Hesi

If you look at the video 2.20- 3.40, it shows how a Strathayr track is constructed, including the specialist equipment required. The first 3 layers look standard for any drainage system, the growing medium layer specific to Strathayr and the turf grass selection based on climatic conditions, so it is likely they selected a turf grass suited to Auckland. But who knows, will we ever know

We are not privy to a breakdown of costs for the Ellerslie track. Costs that would have been incurred had they gone for a 'turf' track, and costs that are specific to Strathayr specifications, so I don't think anyone can comment on that. For example, they appear to have done a lot of sub drainage work. Would that have been necessary with a usual turf track, or was that a Strathayr requirement

Strathayr is a turf track, the only discernible difference is the 100mm square plastic pieces, and yes probably paid a premium, but a lot of that would have been in the huge amount of drainage work they did. We all saw pics of the mountain of boulders they excavated

Have a look at the climate graphs for Auckland and Melbourne, similar temp range, sunlight hours the only notable difference is as I said, a lot more rain in Auckland in Winter and Spring

Not defending them, just pointing out, that as you say a lot of money has been spent with good intent (why would it not be) but something has gone badly wrong. I'm pretty sure heads will roll, and i think the main one will be Bruce Sharrock, even though he probably had little directly to do with Ellerslie

Seems to work at Moonee Valley. Auckland has a similar climate except more rain in Winter and Spring, but these problems have occurred in Summer and early Autumn

Strathayr would have been closely involved in the installation, and still advising, so something has slipped through the cracks I'm just wondering, if it was that they seeded the grass in place at Ellerslie, whereas in Aus, Strathayr pre-grow the turf, then it is laid in much the same way as they do Ready Lawn here in NZ, except on a far grander scale

I think this is separate to the mismanagement of track maintenance and renovation and the allocation of money from Entain towards an overall track renovation regime. Ellerslie have done the right thing and spent a lot of money on a complete track rebuild, with a proven system. It is just that something has gone terribly wrong.

Care to recant BR lol

If you went into Grey Lynn on a late Thurs afternoon, you could buy a Friday Flash

Also, there is a current trainer, who has a conviction for mistreating a horse back in 2005. Where do you draw the line.

The other aspect to this, is that 'eyes' are on the racing industry, and this sort of behaviour towards horses will be seized upon by those that wish to see the racing industry closed down. As I said, I'm not a horsey person, so I don't know what techniques are seen as acceptable around horses Even the great Sir Mark Todd sees it as okay to quite severely (in my opinion), hit a horse with a stick in order to train it. Seems to get quite brutal at 1.28

For what it is worth RJB is an ex-jockey with the initials LM. Now wouldn't that be the biggest hoot of the year if it was who everyone jumped to the conclusion it would be, but sorry to disappoint lol lol

Reading the reactions to this, it appears people in the industry are disgusted by the way he treated his horses. I'm not a horsey person so interested to know 1. Does this type of behaviour happen much in the industry 2. Is it something to do with the make-up of the person doing it, and therefore is it something that can be changed, or is it once cruel to your animals, always cruel to you animals. I could imagine that breaking in a horse is no fun and requires a strong make up. I have 2 dogs and would never mistreat them, that is because I have a genuine love for them

22 years old, but seems to have the wrong attitude, initially denied the allegations

