Chief Stipe

My head says Nereus but I've been bitten too many times. Freddie Time. I think the track will stay soft with showers during the day.

Guineas Winner Locked in for The NZB Kiwi - The Kiwi Race thekiwirace.nz The Canterbury Jockey Club have announced Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) as their representative for the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day, 7 March 2026.https://bitofayarn.com When purchasing their slot for the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, the Club decided to use it as an added incentive to compete in their two elite-level three-year-old features over New Zealand Cup Week - the $600,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and $700,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 53rd New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) - with the victor of the former having the first seat at the negotiating table.https://bitofayarn.com As the winner of last month’s 2000 Guineas, the connections of the Pam Gerard-trained Romanoff were duly given first right of refusal, and a deal was brokered this week. https://bitofayarn.com “The CJC is delighted that the strategic direction the Club took when buying a slot has continued this year, with the winner of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Romanoff, representing the Club,” CJC Chair Diane Logie said.https://bitofayarn.com “On behalf of the CJC, I wish to thank the owners for reaching an agreement with us.” Romanoff is raced by a 13-strong ownership group and carries the Fletcher tartan silks of part-owner Hugh Fletcher, and he is delighted his gelding will be a part of the spectacle of New Zealand’s biggest day of racing.https://bitofayarn.com “The owners of Romanoff are thrilled to have secured the CJC slot for the second running of The NZB Kiwi,” Fletcher said. Bred by Marie Leicester, Romanoff was purchased by Ballymore Stables, in conjunction with bloodstock agents Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman, from New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka 2024 Book 2 Sale. He was secured out of Haunui Farm’s draft for $75,000. Being Karaka Millions eligible, next month’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) looms as an obvious target, with Romanoff likely to resume at RACE Trentham next month.https://bitofayarn.com “On returning from Christchurch, Romanoff had a brief break at Pam Gerard's spelling farm and is now back in work, looking bright and stronger than ever,” Fletcher said. “Current plans are to run in the Levin Classic (Gr.2, 1400m) at Trentham and the Karaka Millions 3YO as lead-ins to The NZB Kiwi.”https://bitofayarn.com The 2000 Guineas is becoming a memorable race for Gerard, having quinellaed this year’s running with Romanoff and Affirmative Action (AUS) (Yes Yes Yes), and winning last year’s edition with Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel). While Savaglee chased other targets, Gerard is excited to have her first runner in next year’s NZB Kiwi, with victory in the Guineas also making Romanoff eligible for $1 million in bonuses up for grabs in The NZB Kiwi.https://bitofayarn.com “It was a brilliant win in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton and picking up the opportunity to run for an extra $1 million bonus,” Gerard said. It is also fitting for Gerard to partner with the Canterbury Jockey Club, with the Matamata-based horsewoman hailing from the region. “Being a Cantabrian myself makes the opportunity of the slot even more special,” she said.https://bitofayarn.com “We are really looking forward to representing the CJC and the wider Canterbury area.” - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CwrvxofUG/

Seems a win win to me. I see the usual suspects online are trashing it.

I see @nomates has found the emoji button again!!!

17 December 2025 TW Property welcomes Government funding for proposed Flaxmere Racecourse TW Property has welcomed the Government’s funding announcement today for the proposed Flaxmere Racecourse, marking a significant milestone toward delivering a state-of-the-art, Tier 1 racecourse and training facility for Hastings and the wider Hawke’s Bay region.https://bitofayarn.com The proposed 44.5-hectare development at the end of Portsmouth Road would become one of just five metropolitan racetracks in New Zealand, bringing top-level racing, major events and new economic opportunities to the region.https://bitofayarn.com Figures released from the Beehive today state that project will create more than 400 full-time construction jobs during its four-year development phase and once completed, the racecourse is expected to sustain around 270 jobs across the local racing industry.https://bitofayarn.com TW Property Chief Executive Terry May said the company is proud to be the development partner for the project, which has the potential to create jobs and deliver lasting benefits for Flaxmere and the wider Hawke’s Bay economy. “This funding announcement represents an important step forward for a project that has the potential to deliver nationally significant infrastructure while supporting regional growth,” Mr May said. “While the project remains subject to council approvals and statutory planning processes, we are optimistic about the opportunity ahead.” The proposed racecourse and training facility has been carefully planned to meet the needs of the racing industry, while also creating a modern venue capable of hosting major events and attracting visitors to the region. The project forms part of TW Property’s wider, long-term investment in Flaxmere. This includes the development of the new Woolworths supermarket, the Flaxmere Village Shopping Centre and new affordable housing, all focused on creating jobs, delivering homes and supporting lasting community opportunity.https://bitofayarn.com Mr May confirmed that, should the proposed Flaxmere racecourse proceed, TW Property would develop the land at the site of the existing racecourse on Prospect Road. “The focus for that site would be on high-quality housing, including a retirement village,” he said. “At this stage, there are no plans to begin development at this location for several years.” In terms of timing, Mr May said TW Property has formally lodged its Private Plan Change for the proposed racecourse development, which is now with Hastings District Council. “We expect to know the outcome by October 2026, and if approved, anticipate the first shovel in the ground by the end of next year,” he said. Mr May said the project will continue to progress through the required statutory and planning processes in an open and transparent manner. “We acknowledge the Government’s support for regional infrastructure investment and look forward to the next stages of the project as it progresses through the appropriate approval pathways,” he said.https://bitofayarn.com

