Racing: Early starters keep club on course

A multitude of punters flock through the gates of Tauranga Racecourse each year for a day at the races, with little knowledge of the military-like precision that makes the whole operation flow so well.

At the last local meeting this month, Tauranga Turf Talk had a behind-the-scenes look at the myriad professionals and volunteers who toiled throughout the day to stage another successful day of racing at the Gate Pa course, and saw the passion for the sport among the horses' connections.

The Racing Tauranga office was a hive of activity with trainers and owners seeking their raceday privileges and punters buying race books.

Between the front office and the birdcage is the nerve centre of each race day. Stationed in the administration office are raceday manager Dave Taylor and TRAC general manager Jen Evans. "Preparations started the previous Friday with NZ Thoroughbred Racing in Wellington taking the nominations for our Wednesday meeting," Taylor said. "The fields are drawn in Wellington and then sent to us to put in race order and add the sponsors' names. On Monday trainers have to declare their riders and then we proof the racebook before printing."

On raceday Taylor's duties include late scratchings, track condition changes and dealing with any concerns raised by the jockeys and trainers. He is in constant communication with the stipendiary stewards.

Evans' responsibilities are directed to the Racing Tauranga operations on the day.

"I am usually one of the first on course at seven in the morning in tandem with racecourse manager Craig Settle," she said. "At 7.30 I receive the day's scratchings from the bureau in Wellington as well as the paper work needed to run the day by the starter, clerk of the scales, farrier etc. There are always last-minute things to do on race morning.

"Half an hour before the first race I go to my checklist to tick off that the starting stalls and ambulances are on track. I also give a final check that the vet, farrier, starter and race commentator and other key personnel have picked up their paperwork and are ready to go.

"During the day both Dave and I are essentially troubleshooters, with the bottom line being that while most days go reasonably smoothly we both expect the unexpected. One of the bigger fears on race day are powercuts."

Just a few metres away from the administration nerve centre are the scales, where the jockeys must make their carded weight before and after each race. Clerk of the scales Wally O'Hearn is responsible for ensuring the quick transition of each jockey on and off the scales.

"I have a list with the required weight that the jockeys must make, plus a kilo for the compulsory safety vest that they wear," said O'Hearn. We check the required weight against the scales and take off any apprentices allowances."

Asked how long he had been in the job, he said: "Three years, but I won't do it as long as my predecessor Colin Neil, who did the job for over 50 years".

We caught up with local owners Peter and Pam Silson, who had two horses in race three. Before the race start we asked the owners about their expectations of Chantilly Rose and Scarlett Minette, who are trained on the course by Jim Pender. Pam said she hoped both horses would come safely through while Peter said Chantilly Rose was ready to go.

"We are hopeful, however she needs to manage the heavy track while the other filly probably needs the experience and is still a little fat," he said.

There is no need to ask the Silsons after the race about their two horses' performances, as the smiles on their faces tells the story of their pride at finishing fourth and fifth.

"We are happy with the run of both, with the big girl [Scarlett Minette] stepping up from her first start," said Peter.

Sitting with the voice of thoroughbred racing George Simon to watch race three from the heights of the commentator's box in the main stand was a unique experience. With more than three decades of race calling behind him, Simon still leaves nothing to chance to ensure he makes an accurate call of every race on the day.

"I started my preparation on Monday when viewing the fields and becoming familiar with the horses that are racing today," Simon said. "As the horses come into the birdcage for each race I match up the horses with their race colours. When they jump from the barrier I try and paint a picture of the action as it unfolds."

From the time Simon walks on to the track he has little time to himself with a myriad tasks to be done. "Before each race I call the starters and jockeys with the dividends for the favoured runners and also voice the recognition of individual race sponsors. In the minutes leading up to race start there is a cross to Trackside TV for my top four selections."

After the race the judge will announce the preliminary placings, with Simon returning on air to give the final finishing order, the names of the winner's connections, margins, time of the race and the all-important information for the punters of the race dividends.

