Gold circle press release 17th March 2013

Paul has 2 assistant starters. He obviously has to go on leave/ maybe sick and need 2 on course at a time. Paul goes to pens most mornings and then is a farrier when not at the offices doing the bookwork. The other 2 work racedays only and have other jobs as well. None are full time with NHRA as after pens in the morning there is not much to do if not a raceday.

Craig, is this the norm to have part time starters?

gregbucks Wrote:

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> Craig, is this the norm to have part time
> starters?


the guy deals with millions of rands turnover every day so you'd think a permanent position would be the norm?

Flash Harry Wrote:

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> pirates i remember years ago at germiston i think
> 1998/99 willie uys win the race on a favorite and
> is disqualify for weigh in lightly i cant remember
> name i am sure the forum will remind me. the
> punters go mad and go onto the track in protest so
> the meeting has to be abandon. after wards the
> nha identify the "troublemakers" and warn them
> they will be warn off if it happen again. i am
> sure some thing similar will happen again

Flaming Gun was the horse, the nha did not identify anyone,, i had a meeting at the course on the same day with the chief stipe at my request,, i as a punter who stood on the track in protest identified the "troublemakers", they were the officials that never declared the horse a non runner thereby giving the punters a refund,,,,, no one was warned about a warning off coz if you are not licensed by the nha then they have no jurisdiction over you and we punters dont need to be licensed by anyone,,

Mr H, He is there every day that something is happening but after 830 on a non raceday he does not deal with any horses so full time is a waste of money I think.

Craig Eudey Wrote:

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> Mr H, He is there every day that something is
> happening but after 830 on a non raceday he does
> not deal with any horses so full time is a waste
> of money I think.


with the amount of badly schooled horses in SA perhaps more horses should be passed through the stalls more often which would cause less delays and hence more turnover - not sure if he is there everyday for this?

Mr H, we worked out that about 80% of the badly schooled horses come from 20% of yards. I and many others think that horses should be loaded by draw as at the moment some trainers do not school their horses properly as if they mess around they go in late and have an advantage. Most starters agree with me as it would force those trainers to school the horses better. It is the trainers that must school their horses not a starter. 3 training centeres and many private stables and some trainers school in the morning and some in the pm. Starter has got no chance of being everywhere,

Think the assist needs to be schooled in false starts < let alone horses
Think Mr Howells would focus on the starts from now on with regards to what happened?
Clearly jumping on terms means toffee. @ Craig have you had any contact with Duncan what injuries have been sustained and what does the owner have to say?

You mentioned something abt the positioning of the starters position, surely if angles are so tight the positioning would be relooked at... And finally surely if one gate opened a second apart he would of seen this? If it was split seconds then it could be a differnt story