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FlandersFlanders    1,411 posts
West Australian Racing
This embarrassing moment in the timeline of racing in WA, which has really been an issue for around 5 years and was probably never going away without major remedial work....

Could have been sorted at any time in the months between October and April over any of those past 5 YEARS. There are no excuses that this couldn't work from a weather perspective- it is Peak growing time for turf in Perth.

Brock Neeling has recently been on local and national radio saying things to presumably deflect blame to "before my time" etc, but the reality is:
He looks after Belmont
He has known about the trench for a long as he's been here
No major remedial work has been done

Up until a week or so ago Matt Cork (looks after Ascot) had not been engaged to give his opinions or help, despite being extremely well-equipped after long stints at high profile racecourses over east:
This is absolutely staggering
Why this disconnect between the two main track managers?
Surely these two should combine their skills and experience for the best interest of racing

Ascot raced as good as ever this past season.
The track performed great and looked amazing
Matt Cork is clearly high quality and a huge asset to Perth racing

Is the disconnect due to an ego problem on the part of Neeling?
Is the lack of major remedial work an incompetency of Neeling?
Was it funding that stopped it being done?

Whatever the answers are, it is absolutely staggering that there is no noise about all of this. When it kicked off, Digby Beacham was the only one to openly criticise this debacle and demand answers. And this was on TabRadio, where nothing is ever said negatively about WA racing. That in itself tells you how disgusting this is.

The complete lack of action to address this with a major overhaul must land on someone's shoulders. The testing being done now, should have been done several years ago, after a Grant and Alana Williams horse stumbled when clearly going to win. Not jusr because it didn't win. But because it broke down.
Was anything other than more watering done and maybe some extra aeration, in the hope that it would somehow 2 metres deep fix itself over the multiple years to follow?
Only really Brock Neeling knows the answers to that.
+1 -1

Manchild, spinking, GLAMOUR, thefalcon, jum likes this post.

Comments

  • psychopsycho    890 posts
    Flanders said:

    This embarrassing moment in the timeline of racing in WA, which has really been an issue for around 5 years and was probably never going away without major remedial work....

    Could have been sorted at any time in the months between October and April over any of those past 5 YEARS. There are no excuses that this couldn't work from a weather perspective- it is Peak growing time for turf in Perth.

    Brock Neeling has recently been on local and national radio saying things to presumably deflect blame to "before my time" etc, but the reality is:
    He looks after Belmont
    He has known about the trench for a long as he's been here
    No major remedial work has been done

    Up until a week or so ago Matt Cork (looks after Ascot) had not been engaged to give his opinions or help, despite being extremely well-equipped after long stints at high profile racecourses over east:
    This is absolutely staggering
    Why this disconnect between the two main track managers?
    Surely these two should combine their skills and experience for the best interest of racing

    Ascot raced as good as ever this past season.
    The track performed great and looked amazing
    Matt Cork is clearly high quality and a huge asset to Perth racing

    Is the disconnect due to an ego problem on the part of Neeling?
    Is the lack of major remedial work an incompetency of Neeling?
    Was it funding that stopped it being done?

    Whatever the answers are, it is absolutely staggering that there is no noise about all of this. When it kicked off, Digby Beacham was the only one to openly criticise this debacle and demand answers. And this was on TabRadio, where nothing is ever said negatively about WA racing. That in itself tells you how disgusting this is.

    The complete lack of action to address this with a major overhaul must land on someone's shoulders. The testing being done now, should have been done several years ago, after a Grant and Alana Williams horse stumbled when clearly going to win. Not jusr because it didn't win. But because it broke down.
    Was anything other than more watering done and maybe some extra aeration, in the hope that it would somehow 2 metres deep fix itself over the multiple years to follow?
    Only really Brock Neeling knows the answers to that.

