Chief Stipe

You miss the point the level of non-compliance is nowhere near other cases. As I keep repeating it is more akin to the Sportsbet case (arguably not as bad as them) where no fine was incurred. Westpac bank was fined AUD$1.3 billion but there non-compliance involved billions of dollars NOT $157m.

You miss the point - there may be no fine going on precedent. If there is it won't be anywhere near what the doom and gloomers of the NZ Racing Industry predict. Certainly I very much doubt there will be a "huge fine" that would force ENTAIN to abandon their Australian and NZ businesses. The latter is a 25 year license.

Waller has two stables in Sydney, one on the Gold Coast and one in Victoria. His wins in each location count for each States Premiership. He has one assistant Trainer and several foreman. Te Akau have two trainers (Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson) and 3 Assistant Trainers. Reese Trumper (Matamata), Ben Gleason (Cranbourne) and Hunter Durant (Riccarton). What's wrong with that? But they do attend. Really @Gammalite you really need to catch up with the programme. Modern technology and systems allows a Trainer to manage effectively from a remote location. However you still need skilled and licensed individuals on the ground. Be it Assitant Trainers or Foreman. Te Akau has invested heavily in acquiring young talented staff. Why should they be slayed for it? Surely you are not suggesting that Chris Wallers winners in Queensland and Victoria shouldn't count because he lives in NSW?

@Gammalite I suggest you read ALL of the following thread.

NO it isn't because the quantum of the offending is much less. PLUS Entain was already in discussions with AUSTRC to improve their compliance and had a systems and process upgrade in progress. Yes we all know that hence AML laws. But knowing who is or isn't a criminal isn't that easy to ascertain. You are buying into the same hogwash as @JJ Flash , @Transparency and even @Brodie. I'll post the Topic link here and you can go have a read. YES it is SERIOUS but the level of offending is nowhere near other offenders. It is closer to Sportsbet whose penalty was enforceable remedial work on their systems i.e. no substantial fines. $152m is chicken feed. In the Crown case there was ONE individual turning over more than the NZ TAB turns over in total!!!

True. But doesn't the 50% given to TABNZ have to be shown on the opposite side of the ledger? So for example $100 GBR less $50 = $50 left. But on the revenue side ENTAIN now have $50 and on the cost side they have $50. Or is $50 given to TABNZ not accounted for in the taxation accounts as a cost? I realise I'm opening myself up to ridicule but I'm just thinking aloud.

Yes that appears to be @Pitman 's business model and the strike rate of 10.7 reflects that. @Pitman has the same opportunities to adapt the same model as Te Akau to the South Island conditions. Don't forget he has won two National Premierships from his South island base. So not impossible. How is it "unfair"? I've yet to see anyone post anything anywhere online that convinces me that it is unfair. Riccarton and South Island racing in general would be all the poorer without Te Akau's significant investment in their Riccarton stables and other support services. I don't understand why everyone is so quick to knock Te Akau for any reason they can find. Riccarton isn't a "satellite stable" whatever that really means. It is a full time operation from which horses raced 305 times last season representing 37% of Te Akau's starts nationwide. Only Pitman and Carston had more. @Newmarket are you becoming NZ Racing's Prince of Darkness?

WHAT IN YOUR OPINION IS THEIR INTENTION?

But based on my rudimentary understanding of accounting wouldn't Gross Revenue where 50% is treated as a cost and 50% treated as revenue equal zero?

Was Shannon "Shown the Door"? His press release was he wanted to pursue other opportunities. Geez @Gammalite have you bought into @JJ Flash negative spin on the AUSTRAC issues? The Star Entertainment problems were many magnitude greater than ENTAIN/Ladbrokes. I've discussed that at length on the Thoroughbred forum. If the future wasn't rosy for ENTAIN why has their share price increased 45% this year? As I pointed out in earlier posts ENTAINS non-compliance is more comparable with Sportsbet and other cases where the enforceable action has been limited to remeidal actions to fix their systems and independent audit of those changes. Certainly not in the league of Sky Casino or Crown Casino nor anywhere near the non-compliance of Westpac Bank.

How would that be accounted for in ENTAIN's accounts? Is the 50% treated as a cost to ENTAIN? e.g. a license to operate fee? What are the taxation implications?

From a taxation perspective how will ENTAIN account for the distribution to TABNZ? As a license cost and therefore reduce their own tax liability. Assuming that they pay tax on their net proft.

