Chief Stipe

Feel free to message me. But in my opinion this issue needs to be discussed. Your choice if you participate or not. The facts are that it seems the industry is paying more for broadcasting and the customer is getting less service. That needs to be investigated. The deal with NEP is a long term one and is part of the $30m creditor default that required the Government bailout. We haven't seen a detailed annual report from the TAB since 2019. The last half yearly result had a paucity of detail and was only one page on the TAB NZ website. There has been various levels of skulduggery done over the last ten years starting with the very dubious Randall deal and it hasn't stopped with NEP. We have also seen costs shunted on and off as well as hidden on the balance sheet particularly under Allen/Brooks tenure. Now we have Brooks as the Harness nomination for the Board! An investigation needs to be undertaken.

Rule Number(s): 869(3)(b)Following the running of Race 1, an Information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr N Ydgren, against Open Driver, Mr R Holmes, alleging that “Mr Holmes (SUGARINSPICE) drove carelessly near the 700m when allowing his horse to contact the sulky wheel of GLOBAL FLIGHT which punctured”. Mr Holmes ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(3)(b)(ii)The Stewards charged Mr Johnson with a breach of r 638(3)(b)(ii) in that he used his whip excessively prior to the final 100 metres. Miss Haley demonstrated on the video that the Respondent struck his mount eight times before the final 100 metres of the race. Mr Johnson said the horse was a touch lazy, ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(3)(b)(ii)The Stewards charged Mr Campbell with a breach of r 638(3)(b)(ii) in that he used his whip excessively prior to the final 100 metres. Miss Haley demonstrated on the video that the Respondent struck his mount 10 times before the final 100 metres of the race. Mr Campbell said the horse was lazy and he ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 642(1)Following the running of Race Number 6, the Barfoot and Thompson 1400 metres, an Information was filed Instigating a Protest pursuant to Rule 642(1). The Informant, Ms Mahoney alleged that horse number 11 (MONTANA MIST) placed 2nd by the Judge interfered with the chances of horse number 1 (HEZTHEWONFORUS) ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 870(3) and Breaking Horse RegulationsFollowing the running of Race 5, an Information instigating a protest was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr N Ydgren against MYSTIC MAX (B Orange), placed 5th by the judge, on the grounds that it “galloped in excess of 50 metres in the final 200 metres”. Section B of the Breaking Horses Regulations ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

I can't imagine anyone who trains or races horses on the track or has seen the pictures posted here or watched Trackside can honestly say that the track doesn't need serious remedial work ASAP. Where are the loud voices calling for action? Where is the plan 7 months out from Cup week? If there is a plan why hasn't it been shared publicly? Are those in charge just happy to roll the dice? Personally if I had a half decent horse especially one that I had paid good money for I would refuse to have it race on that track in its current condition particularly one which was rated a G3 as we all know that such a rating is probably a G2!

How can it be "partly"? The issue that was raised in this topic has nothing to do with racetimes but about COVERAGE of local racing for local punters and fans. Do you know how long ago Avalon was closed to Trackside? 2013. Are you across the deals done to move into the Parnell building owned by a major Thoroughbred Stud? Including financing deals to Roger Randall and Co.? I suggest you do some homework. Why has it continued? What is the extra cost of having a Studio at Te Rapa? Is this for convenience for the Waikato based "presenters"? So you don't really know? Are you "out of touch"? Well it can't be staffing cuts can it as you said that there are still "producers, directors, graphic operations and editors." So you suggest it was also due to "Budget cuts" but how can you cut a budget when you have signed up to a fixed long term contract? Sounds more and more like the contract that was signed up to is not fit for purpose.

Don't forget there is still another 4 months of racing to go!

Does he mean more turf track surfaces like Riccarton?

So you are happy with this? received_127373929229248.mp4

You're kidding? Wouldn't any spare cash be better invested in the main turf track?

"So out of touch" am I? Pray tell how do you know so much - "Bill"? Now getting back to the original post in this Topic. So we can blame "Trackside" for scheduling and programming stuff ups then? If they do "still have a team" at NEP what the hell are we actually getting for the outsourced contract? Seems to be we are paying through the nose for less than we had before. Also how many TAB NZ employees are allocated to "Trackside"? Doesn't seem to be any answers in the paucity of financial information form TAB NZ. If there are staff at "Trackside" why do we now often see no oncourse presenters? Who runs the entity called "Trackside"? The codes? TAB NZ? Or both? Why did it take fund raising from David Ellis at Te Akau to get Weigh In back on air if there are all these "producers, directors, graphic operations, editors already employed? I'm sure that someone as yourself who is "in touch" will have all the answers. To me it seems we are paying twice for less and that isn't even accounting for the extraordinary amount paid to NEP!

I thought it was Ben Hope's fault by stopping instead of giving him a drag into the race? 😆

LOL! Forbury can you come up with a third way of writing the same thing?

Well how much Blue Blood do you need? By Savabeel out of an O'Reilly mare, Granddam none other than Legs!

Yes issues. As for which is best. All moot now. A lot of development between now and November. As you know I have always been a fan of OTB since I spied him in the sales catalogue. He has three year old stamped all over him. He is very much like his sire Brazen Beau in galloping action. Has a turn of foot and can run a sectional coupled with a professional attitude beyond his age. Plus seems to handle a wide range of tracks.

Given the now common occurrence of bad tracks at Riccarton this season should NZTR demand that remedial work be done or else the Guineas races will be moved? Or is there a chance that they will be raced on the AWT? Some of the surfaces presented there this year have bordered on dangerous to horse and rider safety. At best they have been inconsistent and a negative to punter confidence. Should something be done NOW while we are still 7 months out from Cup week? Would you really want your valuable 3 year old racing on the surface that was presented at the last meeting?

Especially when they have to contend with some rough training and racing surfaces.

Bosson Harris Parkes Allpress Innes Calder D Johnson C Johnson Collett Grylls Colgan Spratt McNab Weatherley Cameron Seems to be enough to cover most races.

I thought for a moment you were describing Riccarton but then realised that you were talking about Awapuni.

Compare that track to Riccartons recent efforts!

Where did I say I was "amazed"? All I did was acknowledge the fine effort and ask if it had been done before. Why do you feel obliged to diminish the effort? You also only reiterated what I said with regard to the numbers and quality of the purchases. What's your point? The "Oz 2yr old" was purchased relatively cheaply at Karaka. Also as you know buying a Savabeel isn't a guarantee of success particularly as a 2 yr old. Duh!