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Chief Stipe

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Everything posted by Chief Stipe

  1. I don't take you seriously. I gather you can't read past one sentence.
  2. The last 3yr old to win the Newmarket carrying the weight was Ajax 88 years ago!
  3. $4.50 would have got me interested. $5 I would have been in. Certainly not the "worst Grp 3 race in Australia I've seen". 7 Grp winners in the race. Bengali - Australasian Oaks winner who was beaten into second only a length by Treasure the Moment in the Grp 1 Vinery. Machine Gun Gracie - winner of both the WA Derby and Oaks. Philia won the Grp 2 The Roses at Doomben. Jennilala won the Grp 3 The Matron Stakes beating Wrote to Arataki. Too Darn Discreet won the Ethereal and the Manifold.
  4. You are already wrong. ENTAIN's license to operate in NZ is granted by the NZ Government and with that comes terms and conditions to continue to support NZ Racing.
  5. Why bother @Newmarket. Your past history regarding the analysis of "value" has had abysmal results. Perhaps you could give us a list of your "value" runners today? I wouldn't worry about anyone punting on them and it would be to your advantage as your selections prices would lengthen!
  6. It's a tool to assist in achieving the objectives.
  7. 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.”
  8. 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.
  9. It is a tool or methodology used to devise a strategic plan to achieve the desired future state. I realise that some might see that as corporate speak but I've found these types of tools very useful. They provide a framework. Quite frankly any business large or small can benefit from strategic planning - most tend to drift along organically. Future state options are potential strategic paths—such as growth, transformation, or stability—developed to guide an organization from its current operations ("as-is") to a desired future ("to-be"). These options are identified through, for example, this Miro diagram and this YouTube video, using techniques like scenario planning to align, for example, this tourism example from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment to this Spark Business Lab article or to this Medium article about future state definitions. Common options include: International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) +4 Transformational/Disruptive: Radical changes to business models, technology, or market position (e.g., entering new markets, adopting new technology). Incremental/Evolutionary: Gradual improvements to existing processes, products, or services. Operational Optimization: Enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and refining current capabilities without changing the core model. Stabilization/Maintenance: Holding the current market position while focusing on strengthening internal resilience. Exit/Divestment: Exiting specific markets or product lines to focus resources elsewhere. International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)
  10. A couple of key people with a strong relationship with Bayer started the race. I think it was eld at Levin for 9 years. The reason the Bayer succeeded was simply money. The Grp1 NZ 2000 Guineas in 1981 was worth $40,000. The Bayer was worth $90,000 thanks to the very large sponsorship of Bayer. Altitude won both races which at that time were only 11 days apart. Noble Heights won the 1000 Guineas but it was near impossible for the fillies to back up within 4 days for the Bayer which would have involved a boat trip. The moved the Bayer out a week the next year 1982 and the filly Our Flight which was second in the 2000 Guineas and won the 1000 Guineass backed up in 11 days to win the Bayer. The great Kingdom Bay won the 1984 2000 Guineas but could only manage a third two weeks later in the Bayer. Princess Dram won the Bayer that year ridden by Maree Lyndon. The Bayer had been elevated to Grp 2 status. The Bayer was worth $110,500 and the Guineas $70,000. As time progressed there was pressure to move the Bayer out further from the Guineas races as it was considered too hard to race the top 3 yr olds over 1600m three times in 3 weeks. Arguably the Bayer existed and thrived because of Bayer's sponsorship which made the race worth at least a third more than the Guineas, was on the way home for the Guineas horses from the North Island (float and boat trip) and when it acquired Group status it became more attractive. Bayer also pumped a considerable amount of money into promoting the race and on racecourse hospitality. When Bayer pulled the pin a significant amount of sponsorship went with it - something NZTR nor the Otaki Maori/Levin Racing Clubs could ever match. The Bayer initially was one of those few races that were televised on national TV and so was very favourable for sponsors.
