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

What are our most important tracks?

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12 minutes ago, barryb said:

Really, in this day when racing is near dead you are insulting 3 people whom could be punters, owners etc. 

I wasn't going to comment again, but I seem to have started all of this by referring to Waikouaiti.  The messara  report suggested closing Timaru and keeping Waikouaiti. I was trying to be humorous. Most people seemed to get the reference, but not everyone has the same sense of humour. 

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2 hours ago, TurnyTom said:

Talking SI tracks, but I believe the best racing surfaces are indeed in Australia that's why I go there quite often, quite apart from the facilities, ambience, quality of the racing, betting options and food and drinks - sadly we are some distance behind.

But we must work with what we have

There would be a whole lot of punters in Melbourne who would disagree re tracks. Take Caulfield for starters.

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I haven't said every track is perfect but Caulfield is certainly one track to be very wary of particularly if wet, but Vic has 19 tracks and I rate 5 as excellent being better than any track here

Interestingly I rarely invest at Caulfield

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3 hours ago, TurnyTom said:

I haven't said every track is perfect but Caulfield is certainly one track to be very wary of particularly if wet, but Vic has 19 tracks and I rate 5 as excellent being better than any track here

Interestingly I rarely invest at Caulfield

Does that 19 include country venues?

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Within the 19 excluding picnic venues like Orari.

Ballarat, Kyneton and Cranbourne who race Friday nights get 4 to 5,000 per meeting. Melbourne has a population of close to NZ.

The difference is Aussies have a different DNA, they love punting.

At HQ Flemington they have pokies on course under the Hill Stand.

I still cannot fathom how Metro clubs have $125k races each and every Saturday as a minimum and Country Clubs around $40k - what the hell is wrong here.

I get to Riccarton most Saturday meetings and excluding cup week no more than 300 on course, it is all very sad.

That's why I go to Aussie regularly for racing at Randwick and Flemington, just to relive the past we once had

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Yes, I'm aware of that.  Just trying to get a bit of a comparison, that's all.

I don't have a problem with a country club/track operating if they wish to , can afford it, and get enough patronage to justify the exercise without funding.

A bit of rationalising over the years could have produced a like set-up here, with metropolitan clubs offering the 'city' experience with class horses and top facilities, and less high-faluting stuff in the provinces and country areas.  But, sadly, we're now at the mercy of an appallingly badly-run outfit and even our code bodies, while not as profligate with industry money,  seem devoid of any enlightened leadership.  

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Yes Aussie and I can only speak of Victoria did what we about to do some 10 years ago.

Google Horsham, now a stunning venue race 3 or 4 times a year but their lifeline was putting the trotting track in. When I was there many years ago it was an awful venue.

I have been saying for many years move Addington to Riccarton and move the Casino to Riccarton and make Riccarton the punters venue, but hard moving the Casino now with the National stand gone.

I think clubs like Riccarton Park have to oar their own canoe, there will be no silver bullet from Govt not after the current Covid spend. Clubs have to wake up just like they did in Victoria 

Moving Addington to Riccarton Park is a no brainer IMHO

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8 minutes ago, TurnyTom said:

Yes Aussie and I can only speak of Victoria did what we about to do some 10 years ago.

Google Horsham, now a stunning venue race 3 or 4 times a year but their lifeline was putting the trotting track in. When I was there many years ago it was an awful venue.

I have been saying for many years move Addington to Riccarton and move the Casino to Riccarton and make Riccarton the punters venue, but hard moving the Casino now with the National stand gone.

I think clubs like Riccarton Park have to oar their own canoe, there will be no silver bullet from Govt not after the current Covid spend. Clubs have to wake up just like they did in Victoria 

Moving Addington to Riccarton Park is a no brainer IMHO

Certainly, a mixed facility for gallopers/harness/dogs - and even an equestrian facility, with on-site veterinary facilities, all within easy reach of Christcurch patrons has merit. The concept has been mooted before, here I think, and certainly elsewhere.  But now, money is so tight  [ read invisible ]  and public interest so low, due to years - decades -of mismanagement, as well as the changing emphasis of modern life, that to spend that sort of money just isn't viable. If there was any to spend, that is.

