Chief Stipe

Which is about 2,000 people. Typical accountant - takes things literally. But if you want to shift the goal posts the rooms at Ellerslie can accommodate 6,000 (that's fact not exaggeration) so you could have thousands on course and stuff all hugging the outside fence like they do at Kumara.

You can literally get thousands into the two stands at Ellerslie.

Been like that for decades - at least since the 1970.

Are you on course? You could hide the entire crowd from Kumara on one floor of the public grandstand at Ellerslie.

FFS they just dished up a recorded replay from Sam Houston - four horse field on dirt - won by HeRoseOnEaster paying $18 to win. Here's hoping Trackside rises by Easter.

But that isn't because there is this mythical cartel running things. It is because there is mismanagement and poor administration and no one holding them to account. @Pitman has a go when he doesn't get more than an equitable share for the abandonment of Wellington. Hasn't he been talking about building a satellite stable in the North for years? Why does he remain silent about the issues at Riccarton? Self-interest. Yet he isn't part of your "The Cartel" is he? Peter's "got cozy" with all sorts of people - that is his modus operandi. He is a charlatan. Did the Northern Cartel want AWT's at Awapuni and Riccarton? Peter's bailed the TAB out from insolvency - doesn't that benefit the entire industry not just "The Cartel"? As for the crazy Messara report - key parts of it weren't implemented. The biggest recommendation being the contracting of the wagering operation to an overseas operator. Joe - it isn't about having the last word. WHO IS THE CARTEL AND HOW ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT ISSUES WITH NZ RACING? It is a bit glib to say it is "The Cartels' fault" when they are nameless. The Cartel is a myth - it is a bit like the Devil or the Bogie Man - someone to blame for what is wrong. The issues lie with the rank and file who just keep on accepting shyte racing administration in their own realm because they fear they will be disadvantaged if they speak out. They are also to blame because they don't put aside their self-interest and fear and talk to each other and seek change as a collective. "Oh well it is The Cartel that is running things and they are big and I can't compete".

It should be a straight forward link to the Gamblers Help Line.....for anyone bothering to watch Trackside 2 today or 1....

Great now we are getting replays of yesterday's racing.....

The Trackside 2 Presenter just said - "and now we welcome another international venue Sam Houston...." Great stuff a four horse field from the USA with $5 in the Win Pool!!!!! Meanwhile are the horses in the Parade ring at Ellerslie? Of course Aiden Rodley and Co are too busy being Jockey agents today!!!

Well I'm assumed that Ellerslie Gallops and Nelson Trots would be on the same channel. Surely until the Ozzie Gallops kick in that would be the optimum wagering revenue return. It isn't as if there are competent knowledgeable studio presenters doing lead ups to either meetings. Instead we get Golden Gate dirt racing and the mandatory horrid yankee commentator!!!!

Yep the first few races from Ellerslie today are on Trackside 2. On Trackside 1 we have the very attractive punting option of Northfield Park - USA Harness.

So who belongs to your mysterious grouping of nameless individuals that form "The Cartel" at Awapuni and Riccarton? Surely Pitty @Pitman isn't a member? No it isn't "click baiting" - it is a serious question. If you give credence to this mysterious grouping of individuals then you inhibit the potential for all stakeholders to speak out and bring about change. They think "oh woe is me, the Cartel is in charge and that is the cause of all my problems and I'm too small to fight back"..... They reality is as a formal group they don't exist!!!! Who in the Top 5 on the Trainers Premiership are in The Cartel? "Dummy" Myers can't be - I can't imagine The Cartel taking a team of horses to the West Coast. I don't imagine Lisa Latta is. Te Akau is dominating the Premiership Table with more Stakes than places 2 and 3 combined. Miles ahead on the G & L wins. Is Te Akau "The Cartel"? Or are they entirely focused on their business? Remember Ellis was at odds with Pike et al about shifting the Guineas. Was that a ruse to disguise who were true members of "The Cartel"?

You can't name names because "The Cartel" is a myth. Perpetuating that myth doesn't do the industry any favours because it creates this mythical construct that can't be targeted. Some benefit from that myth being perpetuated.

Many of those USA and Korean races are abandoned because there is insufficient money in the pools to meet the minimums. Overall profit for the year to end of November is down on the back of a decline in Pokie revenue from predominantly Auckland. The Pokie revenue is normally diverted to pay for the RIB however if that revenue is down then it has to come from wagering revenue either directly or indirectly.

I just noticed something else in the accounts that took a bit of digging to work out what had happened. Needed to go back to the TAB NZ annual report to work it out. There was another $3m windfall to NZTR (and the industry) when TABNZ didn't charge race broadcasting fees. These costs were covered by the Government slush fund and labelled "Return to Racing". So the bottom line looked better than it could have. Back to the staff numbers at NZTR - the last annual report states there are 40 employees. Yet a quick count of the total number in the November 2021 Programme numbers about 55. I suspect we won't see the additional employee cost until the next annual report - unless as a parting gift Bernie gives us a half-year report. Now that increase in costs will have been predicated on the TAB NZ budgeted revenue. That is starting to look a little shaky and if target isn't met then do we have a stack of cards and domino's? Meanwhile nothing has been spent on getting more product to the races for punters to bet on and generate revenue.

Creates Content.

Quote: Meanwhile, the Pitman colours are traditionally a familiar feature of the Wellington Cup carnival at Trentham every January, but they will not be on show in 2022 following the abandonment of the Captain Cook Stakes raceday in December. “It cost us several thousand dollars to take horses all the way up to Wellington last time, and all we got was $250 in compensation – the same as the horses that came from Manawatu,” Pitman said. “So I’m refusing to go back there for their carnival this year, and I’m going to support some good South Island races with my horses instead. “Miss Tycoon Rose will run in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge (1600m) in Dunedin on February 5.”

KUMA-R08-080122.mp4

I'm not playing games. It is a serious question. A few dominating the breeding industry doesn't constitute a "cartel" in my opinion. Who are the members of the cartel and how do they control racing?

Why not? Then they could be New Zealand first true tri-code grass venue!!! Something for @Reefton to work on.

Check out the gravy.....

As some of the more astute of us pointed out, in response to the cheerleaders and drum majors applause (@JJ Flash ), the expenditure reductions at TAB NZ were nothing more than smoke and mirrors. It was clearly evident that TABNZ were pushing some functions off their books and onto each of the codes. The end result we said would be a duplication in functions across each of the codes AND TABNZ with an overall cost increase to the Racing Industry as a whole. Here is an example - this is just a comparison for Thoroughbred Racing - the staff numbers have doubled: NZTR Communications and Marketing - November 2019. NZTR Communications and Marketing - November 2021.

The same directory but dated November 2019......fits on two pages not FOUR!

A few more: