Chief Stipe

So is Rugby.

If you do a Google search for GRNZ or Greyhound Racing NZ you don't get any links to the GRNZ.co.nz website. Yes the Facebook page comes up first but not the website. Has Googe black-listed it already?

It's not an easy problem to fix. There are also issues with funding and who pays. The HB Club (members), NZTR and who else? To say that they have done nothing is not correct. There has been a lot of planning done and assessment of the track problems (more than one issue) and other longer term issues. Contrary to Wightman's @Transparency view a couple of farmers on their Massey Fergs pulling a blade isnt going to fix anything.

Colin's post Colin WightmanHttps://bitofayarn.com 1h · Https://bitofayarn.com Not a dull moment around here. Today’s news is that a meeting set down for members and stakeholders in the Hawkes Bay Area for tonight has been abandoned. Yes, a letter released to members signed by Riddell (Chair), Balcombe (CEO of HBR) and Ballesty (CEO of NZTR) was sent out just yesterday advising members that those in charge of sorting this fiasco at the Hastings track no longer want to front the people. 24 hours notice. With no alternative date set. Not surprising because reading the letter indicates that they still won’t be starting the cambering project until August, a whopping 11 months after that minor slip event last September. The letter suggests that at this stage they don’t have sufficient “confidence & clarity” of what they are doing which I guess well explains why we are the poor cousin of Australia. The Ockers, by comparison, would’ve started this project within weeks. All reactions: Birdcage Bill Total incompetence. Could have held a working bee within a month of the incident and made the necessary alterations to the bend. No common sense whatsoever. The delay is probably a calulated plan to close the track for good. Nothing surprises me with the way the racing industry is being managed from the top. Colin Wightman Author Birdcage Bill Agree. They’ve had good weather over in the bay during winter and we could’ve been racing there on good surfaces. Instead, those running racing here in NZ are hellbent on grabbing Group One races from regions like Hawkes Bay to run on their swamp tracks in whale country. No wonder our share price is so low. Craig Thorburn It's called you will own nothing and be happy ha Kevin Sweeney Sad state of affairs Colin Wightman Author Kevin Sweeney For sure. If I ran my business the way we run racing here in NZ, I’d be broke within months. I feel so sorry for the trainers and owners in the Hawkes Bay district, how they’ve been so badly affected.

Morrah will be aiming at horse racing next. But if $40m is to come from ENTAINS business will that negate their contract?

