Chief Stipe

Ok smart arse. Where did Vela, Ellis, O'Sullivan and Anderton make their money?

Actually there would be very few in NZ where racing is their sole source of income.

They weren't directed at you but in response to @holy ravioli.

Who of those you mentioned are on an "easy sinecure"?

Hororata TC 12 February 2023 – R2 – Colin DeFilippi ID: RIB15579 Respondent(s): Colin DeFilippi - Driver Applicant: Paul Williams, Stipendiary Steward Adjudicators: Russell McKenzie Persons Present: The Applicant, the Respondent and Neil Macdonald, Starter's Assistant Information Number: A21122 Decision Type: Adjudicative Decision Charge: Misconduct Rule(s): 303(2) Plea: Not Admitted Stewards Report Results Animal Name: Lady Vincent Code: Harness Race Date: 12/02/2023 Race Club: Hororata Trotting Club Race Location: Methven Racecourse - 47 Mount Hutt Station Road, Methven, 7782 Race Number: R2 Hearing Date: 12/02/2023 Hearing Location: Mt Harding Racecourse, Methven Outcome: Proved Penalty: Driver, Colin DeFilippi, fined $400 BACKGROUND: Following the running of Race 2, Chris Jones – “Buy Kiwi Made” – Trevor Beaton Memorial Mobile Pace, the Respondent Driver, Colin DeFilippi, as the Driver of LADY VINCENT in the race, denied a charge that he misconducted himself prior to the start when kicking that horse in the abdomen on one occasion. Rule 303 provides: (2) No person or body who holds a permit or licence under these Rules and no owner, trainer, breeder, stablehand, unlicensed apprentice or racing manager shall misconduct himself . . . EVIDENCE: Stipendiary Steward, Paul Williams, showed a video replay of the Trackside 1 channel coverage of an incident prior to the start of the race. The horse was being held by two Starter’s Assistants and the Respondent was attending to something on the off side of the horse. Mr DeFilippi raised his leg and, it was the Stewards’ allegation, kicked the horse in the stomach. He alleged that the stomach of the horse could be seen to react as contact was made. This action was improper, Mr Williams alleged, and the Respondent had thereby misconducted himself. The incident had been shown on the Trackside channel, he said. It was a deliberate act, even if only intended to calm the horse down. The Respondent said that the filly had lost both earplugs in the preliminary and he was attempting to put them back in. She had been “stirred up, but not nasty” and his intention was to touch her on the stomach to stop her from shaking her head. The kick was with no force and, he submitted, contacted the hopple but made no contact with the horse. He accepted that his actions did not look good. Starter’s Assistant, Neil Macdonald, showed a cut on his forearm that had been sustained while holding the filly. He said he had been holding the filly as she kept throwing her head around, and his arm had been cut by a sharp edge of the bridle. He believed that the Respondent had not been aware of the injury. DECISION: The charge is found proved. REASONS FOR DECISION: The Adjudicative Committee was not satisfied that it had been shown that the Respondent’s foot had made contact with the horse. However, the intention had been there, as the Respondent has admitted. The Adjudicative Committee accepts the Respondent’s explanation that his actions were well-meaning, and it was clear from the video evidence that the filly was proving difficult. Notwithstanding that the Adjudicative Committee finds that the Respondent had not actually kicked the horse and that his intentions were good, his actions were improper and unacceptable and the Adjudicative Committee finds that he has misconducted himself. “Misconduct” is simply improper behaviour. SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY: Mr Williams referred the Adjudicative Committee to the Penalty Guide. The starting point for a breach of the Rule is suggested as a fine of $600, but is referred to as being “fact dependent”. The Respondent, if he did not contact the horse, has attempted to do so. The Respondent has a clear record and has cooperated throughout the pre-hearing, Mr Williams said. Mr Williams submitted that a fine in the vicinity of $500 is an appropriate penalty. He submitted the charge is a serious one. REASONS FOR PENALTY: The Adjudicative Committee noted that the RIB Penalty Guide (effective 1 February 2023) suggests that the penalty is “fact dependent”, with a starting point of a fine of $600. The Adjudicative Committee was not able to find a case in the Harness Code with similar facts to assist it in deciding penalty. However, a fine of $400 was imposed on a Jockey, in a recent Australian case, for kicking a horse in the stomach at a trials meeting. This is of some assistance, but the Adjudicative Committee is not aware of the full facts in that case. New Zealand cases are in the Thoroughbred Code. In a November 2020 case, a Jockey received a fine of $500 for striking his horse with the whip three times behind the starting barrier. That was a second breach. In October 2021, another Jockey was fined $350 for striking his mount twice in the birdcage post-race. While the Adjudicative Committee accepts that no harm was done to the horse, such actions being shown on nationwide television coverage (an aggravating factor) do raise obvious animal welfare concerns and, therefore, cannot be condoned, but rather must be viewed seriously. Fortunately, such incidents are rare. At the same time, the Adjudicative Committee accepts that the case also involves Driver safety issues. CONCLUSION: Having regard to the Penalty Guide and the penalties in the previous cases referred to, the Respondent Driver, Colin DeFilippi, is fined $400.

