Chief Stipe

Mmmmm I sort of get it... Counties and Auckland are now combined clubs... so...

Update on Avondale Racecourse New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), in conjunction with Avondale Jockey Club (AJC), would like to issue a joint statement regarding current discussions between the governing body and the racing Club. Representatives from both NZTR and AJC are working together constructively to agree on the future of the Racecourse land, as well as the direction of the Club entity. This week, the parties have become aware of a social media post created by the Avondale Business Association concerning a submission AJC made in 2022 about the future of the Avondale racecourse. In 2022, the AJC made a submission to Auckland Council’s Plan Change 78 - a housing intensification plan change mandated by the Government of the time. The Club’s submission asked the Independent Hearing Panel to consider whether a residential zoning for the land would be more appropriate, and consistent with the mandated purpose of Plan Change 78. The AJC submission acknowledged that NZTR’s Venue Plan process proposed to cease racing at Avondale Racecourse after the 2024/2025 season and as a result, the Club has asked the Independent Hearing Panel to consider whether the better zoning for the land in the future is a residential zone. AJC’s submission forms part of the Plan Change process and is not directly related to NZTR or the Racing Industry Act. NZTR understands that the recent social media post, which focuses on this Plan Change submission, may raise concerns about the future of the Racecourse land amongst participants and the wider public. The current discussions between NZTR and AJC are independent of Auckland Council’s Plan Change 78 process. Importantly, the Club intends to engage with its members and community about the future of the Racecourse at an appropriate time. NZTR would like to thank the Club for its willingness to engage in collaborative discussions to date. Both parties will continue to seek a positive outcome for the Racecourse land and the Club that will benefit New Zealand racing participants and the wider Avondale community. Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Emma Thompson +64 21 071 2929 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

I have no idea what the strategy is. There is a maiden 2yr old race at Matamata next week. You'll probably find they have snuck an open 2yr old race into the Ellerslie meeting on the 30th. As for the new calendar - is it out yet? Actually I'll answer my own question the latest programme came out yesterday. See attached. NZTR Racing Programme - March 2024.pdf

Fine but your opinion offers no solutions on how to get to this concept of equity. Obviously pouring money at the issue doesn't work. So what is the solution? Why is it poorer immigrant families can come to NZ and in less than one generation become financially independent and reach what you presumably call equity?

Can you give us the maths for how ENTAIN have increased the ROI for owners across the board? Regardless it doesn't matter a dam what the stakes are if: You can't get a start for your horse in the appropriate grade; The tracks are unsafe i.e. you risk injury to your horse by racing on them; The tracks are not consistent i.e. you don't get a fair run for your horse; You can't get a competent experienced Jockey to ride your horse; Or if you can get a competent experienced Jockey you can't get one to ride at the carded weight! None of those issues are ENTAIN's to fix!

So handing out money to Maori isn't the answer? It hasn't worked so far.

You're a fake and a flake Thomass. As for trolling - it's OK for you to troll the forum with your BS but not OK for anyone to call you out.

Photo shopped whip porn courtesy of @Thomass!

Is the Strathayr having a rest? ATR racing at Pukekohe today.

Can someone please explain why Cambridge couldn't hold trials even with 26 horses? Perhaps our resident cost accountant @TAB For Ever can explain. Afterall the track is a sunk cost (perhpas literally), the staff are a fixed cost, the track has to be groomed each day - again a fixed cost, the stipes are a fixed cost... So that leaves I guess contract staff - the commentator, the film crew, and the starting attendants.

Why is it solely ENTAIN's role? This is where the fundamental disconnect has caused NOTHING to change. If you don't have tracks and horses to race on them how can you increase betting? It isn't ENTAIN's role to provide safe and fair tracks nor is it their role to provide the horses!

So what's changed other than closing down some perfectly good racecourses that were paying their way and are desperately needed to provide relief to the tired so called Metro tracks?

How? Or what exactly? Aside from ENTAIN throwing stakes around and the introduction of even more novelty races what is fundamentally being changed? Seems to me to be the same old same old and we have enough empirical evidence to show that increasing stakes doesn't fix the fundamental issues.

But you don't know if @Thomass got Princess Kate to photoshop the shot!

Why what?

Ellerslie CAN'T look at HK because they've built their StrathAyr DIFFERENT! How many STRATHAYR tracks have 300mm of sand in the top layer.

You can hardly talk calling a young lady a slapper.

Says who you a certified nut bar?

Geez you must have a sad life trawling through video footage like that.

I see Joe Doyle got his 100th NZ winner on board. Congrats!

The two Sydney tracks have issues unrelated to overwatering. Flemington in contrast will even irrigate on race morning and produce a decent track. Ditto Moonee Valley.

All very good @curious but without video footage they are only useful to those punters on course with binoculars.

Big difference between owning them and training them. Owners aren't normally out of bed until 4 hours after their Trainers and in @TAB For Ever's words they pay others to walk the track.

I've been to the Levin Jumpouts and they've been more like trials than the type of Jumpouts you describe.

That might be useful to a small number of local punters. Buy isn't anywhere near the usefulness of videoed and accurately timed trials available to all.