Chief Stipe

Yes we have discussed that on BOAY before and I've loaded details and pictures on the maintenance work they do. I understand they do yearly maintenance each year that most of our tracks would dearly love to have and then a major renovation every 4 years. They also seem to have a system of rotation amongst their tracks allowing for this work to occur without disruption. Now that rotation concept is akin to farming where paddocks or fields are renovated on a periodic basis. But we are locking up some of those racing "paddocks"!

I'm sure he will put the interests of horses, trainers and owners first and the breeders second.

What was he supposed to do? Whip the shyte out of the horse and incur a fine and/or supsension? I agree with @Gammalite that the horse was in full flight. "Didn't show enough vigour" say some. What was he supposed to do wave his hands around like a banshee?

How does it filter down? How does it improve the quality of our racing long term?

What changes does he propose to make?

MAZEPPA - broke at the start losing ground. Driver L Chin was shown the replay of the final stages and questioned regarding the manner in which he drove when clear in the lead. Dr Chin stated that he had been mindful that MAZEPPA had lost ground early before working forward to lead and had then received midrace pressure when challenged by COOL PHELAN and felt that the gelding was doing its best so had been reluctant to place this runner under undue pressure. Dr Chin further stated that he had looked to the outside on several occasions and had shown vigour in driving the gelding out once BARSUKOV came into view when finishing strongly down the outer. Stewards were satisfied that the manner in which Dr Chin drove was not so unreasonable given the circumstances as to be culpable and took the matter no further.

How did Flemington get it right? Or for that matter the new track developments done by Racing Victoria? It isn't as if there aren't any exemplars. Why did we need to reinvent the wheel and not follow the best of the best?

It isn't spam.

So you have zero influence as an owner? So you are happy for the 'Sport of Kings' to be subsidised by others? Including the taxpayer. Entain are spending shareholders money and if in 5 years time they are not making a profit from their NZ business they will pull the plug. I gather you are one of those types that has a small % in a horse(s) and pitches up on the big days, drinks with the bourgeoisie and at the end of the day when the track is obviously off and your chances were extinguished say "oh well, that's racing, I can't control things"? Have you ever stopped to think that that approach may be the biggest reason why racing is in decline and unable to pay its way without subsidisation, shareholder and taxpayer funding and pokie problem gambler?

Found out? You're the one promoting stereotypes. "All bus drivers of colour are immigrants"! "The West Coast, South Island isn't multicutural"! Really? My parents GP was Sri Lankan - his children were first generation NZ. By the way the local dairy owner was a 5th generation West Coaster! Not from India. My next door neighbour was Croatian and his son was my Geography teacher at High School. I could give you numerous examples of growing up with people of different cultures. One of my atheletic coaches was Chinese the other Scottish. Actually the Chinese one was an International Rugby referee. I was educated by Irish Nuns. Of course you could look at the facts. For sure the West Coast may not be as mulitcultural as South Auckland but it is not as mono-cultural as St Heliers.

ROYAL ASCOT 2024 | ALL DAY 2 FINISHES

So I take @curious the industry is no longer acceptable to you?

What does that statement mean? I must say you are doing a very good job of provimg you are a plonker. Did you get a bus to the Karaka Millions night?

Don't we all?

"Team"? I wonder what the salary cost is and who is paying.

Seems as the day goes on they are getting wider and wider at Pukekohe. In the same class as Wanganui? They've been avoiding the inside 3 lanes since race 2! Any comments @Pete Lane ?

I detected a hint of bigotry and prejudice. You would have no idea if the bus driver was a recent immigrant (unlikely), had been in the country 10 years or was a second or third generation Kiwi. Not to mention why you feel important to draw the distinction at all. However on the topic of emigration or immigration most people do it to improve their personal situation.