  11. Tentyris winning the Coolmore 2026 Newmarket Handicap – Race Analysishttps://bitofayarn.com Race Shape / Map Typical Newmarket pattern: split groups across the straight, with tempo strong early because several horses like to roll forward. Likely speed influences Baraqiel War Machine Tentyris Angel Capital These horses ensure the race is run at genuine G1 tempo, which normally gives backmarkers and midfielders a chance to finish over the top if the pace collapses late. Barrier and track pattern matter heavily at Flemington because runners often gravitate to the fastest strip. Key Contenders Tentyris Lightning Stakes winner Carries 57kg as a 3yo Barrier around middle of line Electric speed figures Tentyris heads the market after a blistering Lightning Stakes win and could be even better over 1200m after running exceptional closing splits there. Pros Elite speed Proven straight-track form Best recent performance rating Query Big weight for a 3yo in a handicap Verdict: Still the horse to beat, but at short odds the handicap conditions create vulnerability. My Gladiola 3yo filly Huge weight relief (~50.5kg) Grey speedster Weight gives her a serious edge against older sprinters and she was competitive in top sprint races earlier in the prep. Pros Massive weight pull Quick acceleration Query 1200m may test her against stronger closers Verdict: Dangerous if the light weight allows her to sprint late. https://bitofayarn.com Caballus Flemington straight winner Drawn low Maps perfectly behind speed Several analysts are putting him on top because handicap conditions suit him far more than previous WFA races, and his recent G2 form is strong. Pros Ideal barrier Strong straight-track profile Can get first run Verdict: Serious winning chance at value. Angel Capital Waller runner Consistent sprinter Strong closing sectionals Carries a solid weight but has the engine to finish off strongly if tempo collapses. Verdict: Good each-way chance in a fast race. https://bitofayarn.com War Machine Capable on best form Forgive last run Connections suggest the horse can bounce back after a disappointing effort and be competitive here. Verdict: A rough knockout hope if returning to peak. Other Chances Benedetta – strong mare, capable in big handicaps. Giga Kick – class sprinter if lining up at peak fitness. Sepals / Wodeton – progressive types who could improve sharply. Tactical Factors 1. Handicap conditions The Newmarket is a true handicap, meaning elite horses carry much more weight than emerging sprinters. Historically this often produces upsets or lightly weighted winners. 2. Straight-track specialists Some horses struggle down Flemington’s straight. Key straight horses: Tentyris Caballus My Gladiola 3. Track condition Early predictions suggest Good 4, which suits high-speed sprinters. My Ratings (Form-Based) Tier 1 – Win Chances Tentyris Caballus My Gladiola Tier 2 – Each-Way 4. Angel Capital 5. Benedetta Rough Value 6. War Machine 7. Wodeton Betting Strategy Win Bet Caballus Saver Tentyris Each-Way Angel Capital Exotics Exacta / Quinella: Tentyris – Caballus – My Gladiola Summary: Tentyris is the clear class runner but the weight makes him beatable. Caballus profiles perfectly for a Newmarket upset. My Gladiola has the dangerous lightweight profile that often wins this race. https://bitofayarn.com 2026 Newmarket Handicap – Speed Map 🟢 Leaders / Forward Group These horses should drive the early speed and control the tempo. Baraqiel (Barrier 3) – natural speed, expected to push forward early Caballus (Barrier 1) – rails draw almost forces him to roll forward Gallant Son (Barrier 10) – aggressive pattern Pallaton (Barrier 6) – likely to go forward Sghirripa (Barrier 9) – expected to push up early 👉 These runners should create strong pressure in the first 400–600m, which is typical in the Newmarket. 🟡 On-Pace / Just Behind Speedhttps://bitofayarn.com These runners should sit just off the leaders and get first run. Angel Capital (Barrier 2) – perfect stalking position Sepals (Barrier 4) – midfield tracking speed My Gladiola (Barrier 7) – likely midfield with cover Disneck (Barrier 😎 – midfield runner 👉 Historically this “stalking” position wins a lot of straight races if the leaders weaken late. 🔵 Backmarkers / Late Closershttps://bitofayarn.com These runners will drop out early and look for late runs. Tentyris (Barrier 12) – explosive closer War Machine (Barrier 11) – likely settle rear half Benedetta (Barrier 13) – strong late finisher Wodeton (Barrier 15) – wide draw means likely back De Bergerac (Barrier 14) – will drift back Geegees Mistruth (Barrier 5) – midfield to back Tentyris famously came from last to win the Lightning Stakes, so expect similar tactics here.
