Chief Stipe

That's a bit one dimensional. What about injuries? How many fatalities were apprentices?

What break the habits of 30 years? How will they pay for it in any case? They have an AWT to maintain and they're struggle to pay for that. Which major metro race track in NZ has a regular maintenance program other than verti-draining and pouring more and more sand on the tracks?

It's no excuse. He, like every other Cabinet Minister in this Government, has a horde of highly politicised minions working for him. No excuse for not responding. I suspect however that those minions and this Government are Anti-Racing. They're letting it die slowly.

Yes it is done annually and then about every 4 or 5 years they do a major overall. Although the annual work leaves what has been done on our tracks in 25 years for dead. I posted videos, pictures and articles from Flemington many times on BOAY. In my opinion track maintenance and mamagement in Victoria is light years ahead of NZ and is more advanced than NSW. I've been disappointed in the state of Randwick and Rosehill over the last few seasons particularly Rosehill. That said they take a lot of racing and can't recall the surface being unsafe perhaps an unfair bias but not unsafe.

I thought it was more relevant to update us on the proposed Riccarton Turf renovations.

Are you moving to NSW?

As a comparison NZTR paid put $62m in Stakes for the entire season last year.

Was just looking through the field for the All Aged Stakes at Randwick today. The 11 horses in the race have collectively won $57.9 million.

As long as there are people in the industry in denial then another disaster is coming. @JJ Flash is like many of those in denial. The industry has never dsitributed $200m to the industry let alone $250m. During the Transition Agency reign of Mackenzie it got to $170m for racing, sports and RIB. But anyone who can read a balance sheet can see that was done creatively using smoke and mirrors. The promised payout to racing was topped up with debt as the actual profit was $140m. There was also pokie money propping up revenue. So the difference between the $140m and $200m is $60m assuming that the industry retains its pokie money. The net betting margin is around 12%. So to get at least another $60m in profit the increase in wagering turnover will have to be a minimum of $500m. Where's that coming from?

In your expert opinion how is Entain going to produce another $90m a year in profit?

This Government is anti-racing so I'm not sure they care if this all goes tits up.

I just want to know how they can find another $90m in net profit a year so quickly. The recent "experts" haven't gone close at best profit has been stagnant but it real terms continues to decline.

The irony is we are still going to go down the same road. Doesn't this all sound familiar? It all turned dog when they starting competing with the Golden Goose - the Tote.

I agree. Most seem more interested in vicariously celebrating through the achievements of ex-pat New Zealanders than debating what appears to be yet again another FUBAR I progress. Incredible some are still applauding what Dean Mackenzie did which was just an expert rearrangement do the deck chairs while pushing cost out to the codes. Notice how Tod comes from a marketing background and immediately replaced those marketing staff that had been dropped. Double cost whammy!

I haven't been there since I borrowed the girl next doors bike from the halls of residence at Lincoln College. A 16km ride. I think Eric Ryan had a few running that day. Around 1982.

It's a bit like asking Emirates to run Air NZ.

This has got a Glenn Saville smell about it. I see he left his Scientific Games role just before it sold to Endeavour Inc and shifted to OZ and is VP for Openbet Sportsbet operations. Entain - Ladbrokes and TAB NZ use Openbet systems. Entain will probably save money by piggy backing NZ off their global contract. Now where does Mike Tod fit in all the machinations. A lot of buying and selling of companies in the gaming and wagering sector at the moment. Will Entain renegotiate the broadcasting agreement and or offload it completely to the encumbent? It isn't part of their core business and you don't need it if your focus is on online gaming. I'd say the days of a NZ Totalisator are numbered.

Omeprazole has a withholding period does it not? The point is your "no drug future" eliminates many proven therapeutics that help horses remain healthy. Why not go the other way and allow all therapeutics to have no withholding times and only ban proven PED's.

Walker sets new benchmark loveracing.nz Te Akau trainer Mark Walker set a national record for wins in a season when Fellini won the NZB Online Yearling Sale On Gavelhouse Plus 1400 for three-year-olds at Pukekohe on Saturday. The victory provided the Matamata horseman with his 161st win of the season, including five at Group One level and 31 black-type triumphs. The previous mark of 160 was set by predecessor Jamie Richards in season 2020/21, and with the best part of four months to go in the season it is likely Walker will reach an imposing tally. It was the fourth career victory from 12-starts for Fellini, who finished third in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) behind Dynastic and Wolverine. Ridden by Joe Kamaruddin, Fellini enjoyed an economical run and proved too good despite carrying 58.5kg topweight. “He’s not a big horse, so it was a good effort to win under top weight and he’s been a consistent horse throughout his whole career,” Walker said, “It was a lovely ride by Joe, who is in very good form, and the horse really deserved another win. He’s very athletic and a horse that keeps finding the line.” Walker won five premierships between 1997 and 2010 during his first stint for Te Akau, adding four Champion Trainer titles during 10 years training for the operation in Singapore. It has been a season of milestones for Walker, who recorded his 1000th domestic career win when Zourion, subsequent Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner, scored on debut at Taupo in February. “New Zealand is always home and I’m happy to be back training here. I certainly don’t regret going to train in Singapore, and financially it was the best thing I’d ever done. It set the family up for life, basically,” Walker said. “Obviously, with Jamie (Richards) going to Hong Kong it was the right thing to do, coming home to give the team a hand. “Mirka and our daughter Skyla have settled in well and it’s good being back around a lot of family and friends. It’s been enjoyable. “And it’s been easier for (children) Zavier and Alexis to come over and visit from the Gold Coast. It’s only three hours, where as it was seven or eight hours to Singapore. “I’ve always stated that I think the whole game is won and lost at the sale ring door. There has been people that have been able to buy a good horse, but David (Ellis, Te Akau Principal) has consistently done it year in and year out for a long time now. “It’s been the key to the growth of the business and, obviously, Karyn (Fenton-Ellis), is great at what she does. “It’s a massive team effort and these results are the culmination of so many people’s hard work and effort. “Particularly (assistant trainer) Sam Bergerson, he’s got his finger on the pulse of everything and you can’t do it alone that’s for sure. “Also our racing manager Reece Trumper because that took a lot time spent booking jockeys off my shoulders, especially with so many suspensions, and it allows me more time to focus on the horses. “But we’ve just got so many great staff that are integral to the operation, including everyone at the farm (Te Akau Stud) as well.” Ellis is thrilled with the continued success of the operation and paid credit to the skill and dedication of his champion trainer. “For Mark to have broken the all-time record with nearly a quarter of the season remaining is an incredible achievement,” Ellis said “There have been some wonderful trainers that have broken records in New Zealand racing, trainers that are simply world-class, and for Mark to break records so early in his career is testament to his horsemanship and dedication to training horses. “He did it nearly 20 years ago, breaking Dave and Paul O’Sullivan’s record (108 at the time), but to do it again on his way to a 10th training premiership is remarkable. “Mark started training for Te Akau when he was 24 years old. He’s humble, a great boss to his staff, and done such an excellent job for Te Akau in both New Zealand and Singapore.”

Seems some are applauding every single win Richards have and no congratulations for Mark Walker.

Oh sorry I was talking about Mark Walker. Didn't realise you had switched back to Richards.

Yep a strike rate of 6. 16% wins from starts.

But what difference would it make to anything AFTER the horse has won?