    First of all you're 100% right that it could have been fixed anytime over the last 5 years between April and October, you don't need to be a genius to work out at THIS IS WHEN GRASS GROWS THE BEST. 
    On the point of Brock Neeling, I don't know the bloke but I have spoken to him on occasion at the track and he seems very personable and knowledgable so I'm wondering how much he's restricted by the brains department (geez I use that loosely) at RWWA or PR or whoever else makes financial decisions at the track.
    The only thing for certain is this should have been fixed and it hasn't and now PR are looking like a batch of incompetent souls that couldnt organise a gas bottle for a BBQ
    Now we have these people deciding whether to dig up a racetrack in the middle of winter when grass doesn't grow well ? I'll have a wild stab in the dark and this will not be fixed on a "permanent" level before October, before as I said above GRASS will NOT GROW well whilst we are in the middle of winter
    OK I'll shut up now, this is a rediculous situation and they have nobody to blame except themselves

    Manchild, thefalcon likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • spinkingspinking    4,002 posts
    Very good post Flanders . As you say some very hard questions need to be answered . It just continues to make WA racing look like a sh.. show. The only point you make above i dont agree with is the time line i beleive it to be more around 7 years. If i remember correctly they had a set of trials on the main grass back in 2018 that had to be called off after 3 odd trials were run due to the same problem

    thefalcon likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • GLAMOURGLAMOUR    879 posts
    Flanders said:

    This embarrassing moment in the timeline of racing in WA, which has really been an issue for around 5 years and was probably never going away without major remedial work....

    Could have been sorted at any time in the months between October and April over any of those past 5 YEARS. There are no excuses that this couldn't work from a weather perspective- it is Peak growing time for turf in Perth.

    Brock Neeling has recently been on local and national radio saying things to presumably deflect blame to "before my time" etc, but the reality is:
    He looks after Belmont
    He has known about the trench for a long as he's been here
    No major remedial work has been done

    Up until a week or so ago Matt Cork (looks after Ascot) had not been engaged to give his opinions or help, despite being extremely well-equipped after long stints at high profile racecourses over east:
    This is absolutely staggering
    Why this disconnect between the two main track managers?
    Surely these two should combine their skills and experience for the best interest of racing

    Ascot raced as good as ever this past season.
    The track performed great and looked amazing
    Matt Cork is clearly high quality and a huge asset to Perth racing

    Is the disconnect due to an ego problem on the part of Neeling?
    Is the lack of major remedial work an incompetency of Neeling?
    Was it funding that stopped it being done?

    Whatever the answers are, it is absolutely staggering that there is no noise about all of this. When it kicked off, Digby Beacham was the only one to openly criticise this debacle and demand answers. And this was on TabRadio, where nothing is ever said negatively about WA racing. That in itself tells you how disgusting this is.

    The complete lack of action to address this with a major overhaul must land on someone's shoulders. The testing being done now, should have been done several years ago, after a Grant and Alana Williams horse stumbled when clearly going to win. Not jusr because it didn't win. But because it broke down.
    Was anything other than more watering done and maybe some extra aeration, in the hope that it would somehow 2 metres deep fix itself over the multiple years to follow?
    Only really Brock Neeling knows the answers to that.

    And Belmont was supposed/use to be the.best Wet winter track in Aust someone us to blame,get it sorted and yes these news letters we are going to do this and do that.
    +1 -1
  • Vincent_vegaVincent_vega    674 posts
    edited June 2025
    Don't get why there is two track managers, one for ascot and one for belmont….. geoff Murphy did it all himself. Very few meetings missed with him. And not alot of technology back then either - just common sense and hard work

    thefalcon, jum likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • FlandersFlanders    1,411 posts
    Vincent_vega said:

    Don't get why there is two track managers, one for ascot and one for belmont….. geoff Murphy did it all himself. Very few meetings missed with him. And not alot of technology back then either - just common sense and hard work


    Great point.
    On the current structure- up until this reared it's ugly head again (sure didn't take long!), I had assumed Neeling was the head honcho and Cork the man on the ground doing both tracks.
    +1 -1
  • FlandersFlanders    1,411 posts
    I note that Belmont is listed as the venue this Saturday 14th... is the trench sorted??
    +1 -1
  • tonytony    2,437 posts
    According to an article I saw today report from consultants received today. Decision in nest day or two re this weekend and the future

    udontknow likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • psychopsycho    890 posts
    tony said:

    According to an article I saw today report from consultants received today. Decision in nest day or two re this weekend and the future

    Are you saying they are going to think about it for a day or two ? If they are they're insane, we dont have time with the weights coming out tomorrow, make a call on it for crying out loud. This shamozzle has gone on for way tooooo loooong

    thefalcon likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • NgawyniNgawyni    786 posts
    Saturday moved to Bunbury.

