Chief Stipe

It never ceases to amaze me how some industry participants have no idea what the costs of racing a horse are. Nor the fact that they will pick their most expensive bill for the year and promote it as the average cost. I've seen a number of syndication contracts from a number of syndicators and the majority of them make it quite clear what the expected cost will be. No surprises. Some even make it clear that the odds are heavily in favour of your investment being a loss making one. Particullarly if you buy into a stallion making syndicate where the odds are that your investment is going to lose its prime money making parts. Fillies are a little different because they will have some residual value if well bred and they perform even moderately on the track. So if you buy into a syndicate you know what you are buying into. Especially those that buy again! Essentially you are rolling the dice that you are going to get a good horse and when you do get lucky for a time you have a fantastic experience albeit with often extreme highs and sometimes lows. Horses are like that. The point is it is all transparent and you bought into it. Why complain afterwards? I've had a number of people ask me about buying a share in a horse. My advice has been don't spend your life savings and kiss the money goodbye from the get go. Don't get envious of successful owners or Syndicators, Trainers and Jockeys who are making money. The latter it is their livelihood. BUT if you are lucky to get a good one enjoy every aspect of the ride because the odds of getting another as good are very very small. Which brings me back to that most expensive bill of the year. It could include a vet bill - horses are live animals and sometimes they do stupid things or they have issues that require attention. It could include an insurance bill or a large nomination fee for a big race. If the bill includes these last two costs then you are in an elite group. One your horse is worth insuring and two you are good enough to be in a Black Type race. So for example if your horse is in full training and in the top drawer of horses then in that month you have $6k in training and other costs, a $1,500 big race nomination fee and an insurance cost. The latter will be the biggest expense as the insurance fee is worked out at 3.5% of the horses valuation. So lets say the filly was valued at $400k then your total bill will be $22k for the month ($14,500 for insurance). But the smart owner has spread their risk and bought into a number of horses at 2.5%. So for this filly they are paying $550 for the month. The odds are that in this scenario you are in credit anyway given the big race nomination and the insurance valuation. . @nomates @Joe Bloggs @Comic Dog .

That's because you have a purely academic idealistic view of what the laws mean.

Freedom of Speech laws in NZ are primarily top down Government Agency focussed. Very few seem to understand the limitations of the Freedom of speech laws in NZ. Arguably even an incorporated society could impose limitations on what can and cannot be said.

I never delete anything. If you think your "free speech rights" are being restricted then take it up with the Human Rights Commission.

It IS free speech with a delay. BTW there is only one 's' in kusundi.

PLEEESE!!! Can you leave out this fake new found wokery! You've posted many sexist remarks on this site and elsewhere. Why is it many old men suddenly have an epiphany and are wracked by their conscience.

They do at their Pukekohe venue. Licensing laws and the cost of security/compliance killed the boot party. If you will NEVER go back to Ellerslie then I wouldn't class you as a racing enthusiast. Have you been there since the upgrades? A wide range of options are available for the public and like most businesses the market differentiate their racedays. That is exactly what their sell out days are doing. Is there any evidence of that actually happening? Regardless Ellerslie have at least two family oriented days during the season. For example The Summer at the Races Day on 31 January. https://www.aucklandracing.co.nz/racedays/summer-raceday/ General Admission is Free and you can take a picnic.

