“I must say that this is one of the worst tracks I have seen in a long time. We all know the weather is bad and everything, but it’s never been this bad before. The grass seems to be dying off, maybe because there’s no sunlight”.
Champion trainer and the legendary Tony Cruz about the Happy Valley track.
When Zac Purton speaks about problems that involve the racing product, cages are rattled, and when Tony Cruz points out the same thing- the current track conditions at Happy Valley racecourse that have been described as “putrid” by some, Wini and Tin Tin backpedal until the wheels fall off.
Both champion rider and champion trainer have been complaining about the track conditions for months.
“One of the worst I have seen in a long time” was how Cruz described the track to the SCMP racing writer “Slamming” Sam Agars, and was adamant that this situation is far worse than it should be and how this had nothing to do with the current rainy weather conditions.
Zac Purton made his feelings known months ago leaving the CEO to “ponder” in March whether a change in the sand-based Happy Valley had impacted its famous draining capabilities.
It goes without saying that the HKJC hierarchy are clearly concerned, especially as those who get involved in the wagering aspects of horse racing are not going to just chill out and watch their money go down the drain.
There was a lengthy and, one guesses, knowledgeable quote from Tin Tin that included something about the current problems might having to do with Bermuda grass which reminded us of the Beatles track “Get Back” and the reference to Arizona grass.
All we can say to the Club is something along the lines of “Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged”.
Get back, Jojo.
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