TAB could be asked to compensate greyhound trainers amid plans to ban the sport www.nzherald.co.nz New details have emerged in the Government’s bid to ban greyhound racing with new laws being considered to get the New Zealand TAB – now run by a global gambling giant – to help pay for the rehoming of ex-racing dogs. Racing Minister Winston Peters confirmed the plan in an interview with the Herald and revealed options are being explored to set up a single group to co-ordinate all greyhound rehoming nationally. Https://bitofayarn.com Racing Minister Winston Peters asked a ministerial advisory committee to come up with a plan for winding down greyhound racing in New Zealand. Photo / Mark Mitchell Https://bitofayarn.com The recommendations are part of an interim report from a ministerial advisory committee chaired by Heather Simpson, who was Helen Clark’s former chief of staff. It means greyhound owners and trainers – who may be required to continue housing and feeding their dogs while they await adoption post the end of racing – will likely get compensated. “All aspects to do with the ownership, the compensation and the conclusion of this business [the greyhound industry] is under the committee’s consideration,” Peters told the Herald. However, Peters said compensation will not extend to payouts for not being able to race any more, or for assets accrued by those involved in the sport which will become redundant. Greyhounds chase a lure at Cambridge Raceway in January. Photo / Yvette Bodiam He said just like saddle makers lost money when transport changed from horseback to cars, “change is inevitable and that’s the point”. “It won’t be compensation for not being able to do dog racing anymore but in dealing with the dogs as they’re being rehomed – that cost,” Peters said. It’s estimated about 1500 ex-racing dogs will need to be rehomed when the sport ends in July next year, although the exact time it’ll take to rehome all dogs isn’t known. Edward Rennell is the CEO of Greyhound Racing NZ and has announced plans to fight the Government's plan to ban the sport in the High Court. Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) CEO Edward Rennell suggested it would cost $40 million to look after greyhounds for a period of three years post the end of racing. In June, he said that was a cost that would need to be fronted by the taxpayer. “Current rehoming costs are met by GRNZ, funded by revenue from racing. There will be no racing after July 2026, so rehoming costs post-closure will have to be funded from alternative sources,” Rennell said. The committee’s compensation plan means the TAB – now operated by international sports betting and gambling company Entain – will be asked to help pay for rehoming rather than the taxpayer. Peters said new laws may be introduced which would effectively force the TAB – which earns millions from greyhound racing – to help pay for rehoming costs. “Bear in mind of course that if there was universality and acceptance, legislation may not be required.” Peters said GRNZ’s three-year estimate to rehome dogs was a pessimistic outlook and he was confident the job could be done much quicker. Any recommendations made by the committee would need to be considered by Cabinet before any decisions are made. Co-ordinated rehoming strategy SPCA chief science officer Dr Arnja Dale. Photo supplied. The committee also wants a shake-up of the current greyhound rehoming model with the creation of a single entity to co-ordinate efforts to get dogs adopted. GRNZ currently co-ordinates greyhound rehoming under its “Great Mates” programme. The programme has contracts with various agencies, including adoption kennels in Feilding known as Nightrave Greyhounds. The Herald understands the committee wants to reorganise and expand rehoming efforts by: Establishing a single, co-ordinated rehoming programme. Use common branding for all advertising. Introduce a standard set of welfare and contractual arrangements. Increase the number of locations where dogs can be viewed. The SPCA’s chief scientific officer Arnja Dale told the Herald her agency “absolutely supports” improving rehoming efforts. “It’s really critically important that we have consistent standards and policies that govern the rehoming and that there’s a central port, so essentially a central website where all the greyhounds are listed for adoption,” she said. Dale backed moves to ask the TAB to help fund rehoming costs providing the industry also pitched in. “We support it if Greyhound Racing New Zealand and their millions and millions in reserves help support that as well,” she said. The SPCA is willing to be involved in a future greyhound rehoming drive and Dale is “confident New Zealanders will stand up” and help with adoptions when the need arises. “When we made a call out [for adoptions] when Covid-19 got to New Zealand, we got thousands of animals into homes over a very short period of time,” she said. Greyhounds as Pets spokesperson Daniel Bohan Daniel Bohan from Greyhounds as Pets – NZ’s oldest adoption charity – told the Herald he backs a co-ordinated approach to rehoming. “Greyhounds as Pets would support any initiative to co-ordinate rehoming efforts at a national level and apply effective, consistent marketing and adoption policies across all agencies,” he said. In terms of funding rehoming, Bohan said he supports any plan that treats all stakeholders “fairly and equitably”. Court action looms GRNZ is going to court next month in an attempt to overturn the Government’s plans to ban the sport. Rennell claimed in May a judicial review of the proposal would expose the Government’s “cavalier attitude” in the lead-up to its decision. GRNZ’s High Court application will argue political leaders rushed the decision and failed to consult industry before making the call to end the sport. “This is an injustice to greyhound breeders, owners, trainers and all other industry participants, as well as a dereliction of duty to New Zealanders,” Rennell said. Rennell told the Herald it was “deeply cynical” and “hypocritical” to ban greyhound racing in NZ while accepting millions in revenue from Australian dog races. He said if a ban does proceed, it must be implemented with “impeccable fairness” to those who will lose their incomes. Peters pushed back on claims the industry wasn’t consulted, saying there have been three separate reviews of the sport – including the 2017 review by High Court Judge Rodney Hansen – which found 1140 dogs were euthanised in just four years. Peters, who was Racing Minister in 2017, said at the time the Hansen report findings were “disturbing and deeply disappointing”. That was followed by another review by Sir Bruce Robertson in 2021 which found issues with data recording, animal welfare and industry transparency. At the time, then Racing Minister Grant Robertson put the industry on notice. In 2023, a Racing Integrity Board report found the industry was making “slow progress” in five out of 15 key areas including bringing down injury rates. Peters told the Herald he regrets having to make the call to end the sport but said the industry had “failed to meet their requirements”. He said it was “breathtaking” to claim the decision was rushed given the longstanding issues identified in multiple reports over consecutive years. “To say that we’re [the Government] being cavalier, is to be perhaps looking in the mirror.” Michael Morrah is a senior investigative reporter/team leader at the Herald. He won News Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Voyager Media Awards and has twice been named reporter of the year at the NZ Television Awards. He has been a broadcast journalist for 20 years and joined the Herald’s video team in July 2024.

Why do want everything to be free?

