Chief Stipe

Then why doesn't it say that in the notice that they have published on the website?

Probably not the new season. Seems you are still required to download paper forms for Stable Returns. Meeting News Article / Meetings / RaceInfo / LOVERACING.NZ loveracing.nz Meeting News NZTR would like to provide a timely reminder to Trainers of key obligations ahead of the commencement of the 2023-24 racing season. LICENCE RENEWALS Trainers who have not completed their licence renewal for the 2023-24 racing season will NOT be able to nominate or accept for any races at the commencement of the new racing season (1 August 2023). NZTR will strictly enforce a ‘no licence - no nominations’ policy to be upheld by the National Racing Bureau. You can complete your licence renewal for the 2023-24 season here. STABLE RETURNS Trainers must ensure they complete a Stable Return Form whenever a horse enters their stable and notify when they leave. This Form needs to be completed as soon as a horse enters a Trainer’s stable to ensure our industry is meeting the highest standards of traceability for our racing population. This process is mandatory and a horse cannot be entered in trials or race without the completion of a Stable Return Form. We understand that the RIB has commenced stable inspections, and this will be one of the first things they check under this process. HOW DO I COMPLETE THE STABLE RETURN FORM? You can complete a Stable Return Form by downloading it from the NZTR website here. Ensure you read all information clearly and complete it accurately. Return your completed form to nrb@nztr.co.nz. This Form can also be completed through the Trainers Service Centre. NZTR would also like to remind Trainers that they need to remove horses from their Trainer list when a horse leaves their stable (either retires or is transferred). This can also be completed through the Trainers Service Centre. NAMING OF TRIAL HORSES NZTR has approved the Rule change whereby a horse may only be entered for, and start in, a race, or a trial (or a jump-out or test for certification purposes) if it is registered and has been named in accordance with the Rules of Racing. NZTR’s IT system has been updated so that unnamed horses cannot be nominated through the National Racing Bureau and the Trainer’s Service Centre from 1 August 2023. You will not be able to enter in a race, or a trial (or a jump-out or test for certification purposes) if your horse is not named. You can complete a Name Registration Application form here. The Name Registration Application form needs to be lodged at least three business days before nomination, with the correct ownership details registered (if not already completed). Return your completed form to registration@nztr.co.nz.

I wouldn't be surprised if the recent issues are related to integrating the new system with the website interface.

Star Kiwi set for Melbourne spring www.racing.com Star New Zealand sprinter Imperatriz will campaign on the Australian side of the Tasman this spring in pursuit of further Group 1 glory. The Te Akau Racing-owned mare, who has won five G1s from just 19 starts, was a brilliant winner of the G1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in the autumn and principal David Ellis says more Melbourne successes are the focus of her upcoming preparation. "Pretty much every race will be in Melbourne this spring," Ellis said. "We'd like to think that she's at her peak for the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival." Age 4YO Sex Mare Colour Bay or Brown Prize Money $1,706,974 Last 5 1121- Career 19-13-2-1 A win in the Champions Sprint (1200m) down the Flemington straight would be a second-consecutive Kiwi victory after Roch 'N' Horse claimed last year's race for Mike Moroney. Imperatriz could have two G1 victories in Australia to her name had it not been for a barnstorming run from Artorius to edge her on the line in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick in March. Ellis said Imperatriz has oozed class from the moment he laid eyes on her. "She's always been a very good mare since the day I bought her," he said. "She won her first two starts very impressively, won a Group 2 second start, she's now won five Group 1s."

When are you going to provide the numbers for ALL injuries regardless of rail contact? Has there been any research done on the rate of injury per race where every dog has been vetted? These "10 day incapacitation" rulings mean what exactly? The dog can't train for 10 days? Or the dog can't race for 10 days or both? This sort of vetting if done on racehorses would result in numerous standdowns. BUT horse trainers manage performance based "injury" on a daily basis and race every 14 days.

