Chief Stipe

Ellis honoured by Hall of Fame induction December 19, 2024 More than four decades after his first experience as a winning owner, David Ellis has been recognised with induction to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. Since that first success with the Sovereign Edition filly Magnum at Paeroa in 1978, Ellis has been involved at all levels of racing as an administrator, breeder, buyer and his major footprint, as the founder of New Zealand’s most successful racehorse syndication model, Te Akau. “I was in my early twenties when I won that race at Paeroa all those years ago, and I thought it was the biggest thrill you could have in life,” Ellis said this week as he reflected on his life in racing. “My trainer Bill Ford came with me into the winner’s room, but he had another horse in the next race that he had to saddle up and I ended up celebrating my first ever win by myself. “That made me think there’s got to be a better way to do this, I realised that I’d rather celebrate together with other people, and that was the beginning of my idea to syndicate horses, bringing people together to enjoy the thrill of winning.” Ellis was still racing horses in his singular name when he won his first Group One race, the 1986 Easter Handicap, with the Ford-trained Cosmetique, by when his colours were becoming increasingly familiar. “Early on Bill advised me that I should register colours that stood out, that everyone could see, so I thought a good strong colour would be tangerine. I couldn’t get the single colour so I added the blue stars for contrast. “As the years have gone by, I think it would be fair to say the tangerine and blue have definitely become well recognised!” Brand recognition for Ellis has come about by setting goals and surrounding himself with the right people – and horses – to achieve them. Mark Walker has been integral to that success, from the time he was employed by Ellis as an 18-year-old, to setting new benchmarks from his original platform at Te Akau’s Matamata training operation, adding further premierships in Singapore and having prepared an unprecedented 203 New Zealand winners in the 2022-23 season, now at the helm of a tri-stable operation that has expanded to Riccarton and a major Australian foothold at Cranbourne. Another vital team member is Ellis’s wife Karyn, whose key role is managing day-to-day business matters and in particular bringing together the many layers that make up Te Akau’s syndication model. “There are so many people who without them, I couldn’t have achieved all this,” says the man in the middle. “Karyn runs the business now, which frees me up to run the farm and buy the horses. Mark and have worked together over a long period of time, it’s been a fantastic relationship and he now heads a massive team, from his training partner Sam Bergerson, our assistant trainers Ben Gleeson, Nicole Shailer and Hunter Durrant and our racing manager Reece Trumper, right through to all our staff, our vets and farriers, everybody who works so hard to achieve our goals. “It’s quite incredible to think that when Captured By Love won the New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton last month, that was the 98th Group One winner by horses that I’ve either bought, bred or managed under the Te Akau umbrella.” As well as enjoying such a raft of success, Ellis has also immersed himself in racing industry administration, beginning as a steward with the Waikato Racing Club and covering the full spectrum through to the national body. “I started at the Waikato Racing as a steward when Ken Brown was chairman and I went up to the committee under Herbie Dyke, eventually becoming chairman myself. During that time I was also chairman of the Waikato District Committee and served on the board of the New Zealand Racing Conference, then NZ Thoroughbred Racing, and NZ Thoroughbred Marketing.” Various accolades acknowledging his input include the 2017 NZTR Outstanding Contribution to Racing Excellence and he was awarded the CNZM (Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit) on the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Royal Honours list for services to the thoroughbred industry. Since being advised of his pending induction to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, which will become official at the induction dinner in May, Ellis has had cause to reflect on his latest accolade. “Any award, whether you’re recognised by your peers or by a higher body, is very humbling and this is certainly no different,” he said. “It’s an absolute honour to think that I’m being acknowledged alongside people who I have admired massively over the years – people like my great late friend Colin Jillings, other hugely successful trainers like Dave O’Sullivan and Jim Gibbs, and industry icons such as Sir Patrick Hogan and Sir Peter Vela. “As I keep reminding myself, what I’ve achieved, the recognition I’ve been accorded, none of that would have been possible without those people I’ve already mentioned and so many others – they’ve all made their own contribution. “I just want to say a massive thankyou to them all, whether they’ve worked for Te Akau over the years, or owners who have invested in our horses, those breeders who have produced so many wonderful performers and everyone who has been part of our success.” Sourcing his next crop of potential stars is never far from the Ellis mindset, and right now that means scanning catalogues and inspecting drafts for the upcoming summer sales round. “Along with my own team, I’ve also been very lucky to be able to seek the advice of people like Joe Walls and Marcus Corban as we do our inspections and sale selections. It’s always exciting, I love going round the farms then to the sales and bringing a new crop of young horses into our system.” As some measure of that level of investment, in the past year Ellis has signed for 76 young horses at a total value in the region of $25 million. “It takes a lot of courage to put your hand up and commit to that level, but it’s what we do, bring in long-standing owners as well as new ones and then set to work making their dreams come true. “I’m so lucky to do for a living what is also my hobby and to have so many wonderful people supporting me. I’ve always set out to raise the bar and will continue to. By next year we’ll have 70 horses in training at our Cranbourne stable as well as maintaining our numbers in New Zealand. “It’s incredible to think there are now 105 races worth $1 million or more in Australia – that’s an average of two per week – and it’s fantastic to see the advances we’ve made in New Zealand with the involvement of Entain. “Stakes have virtually doubled in the past 18 months and with so many new races like the NZB Kiwi, Champions Day in March, major stakes increases across the board, right down to going to a midweek meeting and racing for $25,000 – all that was unheard of not that long ago. “Now it’s important that NZTR, Entain and the TAB work together along with every member of the industry make the most of the opportunity that we now have. That’s what I’ll be doing and so will everyone else I’m associated with – it’s what I’ve always done and will continue to for the good of racing.” - Dennis Ryan David Ellis will be inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame at the next Induction Dinner to be held at SkyCity, Hamilton on Sunday, 11 May, 2025.

