Chief Stipe

Exactly if big clubs running a corporate model with all the benefits and subsidisations they have had from NZRB (in comparison to smaller clubs) couldn't fund their own technology infrastructure how are they going to do it in the future? The classic case is the Cambridge Jockey Club surely they could have funded an AWT track themselves without getting a Government benefit handout?

Ok I'll bang on about it again. There were broadcasting costs due to the dumb contract they have and the stupid move to make what once were variable costs fixed. For example replacing variable satellite costs with fixed terrestrial network costs.

Rule Number(s): 870 (3) & Breaking Horse RegulationsStewards lodged a protest against the fifth placed SPRINGBANK MASON alleging a breach of r 870 (3) and the Breaking Horse Regulations in Race 3. They sought the disqualification of SPRINGBANK MASON from its fifth placing under r 1003 (2). The official placings were: [3] DAY DREAMIN 1st [8] ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2) & Use of the Whip RegulationsFollowing the running of Race 1, Mike Stratford Memorial (Amateur Drivers) Mobile Pace, an information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr P Williams, against Licensed Advanced Amateur Driver, Ms S L Wigg, alleging that Ms Wigg, as the driver of CHANGEAROUND in the race, used her whip on more occasions ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Because the RIU/JCA have other raceday duties to perform. Arguably they don't get out of the office enough now as it is. Will they do a virtual walk of the track before each meeting or after raceday concerns are raised? That comes at a cost. Extra telecommunications equipment, network equipment and special networks. Plus backup for each part of the solution. We are not talking your home internet setup here. Not true. There is a growing understanding occurring that the technology and the constraints imposes are stopping the growth of the NRL. You can't hold an NRL game at an alternative venue unless it has all the technology installed. We see the same constraint here now with where race meetings are able to be held. You make an assumption that it saves cost. Have you see any of the business cases that Saundry refers to? Overall I would say it adds cost and moves us forward to a higher cost production model we can't afford. But I guess that doesn't worry the people in Manawatu who are going to put an AWT on top of a swamp.

But also the reason is the Broadcasting constraint. Saundry said so in his email.

I know I keep banging on about this but another reason is the broadcasting "no satellite" constraint. They don't have many tracks network connected so they can't provide more meetings. FFS Ruakaka could put on a meeting tomorrow and it wouldn't be anywhere near a Heavy 10.

Interesting the new process of determining the distribution of TAB NZ profits. 1. A commercial agreement between TAB NZ and each code or all codes; 2. Or decided by Racing New Zealand; or if no agreement (the odds seems stacked against Harness and Dogs) - 3. Decided by the Minister!

Further: 7A Racing New Zealand established This section establishes Racing New Zealand— (a) as a consultative forum for the racing codes; and (b) to perform the functions and exercise the powers described in section 7B. 7B Functions of Racing New Zealand The functions of Racing New Zealand are— (a) to act as a consultative forum for the racing codes to facilitate the discussion of issues affecting all racing codes and the adoption of common positions on those issues: (b) to represent the racing codes in relation to negotiations, interactions with other bodies under this Act, and other matters, with the agreement of the racing codes: (c) to perform or exercise any of the functions and powers that can be performed or exercised collectively under this Act and are delegated to the consultative forum by the racing codes under section 7D. 7C Servicing and funding of Racing New Zealand (1) Administrative services for Racing New Zealand must be provided by the racing codes. (2) The services must be provided— (a) by each racing code for a fixed period on rotation between each code; or (b) by any other manner agreed by the racing codes. (3) The operations of Racing New Zealand must be funded by the racing codes, in a manner determined by agreement between the codes. 7D Delegation of powers and functions and powers by racing codes (1) The racing codes (acting jointly) A racing code may delegate in writing any of their its functions or powers that can be performed or exercised collectively under this Act to Racing New Zealand. (2) A delegation under this section— (a) may be subject to any conditions imposed by the racing codes; and (b) is revocable at any time, by notice in writing. (3) Racing New Zealand must not delegate any power or function delegated to it by the racing codes function or power delegated to it under this section to any other person or organisation. 7E Membership of Racing New Zealand (1) The board of Racing New Zealand comprises— (a) 1 member appointed by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Incorporated: (b) 1 member appointed by Harness Racing New Zealand Incorporated: (c) 1 member appointed by New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association Incorporated: (d) 2 members who are independent of the racing codes and who are appointed— (i) by the racing codes (acting jointly); or (ii) if the racing codes are unable to agree on who to appoint, by the Minister.