How is NZ Racing being "propped up"? The question is are they being paid fairly for the product they provide for punters? As for the NRL - Rugby League is clipping the ticket on TAB transactions in NZ through various avenues. Are they being "propped up to"? If there was no racing and no sport what would you bet on? Pokies and Casinos? Who benefits from them?

Thank you not. Here endth @Huey 's days as a tipster.

I'm starting to come to the conclusion you are Anti-NZ Racing. Why promote avenues for taking revenue away from NZ Racing? You no doubt believe you have seen the best of NZ Racing and now that you are retiring from it you want to absolve your conscious.

You reckon? What odds are you offering?

Ok. So the biggest issue is that Betfair operating out of Northern Territory offers the best odds decided by those playing in the market? Do you want your mudders running around for kumaras?

Competitive with what? Peer to peer betting is just a Tote.

All credit to the horse but it takes a sharp trainer to keep him at the top level. These types of champion horses have all sorts of niggles because they try so hard ALL the time. What say you @Gammalite ?

Right so I need to choose 1 of his 3 but then I get the Trifecta? Do I box the three? Are you in the same rest home as @TAB For Ever ?

Grant Dixon's nod to enthusiastic son on the big stage 16 July 2025 By Jordan Gerrans and Andrew Smith For someone who drives and trains one of the greatest pacers in the history of the sport, Grant Dixon is almost as understated and low-key as it gets. It takes a fair bit to get the 52-year-old legendary harness man up and about. Even now and a few years into Leap To Fame’s dazzling career on the track, Dixon is still relatively softly spoken at the best of times when it comes to his stable megastar. He let his guard down on one occasion, however. When his imposing stallion strolled to the 2023 Inter Dominion championship on home soil, he gave a rare salute across the finish line. As the decider for the 2025 ID series rolls around this week at Albion Park, Dixon has revealed that it was his keen harness-loving son Jai who wanted him to salute the crowd a couple of years ago. With Queensland’s pin-up harness horse judged a $1.18 shot with the bookmakers to win Saturday’s Group 1 prize, there is every chance young Jai has been in his father’s ear this week, as well. “I did it more for his sake, not myself, as that is not my go,” he said with a wry smile when asked about the 2023 salute. The Dixon family at the recent harness awards ceremony.Https://bitofayarn.com “My boys have a bit of lairising in them. I do not know where they get it from because it does not come from their mother, either – I don’t know. “It was a life-time dream-come-true to win one. You sort of pinch yourself that you are in line to maybe win two. “It would be really great if he could get it done.” Young Jai’s nudge helped create one of the most iconic images in the history of the sport with Dixon saluting in front of a packed grandstand. Jai is a keen participant in the mini trotting ranks in the Sunshine State and could well follow his parents into the driving and training ranks in the coming years. Leap To Fame’s $1.18 quote in the decider will be one of the shortest-priced runners in an ID Grand Final ever. The great Leap To Fame has gone through the two weeks of ‘ID25’ heats with an unblemished record ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final. The six-year-old entire has drawn the one alley for the decider, which will be run and won over the lengthy staying journey of 3157 metres. Saturday night's marathon distance is the longest Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final in modern history. That is why many pundits and punters believe Leap To Fame has a second ID crown at his mercy as several in Saturday’s field are untested over the trip. “It is better than barrier eight for him,” Dixon said of drawing the one starting gate while referencing his recent draws in the heats. “I think the two mile, probably to a degree will stop some from going too hard off the gate because they all need to go that extra lap. “It will be pretty taxing on all of them. “He will enjoy the trip and hopefully the draw will not be too big of a hurdle.” LEAP TO FAME ID25 LADBROKES INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL (GROUP 1 3157m / 19 Jul 2025 Leap To Fame is already considered one of the greatest performers in the history of the sport with 55 victories and more than $4 million in stakes earnings to his name. With another $1 million on the line on home soil on Saturday evening, his resume is in the box seat to go to another level once again. Australia’s premier harness driver James Herbertson will drive Rakero Rebel for trainer Jess Tubbs in Saturday’s showpiece pacing event. Herbertson partnered with Better Eclipse – also from the Tubbs camp – in last week’s heat at Albion Park. Rakero Rebel has drawn alongside Leap To Fame in the decider. The 25-year-old Herbertson is regarded as one of the leading reinsman in the country and he even admits that racing against a standardbred as powerful as Leap To Fame is a privilege. Champion pacer Leap To Fame. “We are just trying to keep up, I think that is our best go,” the top young driver said. “He is a real standout and it is an honour to be in a race with him when he is at his peak. “Down the track, we will be able to say we raced against Leap To Fame. “Even in the heat the other night, I was happy to just keep up with him down the back straight and I was pretty pleased with that. “He is a generational horse and we are really, really lucky to be able to race against him in our lifetime.” Ahead of Saturday’s showpiece race, Dixon, as he does, was not giving away too much when pressed on Leap To Fame’s status this week. Champion pacer Leap To Fame. In a remarkable statistic, the champion pacer has not been beaten on his home track since November of 2023 – winning a staggering 20 races in succession at the venue. “Trista and I are happy with him, he seems well and bright,” the champion trainer said. “We hope for a good week with him and fingers crossed for Saturday night. “We have been happy with both runs in the heats; he has got through the line good. “The main thing is that he has pulled up well from the runs.” Thomas and Jai Dixon at the track. Racing Queensland’s Senior Harness Racing Manager Andrew Clarke has watched Leap To Fame closely in recent years and is blown away by his performances every time he steps on the track. Clarke also served as a board member and Deputy Chair at the Albion Park Harness Racing Club from June of 2024 until March of this year before starting his new role with RQ. “He is the best horse that I have ever seen,” Clarke said. “He epitomizes everything a good harness horse does - he can work, he can sprint – he is just a fantastic animal. “I think he sits above all the other horses that I have ever seen in my over 40 years watching the sport, in my opinion.” Races 8 Albion Park | Albion Park Harness Racing Club | 9:10 pm in 2 days ID25 LADBROKES INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL (GROUP 1 Prize money $1,000,000 Acknowledgement Racing Queensland acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we operate and conduct our business operations across Queensland. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to Elders, past and present. © Copyright 2025 Racing Queensland

