WeatherWest Australian Racing

Chris

Straight 40s, think we’ll be lucky to race twice this week?

psycho

Chris said:

Straight 40s, think we’ll be lucky to race twice this week?

Wednesday should be OK but Saturday seems near impossible according to the forecast ? Move to Bunbury ? This is apparently not too well received by the trainers, but would they rather race or call the meeting OFF ? Then we still need to be sure the weather in Bunbury is better than Perth on the day. I'll call it early and say highly unlikely they will race on Saturday, also Pinjarra on Sunday so could be a huge backlog of races if they're both called off 

thefalcon

these cancellations are giving me the you know what. when did we start this bloody business? is it only us in the west? you never hear  of it in any othe state and believe me sydney can have some stinkers with high humidity.

jeez as i've said before i remember when time frame and crying game won the cup it would have been 40+. no one complained and not a mention of postponing.

horses are very resilient animals able to climatise to any weather. where will they be this saturday?

in some stinking hot stable or frolicing around some paddock.

they could leave a misted stall, straight to the barriers, race and come back to a hose down, a big drink and back to their misted stall before going home.

what happens if we have a run of 40's saturdays?

bookielover

Every one talks about animal welfare, and I know that when we see any animals mistreated let alone horses, we are disgusted.

As Falcon points out, the horses adjust to the temperature of the day. 

In 60 years of going to the races, I never once saw a horse collapse due to running in 104 degree temperatures. What I did see was Rocket Racer almost collapsing because it was drugged up to the hilt.

Just a bit of common sense could rectify any concerns, and ensure that owners jockeys and trainers can earn some money.

Ideally, installing lights at Ascot and turning the day meeting into a night meeting with 8 races, first at 6.15 last at 9.45 or a nine race program first at 6.00 last at 10.00, would be one way of remedying the problem. Another, start an 8 race program, at 3.00 finish at 6.30. 

If it's the latter, then have a bucket of cold water for every horse to drink from after their race, and of course, hose them down as soon as they get back to their stalls.

Would either of these options affect turnover. Maybe yes, maybe no. The real issue for me is the loss incurred by those who put on the show, owners, trainers and jockeys.

I attended a midweek meeting at Ascot about 10 years ago when the temperature hit 40 and stayed there until about 4.00. 

Horses didn't collapse because they were well cared for by those who loved them.

The  powers that be, have given in to the vocal minority. It's the easy way out.

And that's not just a problem for the horse racing industry , but for our Country as well.

spinking

Falcon back in the day of Time Frame  and Crying Game 96 97 around then . The rumblings of Peta (protection of animals) and other activist organisations were not heard as loudly as they are now. Racing has to be seen to be doing its bit in the protection of the horse and industry participants to mute there rumblings. I hear what your saying about the stabling area etc. But imagine the outcry if a horse dropped dead to heat exhaustion or a jockey fell off and caused carnage for t5he same reason. Race clubs are or have to be seen to be doing there best in the interests of animal welfare. And unfourtunatly with the pereived  climate change now occuring we will be seeing more of these postponments

meatpie

thefalcon said:

these cancellations are giving me the you know what. when did we start this bloody business? is it only us in the west? you never hear  of it in any othe state and believe me sydney can have some stinkers with high humidity.

jeez as i've said before i remember when time frame and crying game won the cup it would have been 40+. no one complained and not a mention of postponing.

horses are very resilient animals able to climatise to any weather. where will they be this saturday?

in some stinking hot stable or frolicing around some paddock.

they could leave a misted stall, straight to the barriers, race and come back to a hose down, a big drink and back to their misted stall before going home.

what happens if we have a run of 40's saturdays?

Meetings all around the world are cancelled due to heat, even England and America

Balaklava was called off on Sunday due to heat.

DamienWyer

Falcon still has the shits that women now get to Vote.

Let's be reasonable about an Industry that is in decline in both participation and public appeal. It's not a lot to ask to have parameters for a race meeting. It's also not a lot to ask critical participants in these heat waves, both animal and human, to be given a line in the sand that says it's just too hot to continue.