TW Group Announces Fantastic news yesterday with government funding announced for the proposed racecourse in Flaxmere, a major step toward delivering a state-of-the-art, Tier 1 racecourse and training facility for Hastings.https://bitofayarn.com The 44.5-hectare development at the end of Portsmouth Road would become one of just five metropolitan racetracks in New Zealand, bringing top-level racing and major events to the region.https://bitofayarn.com https://bitofayarn.com We are proud to be the developers of this transformative project, which will create jobs and deliver lasting benefits for Flaxmere and the wider Hawke’s Bay economy. While the project still remains subject to council approvals and processes, we are optimistic about the opportunity ahead. This project forms part of our wider investment in Flaxmere, alongside the development of the new Woolworths supermarket, the Flaxmere Village Shopping Centre, and new affordable housing, all focused on creating jobs, homes, and lasting community opportunity.https://bitofayarn.com

That doesn't worry me at all. If someone is desperate for approval and a sense of agreeable belonging then they are welcome to join a self-congratulatory echo chamber. But whatever you don't pretend elsewhere to have a superior intellect to the host. You can except when 99% of your posts are smart arse snipes and contribute nothing to the debate then it all becomes tedious. As per above they were just shitty little snipes and offered nothing to the debate. We I'm sure they are easily amused but I find it hilarious that there are numerous Topics over there focussed on me. What I also find amusing is when someone here posts a new Topic of interest and within a very short period of time you or and site owner cuts and pastes straight from BOAY. LOL I see nameless @nomates the doyen of all things Anti-racing is reading your posts on here. Quite pathetic really.

No the question is not that they don't pay but are they paying enough? Arguably given Otakis parlous state of financial affairs they haven't been. Then when Otaki push back Levin say oh well we'll just go to Awapuni. Which they can't do at the moment. Yes Levin have provided a great service with their Jumpouts but those that suggest they are holier than thou need to look deeper.

A damn sight more than $10k a meeting!!! Full venue and track hire.

I gather you don't know the difference between banned and restricted. You are moderated because invariably your posts are irrelevant snipes i.e. offer nothing to the Topic.

Trainers and owners need breeders more than the latter needs them. NZ Breeders have alternative markets. Surely you are not suggesting that they contribute to an infrastructure fund in Australia or Hong Kong? Essentially what you are proposing is a tax on breeders to sustain poorly managed and maintained racecourses. Clubs don't need subsidies they need to generate revenue and not just from their core activity. Why don't you tax Trainers and Owners who invariably don't pay enough for the assets THEY use? Breeders don't directly use those assets. Why doesn't Levin pay enough for the use of the Otaki track to race on?

I don't to it for thanks - I truly would be insane if I did. But thank you. 😀 I'm still passionate about the game after 55 years active involvement. I only see problems to solve not holes to dig.

I think they had less things to spend it on.

Do I support the monopoly? Yes and No. Philosophically I think competution is always better but I haven't worked out how you stop others free loading off our imdustry investment. Some argue that NZ Racing was at its best 50 years ago which ironically was when the TAB truly did have a monopoly.

Agreed. Sometimes though some people overstep the boundaries and need to be moderated. I always defend the right of members to post their opinions but there have been numerous occasions where some have just gone too far. The key to running a forum is to moderate lightly and have a thick skin. Then let the community argue it out like we all used to do in the local pub school. To be honest I don't give a rat's arse if BOAY is considered a "tin pot forum" (got that today in an email from another forum) but also don't expect to not get a debate either. LOL the number of times people have asked me to ban someone because they didn't like their personality!!! I said do what you do at the pub - wear them down with cogent argument and discourse.

If you just want a site to post your opinions on without any response the start a blog and ban comments. Thats the best way to post crap and not get crap for it. At least on BOAY you have free rein to offend the site owner or even disagree with him without being banned.

Sorry I can't see the collary of Budweiser hiring a loud mouth transvestite to promote their light beer in a woke fashion with 3 racing clubs in the Waikato building a new track. Kenny Browne isn't with us anymore so it wont worry him that the members of three clubs each voted inidividually to build the new track.

