Obviously George doesn't have the answer, nor do any of us. But none of us are being paid to find the answer, and none of us are experts in the field of track maintenance. Others however are being paid to find the answer, and are considered experts in their fields, so the rest of us have every right to be disappointed in their efforts. In fact disappointed probably isn't even a strong enough word after several years of this.

There's no anticipation required , it's an NZTR statement .

Thank god for the AWT. 

I don't know whether to seek out the statement with anticipation or not.

And as i posted in another thread we need another McKenzie to sort out the nonsense that inhabits harness. The $ dont lie and the Entain puppet is asking why to some market participants. Not sure asking breeders will assist?

It's time to buy Bitcoin..it's about to burst into trade action

George Simon: Is it time to question the status quo? George Simon  •  April 28th, 2025 5:13 PM Early Bird winning race one at Awapuni on Friday, April 25. Credit: Race Images. The abandonment of the Fielding JC race meeting last Friday had many shaking their heads in disbelief. With a fair bit of justification too. Greater minds than mine have given their considered opinions over what is becoming a blight on the racing industry. It's an unwanted recurring theme having to abandon race meetings due to unsafe track conditions.  Compounding matters with the Awapuni track last week was that it was the first official race day on the newly refurbished track. Local racing enthusiasts were understandably excited by the return to racing after a near two year break due to the track undergoing a major renovation.  And the comeback lasted all of one race.  Disappointingly, Dark And Dusty, ridden by Kate Hercock, slipped free of interference rounding the home turn.  After the obligatory track inspection by jockeys and officials, it was deemed in the best interests of safety for horse and rider, the meeting be abandoned.  Inevitably there was a swift response from industry participants.  Senior rider Kate Hercock was interviewed on Trackside over the incident that saw her mount Dark And Dusty slip on the home turn. Hercock, one of the most experienced jockeys currently riding, didn't hold back in voicing her disappointment. According to Hercock, a large part of the reason for the abandonment, was the placement of the rail out 6 metres. Trials had been conducted in the lead up to last Friday's meeting, but the rail was out only 3 metres.  With the rail out 6 metres on race day, the horses were essentially racing on new ground, instead of the previously used ground from the trial days. Hercock was adamant this contributed significantly to the abandonment of the meeting. Brad Taylor, RACE General Manager of Racing, acknowledged that, with the benefit of hindsight, more should have been done to ensure the track was safe for horse and rider. He gave further assurances to achieve this objective going forward, which everyone says when their meeting has been abandoned under such circumstances. Taylor was keen to inform industry participants that the new Awapuni track was a vastly different version from the previous one.  It’s obvious everyone wants racing to prosper and having safe and fair tracks to race on is an integral component. Has the time arrived where we start to seriously question the status quo regarding the preparation of our racetracks for race day? Why does the rail have to be shifted in and out from race meeting to race meeting? I’ve heard a few jockeys say just leave the rail in the true position and let them find the best part of the track. As they say that's part of their job.  It's getting to the stage where we need to think outside the square.

Need to ask yourself WHY open class class horses are trialing over 800m surely they can do that on their home tracks if the trainers cant tell how fit they are ,Well. Trials are there to educate young and inexpienced horses.  

Some interesting ones trialing too....😉

https://www.facebook.com/reel/683419987669521 Neil Armstrong

Had the same feeling myself. The script never changes, only the actors. 

Excess noms from the 2yo's and open horses means our 3yo maiden filly misses a shot at trialing on a grass track......along with 100 odd other horses🤬

Just been reading NZTR news and there's a story on NZTRs new CEO Matt Ballasty , He seems quite positive about the industry . I know some people think I can be negative but I just got the feeling that he was reading off statement that Sharrock had left on his desk when leaving the office . Everything sunshine and light . Good luck to him , I do hope he is the "MOSES" that racing needs .

Where are the 2yos. Well there is 124 to trial at PUKE tomorrow.  The flashy types have got the lolly and are.out for a spell.. Pity the lolly jar is low. But I applaud the trainers who think of the babies development into real racehorses

The following extract is from the OPTIMIST thread below. It bears out what I posted earlier { NZTR has some parallels with a book I’m currently reading; it could even be the NZTR anthem. It’s entitled MISTAKES WERE MADE (but not by me), which the Wall Street Journal reviewed by saying “Illuminating when you recognize yourself in the stories it tells – mortifying.” The New Zealand Racehorse Owners’ Association President, Bernard Hickey, has written to NZTR claiming the problems at Awapuni were known well before the race date, and the meeting should have been transferred to Otaki. His letter also said, in part,” …evidence from my point of view is that RACE, RIU and NZTR were culpable in terms of the provision of the Health & Safety Act in not showing due diligence in its decision-making process. No doubt the Club’s Risk Register was updated when the hazards were identified during the week that led to the rail being pushed out, which is a risk in itself at Awapuni, but I doubt such documentation even exists.” The Trainers’ Association does nothing. It is a toothless, benign organisation that is seemingly frightened that its members won’t get their licences renewed each season if they say anything.  

Fox News so must be right eh….? 

We do hear a lot of criticism about the way racing is run in NZ. Even I have been slightly critical on occasion. But, I must say, I was at Riccarton on Saturday and they did put on a pretty good show. We have become used to the bomb site at Trentham over recent months, so in comparison the way Riccarton has replaced their two demolished stands with grassy embankments looks quite attractive. They have almost managed to become a cross between a city track with a well appointed grandstand and a country track with lots of grassy environs. I can never understand why Ellerslie jams their patrons into the 150 odd metres prior to the finishing post. The way Riccarton lets cars park along the running rail seems like a much better idea to me. Other than during Cup Week the single grandstand probably is all they need given the crowds at race-meetings these days. And it did look like a quite contented crowd on a nice sunny day. I thought I had been under charged for beers and food in the bar, then after checking out the prices realised everything was very fairly priced. And most importantly the track itself seemed to play quite well with winners coming from all over. Reverberations leading all the way and never looking like being beaten, Riviera Rebel diving through along the inside to win easily, between times Betty Spaghetti coming right down the outside fence. There was certainly something for everyone. Even breaking 60 seconds for 1,000m in the last on a heavy 10. I bet that doesn't happen very often. And great to see the South Islanders take out the whole card, including the first four home in the Warstep, despite a sizable northern contingent. Loose Sally certainly looks an impressive type. Two very good fillies out of the south this season. Just a pity that was the only race further than 1,600m for southern 3yos all season. And the Canterbury Gold Cup quinellaed by two horses that ran over 1,200m at their previous starts, due to lack of alternative opportunities. I bet that doesn't happen often either. A significant number of Otago and Southland horses backed up from Riverton only seven days earlier and did very well. It is perhaps unfortunate that Oamaru doesn't kick in until mid June given the number of horses in the deep south currently. I won't get carried away, but Riccarton might be doing some things right. I would like to see them make a bit more effort to get genuine sponsors for more of their races. If country clubs can get decent sponsors for all of their races, surely a club in a city of 400,000 people can get sponsors for all their races on a big day.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/692872399829956 the Jab

They are useless . Some of you guys will remember Harry Fryer , Brian Crengle , Tom Taumanu they were tough and didn't take any crap . Brian Crengle told me to get a hair cut and have a shave once lol . 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/611680608463635 Peace please