Chief Stipe

How three brothers are attracting thousands of under 35s to racing Cold Brew in action for the Hay Brothers and Alpha Blokes. Picture: Getty Imageshttps://bitofayarn.com By Jett Hatton 02:38pm • 03 December 2025 0https://bitofayarn.com Capturing the younger generation is something the racing world in Australia has struggled with for years, but a group of brothers are revolutionising the game. Cameron, Tom and Michael Hay are all 30 or younger and have teamed up with two of the biggest podcasts in the country – Alpha Blokes Podcast and Hello Sport – to bring horse ownership to their communities. On Spotify charts, Alpha Blokes are the fourth best comedy podcast in the country while Hello Sport are at third in sport. The brothers' business, MustR Racing, originally started out as a traditional syndication but the trio quickly discovered the reach and demand of the respective communities was perfect for micro shares. "We got in touch with Alpha Blokes about buying a horse called Yabby Pump and we'd only done that with conventional syndication," Cameron Hay said.https://bitofayarn.com "About 11,000 people tried to buy in but only 50 could get a share. "We then bought Cold Brew and switched to micro shares and there was so much demand, it broke our computer system for three hours. "About 30,000 people were trying to get in on the horse and it blew our minds.https://bitofayarn.com "It just shows the reach these podcasting communities have and it brings so much of the younger generation into racing that previously wouldn't have any chance of affording it. "It works with these podcasting communities because they're looking to engage their audience and they're looking for something to create content with throughout a few years, so it's been a big hit. "The big thing was trying to bridge the gap between people that love a punt on the weekend but can't afford to buy a horse." The connection with Hello Sport was a flow-on effect from the success with Alpha Blokes and the two made the trip across the ditch to the Ready To Run Sale in New Zealand.https://bitofayarn.com In partnership with Richard and Will Freedman, they secured a Derryn x Mifflin gelding and micro shares in the galloper are set to be up for sale shortly. Hay said the selection of the Freedman stable was a calculated one, with Will Freedman the perfect match for the younger racing audience. Cold Brew. Picture: Bradley Photoshttps://bitofayarn.com "He just gets it," Hay said. "He's young himself, he's very charismatic and he loves to have a good time, so it's just a perfect fit. "You've got your trainer there who is honest and trains your horse through the week but then on the other end, he's someone you can have a beer and a party trackside with. "I'm not sure many other trainers would be able to appeal to that audience like Will does. "Hello Sport reached out to us after seeing what we did with the Alpha Blokes and we recently went over the New Zealand at the Ready To Run sale and bought one." The Hay brothers also run race day events with hundreds of owners and are set to host one this Sunday at Rosehill with Yabby Pump set to go around. Hay admitted there's been a few hiccups in preparation for the latest event after the meeting got shifted to Sunday and their stable getting downgraded from two to one.https://bitofayarn.com "Yabby Pump is racing on Sunday and we were supposed to have Cold Brew there as well, but unfortunately, he pulled up a bit sore on Tuesday morning. "Getting moved to Sunday is tricky with most of the owners flying down from Queensland, but we still expect it to be a cracking day out." Read all news by Jett Hatton

Where did you get all that crap from? Don't tell me it was AI generated!

What's "balanced and fair" is subjective and differs from person to person. You make these generalisations but never ever provide examples. I can only conclude that you base your opinion not on facts but for subjective reasons. Perhaps you are desperate for "likes"!!!

The total quantum was never enough regardless of who got what. That's what you and @Dark Beau seem to not grasp.

Pray tell who is my "idol"? I gather they are not part of the "Waikato Mafia" if you are quoting them.

Oh yes God forbid there is any good news for @Huey and Colin Wightman to digest.

