chevy86 2,681 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 Ridiculous doesn't even begin to describe it. Good weather, good racing surface, pretty good traffic conditions with so many in hiding, recent abandonments creating a logjam of ready horses--only negative a fairly long haul to the track. (Welcome to South Island dilemma or lower North Island to Trentham). And so we have carnage on the scratching front. M F&M---16 acceptors, 8 scratchings M 1400---19 acceptors, 8 scratchings R65 2100--18 acceptors, 9 scratchings And the doosey, M 1600-- 17 acceptors, 11 scratchings. And the question is, who makes these decisions? Trainer only? Does the owner have a say? Why bother nominating if obviously no intention to run and once again the owner has to cop it financially. With so many positives about the venue, I for one as an owner would cop the travel cost in light of the uncertainties elsewhere. Such a display of disinterest by participants gives an obvious "Out" to the incompetent bureaucrats supposedly running the show. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. Tauhei Notts 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerula 1,389 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 Travelling costs and wide draws are a big disincentive. Seen the price of diesel lately? tasman man and Huey 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevy86 2,681 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 21 minutes ago, Nerula said: Travelling costs and wide draws are a big disincentive. Seen the price of diesel lately? So why nominate, accept and scratch? Just bill the owner, no problem. And besides, the worst affected race was the last, over 1600, where draws are of little consequence. kdt 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Bidlake 759 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 Those races were added on from the abandoned Tauranaga meeting, scratchings reinstalled and no scratching fee if decide not to go to Ruakaka. Huey, Baz (NZ), shaneMcAlister and 1 other 3 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevy86 2,681 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 8 minutes ago, Aaron Bidlake said: Those races were added on from the abandoned Tauranaga meeting, scratchings reinstalled and no scratching fee if decide not to go to Ruakaka. All 4 races? Don't think so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Bidlake 759 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 Not sure which races they were, but three were transferred from Tauranga. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasman man 742 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 Most of the scratchings are the widest drawn horses......over the shorter distances this is a regular occurence. However the mass of scratchings in the stayers maiden appears a mystery as the draw IMO not so crucial at 2100m. Also the last race , at 1600m ....a mystery. Maybe the strength of field seemed a little 'high' and the travel cost and time , late in the day , the draw ,availabilty of suitable jockey , all added up to a drop in enthusiasm and decision to wait for another day ! These days ,I find most trainers[ in my experience] seem to require at least 3 to 4 weeks between races and some placed form and rating often a key to getting starts in maidens and r65. Racing when things not quite right can be unhelpful. IMO. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gubellini 3,923 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 Float fees from Waikato to Ruakaka are $800 plus per horse. If you don’t run first or second you are out of pocket. Not much of an incentive to trek north. Baz (NZ), Huey, Leggy and 1 other 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,760 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 Looks like. Richards / Bosson benefit there today. Should win at least 3 or 4. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevy86 2,681 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 30 minutes ago, gubellini said: Float fees from Waikato to Ruakaka are $800 plus per horse. If you don’t run first or second you are out of pocket. Not much of an incentive to trek north. Pull the other one Gubes. Hastings to Wellington around $500 (over 300 kms) and Hamilton to Ruakaka around 250km. Anyway a bit of co-operative behaviour between trainers could help the owners.( happen to know a few trainers making far more from float fees than percentages and training fees) BTW Only 7-8 local horses lining up so maybe best to scrap the whole set-up as a racing venue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,760 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 1 hour ago, chevy86 said: Pull the other one Gubes. Hastings to Wellington around $500 (over 300 kms) and Hamilton to Ruakaka around 250km. Anyway a bit of co-operative behaviour between trainers could help the owners.( happen to know a few trainers making far more from float fees than percentages and training fees) BTW Only 7-8 local horses lining up so maybe best to scrap the whole set-up as a racing venue. Why ? The meetings will never be postponed at Ruakaka, the sandy based track will see to that…… Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gubellini 3,923 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 chevy86 back in September 2019 the Majestic charge for a horse I had a share in was $609.70 from Matamata to Ruakaka. Diesel was much cheaper then. $800 plus now would be close to the charge now. I think other posters would be able to confirm this. Pam Robson 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
We're Doomed 4,824 Report post Posted February 8, 2022 The last 3 races were moved en masse from Tauranga. The connections had no choice in the matter. Two of those races are badly hit with scratchings. You can hardly blame someone who was all set for Tauranga and suddenly finds themselves at Ruakaka 3 days later. Lots of horses don't like Ruakaka and its a long way to travel when there are small fields at Te Rapa this weekend. chevy86 and Huey 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevy86 2,681 Report post Posted February 9, 2022 And I now see Tauranga having another crack next Wednesday. Peace reigns! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruff 2,778 Report post Posted February 9, 2022 I thought that card looked promising but didn't see Weatherley goin forward on ipso Hey ipso had its chance all the same Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue 1,080 Report post Posted February 9, 2022 On 2/9/2022 at 11:25 AM, Ohokaman said: Looks like. Richards / Bosson benefit there today. Should win at least 3 or 4. Tough day O'man. High price doth not a fast horse make. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wood 1,545 Report post Posted February 10, 2022 Track was in great order, the break has done it the world of good, nice take with the undersowing! drewandjo 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...