JJ Flash 2,132 Report post Posted January 21, 2020 Just watched a race from Northfields Park in the states. A horse by the name of "Its a Good thing" had its 351st start. All over 1609 and has won 71 times and placed 88 times. Earnings are over 1 Mio Ozzie Thats some effort by both the horse and its connections Greg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim vince 985 Report post Posted January 21, 2020 Good plan.harder here. I have romanite has only won cheap amateur races in the last 4 years and rated close to the oaks winner.only an idiot like me would keep him going.no claiming concessions.true rating prob 48.hasnt won a race over 8k. That's why there is no longevity we have a terrible handicapping that disincentives owners to race horses.every week another trainer hits me up.if the suits came down to ground level and walked through th he stables on race night they might understand. Widespread discontent amongstnorthern trainers. But hey if the suits are okay why worry. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelli 432 Report post Posted January 22, 2020 I would like to see HRNZ survey owners that sold/ retired horses last year as to the reasons they did so. I'm sure they can access the names of the contact owners and organise it so responses are anonymous. Such a survey may put proof in front of decision makers as to where to target their efforts to retain racing stock. Sure some horses go unsound, owners want to breed from a mare while still relatively young or the money is just too good to refuse. But how many of us who pay real money to trainers have sold/retired our horse because it is rated uncompetitively and we can't afford to keep on racing it? The curse of repeatedly running 4th or 5th with no rating change is soul destroying. With sadness we sold our good horse after a whole year with just a single 3rd placing. He still has plenty of racing in him as since sold has had Group placings and Group 3 win in Aussie in the last couple of months. We would have liked to race him till his teens ourselves but he just wasn't paying his way. Rusty and tasman man 11 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamour 673 Report post Posted January 22, 2020 2 hours ago, Nelli said: I would like to see HRNZ survey owners that sold/ retired horses last year as to the reasons they did so. I'm sure they can access the names of the contact owners and organise it so responses are anonymous. Such a survey may put proof in front of decision makers as to where to target their efforts to retain racing stock. Sure some horses go unsound, owners want to breed from a mare while still relatively young or the money is just too good to refuse. But how many of us who pay real money to trainers have sold/retired our horse because it is rated uncompetitively and we can't afford to keep on racing it? The curse of repeatedly running 4th or 5th with no rating change is soul destroying. With sadness we sold our good horse after a whole year with just a single 3rd placing. He still has plenty of racing in him as since sold has had Group placings and Group 3 win in Aussie in the last couple of months. We would have liked to race him till his teens ourselves but he just wasn't paying his way. Excellent post Nelli. I have said before, there should be some way of accessing where a horse is competitive and letting them stay in that grade. Sure if they start winning all the time then they would have to go up in class, but that would be a way of keeping more horses racing here. tasman man 11 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim vince 985 Report post Posted January 22, 2020 I can tell u. Only one of mine retired injured.some sold uncompetitive and others retired sound but not competitive.lamour claimers say 5k up to 50 7500 to 55. I have tried no no no no is always the answer.i will give the suits a share for nothing in an 8 race winner if they are willing to race for a year From a stable of their choosing.c how they like paying paying paying . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Piper 408 Report post Posted January 27, 2020 Maybe every 4 months those middle performing horses start with a Rating 50. Have two categories 2-5 life-time wins and 6-9 wins. Maidens race against maidens and 1 win horses race against 1 life-time winners. 10 win plus winners start at 70 (or any reasonable stating point in ratings. Prize money would go up through the categories. Somehow fit Classic wins/results into it (1-1/2 or double points perhaps) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelli 432 Report post Posted January 27, 2020 I would like to see more variation in race conditions. Eg at Auckland you have the same fairly small group of trotters racing each other week after week. What about one week having the draws on money won in last 10 starts, the next preferential on ratings and the following have f&m and c&g hcp races. Then the horse that's just had its first win won't always be crucified, and the higher rated but out of form horse gets the occasional good draw. It would add more interest too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eljay 1,719 Report post Posted January 27, 2020 Nelli - that would mean someone would have to work. Ha ha - perhaps the barn door is wide open, there are only so many available horses. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
