Rowley Mile

Funny, Marc Cookson is a guest in the Sky Racing studio in Sydney today.........is he missed by you lot?

You jest Belle, surely, this is New Zealand, do you know how many poor buggers were 'fitted' up for crimes they didn't commit? you should watch some of the reality tv shows, or have a look at Mike Bungay's life story...it's fit up central,..... NZ......worse than Oz!

Apparently it costs approx 700 dollars to transport your horse to Ruakaka from Cambridge return.......you pay the jockey, sometimes an acceptance or nom fee, if you travel up to watch your horse from say AKL, add that on........your horse runs a nice close up maybe unlucky 6/7/8th.....and your day is beyond $1000...... NZ racing is for the elite or upper classes, the costs prove it........the days of owning a couple of horses stand alone, or as a couple are gone....unless you own a business or are resigned to going broke... The incentives for owners in AUS are outstanding and encourage incoming owners, everything is not rosy in Oz, QLD and SA do not pay starters incentives, however, the QTIS scheme in Queensland is amazing and pays terrific returns to owners and breeders,....VIC is looking at a massive problem, too many horses, not enough races....but at least if you have a city class horse, they pay more than K2 down to 10th place......why oh why couldn't the people who were charged with overseeing NZ racing see that to keep owners you need to incentivise them......Bernard Saundry should have known that, did he look the other way?....too frightened to rock the boat, these questions need to be answered.

We haven't had rain here for yonks, well, the coast has had some, but when it rains, it rains.....the Gold Coast track is probably the best surface I've ever seen, the racing it cops is amazing, and only a few weeks ago in mid winter, restricted horses were running 1-8 and change for 1200.......Doomben is holding up really well, and down in SYD their tracks are going fair, MEL even better.....with Spring racing under way, the KIWI horses are going to be so far behind the 8 ball except Baker's that will now have the benefit of warm sun and good tracks.

You're not Robinson Crusoe re MRC.......Deac told me in Melbourne he was the best jockey he ever saw, .......he told me the worst too after I pushed him......can't put that on here though. I missed Mr Mnk, he went to America did he not?........we had Hagens Pleasure, Kartika, Stylish Pal, Dormaranne, Second Cast, Variety Reef and Monzone just to name a few.......hard days, good memories now I reflect, racing in front of beaut crowds.

You would have know Butch then....he died, he was very fragile, was Mr Mink there then?

Jesus Centaur you must be as old as the hills!....I was with Deac from 67/71.......in all that time I never knew about that......we never had one are you sure it's not Ginner Hart you mean....he was a shocker at down the throat stuff...all we used were tonic balls.......saddled up Sky Flyer with Deac in the MEL Cup......he came to MEL and I organised Snowy Tronerud to ride him in the Werribee Cup....which he won, then when I was at Rosehill, Deac arrives with Sky Danza for the Lord Mayors, which she won...Pauline screamed the joint down....we didn't part friends when I left Hawera, I'm so glad we made up and became friends when I was training......Deac was the best horseman I saw in NZ and I learnt so much from him......he was a legend, I know he was known as a hard man....he was......but he mellowed, and I love him for that!

Yes, I'd agree with that, need a spell on that run, having said that, if I was on board I'd have stayed on the fence and cut the corner like the winner.....Lani's a swimmer so that wouldn't have worried her......

Yep Justa, Mr Allen promised to resign.......how many broken promises at that place? John answered my emails too, he promised to get to the bottom of the issue I raised.......he didn't come back to me, the CEO of NZTR did though, he said the email had been referred to him by Mr Allen, in fact the email was sent to him with copy to Mr Allan......what does that tell you? Until the management resigns or are cleaned out I have absolutely no confidence going forward with NZ Racing......

Sept 5 ....2009 Te Rapa......Tommy.........not a biggy according to Murray, just human error......

Ok, when will these mandatory redundancies begin at HQ?......when will John Allen go? When will Glenda Hughes go? When will Bernard Saundry go? and most importantly, when will Alan Jackson go? their salaries are obscene, and an insult to ALL at the coalface in this industry, if Mr Peters is genuine they need to go immediately, before more damage is done. I can't vouch for the rest of you, only you know how hurt you are, the trainers should have stood up long before this, their voice, The ATA and most of the senior Waikato based trainers are also an insult to the rest of the trainers, and to only speak up now, well that's very sad indeed...... The owners association is no better, here in Queensland we have an emerging problem also, the stakes are poor, there is an obvious 'boys' club, and integrity is not what it should be, a lesson to be learnt from the NZ debacle......having said that, there will be an exodus of horses from NZ to Oz shortly should Mr Peters sit on his hands, probably to NSW as it prospers......David Hayes is about to increase his numbers in Sydney, he's identified the opportunities midweek racing brings at 50k, plus they pay back to 10th, thus no Raceday exes at ALL!.... Will the apathy that's killed your industry cease? I bloody hope so.......pain is natures warning, be it fiscal or physical......act on it!

