great track in England called Bangor on Dee has no stand , it's excellent though .It's about positioning and using natural advantages .

Hope you had a good week on the punt .

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2 hours ago, chelseacol said:

After a period of recovery following a big week I felt I needed to post something positive about the CJC and Cup Week.

Pretty much all I have read on here is an aggrieved owner who didn't get enough pampering for turning up with a horse (newsflash that happens at just about every racetrack), and complaints about facilities etc.

So some balance - Saturday was an enormous day. Great crowd, music, fashion, car boot parties, great corporate boxes, good racing .....

Yes the facilities are stretched - that is what happens when you lose your main stand due to EQ damage and are fighting an ongoing insurance claim. Very difficult for the club - but as thousands of householders and building owners here in ChCh will tell you - not that unusual.

I say well done to the CJC - you do annoy me on some things (just so no-one accuses me of being a fanboy) - but I had a great week. So did many out of my friends I got along and out of towners I know.

 

 

Before I get a beating from big men armed with leeks  raining blows around my head , Bangor on Dee is not a great little track in England , I forgot . Whenever I went  Bangor I had to throw my passport in glove box as its cross-border into Wales . They have three decent tracks there now. 

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I agree Red Rum that they dodged a bullet on Saturday. TBF Addington have a similar predicament.

The Members Stand at Riccarton is just about acceptable for 90% of the year for most people who turn up. Getting in and out of the Phar Lap room into the seating outside to watch a race and being right on the line with stunning views is cracking I reckon.

I do picture a small stand going up in addition where the public stand currently is - couple of levels probably - great views both ways - modern bars etc etc. Fingers crossed for the insurance money and some creative thinking.

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11 minutes ago, chelseacol said:

I agree Red Rum that they dodged a bullet on Saturday. TBF Addington have a similar predicament.

The Members Stand at Riccarton is just about acceptable for 90% of the year for most people who turn up. Getting in and out of the Phar Lap room into the seating outside to watch a race and being right on the line with stunning views is cracking I reckon.

I do picture a small stand going up in addition where the public stand currently is - couple of levels probably - great views both ways - modern bars etc etc. Fingers crossed for the insurance money and some creative thinking.

They should have a nose at Chelmsford . What they have done there might work at Riccarton , no need for big stand and Riccarton got better natural viewing position than Chelmsford . Just don't build it in middle of course like they have , but odd but it's a nice shiny new racetrack .

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7 minutes ago, TurnyTom said:

Been saying it for years, relocate the Casino to Riccarton in the ground floor new stand and have second floor for racing - glass floor to ceiling

And if we are real committed a harness track inside the gallops and close Addington

Just a dream but has potential

Must have something going for it , Canadians have just opened Century Downs a similar kind of facility . 

 

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3 hours ago, TurnyTom said:

Been saying it for years, relocate the Casino to Riccarton in the ground floor new stand and have second floor for racing - glass floor to ceiling

Stop talking all that common sense.... 

Very good idea, but the tree hugging hippies would never allow it to happen and a resource consent would never be granted.  

We need a few race goers in at the Council to re-write the District Plan. None of them know rugby, racing and beer is the backbone of this fine country. 

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No argument there....but the original Act precluded any use of that gifted land other than for the purpose of supporting 'racing for the people of Canterbury '.

Flogging off to Ryman Healthcare seems pretty ' commercial '  to me.... and a Casino could be considered complementary to racing - at a stretch. 

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11 hours ago, Red Rum said:

Must have something going for it , Canadians have just opened Century Downs a similar kind of facility . 

 

RR - Actually, they just opened Century Mile in Edmonton this year.  Century Downs (Calgary) opened in 2017.  I had the opportunity to visit both a few months ago.  Mile was prepared using the same template as Downs, though Mile's track is larger than Downs (1600 meters vs 1100 meters).  The viewing area, dining area, and casino (electronic gaming, ex. slots) were basically the same.  In talking with those associated with the tracks, it appears to be a very successful model and has revived racing in Alberta.

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Certainly seems worthy of consideration,  that's for sure.

I recall a former CEO and I chatting about the possiblity of developing the area under the old stand [ formerly public bar,  complete with pies and sawdust on the floor..! ]  into a 'space invaders' type of place,  to appeal to teenagers esp.  That was way before the modern on-line games,  of course.  He thought it had real merit,  but would have necessitated legislation to allow it.  Didn't get any traction with his Board, so the area just became a repository for broken hurdles and storage for rails and posts,  etc.  He also wanted to purchase the then-available Racecourse Pub....but got no traction there either.    What a goldmine that would have been.

Of course,  this discussion presumes there will be a racing industry left .....the gloom so many are feeling seems to indicate that planning ahead - certainly in regard to bricks and mortar -  is just a waste of time.

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8 hours ago, Pam Robson said:

No argument there....but the original Act precluded any use of that gifted land other than for the purpose of supporting 'racing for the people of Canterbury '.

Flogging off to Ryman Healthcare seems pretty ' commercial '  to me.... and a Casino could be considered complementary to racing - at a stretch. 

For the record,  the CJC didn't 'flog off to Ryman'  if that was the inference.   The sale of land was to Ngai Tahu Property for the purpose of housing - some to be affordable,  as you say.

Ngai Tahu,  smart operators that they are,  subsequently on-sold a portion to RymanHealthcare....probably covered their investment in one fell swoop!

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7 hours ago, Pam Robson said:

For the record,  the CJC didn't 'flog off to Ryman'  if that was the inference.   The sale of land was to Ngai Tahu Property for the purpose of housing - some to be affordable,  as you say.

