Chief Stipe

Different approach!

Kruger opens up on racing's big issues www.racing.com A decision on whether prizemoney in Victoria is reduced, including a possible purse cut to the All-Star Mile, is imminent, outgoing Racing Victorian Chairman Brian Kruger says. Country club mergers and a new funding deal that should see increased funding for the sport regardless of the wagering licence outcome, were also key takeaways from the wide-ranging interview which will air at 7pm (AEST) on racing.com.on Wednesday night. He also questioned whether prominent breeders, who recently criticised changes to Victoria's Spring Carnival, should be targeting pop-up races that have impacted the pattern. Highlights of the interview include: ALL-STAR MILE CASH REDUCTION "Nothing's off the table. I would note, though, that we have been really happy with how the All-Star Mile has performed since its inception. We had some specific objectives there about creating a new marquee race day during the Festival of Racing, and I think we've done a great job at that," Kruger said. "I can honestly say we don't look at this as a pet project. We're very objective people sitting around the table. If we think that was the right outcome, we'd make it happen. "But there's no pet project. As I say, we don't have egos that go, if we got it wrong, we wouldn't admit it." RACING'S NEW FUNDING DEAL Kruger confirmed the State Government had guaranteed crucial funding, on top of recent POCT announcements. "Together with the POC change, I'm talking about from a Victorian racing industry perspective now, we'll see something like $200 million per annum coming into the racing industry, and that's relative to something like $170 million for all three codes we'd expect to see from similar sources this year," he said. "So, that's going to help solve a lot of that funding gap that we've got. The problem, as I said, that we have, is it doesn't kick in for another 14 or 15 months." COUNTRY CLUB MERGER Kruger addressed a study commissioned by RV that looks at cost savings across the three metropolitan clubs. He was also asked about whether RV is looking at merging two country clubs. "There may be ways that things can be run more efficiently. You might have a cash-rich, asset-poor club with an asset-rich, cash-poor club, and it makes a lot of sense to look at putting those together. So they're the sort of things that we need to, as an industry, be looking at to see if we can get a better outcome," Kruger said. METROPOLITAN CLUB REVIEW Kruger said the review into how the three metropolitan clubs operate identified significant savings, but any merger hadn't been discussed. "We commissioned Ernst and Young to work with the clubs to see if there are opportunities to get savings and that might be in areas like procurement, or back-office things, or technology or whatever," Kruger said. "And I think there are some opportunities there and the clubs have now seen that report and we'll work together on implementing those initiatives. And it's not going to save the industry, but the money's still significant. The question around club consolidation, I've been in this role for six years. It comes up every year. It'll keep coming up, no doubt. There are pros and cons, I think." Kruger also said the financial health of the three metropolitan clubs varies. "All of the clubs are doing different things to try to improve their own financial position. Some of them are in better positions than others. But as I say, I think generally, they're all doing okay," he said. COUNTRY TRACKS Asked if there are too many country tracks, Kruger said while some may lose money, they remain of vital importance to local communities and remain a priority for the State Government. "If I was running this just as a business, the answer to your question is probably, yes, we have too many. But Racing Victoria's got an obligation to the communities," he said. "We get support from the government because of those things that we do. So I don't think we've got any interest in breaking away from that, actually supporting the communities that we operate in that might have a once or twice-a-year race meeting. Maybe we lose a bit of money on that, but the joy that we give back to people in those communities is also very, very valuable and that's not something that's lost on us." SPRING CARNIVAL CHANGES Not moving the Cox Plate was a financial decision, not a political one according to Kruger. He said now that racing's financial future is somewhat clearer, it would make sense to revisit a change to the Spring Carnival. "I think it would be reasonable that we look at … are there more things we can do? We'll learn from the move of the Thousand Guineas, and how successful that is, but I know the team will keep looking at options on how we can keep getting better," he said. He also addressed recent criticism from Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association chairman Jonathan Munz regarding moving key spring races. "Jonathan's obviously the chairman of TROA, but he is also a very big breeder and a very big owner. But we've also got fans and other punters and others to think about when we're making these decisions. So again, coming back to the basic premise, what we were trying to do is to push extend our spring carnival into that what we see as very fertile ground," he said. Asked for his view on members of TROA campaigning for the preservation of the pattern but entering runners in pop-up races, Kruger said: "Seems a little bit hypocritical, but I probably should let Jonathan [Munz] answer." RACING AUSTRLIA Kruger said he had not witnessed such an unwillingness to compromise from some of the RA board during his career. "I've been in business a long time. I've been in all sorts of different industries. I've never had a situation where other parties aren't willing to either compromise on an issue or indeed, if there's a strong disagreement on a matter, you go, okay, we'll park that. We're never going to agree on it. But what about all these other things that we need to work on together for the betterment of the industry or whatever the issue is. We haven't been able to achieve that with New South Wales," he said. Asked if the current impasse on RA can be fixed with the current RNSW leadership, Kruger said: "I think if we get constitutional change, it could be. Otherwise, I doubt whether it will happen. Leopards don't change their spots." See the full interview on Wednesday night on racing.com at 7pm AEST.

