NEXT TURF MEETING IN KZN?

My opinion only GC should turn off the lights

I saw the interview AH did with GH and felt that he gave owners (who do not want to run their horses on the poly or with horses that do not take to the poly) the finger...shocking display of arrogance !!

One mans meat is another man's poison but what really surprises me is that the Gauteng trainers don't raid with their sand horses and take advantage of the fact that horses are handicapped on the poly to their turf rating which would mean a horse like Tomorrow's Miss (96 sand MR) would run off a 62 on the poly, considering she won a MR83 under 60KG's by 4 and then went on to win the Emerald Filles Stakes,she would have to be the proverbial penalty kick, she would in fact have carried 57 in today's 7th race and received 3 KG's from recent maiden winner Call Me Maybe and she is a 6 time winner including a Listed Race ... Im sure there are many others like her..

Striker thinks the Vaal sand track is disgusting, doesn't stop him riding it better than anyone else , sometimes we just need to get on with things.

Woodbine to Replace Polytrack With Tapeta


Woodbine Entertainment Group will make a change to its primary Thoroughbred racing surface, but it will remain synthetic.

The company that operates Woodbine in Ontario said a Tapeta surface will replace the Polytrack surface, first used in August 2006, in time for the 2016 meet.

Installation of the Tapeta surface will begin Dec. 1. The current Polytrack surface will remain in use throughout the 2015 season. The four December dates scheduled for the first week of the month will be moved to Thursdays in November, pending Ontario Racing Commission approval. Closing day for the 133-date Woodbine meet is set for Nov. 29.

"At Woodbine, it's in our mandate to act in the best interests of horse racing and a regular, thorough examination of our track surfaces is paramount in that pursuit," said Jim Lawson, chairman of the board of Woodbine Entertainment Group. "We went through an exhaustive consultation exercise in our search for the new main track. It's clear that Tapeta is the next generation of horse racing surfaces that we'll be proud to unveil in April of 2016."

Tapeta, in the United States, is used for racing at Golden Gate Fields in California and Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Pennsylvania, as well as for training at facilities such as Fair Hill in Maryland.

WEG said it began investigating options to replace its main track in mid-2014. A dialogue with industry stakeholders was opened and opinions on the direction for the surface, dirt or synthetic, were sought.

"A surface that will endure racing and training through hot and cold climate extremes for more than eight months a year is critical for our horsepeople," Lawson said. "We also considered racing fans and horseplayers through this process. Field size, the number of quality races, and wagering on Woodbine's Thoroughbred racing product has grown appreciably in the synthetic track era. We see those metrics continuing to improve with the installation of Tapeta."

"The HBPA has appreciated WEG's regular and transparent communication with the HBPA's directors and its members as Woodbine reviewed options for a new racing surface," said Sue Leslie, president of the Ontario Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. "While acknowledging that HBPA members were very split on their preferred surface, we are satisfied that WEG was thorough and open-minded in its review. The change of surface announcement is a good day for horsepeople and their horses."

Two stakes, the $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes and the $150,000 Valedictory Stakes (Can-III), originally scheduled for Dec. 5 and Dec. 6, respectively, will be moved up a week to Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, respectively.



Read more on BloodHorse.com: www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles...tapeta#ixzz3U916pzqz

How many owners and breeders will send their babies (better breed horses) to Natal ? With 50% of racing going to be on the poly. Are they going to amend the program now ?
Ill make a prediction, Natal breeders will be close to the only providers of horses for Natal racing, the other breeders and owners will look to the other provinces to send their better breed horses to.(Out of season) Mediocre horses for mediocre racing. Natal horses on average will not be able to compete at the highest level nationally. This will make a few average trainers very happy Im sure, but they will disappear into hibernation during the season. (Their poor owners)
Thank f... I dont have a stayer in Natal. (these horses will spend 50% more time in their stables than other provinces)
TS I'll be joining you and have already. WE are not the only ones.
Very sad ! but then you cant fart against thunder !

Neigh, it kills me that we have ended up in this predicament through poor, poor management. The reason given for all the poly racing is that KZN will not present tracks in the condition they were for the champion season last year. I fully agree with that sentiment however the right questions are not being asked and neither has there been accountability.

The rationale is, race less on the grass tracks and they will be in better condition for the champions season.... but why were they in the shocking condition they were? Since the beginning of the work done on the underpass at Greyville that ran months over, the track has not been the same. Say what you like, too much rain, unforeseen challenges blah, blah, blah. The track has never been the same yet we blame racing on the surface, what rubbish.

We now have four tracks for racing yet the artificial one is going to used 50% of the time??? How difficult is it to have 1 poly meeting a week & one grass meeting a week????????????????????? Why was this not planned for???? Use the inside track at Scottsville & the poly for three months while the two main grass tracks are being prepared for the main season??????

This is very, very sad for me to say but if the Greyville grass is only going to be used from May to August then shut the place down..........you are better served building new racing facility in Shongweni where you can have four options at one course.

They need competition somebody please buy Clairwood..the KZN breeders are already in big trouble I can foresee changes coming thick and fast soon

watching scratchings for Friday the 20th any reason why the2 maiden juvenile plates only have 5 acceptors per event as of 11.30am with acceptances closed at 11 am ? both races to be run on the polytrack..

3 six horse races

There were 20 and 17 noms for each race. If they nominated you would think they would run if they could? :S

Craig Eudey wrote: There were 20 and 17 noms for each race. If they nominated you would think they would run if they could? :S

377 noms, only 90 declared!