Chief Stipe

Morrah will be aiming at horse racing next. But if $40m is to come from ENTAINS business will that negate their contract?

TAB could be asked to compensate greyhound trainers amid plans to ban the sport www.nzherald.co.nz New details have emerged in the Government’s bid to ban greyhound racing with new laws being considered to get the New Zealand TAB – now run by a global gambling giant – to help pay for the rehoming of ex-racing dogs. Racing Minister Winston Peters confirmed the plan in an interview with the Herald and revealed options are being explored to set up a single group to co-ordinate all greyhound rehoming nationally. Https://bitofayarn.com Racing Minister Winston Peters asked a ministerial advisory committee to come up with a plan for winding down greyhound racing in New Zealand. Photo / Mark Mitchell Https://bitofayarn.com The recommendations are part of an interim report from a ministerial advisory committee chaired by Heather Simpson, who was Helen Clark’s former chief of staff. It means greyhound owners and trainers – who may be required to continue housing and feeding their dogs while they await adoption post the end of racing – will likely get compensated. “All aspects to do with the ownership, the compensation and the conclusion of this business [the greyhound industry] is under the committee’s consideration,” Peters told the Herald. However, Peters said compensation will not extend to payouts for not being able to race any more, or for assets accrued by those involved in the sport which will become redundant. Greyhounds chase a lure at Cambridge Raceway in January. Photo / Yvette Bodiam He said just like saddle makers lost money when transport changed from horseback to cars, “change is inevitable and that’s the point”. “It won’t be compensation for not being able to do dog racing anymore but in dealing with the dogs as they’re being rehomed – that cost,” Peters said. It’s estimated about 1500 ex-racing dogs will need to be rehomed when the sport ends in July next year, although the exact time it’ll take to rehome all dogs isn’t known. Edward Rennell is the CEO of Greyhound Racing NZ and has announced plans to fight the Government's plan to ban the sport in the High Court. Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) CEO Edward Rennell suggested it would cost $40 million to look after greyhounds for a period of three years post the end of racing. In June, he said that was a cost that would need to be fronted by the taxpayer. “Current rehoming costs are met by GRNZ, funded by revenue from racing. There will be no racing after July 2026, so rehoming costs post-closure will have to be funded from alternative sources,” Rennell said. The committee’s compensation plan means the TAB – now operated by international sports betting and gambling company Entain – will be asked to help pay for rehoming rather than the taxpayer. Peters said new laws may be introduced which would effectively force the TAB – which earns millions from greyhound racing – to help pay for rehoming costs. “Bear in mind of course that if there was universality and acceptance, legislation may not be required.” Peters said GRNZ’s three-year estimate to rehome dogs was a pessimistic outlook and he was confident the job could be done much quicker. Any recommendations made by the committee would need to be considered by Cabinet before any decisions are made. Co-ordinated rehoming strategy SPCA chief science officer Dr Arnja Dale. Photo supplied. The committee also wants a shake-up of the current greyhound rehoming model with the creation of a single entity to co-ordinate efforts to get dogs adopted. GRNZ currently co-ordinates greyhound rehoming under its “Great Mates” programme. The programme has contracts with various agencies, including adoption kennels in Feilding known as Nightrave Greyhounds. The Herald understands the committee wants to reorganise and expand rehoming efforts by: Establishing a single, co-ordinated rehoming programme. Use common branding for all advertising. Introduce a standard set of welfare and contractual arrangements. Increase the number of locations where dogs can be viewed. The SPCA’s chief scientific officer Arnja Dale told the Herald her agency “absolutely supports” improving rehoming efforts. “It’s really critically important that we have consistent standards and policies that govern the rehoming and that there’s a central port, so essentially a central website where all the greyhounds are listed for adoption,” she said. Dale backed moves to ask the TAB to help fund rehoming costs providing the industry also pitched in. “We support it if Greyhound Racing New Zealand and their millions and millions in reserves help support that as well,” she said. The SPCA is willing to be involved in a future greyhound rehoming drive and Dale is “confident New Zealanders will stand up” and help with adoptions when the need arises. “When we made a call out [for adoptions] when Covid-19 got to New Zealand, we got thousands of animals into homes over a very short period of time,” she said. Greyhounds as Pets spokesperson Daniel Bohan Daniel Bohan from Greyhounds as Pets – NZ’s oldest adoption charity – told the Herald he backs a co-ordinated approach to rehoming. “Greyhounds as Pets would support any initiative to co-ordinate rehoming efforts at a national level and apply effective, consistent marketing and adoption policies across all agencies,” he said. In terms of funding rehoming, Bohan said he supports any plan that treats all stakeholders “fairly and equitably”. Court action looms GRNZ is going to court next month in an attempt to overturn the Government’s plans to ban the sport. Rennell claimed in May a judicial review of the proposal would expose the Government’s “cavalier attitude” in the lead-up to its decision. GRNZ’s High Court application will argue political leaders rushed the decision and failed to consult industry before making the call to end the sport. “This is an injustice to greyhound breeders, owners, trainers and all other industry participants, as well as a dereliction of duty to New Zealanders,” Rennell said. Rennell told the Herald it was “deeply cynical” and “hypocritical” to ban greyhound racing in NZ while accepting millions in revenue from Australian dog races. He said if a ban does proceed, it must be implemented with “impeccable fairness” to those who will lose their incomes. Peters pushed back on claims the industry wasn’t consulted, saying there have been three separate reviews of the sport – including the 2017 review by High Court Judge Rodney Hansen – which found 1140 dogs were euthanised in just four years. Peters, who was Racing Minister in 2017, said at the time the Hansen report findings were “disturbing and deeply disappointing”. That was followed by another review by Sir Bruce Robertson in 2021 which found issues with data recording, animal welfare and industry transparency. At the time, then Racing Minister Grant Robertson put the industry on notice. In 2023, a Racing Integrity Board report found the industry was making “slow progress” in five out of 15 key areas including bringing down injury rates. Peters told the Herald he regrets having to make the call to end the sport but said the industry had “failed to meet their requirements”. He said it was “breathtaking” to claim the decision was rushed given the longstanding issues identified in multiple reports over consecutive years. “To say that we’re [the Government] being cavalier, is to be perhaps looking in the mirror.” Michael Morrah is a senior investigative reporter/team leader at the Herald. He won News Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Voyager Media Awards and has twice been named reporter of the year at the NZ Television Awards. He has been a broadcast journalist for 20 years and joined the Herald’s video team in July 2024.

