Turffontein Thursday

louisg wrote: It is true that the best jocks in the World are the ones sitting in the grandstand or the ones watching Racing on TV. Mr.H's post is the most accurate. Whatever the going looks like on TV, it is not the real thing. Heavy going itself is very rarely the issue. Inconsistency is the problem. Horse and rider are in grave danger when speeding through inconsistencies.
To the best of my knowledge, Piere was not the decision maker yesterday.
Turffontein Inside Course is in a very bad state today after just those few races yesterday. That tells it's own story.
I'm the end, if you do force racing to go on, by dismissing the jocks who complain and declare the going unsafe, you open yourself up to huge problems if someone then gets hurt. The very same rider who is a low earner and decides to ride and then gets injured, will open up a can of worms in terms of bad publicity and liability. So too, the horse that breaks a leg. The Operators and NHA will be in huge trouble, as the experienced jocks had WARNED that the going was dangerous.

louisg wrote: Warren L - the pen reading was taken in the morning. It changed after it started raining during the meeting. When you start off with a pen of 26, that is a track that is already wet. It deteriorates quickly with even a little rain.
OTA - 1) To be fair, you are not a jock. You are basing your opinion on what you see on TV. The key is always CONSISTENCY of the going. Overseas, the going is CONSISTENTLY heavy....we have a problem with that here, for many reasons.
2 ) Panels are vital - the jocks are there from a jock safety point. Trainers are there from a horse safety point. That's their job. The Operators are there to see to their course, damage to it, future fixtures which may be effected etc. The NHA are there to control the process, in terms of the rules and to minute the meeting etc etc. That's why a panel is formed. Nobody and no rules can force a jock to risk his life and no rule or body can force a Trainer or Trainers to expose their charges to risk of injury.
3)Winter in Gauteng does not suit all horses. ( You are surely all aware of my vociferous support of Vaal Sand over the years.. ) However, the key to the firm Winter surfaces up here remains the same - CONSISTENCY - The firm Gauteng going in Winter is consistent.

Just my opinions, in a less than perfect World.

louisg wrote: Correct Rob. Racing was abandoned for the right reasons as the going had deteriorated. Striker's opinion alone is not sufficient, to abandon a meeting, just as the opinion of any one Trainer is not sufficient either. The formality of a properly formed Panel is necessary in terms of the rules, though.
Imagine the uproar if racing was just abandoned because of Striker's opinion ( even though we know that his his vast experience carries a lot of weight). After Striker's interview, other jocks went onto the panel and made the decision.
The correct decision was made and the correct procedures were followed, IMHO.