Really? Are you serious? How is a crypto betting site going to help NZ racing?

I thought you didn't bet with Betcha? Was up on my app.

It is sold out but seriously why would anyone go watch Taranki pummel Thames Valley?! The Hawera and Opunake folk wouldn't turn up to Pukekura Park anyway!

It's still a Pre-season game against Thames Valley for the Ranfurly Shield. Their first NPC game for 2025 is not until 2 August. Last year for the NPC they averaged 4,000 a game. I doubt it will make much difference to the numbers going to the races.

Uh?! 11 horses and all with form. A very very even field. Good luck finding the winner!

A very interesting case this one. A number of parallels to issues in NZ.

You can still bet on those options however you are now constrained to one operator. Unfortunately for better or worse NZ is still highly regulated in some industry's. Gambling and Wagering being just one of them. Personally I think ENTAIN's taking over of the insolvent NZTAB has been a big plus. The online access has improved immeasurably with both the website and the app. Even the new betting pods at outlets are a huge step up from the old ones. ENTAIN will have the knife out on costs and may even use the NZ market as test bed for new innovation. I only see positives. Yes I would like to see more competition but there is enough of that for the discretionary gambling dollar as it is with Casinos, Pokies and Lotto. I doubt the plethora of online bookie options in Australia will last forever and there will be a shakeout eventually. TABCORP have been lucky to avoid where TABNZ was heading - insolvency. The latest year being the first since splitting off the Lottery business that it has achieved a result aligned to its budget. Even then over the last three years it has lost $1 billion in writeoffs and bottom line losses. Hundreds of jobs have been cut. ENTAIN (Ladbrokes) have hammered them in the OZ market. TABCORP shares 66 cents - ENTAIN $12.64. Yes the landscape has changed due to regulation which has taken away your options BUT I don't see anyone offering ways of protecting the NZ revenue for use by NZ stakeholders be it Racing or Sports organisations. Perhaps we may see another entrant in the market once ENTAIN have finished rescuing the NZTAB!!!!

Just because you are not getting your freebies?

Do they really compete though? The only example I've seen online of so called competition is where someone compared a betting exchange with TABNZ. Hardly a true comparison. As I've said before the only difference I see is in opening markets for a short period (not all agencies provide them at the same time), differences in promotions (free bets) and individual bet variations that may only last for very short periods of time. With the latter unless you are doing that programmatically then I can't see the value of sitting there waiting for a momentary positive difference in odds. Let alone managing a dozen betting accounts. Although I guess you bet mainly on Sports. At the end of the day, putting to one side the sporadic free bet offers, isn't it the market that decides the price? I guess you wouldn't be happy reverting back to the Tote only option for race bets?