It isn't a "basket case" it still earns $150m+ per year for the industry. Yes it could have been better managed. It should have been properly restructured by MacKenzie but wasn't.

What other asset in the industry is earning $150m in revenue per year? It doesn't appear it is going to work that much better under Entain. The difference is we will no longer own or control the asset.

Does everyone realise that the sums don't add up for a windfall for Racing? We're no better off and in fact worse off because we've sold our biggest asset. Presumably because we don't have the competence to manage it ourselves.

https://www.arenaracingcompany.co.uk/ Entain and Arena Racing Company Sign Ground-Breaking Media Rights and Distribution Deal for Horse Racing and Greyhound Racing entaingroup.com 19 March 2021 Entain and Arena Racing Company Sign Ground-Breaking Media Rights and Distribution Deal for Horse Racing and Greyhound Racing Entain and Arena Racing Company (Arena Racing) today announce the signing of a ground-breaking long-term media rights deal that covers horse racing media rights and establishes a landmark joint venture between Entain and Arena Racing for greyhound racing, through to 31 December 2029. This exciting long-term deal will deliver a compelling range of horse racing and greyhound racing product for Entain’s retail & digital channels, Ladbrokes & Coral, as well as for its digital brands - Betdaq, Bwin and Sportingbet, and will launch a joint venture between the two parties for the distribution of greyhound racing content from Entain, Arena Racing and Independent greyhound tracks. Both horse and greyhound media rights will be produced and distributed to the UK independent bookmaking sector via The Racing Partnership (“TRP”) and into international markets such as Spain, produced and distributed by Arena Racing subsidiary, Vermantia. Horse Racing Media Rights The horse racing media rights element of the Entain / Arena Racing partnership covers all UK, race day data & audio-visual coverage for races from Arena Racing’s sixteen UK racecourses, which include Doncaster, Newcastle, Chepstow and Lingfield Park. The deal also includes South African & Australian content and will commence on 1 January 2022 and run through to 31 December 2029. Greyhound Racing Joint Venture The ground-breaking joint venture (JV) between Entain and Arena Racing will deliver a single optimised UK Greyhound Racing schedule. The JV will become the vehicle for licensing media rights to Entain & other domestic and international betting operators from these tracks. This joint venture will launch on 1 January 2024 through to 31 December 2029. The JV will hold the long term exclusive rights to premium greyhound content from twelve stadia owned across Arena Racing (Newcastle, Nottingham, Perry Barr and Sunderland), independent stadia within Greyhound Media Group (“GMG”) (Kinsley, Sheffield, Swindon and Yarmouth) as well as those owned by Entain (Crayford, Hove, Monmore Green and Romford). Adrian Bower, Entain Chief Procurement Officer said today: “We are delighted to be partnering with Arena Racing on such a comprehensive long-term deal that will give certainty to both parties for the benefit of both horse racing and greyhound racing, as well as helping them navigate the Covid challenges and emerge stronger when the world gets back to normal” “This is a progressive deal for greyhound racing, that will deliver a sustainable programme going forward, support greyhound welfare, and deliver more money into the sport” “This landmark deal supports Entain’s omni-channel strategy for its UK digital brands and emphasises the huge value we place on the horse racing and greyhound racing products. We have been looking for a long-term deal that delivers benefits to both parties, allowing us to focus on navigating the immediate challenge of Covid, while generating greater value for all. Ladbrokes and Coral are two of the biggest and longest standing investors in, and supporters of horse racing and greyhound racing, and this significant commercial deal with Arena Racing is just further proof of our support for these two great British sports” Kevin Robertson, Managing Director of Arena Racing’s Media and International Division said today: “This deal between Arena Racing and Entain represents a new era of collaboration between the horse and greyhound racing industries and their bookmaker customers.” “We are delighted to have framed this deal to offer long term certainty for both our horse and greyhound racing, as we look to recover from what have been incredibly difficult times for both industries. Importantly, this deal recognises the value for both horse and greyhound racing being sold directly by rightsholders to their key bookmaker customers. We are delighted to be working in partnership with a significant global partner in Entain who operate historic and popular brands such as Ladbrokes and Coral, continuing their long association