Chief Stipe

I'm surprised no one has noticed or commented on the $150,000 that HRNZ is directly giving the Sweepstake Race - The Grins. Not to mentiom the additional top up from the Cambridge Club. Aren't these types of races supposed to be self funding i.e.by those who buy slots? Do they actually earn enough revenue from punters to fund the additional top ups?

Which hasn't been helped by the creation of Mega-department bureaucracies like MPI and MBIE. In those departments faceless unaccountable permanent tenure bureaucrats make rules to create work enforcing them. Well over 6,000 bureaucrats in both Departments combined with an average salary of $120,000+. Not one of them actually produce anything. The corollary is the creation of the Mega-RIB. As some of us warned @Thomass it wouldn't reduce costs and it wouldn't improve racing integrity. It's made it worse. It hasn't fortunately that's why we are seeing more people taking things into their own hands. It's just harder to do without being fined.

But it is on record and it builds a picture as opposed to barking at the moon or moaning to a coat hanging on a fence post. Send all the information to each and every Board member.

You heard it here first.

2023/24 Funding Summary On behalf of the Board and management, we are pleased to provide you with a copy of the 2023/24 Funding Summary [click on this link]. In summary: Harness racing stakes will increase by nearly $5m for the 2023/24 year. The new budget, approved by the Harness Racing New Zealand Board, follows the historic deal between Entain and the TAB, that came into effect on June 1,2023. HRNZ will receive funding of $54.4m next season - a substantial increase on previous levels. Around 71% of that funding will go directly to stakes. Entain will also provide other substantial funding, including a major commitment to two-year-old racing and a two-year-old bonus scheme. Base funding will increase by just over $3m with all races falling into one of seven categories. Funding will start at $10,500 for Provincial Low Key races to $30,000 for races at Addington during New Zealand Cup and Show Week. The Country Cups will get an extra $5,000 in stakes to reward those mid-grade horses that are so important to the sport. Group races will also get a funding boost, up $10,000, and the Race by Grins, our richest race, will get $150,000 from HRNZ (an increase of $100,000) to recognise its importance in the racing calendar. In addition to that the stake for the NZ Cup, our most prestigious race, will increase to $750,00 (from $631,500). Kind Regards Phil Holden & Gary Woodham Copyright (C) 2023 Harness Racing New Zealand. All rights reserved.

Exactly which brings into question the motivation of those who supposedly support the industry to criticise the penalties given. It's the same for all three codes. The Industry has bought into this "social license" nonsense which is a construct imagined by the woke and kowtow to it. Why should participants in the industry be held to account to a level far and above the rest of society? Doesn't it rankle you that SAFE and the SPCA have deemed it isn't worth laying complaints with MPI or the Police yet have the gall to say that the penalties handed down by the RIB are inadequate? Hypocriscy at its worst!

Stuff have been doing a "woke" hit job on Greyhound Racing for about 3 years now. Google Virginia Fallon Stuff reporter. Half of what she writes are illiterate opinion attack pieces. This latest Stuff piece isn't balanced either with no mention of comparative penalties in the Court system.

Yes and the trainers and owners are the most important stakeholders. If they choose somewhere to race their horses and by doing so provide a quality product for the punters then it doesn't matter who else turns up on course.

Ben Gleeson to head Te Akau's Cranbourne stable www.justhorseracing.com.au Te Akau Racing Australia has officially appointed Ben Gleeson as Assistant Trainer for their new stable set to be based in Cranbourne, Victoria. The announcement has generated excitement within the industry, given Gleeson’s exceptional credentials and experience. Expressing his pride in welcoming Gleeson to the team, David Ellis CNZM, Managing Director of Te Akau Racing, stated, “I am very proud to welcome Ben to the Te Akau team.” “His appointment as Assistant Trainer for our new Australian operation is a key one and he brings an outstanding CV to the role, rich in Australian and international experience.” Gleeson, who recently concluded five years as Assistant Trainer to Danny O’Brien, expressed his enthusiasm about joining Te Akau Racing. “Mark Walker and I have met a number of times over the last month,” Gleeson revealed. “David Ellis and Mark offered me the role, which is obviously a position too good not to take up, and I’m both humbled and excited about the appointment and glad to be joining the Te Akau team.” Coming from a racing and breeding family and armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from La Trobe University, Melbourne, Gleeson brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. His previous experience working for top trainers in Australia, as well as his exposure to European racing during his time in the United Kingdom, have further enhanced his skills. Gleeson’s immediate plans involve spending time at Te Akau’s Matamata stable in New Zealand and Te Akau Stud before transitioning to the Cranbourne stable. “I arrive on 13 August and am looking forward to seeing all the horses and finding out the details of the stable operations,” Gleeson shared. With the stable aiming to have horses in training by September, Gleeson is excited to contribute his own experience to the team’s endeavors. Te Akau Racing has set ambitious goals for their Australian stable, with the aim of having 20 horses training by November and expanding to a roster of 60-80 horses within 12 to 18 months.

That isn't what I was referring to. Your stats are incorrect. As is the the metric you are using to prove your hypothesis. The rate that dogs hit the rail is irrelevant. The relevant metric is the injury rate. I guess that is your "depth".

Where are the rest of your figures? e,g, Number of races year to date. Any variance estimates?

Well then you have errors.

Do your Auckland stats incude Waikato racing at Auckland?

So assuming that the injury the dogs sustained was caused by striking the rail then the key figure is 16 not 27. Which is 7% not 12%.

God help the Greyhound industry if you ever decide to be against them!!!!

That's great to hear. I hope you haven't upset anyone by giving the dog fattening food.... 😉

Would these misdemeanors have been dealt harsher penalties in the Justice Court System? Or by MPI? I doubt it.

In a criminal court she would have got discharged without conviction. Or a fine not much different to the one she got.

Isn't the key statistics the number of injuries per rail strike? Afterall striking the rail seems to be inherent to a greyhound racing.

Will the "Sustainable Initiative" application process be open and transparent? I would bet not. Both TABNZ and NZTR have become less open and transparent since the Messara Report. With Entain it will become even less transparent due to "commercial reasons".

With Grimstone involved she may have had a point. The RIB could appeal against themselves. But unless Waretini wins her other appeal she is effectively rubbed out of the industry anyway. But I guess that has never stopped some from grinding the jackboot heel.

Arguably they're not.

Each code sets their own penalties which in itself is a source of inconsistency. HRNZ set the fine schedule for whip abuse. So you can't make an apples with apples comparison. Inconsistency also occurs from the RIB in their adjudication. The Codes and the RIB have made utterances and promises to address across code inconsistency but it would appear they are too busy spending money in court and hiding in hedges aka INCA. Waretini was fined 3 x $400 based on limited precedent plus $850 costs. A total of $2,050. Given the high quantum of her other fines (over $7k although under appeal) and her disqualification it is unlikely she has any ability to pay. I note Grimstone has been involved in this case and given his INCA and other history I wouldn't be surprised if there has been actions bordering on harassment. At the very least considerable pressure bought to bear.

Because inevitably your analysis is flawed. Someone has to challenge that.

Damn you gave it away. Predictive text and failing eyesight doesn't help either.