Yes it is. Sadly many of the industry malcontents who are largely minor achievers in the sport are only helping that small group.

@Yankiwi and his acolytes have been a big part of the problem. @Yankiwi is the exemplar of wahg not to do and what has brought your industry down. By his own admission after 14 months involvement he ran for the hills except he didn't. What he did was give oxygen to the anti-racing brigade and with his misinformation poured petrol on the fires they lit. He character assassinated administrators, trainers and owners alike. All from the sidelines because he refused to have any more real skin in the game. He refused opportunities to speak directly with administrators instead maintained his keyboard attacks. At the end of the day he achieved nothing except help bring down an industry he says he supports. He achieved nothing positive. All three racing codes have @Yankiwi 's many driven only by envy or at best one single issue which they are obsessed with. Often something that happened years ago. It is a bit like if I couldn't win no one else is. I could name the individuals from each code, many have passed through BOAY and many other forms of social media. They've all achieved nothing or changed anything but continue to repeat the same actions over and over and over. Didn't Einstein define that as insanity?

Good luck to her and enough said on this topic.

Well she worked quite a few horses this morning at Matamata. I'm glad you approve of her Whip Style. Perhaps you should look at race 3 on the Hawke’s Bay Abandoned Guineas day. She rode with a lot of vigour as did Ace Lawson-Caroll. Not sure either wanted the day abandoned.