Seems a fair result although it's getting harder and harder to handle an animal that can inflict a lot of damage if it wanted to. the Adjudicative Committee accepts that the case also involves Driver safety issues. CONCLUSION: Having regard to the Penalty Guide and the penalties in the previous cases referred to, the Respondent Driver, Colin DeFilippi, is fined $400.

Are you saying NONE of those names are high achievers in Racing AND Business?

Who ever said they were "mates" of mine? I certainly didn't and my posts confirm that. However I've had reason to talk to a number of these people in the last couple of years involving issues raised on BOAY. I can say without reservation that those dealings have been professional with positive outcomes. I can also say that the conversations have been blunt but polite between both parties. Easy to bitch and moan online and fire shots at the feared alleged bogeymen. In that respect the inconsistency in who is attacked and who isn't is glaring. I guess at the end of the day it's easier to say it is all Vela and Ellis's fault.

How do you know? You just told us we can't trust them and that every RIB Board member doesn't have the necessary skills!

Some of the posters commenting on this have no idea about horse behaviour. I've seen trainers give a swift punch to the stomach of a horse when the horse has started to lean over them and try and crush them against the side of a stall. In those circumstances there isn't much you can do to get the dirty bugger of a horse to stand up. It is hardly abuse as a 500kg animal is only going to get startled than feel any intense pain. Judging by how many do it again on another occasion they don't remember it either.

So you just cast unfounded aspersions on everyone? And you wonder why no one is inclined to take any notice of you?

Well you've written to the RIB but you have no assurance that it will get past Senior Management to the Board Level. Directly contacting any Board member isn't crap but is a very good way of getting your concerns heard. It's not "matey matey" talk but I've never been scared to either get on the phone and or go meet someone one on one if I have had an issue to get dealt to. You can still have a written paper trail for future litigation or your memoirs whatever is your intention.

Where did I say he was a friend? Just pointing out that he doesn't match your generalisation about the RIB Board members. Give him a call and have a chat with him. At the end of the day though he is only one vote on the Board.

One board member Brent Williams knows quite a bit about business, harness racing and likes a good punt. His son is the top driver Tim Williams. But I guess he is only one on the RIB.

From De Lore: The TAB is now closing down all TAB accounts of New Zealanders living overseas, despite some of these Kiwis having had betting accounts for many years. Why would they suddenly do that when no legislative changes have recently occurred? An account holder who runs businesses in Thailand and has resided there for 30 years questioned the TAB about it upon receiving his closure email notice. He received the following reply: “Unfortunately we were forced to close all accounts that were listed as having an overseas address in order to remain compliant with New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering laws. The TAB NZ app and site should not be able to be accessed outside of New Zealand.” Why would it suddenly breach our laws when nothing has recently changed? Thailand has its own anti-money laundering laws, but the man in question with his TAB NZ account now closed, soon after legally opened an account with Bet365.

There have been hundreds if not thousands of posts on BOAY commenting on this Topic. I've been pointing out what De Lore has written for a very long time. Often met with derision and abuse by a number of sycophants in denial. Mackenzie's restructure of the TAB was all smoke and mirrors and made things worse. The likes of @JJ Flash will tell you differently. What De Lore misses in hos analysis is the fact that MacKenzie pushed some expenses out to the Codes to improve the TAB balance sheet. Those expenses now come from the lump sum distributed to the codes. To make things worse the new TAB management have deemed it necessary to reinstate some marketing activities thereby increasing and duplicate industry expense.