Tommy, what about Baker and Son? 3 positives in one day, a world record, didn't seem to effect them, they just dusted off and on they went, although the son did bolt to AIS ......and I bet he doesn't regret that one iota, nor would Forsman come to think of it!

There must be many like you Justa, and I don't think you are a mugpunter, without punters there is no racing, so in all realty, you're bloody important.....thanks for your post.

A piece posted on the other channel by Rowley's better half. Ok, let's get your attention. Gaol Time.......yes, I'm not kidding, if we are at all serious about the Messara Report then surely after reading and hearing about the figures being bandied about, eg, the value placed on NZ TAB by relative parties, compared to the value placed on it by TAB CORP....we need to look firstly at the years gone by, the massive losses the TAB has gone through, the massive, out of control costs incurred by NZRB/NZTR, and the misleading, inaccurate and fanciful forward projections released by NZTR/NZRB since 2011. Surely, there needs to be a forensic investigation into how the budgets were audited/approved/released. These were based on what? Who signed off on these figures? and what accounting firm put their names to the audit sheets? ....if any? Who in fact authorised the loan, the borrowing against cash reserves? The magic word here is who.....you see it leads to accountability! So far we have had no resignations, surely under the NZ companies and associations statute you have a compliance code? surely? I as a business owner cannot release to the public a knowingly misleading document relating to my business and it's future path, not it's solvency, to that I have to have my auditors sign off and authenticate my statements. By it's very actions, NZRB has placed it's support behind Mr Messara and Mr Peters, Mr Jackson has agreed to the recommendations, therefore the public/stakeholders have every right to know how we ended up at this point and who took it there. Was it taken there through incompetence or something else, poor investments, poor advice, mismanagement or another scenario? To move forward Mr Peters as the Racing Minister needs to show leadership, he has so far, but by calling the management of NZRB/NZTR to account is the ultimate commitment to our industry and the image New Zealand portrays on the international stage. On social media many are asking, what can we do, especially those within the industry itself, the answer is as clear as the nose on your face, disenfranchised stake/stockholders bring no confidence motions in the board/s......the ball is in your court. In closing I would like to say, I have after 30 years closed my international/Global marketing company, I would have liked to have supported my trainers in New Zealand for years to come, as an owner/breeder I am disgusted by the behaviour and denial by many involved and this effects my decisions moving forward re my future with New Zealand racing. Of course should Mr Peters and the people he empowers to oversee the re-building of NZRB bring those responsible to account, publicly and transparently I will reconsider my future. If you don't understand your past, and how we got to this point, then you cannot plan for your future! I hope those of you that can see past all this get your just rewards, and those of us at the twilight of our lives live to see another thriving New Zealand racing industry.

It's really sad Des, the people who were placed in charge of NZ Racing ruined it, you have that Glenda H and Alan J still in their positions, no resignations, so they either just don't get it, or are so arrogant that they wont go anywhere....if you start the cull at the top, some confidence will ensue, then continue the cull on a performance based dissection, soon a saving of some 20 mil will appear, then those charged with the great resurrection will be seen to be pro-active......then and only then will there be hope.

Problem being while you're enjoying your chups and fush the owners of your domestic horses will be racing for 5K if they are lucky, probably much less, so it will be picnic racing at best, with no tv coverage......cos you can't afford it.....sad reality. We have an animated horse racing game here available in clubs and pubs, called Trackside......the revenue from that assists prize money, no one has addressed that at NZRB...nor did Winston, it wasn't pointed out to him ......that's how the stakes in NSW were boosted, the State Gov paid about 300 million for the with 120 mill up front if STC and AJC merged, and the rights to the trackside game were handed over to the Gov.....hope this helps....

Shotput anyone?

We've had jump-outs on video here in Oz for years Jess, Flemington primarily and even though they are down the back straight you get to see your horse and have an indication as to how it's going...prep wise, Caulfield also.......Levin, hmmm........where is the money coming from? the industry is stoney broke, they need every cent to pay those suits salaries Jess, you know, those top performing industrious gentlemen who police and oversee the industry.

If your business wasn't travelling too well Freda would you address your costs? I bet you would, any responsible and intelligent person or business would, but not NZRB, you must address every aspect of an underperforming business, even staffing, which is difficult, the human element, the laying off, should always be a last resort, but it needs to be done for the survival of the core, I know I'm a broken record, however if NZRB were answerable to stockholders on the floor, the board would have been replaced yonks back, as would the NZTR.....the REAL problem with NZ racing is accountability, and until that issue is addressed and overcome, this scenario could well emerge again.

