Chief Stipe

No no no. You are digging not me. My powder is dry. Which is quite easy given the FACTS are aligned with my assessment.

Your point?

Come on @Gammalite can't you remember the Harness Racing stalwart who won Gold in the 10,000m?

Walker won Gold!

Emma Twigg is looking good!

Great win. In the end quite easy. They did a World Best (Record?) in the lead up. First win for NZ in this event. They back up tomorrow in the 8's! Oh the memories of 1972! Harness racing AND Rowing!

Numerous factual errors in this post. Oh where do I start. 3,500km from the last land based navigation point as in Dunedin to McMurdo Sound. The technology available in 1979 for navigation was not what we know now. To travel 3,500 km across ocean with no land reference and expect to be where you thought you would let alone within 10 miles of that point is insane. Especially when you knew that there was terrain in the area. Let alone bad weather. The first responsibility of the flight Captain was to determine exactly where they were. They were told by the USA flight control that they WEREN'T where they should be. That should have raised doubt. Rule number one don't descend if you don't know where you are. Rule two don't descend into bad weather. Whatever you do don't do both! As the Instructor said to me when he gave me my pilots licence - "Congratulations Doug - remember this two things will kill you when flying. Beatups and bad weather. Avoid both but never do both together"! I asked what was a beatup? Being a naive protected follow the rules kid I didn't understand. He said a "beatup is when you buzz the girlfriends house flying too low".

Glenda Hughes, CEO of GRNZ announced today that they would be seeking funding from Government to assist in the upgrading tracks that are unsafe. She said, "We believe a precedent was set when over $35m was given to the Thoroughbred industry to build three All Weather Tracks. That coupled with the inquiry into Greyhound Racing it makes a good case for assistance to upgrade our Tracks to be safe to race on".

Why do they bother with these races? With $17 in the Win Pool seems only @Thomass bets on them!

Geez now I know why I keep seeing ads on BOAY for "Easy Local Girls"!

Air NZ was a number of factors. Didn't Justice Mahon say "10 factors" any one of which could have prevented the disaster? At the end of the day I back the cogent analysis done by a BA Captain and Chippendale - the primary cause of the accident was pilot error namely not maintaining minimum altitude over high terrain and bad weather and not confirming the position of the plane after a long flight over water. Back to Rangiora - in terms of injury to rider and horse the track is no different to any others in NZ.

You know as well as I do that Pike River should have always been an opencast mine. Who gave approval for it to be something else? I guess you still blame Air New Zealand for the Erebus Disaster? But back on topic......obviously there is nothing wrong with the Rangiora track given the number of horse trials that have galloped on there since 2006.

Plus a multitude of trials. There's no evidence to say that Rangiora is any more dangerous than any other track. Certainly kinder on horses than Riccarton.

Maybe the Greyhounds could ask for $10m to build a better AWT like the Thoroughbreds did?

Well one question to ask is how is HRNZ going to market harness racing to prospective punters? How much will they spend? Another question is did HRNZ get their fair share of the promised increase in total funding to the racing industry? Or did one of the other codes benefit disproportionately more?

Especially for Brodie.