Looming NZ stakes money crisis Operating expenses at TAB NZ out of control as profit declines by Brian de Lore Published 11 February 2023 The double-edged sword of incomings versus outgoings dealt the racing industry two more deep slashes in its death by a thousand cuts when TAB NZ released its December 2022 result last week. Disastrous December! Profit came in at only $14.0 million compared to $16.1 million for December 2021. This result came despite the most recent December having five Saturdays compared to three raceday Saturdays for 2021. It’s traditionally the day of the biggest turnover by sheer weight of race meetings, sporting events, and weekend punters. Operating expenses have blown out to $10.6 million or $700,000 more than in the previous year, December 2021. The year-to-date costs for the August to December first five months of the season show an upward hike from $47.6 million in 2021 to $53.7 million in 2022 – an increase of $6.1 million or 13 percent. $12.2 million behind with seven months to go Add the increased costs to the profit decline; $67.8 million down to $61.7 million, a difference of another $6.1 million, and you have a five-month deficit of $12.2 million. Extrapolate that out to season’s end, and TAB NZ is heading for a $25 to $30 million shortfall on the 2022 end-of-season profit. Are you shocked, or did you know? You didn’t have to be Einstein to predict it. New Zealand buyers of thoroughbred yearlings at Karaka for Book One and Book Two two weeks ago reflected the failure of the TAB to provide the code with adequate prizemoney by spending $10 million less than they did in 2022. Kiwi buyers turn up in fewer numbers as each year passes. Prizemoney drives every facet of the industry. The lack of it drives people out. Seemingly, TAB NZ has decided to ignore the crisis. Otherwise, they would surely have taken measures to minimise costs. But then again, does anyone in an executive position at the TAB care about making a stand for the future of racing? The pitiful scenario doesn’t even consider the downturn the economy is reputably heading towards, with inflation driving higher interest rates and a shrinkage of the expendable dollar Kiwis have traditionally spent at the TAB in the past. Poor management – operating expenditure too high This mismanaged TAB mirrors the behaviour of a hapless NZ Government that has continuously printed money in the misguided belief the roosters wouldn’t come home to roost. Both guilty of not controlling costs. To paraphrase a famous mixer of metaphors, ‘we are in the shit without a paddle.’ TAB NZ may partly blame the Government, partly blame COVID, and partly blame the codes, but never themselves. Is anyone in an executive position at the TAB concerned about their spiralling operating expenditure on a decreasing profit line? And, is anyone on the boards or in an administrative position in the codes doing anything at all to halt this decline? The answer to both questions is an unequivocal NO because nothing ever changes. NZTR’s wage bill at year-end 2022 had increased 35 percent to $5.4 million on the previous year. At its current rate, TAB NZ will have operating expenses of $129 million by season’s end – ludicrously extravagant. Even if the TAB reaches a partnering deal in the next month or so, it’s unlikely to kick in until 2024. The parlous state of NZ racing is shown above in the first-five-month comparison of profit and operating expenses between 2021 and 2022 Examine the graph accompanying this narrative, and decide for yourself. All the figures have come from the monthly TAB trading updates; the indisputable numbers carefully checked for accuracy. Ask yourself this: If you owned and managed a company that started to return diminishing profit margins, would you or would you not examine the outgoings and cut your cloth accordingly? Not at the TAB; its costs have risen by $6.1 million in five short months. The TAB continuing this performance can only mean one thing; a $25 to $30-odd million deficit on last year’s result and another forthcoming announcement (probably March) on a second reduction in the distribution to the codes. They cut the distribution by $15 million in December, announcing in a letter to the codes they even considered a cut of $24 million. Failure to meet budgets The TAB’s budgeting is so astray it has dealt with only half the problem. If TAB NZ, under the advice of PWC, insists they keep a reserve of $100 million, New Zealand stakes money will get slashed across all three codes – would that mean the guillotine for racing as opposed to death by a thousand cuts – the same result but a far quicker conclusion? The rhetoric and decision-making by the under-one-year experienced incumbent TAB CEO, Mike Tod, is enough to set alarm bells clanging. He came from Air Zealand two jobs ago and didn’t take long to head-hunt two other former Air New Zealand employees. Jodi Williams (Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer) and Fred Laury (Chief Digital Officer) joined the TAB in May and August, respectively, in 2022. Mike Tod has this hare-brained idea about rebranding the TAB for a $15 to $20 million cost, and employing Jodi Williams seemingly became part of that plan. Her bio on the website says, “Jodi developed the brand platform that Air NZ sprung off to international acclaim and worked on Kiwibank’s new brand strategy and repositioning.” $450,000 annually Reputedly but unconfirmed, Jodi Williams gets paid a salary of $450,000 annually – information supplied second-hand from a reliable source. But