  12. Project Stamina has made good progress through its 'discover' phase. Since late January, RCP has held around 50 meetings (a mix of in-person and online) right across the country and across both Thoroughbred and Harness codes. These sessions have included racing Clubs, Recognised Industry Organisations, and the Racing Integrity Board, and have been focused on listening to stakeholders and building a clearer picture of the current state. This feedback will now feed into the next phase of work (scenario modelling), where RCP will develop future state options. There will be further engagement as this next stage develops, and we’ll keep the industry updated as key milestones are reached. The final report is targeted for end of May 2026.
  13. HASTINGS RACECOURSEhttps://bitofayarn.com A really positive step for Hawke’s Bay - the recamber work at Hastings is tracking well and ahead of schedule. After a recent walk of the track with our consultant Liam O’Keeffe and our Head of Tracks & Infrastructure Tim Lambert, we’re happy with what we’re seeing: strong grass cover, good “give” underfoot, and encouraging signs the surface is continuing to bed in and strengthen.https://bitofayarn.com We’re now moving into the return-to-racing process, with some key milestones ahead - a stakeholder track walk in March, jump-outs and trials in April, and (subject to each step ticking off well) an Industry Day meeting pencilled in for Thursday 21 May with a six-race card under the Hawke’s Bay Racing Inc. licence.https://bitofayarn.com Plenty of work still to do, but it’s heading in the right direction - and it’ll be great to see activity building back at Hastings Racecourse. https://bitofayarn.com
  14. MESSAGE FROM NZTR's CEO Hello and welcome to ISSUE #3 of THE RUNDOWN, NZTR’s industry update. It’s a big week for our industry – Champions Day is here, with everything building towards Saturday at Ellerslie. There’s a lot to look forward to, and it’s a great showcase of the momentum our summer programme has built.https://bitofayarn.com But before we get to the main event, it’s worth quickly covering off what’s been happening across January and February – a busy stretch of racing, projects and progress right around the country. At the TAB Karaka Millions meeting, domestic turnover was up 5% on the 2025 edition, with the Aotearoa Classic the standout performer, up 33% on last year. Initial figures from Australian turnover on the meeting have also been extremely encouraging, reflecting the continued rise in interest in our racing product from Australian participants, media and punters. The HKJC World Pool was also up in key metrics, having hosted more New Zealand races than the previous year. This is really encouraging for us as we look to grow our international racing profile. On the subject of Karaka, a huge congratulations to Sir Peter Vela, the Vela family and the entire team at New Zealand Bloodstock on delivering an exceptional 100th National Yearling Sales Series. The refreshed sale format was well received, and the final results tell a great story: turnover up almost $10 million year-on-year, more than $96 million returned to consignors and breeders from 751 horses sold, and strength right through the market with an 83% clearance rate.https://bitofayarn.com We also had a great day out at Waikato Thoroughbred Racing’s Legends Day meeting on 7 February, with Legarto and First Five taking the Group 1 honours. It was an incredibly special day to be part of, where we brought nine retired superstars back to the track. The legends represented elite domestic and international success and included Catalyst (who also delighted the crowd with an exhibition gallop), Mufhasa, Royal Performer, Sir Slick, Start Wondering, Tallyho Twinkletoe, True Enough, Waisake and Xcellent. It was also a special moment for one of our great athletes, Opie Bosson, to bring up his 100th Group 1 win - becoming the third Kiwi jockey, and the first New Zealand-based rider, to reach the milestone. We’ve been working towards the 2026 NZB Kiwi for months, and now it’s game on. We held the Barrier Draw last night at the Karaka Sales Centre (more on that below), and it’s a real sign we’ve hit the final stretch ahead of the second running of the $4 million race this weekend. With the 2026 field now locked in, the trans-Tasman angle is shaping as a real talking