Covid-19 Yarn

yes it has been great enjoying the sport with you blokes over a few years since Covid now. Was just hoping your enjoyment of the sport could be refreshed and some bright spots appear. I don't think the CEO saying everything is going down the toilet is Not the solution for anything. lol 😎  any company CEO The many new Changes are still mixed with the old ones , and we all have ideas what works best and what doesn't , but all the ideas are not going to match .  you guys still like big fields on the grass for example (and standing starts which I would do away with altogether ) for example.  You guys are quite intelligent and say what you would like to happen on occasion, as well as conflicting with what is happening in NZ harness.  Brodie always worried for the stakes money drop in 2 years time. I guess he is not accepting that should and will happen with lower participation levels and much smaller betting making it going to happen.  But you have to adapt as the trainers all around Australia did. (regular racing over short distances to earn the smaller prize- money to pay your way.) a sure way to help them earn some income.  As I mentioned previously even the slowest horses can still win 4 races per year withe the current rating system and pay their way. Which is a good thing) )  Smaller 8 horse fields ARE the answer too (like USA) as it means that a horse should be winning Once every 8 starts. This is SO Important these days .It works all around Australia and USA , and no reason it wouldn't work in NZ. So you Have regular Winning horses, Winning owners and winning Trainers to all stay interested in the sport.  The 'Pool of Drivers' does drop off dramatically though. so is certainly one loss.   Brodie often mentions the Big Bets too . That the betting agencies should take them . To help the situation out a bit. Sounds like a good idea if that was to work. they take big bets on footy and gallops and that.   I loved your idea of with the FORBURY PARK Sale money developing a track facility in Canterbury , complete with Stabling barns for the young horsepeople of today to still get a look in , and top facilities (with swimming etc) to be able to compete with those vastly experienced top quality trainers all around our countries. Young NZer Jack Trainor took advantage of that opportunity provided at Menangle and really went well. (along with his mate Grimson)  This is probably what the North Island Needs as well.  You mentioned the Struggling Victoria. Yes !!!  the stakes was Ludicrously small for our annual feature Hunter CuP last night. Swayzee only got 150k winning I think 🙄, for our feature 'NZ Cup equivalent 'race. So Brodie is right . The prizemoney will drop in NZ as well eventually. Victoria only recently 'Bailed out ' by the state Government . as were $66 mill in debt. They got 100 mill for land and to fund the next 2 years of racing for the whole state. back to losing after that it would seem until the next adjustment is made.  Something Auckland trotting tried to do too as are many millions behind ? Sell some land.  but no-one bought the land yet ? think the Government should buy it ? that's the best way.  they could help participants then.  QLD Government were thinking of buying Albion Park too for the Olympics 2032. But its a crap place on a creek and floods  now and then, so Very hard to develop. so why buy it? .  we've been lucky over the years to continue . Seymour (Leap To Fame owner) saved the day (Albion Park racing)  a few times over the years  Gold Coast trotting Club went extinct 😭, as the Government did buy their beautiful Gold Coast facility for the Commonwealth Games there a few years ago. developed the site for an athletes village.  so Gold Coast trotting died altogether without a track .   our 4th major track closure in my time in QLD . just 3 are left now. I'll  bet they collapse in QLD before NZ does. we recently had Chris Garrard pass away  and when Seymour is gone (he's very old now) there will be huge drop off of Benefactors of the sport. where-as You guys have wonderful people keeping you going , and you don't seem to appreciate it. (Which is why I argue back against you and Brodie bagging the men actually trying things,  to try and keep behind the sport )  I don't expect these men to Jump up and say ''things are bad ' as you might like from us fools  lol. As long as the sport is running = well things are Good (in some folks opinion) 🙂  just opened curtains , and it's raining here today 😂 Haleluhah !! been dry as a dogs biscuit these parts. good now.   

Bella Ballerina wins the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2), following the path her half sister, Pretty Mischievous, took when victorious in the 2023 edition of this race and the Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

After being limited to minor awards in four consecutive graded stakes, Mondego earned a breakthrough victory for trainer Michael McCarthy Feb. 14 in the $101,500 San Marcos Stakes (G3T) going 1 1/4 miles on the downhill turf at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

i lke your positive post gamma. forever the optimist.i like the humour about the blinds. your probably accurate about people not replying to my  posts.Not to worry.Brodies regularly replies and hes known as always being on the money and he mostly agrees with me.And you still reply.  One day, if i ever make it to australia, i think i will make a point of looking you up. i reckon you are the type of bloke that i could have good chats with.If that ever happens i can't imagine we would talk about what we talk about on here,lots of wonderful australian things to talk about instead. by the way,the wife opens every curtain  first thing in the morning.When i go for my walks it always surprises me just how many people never do. Most people even seem to keep all their windows closed these days.  

The thing is and it is the same as most failing businesses is that those that are in charge, try to cover things up and dont take ownership for its failure! For example, Duval, Chance Voight directors under statutory management and they stat3 that everything is rosey and no issues and financially fine lol The same attitude that HRNZ and TAB both have, so we wait and see!