Those costs should be reducing as ENTAIN negotiate new supply contracts. Plus the software licensing costs for the wagering systems must be lower as it is an internal charge now since ENTAIN own the software. No need for as many NZ based bookies either.

@hesi turf track maintenance has been a neglected issue for 30 years or more. The administrators are still stuck in the mode that increasing stakes will fix everything. They forget that you still need safe and fair tracks to race on. In that respect Harness have an advantage as their tracks require lower maintenance than turf or even the Polytrack.

There is a guaranteed income beyond 5 years. The profit from the NZ operation is shared 50:50. That's the terms on which the license has been granted. I don't see it as bizarre. What I do find bizarre is the negativity around this industry saving deal. The NZ TAB was insolvent and needed $30m of taxpayers money to stay afloat. All I hear from supposedly supporters of the industry is uniformed commentary about ENTAIN share prices and AML legal issues. ENTAIN is a FTSE 100 with a current Market Cap of NZD$14.5 billion. It's not public funding. There IS guaranteed funding beyond 5 years. The question is will it be more or less than what it currently is. The biggest difference is the industry revenue is no longer provided through a statutory body that has been constantly propped up by the NZ taxpayer. Perhaps the industry should start looking at living within its means and or promote itself better. The latter is something we all can do. No I know there is an agreement in place which was made public. I have forgotten the detail I.e. is it 50% of Gross Betting/Wagering Revenue.

Why would you be told the commercial arrangements of a private corporation? For that matter why is it important to you?

Are they wasting it? They are probably just doing the same old same old i.e. what has been happening for decades. At least though those with skin in the game - Owners, Trainers and Drivers are benefiting.

What other options were there? Maybe. But hopefully the ENTAIN license has conditions that ensure some of that revenue funds Racing. You all forget that at the end of the day ENTAIN have bought a monopoly license for the NZ market. That license will have conditions for both parties.

Correct. The noise from one quarter is pittiful.

Justify what? Pitty throwing his toys out of the cot - AGAIN! Or the fact Te Akau had 49 wins in the South Island at a strike rate of 6.22? Te Akau started their horses 305 times in the South Island and arguably lifted the quality of those races they competed in. South Island racing benefited. Pitman crying a river isn't the South Island way that I was brought up on. Imagine if Canterbury rugby moaned that Auckland and Waikato had all the advantages and they didn't.

It's a capital fund for future investment. Do you know something different?

Windsor Park Stud First Foal 2025.mp4 https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B4oEibVca/

The NZ TAB was insolvent. There weren't too many companies wanting to buy it for more than a dollar!

NZTR Establishes Industry Investment Fund to Secure Racing’s Future NZTR has announced the establishment of a dedicated Industry Investment Fund, a strategic initiative designed to support the long-term financial sustainability of the Thoroughbred racing industry in NZ. NZTR | August 06, 2025 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced the establishment of a dedicated Industry Investment Fund, a strategic initiative designed to support the long-term financial sustainability of the Thoroughbred racing industry in New Zealand. The Fund has been launched with $10 million in seed funding, representing a contingency reserve that remains accessible to NZTR if required. This initial capital provides a strong foundation for the Fund to begin operating and building confidence across the industry as a prudent and forward-looking investment strategy. “This is a significant milestone for the industry,” said Russell Warwick, NZTR Chair. “The Industry Investment Fund is about future-proofing racing in New Zealand and is a proactive step to ensure we have a sustainable and diversified financial base for generations to come.” To ensure both security and growth, the Fund has been diversified across multiple investment accounts and providers. This approach balances the need for long-term returns with preservation of capital, aiming to outperform traditional term deposit returns over time. Term deposit rates continue to track down with the lowering of the Official Cash Rate which is expected to reach 2.75% by the end of the year. As the Fund grows, NZTR expects to build on the capital sum from any proceeds from the venue consolidation process which is a key part of industry strategy. These additional contributions will help reduce the industry’s reliance on wagering revenue and establish a robust alternative income stream. The Fund’s performance and investment mix will be closely monitored by the NZTR Audit & Risk Committee, with regular reviews to ensure alignment with industry needs and financial best practices. “The Fund gives us an opportunity to build sustainable revenue streams and allows our existing capital to work for the industry,” Warwick added. “It’s not just an investment of capital; it’s an investment in the future of New Zealand racing.”

