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Jean Rice, Racing Family Matriarch, Passes Away
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By Spatchcock · Posted
They won't be afraid to force the issue with Belle Neige or Gus, I would say. -
You guys are just Bitterly disappointing these days. Not a skerritt of support for the great competitors on the track , nor your fabulous organizing bodies . And the Galah backs you u calling it a disgrace ? that's a disgrace lol 😆😋 (should leave that for Doomsday Brodie) Of course any race Keayang Zahara is in doesn't have good betting. duh. that's what happens when champions arrive. So you say DON"T HAVE THE RACE because of the Betting ???😅🤣 that's great support for the champions lol 😂 I do concede, You can't really back anything to beat her. (my suggestion would be take First 4 in those sort of races but whatever) As for Recklessness with ENTAIN money. what total ROT. ENTAIN puts in the money to use over a season. They are worth BILLIONS they are back in court this year with a potential $100,000,000 fine (for money laundering) and already have that set aside , should the day come. WHAT BETTER way for them to SPEND their proceeds but on BIG Harness races. The Slot races involves the PARTICIPANTS putting in $30,000 each as well . The small input from HRNZ is a True Blessing for them. Not a disgrace. They are rejoicing in their good fortune. Great racing of some of the best TROTTERS EVER SEEN in Gus, Keayang Zahara and Muscle Mountain . 14 fabulous Group 1's to be run at Auckland through the Autumn next 3 months, on their newly re-surfaced track . Well done HRNZ for the great NZ racing and support of your participants. 🏆💰 Thank you Entain for the great Entertainment as well. Disgrace and recklessness ??? lol 🤣 poor old trotters. NZ used to like them too over the years. times change I spose.🙄😉 -
By Chief Stipe · Posted
NZTR weighs export levy hike amid industry pushback New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing says it is in the early stages of evaluating the fee structure for the export of horses to raise revenue and direct it towards the local industry. By Tim Rowe https://bitofayarn.com ● Breeding and Bloodstock ● March 5, 2026 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is examining the fee structure for the export of horses despite concerns that a steep hike would impact the international trade of bloodstock. (Photo Darren Tindale – The Image is Everything) The regulator of New Zealand’s heavily export-reliant thoroughbred sector is weighing up whether to increase the levy imposed on owners of horses departing the country as a way of boosting revenue to support the local racing industry. As the proposal reaches the consultative stage, detractors have voiced concern that New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s tentative steps to hike the export fee could make it harder for stakeholders to sell horses to overseas jurisdictions.https://bitofayarn.com A figure of as much as $5000 – up more than tenfold on the current amount of $450 – was first put forward by NZTR, but after swift and stern feedback from stakeholders, it appears as though the organisation has already backed away from such a steep increase. The Australian industry charges the owners of exported horses $550, while the United Kingdom imposes a £196 levy, and Ireland charges €234. Advertisement NZTR also charges a $250 levy for horses imported into the country, or $330 if the arrival is lodged more than 30 days after arrival. Australia is New Zealand’s major export market for thoroughbreds, while Hong Kong is also a pivotal jurisdiction, but buyers from that region have a major presence at New Zealand Bloodstock auctions, particularly at the Ready to Run Sale each November. To a lesser extent, jurisdictions such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Korea also play an important role as export markets for the New Zealand industry. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing general manager of racing Mitch Lamb confirmed that the organisation was considering the structure of its fees across a range of areas, including the export and importing of horses. “We’re really right at the start of an internal process that may end up being a conclusion that sees a rise in fee or it may end up being a conclusion that sees it not being touched,” Lamb told The Straight. “It’s a fee that hasn’t been touched from my understanding for about 11 years … (and we’re) taking on consultation from those stakeholders and we’re obviously still needing to go through a proper process internally as well. “In fairness, it’s probably one of about 40 things that are at that similar stage (at NZTR at the moment).” New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing chief executive Andrew Birch warned that a significant increase in the levy would diminish the country’s ability to compete with other thoroughbred breeding countries. “New Zealand is very much an export nation and this ecosystem of trading has been imperative to the ongoing viability of a host of our trainers, owners and breeders,” Birch said. “We have a clear advantage in terms of our natural environment, skilled horse people and relative costs of producing quality thoroughbreds, so let’s not jeopardise that. “While we appreciate that the current export levy hasn’t been touched in some time, and hence a small rise would be palatable, anything that would put us at a disadvantage to our fellow exporters is clearly of grave concern. https://bitofayarn.com “We want to work collaboratively with NZTR to ensure that a quick-fix solution to revenue raising doesn’t come at the expense of the long-term sustainability and international competitiveness of New Zealand’s thoroughbred export sector.” Australian buyers accounted for more than half the Book 1 spend at January’s NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, signing for 200 horses at a combined $41.145 million.https://bitofayarn.com Hong Kong buyers also spent more than $5 million, contributing 6.8 per cent to the gross of $79 million, while China, South Africa, Singaporean, UK and Japanese buyers also purchased horses at New Zealand’s 100th National Yearling Sale. Appointed to his position at NZTR in September, having previously worked with wagering firms in Europe and Australia, including with Tabcorp and its media business Sky Racing, Lamb has been consulting various stakeholders about the export levy. They include the country’s sole auction house, New Zealand Bloodstock, and the Bloodstock Agents Federation New Zealand, which have voiced their concerns about a possible hefty fee hike. “I think it would be incumbent on me to do that, stepping into the role and this is just one drop in the ocean as to what we’re reviewing and looking at to potentially change for next season,” Lamb said. “If we were to find new revenue streams … whether it’s fees or whatever they might be, and that includes our funding from our (wagering) model with Entain, it’s incumbent on us to be as transparent as possible with stakeholders as to how we’re going to spend that