What you are suggesting isn't the problem. A DNS is a Domain Name Server and all that does is match a domain name to a host address. It's the same problem that we have debated on BOAY some time ago. If my memory serves me correctly NZTR signed up to the same provider as TABNZ - Spark. Spark (over) uses Cloudflare a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to supposedly provide a stable content delivery service. Bit they're muppets and use it incorrectly for the wrong content. Add to that the recording of races in 4k+ high definition by Trackside and you have a bandwidth problem. This also leads to buffering problems when viewing races via the TABNZ website not to mention the unnecessary extra data allowance you have to consume. Mind you Spark likes that - equals more revenue from the TABNZ/NZTR for bigger pipes and then from mobile customers. I'm guessing that the CDN service is getting in the way. Spark failed with their sport streaming service so I wouldn't expect them to be much good at delivery for racing. I wonder how the new $2.5m+ computer system at NZTR is working for them and Trainers? 🤔

But then Hokitika has its own old boys mafia network.

Only cost WDC $1. Sometimes it's better to do nothing as opposed to spending ratepayers money on subsidised dumb projects. Mmmmm bit like AWT'S. The $13m will come with a lot of fish hooks.

So just to help me understand your methodology. How did you code the following report: https://www.grnz.co.nz/catch-the-action/15548/stewards-report.aspx

But according to your analysis since that happened the hit rate has increased.

So if you put in a Safety Rail they'll stop hitting it?

Knowing the site intimately I'm not sure I'd want to build there.

That's OK. We see both handsome men who take the TAB to the cleaners regularly. 😛 I disagree with your analysis. I think ACT and the NATS have a lot more depth than the current lot. Another difference is that there are less career politicians and bureaucrats on the blue/yellow side i.e. people who have worked in real jobs.

What is the hypothesis you are trying to prove? That dogs in South Auckland race rougher?

But you don't record injuries to dogs that are interferred with that DON'T hit the rail nor injuries that occur to dogs that DON'T suffer interference NOR hit the rail. Therefore your data selection is biased. You assume that hitting the rail caused the injury NOT the interference it may have received that caused it to hit the rail. But not ALL dogs after a race are Vet checked. Only those that hit the rail and some of those that suffered interference or show obvious injury. You don't know how many dogs suffer injury without hitting the rail or that suffer interference. Therefore you have not control data. So more dogs suffer interference at Auckland - is that your hypothesis? Some dogs hit the rail and are not injured. Depends on how the hit the rail - I imagine if they ran straigh into it head on then it would be more problematic than brushing the rail.

Surely not? According to some online commentators Richards is going fantastic. Contrary to the article there is a big difference between a 10% and a 13% win rate. That's a 30% difference plus Richards strike rate for placings is a lot lower than the leading trainers. I'm not knocking Richards - just those exaggerating how fantastic he is going. I believe Mark Walker will be more competitive in OZ for TA than Richards would have been given Mark's overseas experience. I've said it before I don't see Richards being long term in Hong Kong particularly if he intends to have a young family. Not the nicest places to live.