Here we go again You know how I know public health authorities are lying? Their own data Alex Berenson Jul 26 357 66 In the last few weeks, politicians and senior public health officials have insisted over and over that unvaccinated Americans account for essentially ALL of the deaths of people from Covid. At a White House press briefing on July 22, for example, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that “99.5 percent of Covid deaths and 97 percent of hospitalizations are [emphasis added] among the unvaccinated.” Note that “are,” please. Are is PRESENT tense, something happening NOW. Murthy isn’t alone. On Independence Day, Dr. Anthony Fauci answered a question on Meet The Press about deaths IN JUNE by saying that “if you look at the number of deaths, 99.2 percent of them are unvaccinated. About 0.8 percent are vaccinated.” To be clear on the math here, Fauci’s answer would imply that only about 80 vaccinated people - 0.8 percent of 10,000 - died in June. These are - how do I put this delicately? - big fat stinking lies. They are off by a factor of at least five, and probably 10 or more. — Let’s put aside that the way public health authorities define vaccinated is NOT the way most people think of being vaccinated. Had one shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines? You’re not vaccinated. Had two? Still not vaccinated, not for two weeks. In countries where health authorities are more honest, statistics on hospitalizations and deaths have three categories - “fully” vaccinated, “partially” vaccinated, and “unvaccinated.” Many cases fall in the middle category. In fact, data show that the vaccines can cause an increase in infections and deaths for up to two weeks after the first dose, possibly because they temporarily suppress immunity by recruiting so many white blood cells to the area of the injection. The truth is that if we were treating vaccines like other drugs, we would include the “partially” vaccinated cases in the “vaccinated” category because they have occurred AFTER treatment has begun. The United States does the opposite. When it reports statistics on vaccine hospitalizations or deaths, it ignores partly vaccinated people. They are lumped with those who have never received a dose as “unvaccinated.” This trick is particularly galling now that the vaccine companies and the government have acknowledged the fact that the mRNA shots begin to lose their protective effect in a matter of months and that many people will need boosters soon. It is no longer even clear whether “vaccine” is right term to describe these therapies. Most other vaccines protect for decades, if not a lifetime. (The main exceptions, the influenza vaccines, are known to be only marginally effective and have done almost nothing to reduce the virulence of the flu over a multi-decade span.) — But as I said, even putting aside the issue of how we classify the partially vaccinated, Fauci and Murthy lied about what percentage of coronavirus deaths are now occurring in FULLY vaccinated people. It is much higher than the sub-1 percent figures they offered. This fact should have been obvious to anyone who has seen the data from England, Scotland, and Israel. Those countries vaccinated a greater percentage of their populations more quickly than the United States. They have also been much more transparent about reporting hospitalizations and deaths among vaccinated people. And in all three countries, hospitalizations and deaths have spiked since May - and vaccinated people have accounted for more than HALF of all deaths recently. The difference does not come from the type of vaccines, either. Israel used only the Pfizer vaccine, which until recently was considered the better of the two mRNA vaccines. The United Kingdom gave many Pfizer doses too. So the comments from Fauci and Murthy defied credibility - how could other countries have so many more deaths in their vaccinated populations? The answer is that Fauci and Murthy are - intentionally - using the wrong denominator. They say “now” or “are.” But they are comparing deaths among the fully vaccinated - which have essentially been an issue only since May - with ALL deaths beginning from the day the United States offered its FIRST vaccine dose (or even possibly from the beginning of the epidemic). The United States has had roughly a quarter-million deaths from Covid this year (the CDC reports 216,000, a number that will rise somewhat). It has had closer to 300,000 since the first dose was offered on Dec. 14. But more than half those deaths occurred in December and January, when essentially no one was fully vaccinated. Not even 2 percent of Americans were fully vaccinated as of February 1. Deaths began to fall in February. After March 1 - when only 1 in 13 Americans were fully vaccinated - they plunged further. In the five months since, perhaps 80,000 people have died from (or with) Covid - fewer than died in January alone. Vaccine advocates rarely acknowledge the fact that deaths started dropping long before most people had received shots. In reality, even acknowledging that many people who received vaccines in January and February were older and vulnerable, seasonality and herd immunity seem to have had a greater impact on broad Covid trends than vaccinations. — But for the advocates, the big winter death numbers are handy in one way - they make the breakthrough numbers seem tiny. While Israel and the United Kingdom are rigorous about reporting Covid and vaccine data, the United States is not. Only a few states report breakthrough numbers with any regularity. The Centers for Disease Control does not, either. Instead, the numbers dribble out essentially at random. But enough states have reported over time that we can say with certainty that the United States had almost no breakthrough deaths before April, and very few in April. For example, Minnesota reported none as of March 24. Washington state said it was investigating two as of March 31. Nationally, the CDC reported 160 deaths as of April 30. Essentially ALL the “fully vaccinated” breakthrough cases and deaths have come since May. As of June 21, the CDC reported 750 deaths nationally. As of July 19, the number had risen to 1141. All by itself, those figures prove Fauci lied when he told Chuck Todd on July 4 that 0.8 percent of deaths “are” in vaccinated people. The CDC currently reports about 24,000 deaths since May 1 (CDC reporting lags state reporting) - which would mean that fully vaccinated deaths have been about 4 percent of the total since then, FIVE TIMES what Fauci claimed. It is simply impossible that only 80 fully vaccinated people died in June, based on the CDC’s own data. The real percentage is likely significantly higher. Breakthrough cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have all swung up recently, and the CDC’s lags mean that it has not caught up. For example, Illinois is now reporting 159 deaths, New York City reported 94 through mid-June, and Massachusetts 80, North Carolina 61, Washington state 45, and Oklahoma 19 as of mid-July. That’s 458 deaths in geographically diverse states (and a city) with a combined population of roughly 50 million, just over 1/7 of the United States population. That implies as many as 3,000 vaccine breakthrough deaths nationally, almost all since May 1. (California and Texas have reported relatively low numbers of deaths, but it is not clear if they actually have fewer or are just counting very slowly.) The CDC’s reporting lag means that the actual total number of COVID deaths since May 1 is closer to 35,000 than its reported figure. If 3,000 vaccine breakthrough deaths have occurred since then, they’re running closer to 10 percent than 1 percent of total Covid deaths. Further, in those few states that report regularly enough for trends to be clear, including Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Oklahoma, the total percentage has crept over 10 percent in the last couple of weeks. — The tragedy here is that Fauci and Murthy DON’T have to lie. If 5 percent, or 10 percent, or even 15 percent of American Covid deaths are currently occurring in fully vaccinated people, that’s impressive protection considering that more than half of adults have been vaccinated - and more than 80 percent of the elderly, who are most vulnerable. The vaccines look to be holding up better in the United States than Israel, the most comparable country (though whether that gap will continue is not clear, since the United States was a few weeks behind Israel in its vaccination campaign and Israeli cases and hospitalizations have surged this month). But they won’t offer the real numbers. And as they hype the Delta variant, they refuse to admit the United States has had far fewer Covid deaths overall in July 2021 as in 2020 (while the United Kingdom is now reporting more deaths now than it did in late July 2020, despite having better overall vaccine coverage). Their reluctance is part of a much larger problem, the unwillingness to offer a serious cost-benefit analysis of the vaccines. Because the truth is messy. The vaccines are clearly far from the miracle that the initial reports promised last November. Yes, they appear to offer decent protection in the short run. But they don’t end transmission, and their effectiveness is fading fast in the most vulnerable people. Their side effects are real and worsen with the second dose. Their greatest benefit by far is for the elderly. Instead, of admitting these truths, the vaccine fanatics insist on offering numbers they must know are false - as, increasingly, they attack those Americans who choose not to be vaccinated. And demonize those of us who point out the truth.