point too. Kiwi-bred Asakura heads across the ditch under Ozzie Kheir’s slot to take on current favourite Well Written, who is quickly turning into a genuine star of the Summer. Attention now turns to Saturday, and you’ll have seen NZTR has confirmed our own slot runner – 'The People’s Horse', La Dorada. We’re rapt to have a filly of her talent representing the campaign, and we’ll share more below on how The NZB Kiwi Golden Ticket story has been tracking.https://bitofayarn.com Finally, looking ahead, New Zealand has formally received the Asian Racing Federation flag following the close of the 41st Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh - marking the official handover of hosting responsibilities to New Zealand for ARC 2028 in Auckland. Hosting ARC 2028 is a major opportunity to showcase the strength of New Zealand Thoroughbred racing and breeding, and to deepen relationships with key racing jurisdictions across Asia and beyond. https://bitofayarn.com Yours in racing, Matt Ballesty Chief Executive Officer New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing GOLDEN TICKET CAMPAIGN NZTR’s NZB Kiwi Golden Ticket campaign has extended the excitement well beyond the traditional racing audience. This year we’ve united three major sporting codes - the One New Zealand Warriors, the Blues and Auckland FC - as official partners behind NZTR’s slot runner, ‘The People’s Horse’. Fans have the chance to win thousands in cash and go in the draw for a Golden Ticket, securing a VIP stake in the horse contesting this year’s $4 million NZB Kiwi on Champions Day at Ellerslie. We’ve also recently announced the horse as La Dorada - a seriously exciting filly heading into the race, and one we’re proud to promote to the nation. A big thanks to the sporting franchises and Te Akau Racing for their support of this campaign.https://bitofayarn.com Just as importantly, this is a new audience and partnership strategy for our sport. The lead-gen competition is helping us build a new segment that we can keep engaging across major racedays over the next 12 months - connecting them with racing through simple touchpoints like ticketing, wagering, ownership and viewership. It’s a big step towards putting The NZB Kiwi, Champions Day and our wider industry on the same platform as other major sports and entertainment moments in New Zealand. The timing couldn’t be better. The launch aligns with “Footy, Fillies & Fans” from 6–8 March - a supercharged Auckland sporting weekend spanning the Warriors’ NRL season opener, Champions Day at Ellerslie, a Blues v Crusaders blockbuster at Eden Park, and Auckland FC in A-League action. It’s a genuine city-wide sporting moment, and a real opportunity to place The NZB Kiwi front and centre alongside the biggest fixtures on the calendar. View a snapshot of our NZB Kiwi Golden Ticket winners and more information by clicking the button below. NZB KIWI GOLDEN TICKET CAMPAIGN https://bitofayarn.com 2026 BARRIER DRAW - FIELD SET The 2026 NZB Kiwi took another step closer on Tuesday night at NZB's Karaka Sales Centre, with slot representatives drawing barriers in a simple (and slightly nerve-wracking) format – each rep picked a rope, which revealed their barrier banner. With the draw done, the final field is now confirmed and we’re locked in for Saturday. Barriers (1–14): Zivou (NZ) Well Written Affirmative Action Panther (NZ) To Bravery Born (NZ) La Dorada (NZ) L’Aigle Noir (NZ) Convinced (NZ) War Princess (NZ) Romanoff (NZ) Belle Cheval (NZ) Lollapalooza (NZ) He Who Dares (NZ) Asakura FULL STORY HERE https://bitofayarn.com HASTINGS RACECOURSE A really positive step for Hawke’s Bay - the recamber work at Hastings is tracking well and ahead of schedule. After a recent walk of the track with our consultant Liam O’Keeffe and our Head of Tracks & Infrastructure Tim Lambert, we’re happy with what we’re seeing: strong grass cover, good “give” underfoot, and encouraging signs the surface is continuing to bed in and strengthen. We’re now moving into the return-to-racing process, with some key milestones ahead - a stakeholder track walk in March, jump-outs and trials in April, and (subject to each step ticking off well) an Industry Day meeting pencilled in for Thursday 21 May with a six-race card under the Hawke’s Bay Racing Inc. licence. Plenty of work still to do, but it’s heading in the right