Racing New Zealand could be a beast. It was originally legislated to be a "maybe" but in the dark hours between the 2nd and 3rd reading it became a must. "..establish Racing New Zealand as a consultative forum for the 3 racing codes;"

Maybe Rosso had been told about this: On course presenters gone and now it’s the commentators who could be studio-bound By Barry Lichter • 29 June 2020 Some greyhound meetings next month will be held with no on-course commentator in the latest cost-cutting move by the TAB. In what could be a sign of things to come, Trackside will have a commentator in its Christchurch studio calling three meetings in the Central Districts using only a TV monitor. With regular commentator Mark Rosanowski on leave, and the other former CD caller Darryl Robinson among those let go, RITA finds itself stuck for a replacement. So Andy McCook, one of the contractors who fell victim to widespread cuts by the Racing Industry Transition Agency, will call the meetings at Wanganui and Palmerston North in the second week of July. McCook, who has been a presenter and acted as a stand-in commentator off and on for the last four or five years in Canterbury, believes he can do the job without leaving viewers thinking they are being short-changed. Andy McCook, left, will stand in for Mark Rosanowski and call from the studio in Christchurch.It won’t be the first time he has called a meeting remotely. When a flight delay saw versatile caller Jason Teaz unable to get to Dunedin one day he team tagged with Trevor Wilkes in the Addington commentator’s box, calling the Forbury Park card while Wilkes did the local meeting. Unusually, Wilkes routinely calls off his TV monitor but McCook says for accuracy’s sake he’d much prefer to look out the window and use his binoculars. “The only problem is if dogs start getting checked and get a mile off the leaders, or fall over. “But I’m hoping there will be enough camera angles to make it work.” Given the TAB has cut the number of cameras it now uses to cover meetings that’s not a given but McCook is positive about the challenge ahead. McCook says he assumes the TAB will make arrangements for on-course punters to hear the commentaries. “This could be the way of the future and it’s not the end of the world. When I first started, I used to practice at home calling meetings watching the TV.” McCook says the TAB is ready “to rock ’n’ roll, having set up everything he needs in the Christchurch studio and he plans to have a test run soon. “I wouldn’t want to go in blind so I’ll be sneaking in to get some practice first.” McCook, a keen student of form, says he’s also got plenty of time to bone up on his CD greyhounds so he can analyse fields with at least some authority. It’s all over in the blink of an eye but calling greyhound races off the TV is easier than horse races.McCook believes it’s harder calling horse races off the TV than dog races as the field can string out much further and the horses are smaller with cameras now further away. Other commentators have been forced to rely on TV pictures in recent years when emergencies have arisen. Matt Cross called a West Coast meeting from the studio one day when Mark McNamara couldn’t get there and Aaron White called a trots card at Manawatu when he was fog-bound and stood in at the last minute for a sick Tony Lee at a Hastings gallops meeting. Similar problems will arise in Auckland next month with long-time caller Peter Earley dismissed and White, now expected to commentate on dogs, on leave. The TAB initially rostered cut gallops contractor Bruce Sherwin for July 12 at Manukau Stadium - he once called dog races in Macau - but George Simon will now do the meeting. It will make for a busy week for the Waikato-based Simon - he’s ditched the Te Aroha trials on Tuesday but will still be at the Cambridge dogs on Thursday and Ellerslie gallops on Saturday.