Why do want everything to be free?

How is NZ Racing being "propped up"? The question is are they being paid fairly for the product they provide for punters? As for the NRL - Rugby League is clipping the ticket on TAB transactions in NZ through various avenues. Are they being "propped up to"? If there was no racing and no sport what would you bet on? Pokies and Casinos? Who benefits from them?

Thank you not. Here endth @Huey 's days as a tipster.

I'm starting to come to the conclusion you are Anti-NZ Racing. Why promote avenues for taking revenue away from NZ Racing? You no doubt believe you have seen the best of NZ Racing and now that you are retiring from it you want to absolve your conscious.

You reckon? What odds are you offering?

Ok. So the biggest issue is that Betfair operating out of Northern Territory offers the best odds decided by those playing in the market? Do you want your mudders running around for kumaras?

Competitive with what? Peer to peer betting is just a Tote.

All credit to the horse but it takes a sharp trainer to keep him at the top level. These types of champion horses have all sorts of niggles because they try so hard ALL the time. What say you @Gammalite ?

Right so I need to choose 1 of his 3 but then I get the Trifecta? Do I box the three? Are you in the same rest home as @TAB For Ever ?

Grant Dixon's nod to enthusiastic son on the big stage 16 July 2025 By Jordan Gerrans and Andrew Smith For someone who drives and trains one of the greatest pacers in the history of the sport, Grant Dixon is almost as understated and low-key as it gets. It takes a fair bit to get the 52-year-old legendary harness man up and about. Even now and a few years into Leap To Fame’s dazzling career on the track, Dixon is still relatively softly spoken at the best of times when it comes to his stable megastar. He let his guard down on one occasion, however. When his imposing stallion strolled to the 2023 Inter Dominion championship on home soil, he gave a rare salute across the finish line. As the decider for the 2025 ID series rolls around this week at Albion Park, Dixon has revealed that it was his keen harness-loving son Jai who wanted him to salute the crowd a couple of years ago. With Queensland’s pin-up harness horse judged a $1.18 shot with the bookmakers to win Saturday’s Group 1 prize, there is every chance young Jai has been in his father’s ear this week, as well. “I did it more for his sake, not myself, as that is not my go,” he said with a wry smile when asked about the 2023 salute. The Dixon family at the recent harness awards ceremony.Https://bitofayarn.com “My boys have a bit of lairising in them. I do not know where they get it from because it does not come from their mother, either – I don’t know. “It was a life-time dream-come-true to win one. You sort of pinch yourself that you are in line to maybe win two. “It would be really great if he could get it done.” Young Jai’s nudge helped create one of the most iconic images in the history of the sport with Dixon saluting in front of a packed grandstand. Jai is a keen participant in the mini trotting ranks in the Sunshine State and could well follow his parents into the driving and training ranks in the coming years. Leap To Fame’s $1.18 quote in the decider will be one of the shortest-priced runners in an ID Grand Final ever. The great Leap To Fame has gone through the two weeks of ‘ID25’ heats with an unblemished record ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final. The six-year-old entire has drawn the one alley for the decider, which will be run and won over the lengthy staying journey of 3157 metres. Saturday night's marathon distance is the longest Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final in modern history. That is why many pundits and punters believe Leap To Fame has a second ID crown at his mercy as several in Saturday’s field are untested over the trip. “It is better than barrier eight for him,” Dixon said of drawing the one starting gate while referencing his recent draws in the heats. “I think the