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Is the Ascot track surface in doubt for Day 1 ?

West Australian Racing
DamienWyerDamienWyer    7,995 posts
West Australian Racing
I'm told, now by several sources, that tomorrow a delegation of Senior Trainers and Jockeys, will join RWWA Stewards in inspecting the Ascot racing surface, as it is feared to be not safe for racing after remedial work was done in the off season. The new irrigation pipes every 10M, have apparently caused an easement in the surface.

With facilities at Belmont about to be shut down and moved to Ascot in the six days following Saturday's final meeting of the year, the timing of this latest incident could not be worse. There has been speculation among those calling me, that the Opening Day will be raced at Belmont or simply abandoned in an over crowded calendar with nowhere else to go.

I presume there will be a statement issued tomorrow following the RWWA inspection from Stewards.
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Comments

  • thefalconthefalcon    20,495 posts
    as the irsh would say..."well oil beef hooked"
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  • RIORIO    14,902 posts
    wheres our PR media poster when we need them????

    thefalcon, jum, JustanL likes this post.

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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,495 posts
    has the inspection been conducted?
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  • scootscoot    61 posts
    That's what happens when you employe a Curator from the WACA. That person also wants to run the joint and is struggling.
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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,495 posts
    but, did the track pass muster this morning?
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  • jumjum    3,582 posts
    @perthracing   :-@

    RIO likes this post.

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  • DamienWyerDamienWyer    7,995 posts
    edited October 2015
    Following a track inspection today, I understand that the first meeting of the Ascot season on the 17th of October, will be run with the rail at 8M. However, there are some areas of concern towards the outside of the course, leaving a corridor for the races to be run. Field sizes will not have to be adjusted as it is a wide racing surface.

    The insistence in moving the rail to the 8M position was to preserve the surface closer to the rail for the major meetings that follow in the month.

    The coverage was less than what would have been expected for a track that had not been raced on for several months, and the concern is going forward as to the seasons longevity and if the track will stand up to the rigors of racing for that time.

    It is regrettable that expensive horses are asked to be put over a shifting surface, as the instances of injury are heightened by doing so. I understand that the Jockeys were fine to race on the track but along with the Trainers they insisted on the rail being shifted to minimise these issues. Safety was not comprimised in the process.



    RIO, scoot likes this post.

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  • RIORIO    14,902 posts
    cant find that story on the PR or RWWA web sites...thought that would be good information to feed out to owners, trainers and punters!?!?!?

    Bit like not much reporting of Carter, Bell and King Ted not nominating for the board this time around...Gee i bet Belly is glad to get out of that place!!!

    thefalcon likes this post.

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  • GaryHGaryH    1,012 posts
    Damien Wyer said:

    Following a track inspection today, I understand that the first meeting of the Ascot season on the 17th of October, will be run with the rail at 8M. However, there are some areas of concern towards the outside of the course, leaving a corridor for the races to be run. Field sizes will not have to be adjusted as it is a wide racing surface.

    The insistence in moving the rail to the 8M position was to preserve the surface closer to the rail for the major meetings that follow in the month.

    The coverage was less than what would have been expected for a track that had not been raced on for several months, and the concern is going forward as to the seasons longevity and if the track will stand up to the rigors of racing for that time.

    It is regrettable that expensive horses are asked to be put over a shifting surface, as the instances of injury are heightened by doing so. I understand that the Jockeys were fine to race on the track but along with the Trainers they insisted on the rail being shifted to minimise these issues. Safety was not comprimised in the process.


    Is this a quote Damo, or "just your understanding"?
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  • JustanLJustanL    356 posts
    Press Release.... The Asot Wicket will be in perfect condition for the one day meet on Saturday week. The wicket will favour both spin and fast bowlers. Fast bowlers will be able to attack straight and true, and we have added a couple of dry patches to suit the spin bowlers. The fluro green marks on the field are not from paint, they are where we had the covers on to protect them. With the 8 innings to be played on the day and the way the wicket has been prepared we believe it will be a sell out crowd, so get your tickets early to avoid missing such a wonderful event. If you thought the drama free Bemont season was one we are proud of, you ain't seen nothing yet. Imagine running horse on such a fantastic cricket wicket.

    thefalcon, GLAMOUR, ColourfulRD likes this post.

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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,495 posts
    stirrer.... :))

    RIO likes this post.

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  • HotJulesHotJules    229 posts
    the falcon said:

    as the irsh would say..."well oil beef hooked"

    'whale oil beef hooked' even.

    thefalcon likes this post.

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  • DamienWyerDamienWyer    7,995 posts
    A press release, that for some reason I can't format, has just been sent to me in regard to this inspection. In it, Darwyn Jolly refers to the track ' in it's splendor of the Spring Summer Racing season'. 'Some minor matters were noted'

    Now that's not quite the case is it Darwyn ? It's **** really.

