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New Plymouth Races

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A NZ Sports Turf Institute representative, under the guidance of NZTR Track Advisor, Todd Treweek, will inspect the New Plymouth track on Monday following Friday’s abandoned meeting.

This was the third abandonment of the previous four scheduled meetings at the track.  The club has been advised that NZTR will not schedule meetings at New Plymouth until such time as the track provides a safe and reliable surface.  The report from Monday’s inspection will provide advice as to what is required to return the track to that state.

The RIB was present on Friday morning when local trainer Allan Sharrock galloped two horses and, after they spoke with jockey Hazel Schofer, they walked the track. While it was noted that the penetrometer readings indicated a Dead 4 rating, the two horses galloping had barely marked the surface. 

The club stated it had followed NZTR guidelines providing a track which was a Dead 4 at 9am, with more than 200mls of rain prior to Tuesday.  However, on Friday morning showers developed and 2mls was received which led to concern being expressed by jockeys.

This concern was related to what riders perceived as the firmness of the surface with moisture sitting on top and comparisons were made with the Saturday, 5 February abandonment.

A subsequent meeting with riders saw them indicating that they had no confidence in conditions being safe in light of the morning’s rain.  Considering these concerns there was no other option but to abandon the days racing.

NZTR will now await the report from Monday’s inspection and, once that is reviewed and implemented thought will be given as to how a return to racing at New Plymouth will be managed.  There will also be an opportunity for jockeys to discuss this and other issues when a delegation meets with NZTR’s Bruce Sharrock and Todd Treweek at a previously scheduled meeting in Cambridge on Tuesday.

The abandonment of the Wellington RC meeting on 4 December saw NZTR announce a series of actions to clarify obligations and support racing clubs to prepare safe and reliable track surfaces.

The first of these actions has been completed and on Tuesday clubs were advised of three policies – Track Preparation Policy; Pre-Meeting Track Safety Review Policy; and Raceday Track Safety Review Policy.

The policies were finalised following consultation with the Racing Integrity Board, NZ Trainers’ Association, NZ Jockeys’ Association, key track managers, and major racing club managers. These policies apply to all race meetings held after 1 March.

 

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The last couple of times I walked the NP track I chose not to race one on it. I think it would be better for Taranaki racing for the NP club to invest any assets in the reconstruction of another track. Probably Hawera or Stratford. Can't see the economics of reconstructing the NP one making much sense. Hawera in particular, is also more proximal to the horse population.

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Reading about the inquiry suggests to me the track has a hard pan underneath. The track gets water to enable grass growth and look good, which it probably does, but very poor drainage below. Possibly a tough clay base not too far below. The grass having a shallow root system hence when a horse gallops on the surface it just tears the grass roots and all out. Just move away to Stratford if that is a good track. 

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11 minutes ago, arjay said:

Reading about the inquiry suggests to me the track has a hard pan underneath. 

You may well be right Arjay as the Pukekura racetrack sits on top of a hill not far from downtown and the coast. Water always drains to it's lowest point. 

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Thought about this issue of watering. They seem to put a bit on each day, small amounts, that get the top done and looking good. But with summer heat and evaporation there is not enough to get down, such as 6-10 inches. Now you cannot put a lot of water on 1 and 2 days before racing but if you give plenty on say monday and tuesday, and then perhaps just a top up closer to raceday. Weather forecasts are better than 20 years ago, so they need to be factored in. If you have water already deep into the sub soil water will drain through rather than sit. 

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Complete a visual soil assessment. Record root depth, number of nematodes, humus content, small, colour. Take soil and plant samples. Send them to Perry Labs for interrogation. Complete a ground truth radar analysis on the substructure. Look at the fert program to see what's wrong. Put a weather station and soil monitors on the track and start the ball rolling.

Result will probably be:

1. Aeration;

2. Change the swarth (under sow);

3. Balance the mineralisation;

4. Inoculate with microbes (fungus and bacteria);

5. Provide appropriate combination of humus;

6. Stop irrigation for a while.

NZ turf institute rep knows about golf courses and playing pitches but naff  all about turf tracks. They've been around for a while

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How bad is this ?

Heartbreaking images: Flood shock for racing participants in NSW

Murwillumbah racetrack submerged under water (image: Melinda Turner/Twitter)Murwillumbah racetrack submerged under water (image: Melinda Turner/Twitter)
 
By Adam Dobbin
06:37pm • 01 March 2022
0
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Leading trainer Matt Dunn was preparing to jump on a Jet Ski on Tuesday afternoon in a bid to reach his flood-ravaged Murwillumbah stables to assess the damage.

Like much of Northern NSW, Murwillumbah has been the subject of major flooding, the extent laid bare in photos that have emerged of Murwillumbah Race Club where the winning post is almost completely submerged with water.

The Tweed River peaked at a staggering 6.5m.

“The water is beginning to recede now so I’m about to jump on a jetski and get to the stables and assess the fallout,” Dunn said.