two mile, probably to a degree will stop some from going too hard off the gate because they all need to go that extra lap. “It will be pretty taxing on all of them. “He will enjoy the trip and hopefully the draw will not be too big of a hurdle.” LEAP TO FAME ID25 LADBROKES INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL (GROUP 1 3157m / 19 Jul 2025 Leap To Fame is already considered one of the greatest performers in the history of the sport with 55 victories and more than $4 million in stakes earnings to his name. With another $1 million on the line on home soil on Saturday evening, his resume is in the box seat to go to another level once again. Australia’s premier harness driver James Herbertson will drive Rakero Rebel for trainer Jess Tubbs in Saturday’s showpiece pacing event. Herbertson partnered with Better Eclipse – also from the Tubbs camp – in last week’s heat at Albion Park. Rakero Rebel has drawn alongside Leap To Fame in the decider. The 25-year-old Herbertson is regarded as one of the leading reinsman in the country and he even admits that racing against a standardbred as powerful as Leap To Fame is a privilege. Champion pacer Leap To Fame. “We are just trying to keep up, I think that is our best go,” the top young driver said. “He is a real standout and it is an honour to be in a race with him when he is at his peak. “Down the track, we will be able to say we raced against Leap To Fame. “Even in the heat the other night, I was happy to just keep up with him down the back straight and I was pretty pleased with that. “He is a generational horse and we are really, really lucky to be able to race against him in our lifetime.” Ahead of Saturday’s showpiece race, Dixon, as he does, was not giving away too much when pressed on Leap To Fame’s status this week. Champion pacer Leap To Fame. In a remarkable statistic, the champion pacer has not been beaten on his home track since November of 2023 – winning a staggering 20 races in succession at the venue. “Trista and I are happy with him, he seems well and bright,” the champion trainer said. “We hope for a good week with him and fingers crossed for Saturday night. “We have been happy with both runs in the heats; he has got through the line good. “The main thing is that he has pulled up well from the runs.” Thomas and Jai Dixon at the track. Racing Queensland’s Senior Harness Racing Manager Andrew Clarke has watched Leap To Fame closely in recent years and is blown away by his performances every time he steps on the track. Clarke also served as a board member and Deputy Chair at the Albion Park Harness Racing Club from June of 2024 until March of this year before starting his new role with RQ. “He is the best horse that I have ever seen,” Clarke said. “He epitomizes everything a good harness horse does - he can work, he can sprint – he is just a fantastic animal. “I think he sits above all the other horses that I have ever seen in my over 40 years watching the sport, in my opinion.” Races 8 Albion Park | Albion Park Harness Racing Club | 9:10 pm in 2 days ID25 LADBROKES INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL (GROUP 1 Prize money $1,000,000 Acknowledgement Racing Queensland acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we operate and conduct our business operations across Queensland. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to Elders, past and present. © Copyright 2025 Racing Queensland

Really? Are you serious? How is a crypto betting site going to help NZ racing?

I thought you didn't bet with Betcha? Was up on my app.

It is sold out but seriously why would anyone go watch Taranki pummel Thames Valley?! The Hawera and Opunake folk wouldn't turn up to Pukekura Park anyway!

It's still a Pre-season game against Thames Valley for the Ranfurly Shield. Their first NPC game for 2025 is not until 2 August. Last year for the NPC they averaged 4,000 a game. I doubt it will make much difference to the numbers going to the races.

Uh?! 11 horses and all with form. A very very even field. Good luck finding the winner!