with both sports.” “Both Arena Racing and Entain are committed to the future of greyhound racing, and under the new JV we will be able to sustain and re-invigorate a sport that has been through significant change over the years. The launch of evening greyhound racing on Sky Sports Racing in February is hopefully the first of many new initiatives to promote and enhance the sport” ENDS Notes to Editors About Entain Entain plc (LSE:ENT) is a FTSE100 company and is one of the world's largest sports-betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. The Group owns a comprehensive portfolio of established brands; Sports Brands include bwin, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds and Sportingbet; Gaming Brands include CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo, Gala, Gioco Digitale, partypoker and PartyCasino. The Group owns proprietary technology across all of its core product verticals and in addition to its B2C operations provides services to a number of third-party customers on a B2B basis. The Group has also entered into a joint-venture with MGM Resorts to capitalise on the sports-betting and gaming opportunity in the US. The Group is tax resident in the UK with licenses in more than 20 countries, across five continents. For more information see the Group's website: www.entaingroup.com About Arena Racing Arena Racing Company (“Arena Racing”) is the largest commercial racing group in the UK. Arena Racing is made up of the following sixteen racecourses: Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Doncaster, Ffos Las, Fontwell Park, Great Yarmouth, Hereford, Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Royal Windsor, Sedgefield, Southwell, Uttoxeter, Wolverhampton and Worcester. In addition to racecourses Arena Racing owns Newcastle, Nottingham, Sunderland and Perry Barr Greyhound Stadia and looks after the media interests of the Greyhound Media Group (“GMG”). Arena Racing runs four of the six all-weather racecourses in the UK offering three different types of surface for horses to run on: Polytrack at Lingfield Park, fibresand at Southwell Racecourse and tapeta at Newcastle and Wolverhampton Racecourses – the only tapeta racing surfaces in Europe. In 2013 Arena Racing pioneered the All-Weather Championships which see horses compete throughout the winter for the chance of qualifying for Finals Day on Good Friday at Lingfield Park. This initiative is helping raise the profile and prestige of all-weather racing in Great Britain. Arena Racing hosts racing at all levels of the sport from Class 7 through to Group 1s. Doncaster Racecourse is home to the world’s oldest Classic, the Pertemps St Leger, run each year in September as part of the four-day St Leger Festival as well as the final Group 1 of the year in Britain, the Vertem Futurity Trophy. Feature jumps races include the Grade 1 Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle Racecourse, the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow Racecourse and Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter Racecourse. As well as racing, Arena Racing also operates a hotel at Wolverhampton Racecourse, a hotel, spa resort and golf course at Lingfield Park and The Border Minstrel public house at Newcastle Racecourse in the grounds of Gosforth Park. The Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Racecourse opened in September 2018. Arena Racing is a significant shareholder in the horseracing TV channel Sky Sports Racing which is broadcast on the Sky platform to c.14 million homes. Arena Racing plays a pivotal role in British Racing. It is a shareholder in British Champions Series and Racecourse Data Company; a signatory to a British Horseracing Authority’s and Horsemen’s Group Prize Money Agreement; and on the boards of the Racecourse Association (“RCA”), Great British Racing (“GBR”) and British Champion Series (“BCS”). In 2015 Arena Racing set up The Racing Partnership. This limited company represents the media rights of the 16 Arena Racing owned-racecourses and the five independent racecourses Fakenham, Hexham, Newton Abbot, Plumpton and Ripon. Further information about Arena Racing can be found at www.arenaracingcompany.co.uk. --------- For further information: Entain plc Jay Dossetter, Head of ESG and Press Office jay.dossetter@entaingroup.com Powerscourt Rob Greening / Elly Williamson Tel: +44 (0) 20 7250 1446 entain@powerscourt-group.com Arena Racing Company Sam Cone, Head of Communications & Public Affairs Office: 020 7802 5120 Mobile: 07920 404 296 Email: scone@arenaracingcompany.co.uk 4th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP

How did the Commerce Commission approve this deal so quickly? Normally they are glacial in their decision making processes. There must be some legislation to be passed under urgency for this deal to proceed legally.

Is that sarcasm? However if it isn't why is it "the best thing to happen to racing for decades"?