NSW are so far in front, this is a great idea, I've seen the torment trainers faced with slow payers who are worse than non payers, in HK the club pays the trainers, then bills the owners, as is Chinese culture loss of face is everything, so they pay the club in a timely fashion.....that, in all reality should be the MO.....it cleans out the 'bastard owner' and there are plenty.......transparency is everything, or should be...that and good governance.....something NZRB is sadly lacking, get rid of the bastards, and get the audit started, if they are serious a 20 mil saving is completely feasible.

How many of them stood and took the floor? how many? SFA.......says it all....were they gobsmacked, stunned, speechless, there's a few recognisable faces in that lot, many got rich under the past regimes.......I pity the generation to come after this legacy......do something, incorporate some of the good ideas from John and flick the others, rid the country of NZRB immediately and start saving, clear out Petone and start saving, a time and motion man/woman would have a field day, productivity would gallop instead of trot, but get off your arses and make change happen, for the sake of all those souls gone before us, and those to come, shame Mr Jackson shame, resign. do the right thing and take Glenda with you for a start.......all it takes you know is a no confidence in the board/s motion by all industry participants, all!.....then their hands are forced......go for it!

You should be living here then Wally, 27 today, bloody great...no don't know Frank, I drank at Newmarket [when the missus let me out] I was there for 6 years 1987/93, before that, Caulfield, the only other Kiwi at Caulfield back then was Kevin Mackay, a great bloke who I miss......when I was training at Flemo John Coulter [Pop] clipped my horses, John was a good trainer in NZ in his time.......and a lovely fella....I was at Rosehill for 10 years, Waller was at school in NZ then.......all horses stabled in nearby streets, no oncourse, different place then.

Chief, for what it's worth.....this was all a waste of time, JM means well, he is an exceptional business luminary, no doubt, but there isn't the money, the population or the gambling culture to fund all these recommendations. I knew this was 'gone' when Rogie stood up, he hasn't a clue about the betting platforms, or Racefields legislation, and yet he should. Winston had nowhere to turn, he was stymied, he needed an independent advisor, JM was the man, but it appears he's listened to the same old.......Jackson, Chittick, Ellis etc should have been irrelevant as they have been in a position of market power for years, all, surely should have identified the issues, anyone, anyone, who's been successful in business have run into difficulties, we [our business] included, it's not the problem that's the problem, it's how you trade out, turn it around so to speak.....someone like Richard Branson who's been broke and yet turned it on its head.... The answers are quite clear, you picked them Mr Stipe.......the TAB was a disaster, the NZRB a disaster, fix them and cut the costs and you are nearly there, constructing 3 all weathers is not the answer, the cost of that and relocating disenfranchised trainers will be prohibitive, closing some yes. but the main problem will be a quick fix, decide on that and increased revenue will fund the long term fix......a 20% tax on all exported tried horses for a start, seller pays that, not the buyer!......too many sellers driving around in big new cars, kids going to private schools, overseas holidays, buying larger properties, blah blah......and all this by using industry facilities, such as industry trials to get the horses ready for sale....these horses then do not enter the system to become betting product to generate revenue for your domestic industry, the trainer must pay a fee out of his cut as should the bloodstock agent. Some extremely wealthy bloodstock agents out there, and they are front and centre of this problem.....John Messara has missed that point, obviously guided away from that course. I've had my say, we have closed our core business that generated income to cover our non-profitable NZ racing enterprise, so how will our Kiwi horses sustain themselves? the industry has to change, dialogue is needed, and consensus, but not the pile of crock that's gone down for the past 20 years, good luck NZ......My missus and I feel for our Kiwi trainers, we really do, but now is the time for the trainers to stand up, and shout loudly...you need to flick Mr Pike and not listen to Mr Baker, they have not done too poorly out of an ailing industry and failed to raise their voices when it most mattered, to Chris Wood's credit he resigned, he couldn't cop the apathy any longer [Chris's words] on the other channel many years ago These are my words with the backing of my better half who worked tirelessly these past 4 years to establish a NZ breeding and racing enterprise, not many working couples pay up 10K each month to cover training/racing and Agistment for their 11/nearly 12 horses based in NZ......by coughing up that amount should prove our committment and passion for the NZ racehorse and your industry, we loved living in NZ for the most part, it was the country I was born in and where I learnt my craft, however, what I witnessed within the many spheres of the racing industry, both hands on and white collar made us sad, the policing of the industry is questionable, and unless the wrongs are righted, or at least action seen to be taken, then your industry is doomed, as Winnie suggested.

Wally, Brisbane is in Australia mate, not raining yet, but hey, you never know........

Wally, you need AA mate....used to drink?........I'm in Brisbane.....23 degrees today, tomorrow 27....you beaut......I bailed out of NZ as it was raining fukwits, not all, plenty on here are champions but fukwits where I was......after being away 43 years I couldn't stand the fukwitism.....I used to drink at the Sydney Liars Club on Racecourse Rd Newmarket......when I trained at Flemington......those were the days...Lee Freedman wasn't fat, and we hadn't heard of cobalt.....now they're memories.