direction - and it’ll be great to see activity building back at Hastings Racecourse. https://bitofayarn.com Project Stamina has made good progress through its 'discover' phase. Since late January, RCP has held around 50 meetings (a mix of in-person and online) right across the country and across both Thoroughbred and Harness codes. These sessions have included racing Clubs, Recognised Industry Organisations, and the Racing Integrity Board, and have been focused on listening to stakeholders and building a clearer picture of the current state. This feedback will now feed into the next phase of work (scenario modelling), where RCP will develop future state options. There will be further engagement as this next stage develops, and we’ll keep the industry updated as key milestones are reached. The final report is targeted for end of May 2026. https://bitofayarn.com 2026 NZB KIWI CONDITIONS AND WEIGHTS With the NZB Kiwi now just a couple of days away, and as a key part of the Champions Raceday programme, a quick refresher on the race conditions and where weights are currently tracking. The NZB Kiwi is run under 3YO set weights and penalties - 57.0kg for colts/geldings and 55.0kg for fillies. Penalties apply for winners (and they’re not cumulative): +3.0kg for a Group 1 winner +2.0kg for a Group 2 winner +1.5kg for a Group 3 winner (or a winner of three or more races) +1.0kg for a Listed winner (or a winner of two races) -1.0kg maiden allowance Weights have Romanoff as top weight on 60.0kg, with Well Written and La Dorada both on 58.0kg, and Belle Cheval on 56.5kg - with the Southern Hemisphere's richest 3YO race shaping as a quality contest. It’s also been great to see Well Written’s TAB Karaka Millions 3YO performance recognised internationally, with an assigned international rating of 115! As part of our commitment to life after racing, our Welfare Team was proud to partner with the Milford NZ Polo Open - highlighting the important role Thoroughbreds play beyond the racetrack. Around 30% of retired racehorses go on to polo careers, which is a great reflection of the breed’s versatility, athleticism and temperament. Supporting this event is another way we’re shining a light on meaningful second careers and backing the welfare of our horses long after they leave the starting gates. On the day, retrained Thoroughbreds were easy to spot through the green #NZOTTB stickers as they competed for the Best Playing Thoroughbred prize - supported by funding from the 1% Welfare Levy.https://bitofayarn.com To bring it to life, we’ve also captured a short feature with international polo great JP Clarkin, sharing the impact Thoroughbreds have had on the sport - and the strong links between racing and polo.
  15. It is a fixed duty (type of tax). The point I was making was the TAB never paid company tax on its profits. Compare that with Sky City Casino which pays a minimum of 18% GST and gaming duty BEFORE tax on company profits.
  16. Add to that advantage the fact that Clubs own assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars and pay no tax on any profits as they all operate under the umbrella of the Incorporated Societies Act. In my opinion that has been part of the problem. Clubs operate businesses that are not subjected to the same rules that many of their competitors have to. I believe if they had or did the industry would be healthier than it is. Certainly the natural rationalisation would occur a lot quicker than the slow march that is occuring. Ironically in a Communist Country the Hong Kong Jockey Club is the highest contributor to the City's coffers through betting duties, profits tax, and Lotteries Fund contributions contributing NZD$6.3 BILLION a year!
  17. But that isn't a tax. It is a duty which was paid at 4% of profits. Certainly not a company tax rate!
  18. Had to play dodgems.
  19. Yeah na... You and @Freda would have been throwing knives at us or rotten tangerines!
  20. Of course he can! It's Digital now so he has low overheads. But probably lots more "expenses"....!
  21. Racing is the Sport of...
  22. No worse than Waipukurau - perhaps they listened to @nomates !!! As I said above the horse needs a firm track and a short distance. The chances of getting that in NZ are close to zero. It is as frustrating for the Trainers as the Owners.
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