Veterinary Council puts an ex-vet on a short leash | Free Speech Union New Zealand www.fsu.nz Why has the Veterinary Council put an ex-vet on a short leash? Someone who hasn’t even practised as a vet for over a decade? The Veterinary Council has censured Leo Molloy, ordering him to pay $23,000 in costs more than four years after his conviction for breaching a suppression order.https://bitofayarn.com But the courts have already dealt with this, so why is a professional regulator coming after him? Did Leo disclose the home address of a sick Labrador? Selective breeding details? Client records? The vaccination status of a tomcat? No. Did a member of the public, a past client, or a practising vet complain about Leo’s conduct as a vet? No. His offence had nothing to do with treating animals, maintaining veterinary confidence, or professional ethics. This was personal speech, not a professional act. https://bitofayarn.com Yet the Veterinary Council has taken it upon itself to, well, neuter, speech that falls far beyond the pens of 'permitted' opinion. (Yep, the story is as ridiculous as my puns. 😸 ) The Veterinary Council is following the dangerous trend that we continue to see New Zealand regulatory bodies follow. If regulators can punish, and fine, professionals for off-duty speech, even decades after they last practised, then we have a much bigger problem than one outspoken ex-vet.https://bitofayarn.com Six years ago, Leo Molloy posted on a racing community forum naming Grace Millane’s murderer, Jesse Kempson, while his name was suppressed. Leo was convicted and sentenced to 350 hours of community service and a $15,000 fine. https://bitofayarn.com This isn’t even to mention the futility of Leo’s conviction in the first place. International outlets published Jesse Kempson’s name with zero consequence. Google emailed it directly to New Zealand inboxes and got a polite warning. Multiple New Zealanders were cautioned but not prosecuted.https://bitofayarn.com Leo remains the only person convicted and now the only person professionally sanctioned. It’s hard not to conclude that the Veterinary Council’s issue isn’t the conduct, but the dog that did the barking. The inconsistency of enforcement reeks more of overreach than principle. Name suppression has become a joke, dished out liberally, limiting the public’s ability to know the details of a case, and the media’s ability to tell them. Why are criminals, pedophiles, even murderers, being favoured over public safety and our crucial democratic values? https://bitofayarn.com Now, six years after Leo’s breach, and more than a decade after he has even practiced as a vet, the Veterinary Council’s disciplinary lawyer argued that “professional obligations don’t end when we close the office door.” But which part of Leo’s conviction had anything to do with his profession? Professional bodies should focus on their role as skill-based watchdogs, not policing "un-vet'-like behaviour that happens to personally offend them.https://bitofayarn.com According to our sources, the Veterinary Council has spent an excess of $45,000 to pursue this complaint. $45,000! They need a wake up call. Let’s send the message that we actually think more favourably of the veterinary profession if they aren't afraid to speak their minds. But that the Veterinary Council should stick to their remit: the skills and professional conduct of its members. In 30 seconds, tell the Veterinary Council to stay in its lane. We’ve made it super easy. Let’s make sure they know that Kiwis won’t stand by while they’re on their high horse. Regulatory overreach has become a consistent problem, whether against nurses, lawyers, academics, architects, or teachers, to name a handful. So now it’s vets? Who’s next? Professional bodies seem less concerned about the skills and abilities of professionals, and more with what they say in private capacities. That’s why we set up seven professional memberships, along with our standard membership, for: Academics, lawyers, public servants, teachers, healthcare professionals, media, and religious leaders. We ensure professionals have someone in their corner. We will not stand by while the would-be-censors decide they know best. Chip in here to support us to push back on regulatory body overreach; standards should ensure competence, not control speech or belief. Jillaine Heather | Chief Executive

Na. @TAB For Ever was his own man. Never in any "Tight five"! Just extremely passionate about horse racing - both codes. Great sense of humour too.

Agree. You can't blame NZTR for that.

It is a valid question. For nearly four years the timing has been hand held! Not to mention the photo finish issues. If there isn't enough money in the kitty to fix those fundamental issues then maybe a cake stall would help!

My posts are not meant to be critical of the Levin Racing Club. Their provision of Jump Outs are excellent for the CD. However I do tire of hearing inaccuracies about their wealth and profitability. Trentham is decried for sell land whereas Levin is applauded (or overlooked). My long held opinion is that the CD Clubs needed to get round the table and thrash out plan to make racing profitable and sustainable. Many people will deride my next comment but... RACE wasn't a bad idea - it was a good idea but unfortunately it needed every Club to co-operate and didn't need some of the management stuff up's it had. Now we have a situation where everyone is entrenched in the fiefdom's and fighting every shadow. You now have a situation where multiple Clubs are selling off land to pay their way. The end result will be the capital will be pissed against the wall or fund operational expenses and some sizeable chunks of land could have been used or traded to create a profitable centre for racing. The way things are heading there won't be any racing left! We can get all nostalgic about the past but the Club model doesn't assist the running of a profitable business when the volunteers disappear and the donations stop. CD racing has some of the best assets in the country - but there is a reall possibility that they will lose them all.

If it is a one horse town here then how does @Comic Dog explain the need to bag @hesi . Although I guess BOAY could be a one horse town with one lap dog and one fish ( @Murray Fish ).

