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An Open Letter To The Thoroughbred Industry From The Board Of Stewards Of The Jockey Club
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Gamma, I have no doubt that you are a passionate supporter of our wonderful sport/industry, as am I, otherwise, why would you spend time writing on here. Just for your information, seeing you sort of questioned my participation, I have been involved in every aspect except breeding, only because I couldn't afford it, I have had numerous racehorses, most of which have been leased or come from other trainers. For 11 years my partner and I trained them ourselves and also drove in Amateur races. It cost us a lot of money because we didn't have good ones, although we did manage 14 wins, which we are very proud of, and we don't regret a moment of it. I have attended more than 50 NZ Cups and have been involved in administration for decades.....that's how I have some knowledge of the mistakes that have been made prior to Mr. Steele's appearance. I must dispute your comments about the financing of slot races. I was present at a meeting when the then HRNZ CEO first announced them. Twice that day, he stressed that the great thing about them was they would cost the Industry nothing to stage, because all the money would come from the slot holders. That was the case the first year, now HRNZ is subsidising them to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars, when some horses are winning races and earning a couple of months training fees. There is no question in my mind that that money should have been pumped into maiden races for 3 year old and older, because they are the contests that most horses are capable of winning. That may have encouraged people to stay in the game. As for the Auckland TC, if there is ever a case of mis-management they are a shining example. Two Club Presidents have told me in the past that the club want 'only the elite horses racing at Alex Park'. That's exactly what they have achieved- how's that working? -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Baeza records his first work since he was sixth in the Breeders Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar. View the full article -
Mr Cook has posted some good stuff above , so will post back here a 2nd time. Gamma will have to be renamed 'Rambling Willie' lol. (you won't know who that is but he was a fine pacer in America who raced through the 70's for a world record 128 wins from 305 starts and $2,000,000 . bit better than Gammalite even lol 🤣😂😎 from Mr Cook . Space. Space>> I have tried to resist responding to Gamma's ramblings, based, unlike Ceemenow's facts, on emotion and ignorance. However, when he accuses NZ trainers of being lazy, I can't hold back. I'll start by pointing out that the two trainers he praises for lining horses up (the Green/Delany and Telfers) are both backed by obviously passionate men who appear to have bottomless pockets. Sadly, the majority of local trainers have, for decades, had to rely on selling horses overseas to stay afloat. Where does he think the majority of his hero Mr. Grimson's horses come from? As a result, many trainers and indeed, owners are reluctant to over race their horses, in case they run poorly and devalue themselves, something the Australian trainers don't have to worry about, they just race them until they drop. Comparing Australia and New Zealand in the racing industry is nonsensical. Apart from the massive difference in population and wealthy people, Mr. Steele comes from an industry where, if it wasn't for a couple of passionate individuals and supportive State governments, it would be a cottage industry, if that. Yet still some places are on their knees financially! In addition, where would harness racing across the ditch be without New Zealand bred horses. At one recent meeting at Menangle, every winner was bred in NZ. I'm not saying that, for numerous reasons, harness racing in this Country hadn't been mismanaged, what I am saying is that Mr. Steele was thrown a lifeline by the Entain deal, and has frittered much of it away on subsidising ridiculous slot races and two year old promotions. As far as the HRNZ Board is concerned, I suspect that they are being given the same misleading spin that is being fed to the public, but seem to be reluctant to question it. -
this is a very good post. you make me feel bad actually for being a passionate supporter of both Aus and NZ harness and sounding critical of NZ trainers (whom I actually am very fond of ) You are indeed accurate that the major stables you indicated have the millionaires backing . We should add Dean Shannon to the Purdon/Phelan outfit as well as Stonewall and Green/Delaney. Mick Boots backs some there too like with his new Sensational horse Captain's Mistress , which is now with Grimson. after Nathan got injured there. MY local idols in Brisbane Grant Dixon (with 80 horses) and Pete McMullen (with 50) are not lazy and work every moment of every day to get where they are , and are backed by 4 Millionaire owners each . including Mike Tanev from Canada with his mass of fast horses all over the world. Of course this allowed them to progress to getting the best pacer and best trotter around in the champ Leap To Fame and GUS (trotter) , respectively. This leaves all my friends and colleagues racing for the Fish and Chips at Redcliffe twice a week (the country racing) where they send 'Frail' horses around each week to get by. yes this is a slightly different set-up to NZ racing , but they're not outrageously different . just Not Fast enough to compete with the Big Boys. Afterall , your 2 Top NZ barns of Telfers and Dunn's have very few Open Class runners (after the lofty days of Allstars dominating for a decade with their several Millionaire owners including Aussies like Mrs Feiss and the Butterworths ) In my ramblings I noted the similarities in VICTORIA to NZ harness racing , where they race in debt ( a recent government bail out helps them for 2 years) with the same horse population and participant numbers as NZ. Anyway In Summary I'm glad Mr Steele , and indeed Mr Shannon and Mr Boots have all tried to help in NZ at some stage racing horses, when they could easily do so just in Australia. (It supports the yearlings sales and trainers . I do hope you get a horse Mr Cook . Mine just bashes around at Redcliffe unable to cope with the unbelievable pace they race at these days . such is life. It's still a sport . and it's still a lot of fun. (which seems missing at BOAY these days) I did try and have fun NZ harness racing contests here over the years to cheer up the locals , but not much success in that unfortunately. kiwis seem to have a lot of the fun sucked out of them these days lol 😋🍋 BTW the slot races have resulted in fantastic contest , and the Perth one is on very soon. I believe DON HUGO going to that one. The Betcha race, the TAB trot at Cambridge, The Eureka at Menangle , the Protostar Brisbane , the Ascent and Velocity now on at Addington have resulted in Some of the Greatest Racing and horses assembled EVER seen over the past 5 years. Is a real PLUS for the Industry and big and small players alike , and yet you criticise these sensational Incentives for the Harness racing ?? waste of money ? hahahaha One good thing Mr Cook is, i'm not ignorant to that fine concept and Fabulous contest Slot racing. being embraced all around Australia and New Zealand . owners put up nearly the whole Purse !! how good is that . excellent stuff. Best of luck to you and thanks for your constructive criticism. and apologies for me being so ignorant. thought that was one thing I wasn't being by contributing , but there you go. 🙄 I'll repost your post after this one , with some respect as you covered a fair few things in it with some good insight . thanks for your input.
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I don't think it is. I think it's pointless. I don't see why you are obsessed with the idea of comparing one and two race day a year clubs with the likes of Ellerslie.
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