Chief Stipe

Your point? Besides the Chairman of the Board doesn't approve these appointments. But why doesn't it surprise me that you don't know how corporate business works!

Social media and security cameras.

BTW that's twice I've posted it correctly. While you're at it - what is the accepted norm % for Greyhound injury during racing?

So what is your analysis for this apparent incongruity?

Macau racing to end | RACING.COM www.racing.com Despite its rich history, horse racing in Macau is due to end in April this year, following the announcement that the Macau Jockey Club is set to terminate its contract with the Macau Government to race there. Zhang Yongchun, the Secretary for Administration and Justice for the Macau Government, stated through local media that the MJC had approached the government in 2023 about cancelling its contract to operate horse racing in the former Portuguese colony. The MJC's apparent reasons for this were due to their operational difficulties and the inability of horse racing activities to meet the current development needs of society. Despite this, the MJC continued to employ new staff members during this time, while owners had purchased horses with the intention of racing in Macau, not knowing there were plans to end the sport. It was only in 2018 that the MJC had its contract to run racing extended until August 2042. According to the Government, the declining popularity of racing in Macau led to the decision to accept the MJC's request to terminate the contract. While the MJC and the Government finalise the plans for the end of the MJC's tenure at Taipa Racecourse, close to several of the city's major casinos, racing will continue in Macau until April 1. Plans will also be put into place for the MJC's staff as well as the transportation of the horses there to new homes. The Macanese Government has also revealed that there will be no public tender for another operator to take over the horse racing licence in Macau, with the land that the racecourse is situated on to be handed back to the government. The MJC currently employs 570 staff and has approximately 205 horses racing in its jurisdiction, well below its one-time peak population figure of 1200 horses. Some of the world's great jockeys like Frankie Dettori and Lester Pigott, as well as Australia's Damien Oliver and Glen Boss, have all ridden in Macau. Other Australians like Noel Callow and trainer Mick Kent also enjoyed stints in Macau racing, while Australian horses make up a significant percentage of the thoroughbred population there. One source with a lengthy connection to the MJC had expressed hope that a new entity could take over the racing licence and give the industry a new life, pointing to the large population that lives in the region and the high volume of tourists that Macau attracts. The source also noted the strength of commingled pools between jurisdictions around the world as further evidence that Macau racing could be a successful venture for the right operator. "What a golden opportunity is being missed here," the source told Racing.com. "You've got a racetrack here that has been constructed, horses are here, it's proven in the past to be a very successful venture. It has just been awfully managed over the last decade or so." The news comes after the Singapore Turf Club announced last year that racing will end there in October 2024.

Go easy she is NZ's first refugee MP...whatever that means!

Fitting name.

New Scoring System Will Reduce Non-Listed Stakes www.bloodhorse.com The North American International Cataloguing Standards Committee announced Jan. 10 it will adjust how non-listed black-type stakes in the United States are rated beginning in 2025 with the goal of reducing the number of stakes that fall into this category of races that is unique to the United States and Canada. "Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the minimum Race Quality Scores (RQS) for non-listed black-type races in SITA catalogs (those compliant with guidelines required by the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers) will be increased due to the gradual growth in the ratio of non-listed black-type races to total races run," the committee said in a statement. North American graded stakes and listed stakes are evaluated annually to ensure the quality of the fields attracted continue to match the status awarded to each race. Non-listed stakes are not evaluated, so the NAICSC in 2014 implemented an automated rating system to monitor the quality of these races. Each non-listed stakes receives a quality score that is derived from the speed figures for the first four finishers. The four speed figures are used to compile the RQS and are provided by Bloodstock Research Information Services, Daily Racing Form's Beyer Speed Figures, Equibase Speed Figures, and Thoro-Graph. Each race has two quality scores—the RQS for its most recent running and a three-year average. In order to keep or earn black-type status, both of these scores need to exceed a minimum RQS set by the NAICSC. Six minimum RQS scores exist for specific conditions by age and sex. If both of these scores fall below the minimum RQS score, then a race will lose its black-type status. A race will need to be run two consecutive years subsequent to losing its black-type status before it can be reconsidered to earn back black-type. Sign up for BloodHorse Daily The new scoring system is as follows: New vs. Old Race Quality Scores Age/Sex Current Min. RQS Revised RQS* 3yo and up males 63.7 66.9 3yo and up females 55.8 58.6 *New minimum scores effective as of Jan. 1, 2025 As of 2023, a total of 1,193 races in the U.S. and Canada were being monitored under the non-listed black-type system. Last year, 966 of these races were rated as black-type stakes. If the new, higher minimum scores are applied to the non-listed stakes that qualified for black type in 2023 and 2024, then 59 stakes are poised to lose their black type in 2025. Photo: Coady Photo Of these stakes that would lose black type are eight at Remington Park, with four of them being divisions of the Oklahoma Classic Stakes for state-breds: the Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint Stakes, Oklahoma Classics Sprint Stakes, Oklahoma Classics Cup Stakes, and the Oklahoma Classics Distaff Turf Stakes. Other state-bred stakes would take a hit, too, including the Iowa Stallion Stakes and Iowa Breeders' Derby; WA Cup Juvenile Colts and Gelding Stakes and WA Cup Filly and Mare Stakes; West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association Onion Juice Breeders' Classic Stakes and West Virginia Cavada Breeders' Classic Stakes; and, the Maryland Million Turf Sprint Stakes. Carl Hamilton, NAICSC chairman, said the committee well understands the impact the higher minimum scores will have but that the rating system is important in preserving the integrity associated with black-type status. "We look at this by individual track and we understand the races that are potentially impacted," he said. "The committee is sensitive to individual regions but at the same time, we need to apply a minimum standard to all races. We do not feel it would be fair to start making exceptions."

