Chief Stipe

Self service machine. A lot better than the old ones.

The law doesn't say that anymore.

No because that would be a free license to you money launderers. However maybe they could set up a system where you transfer to your bank/credit card? However @Brodie if you think about it the system actually protects YOU from stuffing up walking away and the next guy takes your million dollars.

I tested one of these new TAB pods. I found it a lot easier to use than the old ones. As for the "old lady" - she would have had to be well under 5ft at least if she couldn't reach the key parts. i guess they are trying to limit ex-jockey's betting.

Especially if races with the optimal conditions for that horse are limited or few and far between. The hardest part in my opinion is getting their attitude right and placing them! The conditioning is the easy part.

Yes but you probably know the source of the carrots! Would your risk giving them to a horse that was a few days out from a race?

Name three.

Boy have I got a deal for you!! Are the group still together? I know just the horse(s) that you can plan a campaign for over a few beers! That said did you think that "the group" didn't place the horse very well since it didn't win a race? Just asking.

Did you stop to think that many wouldn't want to buy a horse that has been well tried by a large stable for the very reason it had been given every opportunity?

Fellini was a first crop Belardo too I think. Some thought they were wet trackers then they started winning on better tracks. My point being that sometimes early crop horses take a bit to work out. One of the advantages of a bigger stable is that they get a feel for a breed and adjust accordingly. The fact is it is just as likely that the horse would have won nothing in a different stable rather than double what it has won.

Which owner do you listen to in a 25 owner syndicate? In my experience there never is a consensus. A big part of the deal that you sign up to when purchasing a small share in a syndicate is that you are paying for the professional knowledge and expertise of the trainer. If you don't agree with their decisions then you always have the option of not buying another share. A bit different if you own more than 50% of the horse. Good luck with finding someone to meet that requirement. I remember the Bart Cummings quote which paraphrased went like this when a potential owner asked what his daily training fee was - "my daily training fee is $75 but if you want to help it is $150".

Assuming those named in the facebook snapshot are owners I'm not sure their training credentials are anywhere near those of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. But they can reckon all they want. What's your opinion based on the facts? I've made it easy for you - here is a link to the horses performance: https://loveracing.nz/Common/SystemTemplates/Modal/EntryDetail.aspx?HorseID=408824&DisplayContext=Modal

Really? So a horse with $250k in the bank, 7 wins the latest being 5 starts ago you consider to be a failure? Correction we're not sure what your opinion is because you've only posted someone else's.

Had a good first half of the season. Is an owner disgruntled or something? Or did you punt it @Newmarket?

Your point?

TABNZ know exactly what the state of play is as do the code management. At the end of the 5 years ENTAIN splits the profit 50/50 with racing AND sports.

The programming and how the money that the ENTAIN funding provides is spent has very little to do with ENTAIN if anything. The ENTAIN funding goes to TABNZ, a separate statutory entity that decides how the funding is split between the racing codes and sports. The racing codes decide their own programming and stakes allocation per race. They consult with TABNZ. If the money is being wasted in your opinion then you should direct your focus to the code management and TABNZ.

...and owners wonder why training fees are so high at those stables.

I had the pleasure of being invited to a major stable open day recently. We were given full access to all the barns of some very valuable horses. We were told that we were NOT to touch the horses mouths with our hands. I understand why but I do remember the days I turned up to the stable with a carrot or a peppermint Oddfellow. Rest assured though those barns had full CCTV recording what happened.

Well part of that problem is the prohibited drug rules are not in line with the testing being able to detect environmental contamination. With zero level tolerance environmental contamination can disqualify a horse for a substance that was picked up from the environment that it was temporarily stabled in and not be at a level that affects performance. I've spoke to racing code management and the RIB about this and they all say "yeah we recognise there is a problem but..." They don't do anything about it. Then of course there are those on social media who see a positive and don't accept that it could be environmental contamination issue and NOT deliberate administration. Not to mention again that the levels detected are very very small. Akin to a drop of blood in an Olympic swimming pool. Remember the P positive at New Plymouth?

I don't disagree but HRNZ have shown poor judgement in this area a long time before ENTAIN turned up. Now that dogs are going HRNZ need to step up. Excuse the pun but it's dog eat dog.

No one disagrees. What we do seem to disagree on is will that nursery of racing equine and human talent able to compete on the world stage continue. The situation is dire in many locations in NZ in terms of participation. It was that widespread participation that produced the talent we see now - arguably those you mention are well past midway in their careers.

But you don't accept there are challenges, issues, problems.

Why do you think ENTAIN sets the programme? They may have input but I thought the codes set the calendar/programme. Now the codes have less incentive to work together so some of the issues are due to competition.

Waller left NZ 26 years ago. Baker left 14 years ago. Both are now naturalised Australians. They have both very rarely ventured back here to race a horse. Yes it is great that they have had success in Australia. About 1 every decade? Sadly the foundation to their success has been decimated in NZ. For example is CD racing going to produce another Chris Waller given the state that districts racing is in? Isn't an interest enough in the first instance? You have told us you have skin in the game but you seem oblivious to the issues facing the industry and as you have said many times you don't care about things you perceive you have no control over. Sadly that attitude isn't going to help produce the next generations of Waller's or Macdonalds.