Racing in Hong Kong is widely regarded as the toughest jurisdiction in the world and many top jockeys and trainers have gone there with big reputations, only to head home with their tails between their legs. But past glories count for little and if you’re not winning, you’re not popular, More often than not, it’s that simple. New Zealand-born trainer Jamie Richards has just completed his first season in Hong Kong and he admitted a slow start had him, at times, wondering if he would be able to make the grade. “It was pretty different to what I expected and pretty challenging at the start,” he told TTR AusNZ. “We were going no good at all the first few months and the runners that we had were all pretty disappointing, so you start to second-guess yourself, no doubt.” Jamie Richards | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock Richards said the steep learning curve, while tough at the time, will hold him in good stead. “I don’t think we had them fit enough, we didn’t trial them enough. We did what most people did with them in the morning, but we were missing a few key aspects and that was quite challenging,” he commented. “It certainly took a little while to get our head around it. “You’ve just got to make sure that you’re doing the small things right; feeding them properly, working them enough, keeping them happy and healthy, putting them in the right race and getting the right jockeys.” Richards led home his first winner on October 12 and it was provided by Handsome Rebel (Denman) - a horse he trained in New Zealand in partnership with Stephen Autridge. Handsome Rebel | Image courtesy of Raymond Ho He finished the season with 35 wins, with his stable amassing more than HK$36 million (AU$6.7 million / NZ$7.3 million) in prizemoney. He finished 12th in the Trainers’ Premiership and his strike rate of 10 per cent is similar to John Size (12 per cent), Francis Lui (13 per cent), Frankie Lor (11 per cent), Ricky Yiu (11 per cent) and Tony Cruz (nine per cent) - the top five trainers of 2022/23. “It’s certainly been a challenging year, but Hong Kong is a very difficult place to win races. It’s some of the most competitive racing in the world,” Richards remarked. “The scene is very different, you’ve got to get out and socialise; that’s a big part of it, going out for meals and meeting prospective owners for coffee. Building relationships and trying to acquire good-quality stock is a major part of the business. “Thankfully, we’ve got a good team of staff around us, good work riders and my assistant trainer has been very good. “I think we’ve done okay, certainly a pass mark, but room for improvement.” The Kiwi was full of praise for Hong Kong’s premier jockey, Australian Zac Purton, who claimed his sixth title in 2022/23 and broke Joao Moreira’s single-season mark for winners. Purton, who made the move to Hong Kong in 2007, finished with 179 wins for the term. “The jockeys’ feedback is very important and Zac has been a good ally, he’s given me a lot of help in trying to understand how to go about it, where to race your horses. He’s also very good with the trials and he just understands how it all works, so he’s been a big help,” Richards said. “Building the relationship with him has been important for the success of the stable, and we’ve built up good relationships with other riders as well; Vincent Ho’s ridden a few winners for us - we spread it around and use quite a few jockeys.” Purton may have been a great sounding board, but Richards said his fellow trainers haven’t been as forthcoming with advice. There’s little room for that, it’s every man for himself. “Because it’s so competitive, they don’t go out of their way to help you, that’s just the nature of the game. They don’t want to give the new kid on the block too many pointers, you’ve got to work it out yourself. In saying that, we all get along well,” he said. Next season Richards, who is currently recharging the batteries by holidaying in Bali, is confident he will be a better trainer next season and is looking forward to the new campaign. “I’m sure we will understand the systems better and understand how it all works,” said Richards. He has been active at the sales in 2023 and will head to Australia and New Zealand for the Ready to Run Sales later in the year. “We’ve got to believe that our new horses coming in can lift the bar for us, we’ve got some nice ones there so I’m confident they can,” Richards explained. “We’re slowly but surely getting there, we’ve bought a few nice PPG horses (Privately Purchased Griffins - a horse which is imported to Hong Kong unraced) out of Australia in recent months and we’re looking forward to them arriving. “The owners are supporting us, which is good.” Richards also has one of Hong Kong’s best sprinters joining the stable. “Wellington has just got out of quarantine (after his failed trip to Royal Ascot). We’re just going to give him a few easy weeks and let him get over the travel,” said Richards. “He’ll probably have a few weeks off and then we’ll build him up from there.” Wellington (All Too Hard) is a four-time Group 1 winner with earnings of HK$63,526,190 (AU$11.9 million / NZ$12.9 million). He joins Richards’ Olympic Stables after being transferred from Richard Gibson. “He’s obviously getting a bit older, but he looks to be in good order. Hopefully, he can still find his form,” the trainer added. “The sprinting ranks are very competitive; Lucky Sweynesse looks like the next big gun, but hopefully he still has a couple of good races in him. “It’s an exciting addition and it’s an honour to train a horse of his quality.” Keep an eye on the Capitalists Owners and trainers in Hong Kong gravitate to stallions when they get on a roll… you only need to look at Deep Field, Starspangledbanner, Per Incanto (USA) and Toronado (Ire) for proof of that. Newgate Farm resident Capitalist has a huge future in Hong Kong, according to Richards, and he has a few of his progeny that he is excited about. “Capitalist is doing a good job, they seem to eat well and they adjust well to the rigours of being in Hong Kong,” said Richards. Capitalist | Standing at Newgate Farm “They’re fast horses and they handle firm ground. “I think Capitalist is certainly a horse that’s only going to get better and become more popular. “We’ve got a horse called Capital Theatre who’s come up, he should be winning in the early part of the season after a few trials, he looks pretty fast. “There’s another nice Capitalist horse coming up that we paid a bit of money for.”

