Chief Stipe

Right so stuff the horses? You analysed the Cambridgs Jockey Club accounts can you do the same with the WRC and tell is where the dosh went?

Where did all the money go from selling off the land alongside the shute? Didn't go on the track, the fences, the gates nor the stables.

But we have many days in NZ with zero local product. As well as struggling to fill fields.

But how can you do that if you reduce the product levels?

Yep that's why @Brodie needs to up tech his Lincoln Cadillac and cruise the outlets with some runners. Or have a few runners on course or in agencies waiting for his texts.

None of my friends have had problems getting the odds available right up to closing. But they do use smart phones rather than standing behind $1 E/W Granny Arbuckle in the queue.

But that is the downside of Fixed Odds. They will always be more attractive than the Tote because you can't FIX the price on the Tote. I don't understand how you can do anything to divert people to the Tote other than consistently offer unders on Fixed Odds. Then you'd price yourself out of the market.

How do you know they don't? There are two rules that the TAB could be forced to implement. 1. A time limit to lay on the tote and implement real-time updating across ALL platforms. 2. Bet minimums that the TAB must accept. They have these in other wagering jurisdictions.

I don't think you realise the league that @Brodie operates in. We are talking 7 figure profits.

That's a technical problem where the various systems for displaying odds are out of sync or at best time delayed. The same happens on the tote. There is technology to fix that but probably not in the bookies advantage to do it. Arguably in value has to be found well before closing time.

But why bother when your bet was large enough to bring the price in from $20 to $8? Your hypotheticals are well at best hypothetical. I doubt if you saw value at $20 that you would still see value at $8.

"Assume" isn't fixing value. Why would they take a risk on the tote if the same value, as you infer, is offered on fixed odds?

Myab3 but you can fix that value now with Fixed Odds exotics.

10th.

Track was terrible. They probably ran a Jericho distance!

So how are Entain going to turn a profit and meet their obligations? Are you saying the local market is saturated? Is there no other way than legislation to stop leakage?

There's no way a serious punter would bet on the Tote at the moment as they have no way of identifying or fixing value.

So by customers you mean owners? How much do NZ'rs bet on similar races overseas?

Why? Because we have TOO much product?

Yes and the premierships are decided on number of wins not the stakes won. Wouldn't it be better for racing in NZ if we had bigger fields? We have these AWT's which those Macau and Singapore horses are used to running on - surely we could have some extra meetings programmed?

No they don't! They consider the profitability of the customers total account turnover!! However they limit their losses on the books and this can be relative to the total hold on that book. A punter may get limited on an individual event but is probably treated no differently to many others big or small. The biggest reason turnover may be constrained is price. The TAB NZ has consistently priced their product more expensively than other options - that worked when it wasn't so easy to bet elsewhere i.e. they truly had a monopoly. They can see that data for an individual's account yet you assume they take no notice of it. Fixed odds killed the golden goose - i.e. the tote. What is killing it more is what I think is the ability of large punters AND especially the TAB or other Corporates to lay off on the tote later than anyone else can. So the price the average punter sees late in the betting is not what it ends up as. With today's technology they should be able to update in real time - rather than 600m after the start!!! The result is the average (most) punter wants to fix their price rather than bet on what appears to be value on the tote which disappears within 600m after the start!

Well it's hard enough getting my ears abused without my eyes as well. The point I was making was that the fashion sense of some of these presenters is appalling. I'd point at individuals but don't want to be personal about my critique. If there was a standard monogrammed blazer it would give an impression of class, a team and professionalism. Plus I wouldn't have to listen to newbies saying who the F dressed her or him. I'm surprised you disagree @holy ravioli (well not really as you are as bad as @Michael at disagreeing) with uniforms but these would be more in your line...

But why dress for radio?

Some of the other predictions are NOT future-focused! Typical of a Nostradamus tipster you've not time-delimited some of them! We could be waiting for the next ten years! PS: Why are you so angry all the time?

Media Insider: Top racing commentator loses role - but leaves today on a high By Shayne Currie 20 Jan, 2024 06:12 AM4 mins to read SaveShare Commentator Tony Lee will call his last race on the Hastings track today. One of New Zealand’s most respected sports commentators - horseracing caller Tony Lee - hangs up the binoculars and microphone today. The Wellington Cup meeting at Trentham represents his final outing, after 40 years as a racing commentator. Race Three - the Farewell Tony Lee Premier - has been dedicated to him, as have been several other races at central New Zealand courses in recent weeks. Lee, who is in his mid-60s, has been deeply touched by the industry’s support but it has not been a happy time over the past few months after Entain/TAB elected not to renew his contract. In December, he told supporters on social media that he had been through a range of emotions. “Certainly annoyed, angry, hurt. All those things. But it’s been a great career - 40 years this year for me.” He told Media Insider this week: “I didn’t think I deserved to be treated that way...” He said he was told a younger caller - who he rates highly - had completed his training and would now be added to the fulltime staff roster. Lee, who has been on contract, would no longer be required. He confirmed he had taken legal advice “reluctantly”. “I don’t want to get into that game because it just absorbs people... I’d rather enjoy myself. “I definitely examined it [legal action]... it was either way, the call.” His many supporters have taken to social media to discuss his departure. One said Lee was a traditional caller, a professional focused on the horses themselves and did not buy into the marketing hype - reluctant, for instance, to promote the likes of Multibets before races. Lee told Media Insider: “My feelings always are that they are spinning the wheel a lot and not acknowledging how the wheel is greased... like the horse. They didn’t acknowledge the horse.” But he didn’t think that was the reason he was let go. “Historically I probably wasn’t that easy to deal with...” In a statement to Media Insider, Entain managing director Cameron Rodger described Lee as a “tremendous caller” who had made an “enormous contribution”. “Tony has contracted his services as a thoroughbred commentator to Trackside for many years, and as Tony’s latest contract has come to an end, this has given us the chance to maximise the use of our fulltime in-house commentator resources across all three racing codes, as well as calling on some of these fulltime resources for studio presenting when opportunities allow.” The company had worked closely with Lee around his final meeting. “We look forward to celebrating his career [today], as he mixes race calling with soaking up the day with family and friends.” Lee says the support he has received from the industry and supporters has been “incredible”. “It’s huge.” He’s approached the last week “day by day”. He’s come up with some great lines over the years: “Put a fork in it, he’s done!” and, for another horse at the back of the field, “He’s got about as much chance of winning as a bed salesman selling a double bed to the Pope”. He’s witnessed up close some of New Zealand’s mightiest racehorses - the likes of Sunline, Veandercross, Rough Habit, Castletown, and Melody Belle. “So many!” Punters will have fond memories of Sunline winning back-to-back Cox Plates. Photo / Herald Sun Lee says each course has its benefits. “Trentham on a good day in the summer is spectacular, for the racing as well. Some great finishes and wonderful races. Then you have Hawke’s Bay in the spring and looking forward to all the horses there. They all have different idiosyncrasies. Then there’s the rural courses like Tauherenikau, which is a bit more chill.” He was given a presentation at trials on Wednesday. “Those things are reassuring that I didn’t get it that wrong. Maybe the other fellahs got it wrong.” His family will be with him at Trentham today to mark and celebrate his final day. “I’ve known for some time this is coming. It’s not a dreaded day, but a ‘this-is-it’ day so that sort of weighs a little heavily. “But I’ve got to focus as well because I do want to celebrate the luck that I’ve had being able to do this job for a long time. “I walk away a happy man... and satisfied. To get this recognition is very, very humbling and a little bit overwhelming as well. I’m very lucky and appreciative of the reaction of people - it validates me.” Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME