joe ramsden article on s.p

Dave Scott wrote: What's the difference between grass and astro turf?
"I dont know I have never smoked astro turf "

You should it makes you run faster, but dose not work with me my stomach gets in the way.

Greyville track if F'ed up...bottom line! So fix it.

Dilligaf I think that you are forgetting Clairwood was used in the past, so obviously not us much racing would take place at Greyville ( turf ) then as today. Where is Clairwood today ......... gone.

Did they not uproot and plant NEW grass at the Greyville track some 10 odd months ago, to avoid us having a July debacle again , with a shoddy track in their peak season ?

Craig I have a lot of respect for you but I cannot believe how naive you are regarding conflict of interest.

Firstly if the two you quote know 99.99% more than anyone else about tracks that would mean if they say the tracks are good then they are? Listen to yourself please.....they obviously don't know shit as it took a visiting trainer and jockeys to raise the issue. Maybe this is why we are in this situation, we have, according to you, very knowledgeable people saying the tracks are fine when clearly they are not. Please keep in mind that I am an owner and GC member and all I want are decent tracks to race on.

Secondly, you remove conflict of interest by having independent trainers at the meeting. By all means have Tony and Paul there, in their official GC remunerated capacities, who know more than everyone else but they
cannot be independent. They are paid by GC and frankly if you do not see the conflict in that i cannot help you.
The fact is that they cannot be seen as independent if they receive payment from GC in any capacity.But hey in SA horseracing what does conflict of interest and ethics mean? They should receive remuneration for the duties they perform representing trainers but definitely not from GC, surely nobody needs me to explain this...
Besides with all due respect to them i have no idea how they perform all of this jobs every day and give all the jobs 100% attention or focus.

Ultimately everyone wants the tracks sorted out and I for one am tired of being told that there is nothing wrong...1 identify and admit to the problem 2 come up with a plan 3 keep everyone informed 4 everyone will support that

Tigershark, I am also an owner and a member of GC so lets stop making that an issue as I also would like my horses to run on the best surface possible. I have never said it is perfect just is better than it is being reported. A certain TOP jockey went to TONY this week and told him what they were still worried about but it was just 2 patches. You are basically saying that Paul and Tony have no integrity and will just bow to what GC want them to say. Sadly you obviously do not know them at all. Why you wont take me up on my offer to see the course for yourself I don't know. I am not scared to show you or any of the posters( Pirates included) making these statements so why are you and them scared to come and see it. Scared you might see something you don't like? I have 1 top poster/owner from on here who is and has been a critic but he has the balls to say that when he is here he would love to see the grass course and the Poly track. I cant wait to take him and lets see what he says after that. That's me on this subject. Come and see for yourself and then lets talk.

dilligaf wrote: OTA when your started 40 years ago there was nowhere near the amount of racing that there is today. I remember working as a tote operator as a student, no Sundays and Mondays. And if I can remember correctly each Province got a midweek day and CT, Jhb and Kzn all raced on the Saturday.

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whats that got to do with the greyville grass surface?we hardly ever use the greyville grass track since the building of the polytrack in fact in the last few years the grass track has been closed for lengthy time periods..we never have a full meeting on grass its always shared with the poly..ITS TOTALLY UNDERUSED ...

talking about condition of racetracks I have never seen turfontein track in such great condition in the middle of winter ...

It is clear what I am saying and I stand by it, they compromise their own integrity by receiving remuneration by a company that invites them to give independent input as trainers when they are paid for other duties simultaneously. I will gladly give you a tour of the business world where this is known as a conflict of interest. This is starting to sound like one of the Eskom tenders that is all OK and above board.

I have no interest in looking at the track, I listen to my trainer and the jockeys that ride my horses. But hold on..... Tony & Paul say the tracks are okay. ..I suppose they also race ride and know 99.99% more than any jockey.

I have had enough of this, your right Craig, all is okay.

It is simple...the track is in shit condition and not up to standard!!! And this has been coming from the best trainers and jockeys in the industry!! So lets get it fixed coz this has been going on for years now!! And Gold Circle is responsible in getting it fixed, so stop trying to defend what is not defendable!! I am so tired of blame shifting and excuses from operators every time there are problems! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

I can't remember when last I heard an on course interview of a jockey where they said the track is great for racing and praised everyone for its pristine condition....

pirates wrote:

dilligaf wrote: OTA when your started 40 years ago there was nowhere near the amount of racing that there is today. I remember working as a tote operator as a student, no Sundays and Mondays. And if I can remember correctly each Province got a midweek day and CT, Jhb and Kzn all raced on the Saturday.

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whats that got to do with the greyville grass surface?we hardly ever use the greyville grass track since the building of the polytrack in fact in the last few years the grass track has been closed for lengthy time periods..we never have a full meeting on grass its always shared with the poly..ITS TOTALLY UNDERUSED ...

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pirates wrote:

dilligaf wrote: OTA when your started 40 years ago there was nowhere near the amount of racing that there is today. I remember working as a tote operator as a student, no Sundays and Mondays. And if I can remember correctly each Province got a midweek day and CT, Jhb and Kzn all raced on the Saturday.

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whats that got to do with the greyville grass surface?we hardly ever use the greyville grass track since the building of the polytrack in fact in the last few years the grass track has been closed for lengthy time periods..we never have a full meeting on grass its always shared with the poly..ITS TOTALLY UNDERUSED ...

Do you have first hand knowledge of working in an agrilicultural environment and dealing with nature? If not, maybe give it a try and second guess, for example, the weatherman who forecasts A and then B is what arrives.

Too many experts in this industry...

You opinion it is under used, whoopee, and who are you to make such a statement? All I've gathered from your posts is that you only seem to be happy when you are unhappy!



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