Huey

But isn't that partly down to the poor mangement and utilisation of the tracks? Many of the venues have been over used due to extremely poor decision making at an industry management level, the venue plan springs to mind. Implemented by a fool who has since departed our fair shores , this was a plan that like most of the strategic initiatives at NZTR look great on paper but unfortunately don't play out that way in reality. What other industry would hold itself to ransom (i.e. refuse to use very good and capable venues and let them rot in the hope they can eventually be sold off) to the detriment of its own future?

That's always been the case, only thing is they keep lifting the bar of incompetence to new rarified levels.

If you say so!

Symptomatic of where we are heading as a nation, utterly despicable!

Yes that has to be a very real concern for the industry, I guess it will be seen as a bit of a bonanza and the industry will act accordingly , probably across the board, the TAB heads back to where it has just been. I'm open minded about it all , but it just seems too good to be true and I think the industry needs to commit to a raft of changes to protect or sustain itself in the future, can't see that happening.

On the Geo Blocking ,Just watching Weigh In, $100m in profit p.a. ....really??? Sounds like the TAB will be entering the online casino space if this takes off, that I'd have thought isn't a can of worms we'd want to get into? Am I the only one who worries for the TAB future without competition?

What I found most interesting about the Bosson incident was that there wasn't even a cheeky protest thrown in, or did I miss that?

It must be out of a Frisco View mare to be doing times like that JB.

Helluva an impressive win I thought at just his 5th race day start! Apparently his dam was 18yo when she foaled him down and the horse doesn't turn 3yo till this Wednesday, sister sold for $6k on an online auction - they've found another one to get the crowds to the races.

A Per Incanto and an ex Kiwi Jock riding and two ex kiwi trainers ... but yeah grasping at straws a bit.

That is good news, hopefully they are finally starting to listen and realising how important it is to hold these meetings if at all possible.

I thought the same, be interested to know what they are expecting this to do to generate turnover, seems like a nice to do initiative if racing in this country was travelling at the dizzying heights of Aus racing , but that seems but a fantasy. Lets face we don't rate our own racing, you only have to watch Weigh In to not that conclusion. Half if not more of the show is about Aus racing, to me very little on the show is done to generate any interest in the NZ product and don't tell me thats not possible, its just lazy plain lazy or more likely incompetence .

I think you doth overestimate the IQ of the racing industry herd Curious, you will find many in the industry are utterly oblivious to such info. Especially with stud masters, the odd trainer and racing administrator filling their head's with nonsense. Never underestimate the power of the " green shoots" movement!

If they make it & can get rides here, they'll be a welcome addition to our ranks. Quality staff riders in short supply, as Freda said I think NZ will be a piece of cake for them socially, many SAFERS integrate well.

TBF their poor horses had to carry the trackside mock on them all week.

I know nothing JB, but you may have answered your own question, it's clearly an issue for many though the industry will never concede that to be the case . On a positive note it'll keep Chief Stipe happy 😊

Have no fear, it will be worse than what you suggest!

50-75mm rainfall in last 7 days according to metservice , would that be right? How can a track not handle that?

Some punters seem to be interpreting this as though they won't be able to bet on Aus racing, I doubt that is the case as I'd assume its only going to be the operator that is affected i.e. punters can only bet with NZ TAB? It will for sure happen.

Watch the interview , Mikeynz is only the messenger here. I thought the CEO looked very glum and looks like he is under a considerable amount of pressure, not one bit surprised given the legacy of incompetence that has been in these roles for years on end, it must be very difficult (especially with the Bernard hospital pass) even considering the $$$ he and his cohorts are on to portray some sort of positive future for the sport in this country.

If you told them it would be a good idea to have an AWT meeting or the Northern region needed a meeting they'd jump at it! Besides that the clubs they are allowing to hold race days couldn't be bothered losing a day off to hold a race meeting or putting in any effort to do something that required any initiative, why would they bother ...they don't care. The "Grand Tour" will save the industry, a repackaged, regurgitated promo of already successful race days (piss ups, parties) held at the only time of year the public are interested in attending meetings, they'll give themselves a big tick for how successful they were at putting that together.

Showers forecast, they'd surely call it off today if it was going to be off. Seems a course that handles the rain perhaps???

That flawed premise in itself shows a lack of foresight around why we have these AWT's. The Cambridge trials being cancelled and traininers heading toward grass surfaces with their charges is a fairly conclusive consensus on the useage and future of these surfaces for racedays and trail meetings.

Of course one of the issues is that lot NI or SI that lot are coming to the end of it, with no real replacements in sight.

My understanding is the availability/ access to riders is a major hurdle (pun) to alot more trainers having jumpers, thus they just aren't bothering now.