Tabcorp strikes landmark US greyhound wagering agreement By Adam Dobbin 03:40pm • 27 July 2021 4 Comments A landmark commingling agreement will see Australian greyhound racing opened up to the lucrative US wagering market for the first time. The deal struck will see Tabcorp's Sky Racing World feed vision of Australian greyhound racing into the large US audience but more importantly, American punters can now bet into Tabcorp's Australian pools via commingling. It's expected that the commingling opportunities will add some much needed volume to the local Parimutuel pools which have continued to wane during a time where Fixed Odds wagering has exploded. Adam Rytenskild, Tabcorp's Managing Director of Wagering and Media, said the deal will bring about a number of benefits for the Australian greyhound industry. “This deal will allow us to showcase greyhound racing to the massive North American market and develop new audiences with the benefits flowing back to the sport, participants and our business,” Rytenskild said. “Sky's international team works hard to ensure the best possible global distribution of all three codes of Australian racing. And this is a great example of Sky helping Australian racing to find the widest possible international audience.” Under the new deal, Sky Racing World will distribute selected races from Australian greyhound tracks into the US via Sky’s broadcast partners. The US pool on these races will be commingled with TAB's NSW greyhound racing pool. Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) CEO Tony Mestrov was another to welcome the announcement. “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our product on such a big international stage,” Mestrov said. “Our aim is always to have our great product in as many markets as we can, and available to the widest possible audience. “This deal is another step forward in achieving that goal.”

Maybe they have a cunning plan..... Tabcorp strikes landmark US greyhound wagering agreement By Adam Dobbin 03:40pm • 27 July 2021 4 Comments A landmark commingling agreement will see Australian greyhound racing opened up to the lucrative US wagering market for the first time. The deal struck will see Tabcorp's Sky Racing World feed vision of Australian greyhound racing into the large US audience but more importantly, American punters can now bet into Tabcorp's Australian pools via commingling. It's expected that the commingling opportunities will add some much needed volume to the local Parimutuel pools which have continued to wane during a time where Fixed Odds wagering has exploded. Adam Rytenskild, Tabcorp's Managing Director of Wagering and Media, said the deal will bring about a number of benefits for the Australian greyhound industry. “This deal will allow us to showcase greyhound racing to the massive North American market and develop new audiences with the benefits flowing back to the sport, participants and our business,” Rytenskild said. “Sky's international team works hard to ensure the best possible global distribution of all three codes of Australian racing. And this is a great example of Sky helping Australian racing to find the widest possible international audience.” Under the new deal, Sky Racing World will distribute selected races from Australian greyhound tracks into the US via Sky’s broadcast partners. The US pool on these races will be commingled with TAB's NSW greyhound racing pool. Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) CEO Tony Mestrov was another to welcome the announcement. “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our product on such a big international stage,” Mestrov said. “Our aim is always to have our great product in as many markets as we can, and available to the widest possible audience. “This deal is another step forward in achieving that goal.”