The RIU will be next holding race enquiries via Zoom or Skype.

Read this as a sign of things to come: On course presenters gone and now it’s the commentators who could be studio-bound By Barry Lichter • 29 June 2020 Some greyhound meetings next month will be held with no on-course commentator in the latest cost-cutting move by the TAB. In what could be a sign of things to come, Trackside will have a commentator in its Christchurch studio calling three meetings in the Central Districts using only a TV monitor. With regular commentator Mark Rosanowski on leave, and the other former CD caller Darryl Robinson among those let go, RITA finds itself stuck for a replacement. So Andy McCook, one of the contractors who fell victim to widespread cuts by the Racing Industry Transition Agency, will call the meetings at Wanganui and Palmerston North in the second week of July. McCook, who has been a presenter and acted as a stand-in commentator off and on for the last four or five years in Canterbury, believes he can do the job without leaving viewers thinking they are being short-changed. Andy McCook, left, will stand in for Mark Rosanowski and call from the studio in Christchurch.It won’t be the first time he has called a meeting remotely. When a flight delay saw versatile caller Jason Teaz unable to get to Dunedin one day he team tagged with Trevor Wilkes in the Addington commentator’s box, calling the Forbury Park card while Wilkes did the local meeting. Unusually, Wilkes routinely calls off his TV monitor but McCook says for accuracy’s sake he’d much prefer to look out the window and use his binoculars. “The only problem is if dogs start getting checked and get a mile off the leaders, or fall over. “But I’m hoping there will be enough camera angles to make it work.” Given the TAB has cut the number of cameras it now uses to cover meetings that’s not a given but McCook is positive about the challenge ahead. McCook says he assumes the TAB will make arrangements for on-course punters to hear the commentaries. “This could be the way of the future and it’s not the end of the world. When I first started, I used to practice at home calling meetings watching the TV.” McCook says the TAB is ready “to rock ’n’ roll, having set up everything he needs in the Christchurch studio and he plans to have a test run soon. “I wouldn’t want to go in blind so I’ll be sneaking in to get some practice first.” McCook, a keen student of form, says he’s also got plenty of time to bone up on his CD greyhounds so he can analyse fields with at least some authority. It’s all over in the blink of an eye but calling greyhound races off the TV is easier than horse races.McCook believes it’s harder calling horse races off the TV than dog races as the field can string out much further and the horses are smaller with cameras now further away. Other commentators have been forced to rely on TV pictures in recent years when emergencies have arisen. Matt Cross called a West Coast meeting from the studio one day when Mark McNamara couldn’t get there and Aaron White called a trots card at Manawatu when he was fog-bound and stood in at the last minute for a sick Tony Lee at a Hastings gallops meeting. Similar problems will arise in Auckland next month with long-time caller Peter Earley dismissed and White, now expected to commentate on dogs, on leave. The TAB initially rostered cut gallops contractor Bruce Sherwin for July 12 at Manukau Stadium - he once called dog races in Macau - but George Simon will now do the meeting. It will make for a busy week for the Waikato-based Simon - he’s ditched the Te Aroha trials on Tuesday but will still be at the Cambridge dogs on Thursday and Ellerslie gallops on Saturday.

The elite of the Thoroughbred code are in charge - neither Harness nor Dogs have complete control of their destiny. For example (one of many)....join the dots...a major Thoroughbred stud from the Waikato owns a building in Stanley Street, Auckland....does funding deal with NZRB and helps set up broadcasting company.....broadcasting company gets loans from NZRB....buys state of the art equipment and broadcasting technology (not suited to NZ)....commits NZRB to very long term contract...original company sells out to Australian company (no experience in horse racing) and takes the dosh......new technology dictates where races are held by enforcing technological constraint..... That's just one example!