Then there is a phone call to Radio Trackside to repeat the race information for the listeners, before returning to scan the field for the next race.

Later in the day we follow a horse and connections from the weighing out of the jockey to the return to scale. The ever-obliging Jim Pender allows us to track Wainui Prince in race six from the time that one of New Zealand's leading hoops Opie Bosson donned the horse's colours and weighed out. We follow Pender to the tie-up stalls as he saddles up Wainui Prince and fellow stable representative Mean Sleak.

From the stabling area, the horse's attendant takes Wainui Prince to the plate inspector where his racing shoes are checked and his brands and gear such as blinkers are ticked off. From there it is on to the birdcage parade, after which the jockeys mount their charges for the trip to the starting stalls.

Pender was one of the busiest trainers on the day with six horses, including two runners in two events, spread over four races. When asked about the pressure associated with getting six horses ready on the day, Pender said there was always additional pressure when racing at home with the majority of his owners on hand.

"As a committee man of our club I like to support the local meetings and with no travel involved that is one less cost for the owners," Pender said. "Having the favorite for the race [Wainui Prince] also puts me in the spotlight."

In a dream result Wainui Prince sprinted clear in the home straight to win by a length from stable mate Mean Sleak.

Up in the Fairway Lounge the annual chartered clubs' day out at the races was a display of punters' emotions on the roller-coaster ride of winners and losers. The ninth version of the day attracted a full house of 250 punters.

The eight chartered clubs squared off in head-to-head competition, with Tauranga RSA winning the punting competition and Waihi Beach RSA taking out the gaming stakes.

"We have to make industry days such as today's chartered clubs' promotion work for us financially," said TRAC marketing and sponsorship manager Don Paterson.

"The chartered clubs members probably boosted turnover by 20 per cent which plays a big part in the financial viability of our club. The day is a partnership between the club, our sponsors UGL and Lion Red and the eight participating clubs, and we are already asking the chartered clubs how we can celebrate in style the 10th anniversary next year."

One of the most interesting raceday professionals we caught up with was (NZ) Racing Integrity Unit assistant racecourse investigator Bryan Oliver.

The Waikato-based racecourse investigator manages the licensed personnel on raceday, which includes jockeys and stablehands.

Also in attendance from the RIU is a stipendiary steward who is responsible for managing the racing on the day.

Oliver gave a insight into an extremely important activity on race day when he invited us to follow Wainui Prince as the horse was swabbed to prove that it's free of prohibited substances.

As soon as Wainui Prince returned to the winners stall, the RIU took control of the horse. One of Oliver's staff walked alongside the horse's attendant as it was washed down and taken to the swabbing unit.

On arrival at the sterile swabbing area, the horse's brands were again checked to identify the correct horse. Wainui Prince was taken into the swabbing box where a urine sample was quickly provided.

"We try for up to 30 minutes to get a urine sample, however if the horse is still unco-operative we will then take a blood sample. It is usual to swab all the winners and in some instances will take swabs from the likes of beaten favourites" said Oliver.

The urine sample is transferred into separate containers to provide A and B samples. "On the rare occasion of a positive sample, the B sample will then be tested."

Racing Tauranga president Roger Hills was pleased with how the day went.

"From my perspective the day went very well with the meeting running like clockwork as a result of the excellent staff we have available on the day.

"I like to see everyone on course enjoy their day's racing as they would with any other sporting event," he said.

"I think racing is often judged on the gambling aspect but the reality for most people who race horses, is it's a sport with the ultimate thrill of victory.

"There was a good atmosphere on track especially in the lounges and the chartered clubs on course added considerably to this atmosphere. We have a very good nine-year association with the eight clubs who help make this day a real success.

"Finally, the bottom line is horse racing is a business and the turnover for the day was in line with our expectations. Given these factors I consider the day was very successful."