TAB NZ CEO Mike Tod steps down amid greenlight for Entain deal TAB NZ and Entain have signed a 25-year strategic arrangement.TAB NZ and Entain have signed a 25-year strategic arrangement.05/23/23 Mike Tods’s resignation is effective immediately following approval of a major new deal with Entain. New Zealand.- Mike Tod, the CEO of TAB NZ, has announced his resignation after the company announced government approval of a strategic partnering arrangement with Entain. He’ll be replaced by Nick Roberts from June 1. TAB NZ board chair Mark Stewart MNZM, said: “As General Counsel and then Chief Transition Officer, Nick was a critical part of the team that worked tirelessly on securing the strategic partnering arrangement with Entain. “The retention of Nick’s commercial acumen and legal skills, particularly his experience and deep knowledge of the legislative settings in NZ, the wagering ecosystem, and the contract that underpins the Entain arrangement will prove extremely valuable to the TAB NZ Board, our regulators and indeed the stakeholders that rely on TAB NZ funding.” Roberts added: “The New Zealand racing industry remains world-class despite the funding challenges that have persisted for some time, but our place on the international map and the export revenue that racing drives for our great country requires a strong domestic industry. An industry that also makes a significant contribution to New Zealand’s gross domestic product and many regional communities through employment and investment. “We have secured a generational change in the fortunes of racing. It is now up to the leaders across the racing industry to seize this opportunity and deliver a sustainable operating model over the next five years and give customers a world-class product and experience. “Our sporting partners are also set to benefit from Entain’s investment in products and services. Some key National Sporting Organisations will be able to invest deeply in participation and elite performance as a result of the extra funding they will receive from TAB NZ. “Entain has demonstrated a significant commitment to New Zealand racing and sport, and to TAB NZ’s 250,000 customers who will benefit from an improved experience and global-leading harm minimisation tools that TAB NZ would not otherwise have been able to bring to market.”

Tod resigns after selling the industry silver and the drawers. Who is Nick Roberts his replacement? Where was the job advertised? The stench is strong.

A huge amount of money that the existing experts that dreamed up this deal couldn't find. Go figure!

"Saved" because we didn't have the nous or skills to do it ourselves? FFS.

Yep. Who got paid shit loads? Follow the money. Who the fuck is Mike Tod and Bruce Sharrock?

Killed NZ racing. But that's what this Government wants.

We've just been fucked over.

I can't believe that we have sold the Golden Goose. What's more as stakeholders we have no idea what it was sold for. Perhaps we should legally challenge this process. I wonder what Winston Peters view is.

That's utter Bullshit!!!

I don't have a good feeling about this.

