Chief Stipe

Especially when they have THREE channels streaming online.

Another thing.....I decided to open up the laptop and log into the NZ TAB. The only way I have of watching listening to the races is to stream them from the TAB website. Now I'm getting pissed off at trying to look at the fields while having the video streaming. There are three options for the video - full screen, a small medium screen or a micro screen. The latter is a waste of time because I need a magnifying glass to see anything. The full screen hides all the bloody field and price information! So that leaves the small medium screen! Now this small medium screen box is fine to look at but if you are looking at the fields and prices you have to keep shifting the damn thing around so you can peek underneath to look at some information. It is pissing me off! Why can't you lock the video into a fixed sidebar and have the field information available in a scrollable portion where you can switch from different meetings and different races? How hard is that! Shoot the CNN website does it! You start at the top of the page with the video and as you scroll down through the information the video switches to a side bar and locks in. Perfect! Did they have any customer user testing done? You know by REAL customers? Sure I could have the video going on my smart phone while I have the fields up on my laptop but I have turn the screen saver off on my phone and prop it up so I can see it. umff!

Just in case you don't believe me! What's more if I do bet on the baseball and lose my contribution to the coffers will go to the NZ Baseball Association!

I don't buy into that loyalty crap. Loyalty cuts both ways and we haven't seen much coming from them to us. Even a bit of understanding of me as a customer would be nice instead they have shat on me. no free to air Trackside (I keep a minimum of 50 cents in my account so I can watch the streaming service); poor to now close to zero form publishing; there was no loyalty when they screwed The Informant over; no radio with meeting reviews and interviews - I've fixed that by being disloyal and tune into Sky Radio Australia 2KY - DON'T the NZ TAB; a web app and website that doesn't suit my needs whatsoever - WTF can't I change the settings so that Racing comes up first rather than some obscure sport that I couldn't give a rats arse about! I just opened the app on my phone now - there we go baseball from Nicaragua - Boer vs Matagalpa is the first thing that hits me! I might be interested if I could watch the game and the players are carrying machine guns and openly snort cocaine between innings!; Further to the above point - I'm getting sick of have to go from the home page to racing. It feels like an insult to have to do it everytime I reopen the app!!!; don't mention the shitty odds they offer!; don't mention what a pain in the arse it is bet AND watch at the same time on my smart phone unless I'm wearing Magoo glasses (expanding the video stream to full screen hides the punting options!)and have full control of my finger!; ......I better stop I'm getting wound up.

I don't understand this ITPP business. The ability to test for it has been around for nearly a decade. Is the allegation that it hasn't been tested by racing jurisdictions? I apologise but I'm a Google fiend. It also appears that the dosage required to have any effect on a horse's performance would have to be very high subsequently easy to detect.

I disagree the new part of the Act which enables land grabbing looks like a poorly written piece of legislation. Its intent and the methods to achieve it makes the old Public Works Act look lame by comparison. I hope that it is tested in Court not only for the interests of racing but also from a national perspective. With regard to testing it in Court I'm sure Avondale will get some QC willing to challenge it pro bono. I doubt NZTR will have the same offers.

I hope you are not referring to the future of racing?

Rule Number(s): Rule 869(3)(b)Following the running of Race 2, the Smith and Partners Mobile Pace 2200m, an information was filed by Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Muirhead alleging Junior Horseman Mr F Schumacher, breached Rule 869 (3) (b) in that he "drove VESPA carelessly contacting the wheel of the sulky of BETTERBEBETTER, causing ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Technically 3 "Outfits". 1. RITA approves date and venue. 2. & 3. Club plus HRNZ.

View the full article

Nope they got a $10m gift from the Government. Which they lobbied for well before the submission.

Driven by RITA requirements. As for paucity of information released to stakeholders RITA sets the example.

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.