From time to time I've seen Racehorse Owners bag their Trainer(s) on social media for what they often perceive to be poor performance of their horse caused by the Trainer. I've never really understood why they do that but racing seems to bring the best and the worst out of people. Personally I consider it unethical and very poor form for an Owner to bag their Trainer online. If it was me I would always talk to the Trainer directly rather than thrash the issue out online. Recently I was on the receiving end of a prolonged rant by an Owner who was questioning the decisions their Trainer had made regarding the horses programme. Now this horse has had niggly issues that have had to be managed carefully but the first time Owner has had the luck to win a number of Grp races. No amount of reasoning with that Owner could change their mind. I suggested they ask their Trainer politely why certain actions were taken with the aim of learning a bit more about racing. I did point out to them that they had been very very lucky to have experienced the sucess they had had so far. Which brings me back to those who don't take the polite path but openly trash their Trainer online. A recent example is a classic which seems to be ongoing. The horse in question was accepted to race at Waipukurau last Sunday. The horse was to travel from Matamata to Waipukurau - a 7.5 hour float trip. I believe the horse was scratched the day before due to the prevailing track conditions at the time a Soft 6 and the forecast, as we all know, was horrendous for the day. The weather bomb was forecast to really hit the Hawkes Bay. The track was a Soft 7 in the morning and downgraded to a Heavy 8 after race 4. The horse in question was accepted for Race 6. Now I'm surprised that those joining the Owner in debating the scratching decision online, all of whom profess to have extensive racing knowledge, ignored the facts completely. . @nomates @Joe Bloggs @Comic Dog . All of the following facts are available online: The horse in question has won 4 races. Its maiden on a G4 track over 1100m and its other three wins over 970m on the Cambridge Synthetic; After its maiden race the horse had a Laryngeal tie-forward (LTF) operation due to a breathing issue (reported in the Stewards report). It didn't race again for about 20 weeks; Its next 6 races returned 3 wins and 3 seconds all over 970m on the Cambridge Synthetic. This form and its maiden win would point to the horse preferring a firm surface; The race at Waipukurau was to be over 1200m. A step up from 970m; When scratched the track was in the Soft 7 range and was downgraded on the day to a Heavy 8 - arguably going on previous form it wasn't a suitable surface for the horse; When scratched the forecast was for a substantial amount of rain for the day which didn't eventuate until after the meeting. So the Trainer has a horse that was racing first up over a distance it hadn't performed at before (never raced beyond 1100m) on a track that was soft heading towards heavy facing a 7.5 hour float trip in atrocious weather conditions. In my opinion any reasonable person with a reasonable racing knowledge would have agreed that scratching was the right decision to make. Of course any Trainer with a similar type of horse has other challenges to work with e.g. patternless programming and the weather this season. There are very very few sprinting races available for lower to mid rated horses especially for fillies and mares. Such is the trials and tribulations of racing a horse with limitations. No doubt the trainer will be trying to place the horse to grab a good win or even a bit of black type. The debate wouldn't normally be anyone elses business but then if you debate your perceived grievances online....

Discussion on Project Stamina Tayler Strong An assurance that Project Stamina was not a "land grab" was conveyed to administrators of thoroughbred racing in Otago and Southland at a gathering at Wingatui today. "We have no agenda and are trying to be collaborative," said Martin Butler, of RCP, the independent consultant appointed by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, NZ Harness Racing and the TAB on the future of NZ's racing infrastructure. He was addressing 26 administrators from the Otago, Southland, Riverton, Central Otago, Kurow, Oamaru, Beaumont, Gore, Tapanui, Waikouaiti, Winton, Wyndham and Wairio clubs. "There is a perception that nothing has been done over past decades to address the issues affecting racings position in a progressive manner," said Murray Acklin a long time racing administrator and former president of the NZ Racing Conference (now NZTR) "This couldn't be further from reality and Otago and Southland have, in many respects led the way regarding many of the issues up for discussion. "Nationally thirty-five years ago, there were 96 racing clubs racing at 59 venues, today there are 50 clubs racing at approximately 40 venues. "Rationalization and consolidation have been Club led through evolution, not revolution with great success. "For example, in Otago four racing venues have closed, Waikouaiti, Central Otago (Omakau), Beaumont and Tapanui. "Waikouaiti and Beaumont Racing Clubs race at Wingatui, Central Otago Racing Club join forces with Otago Racing Club for the two-day carnival at Cromwell and Tapanui race at Gore. "Otago province race at four venues, Wingatui, owned and operated by the Otago Racing Club, hosting 15 race days across three individual racing clubs and one harness club [Forbury Park] "Oamaru racecourse is owned by the government on lease in perpetuity for equine activity and administered by local Trustees. It is the home of the Oamaru Jockey Club who host three meetings over the winter months. Oamaru Trotting Club race several times on the grass and all-weather track along with Kurow and Waikouaiti Trotting Clubs. "The Kurow Jockey Club race annually on 30th December at Kurow. This extremely popular meeting draws on a holiday crowd from more than 35,000 who holiday in the Waitaki Valley each year. The venue is owned and administered by a local trust. "The Cromwell racetrack is owned by the local council and forms part of a sporting and recreational complex. Both horse codes race there over the busy holiday period, literally taking 'racing to the people' which would not be replicated to the same extent if moved to say, Wingatui. "Waikouaiti racecourse is owned by the Waikouaiti Racing Club and has been closed for racing purposes for 5 years. The Club are keen to instigate a sale and are working with NZTR to affect a positive outcome for both parties. "Beaumont Racing Club's venue at Beaumont was leased to the Club by local farmers and racing in 1986. In summary, all four active venues are important to ensure racing has exposure all year round and three venues cater for both codes. "The only active venue that could be sold is Wingatui and in doing so would effectively devastate racing in Otago and Southland and be problematic to Canterbury racing. Wingatui is the main training centre in Otago. "Racing in Southland has experienced similar consolidation in recent times and has only three thoroughbred racing venues. "Gore racetrack is owned by the Gore Racing Club and is host to Wyndham Racing Club, Tapanui Racing Club and Gore Trotting Club. "Gore is less than 2 hours from Wingatui and 45 minutes from Invercargill making it easily accessible within Otago and Southland. "The Invercargill track at Ascot Park is home to all three codes and whilst owned by the Southland Racing Club, very long-term leases exist between the two horse codes. "The venue is host to the Southland Racing Club, Wairio Jockey Club and Winton Jockey Club. Harness and Greyhound race there in number. Ascot Park is the main training centre in Southland. "The Riverton Racing Club own their own venue and provide excellent racing and training facilities on a large roomy track often described as one of the best in the country. "The Easter Carnival is extremely popular with on and off course turnover exceeding that of major North Island Clubs. Their New Years Day meeting is gaining in popularity catering for many holiday makers at the seaside resort "There are 13 individual thoroughbred clubs racing 36 days per year in Otago & Southland at 7 venues. "Gallop South administers 16 race days by 10 clubs at 4 venues in Otago & Southland. "Otago Racing Club administers 15 race days by two clubs at two venues [plus one joint venue with Gallop South at Cromwell] "The Southland Racing Club administers their five meetings from Ascot Park. 13 Clubs racing 36 days per annum at seven venues administered by three entities who work collaboratively for the betterment of racing optimises rationalisation and consolidation of a very large area of NZ. "All 13 Clubs are in a sound financial position, cash and assets wise, are debt free and not a drain on resources from NZTR or TAB NZ. "All Clubs conduct successful meetings [weather permitting] and contribute to the nation wellbeing of the thoroughbred racing industry. "Club led rationalization will continue to evolve in the region. Any forced closures or downsizing will erode involvement at all levels," concluded Acklin.