Lights at Ascot or Belmont will not be seen in our lifetime. Only Govt funding will make that happen and there is only lip service for Racing, no support. 

thefalcon

^ that comment about me is irrelevent to this discussion and completely wrong in its contex.

spinking

You’re correct about the lighting situation Damien. I did ask the question before if any contributors on here would have knowledge in that area to post what it would roughly cost to install. As yet no one’s come back with a figure. And as for the heat don’t the construction industry still down tools when it hits a certain temp. What is the difference between that and racing. Just saying

psycho

spinking said:

You’re correct about the lighting situation Damien. I did ask the question before if any contributors on here would have knowledge in that area to post what it would roughly cost to install. As yet no one’s come back with a figure. And as for the heat don’t the construction industry still down tools when it hits a certain temp. What is the difference between that and racing. Just saying

The horses are not members of a union ? I think anything over 39C is fair to call them off and I'm a dedicated racegoer to every meeting

spinking

Well said Psycho. I don’t think jockeys stable hands trainers track staff are either but if it’s good enough for construction workers why not them

meatpie

As previously stated, whilst frustrated its not the industry participants whining about not racing in the heat, it is those tucked away in the AC.

thefalcon

re lighting, i mentioned it to my mate peter gangemi when he ws on the committee. we discussed the possibility of solar power. peter said he's take it upstairs, whether he did or not i have no idea. never mentioned it again as its not my business.

anybody have any idea of a ballpark cost for solars?

spinking

tucked away in the AC drinking cold bevvies and punting Meatpie. Good way to spend a Saturday if your winning that is . Temprature goes up a bit if its the other side of the coin though. And if your really doing your lemon & sarse you wish they had of abandoned them

wedge

Get used to extreme weather events more often folks! 

DamienWyer

Real talk on the ground here in Canberra, those in connected circles, that cash is destined to be removed from gambling, from casino's, from race tracks etc. We are rapidly moving towards a cashless society and that will end the reign of major turnover in traditional cash businesses. 

Crown Melbourne and Star Sydney are both in the gripes of massive downturn and are laying off staff at every opportunity. They no longer since Royal Commissions were held, have any junkets coming out of Asia. The 'rake' as we call it, has increased because turnover is not enough.

So when you talk about splashing money around on lights for sporting venues that can't even attract an average crowd of 1,500 per meeting, that openly has opposition from animal cruelty and anti gambling advocates, well you're sailing into a perfect storm. 

Perth Racing should have embraced the offer from the then State Govt and sold Belmont, taken the brand new facilities on offer down the Southern corridor in a tri code facility with Harness and Greyhounds. They were right royally rooted from that moment. 

thefalcon

and the bloody sycophants named a time honoured race after him and i bet at his persistent requests...

Rodent

Just know that appeasement doesn't work. Racing keeps yielding but fails to realise that animal welfare groups will never concede its right to exist. They will keep chipping away until they win.

 

Vincent_vega

Lights are 100% needed for Jan/Feb every year. Cut a few salaries at RWWA and boom, you get lights 

meatpie

Rodent said:

Just know that appeasement doesn't work. Racing keeps yielding but fails to realise that animal welfare groups will never concede its right to exist. They will keep chipping away until they win.

 

100% agree, the more you give away the more they will want.

although i notice the race day protests are almost a non event, there would have been lucky to be 20 on Perth Cup Day.

meatpie

Ascot transferred to Bunbury Saturday.

psycho

meatpie said:

Ascot transferred to Bunbury Saturday.

Not my favourite choice to move down south but if we want them on this is what is required

thefalcon

damien, i think you are way off course thinking we are moving to a cashless society. there is a call for businesses the remove their card only demand.

my little drycleaner in the nth perth plaza is card only. i walked out with my pair of strides and took them to dog swamp when i was next there.

cash is king and always will be.

