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    • The work was done by Evergreen an Australian outfit, extensive work with many racecourse over there. I would be confident in their ability 
    • Are you keen to be trying out the new  'don't be mean!' laws that have just come in!!  
    • don't worry brodie,its not just hrnz and mr steele who's saying everything is on the rise here. i just watched an interview called campbells comments ,a bloke seemingly well known in australian harness media. According to campbell's comments, new zealand is on the rise and going enormous. then just a few moths ago i heard gordon banks saying the exact same thing on a well known american harness podcast. you know,i listen to people like that and i think to myself,what is wrong with these people.They make out they are  clever and obviously they are in some things,but clearly they are not as smart as they think themselves to be.. Its like these people think that way, because hrnz have upped the all these big stake high end races and their bonuses and then they threw some money to the peasants with the harness 5000 concept. I mean,even the dumbest fool should realise that doesn't mean harness racing is on the rise and is going enormous. but no,obviously there are people out there who are just plain dumb as. maybe its an aussie thing as well. You know,the dumbest person in the world with  numbers  could have run things and boosted  stakes, with all the money they got from the entain deal. why that makes anyone think that equates to the industry being on the rise and going enormous,is beyond comprehending.. anyway,If you want an example of what happens when stake money is slashed,then look at the stats i posted about the victotrian harness racing industry,from their annual report in august last year. every indicator for victorian harness was looking bad. every single one from number bred, to turnove,r to numbers of industry participants,etc.  as to the victorian sales,melbourne apg 2024,from the 111 offered,78 sold  for an average$25,731. In 2025from the 60 offered 47 sold for and average of $17202. the melbourne nutrien 2024. From the 200 offered,126 sold for an average of $32,496,while in 2025,from the 147 offered, 108 sold for an average of $31,894. So the average dropped significantly in 1 sale and just a little in the other,but obviously there was roughly a 25% reduction in numbers  was a factor in masking the level of the decline.i  its just common sense and logic,that if the stakes do have to be cut in nz in a couple of years,the same trends will play out here. you mention this years  nz yearling sales.My guess will be things will still play out ok. I if numbers offered here have been reduced that will artifically mask any decline anyway. Most likely the top end will still sell well and the bottom end struggle. also,so many people that are still remaining in nz harness racing only think of next year,not the 5 years time when their horses that are being bred and purchased will be racing. everything that happens in nz harness racing in 2 or 5 years will be self inflicted. Now whether it be self inflicted small reductions or self inflicted large reuctions,it doesn't change that its self inflicted. People in nz harness racing are going to get the econominc circumstances that they,themselves have participated in creating. No one shoukld ahve any sympathy for anyone in nz harness racing if tough times do fall on particiapnts in yera sto come.I certainly wouldn't have any. Now obviously, we all hope its not too bad,but many of us think it will be reductions in everything.  Personally i still think their are still some factors that will mitigate it turning really bad,but its inevictable it will be reductions. the scale of any reductions is the unknown factor but it will become evident in the next year or so once the greyhounds are gone and  the first year of geo blocking has played out with the impact of that being better known. ll.l Then you have the current decison of hrnz to anchor the rest of nz harness to the syrvival of harness rwacing at aleaxandra park and the inpact of that .. As to turnover figures you mention,transparency seems mostly applied when they want to promote good confidence building news. We are always hearing media say,turnoverts are up. But as i have said before,any fool should be able to work out,even if income does happen to be up,if you spending at a greater rate then you eat into your cash reserves. So these people who tell us turnovers are mathmatically stupid. And tyhey are right. Many people actually are.But not everyone is.
    • It is going to be very interesting to see how the yearling sales go this year? There is less horses going through the sales than what there used to be in Christchurch so figures may hold up pretty well! However you would have to wonder whether there are going to be enough buyers prepared to pay the big money for a yearling that wont be racing for a couple of years? There is no doubt whatsoever that these horses when they race will be racing for stakes that are going to be significantly less than what they are currently racing for! How much less would only be a guess, but unless things change and they start to manage things properly, I would not be surprised if stakes were half What they are now! HRNZ need to be speaking to the TAB and get them to be encouraging wagering rather than restricting it badly or things are not going to be flash! Interesting times indeed!
    • With the weather closing in again towards the tail end of a memorable Matamata Breeders’ Stakes day, it was left to durable stayerDiamond Jak (NZ)(Jakkalberry) to add some further sparkle to proceedings as he bolted away with the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m). The enigmatic seven-year-old has proven a head scratcher at times for trainer Mark Brosnan, often ruining his chances with a tardy getaway from the starting gates. On his day however he is a force to be reckoned with and Saturday was his day as he relished the Heavy9 underfoot conditions to race clear in the home straight after dictating the pace throughout for rider Rory Hutchings. Hutchings had the son of Jakkalberry away swiftly to head the six-horse field after just 200m and once allowed his own way in front it was evident his mount would be hard to peg back. Eventual runner-up He’s A Doozy (NZ) (Zacinto) tried his heart out in the run home but there was no stopping Diamond Jak as he maintained a powerful gallop to collect his ninth career victory and first at stakes level. Brosnan was pleased with his charge leading into the race and when the track came up a Heavy9 it played into his hands even more. “That was very satisfying as once the rain came I knew he was a good chance,” Brosnan said. “He needed the run the other day and although I wasn’t going to come here, once it rained I decided to run him. “I told Rory to be positive out of the gates and although he was a little more positive than I thought he would be, it worked for him.” Brosnan will now have to decide where to head next with his charge as his aim had been the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) on 7 March at Ellerslie, but owner Gary Hodel had talked him out of that plan. “I honestly don’t know where to now as I had him nominated for the Auckland Cup, but my owner talked me into pulling him out,” he said. “I don’t know where to go now so we will have to take a look around.” Hutchings, who had employed similar tactics when winning aboard My Lips Are Sealed (NZ) (Ace High) in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) earlier in the day, was keen on his chances when track conditions came up in the Heavy range. “He got the track to suit today and when I was able to hold the top (lead), that was the difference between winning and losing,” he said. “He was a rock-hard fit stayer and I was able to put the pressure on early and maintain a strong gallop. “He built through his gears and was strong through the line.” Bred and owned by Gary and Linda Hodel, Diamond Jak has now won eight of his 40 starts and over $349,000 in prizemoney. View the full article
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