Huey

well that was sort of my question

Isn't the Cambridge one due to be completed next year? As a racing enthusiast I'm not remotely interested in watching/punting racing on them, I'm sure others must feel completely different given the demand for them?

I'd expect the club would cop the cost of the fibre connection as part of holding race meetings can't see the cost being a real issue, seems a typical obstacle put in the way by those running the show, nothing to do with cost more to so with communication and opportunity. If its that much of a cost savings why wouldn't the industry want to have as many tracks hooked up as possible for trials etc.

Absolutely in both cases , small provincial clubs prepare yourselves

To be fair Wanganui,Counties and Awapuni aren't much better.

Thats what I was thinking, hasn't 90% of the country got fibre, sounds like some gobble gook to make it sound like they have thought about what they are doing or yet another reason to exclude certain venues? Hopefully I'm wrong in my thinking.

About time they did surely, the measure of their success shouldn't be beating up the peasants in NZ but performing in Aus. They have had a great season there this season so opportune time to go.

Don't be nervous, by that I mean don't expect much.

They have a larger outlet to moan at and some industry heavyweights that will moan with them if they don't get on, TAB not worried about a one man show unfortunately.

Don't worry , you know where they will be looking for a bail out.

It's partly PR though isn't it, TAB don't take bets from BGP and they scream out loud how they are helping the industry and the TAB aren't playing ball etc. So they'll take their money and punters somewhere else.

Exactly right, they will be waiting for the Aus one to come out, I've no faith in them. Someone should have been in contact with every club in the country that can race to see what could be put together depending on how this pans out, if the TAB survives it will need NZ product so get off your A and make sure there is going to be something there or at least find out.

Agree, especially when you have races where they contain the entire field, own the jocks, buy up all the well bred stock ,own the media etc etc etc. in such a small pond.

Not only that a bet like that looks like he hasn't even looked at the fields at Riccarton.

Some other sport on they don't know about?

Plenty been saying this about stakes for a long while, not sure why owners think they are racing for $30k in a $30k race when in a decent sized field they are contributing probably nearly a 1/4 of the dosh in R65 and above. Its absolutely stupidity how can you blame everyone at every organisation when owners just continuously put up with this scenario and stand up for themselves better, the noms and acceptances don't make the racing product any better it just looks good to the uninitiated.

Utter garbage! The horse is more than entitled to going around seeking it's first win, getting in the way of others horses, I'd venture to say most clubs would be glad to see it nominate for their meeting the way things are at present. You don't have to back it.

So many who find so easy to criticise from the outside, its not an easy game or if it is perhaps Ashley you can tell us all how easy it is?

Exactly , helps make up the fields at the moment also. Hopefully it bolts in next time it starts.

Nothing like a good Quickie for mine.

Absolutely right! We are no hope of competing with Australia. Those that tell you we are they are either very rich and thus using the Oz product anyway or don't have any skin in the game and an understanding of just how tough it is. Get ready for the worst!

Exactly, what is amazing to me is most of these proposed changes are so broad and high level stuff , with little or no thought of the implications of such changes its going to harm a lot more industry participants than its going to benefit. Yet there seems to be this incredible amount of support for some sort of change just because its change, the industry is being incredibly "naive" here .

You summed it up, this industry isn't strong enough in the good times , let alone times of curve balls.

Short Answer ...Nope!

They had Leaderboard and TA Cailaburn I think it was called, perhaps their model isn't suited to producing stayers i.e. buy up all the NZ 2yos and any Aus ones you can get your hands on and give the locals a good hiding. I wonder if the owners they attract are the type willing to wait to produce staying types also?