I think todays races at the Vaal should have gone ahead,the jocks are a bunch of saps!!!

As I stated on the racing thread, I agree there was no way they could race on that track - BUT how did the track get in that condition after 18mils of rain ? Would be interested in LG's opinion - also would be nice to have an explanation from the track manager :S

Frodo Wrote:

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> As I stated on the racing thread, I agree there
> was no way they could race on that track - BUT how
> did the track get in that condition after 18mils
> of rain ? Would be interested in LG's opinion -
> also would be nice to have an explanation from the
> track manager :S

The problem is, regardless of rain or condition, the Vaal is a lightning attractor so you will always have this problem in Summer unless you think out of the box and move the meetings to earlier in the day -

Ziets. Chill bud. More important things in life, not worth it............. NO, don't argue, its not a question, I am telling you it's definitely not worth it!!!! lol -D

Frodo, absolutely. I am sure the track manager has already been fully and properly questioned by the powers that be and a press release to inform everyone of exactly what has happened etc will be released later today ()

And has the rain actually highlighted a danger that would otherwise have been missed? How the fark did that hole form? and are there other hidden holes just waiting to happen from a little pressure from above? Have no knowledge of these things so it maybe there is a reasonable explanation but it is more than a little concerning :S

Mr H, in general you are correct about the lightning and imo not much can be done about it, except maybe to have the meetings earlier as you suggested - not sure if that idea has been considered.

But ligtning did not cause the hole in the track and I don't think there was much lightning about yesterday - the meeting was abandoned because of the state of the track and it would be nice to have some explanation on how the track got so bad - and I suppose then the next thing that will happen is that I will see a pig fly past my window.

After having lost two meetings up here in a week, extra meetings (or at least more races per meeting) should be provided - and I'm glad to see that at least some effort has been made to do that - 11 races scheduled on Saturday - which of course could also be in doubt already with more rain forecast though the week :S

That hole was caused by a ruptured drainage pipe under the track.

Someone might have dig the whole

SpookE Wrote:

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> That hole was caused by a ruptured drainage pipe
> under the track.


Thanks SpookE - you seem to be 'in the know' - so when did this happen and when was it discovered - from what I've seen on TV it looks as if the jocks discovered the hole during the track inspection ?

Phumelela Press Release

We at Phumelela are extremely worried at the release of the picture of the VAAL race track by Jockey K Latham into the public domain. Phumelela feels that Mr Latham could have dealt with this in a different manner.

We call on Mr Latham to hand over all Photos in his possession so that we may sweep this incident under the proverbial rug.

As for the hole our track manager was planning on putting a traffic bollard on site as to warn jockeys to go around. in the track managers opinion the hole was caused by a sudden and unexpected amount of rain.

LOL Sly. <

Well done Sly..........your first couple of lines had me going...............lol

The drainage system under the track deals with the rain run off on the course, so with the heavy rain it ruptured causing the sink hole. Must of happened early hours. Makes me worry about the safety of the rest of the sand track. On the same note apparently it was mentioned that the masses of meerkats on the course have been digging their burrows under the grass track causing potential to collapse certain points on the turf. They have their hands tied on that matter as they may not cull the meerkats. Maybe they need to introduce a natural predator?

Or just get a few trainers to walk their jacks , SpookE ? Lol