I asked you to explain why a one turn track has double the injuries of a two turn track.

Investing in Cambridge infrastructure is a dead-end as well.

I should've written the comment in a different coloured font as you failed to detect it was dripping with sarcasm. I note you have avoided explaining your newly created statistic that defies logic. But then the majority of your statistics are worthless as they are not normalised and are biased. Not to forget they have no reference to any standard nor any measure of variance or probability.

I thought the same thing. Then I thought how small Ellerslie looks now. Not one horse trained on the track and now they only have ONE turf track. The turf trial track now seems to have a tar seal road around the circumference. Did anyone else notice the Ute driving on the tar seal in FRONT of the field? I guess they won't run trials there so maybe they'll need Avondale after all.

Yes only six winners for the week and only one Grp 1. Maybe they'll improve the average by picking a couple up tonight at Singapore.

Not much in it in most races. I don't know what the Jockeys are thinking but most of the races have been walk and sprint. No wonder our horses struggle in OZ.

In what would have to be the irony of the day...George Simon - "the race was won by those up on the speed". Could Matt Cameron have gone any slower?

Seems fair from anywhere so far.

Interesting stat. A one turn track has double the injury rate of a two turn track. We await Chazza's erudite analysis.

That track was a Good 3 from early morning NOT a Soft 5. The shute was rock hard. Not surprised as @Reefton mate Oatham was the Stipe in charge.

Really? You put a racetrack in the same category as hospitals and schools and the roads to get to them? I suppose you expect the Government to fund you next Lamborghini! Yes and it shouldn't have happened. The TAB was insolvent and should have been sold. Instead we had Mackenzie play smoke and mirrors, rob the taxpayer and make no substantial changes to the fundamental issues the TAB had and still has. Agree and I have been consistent with that line. @Michael disagrees of course. Primarily at the big tracks. The Westland Racing Club was still pulling the same crowds but the experts deemed it needed to be closed down. As I said there were more people at Kumara on Nuggets Day than at Trentham on their Group Race day with the best horses in the country going round. Who's got it wrong? Trentham has been screwed by the administrators (the industry and their own club) and is suffering a death of a thousand small cuts. Many many posters on BOAY have posted the reasons. Not at Kumara or Te Aroha. But a bit pointless having phone betting apps if you can't get internet access on course like at Motukarara! Racing will fail unless it provides a point of difference between other entertainments and the hospitality industry. The biggest difference is the horse and the oncourse experience. Both should be promoted and facilitated. Probably because all the options have been closed down both in the CD and Riccarton! As for the Trentham track it was as rough as and inconsistent. You only had to look at the patchwork colours of the grass. Anyone thinking otherwise is in dreamland. The Club doesn't have any money to renovate the track even after selling off land around the shute while turning it into an urban housing and development rubble eyesore. The WRC awaits the promised land with the Joint Venture it has signed up. That worked well for the Auckland Trotting Club - NOT! Even if they do get the windfall I bet they don't spend it on a complete renovation of the turf (a horse focus) but will waste money sprucing up the amenities for punters that no longer turn up.

Isn't there a pub down there called the something Sun? Or something... Had a mate that used to live on Rangiora Terrace which can't be too far from you.

Shouldn't "allegedly" be in that post somewhere?

There was more at Te Aroha last week and definitely more at Kumara!

Just thought about this... Does that mean the taxpayer is still paying as the depreciation on the asset they funded defers any tax being paid on any profit until who knows when?

Well then I can't be accused of being a "Fanboy" then can I?