Australia loses control of Pattern as APC takes over – The Straight thestraight.com.au https://bitofayarn.com The Asian Pattern Committee will reshape Australia’s black-type calendar after taking the extraordinary and unprecedented step of stripping the power of the country’s national body to determine what races carry stakes status.https://bitofayarn.com After years of infighting amongst the principal racing authorities and their delegates on Racing Australia about the Pattern, the organisation has effectively forfeited its right to make changes to its black-type races. The Asian Racing Federation confirmed on Wednesday that due to the “exceptional circumstances” the APC would now “make decisions regarding the status of all black type races in Australia”. The international body said it was a short-term measure but has not specified how long the APC would manage Australia’s black-type calendar. The far-reaching decision, which doesn’t go as far as demoting Australia to a Part II country of the International Cataloguing Standards Blue Book as had been threatened, was made at an APC meeting in Hong Kong on Friday.https://bitofayarn.com “This means that the APC will now be responsible for making status change decisions (including upgrades and downgrades) for all Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Listed races in Australia,” a carefully worded ARF statement said on Wednesday. “These decisions will be reported to the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC) of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, which will subsequently report any significant decisions to the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA), prior to publication in the International Cataloguing Standards Book.” IRPAC and SITA have been informed of the ARF’s decision and the APC said it would start making changes to Australia’s black-type calendar prior to the start of the 2026/27 Australian racing season. “This course of action has been adopted in circumstances where there has not been a properly functioning black type quality control system in Australia since as far back as 2017/18,” the statement said. “While the ARF has been extremely patient and provided significant assistance to try to resolve this matter, it determined that action now had to be taken.https://bitofayarn.com “The action to be undertaken by the APC, under the ARF’s authority, is intended only as a temporary measure. “The ARF’s strong preference is that, as a Part I country, Australia establishes a functioning black type quality control system operating in accordance with the APC Ground Rules in the near future, and for the above arrangements to end. https://bitofayarn.com “However, absent such resolution, the ARF will consider other actions that it may need to take.” Racing Australia chairman Rob Rorrison said RA understood the decision and viewed the situation very seriously. “I refer to the statement made today by the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) that due to “exceptional circumstances” responsibility for decision-making in relation to the status of Australian Black Type races will fall to the Asian Pattern Committee (APC),” he said in a statement. “As such, for an undetermined period of time, the Asian Pattern Committee will determine the status of all (Black Type) Australian races including upgrades and downgrades against the Asian Pattern Committee Ground Rules (APCGR). “Racing Australia fully understands the position taken by the Asian Racing Federation, a position that was fully supported by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), regarding the lack of Australian Black Type quality control which has arisen through there being no approved Australian Black Type Guidelines which comply with the APCGR nor functioning management protocols.” https://bitofayarn.com “Racing Australia views this significant decision by the ARF very seriously and commits to collaborate with the APC during this time. It acknowledges that while decisions in relation to the status of its Black Type races by the APC under the APCGR is not for any fixed period, it is the ARF position that the adoption of APCGR compliant Australian Black Type Guidelines by Racing Australia must be progressed as a matter of priority and failure to do so could lead to other actions being taken.” Rorrison’s statement said that Racing Australia retains the desire to appoint an Australian Black Type Advisory Group, with members drawn from appropriate stakeholder groups. Racing Australia delegates thought they had come to an agreement in September last year using proposed ratings-based Black Type Guidelines, but amid an uproar from stakeholders PRAs led by Racing Victoria backed away from the framework.https://bitofayarn.com Racing NSW, which was in favour of the Black Type Guidelines, has upgraded a suite of races since October 2024 using the policy even though those new and upgraded stakes races weren’t recognised by international authorities. They were also not reflected in horses’ pedigrees, sale catalogues or stallion records with data providers such as Arion.

Exactly. However the new trend (e.g. Pakenham) is to put in a multipurpose event centre that can cater both as a stand for viewing and inbetween times act as a revenue earning centre.

I argued vociferously on BOAY for an AWT business case. @Pitman was a strong supporter of the AWT at Riccarton and one of the reasons he and I fell out badly was my hammering of the need for a business case. I forewarned (as did others on BOAY) that the operational costs and long term maintenance capital required could not be funded through track fees and racing alone. Unless there was a substantial increase in the number of horses trained on it. Anyhoo the rest is history... Now NZTR is subsidising them.

Really over something that hasn't bothered you to post about until you get the pricker with ENTAIN? Who's intelligence are you insulting? The issue that I posted about is a network constraint issue magnified by the use of Cloudflare as a CDN. The Sunday Surge was not available for the majority of punters on Sunday. Geez for once I was agreeing with you!

Again don't be patronising you aren't good at it. All well and good not looking at the other site but I draw the line when I'm being defamed and accused of things I DID NOT DO. Nothing has changed over in that cesspit. The behaviour of the owner and the people he atracts is the reason for the genesis of BOAY in the first place. The outright lies need to be called out for what they are.

It was 23 YEARS AGO!!! As I said Bruton was happy to live in the limelight when it suited. You don't know where he was betting. FFS come up with some recent examples environment! The fact is Bruton couldn't get the amounts he betted on now which ironically is something your were complaining about in previous posts. What side are you on?