Chief Stipe

First option.

Are you saying the conditions of the CJC having a cheap slot is that they must choose a horse from the Guineas fields?

What do you mean by "locked"? Wasn't that a pure marketing slant? If Domain Ace isn't up to it then surely Rogie will pull the pin? Then they have to find a replacement. There aren't any Guineas place getters available!

Yeah. Will the Canterbury Jockey Club be quickly looking for a replacement? Did anyone else see Tim Mills on track at Tauranga?

Do you think the Canterbury Jockey Club might be looking for a backup for Domain Ace after todays race at Tauranga? Did anyone else see Tim Mills on track?

Classic case though of divide and rule. Did the CD trainers do enough? Up against it though when Cambridge was desperate for the AWT (they could have afforded to fund their own) and Riccarton trainers were largely for theirs. With regard to Riccarton I remember posting many posts on BOAY about beware what you wish for. Hell the South's leading trainer and biggest influencer @Pitman was singing from the rooftops how great it was going to be. When asked where the money to fund the operational costs were going to come from we got told it would be entirely self funding. Which obviously it isn't. Meanwhile the turf track gets worse through lack of resources.

More in interested in your conclusions and how you got to them rather than your speculation about what you think Entains conclusions are.

There is a rumour circulating that the money went to a joint business account with some business relationship to the standing of Bel Esprit which was owned by Laxon's partner Symon's. I find it difficult to imagine that there was any money owing given Bel Esprit stood at Eliza Park/Widden for 19 years and was stood down in 2022.

Perhaps Racing Victoria should change their processes. On large sums like the MC % when won by someone who isn’t regularly receiving stakes payments get on the phone and double check? BEFORE transferring $500k!

Where's the evidence for that? I haven't seen anything to suggest that other than the fact that Laxon is suing Racing Victoria rather than the account holder. That would suggest she doesn't have a relationship with the current account holder. I'd say it was more likely a joint account with 2 or more account holders one of whom was Laxon. Laxon moves on and her name is taken off the account I've seen some legal action taken recently under those circumstances. The only reason Laxon can sue Racing Victoria is if she told them her new account number and they didn't change it.

Account numbers aren't reallocated. Not like phone numbers So that means Laxon and the mystery person both owned the account at one stage. The mystery person still operates the account. Laxon stuffed up by not notifying the change of account to Racing Victoria or Racing Victoria were notified and didn't update their system. The only way Laxon has a case against Racing Victoria is if they stuffed up after being given notification. Of course the person who has control of the money and refusing to hand it over is acting criminally.

2024 Melbourne Cup-winning trainers sue Racing Victoria www.racenet.com.au The Knight's Choice Melbourne Cup fairytale has taken an explosive new turn, with the horse's Queensland trainers suing Racing Victoria to demand their $464,640 cut for winning the famous race. Racenet has learned John Symons and Sheila Laxon have launched District Court action against RV after their Cup winnings were deposited into an old bank account they no longer have access to. RV insists it simply put the money into the account it had on file and claimed it has since tried to help the trainers. The money has not been passed onto Symons and Laxon from the person who is now believed to operate that account. Cameron Happ - Last 28 Days • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It is understood RV recently sent an individual a letter of demand in relation to the matter. However it is RV who is in the crosshairs of Symons and Laxon and the trainers confirmed that action had been lodged in the Queensland District Court. A January 31 legal letter that contains a statement of claim has been seen by Racenet. RV has been given 28 days to file a notice of an intention to defend. • How Racenet's Ben Dorries revealed the Melbourne Cup trainers' prizemoney saga RV issued the following statement to Racenet on Wednesday evening: "We are not able to comment in any detail given that the matter is now the subject of proceedings, however note that RV has paid out all Melbourne Cup prizemoney as required, including to the bank account registered with us for Ms Laxon and Mr Symons' trainer prizemoney payments in Victoria. "We have taken the steps available to us to assist Ms Laxon and Mr Symons in recovering the money from what RV has subsequently been advised is their former account." Racenet first revealed the story last month that the trainers' prizemoney for the race that stops the nation was paid into an old bank account that the trainers no longer use. Knight's Choice ridden by Robbie Dolan won the 2024 Melbourne Cup at $91. Picture: Racing Photos • How chance meeting set up Sheila Laxon and Robbie Dolan's Melbourne Cup triumph The fresh legal saga is threatening to further sour the incredible Melbourne Cup triumph of Knight's Choice, a $91 roughie who shocked the world by winning the famous race last November. It was Symons' first Melbourne Cup win and also the first time a Queensland-trained horse had won the Cup. It maintained Laxon's unblemished Melbourne Cup record after she previously won the Cup with Ethereal, who won the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double in 2001. • Melbourne Cup trailblazer Sheila Laxon becomes a legend Since scoring the 2024 Cup, Laxon and Symons have gone on promotional tours with the trophy. The Australian Trainers' Association has been assisting the pair with their efforts to recover the Melbourne Cup prizemoney.