without a TAB profit line that’s going well enough, the rebranding is now on hold. So, what does Jodi Williams do? Well, her quotes appear in a TAB announcement entitled ‘TAB NZ reaches quarter-million milestone,’ released on the same day as the awful December result, strategically timed to divert attention away from the poor figures with veiled lies about how well the TAB is doing. It talks about record active numbers of customers, up from 225,000 to 250,000, the success of past events such as the Melbourne Cup and Woman’s Rugby World Cup, weekly customer betting numbers of 78,000, how much they look forward to fight nights and the Super Bowl, while asking for NZ punters’ loyalty to TAB NZ. It fails to mention the poor financial result for December or the year to date. It says nothing about why turnover is up and profit is down, how poorly the TAB’s ‘bonus back’ promotion is tracking in a desperate attempt to maintain their diminishing market share, or why Jodi Williams’ employment is part of the massive increase in operating expenses. Williams the new Spin Doctor To read the entire spin, here’s the link: https://www.tabnz.org/tab-nz-reaches-quarter-million-milestone Alternatively, here’s a few Jodi Williams quotes: “We’ve made great strides in the last year to offer a world-class betting experience, and it’s great that Kiwis want to get involved.” “On the back of customer improvements like boosted odds in sports and racing, and removing deductions from racing, our customers have embraced some of the amazing events we’ve had over the past year. “Kiwi punters are loyal punters, and we want our racing codes, national sporting organisations and communities to thrive. “The best way for New Zealanders to do that is by betting with TAB NZ, as every dollar spent with us helps to fuel racing, sports and communities all over the country, and we want to thank those loyal customers who get in the game through TAB NZ,” -Jodi Williams. Racing people won’t swallow this tripe Have your eyes glazed over, and you’re now feeling nauseous? Do Jodi Williams and Mike Tod believe the racing industry is dumb enough to swallow any of this tripe which gets worse with each profit-contracting month? If Kiwi punters are loyal, as Williams claims, why is the TAB pleading with the DIA for legislation to geo-block New Zealanders in an attempt to stifle overseas-based betting agencies and monopolise the market? Everything else in the quotes is pure spin. Williams has now hired former leading apprentice Hazel Schofer and created a position called ‘Elite Relationship Specialist,’ in which Williams says Schofer will provide support to TAB NZ’s high-value customers. WHAT! Schofer proved herself a talented apprentice, winning 78 races in the 2020-21 season, but with all due respect, how will this 24-year-old add value and provide a quantifiable return in dealing with the TAB’s biggest punters? It’s not difficult to imagine how operating expenses have raced out of control. Another memorable Williams quote: “Hazel has joined the team to deliver a world-class experience to our elite customers.” Really, ‘world-class’? Nothing has happened at TAB NZ for years that could be deemed ‘world-class.’ Racing’s survival not a priority at TAB NZ Racing survival is no longer a priority for those running TAB NZ. The disconnect is so obvious, and some recent decisions have worked against turnover and profit. Consider the big Auckland wet two weeks ago when parts of Auckland flooded, effecting 0.3 percent of dwellings in the greater Auckland area. The TAB made an across-the-board decision to close all Auckland TAB retail outlets the following day, Saturday, despite the vast majority residing in dry areas where retail around them remained open. Why? The TAB is now closing down all TAB accounts of New Zealanders living overseas, despite some of these Kiwis having had betting accounts for many years. Why would they suddenly do that when no legislative changes have recently occurred? An account holder who runs businesses in Thailand and has resided there for 30 years questioned the TAB about it upon receiving his closure email notice. He received the following reply: “Unfortunately we were forced to close all accounts that were listed as having an overseas address in order to remain compliant with New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering laws. The TAB NZ app and site should not be able to be accessed outside of New Zealand.” Why would it suddenly breach our laws when nothing has recently changed? Thailand has its own anti-money laundering laws, but the man in question with his TAB NZ account now closed, soon after legally opened an account with Bet365

I really question the motivation of a small group of self proclaimed enthusiasts. The ones that are talking about leaking the two "incidents" to mainstream media. I suspect none of them have worked with horses ever.

I've seen it too. Normally with horses that have a hell dirty attitude. Nowadays if a horse bites you can't slap it in the mouth. Would the general public have noticed if the Stipes didn't point out the actions? Hopefully they interview the horse, trainer AND driver. No doubt all three will recieve remedial behavioural counselling.

As an ex-pat mainlander (Cantab:West Coaster) myself I know where I'd rather be!

Arent the Trackside presenters worse? I turn the sound down until the NZ races start or with OZ races until they switch over to the OZ commentary. Did Emily have the day off at her home track yesterday?

Fly in some from the Aussie bush?