    The only positive from all this is it's reduced the number of meetings at Belmont which is depressing at the best of times. I've enjoyed a couple of trips down to Pinjarra. The track has played fair and it's a far nicer facility and atmosphere - Bunbury the same. 
    +1 -1
  • FlandersFlanders    1,411 posts
    Ngawyni said:

    Saturday moved to Bunbury.


    The only positive from all this is it's reduced the number of meetings at Belmont which is depressing at the best of times. I've enjoyed a couple of trips down to Pinjarra. The track has played fair and it's a far nicer facility and atmosphere - Bunbury the same. 

    And although it's not good for turnover at Belmont, it is great for the clubs picking up the slack

    warrenrobinson, thefalcon likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • Precision1Precision1    589 posts
    Ngawyni said:

    Saturday moved to Bunbury.


    The only positive from all this is it's reduced the number of meetings at Belmont which is depressing at the best of times. I've enjoyed a couple of trips down to Pinjarra. The track has played fair and it's a far nicer facility and atmosphere - Bunbury the same. 
    I actually completely disagree with this, I usually prefer to watch and punt from home but if I go to the track give me Pints in a glass under the Belmont grandstand with footy on in the background rather than an empty Ascot where you either have to buy a stubbie or drink out of a paper cup.  

    thefalcon, Bazmace likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • udontknowudontknow    570 posts
    tony said:

    According to an article I saw today report from consultants received today. Decision in nest day or two re this weekend and the future




    Perth Racing reposted
    RWA Stewards @RWAStewards •17h
    The Belmont 14/6 meeting has been transferred to Bunbury whilst Perth Racing continue to review results of the Belmont track testing. The RTG 66+ and Westspeed Platinum OMWLY 1600m will now be run over 1675m.
    Noms for the meeting close at 9.30am tomorrow #waracing

    +1 -1
  • AbbysAceAbbysAce    705 posts
    The only excuse I could say is that Belmont held Bunbury meetings during winter while their redevolopment was taking place.

    How many years has it been since Belmont had the full 5 months off over winter?

    Did they decide to patch it up and hope for the best as they needed Belmont with Bunbury out of action?

    thefalcon likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • tonytony    2,437 posts
    edited June 2025
    Extract from latest update

    Excavation and replacement of turf in the area

    Work to take 5 days followed by a period of consolodation

    Racing will not refurn to Belmont for a minimum of 4 weeks following the completion of the work


    Flanders likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • FlandersFlanders    1,411 posts
    tony said:

    Extract from latest update


    Excavation and replacement of turf in the area

    Work to take 5 days followed by a period of consolodation

    Racing will not refurn to Belmont for a minimum of 4 weeks following the completion of the work



    Hope they're gonna borrow the hydro lights from across the road at Optus!
    +1 -1
  • psychopsycho    890 posts
    tony said:

    Extract from latest update


    Excavation and replacement of turf in the area

    Work to take 5 days followed by a period of consolodation

    Racing will not refurn to Belmont for a minimum of 4 weeks following the completion of the work