Ngai Tahu,  smart operators that they are,  subsequently on-sold a portion to RymanHealthcare....probably covered their investment in one fell swoop!

Sounds like CJC sold for unders? Muskets and blankets?

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I was down at Riccerton and I spoke to some locals that night and they were saying that the Race Club has been paid out the insurance claim. So what is correct as you are saying that they havent. I orginally had a horse in but he was pulled out so due to the fact we had paid airfares we still went. This year we were out the back by the big screen compared to being in stands as owner last year. It was good but also I used one port loo at 1pm and someone had already vomitted in it that was not nice. The line for the bars (outside) were huge filled with the young one but the tote lines were empty. The thing that concerned me was that people were going up and buying 2-3 cans at a time so there is no real control from the bar person as they are suppose not serve intoxicated people, They may not be intoxicated for the first can but what about the others. 

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Most recent club statement said they have engaged lawyers to take action to try sort out the insurance battle, this was late September, but have not seen anything further come from it, and the final outcome wasn't expected til early 2020 best case.   Be fantastic if the whispers are correct though.

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1 hour ago, premixer said:

Most recent club statement said they have engaged lawyers to take action to try sort out the insurance battle, this was late September, but have not seen anything further come from it, and the final outcome wasn't expected til early 2020 best case.   Be fantastic if the whispers are correct though.

Wouldn't it be nice if the club actually told people what was going on rather than acting as a secret society and appearing incompetent.

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16 hours ago, army said:

I was down at Riccerton and I spoke to some locals that night and they were saying that the Race Club has been paid out the insurance claim. So what is correct as you are saying that they havent. I orginally had a horse in but he was pulled out so due to the fact we had paid airfares we still went. This year we were out the back by the big screen compared to being in stands as owner last year. It was good but also I used one port loo at 1pm and someone had already vomitted in it that was not nice. The line for the bars (outside) were huge filled with the young one but the tote lines were empty. The thing that concerned me was that people were going up and buying 2-3 cans at a time so there is no real control from the bar person as they are suppose not serve intoxicated people, They may not be intoxicated for the first can but what about the others. 

As Premixer mentioned the Club released a statement to members recently on the insurance claim. It hadn't been paid then. And if it has now been paid they probably would've struggled to get a new stand built for last saturday :rcf-laughing-1:

So temporary facilities which unfortunately can lead to queues and dirty portaloos - just like every concert and beer festival you ever go to.

The 3 cans thing is interesting - my pet hate during the two Cup Days is limiting you to two drinks per visit to the bar half way through the afternoon, and then one ...... as happened at Addington Tuesday. Bloody annoying when you are in a round of 4 people etc ... Did this not happen on Saturday ? Without being a w@nker I was in a Box and the fridge was open all day 

 

 

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On 11/19/2019 at 2:33 AM, TurnyTom said:

They have been doing it USA and Canada for the last 10 years we have to learn, quickly

TT - So true and it has saved/enhanced racing in all of the states that have implemented casino/electronic gaming.  Purses and breeeder awards have increased signnificantly.  One of the more recent success stories come from Wyoming, one of our smaller racing states.  Have a look at this article:  https://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/wyoming-breeders-program-awards-1-7-million-incentives-2017/ .  Please note, all of this revenue was generated using "Historic Racing Terminals".  Imagine the revenue that is being generated by racecourses having a full service casino (table games, slots, other electronic gaming, sports books).  The racecourse that I cut my teeth on, Penn National, was dead on its arse until casino gaming was authorized at racecourses in Pennsylvania.

Speaking for myself, I was moved in the direction of ownership because of increased purses at "racinos".  I was a bit strategic in purchasing a horse who did well on Tapeta.  My target was to run at a racecourse that had elevated purses from casino revenue; in addition to having Tapeta.  That racetrack was Presque Isle Downs (PID) in Pennsylvania.  PID did not even exist until the racecourse/casino inititive was approved in Pennsylvania.  I claimed a horse (for $10K) out of a race at Hollywood Park (Cushion), but had previously done very well at Golden Gate (Tapeta).  We shipped him east to PID, prepared him on grass, then campaigned him on the Tapeta.  He then won a race valued at $31K and was placed in races for $24K, $41K and $51K.  The races he was winning in California were only worth $8K-$11K at GG and $18K at HOL.  Owners have benefitted greatly from racecourses that have casino revenue driven purses.  Of course, without folks getting involved in ownership, there would be no racing.

During my visit to NZ in 2018, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit 12 racecourses.  Unfortunately, I was unable to make it to Riccarton (or any of the South Island racecourses, which means I'll be back for subsequent visits; just quit closing racecourses :().  In most of my visits, I spoke with racecourse reps and spoke about the sustainability of racing in NZ, noting the overwhelming success of US/Canada racecourses with full service casinos and to a lesser degree those with slots/electronic gaming.  From other members of this forum, it appears that Riccarton could be primed for this type of transition. 

If handled properly, it's something that could be implemented at the racecourses where there is a population base that could support it.

It really could be a Win-Win for the NZ government and the NZ Horse Racing Industry.

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On 11/19/2019 at 5:37 PM, TurnyTom said:

Been saying it for years, relocate the Casino to Riccarton in the ground floor new stand and have second floor for racing - glass floor to ceiling

And if we are real committed a harness track inside the gallops and close Addington

Just a dream but has potential

I think you will find harness race alot more than gallops,  so how about put track inside harness track. 

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1 hour ago, westview said:

I think you will find harness race alot more than gallops,  so how about put track inside harness track. 

The dish lickers race far more times so going on your logic you woud put a Trotting track inside a dish lickers' track and a galloping track inside that

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