Thank god for poly huh ?

the worrying factor is if they cannot maintain the grasstracks, how are they going to maintain the poly which is far more expensive to maintain.the more meetings moved from grass to poly means more owners horses sit in the stables because of the limited fields on the poly

With the amount of water required Poly maintenence is also, seemingly, very expensive.

Craig, out of interest (and I really don't know the answer) how many UK turf courses have closed in the last decade? When was the last time a UK meeting was switched to Poly because a turf course had not been well maintained?

Like Harris, I have no wish to argue with you mate and I both acknowledge and appreciate that you have clearly stated the turf courses are in poor condition. The worrying thing for me though is that this is immediately "passed over" by saying but it is not a complete disaster because racing can still go ahead on the Poly.

That sounds to me exactly the type of stance that the authorities are taking and which has no doubt led to this sorry state of affairs. Louis, and others who have mentioned it, is absolutely correct, this is not just a KZN issue, though they have perhaps had the problem more consistently and persistently than anywhere else, just about every track has "issues" and some of them now need urgent attention. Its a disgrace. Why can't SA racing stop this habit of letting so many things become a "crisis" before it is sorted, good management is about ensuring a crisis does not happen in the first place. It is about accepting responsibility and being accountable... not making lame excuses all the time trying to pretend that they themselves are not to blame. It is often like listening to a bunch of kindergarten kids being scolded trying to deflect the blame elsewhere!

It seems to me that there are just too many "crisis" scenarios in SA racing and the tracks is just the latest. Not aimed at you obviously Craig, but ffs can't these people do their jobs and get things sorted so we don't all (or many of us anyway lol) end up moaning and complaining, I am so sick of moaning but I am even sicker of the poor management and lack of action that seems so prevalent just about everywhere in SA racing.

Not sure if this is wat you asked Engels

But Warwick has given up it's flat races because of unsafe track and Chepstow closed for 6 months because of grass problems

Ballie, at least the Poly is not a living track like grass. The manager will have to assess the temperature, moisture etc to keep it in top condition but much easier than grass as divots ect don't have to be stamped back in or sand put in to sort out the track. I am told that there will be more meetings/races put in to make up for the shortfall in runners.

Bob Brogan wrote: Not sure if this is wat you asked Engels

But Warwick has given up it's flat races because of unsafe track and Chepstow closed for 6 months because of grass problems

Thanks Bob, the most striking thing about that is I am disappointed, though not entirely surprised, to hear of any such issues in the UK... so how South Africans must feel I can only imagine.

Difference is the UK with similar population has more choice 50 + tracks

craig so they have to spend more stake money to accommodate for their incompetents

I am a bit confused :huh: If GC spends more stake money on races, is it not benefitting, Owners, Trainers and Jockeys? I would think that that is great.

Raceable racetracks are fundamental to the industry.
Lets be honest ,if they aren't managing that ,they are not managing the industry!

Craig Eudey wrote: I am a bit confused :huh: If GC spends more stake money on races, is it not benefitting, Owners, Trainers and Jockeys? I would think that that is great.

lol Craig... but there won't be any owners, trainers, jockeys if there is nowhere decent for the horses to run and no people left who are interested enough to have a punt... mate, get someone on here to explain and justify it all to me if you can because I just see "bosses" (and I don't care which area they are from, what board they are on etc simply) not doing anything like near enough to protect the industry (and the horses and thus jockeys etc) and all too often I just get this sneaking suspicion that it is ALL about money and possibly who gains from it

Englander, I am still confused. The decent runners should want to run on the best surface, the Poly! More races on the poly means more money for the owners of the winners and placed horses on the best surface for them to run on.