    Just for once, stop fabricating what was a RWWA Stewards led inspection and just tell the Members what is happening to their facility, not yours.

    The rail is at 8M at the insistence of those who attended, and the grass is making a comeback from a near disaster of weed killer and drainage issues.

    If all the talk about a new direction of Perth Racing is to be believed, then start with this.

    scoot likes this post.

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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,495 posts

    here here, damo.

    in a real world they'd be up for......forgotten the word....

    8-}
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  • RIORIO    14,902 posts
    the falcon said:

    here here, damo.

    in a real world they'd be up for......forgotten the word....

    8-}
    a meeting behind the lunch shed at play time????
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  • chocchoc    789 posts
    Rule of thumb.
    Things are never as good as the blinkered 'scribes' at the West Australian would have you believe.
    However, things are never as bad as the negative regulars on this site would also intimate.

    RIO, Legless, Aquanita likes this post.

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  • LeglessLegless    5,108 posts
    choc said:

    Rule of thumb.
    Things are never as good as the blinkered 'scribes' at the West Australian would have you believe.
    However, things are never as bad as the negative regulars on this site would also intimate.

    Sounds like a relationship bust up =))

    Each side has their own story :^o  and somewhere in the middle lays the truth 8-}
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  • DamienWyerDamienWyer    7,995 posts
    So the rail won't be at 8M then ?

    I'm also interested in seeing how close to the groundkeepers estimate of 10,000 people attending opening day is. Wildly inaccurate is  a term that comes to mind.
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  • chocchoc    789 posts
    8m likely.
    10,000 people unlikely.

    RIO likes this post.

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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,495 posts
    depends on the weather....be it fine, i'd say no more that 5,000.
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  • paraleticparaletic    3,750 posts
    No def not more than 5,000. I dont know where they pluck these numbers from but attentance figures they budget go up every year even though they never meet the budget. Its wishful thinking over reality.
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  • LeglessLegless    5,108 posts
    edited October 2015
    If they wish to give the inside pad more time to meet the lofty expectations ( more water, less water, cut it shorter, let it grow longer etc etc) of our esteemed Eastern States visitors and yesterdays inspection team think that 8m is a good idea then they would be silly to have it any closer.

    What % of members have walked the track and would have any idea what the track actually looks like, the types of grass used , camber , rough/smooth patches etc etc ??

    If there is zero safety issues and our chances improve of having an acceptable track by carnival time with the rail out 8m for a few meetings then fair bump play on IMHO - great call

    As for opening day crowd - it will be interesting. Recent marketing campaigns seemed to have been successful - weather permitting lets see if they get close to their expected mark


    Makybedon likes this post.

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  • MakybedonMakybedon    34 posts
    I was at Ascot on Wednesday and the track looked fine,except for a patch from about the 50 metre mark to the winning post,and about half the width of the track,from the rail outwards.This section was covered with a tarpaulin.My understanding from a couple of trainers is that there was a mishap with the fertiliser which burnt the grass quite badly,however this happened a few weeks ago,and remedial work has been carried out.
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  • DarrbsDarrbs    410 posts
    Wish we could still see the fighting tiger.
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  • loose_gooseloose_goose    2,135 posts
    Makybedon said:

    I was at Ascot on Wednesday and the track looked fine,except for a patch from about the 50 metre mark to the winning post,and about half the width of the track,from the rail outwards.This section was covered with a tarpaulin.My understanding from a couple of trainers is that there was a mishap with the fertiliser which burnt the grass quite badly,however this happened a few weeks ago,and remedial work has been carried out.

    "Now listen ground crew, this area here in need of repair, needs as much sunlight as it can get, so the grass can overpower the section burnt by the chemicals. In saying that though we need to save face so will be putting a tarpaulin on it for 7 days lead up to opening day for 24 hours a day so no one can see it to comment on"  =))

    thefalcon, Makybedon likes this post.

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  • LeglessLegless    5,108 posts
    edited October 2015


    image

    RIO likes this post.

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  • DamienWyerDamienWyer    7,995 posts
    They could have just painted the surface with a nice shade of green, that would have fixed it ............
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  • RIORIO    14,902 posts
    Damien Wyer said:

    They could have just painted the surface with a nice shade of green, that would have fixed it ............

    its not Narrogin..
    =)) =))
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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,495 posts
    where is our mate from PR?
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  • loose_gooseloose_goose    2,135 posts
    RIO said:

    Damien Wyer said:

    They could have just painted the surface with a nice shade of green, that would have fixed it ............

    its not Narrogin..
    =)) =))
    If they did not race next Saturday, it might as well be Narrogin
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