Thank god for poly huh ?

The paver will only work if the holes/correction layers have been done/sorted out before-hand. The compaction on 150mm of sand is totally different to the compaction on 30mm of sand. It is however a good start and if done on a regular basis will get the track surface back to a more homogeneous surface.
To me the big problem with Greyville is the shadow the stand cast's over the track, which means the drainage must be good in that area.
Craig not all horses take to the poly or am I incorrect ? If i am correct the run on the poly amounts to a gallop and then a whole new can of worms is opened.

Chippy in the photo looks to be riding in the Godolphin silks.... Needs a white cap!

Chippy, as you have pointed out, Bradford was just in his own league You should see the looks of disbelief that I get, whenever I mention that he lived his tracks, that he was the first to use the tracks in the mornings at Randjes when he rode one or two for the late Mr. Roy Howe and that he thereafter would jump on the back of a tractor, with the driver, watching, teaching etc etc.
Sadly, he won't be able to come back here. Govt has demanded BBBEE targets etc.
At Vaal Training Tracks nowadays, our track manager is noted for his absenteeism. ...
Our Training Tracks were flooded on Tuesday morning, due to some "apparent technical glitch". They were still unusable today.... It appears to have been either incomprehensible or extremely difficult to keep harrowing every few hours to assist with drying. In spite of us having had the August winds here which would assist the drying process, we still have unsafe, soaked training tracks.

Our Vaal Turf courses are stuffed. They are now talking about moving rails and all sorts of things. This is all part of the brainwashing and spin which is necessary for us to cry out in desperation, "please help, give us Poly ! " What will happen is that the weather patterns etc will be blamed . What WONT happen, is a serious look at track management and a look back at the past 100 years where we raced on Turf.

But, lets see how long these Poly tracks remain "good" and well maintained........And methinks that when Poly breaks down or is poorly maintained, we have some big kak on our hands

Louis, sorry but can't help but notice that wherever you are directly affected (handicapping, tracks, training tracks ,stables etc ) the establishment is deserving of heavy criticism, but criticism of areas that only affect us punters is just us embittered moaners being anti the operators :lol:

So we have something in common then, Rob.....
That's if your blind guess about my punting activities can be relied upon....

louisg wrote: So we have something in common then, Rob.....
That's if your blind guess about my punting activities can be relied upon....

You don't look like a punter Louis ...............always looked well fed to me!!

mikesack wrote: Chippy in the photo looks to be riding in the Godolphin silks.... Needs a white cap!

Why a white cap?
Have a few pics in these colours.
This Qatari owner had to change HIS colours when his horses ran in Dubai by adding a red sash across the body even though he has been racing in the same colours for years before Godolphin.

Note how the surface looks after 6 months of weekly racing... And maybe 7 days of rain during the same period

Craig Eudey wrote: HI Englander, firstly I do prefer the turf racing as that to me is the pure form but I have no worries about racing on the poly as it is great for the horses. If GC puts on one extra meeting on the poly it is taking care of about 108 horses that might have missed out due to the smaller fields. That is around 27 races or 3 race meetings with full fields(that does not often happen die to some races not being as popular). My owners are very happy at the thought of the extra races and although some like yourself don't enjoy punting on the poly, there are many that do.(even the so called "goat track" had a pick 6 of over a million on Tuesday. You don't get that at most of the so called "non goat track" courses" on 90% 0f the race days) I am not going into that chicken and egg/owner and punter debate but the more we can race the better for the owner and the more options for the horses to run on a good track and in the right race. As I said earlier, I do agree that there is nothing better than seeing a field of good horses flying down the straight for the line on a well kept. bright green grass track.

Hi Craig...

1. Your "approach" takes on a completely different meaning when you speak of "extra" races. the issue was/is far more of replacement races where poor upkeep of the turf courses will inevitably result in more Poly races to the detriment of turf races. I am all for extra races on the Poly, assuming the fields get decent numbers, but I am very much against Poly races replacing turf racing unless weather conditions make it necessary. The turf courses have been allowed to deteriorate to unacceptable levels and that has to stop is my point.

2. I may have misled you, apologies if so. I have no problem betting on Poly races but not consistently. It just doesn't do it for me like a turf race can, not sure why but it is what it is. I have never met a punter who prefers to punt on (or watch) Poly racing more than turf racing unless he (or she! lol) has found a particularly good way of betting on that surface or at a particular course.

3. Part of the point I was making was that people should be concentrating on the future of racing and not just the now. Ensuring those who are currently part of the game, in whatever capacity, including punting, is obviously an important aspect of that, and then finding ways of increasing those numbers. It is my belief that Poly racing is generally a less exciting spectacle than turf, maybe its just tradition with me but many others are like me, and therefore the number of punters are likely to reduce the more Poly racing replaces turf meetings. less punters means less people overall being part of racing, not a good thing. But times change so who knows, maybe there will be a whole new crowd found from somewhere... they have pop concerts in the UK, maybe in the middle of each course in SA the powers that be can set up a circus? With their offices in the middle? (just jesting! )

4. I think Rob is probably spot on in his belief that Poly or whatever is the future of racing, there is a sad feeling of inevitability about it. How long Poly racing will last no-one knows, there will always be die-hard punters and the more they get used to it the more it will probably be accepted. But, while I am here then I will speak strongly for turf courses and for their proper maintenance, not just for the spectacle etc but for the safety of the jockeys and horses. I also see the best chance of saving racing for all is with turf courses.

5. This has nothing to do with the owner/punter debate, this is about courses and the survival of horse racing but the simple fact is that racing can't really survive without either owners or punters so both must be considered. If you lose turf courses then imo you will lose another big % of punters and that will enevitably have a roll-on effect on owners, trainers, jockeys etc.

that's enough waffle from me on this I think, think I may be repeating myself a lot, apologies if so

PS I though Scottsville was what some refer to as the goat track? If that's true then I am not sure I understood your point about "many" enjoying having a punt on Poly racing (which is certainly not true on a consistent basis in my experience, when bad weather hits for a period in the UK racing, punting on racing used to get very boring, very quickly. But again , maybe times have changed...)

Morning Englander, my point about Scottsville was that even though some still call it a goat track, there are obviously many many punters who disagree and took pick 6's to the value of over a R1000000 on a Tuesday there. My probably simplistic view about races is the more races there are the more stakes to be distributed amongst owners and that will keep them happy. An aside from that it could help in getting more consistent form as at the moment many trainers in the maidens and lower rated handicaps are running where they can and not waiting for the right draw and distance as you don't know when you will get a run again. You could draw 84/84 over 1400m next nomination. There are many horses eliminated every meeting. With more races the trainer could be more fussy about where the horse runs. Owners don't like their horses just standing in the boxes and nor do the trainers.

It is a racing travesty that too many SA turf courses have serious problems. Of course it is simply bad or un or non management. It has become quite clear that management has not a clue how to manage turf. You have been warned, poly also requires very serious management and poly has a shelf life.

Craig, in principle, I agree with you and see your point. But, last night, an Owner from KZN called me to discuss his horse which is with me, up here. He is KZN based and is involved in many horses down there. It appears that his concerns are shared by his partners, in that the Poly may not suit all horses and that there is a lot of Poly racing due, with smaller fields. He believes that his horses will battle to get runs. He is also concerned that the free nominations down there creates a false picture, in that Trainers nominate ad lib.
You guys will do well to address these concerns. Apparently there will be 3 months of Poly racing only. Is this correct ?