Yes it has. Most social media has declined in numbers. Mainly because they get hijacked by groups with one agenda and then they coalesce together into a back slapping morass.

Oh come on! Young Mick Guerin is at the cutting edge of investigative journalism!

Yes regardless of how it turns out. It wasn't too long ago that we all were highly critical of NZTR not being proactive in these cases.

Nope. Just don't slander V'Landys on here. I'd have to moderate your amusing posts.

Statement from The Thoroughbred Report Three independent racing publications, including The Thoroughbred Report, have recently received correspondence from Peter V’landys’ and/or Racing NSW’s legal counsel in response to reporting on governance matters within the New South Wales thoroughbred racing industry.https://bitofayarn.com We want to make one point unequivocally clear: responsible journalism must not be met with legal intimidation. Independent media exists to scrutinise powerful institutions and hold them to account, even if critical of leadership. That role is essential to the health and integrity of any industry.https://bitofayarn.com Australia’s implied freedom of political communication protects the media’s ability to discuss matters of governance and public interest. Trying to intimidate journalists through legal threats is fundamentally inconsistent with that protection. When this happens, the message extends far beyond the newsroom. It tells trainers, owners, breeders, employees, and concerned participants that speaking up carries risk. It creates fear and encourages silence. And it erodes the culture of openness on which trust depends. Governance is strengthened, not weakened, by transparency, independent oversight, and constructive conversation. An industry cannot function with confidence if those tasked with informing its community are suppressed. It cannot claim transparency while simultaneously attempting to intimidate its critics. And it cannot expect public trust if its default response to scrutiny is to threaten those who provide it.https://bitofayarn.com We remain open to receiving and incorporating all perspectives at any time. However, our efforts to engage and seek information have routinely received no reply. We will continue to remain open to dialogue from every participant, as open communication is essential to meaningful understanding and positive change.https://bitofayarn.com We will not be deterred and remain committed to responsible journalism.

So what Clubs are inhibited by race dates? I'm not sure you understand wagering. it wouldn't be of value to the industry as a whole and the Reefton track couldn't sustain 12 race days. @Huey you keep saying I don't know but you never post anything factual or of substance. Just anecdotal and generalised. At least the financial accounts of each Club give some facts. Unless Clubs are deriving revenue from other activities than just racedays they are not earning enough to maintain their assets. That's an immutable fact. What Club? Provide some evidence about the "NZTR Club" you refer to. Is this your mythical mafia? Provides some facts!!!

The weather forecast says it will and it is raining as predicted in most places. Rotorua was going to be a Twilight meeting and the weather forecast has 40mm plus thunderstorms right in the middle of when the weather was hitting. At least they made a decision early.

Who is on this Committee?

Meeting News Rotorua Meeting Postponed Until Friday A heavy rain warning (Metservice) has been issued for Rotorua and surrounding regions for tomorrow, 3 December. As such, and after support from the Club and RIB, an early decision has been made to postpone the meeting to Friday 5 December. All scratchings have been re-instated. The meeting will no longer be a twilight meeting with an estimated new Race 1 time of 1pm. This decision has been approved by the TAB NZ Dates Committee.

A myth. What specific rules stop Clubs from generating enough revenue from their assets to enable them to maintain them? Are you saying the likes of Reefton should get 12 racing dates a year so they can be profitable? Lovely generalisation - would you care to elaborate? Not that I'm lecturing or anything just asking for some detail rather than anecdotal rubbish. The way I see it there is a negative group (getting smaller) in racing that are feeding off myth, consipiracy and misinformation. To make it worse they are wallowing in nostalgia about how it used to be.

That's where you theory falls down. You assume that the Clubs were ever earning enough to pay their way or put enough in reserve to maintain their assets. These Clubs looked financial on their balance sheets as their assets valuations increased but the reality is the operating revenue was never enough for the rainy day that was inevitable. I'm not talking about a fair return on capital I'm talking about generating enough revenue to maintain the assets. Volunteers, donations and sponsorship helped build the assets (often even the land has been gifted) but as that source of assistance has dropped away so has the ability of clubs to maintain what they often have been given.

No Levin only have $1.2m in the bank. The irony of course is that cash came from selling off a large chunk of land. Then there was some creative accounting involving the three Trusts. The sums involved jumped between cash in the bank and Trust loans. Operationally they run at a loss. Even though they pay a peppercorn rental for the use of Otaki on raceday. Levin has done the exact same thing that you all point the finger at other clubs for doing. Yes Levin has done a wonderful job at providing a jumpout venue.