Racing and sport win big with TAB NZ Strategic Partnering Arrangement www.tabnz.org TAB New Zealand and Entain Australia's strategic partnering arrangement will commence on 1 June 2023, after receiving Government approval today. The 25-year strategic partnering arrangement will enable an immediate financial uplift to the three New Zealand Racing Codes and 38 National Sporting Organisations, while bringing world class products, services and gambling harm minimisation tools to TAB NZ's 250,000 customers. TAB NZ Chairman Mark Stewart MNZM says today's Government approval marks an important step in the growth and prosperity of racing and sport in New Zealand. “Entain is a world-class operator with the expertise and financial strength to transform our business and in turn boost the long-term fortunes of racing and sport as well as the communities that rely upon their success. Furthermore, Entain has guaranteed the jobs of our 460 staff for at least two years. This is a great vote of confidence in our people,” Mark Stewart says. “Today's approval delivers on a key recommendation from the Messara Report (2018) and we are thrilled that the Minister for Racing has approved the strategic partnering arrangement. TAB NZ is at a critical point in its history due to unprecedented competition from unregulated overseas operators and current global economic headwinds.” The strategic partnering arrangement provides an upfront payment to TAB NZ, as well as a five-year period of annual minimum guaranteed payments. Supported by this new partnering deal, the TAB NZ Board has guaranteed an immediate and significant uplift in distributions to the Racing Codes for the next five years, to the following minimum levels: $170m for 2023/24 (+36% compared to current financial year) $175m for 2024/25 (+40%) $180m for 2025/26 (+44%) $185m for 2026/27 (+48%) $200m for 2027/28 (+60%) “These are a significant uplift on the $125m distribution for the current financial year,” Mr Stewart says. The strategic partnering arrangement will also provide increased funding to National Sporting Organisations and Sport NZ from business growth, as well as immediate funding boosts. National Sporting Organisations will share in a one-off funding uplift of $15m to be paid over the next three years, while a $500,000 payment will be made to Sport NZ, ring-fenced for investment in women’s sport. TAB NZ is also delighted to confirm a $5 million upfront commitment to harm minimisation in the form of: a $4 million investment to dramatically accelerate the rollout of facial recognition technology to 100 TAB Venues; and the establishment of a $1 million research fund to provide grants for research into gambling harm. Facial recognition technology is considered to be one of the best tools available to reduce potential in-venue harm. This technology has not yet become industry standard, given the significant capital investment that is required. A 100-venue rollout will deliver a world leading approach to combating gambling harm. Mr Stewart paid tribute to the TAB NZ Board, Chief Executive Officer Mike Tod and the Executive Leadership Team for delivering a transformational strategic partnering arrangement. "I am incredibly proud of what management and the Board have delivered to transform this business and the fortunes of those who rely upon its success. We are a small company at the bottom of the world in a David v Goliath battle in New Zealand’s unregulated online gambling market. To have secured Entain as our partner to grow the returns to racing and sport is an awesome achievement.” Chief Executive Officer Mike Tod will step away from leading TAB NZ, which will reduce to a smaller organisation focused on its remaining legislative functions – including monitoring the regulatory and commercial performance of Entain New Zealand. TAB NZ Chief Transition Officer Nick Roberts has been appointed to lead TAB NZ in its new form as CEO. Current TAB NZ Chief Commercial Officer Cameron Rodger will become the Managing Director - New Zealand for Entain. "Mike has done an incredible job of transforming TAB NZ since he took over as CEO at the beginning of last year. He has implemented and executed a strategy that has delivered the partnering arrangement with Entain, grown customer numbers to record levels, implemented world-first new products, lifted customer satisfaction and staff engagement scores to their highest levels in over a decade and assembled one of the best leadership teams in the industry. Our racing and sporting stakeholders are set to benefit from an outstanding legacy that he leaves." Entain Australia CEO Dean Shannon welcomed the Government approval and said it was an important milestone in the transformation of the New Zealand wagering landscape. “We are delighted and honoured to have received Ministerial approval to finalise the strategic partnering arrangement between TAB NZ and Entain Australia commencing from 1 June 2023,” Mr Shannon said. “We believe this 25-year strategic partnering arrangement will be a gamechanger for sports betting in New Zealand and we are pleased that it will help provide significant financial benefits to the three New Zealand racing codes and the vast array of national sporting organisations. “Entain is a business built on innovation and being customer focused and we look forward to connecting further with the great team at TAB NZ to introduce a range of new world class products, services and player safety tools to the loyal TAB NZ customer base.” ENDS About Entain Entain plc (LSE: ENT) is a FTSE100 company and is one of the world’s largest sports-betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. The Group owns a comprehensive portfolio of established brands; Sports brands include BetCity, bwin, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds, Sportingbet, Sports Interaction and SuperSport; Gaming brands include Foxy Bingo, Gala, GiocoDigitale, Ninja Casino, Optibet, Partypoker and PartyCasino. The Group owns proprietary technology across all its core product verticals and in addition to its B2C operations provides services to a number of third-party customers on a B2B basis. The Group has a 50/50 joint venture, BetMGM, a leader in sports betting and iGaming in the US. Entain provides the technology and capabilities which power BetMGM as well as exclusive games and products, specially developed at its in-house gaming studios. The Group is tax resident in the UK and is the only global operator to exclusively operate in domestically regulated or regulating markets operating in over 40 territories. Entain is a leader in ESG, a member of FTSE4Good, the DJSI and is AA rated by MSCI. The Group has set a science-based target, committing to be carbon net zero by 2035 and through the Entain Foundation supports a variety of initiatives, focusing on safer gambling, grassroots sport, diversity in technology and community projects. For more information see the Group’s website: www.entaingroup.com Note for editors: TAB New Zealand and Entain will not be commenting further on the proposed strategic partnering arrangement until after completion on 1 June.

Where did this come from?

Kensei was a NZ Bred.

Yes but she was actually second to Kensei in the 1987 Cup eleven days before she won the NZ Cup. Thats why I anchored her for first and the second horse was Prince Avila the second favourite. I anchored him for second and took the field for third in the Trifecta. The rank outsider finished third. She only carried 52.5kg to win. Having carried 50.0 kg in the MC. She ran 3:20 which is a pretty good clip for two miles.

I was there for that NZ Cup win. Dad and I had traveled over from the West Coast for Cup week. I was a teenager and got the Trifecta basically boxing two horses with the field. If I recall correctly the rank outside came in for third and the Tri was about $1,200.

I'm pretty sure she had a go at Natski earlier in the straight in that Cup.

OK I got that wrong. It's OCD. The point is lots of things are done when training horses that cause chronic or acute conditions that may cause pain and discomfort. The level of pain or discomfort is hard to determine. A horse given a NSAID may be displaying inflammation without any signs of lameness. If you want to compete at the elite level then you need to use every aid available to you within the rules to be competitive. The use of modern medicine is one such aid.