Cup favourite arrives in Victoria ‘happy and healthy’ Incentivise. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography. By Ben Dorries 11:44am • 28 July 2021 Peter Moody says Caulfield and Melbourne Cup favourite Incentivise has arrived in Victoria a “happy and healthy boy.” Covid-19 border restrictions made it a nightmare for the rising star of Australian racing to fly from Queensland to Victoria so he was floated by road instead this week. He has arrived at Moody’s Pakenham stables and it is now full steam ahead for the promising stayer who is the $7 Caulfield Cup favourite and the top Melbourne Cup pick at $11. Incentivise arrived at Moody’s just after 6am on Wednesday morning and the trainer reported everything was at it should be. “He has had a good hour or so in the box and his temperature is normal and he had a pick and a feed and then I took him out and trotted him up,” Moody said. “I trotted him up four or five furlongs, just to loosen him up and stretch his legs. “He is a happy, healthy boy and he seems bright and alert. “Pleasingly he has travelled well, all his shoes are in place and he has had a nice look around Pakenham on the trotting track.” Peter Moody will take over the training of Incentivise. Picture: Racing Photos Moody’s trackwork rider reported Incentivise was “very bright and well in himself.” Since winning a 1600m maiden at the Sunshine Coast in April, Incentivise went on a slashing five-race winning streak. Incentivise won his past four outings by a total of nearly 40 lengths. His performances caught the attention of prominent Victorian owners Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir who bought a 50 per cent stake in the son of Cox Plate winner Shamus Award. Sokolski said on Wednesday morning that the likely spring kick-off for Incentivise was the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 11. It is probable he would then progress to the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes three weeks later. Incentivise’s original Queensland trainer Steve Tregea still has a major say in boom stayer, with the Toowoomba-based horseman retaining a controlling ownership share as the galloper is prepared for spring riches. Chris Calthorpe, from Air Horse Transport, had been set to fly Incentivise from Queensland to Melbourne but that task proved just about impossible due to Covid-19 restrictions. Up until now, Incentivise had been stuck in Queensland. “They wanted to do it Monday or Tuesday this week but I couldn’t get into the state (Queensland),” Calthorpe told Racenet on Wednesday morning. “So the horse ended up trucking down.” Racing Victoria’s latest advice regarding interstate horse travel to Victoria reads: “Transportation of horses to Victoria from all states and territories remains permitted provided that the horses are transported by an approved float company that is permitted to do so under any Government directives.”

That's why I'm not as optimistic as the Fairy Fantasist Flash. Also we haven't seen a decent breakdown of costs and revenue for over a year now. I just can't see where the projected increases in wagering on horse racing are going to come from. I thought the NZ market was stagnate and at an average 18% yield why would any punter with any nous spend more here? Also with Australia having enough of its own product to broadcast why would Ozzie bookies/TAB's promote NZ Racing when they now have to pay fees? Let alone the choices. Why would an Ozzie bet on a small field racing on synthetic at Cambridge when they had 3 or 4 other choices in OZ? Bear in mind that there would have been more choices but for the fact that Victoria Racing has the luxury of being able to take the week off! On a Saturday the options for the Ozzie market are even better AND getting better!!! Add to the above the fact that NZTR are now responsible for marketing the NZ Thoroughbred Racing product!

Did you miss reading the new Racing Act? Revenue and cost subsidisation. During Covid they ran books on Handball or some such sports. Probably built into the wagering system and they just turn on the odds from Paddy Power.

No my understanding that is not the case. The only revenue from sport that goes into the subsidy pot is for those that don't have National Organisations.

I'm obviously not as adept as @JJ Flash had seeing the positividdy in the TAB accounts nor it would seem very good with numbers.... Can anyone else see the discrepancies in the reported June figures? They don't seem to add up to me but then I might be missing something.