Every Club did that I had to own a horse to get to the trough.

Looking at the Racing Calendar - February programming seems to be all over the place. Tough if you have a mid-grade or Open horse looking for a 1400m race!

True. But they can test before they gallop on it.

Well it looks like they are taking a step by step process to get to racing and then no racing in June and July until late August. The jumpout, then trial then race seems sensible with the pin being able to be pulled at any stage. The galloping will consolidate but also encourage new root growth as the turf responds to damage during the autumn when grass grows best.

The difference is they say they used "soil" not sand and they relaid existing turf that was 50mm in depth already. So the grass had a head start rather than being sown as seed directly or as new turf laid.

Racing expected back on the Hastings course this season: John Jenkinshttps://bitofayarn.com Opinion by Hawkes Bay Today 14 Feb, 2026 06:00 AM9 mins to read Hastings-trained Gohugo stretches his neck out to score a brave win in a Rating 75 race over 1300m at Tauherenikau on Friday last week. John Jenkins is a longtime racing journalist based in Hawke’s Bayhttps://bitofayarn.com Racing is likely to resume on the Hastings racecourse before winter, providing protocols set down by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, the Racing Integrity Board and the New Zealand Jockeys Association are met. The re-cambering work on the course proper has been completed. Initially it was planned that two bends would be re-cambered, the one going out of the home straight and the one at the 1400m mark. But, with that work completed under schedule and under budget, it was also decided to improve the camber of the home bend entering the straight. The re-cambering work involved using a special machine that cut out slices of turf on the course proper at a depth of 50 millimetres.https://bitofayarn.com The machine rolled up these slices and they were then stored on wooden pallets. Where the sections of turf were removed the underneath soil was sloped and additional soil added to establish a camber that measured as much as 1.5 metres on the outside of the track. The strips of grass were then re-laid on top of the soil and the ground has been extensively watered so that the grass beads in well and to encourage root growth. The whole process has gone smoothly up to this point, with a lush sole of grass presently covering the course proper. With the original plastic running rail at the Hastings racecourse now being used by the Waipukurau Jockey Club, two new rails have had to be purchased for the Hastings track.https://bitofayarn.com There is a necessity to have two rails erected, one on the inside and one on the outside, as there is now a significant drop down in certain outside areas due to the extra height caused by the re-cambering. Darin Balcombe, the interim chief executive of Hawke’s Bay Racing, said this week that the two running rails are Australian-made and have been on order for some time. “They will be shipped to New Zealand and should arrive either by the end of this month or early next month,” Balcombe said. Once the running rails are erected, horses should be able to gallop on the course proper by early April and then jumpouts or trials will be conducted after that. Providing there are no problems, an official race meeting will then be planned before the winter sets in. There will then be no racing on the Hastings track in June and July but it is hoped that another race meeting will be held in late August ahead of the traditional three-day spring carnival in September and October.