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Murwillumbah has been the subject of major flooding (pic: Melinda Turner/Twitter)

 

“Thankfully we are a bit higher where we are located to some of the other trainers which had to relocate to Ballina and other areas.

“This flooding has peaked higher than back in 2017 and there were definitely some anxious moments.

“Now the clean-up job begins but when you look at what the people in Lismore are experiencing it seems like nothing at all.”

Dunn was in Melbourne on Monday when receiving word about the imminent flood threat before flying back to the region this morning to be on deck for the recovery mission with his staff.

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A horse in a stable with rising floodwaters (pic: Melinda Turner/Twitter)

 

“It got quite anxious yesterday just because of how quickly it all happened,” Dunn said.

“Yesterday morning the staff were working horses on the treadmill then a few hours later it’s all completely underwater.

“The horses though are incredibly resilient. Most people would think that having significant water in their boxes would have them highly strung and panicking but they really do take in their stride.

“I remember back in 2017 when we went through it we had winners six days later.”

QLD_GCB_SPORT_MATTDUNNPICS_7JAN20_BOSWELL

Trainer Matthew Dunn.

 

In the coming days, Dunn will be on hand to aid his nine-strong staff at his Murwillumbah stables in picking up the pieces.

“I’m not sure how much I can do but we’ll all get in and do our bit,” Dunn said.

“To see images of the track and winning post underwater is pretty confronting and unfortunately when you live in these parts flooding like this is a part of life.

“It’s a very emotional time for a lot of people. And when you see the devastation it is causing in areas like Lismore it puts it all in perspective.

“Cleaning out stables and replacing some carpet doesn’t seem as significant.

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Taranaki Racing aggrieved at lack of support after meetings abandoned

05:15, Feb 28 2022
 
Two race meetings have been abandoned at the New Plymouth Raceway in February.
SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF/STUFF
Two race meetings have been abandoned at the New Plymouth Raceway in February.

Taranaki Racing officials believe two of the three meetings recently abandoned at the New Plymouth Raceway should not have been called off.

In a letter to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing boss Bernard Saundry, Taranaki Racing chief executive Carey Hobbs said the club felt aggrieved at the lack of support from the national body, which has subsequently ruled out further racing at the venue until it believes the track is safe.

Hobbs outlined evidence obtained by the club’s investigation into the abandonments, including its premier Taranaki Cup meeting on February 5.

That meeting was called off after the first race when jockey Bridget Grylls was dislodged near the home turn. While it was inferred the horse slipped, Taranaki Racing believe the horse was bumped, lost its footing and knuckled over.

It was the presumption of the slip that contributed significantly to the club’s next meeting on February 18 being called off.

Instead of members of the club meeting with officials from the Racing Integrity Unit, trainers and jockeys to discuss the running of the meeting, it was called off when jockeys refused to ride.

Hobbs said that decision did not follow NZTR’s protocols around abandonments.

“Whilst I understand jockey and horse safety is paramount, this meeting was abandoned on suspicion, not science,” he said.

“Taranaki Racing was not given the opportunity to put forward alternatives that could have seen the meeting proceed.”

The club also provided evidence that horses had safely galloped and raced in jump-outs on the track in the following days.

“For our industry to continue clubs, officials, trainers and jockeys must work together as a team for the benefit of the owners who support this industry,” Hobbs said.

“At the moment there does seem to be a bit of a disconnect between factions and we need to get over this and progress together.”

Trainer Allan Sharrock was critical at the haste of the decision to abandon the last meeting at New Plymouth Raceway.
GRANT MATTHEW/STUFF
Trainer Allan Sharrock was critical at the haste of the decision to abandon the last meeting at New Plymouth Raceway.

Leading Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock also provided testimony to Saundry, describing the decision to call off the February 18 meeting as too hasty.

“We should have been concentrating on if it was possible to race safely and not be in a rush to abandon and go home,” he said.

Hall of Fame trainer John Wheeler, who has been involved in racing for 50 years, was also critical of the haste in which the meeting was called off.

“The jockeys make up their minds with little consideration for others or consultation,” he said.

Hobbs said the club was now looking forward to working with NZTR to make the New Plymouth track “even better” to “restore industry trust”.

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Just watch the replay of the Bridget Grylls fall...no way was it anything else than a slip...she was not interfered with......he is talking bollocks if he thinks anything else...no good burying your head in the sand Carey...if your track has problems fix it end of story.

 

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50 minutes ago, Charlie Bukowski said:

Wow what a response.

Everyone could see what happened.

Why would he say that ??

I would say a fifty fifty call the inside horse was angling out and may have contacted Bridget's horse.

interesting that Robbie Hannan rode at the jump outs so he can't of been worried to much about the track.

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3 minutes ago, Gruff said:

And if there's a Death in Race two?  This is OSH , nobody is willing to hang those testes out IF something goes Pearshaped....you willing to sign off on it ?

 

 

There can be a death in any race, any race meeting,any conditions, you willing to sign off on it ?

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