These AML laws are getting interpreted way over the top. I recently helped someone resettle a Family Trust's assets to a new Trust. Nothing extra was added. They had been a customer of a major bank for over 30 years i.e. the bank had visibility of all the transactions from all their entities. They were not a customer of another bank. Took nearly 6 weeks to get all the forms and information requests sorted out including having to prove how the financial assets were accumulated. Even though it was clearly visible in the accounts! Then I helped out an Incorporated Society put some money on Term Deposit at the same bank. They had used the same bank since day dot i.e. they had all the transaction history. The money accumulated was clearly from membeship fees. The organisations Executive that are the bank authorised signees hasn't changed in 5 years! Eight weeks and still working through paper work including individual identity matching. No wonder the country is grinding to a halt.

Your bias is clearly evident - there is no way you can claim what you are from viewing those angles.

I've also seen another obvious bias in your analysis @Yankiwi. You only record injuries that have occurred after a rail hit. You also assume that every rail hit is the actual cause of an injury when it may not be. It may have been the interference in the first place. Afterall dogs don't run into rails deliberately do they? If you review the other meetings stewards reports you will find similar injuries that have happened and there is no obvious rail hit. Those particular injuries are also only found after a vet check. (Are all dogs vet checked after a race?). So to improve your analysis you should include ALL "injuries" at ALL tracks and THEN look for a correlation between interference and interference causing a rail hit causing injury. As well as injury resulting from neither. Your hypothesis is that the Manakau track is more prone to rail hits therefore more injuries occur. You can't determine that unless you can pinpoint that a particular injury is the result of hitting the rail and not for other reasons e.g. the interference in the first place that led to the rail hit. I sense you have a bias against the Auckland track. In reviewing this I've come to the conclusion that the reasons vet checks are undertaken is essentially shooting the industry in the paw assuming that not all dogs are individually vet checked after a race.

AL'S LOADED (1) - referred to the Veterinarian after getting tightened first turn contacting the rail where it was reported to have right pectoral pain with a 10 day incapacitation issued. So it was hurt on the right hand side not the side that hit the rail? Presumably it could have hurt itself fighting back against the interference.

Aren't you being a bit mischievous with your analysis? The blue rug dog (looks like a heavier dog than the 1 dog) came barrelling across and squeezed the 1 dog which spat out backwards like a pip then interfered with those behind it. Arguably the 1 dog, according to your theory, hitting the fence should have been injured but wasn't. One injured dog didn't even hit the fence! MIAMI TAN (1) - referred to the Veterinarian after interference first turn getting tightened then dragged down losing considerable ground and cleared of injury.BIG TIME STORM (3) - referred to the Veterinarian after interference first turn shifting out across hindquarters becoming unbalanced where it was reported to have left and right long head triceps, left gracilis and right sartorius pain with a 10 day incapacitation issued.GINGER SHAW (4) - referred to the Veterinarian after interference first turn becoming awkwardly placed near the rail where it was reported to have a laceration on the left hind with a 7 day incapacitation issued.

Aside from the obvious grammatical error..... Looks like you need to provide surveillance of yourself to sign up.....

It will be interesting to see the Cambridge annual accounts.