Now, with the economy flatlining and very little money in peoples' pockets, not a goer.   And, as well,  Riccarton is a training facility.  Where might you think the trotting track would fit?

As for the Casino - there is an ongoing 'situation' with the old stand regarding its fate.  I think that a casino could be on the list of ideas, but the insurance company and the club have to reach some concord before any decisions can be made in that regard.

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10 minutes ago, TurnyTom said:

Yes Aussie and I can only speak of Victoria did what we about to do some 10 years ago.

Google Horsham, now a stunning venue race 3 or 4 times a year but their lifeline was putting the trotting track in. When I was there many years ago it was an awful venue.

I have been saying for many years move Addington to Riccarton and move the Casino to Riccarton and make Riccarton the punters venue, but hard moving the Casino now with the National stand gone.

I think clubs like Riccarton Park have to oar their own canoe, there will be no silver bullet from Govt not after the current Covid spend. Clubs have to wake up just like they did in Victoria 

Moving Addington to Riccarton Park is a no brainer IMHO

And the Riccarton training tracks go where? I'm not against the idea, but Uneasy will be.........uneasy. Rangiora would make a good training venue, but then CJC would lose income from stabling.  Remember Takanini ws a great training venue, now full of houses. Riccarton as a training venue offers everything a trainer could want I imagine. Still after 50 years away maybe I'm outa touch

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29 minutes ago, TurnyTom said:

Yes Aussie and I can only speak of Victoria did what we about to do some 10 years ago.

Google Horsham, now a stunning venue race 3 or 4 times a year but their lifeline was putting the trotting track in. When I was there many years ago it was an awful venue.

I have been saying for many years move Addington to Riccarton and move the Casino to Riccarton and make Riccarton the punters venue, but hard moving the Casino now with the National stand gone.

I think clubs like Riccarton Park have to oar their own canoe, there will be no silver bullet from Govt not after the current Covid spend. Clubs have to wake up just like they did in Victoria 

Moving Addington to Riccarton Park is a no brainer IMHO

And why would Addington, one of the most succesful tracks in the country want to move to Riccarton

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Wouldn't be easy Stables, but I am thinking survival strategy, Addington has falling attendance just like Riccarton and with the A&P show gone this year both clubs in for a tough year.

My thoughts are we have to change traditional thinking as the industry is in pure survival mode and it is serious.

As MP John Carter said some years ago...sort yourselves out then come back and talk to us.

Clubs gave to create a plan, just my thoughts

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1 hour ago, TurnyTom said:

Pam remember many of the Bush meetings are non tote and non betting meetings running around for $1000. They are basically competitive barrier trials

That’s bit low TT. For instance, there’s a “non-TAB meeting” coming up at Barcaldine in Qld next week and every race is worth $10,000. Also, Narromine (NSW) has a “Picnic” non tab meet coming up and all the races have a $5k stake. 

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Thanks Trumpy, I know some have real value but was trying to get across the stark difference between here and Oz. As you know we are in real trouble here and mostly folk expect a Govt handout whereas I think the power is within - make changes quickly, talking about clubs not the said leadership

Change nothing and nothing changes - business 101

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There is a venues committee which was chaired by John Allan (endorsed by Dean early in his tenure) which has not reported at all as far as I know.

Cornerstone was the greenfields project in the Waikato.

All three codes involved.

Has this just faded away.

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19 minutes ago, Patiti said:

There is a venues committee which was chaired by John Allan (endorsed by Dean early in his tenure) which has not reported at all as far as I know.

Cornerstone was the greenfields project in the Waikato.

All three codes involved.

Has this just faded away.

Indeed, it seemed a valid thought, Close Te Rapa, move out of the city, make people drive to the course rather than float horses. All weather tracks for racing and training, just huge a facility. Harness as well possibly. CJC and Addington could move South, West, or North of the city likewise.  thoughts?

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