A very interesting case this one. A number of parallels to issues in NZ.

You can still bet on those options however you are now constrained to one operator. Unfortunately for better or worse NZ is still highly regulated in some industry's. Gambling and Wagering being just one of them. Personally I think ENTAIN's taking over of the insolvent NZTAB has been a big plus. The online access has improved immeasurably with both the website and the app. Even the new betting pods at outlets are a huge step up from the old ones. ENTAIN will have the knife out on costs and may even use the NZ market as test bed for new innovation. I only see positives. Yes I would like to see more competition but there is enough of that for the discretionary gambling dollar as it is with Casinos, Pokies and Lotto. I doubt the plethora of online bookie options in Australia will last forever and there will be a shakeout eventually. TABCORP have been lucky to avoid where TABNZ was heading - insolvency. The latest year being the first since splitting off the Lottery business that it has achieved a result aligned to its budget. Even then over the last three years it has lost $1 billion in writeoffs and bottom line losses. Hundreds of jobs have been cut. ENTAIN (Ladbrokes) have hammered them in the OZ market. TABCORP shares 66 cents - ENTAIN $12.64. Yes the landscape has changed due to regulation which has taken away your options BUT I don't see anyone offering ways of protecting the NZ revenue for use by NZ stakeholders be it Racing or Sports organisations. Perhaps we may see another entrant in the market once ENTAIN have finished rescuing the NZTAB!!!!

Just because you are not getting your freebies?

Do they really compete though? The only example I've seen online of so called competition is where someone compared a betting exchange with TABNZ. Hardly a true comparison. As I've said before the only difference I see is in opening markets for a short period (not all agencies provide them at the same time), differences in promotions (free bets) and individual bet variations that may only last for very short periods of time. With the latter unless you are doing that programmatically then I can't see the value of sitting there waiting for a momentary positive difference in odds. Let alone managing a dozen betting accounts. Although I guess you bet mainly on Sports. At the end of the day, putting to one side the sporadic free bet offers, isn't it the market that decides the price? I guess you wouldn't be happy reverting back to the Tote only option for race bets?

I doubt you've ever had a horse running around for shyte stakes. You are moaning now about your lack of choice but offer no alternatives for how NZ Racing can get fair value for the product it sells.