I trust all the Harness followers realise that the Messara Report was entirely Thoroughbred centric. For example of the 30+ pages devoted to the future of race venues only one PARAGRAPH concerned Harness and Dogs. That is a bit simplistic. A working group of the three codes and NZRB was created to look at the venues. The Terms of Reference was quite narrow and subjective. In that it was set up to lead to the conclusions that were arrived at. For example heavy emphasis was put on the state of facilities like grandstands. Disproportionately less emphasis was placed on the actual racing track surface. Metrics such as the cost/stake ratio or the cost to the industry to provide racedays were deliberately excluded. Why on earth the comment about "shabby look" of NZ facilities was given as a reason in the Messara Report for closing some courses escapes me. When was the last time we got to look at the Grandstands or other facilities of a NZ racecourse pre or post race? For that matter when do we see those from Echuca or Pakenham or any other OZ course other than from Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day? So be it Thoroughbred, Harness or Dogs some clubs/racecourses have been shat on because they chose to keep investing their spare money and time into where the rubber hits the road ie. the tracks. Note that money most often came locally NOT from NZRB. What Messara, the various versions of NZRB + RITA + MAC have focussed on are nirvana operations where thousands of people flock to state of the art entertainment facilities. We have seen heaps of examples of where that approach hasn't worked. We are now creating another one in Cambridge! High cost models of operation that don't pay their way and most importantly don't attract any more offcourse revenue because they look good! One of the rules of good business planning is to elevate and maximise the return from your core competency and if it is a strategic advantage then protect it. What have we done? Our core competency has been a low cost model of operation and we are screwing it.

Rule Number(s): 869A (2)Following the running of Race 1, the First For Ford at Avon City Ford Mobile Pace, an Information instigating a protest was filed by Trainer Mr B Ward and Driver Mr M Williamson, alleging interference over the final stages by 1st placed DELIGHTFUL GNP, driven by Mr B Orange to 2nd placed, ALREADY GONE, ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 870 (3) (Instigating a Protest) and Breaking Horses RegulationsFollowing the running of Race 6, the Avon City Ford For New & Used Fords Mobile Trot, Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr N Ydgren, filed an information instigating a protest against SUMMER LOVIN, driven by Mr J Dunn, placed 4th by the Judge, on the grounds of “breaking and then galloping in excess of 50m ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638 (3) (b) (ii)Following the running of Race 11, the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Rating 62 Handicap, an information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr J Oatham, against Jockey (Class A), Ms S Wynne, alleging that, as the rider of TAI HO in the race, she struck her mount excessively prior to the 100m. Ms ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

If I'm reading the proposed changes correctly the racing industry ends up with yet another Board. RITA will be split into two organisations - Racing NZ and TAB NZ. Each will have a Board. Plus NZTR, HRNZ, GRNZ, RIU. Things just go from bad to worse.....

The Mesara Report.

Racing as we have known it, lived and loved it for decades has gone. In all the proposed restructuring there is one thing that is alarmingly missing and that is a new source of extra revenue to fund the higher cost model that is being thrust upon us

From what I've see of the final act those submissions changed stuffed all. Plus there were some dodgy amendments snuck through at the last moment.

Shoot no. We are talking 20+ not just Avondale. However don't be surprised if Avondale lead the fight in the Courts. The law that they passed looks full of holes to me. Many of those tracks closing down will not be recognised as training tracks indeed some are already designated as "not suitable". How do you think Riccarton or Awapuni will fund their component of the All Weather Tracks without acquiring assets from elsewhere? Stakeholders are going to get some rude shocks in the ensuing months. Otago Gallops and Harness already have.

Wouldn't count on it. We haven't seen ANY push back from clubs so far. Nor do they have any power other than to take what they are given if they are lucky to be given anything at all.

Yes and No. There will be a new Organisation called Racing NZ which has a Board comprising the three codes and sport. It is that organisation that will decide how to cut the pie. I think that's how it is going..... It all looks like a disastrous rearranging of the deck chairs if you ask me. Plus the success of the whole shemozzle is reliant on getting the assets put of the 20+ tracks they are closing down. Good luck with that one. Won't worry Winston as he won't be around!