Magic Millions blow for J-Mac after causing Hong Kong fall www.racenet.com.au Superstar jockey James McDonald will miss the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast next month after copping a lengthy suspension from Hong Kong stewards when they found him guilty of causing a fall at Sha Tin on Sunday night. The world's best jockey will miss almost a month of racing from December 26 when his short-term riding contract in Hong Kong finishes after being slapped with the seven-meeting ban by chief steward Marc van Gestel. Stewards found McDonald was responsible for fellow jockey Lyle Hewitson coming down in a fall aboard Joyful Hunter in the ninth race. The South African hoop was was taken to hospital for treatment and believed to have suffered no serious injuries. "J McDonald was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Thursday, 26 December 2024 and to expire on Thursday, 16 January 2025 on which day he may resume race riding," the stewards report reads. "In addition, Jockey McDonald was fined $60,000. In assessing penalty, the Stewards determined the carelessness grade 3 and the consequences grade 5 and also considered his very good race riding record." With the $3m Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 11 next year, McDonald will also miss the $3m The Sunlight slot race on the Gold Coast on January 4 as part of his suspension. McDonald has enjoyed one of the most successful short-term riding contracts in Hong Kong racing history after winning both the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup and Mile only a week ago. He sits a clear second on total prize money won for the season, trailing only the legendary Zac Purton, despite only having 64 rides to his 219 for the year. McDonald won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2022 aboard flying filly Coolangatta. The suspension puts in jeopardy McDonald's chances of becoming only the second rider to win seven successive Sydney premierships as his rival riders continue to edge closer to the jockey premiership. McDonald had a sensational start to the 2024-25 season riding 45 Sydney winners and was 25 wins clear of his nearest rival before he took up a short-term Hong Kong riding contract in early November. The champion jockey was virtually unbackable odds to win another Sydney premiership when he left for Hong Kong but his title defence is no longer a foregone conclusion. James McDonald won the Magic Million 2YO Classic aboard Coolangatta in 2022. He will miss next month's meeting because of suspension. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography The in-form Tim Clark is putting himself into position to challenge for the premiership after taking his season's tally to 34 wins with a double at Canterbury last Friday night followed by his success on Robusto in the Group 2 The Ingham at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Jason Collett (27 wins), Nash Rawiller (26), Zac Lloyd (25) and Tommy Berry (24) are also within striking distance of the premiership lead. McDonald has dominated Sydney racing in recent years winning six premierships in a row despite riding frequently interstate and overseas. McDonald, who won't appeal his Hong Kong riding ban, hasn't ridden in Sydney since a midweek Rosehill meeting on November 13. It is likely McDonald will make his Sydney racing comeback at the Canterbury night meeting on January 17 then back up at Rosehill Gardens the following day. But McDonald is expected to ride frequently interstate at major Melbourne and Brisbane race days during autumn and winter next year, and there is also the likelihood he will travel overseas to ride Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup (February 22) and Dubai World Cup (April 5). – additional reporting by Ray Thomas

Then why make an issue out it? Your data is crap and your analysis not much better. That's a fact.

I don't care and rats arse what you you know that you think I don't know. I just asked you to post what you do know instead of using the personal message system. You give the impression you know who the candidates are and who the favoured two are. Easy to infer harder to actually post something instead of inference, innuendo and supposition.

Yes well Professoe P. D. McGreevy has a history with regard to these subjects. Tell me why bother being involved in race horses for decades if you have such strong opinions against many aspects of it?

