Chief Stipe

I must be alone in thinking that to compete fully in New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing you increasingly HAVE to buy/sell your horse through NZB and pay extra for the privilege. Look what a monopoly did to the NZTAB!

Or wander out of the President's bar on raceday and hand the documents to him in the birdcage?

I don't think you do actually think beyond regurgitating the party marketing line. Perhaps I can't control anything but I sure can express my opinion to those that supposedly do have control. As for my area of understanding you have no idea what my area or level of understanding is yet have the arrogance to assume you do. Reminds me of a few of the "experts" who have the control. Imaginary scenarios? Perhaps in your imaginary world of nirvana. It just shows how out of touch with reality you are. Symptomatic of many that are "in control"! Which breeders elevated the likes of Zed and Per Incanto? I assure you it wasn't the elite with their large herds of blue blood. It was the common everyday small breeder. The breeder who connects better with their local community and racing enthusiasts than any large stud. Perhaps they've never had an ineligible horse good enough to compete. Again you cast the aspersion that I'm bitter. I'm far from it. I just believe that a proliferation of novelty and sweepstake races will ruin racing and eventually the breed. It is clearly evident that they have screwed the pattern and the quality of our racing. I also object to the skewing of the playing field towards an elite group in a sport that should be promoting competition not restricting it. Yes I don't disagree and they have made lots of money from their work. Bolstered of course by enforcing a monopoly and engaging in anti-competitve behaviour. Shouldn't they be more transparent with what THEIR contribution is to the restricted races that they are the headline sponsor of? PS: Did Ellerslie really need a new helicopter pad?

But it doesn't actually address the goal of widening the audience of racing. What it does is serve to perpetuate the public perception that racing is for a select few elite who have lots of discretionary income to splurge on booze, glam and gambling. The very thing we should be trying to change. What's more the industry even reinforces that perception more by promoting a meeting that excludes a large number of horses.

Share price down 47% in 18 months. 78% of shares owned by institutional investors. Those investors are demanding a return and a reduction in debt. Committee formed including major investors to explore the divesting of recently acquired businesses that don't fit with long term strategy or integrate well with core Corporate systems.

As Winston Churchill said - "those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it".

I don't understand why they couldn't have roll out this version from the get go. Surely NZ is not the first on the block.

I'll set up a new thread and advertise.

Non-binary. What does that mean? Or does it eliminate 70 genders?

The latest update from ENTAIN solves a lot of problems. I just can't work out why they didn't do it straight away.

Just answer the question. How much is NZB contributing to the restricted races that carry their brand?

Are you inferring I'm biased, bitter and envious? Anyone who has met me recently on course knows that is far from the truth.

When was the last time you were up at 5am and worked a horse?

Since when has it been profitable to limit entry when you have acres of real estate to accommodate everyone and not just the privileged few?

Many didn't know about the problem until the horses cooled down or when they got them home.

Would you like to edit the posts where you said or inferred you did?

Why doesn't TAB Trackside and ENTAIN provide it? They need a data uplink for their broadcasting and terminals. Reserve some bandwidth for punters using the app. Although I sense the new app might be bandwidth hungry.

I'm not sure who the "Tight Five" are that you refer to. What I do know is those that a similar view to mine have a passion for the industry, have worked hands-on very hard in the industry and still do. They don't predict doom and gloom - they are describing what is happening. They point out the issues that they are experiencing now and for the last 25+ years. They see the same mistakes still being made. I'm sure most of them would rather see the novelty stakes distributed down the tree, the top tier reduced 25% so they could race on decent safe and fair tracks with good jockeys with a fair Handicap system. They're not afraid with competing with all comers including the KM raffle ticket owners. Footnote: Arguably in the last 4 years the best 2yr old in NZ hasn't been eligible to race in the Karaka Millions. How does that help NZ racing long term?

I'm not "casting aspersions" I'm asking a valid question. I'm surprised that as a Cost Accountant who frequently reminds us of your friends in racings elite circles that you don't have the answers at your finger tips. With your Kool-aid glazed eyes you once again miss the point. As @curious has eluded to NZB are using anti-competitive behaviour to exclude what was once a very large and strong pillar of NZ Racing - the home and farm breeder from competing for a significant amount of stake money. In my opinion that does nothing to help grow the NZ Thorougbred racing population. The reality is NZB are shooting themselves in the foot. Those who we need to put their couple of mares in the home paddock to commercial stallions have been excluded as have those taking the risk of improving bloodlines by buying from Australian Sales. NZB with the stroke of a pen could change that by allowing anyone intending to race a yearling in NZ the option of joining the sweepstake. What is NZB contribution to the $16m+ in sweepstake racing? As for ENTAINS contribution via the suits at NZTR that money is INDUSTRY money for ALL stakeholders to compete for not just those with tickets in the KM marketing extravaganza. I'll say it again it screws and skews the pattern, it disincentives the very people we need to stay involved and does ZERO to address the fundamental issues facing the industry. In fact it's making those issues worse!

Glad you finally agree. Tokyo Tycoon raced on the dodgy new Ellerslie Strathayr and like quite a few horses that raced that night went lame. But all good everyone including you had a great party.

A rough estimate is at least $16m in stakes is restricted by KM eligibility. (Anyone got a more accurate figure?) Does anyone know the breakdown of the NZB, KM entry fee and NZTR/ENTAIN contributions? How much subsidisation is occurring with money sourced from the general pool of revenue?

Well anyone who buys or breeds outside the KM eligibility. But is that a good thing for anyone?

So @TAB For Ever how much is NZB contributing?

I'm going to get laughed at for this but... This is definitely cartel like behaviour. I can't see how some top syndicating stables see this as advantageous to their operation. Why continue to buy well bred yearlings in OZ if you are denied entry to so much in stakes. Let alone the skewing of the pattern. For example should the Karaka Millions listed race be given more value than two Grp 1 seconds?

No 40 Maiden races September to May are going to have bonuses if your winning horse is KM eligible.