Last Wednesday Taupo August meeting starting point for Spring Racing. They have trials before races start for top class gallopers so they can get ready for Hastings Triple Crown.
Its also a meeting where lots of young horses are making debuts and and nice 3yo Fillies race. It started off very well and then after Race 4 the meeting was called off due to a horse slipping about 700 metres to around a bend.
JUST A FEW WEEKS NEWS COME OUT THAT THE NEW ZEALAND RACING PAPER THE INFORMANT WAS NO LONGER PUBLISHING. IT WAS DUE TO LACK OF ADVERTISTING REVENUE. THIS IS A REAL SHAME AS THIS PAPER HAS GOOD FORM GUIDE FOR ALL NEW ZEALAND AUSTRALIAN FIELDS BREEDING NEWS TRACKWORK RACING NEWS. AROUND THE WORLD RACING HAS VERY GOOD RACING PAPERS. LETS HOPE THE INFORMANT CAN BE RESUSCED AND BE VIABLE SOURCE FOR THE RACING ENTHUSIASTS
Set Weight Penalties races especially in New Zealand for Group 1 Races Mainly. The Clubs are doing this because the Pattern Committee are given races a warning that the race is dropping standard. Clubs doing this are trying to keep the race Auckland Cup at Group 1 put the set weight Penalties criteria to get a quality field. Example of this is Charles Road has 57kg on Saturday if it was a Handicap 58.5 59kg on the other hand are horse that is nutured through the grades carries 55kg which only get 2 kilos less from a horse who ran 7th in the Melbourne Cup Is that fair?.
GOLDEN EAGLE HAS CAUSED A STIR BETWEEN NSW AND VICTORIA RACING BODIES. RACING NSW HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THE EVEREST WHICH HAS BOOSTED CROWDS BACK TO RANDWICK AND CAULFIELD GUINEAS RUN ON THE SAME DAY HAS INCREASED TURNOVER. JUST LAST WEEK GOLDEN EAGLE WAS ANNOUNCED RUN ON VICTORIA DERBY DAY 2 NOVEMBER. WHICH VICTORIA RACING CLUB ARE NOT HAPPY. OFF COURSE ITS PROBABLY BIGGEST DAY IN AUSTRALIAN RACING AND WANT TO PROTECT THAT. LAST MONTH RACING VICTORIA HAVE PUT ON A NEW RACE ALL STAR MILE MARCH 15.
State of New Zealand Racing Messara Report is a good step forward. But also programming Handicapping and Getting patrons to the track are issues that need addressing. Track closures have been discussed, perhaps midweek racing needs to be Horse training population areas ie Matamata, Te Aroha. Stakemoney issues need to go higher better returns to Owners Trainers etc. TAB monopoly outsourcing or Bookmaking could be opened up?