The 2024 Melbourne Cup Wagering was down as expected with racegoers instead voting with their feet as Victorian racing experienced a welcomed increase in attendances across the 2024 spring carnival. Racing Victoria on Tuesday released the key results coming out of the spring carnival and it was the crowds – boosted by bumper a four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival – that stood out with nearly 600,000 spectators flocking to Victorian racetracks in the three months to the start of December. Carnival crowds were up four per cent on 2023 and 17 per cent on the year prior with the four days at Flemington growing sharply by nine per cent. Away from the city, the racing was also popular with six country cup meetings recording attendance growth of 20 per cent or more. Returns to participants also increased, with a total of $114.1 million in prizemoney and bonuses paid out to owners, trainers and jockeys across the Spring Racing Carnival – up from $112.5 million in 2023. While the predicted downturn in wagering continued, with the total domestic turnover of $2.73 billion representing a seven per cent decrease year-on-year, the last four Saturdays in November all grew year-on-year after Melbourne Cup Day bucked the trend to remain on par with 2023. RV chief executive Aaron Morrison, said while overall attendances were most pleasing there was one aspect of the figures that stood out. “We were especially pleased to see so many young faces engaging with racing and enjoying a fun day out, with our clubs doing a fantastic job in delivering compelling raceday experiences and events," he said. “It wouldn’t be possible without the Victorian Government’s support of our major events which again delivered economic and social benefits right across the state and we thank them for that. “The atmosphere at our marquee meetings was as vibrant as it’s been for some time, and it was terrific to see communities come together to celebrate spring racing throughout country Victoria. “The Carnival really built momentum through the three months thanks to our great racing and events, supported by our successful media and marketing campaigns and partnerships. It has certainly helped racing to grow its reach and popularity with a broader mainstream national audience.’’ Following is an overview of other key data points and highlights from the 2024 Spring Racing Carnival: Attendance A total of 589,272 people attended the Spring Racing Carnival – up from 566,402 in 2023; The four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington were the highest attended race meetings nationally in 2024 with more than 285,000 spectators through the gates; The Caulfield Cup Carnival also experienced growth with just shy of 50,000 racegoers in attendance across the three days, representing a 2.7% increase on last year’s crowds; With capacity restricted at The Valley as the venue undergoes redevelopment, general admission tickets to Cox Plate Day again sold out with more than 20,000 people trackside; Country Cup meetings were popular with the Horsham Cup (37.4% increase), Coleraine Cup (31.3%), Benalla Cup (30.2%), Wodonga Cup (29.8%), Kyneton Cup (23.6%) and Hamilton Cup (20%) leading the way. Wagering Turnover on the Melbourne Cup was five times higher than any other race in the nation attracting $214 million domestically – the fifth consecutive year it has surpassed $200 million; An 11% decline in free bet turnover, coupled with macroeconomic pressures and favourable results for bookmakers were the key factors in an overall decline across the three months; Champions Day (Flemington), Caulfield Thousand, Cranbourne Cup Day and Caulfield Spring Finale (Zipping Classic) meetings all delivered increased turnover on Saturdays in November; Races to enjoy strong year-on-year growth included the relocated Moir Stakes (up 44.9%), VRC Champions Mile (23.5%) and November’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (20.8%), while the Seymour and Kyneton Cups both delivered record turnover The AFL Grand Final public holiday weekend proved popular with racing punters, with the Benalla Cup meeting on Friday afternoon up 4.7%, the revamped Friday night fixture at The Valley up 17.3% and Saturday’s Sandown Stakes meeting up a huge 47.6%. Media The Melbourne Cup was watched by 1.9 million viewers on Nine’s free-to-air coverage, representing a 12% uplift on 2023; With the addition of a live broadcast on Racing.com, plus 9Now and other streaming platforms, more than 2.5 million Australians tuned in to watch the iconic race; Caulfield Cup Day and Cox Plate Day were also warmly embraced by fans off track with 1.39 million and 1.04 million viewers respectively tuning into Seven and 7plus on those days; Seven’s broadcast of Victorian feature racing throughout the Spring Racing Carnival collectively reached 4.6 million viewers nationally; Live racing was viewed more than two million times on Racing.com digital platforms across the Carnival with visitors taking in over 15 million minutes of live action; and The Racing.com Website and App also hosted more than 10 million digital sessions throughout spring, serving for the first time as the digital hub for RV’s spring marketing campaign.

Perhaps there is perhaps there isn't. But anyone with any nous would know that horse traders are horse traders.

I'm sure you'll find something salacious to bang on about and get off on. Who cares what her other interests are.

What was the question? Where is the cite to the survey? Still seems there are enough to make up 91,000 attendees oncourse Melbourne Cup Day.

Actually they don't care that much from what I seen and heard when speaking to them. When was the last time you were on a race course? The young folk on course during Cup Week in Christchurch didn't seem to fussed. 99.9% of them would have never read a judicial report and are not likely to.

Bullshit surveys.

Sorry when was the last time you rode a horse? I realise it can't have been recently as that would have been an animal welfare issue.

So what are you going to do about it other than bang on about for another 5 years?

So what about the other 61%of us?

So why don't you all retire from the game? Have you raised your concerns with Spratts rides to the RIB seeking and explanation?

Shame you didn't run far enough out of internet range instead of spending the next nines years with an obsessive agenda to kill the industry.

Serious opinion from you? Your latest post on this subject was that you knew more than most but wasn't brave enough to tell all. Go figure!

ENTAIN got done in Turkey as well for was it 800m Euros.

Yes but the issue with Murrihy just like the INCA Saga is the time it takes to resolve things. He, like many Stipes, take the "War of Attrition" approach. Alligator Bloods Magic Millions race was over four years ago nearly 5. As the Old maxim goes: Justice delayed is justice denied.

BOAY obviously has higher standards than those who leaked the information to you.

Some one elses alleged errors doens't validate you bullshit @Yankiwi. Dog racing was doomed the moment the focused on the wrong metric. Only gave fodder to animal activists and the obsessed such as yourself. I take it now that your GRNZ obsession is coming to an end you will be focussing on fat shaming those who own obese labradors? Or calling out those who pay exorbitant amounts of money for French Bulldogs who suffer from all sorts of genetic health issues and can't breed naturally?