Https://bitofayarn.com New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has confirmed that two key Spring Group 1 races will be transferred from RACE Awapuni. No images? Click here NZTR Confirms Relocation of Two Group 1 Races this Spring New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has confirmed that two key Spring Group 1 races will be transferred from RACE Awapuni, as the track continues through its Return to Racing protocols. The decision reflects a commitment to delivering early certainty for Trainers and Owners preparing campaigns for Group 1 runners. NZTR Chief Executive Officer Matt Ballesty said the move gives participants the clarity they need at a critical planning stage. “This hasn’t been an easy decision, nor does it reflect the significant effort that has gone into preparing the Awapuni track by the Club's leadership and their wider team,” he said. “It simply comes down to timing, and this call has been made to give Trainers and Owners confidence as they plan their Group 1 Spring campaigns. “This is not a reflection of any safety concerns, but a proactive step to provide certainty while the track completes the necessary Return to Racing testing. It’s the right decision for the industry at this time, and we remain fully committed to supporting Awapuni’s return as a key metropolitan venue,” Ballesty said. RACE Inc. Chairman Richard Simpson says the Club remains committed to the long-term success of RACE Awapuni. “While we are naturally disappointed with the decision, our focus remains firmly on the return to racing on the course proper at Awapuni. We are confident that the extensive maintenance carried out since April has been successful, supported by the data from the going stick, which is an important track assessment tool moving forward," Simpson said. “Although it’s unfortunate that Central Districts participants will miss out on premier stakes early in the Spring, we are grateful to NZTR for maintaining those stakes at the October 11 meeting. "We will continue to work closely with NZTR and the external experts involved to ensure we deliver the best possible racing surface when Awapuni returns to action,” he said. The $400,000 Group 1 WFA 1600m (previously the Arrowfield Stud Plate), initially set for RACE Awapuni, will now headline a newly created Group 1 raceday at Waikato Thoroughbred Racing’s Te Rapa Racecourse on Saturday 27 September. The revamped programme will also feature the $175,000 Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and a strong undercard of open and rating-band races. The $550,000 Group 1 WFA 2040m (previously the Livamol Classic) will be pushed back one week and relocated to Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 18 October, where it will feature on Auckland Thoroughbred Racing’s existing feature raceday. The programme will also include the $175,000 Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m). The remainder of the original $550,000 Group 1 WFA 2040m support card, including the $120,000 Group 3 Spring Sprint (1400m), will remain at RACE Awapuni on Saturday 11 October, subject to the necessary Return to Racing protocols being met. All races on this RACE Awapuni card will be maintained at a minimum stake of $65,000. NZTR Chief Operating Officer Darin Balcombe said the decision was made with the long-term success of the RACE Awapuni track in mind, while also ensuring industry confidence heading towards headline Spring racing events. “This decision follows weather-related delays in the turf’s recovery after decompaction work carried out in response to the abandoned Awapuni meeting on 25 April,” Balcombe said. “The surface has shown encouraging signs, but remains untested, with horses only due to return to work on it in the coming weeks. “We are continuing to implement a staged return-to-racing plan for Awapuni, with track performance having been closely monitored throughout July,” Balcombe added. Horses are scheduled to begin working on the RACE Awapuni surface from Monday 21 July, followed by restricted trials on Tuesday 29 July as part of NZTR’s standard Return to Racing protocols. RACE Awapuni’s return raceday is currently scheduled for Saturday 23 August and remains the intended resumption date, subject to a successful final track assessment. The decision is supported by track advisor Liam O’Keeffe, who acknowledged the positive progress at RACE Awapuni but noted that several key steps still need to be completed before the track can be cleared for a full return to racing. As part of the programme changes, the $100,000 Group 3 Merial Metric Mile (1600m), originally scheduled for Whanganui Racecourse on Saturday 20 September, will now be run at a new meeting at RACE Awapuni on the same date. The Wanganui Jockey Club meeting will now be deleted, with a new meeting added at Ōtaki-Māori Racecourse on Friday 26 September, taking the date vacated by Waikato Thoroughbred Racing’s meeting at Te Rapa Racecourse. Key Programme Adjustments (may still be subject to change): Saturday 23 August | RACE Awapuni: Planned return raceday as scheduled Saturday 6 September | RACE Awapuni: Planned raceday as scheduled Saturday 20 September | RACE Awapuni: $100,000 Group 3 Merial Metric Mile (1600m) raceday with a supporting card Friday 26 September | Ōtaki-Māori Racecourse: Programme to be advised Saturday 27 September | Te Rapa Racecourse (New Group 1 Day): $400,000 Group 1 WFA 1600m (previous Arrowfield Stud Plate) $175,000 Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) Supporting races including Open 1200m, R75, R65 and MAAT across key distances Saturday 11 October | RACE Awapuni: Meeting retained as scheduled, minus the $550,000 Group 1 WFA 2040m (previously the Livamol Classic) $120,000 Group 3 Spring Sprint (1400m), with the undercard to be maintained at $65,000 minimums Saturday 18 October | Ellerslie Racecourse: $550,000 Group 1 WFA 2040m (previously the Livamol Classic) added to the existing Ellerslie raceday A full list of Spring racing calendar programme changes is available to view on the LOVERACING.NZ website here. Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing 18 Dick Street, Cambridge 3434 Email: office@nztr.co.nz Tel: 0800 946 637 NZTR.CO.NZ Unsubscribe

SA racing's economic impact www.racing.com Https://bitofayarn.com Thoroughbred racing in South Australia contributed more than $500 million to the state's economy, an independent expert report has revealed. Using data from 2024, the report found that racing's impact had grown by 14.2 per cent from the previous year, with the industry sustaining nearly 3500 full-time jobs and more than 163,000 people attending a race meeting in SA. Off the track, Racing SA's flood drought packages helped more than 500 horses, while 1161 care packages were distributed to ex-racehorses by Racing SA's Thorough Care program. "Thoroughbred racing in South Australia is going from strength to strength, not just in terms of its economic growth but also in its unique ability to bring communities together through a shared passion and purpose," said Racing SA chair Rob Rorrison. "This report demonstrates thoroughbred racing's strong economic trajectory, even without including the significant achievements of the past 18 months, including Racing SA and the SAJC's (South Australian Jockey Club) landmark sponsorship agreement with Sportsbet and multimillion-dollar prizemoney investment. "We are determined to continue to grow our industry for the benefit of our participants and the hundreds of thousands of South Australians who rely on and love racing."

The way I see it the only reason some punters want multiple agency options is so they can shop around for the best free lunch. You cant sell butter as a loss leader forever unless they are gouging you somewhere else.