DamienWyer

thefalcon said:

damien, i think you are way off course thinking we are moving to a cashless society. there is a call for businesses the remove their card only demand.

my little drycleaner in the nth perth plaza is card only. i walked out with my pair of strides and took them to dog swamp when i was next there.

cash is king and always will be.

Casino's will be moving to EFTPOS later this year, it's already in motion. The sticking point are bank fee's which will be largely eradicated in coming months on EFT transactions in respect to retail. There will probably be an increase in cash withdrawal fees as costs associated with cash will increase. Banks will be removing cash handling facilities for almost everyone as cash requires them to employ people and those costs could go directly towards their bottom line. 

Name me a business of multiple empoyees, that pays only in cash? I can't think of one.

But it's OK if you doubt what I'm telling you. The only calls for 'cash is king' are from people looking to dodge taxation requirements and the stupidity of those making those calls is the notification that they bring upon themselves. 

What was unthinkable to the cave man in the time of the dinosaur long ago became reality some time ago. 

DamienWyer

Kojonup  has been abandoned for Saturday due to extreme heat. Feelings are running raw on social media as the Club has notified participants and racegoers. Apparently RWWA couldn't find a rescheduled solution. I understand this is the Club's once a year meeting. A early morning start couldn't get approved by RWWA.

psycho

PINJARRA Sunday is now "most likely" OFF also I've been informed by good sources

meatpie

DamienWyer said:

Kojonup  has been abandoned for Saturday due to extreme heat. Feelings are running raw on social media as the Club has notified participants and racegoers. Apparently RWWA couldn't find a rescheduled solution. I understand this is the Club's once a year meeting. A early morning start couldn't get approved by RWWA.

Bit of a stretch, the club has CLEARLY said an alternate date wouldn't work as the club is run by volunteers and would be near impossible to get another day they would all be available. 

Vincent_vega

DamienWyer said:

thefalcon said:

damien, i think you are way off course thinking we are moving to a cashless society. there is a call for businesses the remove their card only demand.

my little drycleaner in the nth perth plaza is card only. i walked out with my pair of strides and took them to dog swamp when i was next there.

cash is king and always will be.

Casino's will be moving to EFTPOS later this year, it's already in motion. The sticking point are bank fee's which will be largely eradicated in coming months on EFT transactions in respect to retail. There will probably be an increase in cash withdrawal fees as costs associated with cash will increase. Banks will be removing cash handling facilities for almost everyone as cash requires them to employ people and those costs could go directly towards their bottom line. 

Name me a business of multiple empoyees, that pays only in cash? I can't think of one.

But it's OK if you doubt what I'm telling you. The only calls for 'cash is king' are from people looking to dodge taxation requirements and the stupidity of those making those calls is the notification that they bring upon themselves. 

What was unthinkable to the cave man in the time of the dinosaur long ago became reality some time ago. 

Great story today with bob kater in the parliament cafe in Canberra.

SLIPPERGOLDEN

It doesn't matter where they race on Saturday because it is a very poor meeting

Buddy123

It’s funny when I went to the races Northerly stakes day( Hail Dom to Shoot) that all betting is cash. I been so used to betting on my phone that forgot you still need it.. ATMs were running hot. Probably the two biggest cash withdrawals n deposits are the Casino and races and that’s it..

DamienWyer

From State to State regulations vary. In Sydney for example at The Star, you cannot make a cash advance withdrawal on a credit card. You can in Canberra and Melbourne. 

In Melbourne at Crown, you can't play for more than three hours without being removed from the gaming floor for 15 minutes mandatory break. You can't play for more than 12 hours in one 24 hour period. For the most part, Casino's now monitor via membership loyalty cards but they also do via video gaming surveillance. When they make the transition to EFTPOS only at tables the tracking will be down to the minute. 

Perth has similar restrictions, but from memory and I could be wrong, you also have a weekly total of gaming at tables in addition to daily limits. Responsible Service of Gambling, RSG, is almost biblical now in it's enforcement. 

I don't know why people may think that these regulations won't come to Racing. It is inevitable.