Crack mare Snazzytavi laid low by virus loveracing.nz Illness is likely to sideline Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall’s top quality mare Snazzytavi until later in the year. Cambridge Stud’s star performer was being prepared for a crack at Saturday’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa before the five-year-old daughter of Tavistock contracted a virus. “I’d say that her autumn is over, which means we’ll give her a good break and focus on the spring,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said. “She had a gallop on Tuesday morning and Warren Kennedy went down to ride her. “He was very happy with her, but within hours it was noticed that her demeanour was different and they took her temperature and she had a very aggressive virus. “We sent her up to Matamata Hospital as a precaution and she’s under treatment for the virus and is responding very well and is stabilised. “She’s in very good hands and, fingers crossed, she’ll be back at our Karaka farm early next week to spell.” By Tavistock, Snazzytavi would have started a short-priced favourite in the Herbie Dyke off the back of her stellar run of form. She romped to victory in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) in the spring before a break and then successfully resumed in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) and last time out claimed the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m). In her absence, the stud’s black type hopes at Te Rapa will rest with the Lance Noble-trained Luberon who takes on a stacked line-up in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m). “We’ve always had a very big opinion of her, but she is in a very strong race and I think it’s one of the highest rated sprint races in New Zealand for a long time,” Plumptre said. The well-performed daughter of Embellish is a multiple stakes winner and a bold last-start third in the Gr.1 Telegraph after racing wide without cover from an outside stall and will again jump from a potentially awkward gate. “Luberon doesn’t seem capable of drawing inside barrier nine or 10, but she is a very game and genuine mare,” Plumptre said. “She will be competitive, and she’s got her regular jockey (Warren Kennedy) back on because Crocetti isn’t running and it will be exciting to see how she goes.” Kennedy will also carry the farm’s colours aboard the Stephen Marsh-prepared I’m All In who runs in the Dr John Southworth Memorial Vase (1200m). “He’s been there or thereabouts, he probably wasn’t quite up to the level in the Almanzor Trophy (Gr.3, 1200m) but he looks well-placed on Saturday and he’s tough,” Plumptre said. The son of Zoustar, whose half-brother by Sword Of State sold for $540,000 at Karaka, has won twice from a handful of starts and placed in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) during the winter.

Entain Australia calls time on Ladbrokes Racing Club www.racenet.com.au Wagering behemoth Entain Australia has made the difficult decision to disband its cutting-edge Ladbrokes Racing Club (LRC) program. Ladbrokes Racing Club, which launched amid much fanfare in 2023, has been responsible for racing thoroughbreds, standardbreds and greyhounds across all three codes, bringing Club members along for the ride. But despite its success and growing popularity, Entain Australia boss Dean Shannon said varying reasons had led to the organisation making the call to discontinue LRC as it is known today. "We are proud of Ladbrokes Racing Club and the opportunity it has presented to thousands of customers to experience a race day as an owner," Shannon said. "Unfortunately, the Club is not immune to the rising cost of operating pressures currently affecting the wagering sector. Entain Australia boss Dean Shannon • TopSport acquired by BlueBet in $15m deal "The increasing product fees and taxes in Australia along with the rising cost of racing has forced tough decisions to be made regarding these extra initiatives. "While the Club will no longer have a presence on the racetrack, our commitment to being a proud racing-first brand remains, with several new initiatives to be rolled out in 2025 for members. "The Ladbrokes Racing Club was established to bring passionate like-minded fans closer to the action by creating a community for them to interact – something we are excited to continue this year." Cameron Happ - Last 28 Days The decision to disband Ladbrokes Racing Club in the coming months comes at a pivotal time as the wagering sector patiently awaits the Federal Government's response to the online gambling inquiry. Raising further pressure, wagering companies are also locked in discussions with the AFL over a new product fee agreement, with the governing body looking to extract significantly more money from betting on their product for the 2025 season and beyond. Entain Australia is also bracing for the finalisation of an investigation by AUSTRAC into potential anti-money laundering laws. Over the coming months, representatives of LRC will work towards parting ways with racing stock under its ownership control, with welfare central to any transaction. Some instances are more complex to navigate than others, with Entain Australia enjoying strong ties with leading studs including Newgate Farm. Valenzuela, owned by Ladbrokes Racing Club, wins at The Meadows. It's understood some horses will be transferred to race in New Zealand while some will be up for sale on Inglis Digital in the near future. Despite the cessation of Ladbrokes Racing Club, Entain Australia remains unwavering in its support of the Australian racing industry, pledging tens of millions of dollars in sponsorships across all three codes. While on the Australian front Ladbrokes Racing Club will come to a close, Shannon said Entain's commitment in New Zealand will continue. "The TAB Racing Club in New Zealand will remain unaffected and continue to be active on the track."

As @curious pointed out they never spent enough to do it properly. Let alone fund yearly operational expenditure to keep them up to scratch. The Synthetic AWT's are a classic case of that. Large up front investment without sufficient revenue to fund operational expenses let alone the mandatory full renovation that needs to occur after 5 ro 8 years. Can't remember the exact time period. I'll give the trainers at Awapuni full credit - they were adamant they didn't want the money spent on the AWT instead on the existing racing and training tracks.

Then why would Entain in your words think that?

The Judges erred. How can removing your foot from the footrest and letting you leg hang and hit a horse be accidental? FFS why didn't they accidentally put it back immediately!

I was putting up a straw man because you were wanting consistency. If you make the penalties fixed you get nothing but consistency.

No camera on the otherside.

No camera on the other side.

How can it be Sha Tin? Ellerslie isn't a training centre and Ellerslie have gone for a customised StrathAyr with iconic bends.

Nearly all but a few could sustain consistent regular racing. How many have actually gone since the Messara Report? How many tracks do you need to support the number of horses in training?

Isn't that obvious?

That's nonsense. Given the number of horses in training there are more than ample racecourses. The issue is there are very few if any that don't have some issue. Not to mention the programming but that has nothing to do with abandonments! Unless of course you are being facetious AGAIN!

The point I was making is that the low end stakes HAVE increased. The issue is the skewing of the stakes distribution to the top end. A maiden stake in metro Victoria is $60k. Racing Victoria made the decision to reverse the trend and allocate more downwards.