Also got 2 months back in 2022 for presenting a fake vaccine pass

Summary of facts Circumstances On Saturday 30th of December 2023, the Racing Integrity Board [RIB] received a complaint from an NZTR Licenced Trainer regarding Kurtis PERTAB’s handling of a horse at the Matamata Racecourse that morning. The complainant stated that he and two fellow Trainers and the Track (Gap) Manager witnessed Mr Pertab giving a horse in his care a prolonged and excessive beating with a whip sometime between 4:30 – 05:30 hours that morning and that their concerns had initially been raised with the Matamata Racing Club. On Wednesday 3rd January 2024, the RIB commenced its investigation into the complaint interviewing four independent witnesses. The Respondent was seen riding a horse that was out of control. He was witnessed trying to correct his horse assertively while walking off the track. He was seen to be attempting to manage it and in doing so, struck it about the head twice with a whip. He was then witnessed walking the horse into the tie ups beside the swimming pool, where the horse is heard receiving a further beating, before being walked back out to the track where the Respondent has continued to beat the horse with his whip. During this period the Respondent was witnessed striking the horse – with a whip over the head a number of times, with the horse being in a stressed state. The Respondent was then further witnessed in the tie up area becoming very agitated with the horse. He was witnessed striking it excessively with the whip around the side of the belly, flank and across the shoulder, continuing for probably a good couple of minutes and estimated to have been 10 to 20 strikes of the whip. All four witnesses have deemed Kurtis PERTAB’s action in handling the horse that morning as excessive and unnecessary. Following the report of the incident to the Matamata Racing Club, an official from the club phoned the Respondent regarding the allegation. The Respondent denied the allegation, stating “It’s only what they say, it’s he said, she said”. The Respondent commented that he would be more careful in future. Matamata Racing Club records for the month of December 2023 identify that Pertab Racing Limited trained a total of 39 horses at the track, averaging 20 horses per day.” Respondent’s Statement [7] On Friday 19th January 2024, the Respondent was interviewed by RIB Investigators with the Respondent’s legal Counsel being present. A transcript of that recorded interview was produced to the Adjudicative Committee. [8] The Respondent has stated that around 04:45 hours on the 30th December 2023, the Respondent has ridden the 3-year-old bay filly horse – (Sire – Staphanos, Dam – Ashalini) at the track. [9] He has admitted to having to try and get control of this horse due to the horse “being a dangerous horse, having come to him to be straightened out.” [10] He admitted to having a whip in his outside hand, which he proceeded to push the horse around, kick the horse and whip it on the shoulder and hind. [11] He denied intentionally hitting the horse over the head with his whip, acknowledging: “- it’s unlikely but I could’ve, there’s a possibility, the horse’s head’s going everywhere. The horse was out of control, everything’s happening at speed.” [12] He strongly denied striking the horse excessively and claims that it comes down to “perception”. He believes his actions were justified for “self-preservation” and to regain control of the horse, claiming “that it wasn’t excessive for the situation”. [13] The Respondent has acknowledged that he is aware of his obligations regarding the care and welfare of horses that he trains as an NZTR Licenced Trainer under the NZTR Rules.

No

There are 3 more meetings at Ellerslie on April 10,20 and May 25, then a break until October. Most racing people would be amazed at how well Randwick handled so much rain, then raced on a softish track (times indicative) If I was Bruce Sharrock, I would be getting on a plane to Sydney and finding out how the hell they could manage that.

They would also had to bear in mind that several races were in the World Pool

Yep, ta

Interesting comments During the bad flooding in Auckland on Jan 27 2023, 258 mm fell or 10 inches. Previously in March 2017 Auckland saw over 4 inches in a short period (hours?), that saw the Auckland Cup postponed from the Sat to Wed, much to the delight of the connections of Chenille, who would have been scratched had it been run on Sat but ran and won on the drier track on the Wed

Would you put money on it? Tracks like Ellerslie, Awapuni and Foxton coping with 9 inches of rain over a 24 hour period.

Just an observation, but how is it that Randwick can get 230 mm of rain over 24 hours but they can still run easy track times 1.10.40, 1.36 , 2.06 (2000m) Every track in NZ would have abandoned, possibly the day before. Is it climatic or just better built and maintained tracks

Well done Pete and your team, too good for us today Not the Reapers this time around, can't score 5-6 points in the second round and expect to make the finals Good luck to those who do, and always to PJ who has this amazing format for a team comp that can throw up so many interesting scenarios going into a last round