money.” The trans-Tasman approach – Is racing missing its Australasian opportunity? Any changes made to the levy would need to be ratified by the NZTR board, which is chaired by breeding industry figure and Westbury Stud general manager Russell Warwick.https://bitofayarn.com The development comes as NZTR prepares for its Champions Day, a World Pool meeting at Ellerslie highlighted by the second running of the $4 million The NZB Kiwi. The slot race is expected to be dominated by unbeaten filly Well Written, with the field attracting a sole Australian raider, the last-start Mitch Freedman-trained CS Hayes runner-up Asakura. Another eight Australian-trained runners are entered for stakes races at Ellerslie, with connections taking advantage of the $10,000 NZTR travel subsidy. NZTR’s financial incentive aimed at connections of Australian-trained horses came in for criticism from some local participants after the Gavin Bedggood-trained Kingswood won the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day. A last-start second in the Herbie Dyke Stakes, Kingswood continues his Kiwi campaign in the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes on Saturday.https://bitofayarn.com Lamb believes the travel incentive had proven successful in boosting turnover from Australian punters on its meetings. He described the travel subsidy as a return-on-investment play that had so far delivered dividends for the industry. “The wagering figures in general domestically have been very encouraging throughout the entire season and certainly on those big days, specifically the wagering figures out of Australia,” Lamb said. https://bitofayarn.com “When you look at that (Karaka) Millions night, they were really, really positive. It’s one piece of the puzzle, getting Australian horses to race here to maximise those wagering opportunities … and we’ll definitely continue to look at opportunities to get them over here to race.” -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
With a field size of just over 130, the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) meeting smashed their previous attendance record as they convened the 30th annual conference at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday, Mar. 1. Over the course of the three-day event, members soaked up presentations centered on integrity issues for equine athletes, traded their craft with one another through fellowship and made new connections that will be essential once they return to their respective jurisdictions. A survey of the Tampa roll call reflects the organization's regional diversity that emanates from racing commissions to track security, plus there was a healthy international contingent. At this year's event conference goers hailed from Europe, South Africa, Canada and also East Asia–including Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea. Don Ahrens, one of the founders of the organization, said that ORI has really morphed over the past three decades which has led to better communication between groups like regulators, racetracks and horsemen. “The personal contact that was established by a mere 22 investigators who first met in Oregon when the idea of ORI took shape all those years ago is alive and well today,” Ahrens said. “We've steadily built something based in education and the affiliations we continue to make form a strong, cooperative network. This not only helps our members, but we spend significant amounts of time disseminating knowledge to other entities and that strengthens relationships across boundaries.” Presentations during the conference shift each year, but what remains constant is the program seeks to push the envelope when it comes to innovation. How to use data and AI to strengthen equine security, an investigator's role in aftercare and combating corrupt practices around the racetrack were just some of the themes covered during the sessions. “The annual ORI conference is one of my favorite meetings to attend,” said Dr. Angela Pelzel-McCluskey, an equine epidemiologist for the USDA. “It continues to be the best place for our top racing investigators in the country to share information, improve their skills and support each other in their combined goal to protect the health and welfare of the horse.” On the Tampa program, Dr. Pelzel-McCluskey provided an update in her talk about how Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in the national herd makes the racing sector a high-risk population and particularly susceptible to blood-borne disease transmission. Highlighted in her presentation were two outbreaks of EIA in 2024 and 2025. According to Dr. Pelzel-McCluskey, also of interest to investigators were eight EIA cases in Thoroughbreds involving contaminated blood, plasma or biologic products which were illegally imported from other countries. ORI conference chair Deanna Nicol of Tampa Bay Downs added that important topics like Dr. Pelzel-McCluskey's provide members with essential information for their own toolkits. “The dedication to safety, security and integrity that this group of individuals display and incorporate into their daily routines, and how hard everyone strives to work together is focused on creating a proactive environment for the sport,” Nicol said. “The camaraderie at the conference creates unique bonds among the group.” During the Monday evening program, which featured a keynote address by Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' & Owners' Association Administrative Vice President Steve Koch, ORI established a pair of new commendations–the Hanna Hagler Outstanding New Member Award and the Melvin Bell Distinguished Service Award. Hagler was a law enforcement agent with the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, who was diagnosed with cancer and passed away last year. The inaugural award was given to New Jersey Racing Commission investigator Kara Vesci. Bell, a former police officer in Dallas, was an investigator for 20 years with the Texas Racing Commission until his death in 2022. Keeneland's Billy Fryer, himself a retired Lexington police officer, was named as the recipient. ORI's highest honor, the John F. Wayne Lifetime Membership Award, was bestowed on Director of Enforcement for the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission Jason Klouser. During the conference, a raffle held for the attendees yielded over $3,000, which was donated to Thoroughbred aftercare. Next year's ORI meeting is set to be hosted by Santa Anita Park. The post 30th Investigator Conference At Tampa Fields Largest Attendance Ever appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Chief Stipe · Posted
A really useful simple too is a SWOT analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. The first two apply to your business internal environment and the latter two to the external environment in which the business operates. My preferred method of doing the analysis is to do a TOWS analysis i.e. where you analyse the external environment first. Then your internal strengths and weaknesses become clearly apparent.
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