Greyville tomorrow

@dynasty:

'To give you just one example, if tonights meeting get the chop it will be the second time in two weeks that Ice Diamond don't run in a carded race'

Probably I am not getting the words right, but that illustrates the point I am alluding to also.

Owners spend thousands in (purchase and) training fees. The horse comes on and is ready for a big run. A suitable race is identified, distance, track and mass & the horse nominated. It's accepted.

With all systems go... both owner & trainer wait for the big day!

What happens....meeting banadoned.. for whatever!

Now, back to the drawing boards.... next suitable race is about 2 months away; what the f... do we do?

Isn't this a typical scenario amongst many stables and owners?

With corporatisation, we were promised the moon!

The least one would have expected was that the drainage be upgraded, at least two genuine all weather tracks, etc.

Millions have been lost through asset stripping/reduction, whatever... all of which could have done winders for horseracing, enticeable stakes aside!

To rub salt into the situation, the powers that be cannot ever communicate promptly with the stake holders; take it or leave it!

If I am wrong in this assessment, it's of not much consequence.

However, if right.... then we do have serious problems for the survival of the sport; for that is what it is and should be!

Any news on the meeting?

Tabgold.co.za has not listed it as abandoned, and as far as I know, no sms has been sent to owners to inform them either.

Thanks Sugahorse....

JAMES GOODMAN PODCAST

@ Umlilo:

This is the second meeting in two days that you have posted that the meeting has been abandoned but it has not, even if tonights is it was not at the time of your post.

What are your intensions, are you trying to mislead the people on this site?

We are all upset when we have horses running and the meetings are abandoned due to an unsafe track and unfortunately it does happens and Phumelela and Gold Circle cannot control the elements.

I miss your point completely about the change in venue, I assume you are refering to the change of venue from Turffontein to The Vaal on Sunday. I as an owner and a punter was delighted to see the powers that be used their initiative to transfer the meeting from a drenched Turffontein to an almost flawless Vaal. At The Vaal on Sunday 7 of the 9 favorites arrived with the PA paying R20.50, and the only "outsider" that won on the day was given a big chance by his trainer on USO. I certainally was not "bamboozeled" by these results. Owners who's trainers did not scratch their horses at least had a chance to earn some stake money.

I don't see where you are coming from, you don't want meetings abandoned, but you don't want a change of venue. If conditions are unsafe I do not want a horse I paid good money and stabling fees for breaking a leg because conditions were not fit for racing.

Bum steer

Ringsting....people could change plans,throw away formguides etc etc.

@SHREK:

This is not the 2nd time!

I do apologise for taking the liberty of being somewhat overboard about the Tuesday meeting. For that, I was even stated to be playing god, which was not my intention.

I went on the past decision and a report that the track is waterlogged (with at least one trainer observing that racing cannot go on); so, I merely re-gurgitated what was a precedent. There have been so many comments on this aspect... and many posters have been pulling the fast one with parodies here and there.... nobody's feathers got ruffled then! Why with me? Because I am not an owner? Is this an owners only forum?

Then, I want to mislead... what the hell for?

Does that put me in a different category... like the houseboy?

Besides, nobody queried where I got the info from (I never said it was official or revealed a source- that alone was a pointer to any intelligent person!); if they did, I would have proffered an explanation/correction. Instead, insults were hurled at me!

What everyone should be wanting answers to is: why do our tracks not drain and/or, why no genuine all-weather track after all these years?

After corporatisation (some of you don't like me stating this!); race tracks were dispensed with, stakes reduced, size of fields reduced, place payouts reduced, etc. INCLUDING the Provincial tax on betting turnover drastically reduced.

YET, the take-out from betting pools was not reduced pro-rata!

With all the savings (and cash), the remaining tracks should have had super drainage.

Nobody's got the guts to raise such questions as a collective! Too scared of 'disrepute'?

That's the basic problem with the moaners and groaners here!

'Racing abandoned' is not a header that was being seen for the first time.... neither will it be the last!

Just got back home.
Are they still racing at Greyville

Looks like it?

Yes racing going ahead - credit to the authorities for at least trying to get the meeting on the go.