    Growing grass in Winter, why am I not surprised it's come to this
    +1 -1
  • thelivingendthelivingend    19 posts
    They have had a spring and summer of conditions ideal to solve any problems yet here we are, add that the repair work is to be carried out by Evergreen Turf Group raises questions
    +1 -1
  • FlandersFlanders    1,411 posts
    Realistically it looks like Belmont will have a handful of meetings before we're back at Ascot. There's so little chance that the work being undertaken will result in a fix in the time frame they're predicting.
    The concern in the short term is- how will the stand-in tracks handle the extra workload? From what it looked like yesterday- Bunbury will not cope well at all for a start.
    The others will suffer too.... which will flow on into next year.
    Be nice if I'm wrong, but I feel that is unlikely

    thefalcon likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • Vincent_vegaVincent_vega    674 posts
    Flanders said:

    Realistically it looks like Belmont will have a handful of meetings before we're back at Ascot. There's so little chance that the work being undertaken will result in a fix in the time frame they're predicting.
    The concern in the short term is- how will the stand-in tracks handle the extra workload? From what it looked like yesterday- Bunbury will not cope well at all for a start.
    The others will suffer too.... which will flow on into next year.
    Be nice if I'm wrong, but I feel that is unlikely




    Bunbury looked cooked
    +1 -1
  • GLAMOURGLAMOUR    879 posts
    Going to be enteresting this week with the rain they say that's coming from tomorrow night,Bunbury Wed.
    +1 -1
  • psychopsycho    890 posts
    GLAMOUR said:

    Going to be enteresting this week with the rain they say that's coming from tomorrow night,Bunbury Wed.

    Also Pinjarra on Saturday depending on the amount of rain and exactly when we get it ? If they get 50mm at Pinny and then it rains on the day (as forecast) then we may be in strife, remembering Pinjarra has been up and running for a while now this season
    +1 -1
  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    The $25 -$30 million spent to provide "all year round racing on an all weather track" may be seriously tested with the probability of 40mm over the next two days.

    4 mm seems to knock Belmont out these days, so nothing ventured, just 25 million lost.

    Pinjarra Saturday.... take your floaties.

    Vincent_vega likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • RodentRodent    7,472 posts
    edited June 2025
    Why don't they think outside the box? Add a meeting or two at York, Narrogin or even Toodyay. Take the load off Bunbury, Pinjarra and Northam so they can stand in for Belmont.
     Pinjarra Thursday has 4x maidens, 2x C1s, a 54+ and a C5. No reason a meeting like that can't be held on a lesser track.

    thefalcon, Manchild likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • ChrisChris    5,734 posts
    or what about moving all metro racing to Broome, Carnarvon and Roebourne? I'm sure all participants would love to get out of the cold.

    I can see a Marble Bar Belmont Oaks being a huge day.
    +1 -1
  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Utilising the Bunbury Fibre Sand track?
    +1 -1
  • psychopsycho    890 posts
    JayJay said:

    Utilising the Bunbury Fibre Sand track?

    Then perhaps Marble Bar as Chris believes  :((

    JayJay likes this post.

    +1 -1
  • AbbysAceAbbysAce    705 posts
    JayJay said:

    Utilising the Bunbury Fibre Sand track?

    What will turnover be down? 75% on a normal Saturday
    +1 -1
  • FlandersFlanders    1,411 posts
    JayJay said:

    Utilising the Bunbury Fibre Sand track?


    Yes JayJay it will be hosting its first meeting on July 3rd! Just read it.

    "Bunbury’s new fibre-sand track has received conditional approval to host race meetings, with stewards still to determine field limits. All scheduled meetings on the fibre-sand track will proceed subject to sufficient nominations and acceptances"
    +1 -1
  • psychopsycho    890 posts
    AbbysAce said:

    JayJay said:

    Utilising the Bunbury Fibre Sand track?

    What will turnover be down? 75% on a normal Saturday
    There will be no Saturday meetings on the sand fibre track but the turnover on the planned meetings will take a hammering, be cheaper to call the meeting OFF for the turf club but of course the owners/trainers still need to start their charges.
    +1 -1
  • Thoroly_BreadThoroly_Bread    2,348 posts
    This shit show started a long time ago, and they actually named a race after him.

    Perth racing will never change. Been a shit show for 30 years and it's a real shame.

    Manchild, Desperado likes this post.

    +1 -1
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