Advisory: Reducing Contamination & Adverse Swab Riskshttps://bitofayarn.com Issued 5 August, 2025https://bitofayarn.com This advisory offers practical guidance to help trainers reduce the risk of contamination. Responsible Medication Use When deciding on treatments, work closely with your veterinarian to choose registered medications that have well-established withdrawal periods. Always speak with your veterinarian about these timeframes and consider building in an extra safety buffer, to minimise any risk. Before administering any drug, verify the horse’s identity, use a new sterile needle for each animal, and change gloves between treatments. You are also required under the Rules to maintain accurate records, listing the horse’s identity, medication details, dosage and the administration date/time. It is best to only use commercially manufactured, registered products and ensure they are kept in a secure controlled location with the appropriate labelling. Stable Management & Contamination Control Organise your stable to physically separate treated horse(s) from race-ready stock by assigning clearly marked stalls and keep them in quarantine until the medication has cleared its system (use the withdrawal period and buffer as your guide). Designate specific treatment areas and ensure any shared equipment is disinfected thoroughly and allowed time to dry before use. Pay special attention to powdered oral medications: consider mixing them into dampened feed in an area separate to the feed room and horse boxes, do notre-use feed buckets unless scrubbed clean, and wipe your horse’s lips afterward to avoid airborne residues. If medication is injected, dispose of sharps (needles) and expired drugs through authorised medical waste channels, speak with your vet about how they can assist you in this. Do not dispose of sharps with general refuse. Whichever route of administration, refresh bedding in treatment stalls daily and schedule a weekly deep clean of all surfaces and maintain routine cleaning of high-touch fixtures using neutral pH detergents. Feed & Supplement Protocols Source feed and supplements from reputable equine specialists and ideally have robust quality assurance practices including batch testing and traceability. Inspect feed carefully and adopt a first-in, first-out use schedule. Use products that fully list ingredients to ensure safety and consistency. Staff Hygiene & Awareness Ensure staff and contractors are trained and understand their responsibilities to reduce the risk of contamination. Require staff to apply good hygiene practices, such as washing hands or changing disposable gloves before and after treatment tasks. Post reminders in key areas to avoid unsanitary practices, for example, human waste in yard areas has led to detectable residues of human medication or illicit drugs. Personal Medications & Recreational Substances Handle personal (human) prescriptions, like inhalers or EpiPens, with the same care as equine medications, for example wear gloves and wash hands afterwards. Store all personal medications in a designated area away from horse areas. Encourage staff to confidentially disclose any personal treatments and adjust their stable responsibilities accordingly. Set clear boundaries regarding recreational substance use. Pets, Livestock & Other Animals When other animals on the property need treatment, keep them away from racing stables until any medications have cleared from their system(s). Discuss with your veterinarian if there are risks regarding cross-species contamination. Clearly label their feed, medication and equipment to avoid accidental contamination with racing horses. Additional Strategies to Minimise Positive Samples Always double-check each horse’s identity before every treatment; a single mistake can lead to a positive result. Never re-use needles or syringes. Oral dosing tools should be dedicated to one medication and cleaned thoroughly between uses. Implement clear labeling on all equipment and medications. Consider introducing environmental swab checks in high-risk areas, like treatment stalls and tie-up rails, to identify residues. Implement cleaning logs and adjust protocols based on swab findings. Adopt conservative medication withdrawal practices by assuming detection times may exceed published values or may be impacted by specific factors specific to the individual horse (e.g. metabolic state). If you are in doubt, add at least an extra day or two to your usual safety buffer. A ‘better safe than sorry’ mindset can avoid an inadvertent positive sample. Safer treatment, cleaner stables Reducing the risk of prohibited substance detection or contamination starts with a clear principle: treat only when clinically necessary, using consistent, well-managed stable protocols. Medications may complement but must not replace appropriate rest or rehabilitation. All treatments should be guided by veterinary advice, supported by a diagnosis, and above all prioritise the horse’s welfare. Withdrawal periods must be strictly observed. Indiscriminate or frequent use increases the risk of contamination. While treatment supports equine welfare, it must be selective, justified, and controlled. An evidence-based approach reduces costs, eases withdrawal planning, and lowers the risk of breaches. RIB-contamination-prevention-advisory-.pdfhttps://bitofayarn.com