Andrew Gourdie to join NZB Kiwi Ranks June 19, 2024 NZRacingDesk One of New Zealand’s brightest broadcasting talents, Andrew Gourdie, is set to join The NZB Kiwi ranks as Head of Communications and Content for the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race. Commencing his position on 1 August 2024, Gourdie will play a vital role in driving all content and promotional activity for The NZB Kiwi until the race’s inaugural running on Champions Day – 8 March 2025 at Ellerslie Racecourse. Gourdie’s major responsibilities include leading The NZB Kiwi digital content strategy, front-of-camera talent for subsequent promotional interviews and videos, as well as generating cut-through for mainstream engagement. The previous Television Sports Reporter of the Year looks forward to bringing a fresh take on NZB Kiwi-related content as New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) looks to extend the race’s profile beyond the domestic racing industry. “I’m really excited to be part of the team that’s helping to bring the NZB Kiwi to life,” Gourdie said. “It’s an incredibly exciting time for racing in New Zealand. This event is a major addition to the annual sporting calendar in our country and an innovation that will be a game-changer for an industry I care deeply about. “My previous roles have given me the chance to tell some amazing stories, and I’m really looking forward to sharing the journey of the people and the world-class New Zealand Thoroughbred talent that will be involved in this race over the coming months. “I’d especially like to thank outgoing NZTR Chairman Cameron George for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to begin the build-up towards what will be a massive day for Kiwi sport,” he said. With over two decades of broadcasting experience, Gourdie has covered some of New Zealand’s finest sporting achievements and memorable moments, including the All Whites’ unbeaten run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the All Blacks’ 2011 Rugby World Cup victory, the Black Caps’ historic 2015 Cricket World Cup campaign as well as two consecutive Rugby World Cup campaigns in 2019 and 2023. Outgoing NZTR Chair Cameron George is thrilled to have Gourdie join The NZB Kiwi team. “To have an award-winning communications professional with over 20 years of experience reporting and presenting sport in mainstream media is a huge win for NZTR,” he said. “Andrew has a proven track record of developing and implementing strategies to engage with and grow mass audience numbers towards Kiwi sports. “We are confident he will be a great fit in our team and help elevate The NZB Kiwi to a level New Zealand racing has never seen before,” George said. There is plenty to look forward to following Gourdie’s appointment, with the country’s inaugural Thoroughbred slot race headlining a major revamp of the New Zealand summer racing calendar next year. The NZB Kiwi will become one of the major highlights of a newly established ‘Champions Day’ that will feature more than $9 million in total prizemoney in year one, climbing to $10 million in year two. Held on the second Saturday of March at Ellerslie Racecourse, Champions Day will also include the Trackside New Zealand Derby and three other iconic Group 1 races, positioning the meeting as a pinnacle event on New Zealand’s racing calendar. Champions Day forms part of the new summer Thoroughbred racing calendar that will boast a series of truly world-class races and meetings, offering more than $23.8 million in stakes across 51 black-type races from January to early April. View more about the revamped summer calendar details here. Last week, NZTR also announced a raft of NZB Kiwi-related initiatives that included the public auction of NZTR’s year-one Slot for The NZB Kiwi. This auction will take place at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2024 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds, held next November at the Karaka Sales Centre. View the full announcement here.

Could it be the reason we keep getting deeper into the hole? At the end of the day unless the industry administrators solve the racing issues which flow onto wagering profitability then Entain will pack their bags. They are accountable to shareholders. Perhaps Racing should have the same ownership structure!

How do you know they are immigrants? By the colour of their skin? Reminds me of a story a Scottish friend of mine told me. I struggled to understand him most of the time because of his strong accent. He went back to Glasgow for a catch up with family and went to get a curry. The Indian running the show was as Indian looking as could be. My Scottish mate could barely understand him because of how strong his Scottish accent was. He was about a 4th generation Scottish born "immigrant".

It was apparent about 3 years ago when we had a discussion on BOAY about the lack of maintenance on the Steeple track at Riccarton. I got some private messages from a jumps jockey saying the track was like a skating rink. The grass had burnt off during a drought and had not been irrrigated or much work done on it. I recall @Pitman writing that it was "normal" and the brown top grass would "revive" when it rained.

Not surprising when they have these facilities. Most of Australia's top trainers have stables at Cranbourne or Pakenham. Less than 30km between them. PAKENHAM TRAINING COMPLEX Located an hour from Melbourne, the Pakenham Race Club is one of the biggest racing and training precincts in Australia. The Club holds over 30 meetings a year and boasts some of the finest training facilities in the southern hemisphere which include 2400m Grass Course Proper 2000m Polytrack 1800m Training Grass Two Sand Tracks Swimming Pool – 50m straight pool Dressage Arena The new “1400m Hill” track is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2022 which is an exciting addition allowing to train the "English way" where horses are worked predominately uphill to build greater cardio and aerobic fitness whilst keeping the horses sounder.