CALLING A CRAIG TWIN

Craig
I am surprised when I look at the fields for this Sunday at Scottsville ( 27/03/2016)....
The fields are small. There are no reserve runners. You would have had only 7 races if, after acceptances, a maiden 1200m wasn't quickly added.
Of the 8 races, 3 have only 7 runners, one has 8 runners, one has 9 runners, one has 11 runners and two races have 14 runners, no reserves. This is poor, surely ? Let's look at some points or questions -
1)U guys don't allow visitors to bring maidens to be stabled in your boxes, even if boxes are available. But race 3, a maiden 1200m has only 7 runners. Your other maiden on the day doesn't have any reserves.
2) In a mere Listed race, the Easter Handicap, there are only 7 runners. There were plenty nominations which had to be paid for, but u have all run away. The top weight of 61,5kg is carried by No Worries off a MR103. Benchmark at 60kg would be MR10O, so bottom weight of 52kg would equal MR84. Surely the whole of KZN has more than their 4 carded horses rated higher than 83 ?
3) With there being much less Turf than ever before, surely the fields would be full ?
4 ) The bottom line is that your restrictions were put in place to protect your local Owners, so that their horses could run. But, are u running their horses ? Is it now not a case of use it or lose it ?
5) Is it not time to do the right thing for Racing by removing all restrictions ? Are we not sitting on a time bomb ? What is the future of Racing ? Is it about the best horse winning or is it about the "ag shames" getting an unfair set of rules ? Will GC survive, will SA racing Survive ?
Craig, this is not a dig at u personally. U are the only one who will at least make an effort to reply.

One last question - your "free" nominations - are they good or bad ? How many noms for this meeting ? How many runners ?

I sometimes wish there was a popcorn icon :whistle:

Bob Brogan wrote: I sometimes wish there was a popcorn icon :whistle:

I'd eat it !!

@louisg...well stated...

Son where are all the horses that won't run on the poly?

Restrictions pertaining to visiting competitors can only lower the quality of racing in that district.

i for one will not even bother with a race meeting like this. Any other centre welcomes raiders with open arms, there should be no restrictions like this anywhere.Let the best horses fill up the fields, its not like the kzn owners will lose out anymore as their fields are empty in anycase.

Has the Easter weekend not got a huge influence on numbers? Staff shortages must surely be an issue in racing on Easter Sunday?

Zietsman says he's coming for your stakes

Bob Brogan wrote: Zietsman says he's coming for your stakes

Definitely...........and for the egg, chips, borewors as well........... :kiss:

Craig, no response....?

Morning Louis, sorry running around a bit. Will reply a little later. Thanks Craig

Louis, in general we seem to be finding more runners at poly meetings. I know some trainers prefer the grass but in 2 instances where GC has asked if they wanted to change a race to grass from poly and done a survey they have voted to stay on the poly. That 1200m race caught many people out as were told at 12;30 that noms must be in by 1;00 and accept by 13;30 and many had not seen the race had been added. There are often small fields in features and as you know, if the guys don't think they can pick up a stake they will scratch and wait for an easier race. I think and make no apology for looking after the owners that support Natal racing that horses based here should get runs in preference to out of town runners who support another centre. It would not annoy/worry me in the slightest if I accepted to run a maiden/ lower merit rated hcp in Jhb, Cape Town, PE or Kimberly and they put a horse from there in before me. They are supporting racing in that centre so fine. I am livid at the moment. Have a look at the 4th race on the 1/4/2016. Topaz rain who is owned by the most enthusiastic bunch of owners I have met is a reserve runner and a horse of Bill Humans who in her last 2 runs has run an average of 25,5 lengths off in Kimberly gets a run on its old merit rating. It will add very little to the tote turnover, Topaz Rain has run 2nd and 5th for me and would have been one of the favourites. She has been beaten about 3 lengths and less in her 2 starts for me. Which is the right horse? This will not always be the case but she should have been in before the other runner. Paying for noms in our opinion will only make it harder for the smaller owners and having to collect that harder for trainers. Your top guys wont even blink at still nominating everything. More to say but have to go to 2nd string. Just a quick reply.