Chief Stipe

But it isn't the same is @Brodie . The winnings are paid into individual accounts to account holders that are presumably amateur punters unlike yourself who is a profitable pro. I say they are amateur punters because if you had any skill you wouldn't buy into the pool. Now of course @Brodie you could buy a view tickets in the Out The Gate pool and also benefit from bonus cash, unlimited bets and no restrictions.

Yes and the reality is that it will only take a small percentage of those "Fract'ers" to spend more to help racing. The only reservation I have is that some of the syndications are creaming a huge margin and you can't fool people for too long! The thousands of enquiries is a promising sign though.

Guessed you wouldn't have a clue.

So you just sit on your fat hands and say "I told you so" before it happens. Correct. That's why you analyse more than one year. You're not really that good at this are you? I'm not sure you would recognise a Strategic Plan if you tripped over one in the street. They spend money at the races before the "then what?"! Then what - well they've had to register online for the tickets so guess what Einstein the data is in a database. Data that you can use to target future marketing and promotions. You are bereft of ideas yourself yet critique (using vague generalisations) anything that is done. No it isn't. It is negative and you sitting at a table in the stand moaning because you feel entitled achieves nothing. You haven't offered ONE idea or solution.

You don't "join a commitee" you are elected to them. I realise your OBC works differently. Yes to invest in assets that give the industry a chance of being sustainable. That approach has worked in Australia. Your solution is to let decline to the point where the stands fall over and the tracks fails dangerously. Yes it does. But then I've been taught to read a set of financial statements - as for you I gather you operate on gut feel. If a Club isn't profitable then it fails. Where have I said that? Not that I think of it negatively like you do either. Hell your biggest measure seems to be the presence of Australian based sires in the pedigrees of our winners. Your memory fails you in that regard or you don't have a clue about breeding horses. I believe a Strategic Plan is essential. Where the industry fails often is in its tactical and operational planning. Not surprsing when you have the entrenched attitude of individuals such as yourself. I'm hardly a propagandist. As I've said repeatedly The Grand Tour promotion is better than none and certainly better than your negativity. Is it value for money? I don't know but it is certainly better than nothing which is about the total sum of marketing and promotion we've seen aimed at a younger generation in two decades. Just a hint @Huey paying your Club membership and sitting in the members stand in your faded sports coat and shiny trousers dribbling about how good it was 30 years ago isn't a great marketing strategy.

Still 3 years to go. Your best and only solution offered so far is a used paint brush.

Agreed and they don't offer any solutions other than nostalgia.

No you are just here to be a miserable old grinch who posts generalisations and is too lazy to research or post any facts. Did the home turn your WiFi back on or have you arrived at work?

Correct. The revenue earned cannot sustain 52 racecourses and their core racing assets. Even when the total revenue earned includes wagering, hosptality, training receipts and livestock sales. Consolidation is the only answer.

The NZ Herald did report on it. In March this year.

Yes but certain loud individuals polarised people and it became tribal. Been a few of them on BOAY in the past.

Which is what was in the DIA options report. Regulatory-Impact-Statement-Protecting-TAB-NZs-from-offshore-online-betting-to-ensure-a-sustainable-racing-industry.pdf

Sure Leo was difficult to work with at times (not often) but he was never duplitious and you were either in his good books or not and he made that really clear. Very intelligent as well and at times downright amusing. I actually got more grief from third parties that he had riled than him. I'm not sticking up for him per se but what I disagree with what the Vet Council are doing. I liken it to the case Kevin Morton had with the RIB and Purcell. A step too far.

@curious where did you derive the $13m in POCC lost income from?

No doubt the threat of closure has produced ill feeling. However I think to call the proposed closure decisions arbitray is not correct. There was some rationale behind the proposals. Whether or not you agreed or disagreed is another matter that probably hasn't been handled that well. When the majority of tracks are not profitable enough to maintain their core infrastructure then the selection criteria must consider closing those that have no opportunity to be profitable. That is the key or rather it was. Clubs needed to see the writing on the wall and work together to make racing profitable either by other forms of revenue or cutting and sharing costs. Unfortunately what could have been a planned transition is now a crisis and may involve scorched earth. About 2 to 4 years ago my opinion was that we needed all the tracks to ensure a smooth transition and or the ability to rotate racedays to allow periodic track rehabilitation. However that approach doesn't fit with the Club mentality.

Yes the country needs Kumara.

Correct. Which means there are too many racecourses for the amount of revenue generated.

Some facts please.

Well there you go all your assumptions are incorrect. Seems you contradict yourself often. I gather you must still be on the TA email list or is it part of your weekly reading list?

Really and you think AI algorithms aren't biased? Regardless of what idealology you think the Free Speech Union follows don't you think they have a point in this instance?

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.